Al Jaffee's "Mad Stuff"

Click on the title of this yeah?

Came across this guy today through a tutor in Uni. Im researching some pop-up stuff and it was extremely helpful.

This stuffs amazing. He's been doin it since the 60's and its still good. Thats pretty special huh?.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The Story of "The Rise Of Irish Sea Power"

A few months ago (june - july ish), a friend of mine informed me of a competition that was "on." One of my (and my close friends) favourite bands, British Sea Power, had started a competition that required fans to design and produce a flag (or decorate a tent, but fuck that). I said i would give it a bash if he got the material for me, thinking nothing really of it...I had never entered a competition like that before.

So i got the material and set off, taking inspiration from their first album entitled "The Decline of British Sea Power" (see picture). I came up with the idea to make an "Irish Sea Power" flag. Please note the stereotypical irish symbols in comparison to the leaves that they have on the album cover...can you guess all my symbols?

After the sketching and planning, I did it in a day...having taped the material crudely to the wall in our living room and getting paint all over the show. All the typography on it was hand drawn and painted by moi and it was a nightmare to get the spacing and scale right.

My friends and I took it to Latitude festival, where they and other bands that I admire were playing. We got a shout out from the band as they were playing on stage...."that flag is fucking amazing, at least a 9 out of 10." That was good for the soul and made me feel better about putting the hours into making it...just for your information it was duck tape and bamboo poles that held it up. I was very paranoid about it getting damaged by the rain too, what a loser!

A few weeks later and i got a text from a friend saying that the band had been talking about the flag and wondered why we hadnt entered it, it was a day before the closing of the competition! So after shitting my kacks and realising we forgot to enter it, I promtly entered the flag (some photos of it) into the competition.

Now we find out where this story is goin...about a week later I got an email from the bands label (Rough Trade) and they told me I had won first place! Wahey! So i picked my prize - (miscellaneous British Sea Power goodies).

Im getting the prize soon i believe and I will probably post stupid pictures of myself with the prizes.

In september the band embarked on their ireland and uk tour, and my friend is a massive fan, he went on about 10 dates of the tour and then stayed with me in carlisle for a bit (he's nothing better to do). He of course, brought the flag along the way and it got in many photos and he even got in mojo magazine!

But tragedy struck in the Glasgow leg of the tour. During the gig, a group of people ( i think a group) stole the flag from my friend...and since then its been nowhere to be seen. There is talk of another flag but i'm not sure.

If you dont already know them you should check out British Sea Power, they have fantastic artwork and theyre songs are about fantastic stuff too...il not go into too much detail, just check them out (theyre from Kendal originally!)

This was a lengthy post and im really sorry, but its because ive wanted to share this info for a while and its just kinda built up. Ta x

Please watch these if you have the time...the second one is my friend crowd surfing with noble from British Sea Power and our flag on stage at "end of the road festival"!

The Real Victory Speech...

I wish this was the real victory speech for obama. I thought i'd share this not only because i found it slightly amusing, but also to give a mention to Adam Buxton, half of british comedy duo Adam & Joe. I love those guys, ever since their show started on channel 4 in the late 90's. If you have time, you should check out Adam Buxton's other videos and if you can get a hold of it, the Adam & Joe dvd. Oh yes, they also have a radio 6 show, saturday mornings...they do a great podcast, usually available the day after the show, subscribe!

Now back to my project...IN YOUR FACE!

Serious Business Cards

Here's the business card scene from American Psycho, great scene, great film.
Id love it if my business cards im designing for the current uni project could create such a storm!

D-I-Y

This is my good friend Michael (aka Thomson). I posted this because I was very impressed with the effort he made at halloween to turn himself into Evil Kinevil...im meant to be the "creative one" and I didn't bother much this year with halloween, he kicks ass at making halloween costumes...well done good sir.

Never Eat Shredded What?

Came across this compass on the side of a lorry when myself and friends were on our way to latitude festival...i found this hilarious. The driver of the lorry however didn't find it as funny, maybe because he's the one that has to drive around the country with false information on the side of his truck.

The doodle I did is my interpretation of it...thats what it may aswell say.

If anyone has any answers to this geographical mess, (like maybe there's a reason for it) please please let me know...I'll still find it funny though.

Editorial Design

Here is the final outcome of the first project of the year (kind of). I was asked to design a cover, contents, and two spreads for a magazine of my choice, which meant coming up with a title and theme of magazine. It was a really great experience and I really enjoyed it, even if there was allot to take on board. I didnt get a great mark but that's due to me not resolving my idea until late on (tut-tut). The second spread I have posted here isn't the one I handed in, but I prefer it now (after having looked back on all of the work)!

Its nice to look back on these things after a couple of weeks, the mistakes fly at you like bullets! Still allot to learn!