admitting defeat ..

strange isn't it when you are working for some-one who know what they don't want but hasn't a clue what they want. 

I have been working on a project on and off for a couple of years now and the end product is still not seen the light of day or rather the light of the internet. after yet another meeting today I have decided that the only way forward is to stop giving options or alternatives. I am just going with design 5 or 6 a recent re-working of the of the brief and leaving it at that. instead of giving a choice I am going with it. it is the version I think best fits the brief, and if that is not enough then perhaps its time to walk away. 

sometimes its better to admit design defeat and move on, but I will give it one more try!

surfing as design inspiration >> first in an occasional series

for a while now I have been thinking that it would be a good idea to explore the huge impact surfing has had, and continue to have on the design side of mainstream clothing/fashion (textiles),  as well as its influence on printed media. of course it is not one way traffic the surfing industry continually borrows from art and design movements throughout history. to start this series above are two examples both borrowing heavily from others, the first a 1970's lighting bolt shirt fabric the second a roxy (quiksilver) graphic made in the last couple of years. I will add that this is intended to be an occasional series so will hope to post a couple of examples each week.

six fin flex-tail >> it looks crazy >> but it might just work!!

I have just received these pictures from longtime kneeboard surfer, kneeboard design guru, and good friend chris cockett & I had to post about it.

generating speed, keeping a low centre of gravity and being able to change direction quickly make kneeboard surfing (to my mind) a much purer way of surfing. kneeboard surfers are constantly searching for better ways of doing this.

this newly designed board specifically for tight powerful turns hasn't been through full testing but is set to see more action in the next few days.

I wait to hear more from chris as he is still testing the six fin flex-tail kneeboard.

I have mentioned before in this blog as a kneeboard surfer my board of choice is a swallow tailed quad. perhaps the six fin is the future, with many thanks to chris for the photos.

kneeboardsurfing.co.uk chris's web site

do computers stop creatvity?

I am often involved in conversations with colleagues in education when I find myself as someone who uses, teaches and even spends time (probably too much) using computers of some sort at home as well having to justify the positive aspects of web based media, digital applications and the rest.

however, I am also of the belief that good design or a good idea will be able to stand without much help from mr gates or mr jobs & all. no matter how much software or how cool the pc or imac looks it will not make a bad design better. I have mentioned this before on this blog and I am sure will again. but it seems still that many fellow professionals still think that having the best software and the fastest processor will make students learn more and even make their ideas better.

so much of the work I am involved in is teaching applications and so much of that process seems to teach out the creativity that everyone I believe is born with. don't misunderstand me I am in no way wishing for time to go back or that I am anti-digital applications. just simply that their use should be monitored and encouraged when appropriate. it is all too easy for the software to take over the think and the design process. I think that planning is key the design/creative process is best when the initial thinking is not constrained by what a piece of computer software can do. more that once the thinking and design ideas are established it is time to make use of the machines whatever they maybe.

funny how the past catches up >>

today I was asked to judge a competition, and it was a very interesting job indeed.
there are a very few people who have known me a long time that may remember I was a textile designer for a time after finishing art school. of course I have continued in the design field but to be asked to judge a textile competition was something I have never done before (the only thing I have been judging lately are surfing competitions).
I had such a difficult time deciding the winners, spending more time that I had set aside but it was such good fun and I have even got some ideas of my own from it.

I haven't got any pictures of it yet but when all the entrants & winners have been told I will try to get some pictures up.

creative >>inqbate >>celtd

today I was looking around in search of inspiration to kick start my tired teaching mind and was pleased to find inqbate.


*+to inspire and support staff and students in those subject areas which require students to understand and display “creativity”
+ to inspire and support staff and students to be more creative in their approaches to teaching and learning, across all disciplines and subject areas.

some of the thinking behind inqbate is listed below

*+ Freeing teachers and learners from the constraints of the traditional classroom. New spaces allow new behaviours and dynamics, and support the move away from classic, didatic 'chalk'n'talk-style' teaching to a more facilitative approach.
+ Providing teachers with effective tools to engage modern learners. The availability of a comprehensive range of cutting-edge technologies within a flexible space empowers teachers to construct compelling learning experiences and tailor these appropriately to changing needs.
+ Enabling teachers to enrich learning opportunities. Teachers will be able to extend the learning experience flexibly according to need through the effective use of layered learning resources where learning items are hyperlinked to deeper levels of information, further rich media resources and relevant individuals and online communities.

further to the inqbate site I was led on to cetltd, 'the centre for excellence in teaching and learning through design'

The Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning through Design is a HEFCE-funded partnership between the University of Brighton, the Royal College of Art, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

*all copy in italics is taken directly from the relevant websites.

powerpoint >> I have started using it again

I expect anyone who knows me will be very surprised that I have started using powerpoint as both something to teach as well as a tool for teaching (not that much).
for the last 3 or 4 years I have been getting new year 7 pupils to create presentations (& e-portfolio's) using dreamweaver and flash. this year however I went back to what I was doing a few years ago and to my surprise the level of pupil application knowledge was more limited than previous years.
I think that it is from using social networking sites like myspace, bebo, and the like as very little user input is required (templates are the norm). very few pupils even consider layout except if there is a wizard for them. I don't have a big problem with these sites as if nothing else the have broken down the fear factor of computer use with the under 18's.
going back to powerpoint has actually made pupils consider how to construct/design a good presentation as well as making sure that content is the most important thing of all.

poor content can never be dressed up to produce anything worthwhile what ever software application you use. one thing hasn't changed I really have a problem with custom animation I hate it, it doesn't make things better!

lo-fi creative >> surprisingly rare

it is not unusual for me to get email from people of of the blue as it were (I get loads everyday), especially as I run a the surf forecast and information web site surf98, we are in our tenth year online so the user base is reasonably big as well as loyal.
as I was checking through my email today for some reason a mail form anna at lo-fi creative caught my attention probably because the email mentioned design and surfing in the same sentence that is surprisingly rare!

even though I was kind of busy (trying to explain business practice and agenda writing to a very restless bunch of students) I thought I would have a look. I emailed back to say that a passion for surfing and design can only be a good thing.

I was so pleased that when I got some time to check the site I liked it and straight away decided to write this piece.

I have never met anna & they are not paying me to put this up. the first impression is enough for me to to get them on dgthekneelo, even perhaps put them on surf98 with a link through to the t-shirts you never know?

man bags >> & the uk

I seem to always be looking for the ultimate bag some thing that I can walk around shopping with, use for work and be able fit a laptop in. I have good duffs bag (below), as well as go to the beach with.


as you can imagine I have loads of different bags, messenger bags, rucksacks with 2 straps and with one strap.
but I also want a 'man bag' just to carry a phone and stuff (car keys, wallet, that sort of thing).
in mainland europe it is not unusual for men to have handbag style bags that accommodate all the stuff you need to go out with, the same bag in the uk seems to make me look incredibly camp! perhaps it's just me!!

anyway I found a great bag today made by eastpak smaller than a messenger bag but big enough to hold 'lots of stuff'. I wonder how long I will use it for?

too tired >> school holidays

should be full of energy as the school holidays are here at last!
I am just too tired to get things going. I have two new web sites to re-design and a whole bunch of other stuff to get done, so today I am taking it easy.

albert falzon >> photos >> film

I have been a fan of film-maker/photographer albert falzon, for over 30 years. but it is only recently that I have looked at his web site I must say that the design and layout is of now.

amazingly enough his work has been at the cutting edge of design (as far as the surfing world) in both film making and photography.

since the first film of his I watched, morning of the earth (early 1970's). I recently got a remastered copy of morning of the earth, that cost real money and worth every penny.
anyway check the site design, good and clean.

doesn't have to be complicated >> to be good

occasionally I happen across a website that I like the look and feel of straight away. zapata design is just one, I am not even sure how I found it or what I was looking for. the site was designed by patricia zapata a graphic designer with over 10 years experience in professional services and consumer product design.

however a lot has been said recently after the cost of the london olympic logo (don't go there!) was made public. a bad example but it did get design and designers in the news.

it is difficult to put a value on ability, in my opinion the zapata web design gets close to a pure simple yet considered layout with a clear navigation with great subtle touches. and I just like it.

gizfolio >> hope the rain stops

for a while now I have wanted to mention gizfolio as I think the their refreshing attitude to design and creativity as well as working creating/finding work for freelance designers & others within realm of new media is worth checking.


perhaps it is a shame that I have cause to mention gizfolio today as I have been watching the news of the floods in the north of the country closely as carols family are from up there. hope you haven't been too badly effected.

logos >> sammy the surf dog

I just thought I would show that even I will design something on a whim, I was just checking out paula the surf mom's site when I saw she had a little competition. to design a logo for the surf report for north carolina's outer banks (usa), written by sammy the surf dog.
well how could I resist and just a short while later I had emailed my freshly designed logo. (macromedia fireworks is a wonderful thing!)

little did I know that not only would it be used for the surf report but also a complete clothing range, and accessory range. (the hoodies look good and the messenger bag is a must have!)

cross curricular >> different thinking

never mind the london olympic logo have a look over at for some great opinions and ideas davidthedesigner and noisy decent graphics. am fighting with my own design demons to create something that will hold the attention of 14 year olds for the best part of a year. it is part of a large cross curricular project. I am currently making a flash movie these here a couple of images from the as yet unfinished film.
the idea/premiss is a good one, drawing together the disciplines of product design, food technology, textile design, graphics, ICT, resistant materials, systems and control, & new media. to make a complete marketable package for a healthy, fast food restaurant/diner food chain.
I think we have a lot of work ahead to get it right.

I like this blog >> dan lockton

I am not really sure how I found my self looking at this blog/website today but I must have spent 30-40 minutes just finding more and more to read.
dan lockton an industrial designer, engineer and writer with a special interest in consumer products, transportation and mobility, and the relationship between technology and society, especially architectures of control.
dan seems to have got things sorted as far as the thinking, looking and doing, so I will be sure to check again.

after a couple of days >> thoughts about hospitals

I didn't think it would be easy to stay away from this blog for a couple of days good but I did. it was so good to receive positive messages whilst I was away. so regards to paula hope you had some good waves this past weekend. troy thank you for your comments. special mention goes to andrew for checking that I really do have a problem with the way things are arranged, and also feistyred for making me think even more about how children can draw and enjoy drawing without being self conscious.
any way enough catching up and to the reason for today's blog.

I as usual always try to have a look at stuff wherever I go. today I went of the main city hospital as carol had an outpatients appointment (she is well it was a positive appointment). as usual I was looking up and almost enjoying the new section of the building shown in the picture below.

the shapes and shadows of the design of this building I thought were quite pleasing. this is a view out of a waiting room where I seemed to spend a long time. as long as I looked out of the window it was ok.

if only the same amount of time and money where spent on the interior. I pitched for a job designing textiles (curtains, etc.) for a health authority but we didn't agree on some stuff so it never really got going further that initial design drawings.


I wish that some one had been employed to design the interior of this hospital. I fully understand that the work of a hospital is not the same as a 'design studio' and there are more important things to consider as far as live saving. however there is no possible doubt that people recover better and even quicker if their environment is conducive to well being.
the chairs are so depressing (even though I like the colour!) it was the wipe clean plastic covers that I didn't like. as well as the combination of pale pigment less colour scheme. the new section of the build would have been specified, and though about with a chance to change the ever lasting corridors that really do my head in. I am sure that the is a better way of using the space even making the corridors perhaps not as straight, while keeping them accessible to all the emergency needs and wide enough to make it possible to visit without compromising the privacy of an inpatient.

by the time I left the hospital I felt like the last picture (this is the entrance/exit) that of course I have played about it a bit and I hadn't even seen anyone for anything wrong with me! perhaps that is why I spent so much time looking about.

it's back to pencils >> davo

as usual it was a chance message that led me to the blogs / website that I am introducing to you through dgthekneelo today. I really never know what I will be writing about form each day to the next. that is what makes stuff so interesting and fresh.

I knew that I was not crazy when I detailed the things like to always have with me in a blog I wrote a while ago 'found a nice pencil'.

troy worman's blog 'orbit now' was the starting place leading me to pencil revolutions and finally on to dave's mechanical pencils.
now this site is a real work of passion I have to say I spent far too long reading it earlier

nothing to do with the blogs mentioned but check out davo, a new concept is instant blogging that I have started, with the idea that snippets or section of conversations that seem interesting. at the moment it is very early and the only person set up to update is me, but if things work out I would like to open it up to anyone. Have a look and leave your thoughts.

bathroom again >> the man came back

I really have to apologise for the obsessive bathroom stuff it is just it has been something that has been bugging me for months. I should have done it really but I was and still are having major treatment on my shoulder and can't really lift stuff at the moment. (even though I did have a little game of rugby the other day).
I/we are so fussy about the look of things at home. it took a few weeks just to decide the colour of the tiles.
so out side of work where heaps is going on, it is very important for me to have other design colour problems to think about in a but is a respectful way as in world context it really is not that important.


I have had some very sad personal news in the last 24 for hours so writing about the design of a bathroom does seem futile, however I still do it.
as that is the way I get through stuff I suppose and it is important.

I really like the colour of the tiles and they haven't even been grouted or cleaned yet when the white grout goes on it will look stunning.

Still loads to do though as the new toilet an shower are yet to be put in.

torch >> recharging >>99p

it is not often that I find something (apart from the occasional food stuff) that I actually like in a morrisons supermarket.
I had gone to the dentist with ben we both had check ups great nothing wrong so I am free from the dentists chair for another year!! ben has to go back every three months as they are monitoring his new teeth as they come through (he is 8). the dentist is near morrisons so we dropped in to get some bits (as carol says).
while we were there carol pointed out this torch. I am sure that it was produced in china under bad conditions of overwork and underpay. just looking at the design and the function and had to buy one (well we bought two). the torch is selling for 99p, as it works using dynamo system and no batteries it should have a much longer life, the batteries alone for most torches would cost more than a pound.
I thought I would post it I realise that it is nothing new, both wind up radios and torches have been used across the world for more than ten years largely thanks to trevor bayliss.
it was more the place and the price that I found interesting. its not to get you to rush to morrisions (as it probably would not be worth it) but just to make you think that things do not have to be expensive to make a difference.

batteries are so difficult to breakdown when dumped in land fill and at least this torch though plastic does not need batteries and actually feels nice and I think looks good as well.
at 99p, I do worry how a profit can be made on it with out exploitation, I wonder whether the workers who make/assemble the torch have the opportunity to have their children's teeth checked every three months without charge?

(morrisons press release fair trade coffee in their cafes)