Nats

I'VE MOVED

2010-01-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

Hello, this may be my last post on Blogger.

This is because I've recently started up a 'Tumblr' site, and really rather like it.

You can find and 'follow' me here - http://www.natalierosesmith.tumblr.com/.

I also have a 'flavors' site too - www.flavors.me/natalierose

Ciao.

Creative BOOM !

2009-11-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Creative Boom is an online magazine-style journal or blog that aims to celebrate, inspire and support the creative industries throughout the UK and the rest of the world, including everything from music, design and fashion to film, photography and writing.

Regional hubs have been set up for across the country. I'm the main contributor to the 'Cardiff Hub'. Updating people on the latest creative, music, fashion etc events going on in the Capital, and also other parts of Wales. So, if anyone has any news, or wants me to list them in the directory, send an email.

It's relatively new at the moment, but is constantly growing in popularity. I feel this is what the creative industry needed, it's really interesting to see what is happening across the country. I wish them the best of luck, it's going to be a hit :)

You can check out the Creative Boom website, listed under my 'Lovely sites'.

New cast member of The Simpsons.

2009-11-17T07:41:00.000-08:00

Hello. I created a Simpson character of myself (to the left, incase you didn't know :p ).

LONDON.

2009-11-13T17:31:00.000-08:00

I do love visiting the Capital. Don't get a chance very often, so always try to make the most of when I do. Having a browse along Oxford St, on a chilly November day. The Christmas lights were up too, a very lovely surprise. Hope to go back down there soon.

ACCA

2009-11-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

'Outer view' of Tri-fold brochure for ACCA.

Advance

2009-11-13T17:12:00.000-08:00

This is just a sample of some graphic work I've been doing. It's a flyer for 'Advance CPD', and what they used and handed out for the Legal Wales Conference 2009, held in Cardiff.

N & B Design

2009-11-13T16:58:00.000-08:00

I've sort of gone into business with a good friend of mine, Beth Knight. Collectively, we're called
N & B Design (although we are trying to see if we can come up with another genius alternative name). Beth also graduated this year, gaining a degree in illustration.

We were invited to participate in a local Wedding Fayre, us providing the graphic design, wedding stationary side of things. Never to turn down a challenge, we accepted, as knew that opportunities like that don't come along very often.

So, in about 3-4 weeks, we'd come up with several designs for personalised wedding stationary, from invites, to order of service, from table names to thank you cards.

Poppet in context.

2009-11-13T16:38:00.000-08:00

So, I had an idea, and a typeface created. Now to put it to some good use.
The font is aimed at chidren. I thought about the idea of creating an arrangement of the letters to spell out names.Above is the outcome. This ended up being a christening gift, put in a nice wooden frame, it is a lovely personalised present.

I did several of these framed name pictures. Each outcome unique & different from the previous.

Poppet.

2009-11-13T16:30:00.000-08:00

Typeface - Poppet.
A fun font that is aimed primarily at children. Giving each letter a 'personality' and 'character' by having them enjoy a childhood activity.
For the moment, this is purely decorative, and an experiment really. I will need to develop further, in order to perhaps make it of educational use for a child.

Still here!

2009-09-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

Not posted in a while, but I'm busy working on a few projects.

Will update very soon!

Auf Wiedersehen x

Wordle.

2009-08-05T15:25:00.001-07:00

Above is a 'Wordle', created based on my tweets on Twitter.

L6 Business Cards

2009-07-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

^ Collection of L6 Visual Communication business cards that I picked up.

^ Postcards that Textile Graduates created for Degree Show.

Past few months...

2009-07-09T05:57:00.000-07:00

Alot of things were going on in the final weeks/months of uni.
Final Project/Vocational studies/Degree Show/181 Awards.

^ Collection of images taken from FMP (based on Birmingham).

^ Mum, Dad & me by my exhibition display.

^ 181 Awards Show entrance. Red carpet = very snazzy.^ Other entrance.

Still here!

2009-07-09T04:32:00.001-07:00

Hey!

I've not blogged in, well, bloody ages! Part of the factor is due to completing final University
projects the past few months - very busy time.

So thought I'd pick up where I left off.

I found this article for 'Logo trends of 2009', and came across this example.

Look familiar? It's Trident!! Hehe :D

Type Poster.

2009-03-06T11:39:00.001-08:00

We also had to produce a poster that introduced the new typeface. Showing how it could be used in context etc.
I didn't want to distract the attention away from the font, so kept the design to a minimum, and this is the result.
Currently being exhibited as part of 'Fontastic' alongside classmates posters (which are all excellent) in the Vis Comm foyer. A really inspiring and diverse mix of type designs.

Type Project.

2009-03-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

For our type project, we were asked to produce a type face that reflected us. I wanted to design something fun and interesting.

Here is 'Trident'. A typeface I created based on the angles and structure of triangles. Each letter form being made up from columns and rows of the coloured polygons. I wanted the font to become a pattern in itself. I feel the use of shapes and colours incorporated into the letters has helped to achieve this.

ps. I do realise that 'Trident' may be a name of some sort of denture or mint product, but I liked the name, and felt it suited :)

Contemporary Retro.

2009-02-20T08:20:00.001-08:00

As part of our end of year Graduate show, a committee has been created. I'm part of the Events Team, along with three other members. Our task so far has been to create and develop a theme for the Awards Show Evening. Different themes that were through of included Edwardian, Burlesque, Contemporary Retro and Modern Gallery Space.
This is the moodboard that I created based on the topic 'Contemporary Retro'. The main imagery that I found was based on colour and the contrast between white space. There was also a very geometric theme in alot of the examples, as well as use of repeat patterns.

New Cadbury bar....

2009-02-17T10:05:00.001-08:00

Brief set by Cadbury. Task: To create a new chocolate bar that would predominately be aimed at women aged 25-35. The bar would serve as an indulgent 'me time' treat for females on the go or relaxing at home in the evening on the sofa.

Poster.

2009-02-17T08:08:00.001-08:00

little books....

2009-02-17T07:53:00.000-08:00

Books that I created and bound for my negotiated project.

Happy Valentines.

2009-02-14T09:55:00.001-08:00

Lovely typography from Diego Quintana.

www.diegoquintana.com

in the bleak mid-winter........

2009-01-07T05:28:00.001-08:00

Haven't blogged in a while.
So here are some wintery images. Taken in the homeland of Wales. Bitterly cold weather, leading to some severe frosting, frozen rivers and dramatic and quite scary looking icicles.

Where's Wally....

2008-12-23T09:40:00.001-08:00

I'm currently reading 'Wally Olins - The Brand Handbook'.
So far, so good. Olins is "generally recognized as the world's most experienced pracitioner of corporate identity and branding".
This is a useful, easy-reference manual that holds information about developing the 'core idea', explains four vectors of brand tangibility, with sections on topics such as brand architecture and developing the branding programme.
It's easy to read, with lots of imagery and good examples of 21st century brands and case studies in each sector.
My rating so far: recommended.

Hay..

2008-12-21T04:36:00.001-08:00

I'm working on re-branding 'Hay Festival'. It's not too far from where I live at home in mid-wales, so thought that it would be a nice project to do.
But it does make me laugh when people think that it's a festival about hay, hehe. It's an annual book festival, as the town is renowned for it's numerous book shops.
I did, initially, want to label it as not only a book festival, but for music and comedy also. Quite a few famous names and musicians attend and perform each year, which attract consumers who would not necessarily be souly interested in books.
But after trying to brand the festival as several different things, i thought that it may be too confusing for the potential / existing consumer. Afterall, we all know what has happened to Woolworths, who were trying to be everything under the sun.
So felt that it was best to stick with one strong message, that it is a book festival.
These ideas above, took influence from an image that i discovered from the 'Big Active' blog. Creating people and characters out of letters. This example would be aimed at children, to get them to want to attend the event and also to encourage them to want to read.
But, it's just an idea. Would need to develop and use appropriate colours, and also not quite happy with 'i go yippee for romance', i was getting desperate, haha.

Hehe...

2008-12-20T14:57:00.000-08:00

Awww........

2008-12-02T06:41:00.001-08:00

Typefaces

2008-11-17T13:32:00.001-08:00

More stuff....

2008-11-17T09:36:00.000-08:00

Before all of the computer/illustrator based work, I tried experimenting with traditional ways of creating text. Collage/stitching/marker pens/ cut-out/stencils..all giving different and interesting effects. The finished design could then be scanned and altered on computer.
I really like the effect of it, and am pleased with some of the outcomes, but was very time consuming!

Stuff

2008-11-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

Some initial designs done for a band called 'the kryptics'. Currently awaiting feedback as to the kind of style that they prefer, so can develop design further.
Image to the left showcases some ideas created using traditional methods, such as marker pens and also a bit of stitching and textile work. Image to the right shows a selection of adobe illustrator based designs. Flat vector, bright and colourful, very much giving off the 80's vibe. This is a micro project, and hopefully will wrap this up soon so as to begin another.

i love fireworks

2008-11-17T09:02:00.001-08:00

Oh, how i love my camera also, takes such amazing photos of fireworks...thankfully due to the 'firework' setting on which it luckily has, but really all you need is a slow shutter speed. Giving these rather spectacular patterns of bright coloured explosions against the nights sky. Thank you Vale Fireworks :)

Hello again....

2008-11-16T08:04:00.000-08:00

...it's definately been a loong while since i've been on here. Basically feel i need to write a few ramblents just to clear my head a bit.
In approximately week 7? of negotiated project, time is going way, way way too quickly for my liking! Currently doing logo design for a band called 'The Kryptis', going okay so far, need to wrap it up pretty soon though, and focus my attention on another project.
Need to also be doing work for proffessional practice, and also writing dissertation. It's really too much for the ole head to handle, and struggling as really am not that good at planning time effectively, getting distracted most of the time.
But am definately going to pull my finger out, and organise myself properly.

Ciao for now

V muddy!

2008-08-19T11:08:00.001-07:00

So it was time for V fest again....and of course, the weather was a bit soggy (no change there then). But we're not gonna let a bit, or a lot, of mud stop us from having a good time. This year, we went to the Staffordshire site, having previously been to Chelmsford. I did quite like it, and it did seem a bit smaller, so it wasn't as much a challenge to get up close and personal with then bands. Definate highlight would have to be Maximo Park, Paul Smith really does put on a top performance, and really gets the crowd going. Brummies, The Twang, were also brilliant, even though I had about 3 cups of beer thrown over me :s Headlining were Muse, I'd heard on the radio that they were having a ufo on stage, so was anticipating an awesome performance and show, and they didn't disappoint. They really are a world-class act, with anthemic songs, and a lead singer, who in some peoples opinions is 'God'. The laser show was spectacular, even though their set was on for over hour and a half, just didn't want it all to end!!! Unbelievable!!!

Jump in the pool....

2008-08-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with this song from the first time I heard it. It's a kinda mixture of bloc party and klaxons, with a bit of carribean fiesta beats dropped in, whistles and all. There are elements of it that are really mystical, just listening to it and closing your eyes, takes you away to another place, be it only for 3 mins 37 seconds.
Definately a band to watch, I think!