Goodness me. I’m so bored of seeing silhouettes being used in design. The first time I used them was over 20 years ago when I drew the outlines myself with the aid of Adobe Illustrator – or was it Macromedia Freehand (the precursor to Illustrator?). It was when I was working for an agency in the Docklands. The client was the London Borough of Barnet and I designed an exhibition stand for a jobs fair. The design was brilliant (if I do say so myself) and quite innovative for it’s day. I traced round images of people in different professions and then interspersed these images with job titles to illustrate the jobs that Barnet council offered. I distinctly remember getting really positive feedback about it and I felt chuffed to bits.
Category Archives: Design
36 Days of Type
Personal projects don’t come along very often with me but when they do, it generally means that I want to put my all into it and really push the boat out creatively.
I’ve always loved typography and I stumbled across the 36 Days of Type project on instagram on the day that it started (29th March). Now in it’s third year it has a very healthy amount of contributors and followers. I didn’t think twice about doing it or worry about how much of my time that it would take up. I just jumped head first and thought that no matter how busy I was that I was going to finish this project and that it was going to be good. And I’m so glad that I did it.
Illustrating The Trust and Enfield Market
Following on from the logo design branding blog published last week, let’s move onto the marketing aspects of the project. If you haven’t managed to read the rebranding story yet, please read it first as it forms a really good base for this follow up blog.
Enfield Market promotional material
As there were no actual photos of the new market (it hadn’t relaunched yet), I was asked to do some illustration as an aid to promote it.
The Trust branding story
The client
The Old Enfield Charitable Trust is a charity which serves the community of the Old Parish of Enfield. With the aid of grants, they aim to support families, individuals and community organisations in financial need. They manage Enfield Market which runs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Design tender
I was approached in mid July by The Trust and asked to tender for the branding and design of their work. The project entailed logo design and marketing material which was going to culminate in the relaunch of the Enfield Market on 1st October in time for British Food Fortnight. The main brief was that they wanted three logos.
- The Old Enfield Charitable Trust: established to aid the community. They award grants and welcome donations
- Enfield Market: There’s been a market in the square since 1303
- The Market Place: The square that Enfield Market resides in. There will be different events hosted in it and The Trust want to promote it as the place to be.
2014: Top three projects
Hamilton Chase
Coming in at a very high number three of my top projects for the year is the Hamilton Chase Rebranding project. I really love getting my teeth into rebranding a business. But it's not for the faint hearted. A lot of trust is put into you to get it right. I feel privileged to have been an integral part of this project. It wasn't just a new logo but redesigning all of their marketing material, including stationery, brochures, signage and adverts. What a project and what great clients! Honestly, if you're looking to buy or rent in Barnet, check out these people first. They can be found at hamiltonchase.co.uk. They really are top notch property experts. Read the blog.
Redesigned logo
The Edmonton Summer Festival
Oh my days. Where do I start? I had to write three blogs to cover this one. From the bespoke illustration and design/branding of the entire festival to the three day photography fest. I loved every minute of it. Read the first blog.
Design & Illustration
The Palmers Green Triangle Clock
Coming in at the top has to be The Clock situated in Palmers Green. What an amazing project to be part of. How many graphic designers can say that they've designed a clock that will be in situ for many years to come? Errr, I guess that there aren't many but my hand is riding high. You can read the blog here.
The clock
The Palmers Green Triangle Clock
Late last year I heard via a friend that the Palmers Green Association were looking for a a skilled person to design a clock for The Palmers Green Triangle, N13 – situated in the middle of a bustling shopping area used by residents and locals alike. She’d recommended me to the Chairman of Green Lanes Business Association and Palmers Green resident – Costas Georgiou.
Now, let’s get this straight, I’m a graphic designer who designs logos, brochures and other printed material, so designing solid structures like this is definitely not my forte and I can honestly say that I nearly ran a mile in terror at doing something that I’ve never done before. You see, if I do something, then it can’t be half baked. I have to give it my all and what I knew about designing structures was absolutely zilch. But there’s that saying: ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway‘ so I went for it. After all, if you don’t push yourself then how can you improve?
How to choose a logo designer
I feel chuffed to bits when someone asks me to design a logo for them. Why? Because it means that they trust me with their business – or at least the look of it and how it’s portrayed to the general public. It’s an absolute honour to be chosen. And it also usually means that they like the type of work that’s already in my portfolio.