Faceture by Phil Cuttance

This beautiful work station is designed by Phil Cuttance. A mechanical craft table he uses to individually create vases, lampshades and small tables as part of a project called Faceture.

The moulds are handmade from plastic sheets and formed into casts, each assembled differently to ensure a distinct surface pattern and shape every time. By turning the casting jig, the fast drying resin is rolled around the hollow template covering every facet, leaving behind the object. 

I love the idea of a self contained work table with multiple features, and the gradual procedure that it establishes. It's that slow process requiring someone's undivided attention to each item that signifies the craftsmanship of Faceture.

Faceture by Phil Cuttance

Faceture by Phil Cuttance

Faceture by Phil Cuttance 

Video and images by Petr Krecji, copyright Phil Cuttance 2012

Geodesically interactive magazine cover by Paperlux & Novum

As far as magazine covers go, I think this colourful interactive beauty has to be one of, if not my all time favourite.

It is the work of design studio Paperlux for the graphic design magazine Novum who have scored the surface of the paper in a network of triangles. It can be moulded and shaped by the reader into 3D forms and structures, emphasising the haptic character and flexibility of paper.

I love how tactile and playful it is.  It explores the current tech trend for all things 3D in a non-digital way, another example of that analogue backlash against the technological era. The palpability of the cover makes it interactive and accessible in such an innovative way. I can imagine a cover like this on a magazine for the blind and visually impaired, the colours they use certainly make for a spectacular impact, but it could be equally as beautiful visually and more importantly, equally touchable in white.

The faceted cover was inspired by the brilliantly named Buckminster Fuller and his equally fantastic geodesic domes. The geodesic dome is a spherical or part spherical structure made up of adjoining triangles (the strongest two dimensional shape), forming a shelter designed to cover the maximum possible area without internal supports, making it a super efficient space.  I find the whole concept fascinating, especially as an energy efficient model and how the design made shelter more economically available to people.  There is more about it all on the Buckminster Fuller Institute site.

Paperlux recreated the structure in paper using 140 die cuts to be precise, it was an intricate process carried out and overseen by the designers for each and everyone of the 15,000 copies. 

You can watch a video of the creation process below. And checkout the Paperlux website for their portfolio full of more beautiful projects.

Novum 11/11 – Making Of Cover from Paperlux on Vimeo.

Teeing Off, Green Jackets and Eagles

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This was a photoshoot from the first term of my final year at UCLan. We were given the task to promote a local independent retailer in Preston by creating a set of evoking and interesting images. My group was given The Golf Store, Marsh Lane, Preston.

 

 

 

We set our scene in the 1950’s, when golf became a sport, no longer just for the rich but for everyone.

 

The world of golf has its own glossary of terminology, with different words and phrases for every part of the game; from the scores (‘birdie’), to parts of the course (‘bunker’) to the equipment (‘mashie niblick’)

 

When researching all the terms we found plenty/too many terms to play on and inspire a series of photos. However there were three which stood out as holding a narrative, following the order in which they might come up in the game or tournament.

 

 

Tee / teeing ground / teeing off

The first shot played on any hole of the course and what players practice on the driving range. We have played on the word ‘tee’, replacing golf balls with tea cups and setting up and afternoon cuppa between 2 of our models

 

Sweet spot

The ideal area of the club with which to hit the ball for a perfect shot. Here we chose to recreate the iconic image of a golf ball in the mouth with white speckled gobstoppers that look similar to golf balls

 

Dance Floor

Another name for the putting green. The perfect location to pose in some 50’s style jive and swing dance moves

 

Eagle

An eagle is a score of 2 under par. Stella the eagle courtesy of Turbary Woods, was the perfect and a beautiful literal representation

 

Green Jacket

A green blazer is given and passed on to the winner of the tournament and captain of the golf club. A fashion shoot in Bon magazine inspired the shot where our model is emerging from the hedge which acts as a second green jacket

 

 

 

 

The photos were displayed in an exhibition we staged ourselves in Preston town centre, promoting the local independent retailers.

 

Generous THANK YOU’s go to my fellow stylists: Vickie Bertram, Emma Norminton, Sophie Tapsell and Kate Taylor, photographer Mark Prescott, the team at Turbary Woods Owl and Bird Sanctuary and Stella the eagle, star of the day.

 

All images copyright Vickie Bertram, Emma Norminton, Ellie Osborne, Sophie Tapsell and Kate Taylor 2010. 

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The Itch of the Golden Nit

Last night I watched a super little film called 'The Itch of the Golden Nit', made almost entirely by children. I came across the project the other day in the Telegraph magazine.  It’s the Tate Movie Project for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

They have got children involved at every stage possible, from creating the narrative and story, drawing and illustrating the artwork (all illustrations by children)  and recording sounds and the score. They have been holding workshops at art galleries all round the UK and touring the country with a mobile movie studio, a touring truck visiting schools, festivals inspire children

The project’s online presence seems interesting too. Through the Tate Movie website they have created this big community of kids (I think it said about 20 thousand or so!) open to all 5 -13 year olds,  and provided them with more opportunities to be involved in the film, from designing more characters to voting on who will voice the characters . The website is also designed to teach kids about the process and development of making a film, how all the elements come together.

The Itch of the Golden Nit was great to watch too. It was obviously made by children, but that was the real charm. It was so colourful; really bold. Such a fresh visual identity, naive but with a real complexity and sophistication about it too. 

The imaginations of the children are fantastic, the characters and narratives they created were genius. And I found myself laughing at some brilliant lines, perhaps it's just a childish side of me coming out. 

Either way I think the whole approach is, and has been great: fantastic ways to reach kids, what a brilliant way to inspire creativity and get them involved and excited.

The video above is from the Telegraph article, about The Making of the film.

You can watch the Itch of the Golden Nit on iPlayer.

First Class Batchelor of Arts with Honours

Well, I did it. I got through final year of Fashion Promotion at University of Central Lancashire. And passed with flying colours. (I like colour.) 


I got my results through the post just the other day to discover I have been awarded a First Class Honours Degree. Which makes me awfully happy indeed.


It's been a tough year, a bit up and down. But all in all I have enjoyed it, very much. And that number one makes it all the more worthwhile. I have loved the creativity and scope the course has provided, from branding, marketing, trends, graphics, styling, photography, visual merchandising and plenty more. So many career paths to choose from, but I have my eye set on trends and branding. I find both areas absolutely fascinating.


Over the course I certainly have pushed my own boundaries beyond what I imagined possible, it's odd looking back at where I was 4 years ago. The change has been a gradual one, but it now it feels huge.

So this is me and my A to Z, Ellen Osborne, the graduate, about to embark on life in the big wide world.

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Campus of greens and the future

 

We spent much of our Hong Kong extravaganza at the PolyU University itself and wandering between the buildings. It was a really beautiful campus, with lots of little thoughtful touches; such as buildings being named after highly respected community members and people who have donated significantly to the University.

 

It made me think about how the design and architecture has the potential to be so much more inspiring for a student.

 

There was so much green. Plants, trees, little patches of grass, it’s amazing how much difference that can make to the ambience and atmosphere. There was a beautiful tree with red berries; it really looked like a giant bonsai.

 

I loved the flags of the world and bunting cast wonderful shadows on the building behind. I think the idea was to make the international student community feel at home and welcome and demonstrate their global status. It looked great strung at a jaunty diagonal from the top of a building to the floor, which makes it less cheesy and therefore less obvious as a motive to promote their international relations.

 

In an obvious way the design and architecture gives a noticeably encouraging setting to learn inside of. But in an unconscious way too, I think that everything was enhanced by little touches, which perhaps people take for granted

 

The fluidity of the design and layout; the building’s positioning and walkways between each part of campus. I think it’s all still based around the idea of Feng shui and the ancient Chinese system of aesthetics. It’s not something I’ve ever really contemplated before but I find the concept really interesting.

 

Which reminds me Zada Hadid Architects are designing the new ‘Innovation Tower for PolyU’, their new building for the Institute of Design. (I think it's due to be ready in 2011 - but that could also be the construction date in stead.)

 

They are creating an accessible urban zone from a previously void area. Outdoor recreational facilities and forums will promote the diversity of civic spaces whilst also immersing people on a more intimate scale.

 

You can see some of the renderings below and read a bit more blurb about it on the Dezeen website.

 

I think it is another fab example of how the campus architecture can be designed to inspire and encourage the students. Zada Hadid even says of the project how it will “stimulate and project a vision of possibilities for its future, as well as reflect the history of the HK PolyU by encapsulating in its architecture the process of change.” - Probably a much better way of explaining what I am thinking.

 

I can't imagine a building as civic and majestic as this being created for UCLAN somehow (our Media Factory for example) let alone to be designed by architects as prestigious as Zada Hadid. It is such a fluid, innovative design, well representative of the name I feel.

 

 

Images: The jaunty international flag display, The beautiful giant bonsai with shiny red berries, a Chinese leaf cluster (that’s not a technical term), an oddly textured growth/fruit, a sheltered walkway from PolyU  into Kowloon, photo’s by me, ©Ellie Osborne 2010

 

& the Innovation Tower, PolyU by Zada Hadid, ©Zada Hadid Architects

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On top of the world

Just a quick post this evening. The utterly butterly stunning views of Hong Kong's twinkling Victoria Harbour from the Peak

 

 

Images: Views from the Peak ©2010 Ellie Osborne

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Where light equals prosperity

I wasn't exactly sure where to start with my mega Hong Kong photo album, but the topic of light kept coming back to the front of my mind. It was definitely something that I noticed a lot and that caught my eye out there (there was so much it was hard not to) I remember thinking on out first night "Hong Kong must be pretty high up there on the world's most prolific contributors to light pollution list”

 

And Hahn Chu, the environmental affairs manager for Friends of the Earth thinks that the problem is getting worse too: "Hong Kong always thinks the brighter things are, the more prosperous we seem…”

 

(Well I reckon they must be successful by now then)

 

Every street was adorned in array of neon signs and giant glowing billboards. I was completely entranced every time we went out. And the light shows and views from Victoria Harbour were a beautiful sparkling scene made all the more spectacular with glimmering reflections

 

Perhaps a light’s out period wouldn’t go amiss... but it was utterly mesmerizing.

 

Photos: The streets of Hong Kong by me ©Ellie Osborne

 

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A Global Challenge, from the UK to Hong Kong

I have just got back from my Hong Kong adventure and the PolyU Innovation and Entrepreneurship Global Student Challenge with my wonderful team, Brogan, Steph, Ness and Elena, bearing some super news which I just can’t keep in any longer…

We came 2nd… and. also won the Lifestyle theme award! (I'm trying to cut down on my exclamation mark usage as I o.d. on them a touch - but I think in this case it is worthy of one, maybe even 2...!)

We have been working on our business plan for a year and half now. Children’s raincoats, with a magical twist (I’m not sure I should say exactly what the magic twist is… just in case someone is sneaking round the internet blogosphere searching for a marvelous business idea.)

It feels like it was the perfect end.

I still feel a bit flabbergasted, completely shocked, but over the moon.

And who knows what we might decide to do yet

I think the best part (apart from our win – that bit was pretty exciting too) was being able to meet so many great, interesting, different yet likeminded people from all around the world. It was fantastic to bring so many countries together in such a tiny place.

And then there’s Hong Kong itself… absolutely spectacular. I feel as though I was only just beginning to uncover their culture and the wonders it holds. PolyU kept us pretty busy but we managed to squeeze in some exploring too (Plenty of blogging material) Just enough insight to tempt me back one day

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Bon Voyage .SUPERTRAMP

.SUPERTRAMP

BY

LEHMAN B

Last Thursday night I went along to welcome a friend into his new summer home, a caravan push bike.

Jacob aka 'Supertramp' is embarking on a voyage around London exploring the concept of micro-sized living; inspired by a more minimal, fluid and socially aware approach to future living, the project seeks to promote and inspire leaner, more livable life forms.

'Supertramp' is a new communal 'Future platform' initiative from Jacob's recently founded Lehman B, dubbed a ‘do tank’ – a project based on the belief that the best way to explore and embrace what the future holds is by living it and doing it.

His new mobile house doubles up as an agency and a social facility point, offering a unique, intimate and conversational platform where people will both inspire and be inspired.

He will move around London on a weekly basis, setting up in proximity to bars, restaurants, studios, companies and galleries. Every week a new topical theme will be discussed and explored as part of the journey. He is going to be holding events with casual and curated conversations and facilitated workshops, with key speakers to host special nights. Individuals and experts can share ideas, create insight, decipher knowledge and instigate real investigations and experiments that inform how a braver new world could potentially look and feel

This summer’s rather interesting topics are going to include: value change, sector convergence, betapreneurialism, civic capital, antiheroic culture and brave new lives.

Jacobs embarks on his maiden voyage around London on June 2^nd at The School of Life, where designer Thomas Thwaites will be hosting the first curated conversation' on mircoliving. He shall be clad in the 'nomadic range' created by Romanian fashion label Rozalb de Mura the Romanian and searching for the flattest routes to his urban destinations possible. He is somewhat lacking gears and breaks, so I plan to give him a helping hand and pop in for tea one day soon!

Images: Supertramp bike by Jacob Strand, photos by courtesy of Supertramp himself

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A Tropical Rainforest

On my travels around London this week I came across this rather splendid window near South Kensington Tube station.

The tropical, mythical, semi-jurassic scene, called 'Rainforest', is the creation of the wonderful illustrator Jake Blanchard for Estate Agents Douglas and Gordon and their Harrington Road Street Gallery.

Blanchard's graphic forest is a fantastic array of mint, lime, grass, maroon, purple and turquoise plants and leaves. And I love the odd mix of creatures hiding amongst the foliage, a bear, brightly feathered birds, a goat and a diplodocus! Brilliant!

Images: Rainforest by Jake Blanchard at the Harrington Road Street Gallery, photo's by me

images ©Ellie Osborne

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