payalsvision

Happy Diwali 2010

2010-11-03T22:03:00.000-07:00

Every year on deepavali, i love making traditional indian graphic greetings for all my near and dear ones. Heres the one i made for this yrs diwali festival.

Its time to party

2010-08-25T07:53:00.000-07:00

But hey we need to do a lot of planning before we get into a party.
If its a kids party, and overall a theme party things need to be carefully planned.
Earlier this month i attended a party thrown in by a friend and it was so well planned. So here are a few quick thoughts on some themes for various parties.

SOME HERE ARE SOME PARTY THEMES:
A Cartoon Gala Party
This theme can cover your kids favourite cartoon be it Tom & Jerry or Power puff Girls. This theme offers some ready to use material form markets all over to make it a fun party.Cakes come in many forms, so go grab a Toms face, Mickeys Mouse or simply some cartoons.Party materials likes - party hats, whistles, soap bubble machine in various forms and sizes, throw away ballons, etc add to the party decor for kids age party.

Invites - could be a puzzle of all cartoons or a set of playing cards with cartoons themes or some cartoon friendship bands

SAILORS DELIGHT
Here's a fun theme, if your kid likes boating or loves to be a sailor this theme to has many varity of options to choose from. The fun elements in decor can be sand, water, water guns, sailors dress code, rings, anchor, nets, boats and ships, shells, etc. Colours - white - blue - ofwhites can be the colours used with a dash of red.
Cake - can be in a shape of a boat or beach theme. Games - there can be a treasure hunt to add to the occasion. Invites - can be in form of a messenger rolled into a glass tube.

MONSOON MAGIC
This theme is just apt if your kid is celebrating his/ her bday between june to august. The ideal theme for any outdoor venue. Colours - bright palette to suite the occasion, blue ofcourse with dash of pink, yellow, reds. Decor - hanging umbrellas of various sizes, some sprinklers in the garden (if you have a beautiful garden) hang lanterns or tea lights, make nice tea light holders in various colours and shapes.
Kids can come in with rain wear - gumboots, raincoats, umbrellas hats etc...
Food - you can serve some hot stuff or keep the street food theme kinds or have things like cookies, ckaes, icecreme floats etc to add the touch of some bright foods in the monsoon. Games can revolve around shooting the balloons or fishing
Invites can be very innovative with some colourful watercolours used as background and some bold typo.

Similarly theme can be made into a KALEIDOSCOPE PARTY for your teens 18th b'day or for a HOUSEWARMING party

Some more kids theme party themes are: Jungle / George of the jungle, National leaders, Fairy tael - king or queen theme with ribbons on trees, paper crowns etc

For some traditional occasions in India here are some bright fun ideas:

1. Housewarming party
In India, owning or buying a new house is a big occasion, especially if its within the family here all would come in to shower their blessings. If its a big occasion with many family members attending the big day, having a theme that suites all ages would be good but importantly keeping it simple. You could focus on simple ideas like flower decor - rangolis, garlands, table arrangements, invites etc can be thematic or colour coded with various local flowers. timing are majour issues in such occasions so ideally keep it open day party - as the themes says it guests can flow in as per their convenience... but if space is an issue keep it divided in time and groups over a weeks period for everyones convenience and you to would require soem time to arrange for all things in the new house. Dont forget your neighbours for this occasion a good start to socialise with them. If the couple is young even an rearranging party is a good theme you would get a hand for some help around daily chores, you could ask them for a sleep over and also have some great decor ideas shared while you put your house in place. If you want to say a special thank you to your dear ones you could gift theme some cookies wrapped in a basket or some homebaked cakes or muffins.

For the other side of the party - especially if you are attending such ocaasions its always good to gift a small memorable thing that reminds the owners of your presence to their joyous occasion. You could co-ordinate with all friends or famil members together to contribute and gift something special, you dnt want the house owners to have something they would nt have space for right? So pick something thoughtful like a nameplate - its always nice to have a decorative simple nameplate for a house. its always good to even check if the owners need something or if you have any ideas whats the theme or colours used int he house are and accordingly gift them some cool things. To keep it simple you can carry some home cooked food for the occasion - cookies, pickles, share a recipe book (handmade like a scrap book with all family recipes and some sweet notes).

2. Newly weds
Now heres an occasion that requires a lot of effort many a times in the year. I am sure everyones has weddings to attend be it friends or relatives or colleagues. But the family throwing such a party is always on their toes weeks before the big day. to keep it simplle you can make your party colour coded - a set of 2 or even a colour can be choosen eg: Violets - everythng form decor to invites to flowers to cutlery can be mixed matched in shades of violets. If the guest know the theme in advance (many invites would state it previously) then gifting something similar works or just carry some flowers they say alot, i mean they smell so good...:)

Weddings in India can be more or less traditional depending on the venue, if its a Rajasthan or Kerala wedding make sure traditional attire is adhered to - you dont want to be left out of the crowd on such a day. you will blend well if its in similar lines. Sarees or Kurtas work best. If its a more modern setting like in Mumbai or Delhi opt for some rich embroidery work traditional wear for a wedding or some simple rich classic cuts for an evening wear occasion.

Gifts for such occasions should not be rushed into, i mean who says gifts have to reach same day same time. Mostly people would say 'no gift only blessings' or something simialr on their invites, but its best to atleast keep such occasions out of the list. I firmly believe small functions can be a good option to be away from gifting, big occasions are sometimes looked back and rememebred by people who have attended or memories they have lefft behind and gifts are memories for many. The ideal way to handover the gifts for such occasions are to vist the couple prior to the wedding week and share a small tet-e tea. This will also give you an opportunity to help your friends and relatives in some last minute chores for the function.

The big question is what to gift, well if its your friend - its easy be direct ask them what they like or ask your friend to make a list of things he would like and you could gift her something she would loved. If its your colleague, its always best to opt for some good store vouchers for the house or some famous store they could enjoy shopping together. What adds value to such occasion is when you know the couple is moving into a new house - so best give them something that suites their taste for their house - bedding sets, bathing accessories, home decor vouchers etc. If the couple is moving outstation its always good to keep the gift small and simple - some good accessories would also help like watches for the couple. Though such occasions are highly explored by cutlery market and the wedding couple would get lots of gifts around this, its ideal to choose witin this set as well. eg: butter and cheese spreads glasswear, juice dispenser with glasses, openers set (this is great help in the kitchen)... these will ensure they are used and not many have repeat sets of each.

3. Godh-bharayee
Post marriage one would celebrate this occasion within some years. Another big occasion as part of the Indian traditions. So what should i gift my bhabhi or my sis on this occasion? Now here is your chance to do some wishful thinking. A celebration for mom and the baby. some pampering gifts are always welcomed... some good maternity clothes you have lots of brands having a good range in india from mothercare to marks and spencers. Anything from light jackets or accessories for the period are good gifts. but nothing can beat some sets of good reading books on pregnancy or exercises for preganacy, some cook books for healthy eating, some post delivery knowledge gainers can hunt for CDs that help train a new mom. Music CDs or shlokas recited that help calm a person are available in plenty in the market. Though its occasionally a ladies gatheirng many themes can be combined with dance and muci for such occasions. This occasion has to be streamlined and planned. Take lots of pictures... post delivery they can be some sweet memories on walls to. plan some fun games - throw a diaper game, passing the parcel, jackpot - with lots of baby kiddy things.If you are throwing a party ensure the food is home cooked and simple. You can hire a chef or keep a cook option in hand to help you fix a good menu on cards for such occasion. A surprise is always good, but keep it simple, not too hectic, convenient - place & time, clean and more so suitable to the to be mommy's schedule (ensuring she catches on her afternoon sleep and regular meals)

Post delivery gifts ideas can be planned depending if its a boy or girl or twins. Colous can be many bt blue for boys and pink for girls are always suitable. Big balloons to decorate the mommy and baby with a warm welcome is ideal. NO MUSIC PLEASE is the golden rule. Take lots of pictures. you can go out of your way with some simple messages on many items like cutlery, bathing sets, cribs..you could even hand-paint and add a fresh factor to the old family crib as a gift from all.

For all the occasions i will keep adding to this post.

Raksha bandhan card for my brothers

2010-08-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

SOUTH GOA BEACHES

2010-07-23T22:37:00.000-07:00

The sandy clean beaches of south goa are a must visit for the splendid view and oceans galore...

Wah TAJ!

2010-07-23T22:22:00.001-07:00

COLOURFUL ELEPHANTS in LONDON

2010-07-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Wasim (from Lemon design, pune) to introduce us to this colourful event.

http://www.elephantparade.com/

LOVED the BOLD GRAPHIC style !

2010-07-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

http://jamesjoyce.co.uk/

Natural Hues

2010-06-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

Calming steps @ Radisson

2010-06-11T02:21:00.000-07:00

In the hustle bustle of Mumbai one often chooses to take a weekend trip to a close by destination, we choose Radisson at Alibaugh. Not too far away from the city one can have a good drive to this place or even enjoy a boat ride (if not a monsoon season). As you enter the premises you experience the calm silence that makes you feel you are in another country. As soon as you enter right from the valet service to reception desk an till you reach ur room, you do not have any anxiety what do ever. Welcome drink and pleasant stay is always assured at Radisson.
The rooms we booked were small private villas which have your own extended garden in the front and back side...completely private space for a romantic evening i must say.... or even if kids accompany they can play as they like...or at max read a book in the chilling winter evenings. The rooms are spacious and can easily accomodate an extra bed if need be. The best is the room service offered, you ask for it and you get it. The spa at radisson has the best international products used and the service is prompt and very comfortable. The spa experience is a must do at Radisson.
I loved the area where the restaurants are placed perfectly blending with the architecture and the surrounding nature. Lush green kawns and amazing water pools surround whats a unique experience. Food options are varied nd the platter is vast to feel left if nothing. The Non-veg options are plenty and best served hot whenever you order it.
I do recommend their breakfast - its a wide choice to choose from and its always good to have it before you go for ur swim or to the health club.
The quite end of the place is also a reading room which is so serene and quite you could spend an entire afternoon reading books from all genres and subjects... loved the way they have choosen books on travel and antique jewellery, when else would you plan your next destination. This was my first step to a calming experience.
Walking on big lawns for a good morning walk or even taking to their quite corners for reading a book...Radisson sure knows how to keep you at your best on a holiday.

A trip to Cochin

2010-05-31T22:29:00.000-07:00

It was a short trip to Kerala for a typical Mallu wedding. Guruvayur temple is one of the sacred palces for most Mallu's. This is approximately a two hour drive from cochin airport.
My trip was just 2 nights hopping from guruvayur to ernakulum. I experienced the most colourful sunset on a jetty ride one evening which is strangely named as marine drive boating. Sipping on some hot coffee which had a froth layer giving the aroma one would die for his is a must try. The banana bajiya, are a bit too sweet but best accompanied with tea and coffee. You would typically find a pleasant weather around this time of the year... we even caught our first monsoons for the year. We also visited a goddess temple which had arti timings every 15 min...this does make ur life difficult to get the darshan immediately. Overall colourful old style architectural houses and lush green landscapes are pleasant for long drives. One can even drive to Munnar and stay in a boathouse bu definately pre-bookings are recommended. Food is definately good at typical restaurants serving a variety of veg and nonveg food...especially sea food is good.
Overall one can also shop for many typical south indian things like samai (diya to light with oil), silk sarees, some heavy gold temple jewellery....dnt miss on these things while u r on a holiday.

Visual Communication

2010-05-24T02:47:00.001-07:00

Kolor

2010-05-24T02:34:00.000-07:00

The kolor project is a conscious way in which you look at a particular colour. Hence the word is also deliberately spelt differently.

Colour, all said and done is what you believe in. Though it carries it's own connotation and means differently in many regions. A Colour makes and breaks the way we communicate or simply want to communicate.

Let's start by sharing "How do you choose a COLOUR?"

MUMBAI inspired!

2010-05-24T00:15:00.000-07:00

Its been a few years the buzz for eco-friendly, eco- conscious, nature friendly, energy saving...and so on has caught the conscious of a designer. Be it architects or product designers ...everyone is trying to make a difference in building a better future. But are people who are using it aware of conscious ways to handle it.

As part of the day to day living how does one manage to build in the coscious effort to do so. Living in a city like Mumbai, has been a busy life for me for past so many years (i bet all mumbaities would agree). But being nature friendly in small ways helps to contribute to the world of clutter and pollution free world. Public transport has always been a convenient way to travel for years in Mumbai... be it BEST buses or even trains. In a mega city like Mumbai why arent people designing products for public services which help in building consciousness about " simple ways to energy saving" among the public masses. There are very few people who consciously a part of this big movement, of nature fiendly items. It's not only about shopping for oraganic food and buying cotton clothes or even taking home some eco-friendly products... it's beyond this.

So i had a few ideas, which i am sharing:

1. BEST buses
A public transport bus runs on roads all season, all day (almost) in all seasons and also all throughout the year. Instead of having them run on fuel why arent there any eco friendly buses running on solar power. The top end of the bus is only used as a shelter if the solar panels are fitted on top and have them used as power to run buses on roads, it would definately do good.
Another option is also to have buses with rain water harvesting facility or else best is to make them run on water-power.

2. 2 - in - 1
Why arent solar power panels designed as part of any roof-like structure which adds value to protect from sun, generate solar power and collect rain water. These can be used in small sizes to protect patio areas and varandas or much less like balcony's or window's or a/c shelters in cities like mumbai. They can even act as solar heaters for winter seasons.

3. TRAINS
We can also design trains running on solar power and have basic ameneties like fans, lights and doors operated by them. Railway stations have more number of cables running across them than the number of trains...observe this if you ever get some time to spend on platforms. Even platforms are good solar power generating units. The scale of platforms are huge... the amount of walkover bridges and roof areas are available in big scale to make a difference.

4. BIO FUEL
To contribute to this section nothing can beat the eatery stalls in Mumbai...i mean thats what Mumbai is known for, right. Street food or wada-pav take your pick to know how much oil is being used? If one only has to think if such eateries had to collect their used cooking oil at the end of each day in a tank - collection tank. I only wonder how many tanks would we fill??? we can even add all hotels, household dabbawalas, farsan marts, wedding caterers, etc to this movement. Only if we had an oil tank collector coming to each area to collect the oils, and we all contribute to it, each lane, each household each eatery... we can make our own fuel by oil.

There are other elements which can also contribute like garbage - segregated by the conscious learner into wet and dry, metal, glass and plastic. Build a unit that helps you keep your garbage clutter free and also seggregates them to consciously use them. I mean glass when embedded into walls act as good decorative elements, gives light and controls temperature.
Schools should have eco-conscious architectural elements built-in, which help children to develop interest and enable imaginations to build something eco-friendly. One can build many things from his own garbage.

5. PUBLIC SPOTS
This section may cover many areas of a city like gardens, washrooms, busstops, parking areas can all contribute to a city to believe and live better. Semi-private areas like malls, theatres, convention halls, museums should contribute to this big movement in conscious development of our environment to better living.

There could be many more areas and mediums in which we can build a better world around us. But its important we start with ours basics, TODAY.

I will keep adding to this article for more.

Logo Design for a COPYWRITER

2010-03-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

This Logo was designed for a client who was a content developer, copywriter and a translater.

Postcards

2010-03-19T11:58:00.001-07:00

Packaging project

2010-03-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Wedding Invites

2010-03-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

A series of cards done in traditional motifs, something that the bride wanted.
A mehendi invite, cocktail, wedding and a reception invites were offered in colours inspired by Indian traditions.

Stationary Design

2010-03-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

This Branding project was done for an independant Industrial Designer.
The brief was to give some fresh look and simple clean form to the entire range of communication mediums - visiting cards, enveloped, letterheads and CD stickers.

New Year Greetings

2010-03-19T11:20:00.001-07:00

LABEL design for a fashion designer

2010-03-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

These are a few logo explorations done for a Fashion Designer for her own store.

SHARMAC ASSOCIATES - visiting card design

2010-03-19T11:16:00.001-07:00

Old friends Incorp.

2010-03-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

This logo was designed for a friend. It's for a new start up company - a few friends together were starting this new venture into retailing. It's first retail outlet was @ Nirmal Lifestyles, Mulund.

My handpainted box

2010-03-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Style made simple.....

2009-10-06T02:12:00.000-07:00

My handmade DIWALI 2009 cards collection

2009-09-29T01:01:00.001-07:00

co-incidence

2009-09-23T01:59:00.001-07:00

LOVEart

2009-09-23T01:33:00.000-07:00

anna hain purna bramha

2009-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Rusha, my old good friend who inspired me to pen down some food for thought. Maharashtrian food have many categories to relish from... i thought i should pen down something that i have been eating over 28years...everyday...almost twice a day (i wonder how much that calculation can make me feel!)

Some few items i love (obviously home cooked) are:
1. Kadhi gole
Now this is totally Deshasta brahmin style and is a treat to anyone who loves authetic indian veg food.

2. Fhansachi bhaji
This is a typical seasonal fruit, that we enjoy in summers... but its raw stage to cook a delicious (veg) vegetable dish is truely mouth watering

3. Kothimbir wadi (Coriander pattice)
Though this has lately become very famous... a typical maharashtrian house would definately have this as an evening snack sometime.

4. Matkichi bhaji
These are kind of pulses, nicely simmered with garlic and onions... and lots of kala masala.

5. Naralache ladu
A typical sweet dish made from coconut and rawa... mouthwatering.

6. Bhakri ani pethla
A farmers food earlier known, but today it's the taste that matters. Peethla is a gravy which you ought to eat with bhakri (bread) only.

7. Pan-nah
This is aso very typically a summer drink - sweet raw mangoes boiled and are made into a pulp... with lots of sugar + kesar...and some mroe ingredients and then served ice cold.

8. Some snacks to mention are: Policha ladu, pohyacha chevda... and many more.

But i turely missed these when far away from home for too long.....Will try and keep adding a few more to this list soon.

cultureaangan

2009-09-06T23:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.cultureaangan.com

This is a very beautiful link sent by my friend Vivek....he is also from malvan, its a konkan belt area on the coast of maharashtra. Amazing seafood and breathtaking landscapes.

Brahminwadi Ganapati Festival 2009

2009-09-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

Rajnikant Special

2009-09-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

Loksatta, 8th March 2009
- Sent by Subrat Kumar

Rajanikanth makes onions cry.
Rajanikanth can delete the Recycling Bin.
Ghosts are actually caused by Rajanikanth killing people faster than Death can process them.

Rajanikanth can strangle you with a cordless phone.

Rajanikanth can play the violin...... ...with a piano.

When Rajanikanth enters a room, he doesn't turn the lights on,......... .... he turns the dark off.

When Rajanikanth looks in a mirror the mirror shatters, because not even glass is stupid enough to get in between Rajanikanth and Rajanikanth.

Brett Favre can throw a football over 50 yards. Rajanikanth can throw Brett Favre even further.

Rajanikanth does not know where you live, but he knows where you will die.

Bullets dodge Rajanikanth.

A Handicap parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Rajanikanth and that you will be handicapped if you park there.

Rajanikanth' calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd, no one fools Rajanikanth.

If you spell Rajanikanth wrong on Google it doesn't say, "Did you mean Rajanikanth?" It simply replies, "Run while you still have the chance."

Once a cobra bit Rajanikanth' leg. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.

When Rajanikanth gives you the finger, he's telling you how many seconds you have left to live.

Rajanikanth can kill two stones with one bird.

Rajanikanth was once on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and was the first to spin. The next 29 minutes of the show consisted of everyone standing around awkwardly, waiting for the wheel to stop.

Leading hand sanitizers claim they can kill 99.9 percent of germs. Rajanikanth can kill 100 percent of whatever he wants.

There is no such thing as global warming. Rajanikanth was cold, so he turned the sun up.
Rajanikanth can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass. At night.

It takes Rajanikanth 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.

Rajanikanth once shot down a German fighter plane with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"

In an average living room there are 1,242 objects Rajanikanth could use to kill you, including the room itself.

Rajanikanth got his drivers license at the age of 16 Seconds.

With the rising cost of gasoline, Rajanikanth is beginning to worry about his drinking habit.

The square root of Rajanikanth is pain. Do not try to square Rajanikanth, the result is death.

When you say "no one's perfect", Rajanikanth takes this as a personal insult.

there is nothing like recession , its just rajnikanth started to save money

Worli seaface view from the bridge

2009-07-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

The new sealink bridge

2009-07-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

AWESUM experience in monsoons on the bridge.

Karla Trekking - June 2009

2009-07-13T04:38:00.000-07:00

TOP 10 UNTOUCHED EVENTS

2009-07-08T03:42:00.000-07:00

here are a few events which have been playing a significant role in my life.

1. My school admission into Auxilium Convent High School
2. A trip to Delhi - During Indira Gandhi's assasination...cannot forget the Delhi railway station scenario.
3. Seventh standard - many unexpected events to shape personal and professional growth...won a t-shirt design competition.
4. Tenth standard results - always a grand EVENT in ones life!
5. My graduation process - 4 colleges attended before entering Sophia Polytechnic for doing Applied Arts... had lost my marksheet in Ruia college during admissions.....didnt have money to pay fees in Sophia thanks to my sister who was happy to help.
6. My first freelance job - a illustration for making a dhoop stick
7. My first Internship in PUBLICIS (ad agency)+ My first Salary cheque just Rs 5000/-
8. My first health client + creative work printed in market - German Remedies "allrite"
9. Post Graduation @ NID
10. Convocation in NID

small bites in mumbai

2009-04-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

i wonder where i learnt to appreciate food and good cuisine. but heres to all those good times spent in all the good restaurants.

To start with in mumbai

Angeethi - parle station
good non-veg platters served with authentic northindian cuisine and yummy gulab jamun with brandy, a must have!

good breakfast - king circle
manis - quick south indian food joint
cafe mysore - yummy rassam idli and coffee

mahabhoj - south indian thali

soham - babulnath
good veg snack place all day hang out

swati - bombay central
veg snacky place .....good enough if u have time

parle station - khao galli ...yummy chilli cheese dosa and dabeli

parsi dairy kulfi - dadar TT
malai kulfi is so full to a tummy

bachelors - on chowpatty
strawberry creme and sitafal creme

long lost lemon grass - bandra
served authentic thai cuisine...hope they restart

gallops - mahalaxmi racecourse
awesome dinner for two.....more romantic

pizzeria - marine drive
awesome pizzas a place to be with friends

copper chimney - lower parel
good food for all type of cuisine lovers...but a family place

prakash - dadar
they serve authentic maharashtrian snacks but tasty is just another word.

pankaj juice centre - king circle
for anytime of the day and yes night also

gurukripa - sion
yummy sindhi food and their variety of mithais is toooooo good.
dnt miss on falooda here

grand central - chembur station
good butter chicken.....recommended by all frnds a must go.

....i guess many more weekends are going to be busy and many more additions to thislist....any recommendations pls add on.

For my true love!

2009-03-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

In search of love
i found you,
in the heart of kindness
i discovered you!
In sparkling eyes
i found the truth,
in caring hands
i found you!

I never wanted to part
but times are such,
i never thought!

It was you
who showed me the way,
for all i know... its you from today!

the search is still on...

2009-03-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

for many who thought of me as inspiration,
for many who looked at me for love,
its you who needed me to look at you... with such glow.

i listened to a few... i argued with a few
i relished a few... but was never fond of you.

i treasured u, i respected u
but when i challenged u...it was never you!

i think i know, but i dont
i think i missed u, but i dont
everyday that passes by i pray,
i never find a man just like u!

JUST ONE CLOUD

2009-02-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

MY CONVOCATION @ NID 2008

2009-02-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

Shampoo Labels

2009-02-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

one of my old designs for a shampoo label brand in the south asian market

Dedicated to my favourite Dr.

2009-02-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

It was a bright sunny morning on a sunday in Matunga, on my kinetic riding with dad to Cafe Madras for breakfast. I heard a loud noise and breaked suddenly....to my surprise it was an old man, 86 years old doctor. He was no other than Dr.Krishnan. Our Family doctor and he was the best. I used to enjoy being in his clinic, his assistant was the best...he would let me be anywhere in the clinic. He had this old woodden clinic with glass window...high cieling and a huge garden in front....i loved his garden a small seesaw...was all kids needed. Me and my dad greeted our doctor and had missed him for years, he stopped his practice a few years ago...fortunately none of our family members have fallen ill since he stopped his practice. Rather i roughly remember, it was std 7th the last time when i had jaundice and he let me have ice-creme, and have my medicinal tablets with honey...not water. WOW!!! can u imagine when u have no taste in your mouth you have a doctor who would let you eat chocolates for one medicinal tablet. He was a very traditional doctor i have ever found.... who believed medicinal or antibiotic tablets are for extreme cases. He used to give these medicines which were red coloured liquids - with a small sticker metre marked on bottles for every dose...and they were good. Atleast it never made your mouth tasteless like the medicines lately. My experience since then with Doctors have not been so good. While me and dad continued our conversation with our doctor... we shared everything from how we miss him as our family doctor? to his new apartment on 16th floor...from where he can enjoy the full 360 degree view of matunga. He was a very well read person, while he used to cure his patients not only with his medicines but also with his kindness and stories for all children who would get an injection (tetanis or other regular ones) without realising the pain... his sanskrit gyan (knowledge) was very good...one good knowledge he shared with us was he lately believes that Doctors of todays generation have no time to spend with their patients and hence its no more of a bond that you would feel with your doctors. Rather cities like mumbai have a very different story of space and culture and time being money. We had thoroughly enjoyed his company for few minutes that we could catch him. A 86yr old man all fit and fine, walking alone without any support or a stick and doing all the things he had to as part of his daily activity....I THANK GOD TODAY I MET SUCH A LOVELY MAN IN MY LIFE!

turkish tea

2008-11-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

blue and white

2008-11-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

ISTANBUL: a place to visit for all who love to be with themselves on a holiday and yet have some few adventures. Its beautiful to see so many architectural and natural wonders. Me and my friend planned this trip just three weeks in advance and we were off to go before we knew. We flew from Mumbai to Istanbul by Turkish airways, though the cheapest of all airlines you may have many options if your pocket and budget is high. Our stay was planned at the Hotel Validesultan, very friendly staff and Mehmat - front desk executive was very helpful. Situated in Sultanhamat area, which is a tourist area of all, it was close to the airport and centre of the city to travel any where. Having rooms with a motherly touch to their décor. The stay was just perfect for a weeks trip. Hotels on Istiklal street are also recommended for young crowd, Hotel Lush is good with every room in a different layout and design, my friend recommends it atleast for one night stay.
The time difference between India and Istanbul, is just about 4 hrs, we landed in the first half of the day in Istanbul. We went around our hotel area on the first day. The easiest and fastest way to beat the traffic and travel to sites is by the tram which is 1.40 YTL. Taxis are 2 YTL mini… but rather unexpected tourist not knowing to speak Turkish, should not opt for it. Buses are fairly good but traffic is bad so not recommended. We had initially planned to go to Cappadocia a beautiful cave city, but it was something we felt needs to be done separately and couldn’t get clubbed with our 6 days stay. But for all others it’s a must visit.

Sites:
Bhosphorus cafes – enjoy a cup of tea by the river straight and don’t forget to spend one evening reading a book here. Take a local 3 deck cruise to the other side of turkey – Asia which also has some good sea side cafes. Topkapi palace and Dolmabahce palace is a must visit for all who love history and museums. Topkapi palace is worth a visit for the variety of blue ceramic tiles used and the stories related to the Turkish culture. Blue mosque –sultan ahmet camii - is beautiful from inside…not well maintained it apparently the only one with 6 minars. There are more than 260 windows to lit the mosque thru daylight and some hundreds of Iznik tiles from 17th century. The Haghia Sophia (church means divine wisdom – it’s a museum, stands opposite the blue mosque, its calligraphy huge size ornate elements around the whole structure are magnificently beautiful. Gold, blue, white, are the colours that will reflect in every piece of artifact you buy. Galata tower was a 360degree view of the entire city. The Yerebatan Cistern is a architecture marvel, with some 200 odd pillars supporting a underground water reserviour and has two sculpture of two sisters upside down and one eye s closed, there have been many stories to it, marble pillars and wish pond.

Language:
A few words from the Urdu language though commonly spoken, publically English is not so common so figuring out your way would not have been easy otherwise. But having a city map in English will be very useful o find your way, though all maps are not useful the one you get outside any tourist spot will be more apt.

Regardless of your willingness the Bhophorus is a beautiful. Small fishing boats owned by locals are a filling the sea of marmara in the morning, evening its full of cruises and sunset on a cruise on the bhosphorus is beautiful. The city is so small yet so beautiful – a blend of modern and contemporary be it their cafes or even their hotels.

Food:
Breakfast at the hotel we were staying was awesome a good blend of raw blend of vegetables and so many options in bread. We were served fruit juices – orange and wild berry – tea and coffee – breads (with different coatings and many different shapes and tastes, toast, etc ) boiled egg, jam, cheese spread, butter, honey – dark and light, mix and watermelon marmalades, fruits, chicken and salami, raw tomato and cucumbers….so much and we almost skipped our lunch.
To eat local cuisines our experience was best tested on street food. We strongly recommend than expensive cafes. Though you would see Starbucks and McDonald’s brands most often on the city side. One should try Donear kababs – the local delicacies on the street cafes only. Turkish teas – all different flavours without milk is a must to refresh at any given corner like in India – as we have our chai thella. Fish Balluchi restaurant – at sultanhemat area near our hotel was very a must visit to try seafood, they also offered some good wines. Waffles in Ortokoy area are a must…there is just one person opposite the bus stop – you cants miss.
The cafés under the galata tower are good places to have lunch. Ortokoy and Taksim square has awesome Turkish delicacies to try – for non-veg lovers it’s the best. Wet burgers and kababs are recommended. During the month of September – October you would get hazelnuts roasted over clay – served hot – just peel and eat. Yummy is the word. Hot chocolate served near Dolmabahce palace is good where you see ducks float by you and birds flying so close while you sip over your hot chocolate and enjoy the view.
Souvenirs
As for souvenirs you could always pick, the traditional blue pottery adapted into different mediums like coasters, pots, plates, ash trays etc. Turkish bath is very famous also known as Hamam, Turkish towels and soaps – pomegranate- cinnamon – lavender, rose etc are commonly available. Abdulla brand in grand bazaar has some good soaps and good packaging also. Tea lit glass chip laterns are beautiful in a hazelnut shape….they come in all sizes for a good bid don’t forget to bargain. Tea flavours like apple, herbal, rose etc are fairly a nice gifting item for all. There are street artist who would write your name in English script looking like urdu script on plates or tiles….a good nameplate you see. Though grand bazaar and spice market are some few places to go quickly on your last day of the trips. But there are many local shops that also give you some good buys. Istiklal street is meant for all who want a BRAND in their wardrobe….its got all shoes, boots, accessories, clothes, etc. The nostalgic tramp is too good a timepass.
Perfumes are quite favourites with Europeans so many shops will have a excellent variety even at the duty free.

Istanbul

2008-11-14T06:46:00.000-08:00

free fonts list

2008-08-09T02:57:00.001-07:00

http://www.dafont.com/
http://www.1001freefonts.com/
http://www.urbanfonts.com/
http://www.typenow.net/
http://www.stencilrevolution.com/resources/
http://www.blambot.com/fonts.shtml
http://www.erik.co.uk/font/
http://www.myfonts.com/
http://www.rewardprograms.org/thefreegeek/features/101-awesome-downloadable-
fonts-for-designers.html

The man with strong visual language

2008-07-23T10:19:00.001-07:00

You may be wondering who am i talking about.....he is none other than ALAN FLETCHER....Synthesising the graphic traditions of Europe and North America to develop a spirited, witty and very personal visual style, ALAN FLETCHER is among the most influential figures in British graphic design as a founder of Fletcher/Forbes/Gill in the 1960s and Pentagram in the 1970s.

"The Art of Looking Sideways, Alan Fletcher’s 2001 book, is an unfailing source of wit, elegance and inspiration. At over a thousand pages, it is a spectacular treatise on visual thinking, one that illustrates the designer’s sense of play and his broad frame of reference"....to read more about him http://www.designmuseum.org/design/alan-fletcher
further reading:
Alan Fletcher, Colin Forbes, Bob Gill, Graphic Design: Visual Comparisons, Studio Vista, 1964

Jeremy Myerson, Beware Wet Paint: Designs by Alan Fletcher, Phaidon, 1994

Alan Fletcher, The Art of Looking Sideways, Phaidon, 2001

Alan Fletcher, 100 Maverick Postcards, Phaidon, 2004

in the book "the art of looking sideways", though each and every page is a story in itself....a strong visual message......the art of looking sideways is a bible for any designer.....or people with similar interest.

The cover of the book (if you closely see what it highlights) actually says...never judge a book by its cover......what a start. He has one of his pages quoting "Thinking is drawing in the head"...a strong message for designers who deal with a constant fight between is language (or rather words/ sentence) stronger than visuals (or iamge)...but this book has proved it wrong ....its a balance of what he has to say ....with what he has said...through visuals. The spoons page...one has to read this book like a bible to know what it like...a real treasure.

To the most beautiful bird

2008-07-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

a monsoon morning.......perfect for the most beautiful bird to shower his love over his better half...ht fresh blue with a spiral feather structure and a crown to make anyone jealous and tell the whole world i am the most beautiful bird.....thats the peacock. everyone has seen one in a zoo but at NID its a pleasure to walk on the same path as them and have them showing their monsoon magic spelled over front lawns......a sight worth a catch early in the morning in ahmedabad.

viral marketing ......a new buzz in advertising

2008-06-24T03:58:00.001-07:00

Viral marketing and viral advertising refer to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of pathological and computer viruses. It can be word-of-mouth delivered or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet. Viral marketing is a marketing phenomenon that facilitates and encourages people to pass along a marketing message voluntarily. Viral promotions may take the form of video clips, interactive Flash games, advergames, ebooks, brandable software, images, or even text messages. The basic form of viral marketing is not infinitely sustainable.

It is claimed that a satisfied customer tells an average of three people about a product or service he/she likes, and eleven people about a product or service which he/she did not like. Viral marketing is based on this natural human behavior.

The goal of marketers interested in creating successful viral marketing programs is to identify individuals with high Social Networking Potential (SNP) and create Viral Messages that appeal to this segment of the population and have a high probability of being passed along.

The term "viral marketing" is also sometimes used pejoratively to refer to stealth marketing campaigns-the use of varied kinds of astroturfing both online and offline to create the impression of spontaneous word of mouth enthusiasm.

hand worked typeface

2008-06-18T10:58:00.001-07:00

experimental work

2008-06-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

design concepts and concerns

2008-06-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Expressing yourself through a ME board.
As a team conceptualising a game on the two given attributes
Physical and Chance, with the help of metaphors.

CONCEPTUALISATION

2008-06-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

Taking inspiration from the orbit...this informative graphic panel explains how a process of conceptualisation is never linear for a designer.

WINNING THE SECOND PLACE IN THE JINDAL COMPEITION AT NID

2008-06-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

my work at NID

2008-06-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

BPL oxygenerator brochure

2008-06-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

MY FIRST BRAND LAUNCH

2008-06-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

I will never forget my first brand launch, while at GHNU. This logo was designed by me for GERMAN REMEDIES, this brand is an anti-allergic medical brand. Packaging and precription pads were my main medias then. Its a pleasure to work with Mamta Kulkarni the brand manager of Allrite, her support, patience and confidence in me was overwhelming. Allrite is in the market todays and it is a proud moment as a designer to see my work in the market.

WHITE WINGS LOGO DESIGNED BY ME IN MY EARLY DAYS OF WORK

2008-06-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

For people who love to travel

2008-06-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.thisisthelife.com/

enjoy

2008-06-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

The bamboo art at grand hyatt mumbai - aseven piece puzzle

2008-06-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

pali... an unforgettable trip

2008-06-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

this was a small one day trip to pali a small village....one among the ashtavinayak yatra for ganpati (lord ganesha) darshan on the way to goa. awesome road from panvel crossing karnala to goa highway......clean roads....the drive is unforgettable. its a small place to enjoy a day trip or a weekend getaway.....petron guest house is famous which serves good food - veg and non-veg....having a swimming pool and a badmington court with good facility for jacuzzi and a sauna. karnala bird sanctuary is one of the famous spots near by. pen market is famous for many seasonal vegetables and fruits ....a famous stop over by women. for all the people who love being on their wheels its a must drive path...enjoyyy.

letter design class

2008-04-25T07:26:00.000-07:00

Colour design

2008-03-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

Colour is perhaps the most subjective of human senses, since no two people respond to colour exactly the same way. It is a visual sensation that affects each of us differently. We are excited, smoothen angered or pleased at both conscious and subconscious levels by colours we see around us. Out ethnicity and cultural backgrounds also influence the way we respond to colour. With the emergence of integrated marketing and branding communications, a designers scope of activities has vastly diversified and consequently a branding project is far more than just a logo exercise, and involves critical colour decisions at every stage involving a variety of applications.

It is a huge debate across cultures everywhere, people who want to preserve ethnicity which is a great thing and then there are those who work in the global context, which is very necessary today because we are open to all influences…s ort of ethnic-global. Asian countries are now economically very strong and colour follows money, that’s when we do trends, there is a rising pride in asian nations in their own cultures. We are more getting very comfortable with our ethnicity… we are ok to be Indian today. All trends follow the money because truly its business that is putting in money.

There is another case for maintaining cultural and ethnic colour, because the younger generation is very proud of it. They are cool being India that’s really the catch phase.

Colour only has two aspects: social change and technological advancement. There is also this whole concept of colour familiarity, its almost with everything, once you hear music of a particular kind, it begins to dawn upon you, you eat new food, they become familiar to you. For instance this whole coffee culture of sitting in an aromatic environment with kids, you know, being with your friends has also made brown acceptable to younger people. Before brown would sell like a khaki or mitti, but not as an expensive luxury colour.

The brand is the visual identity of the activities and everything that a company stands for in the geographies it operates in. Brand activities may relate to how you want to be locally present or globally present. Apart from standard print applications like brochures, the brand colours get translated to anything – from their logo, products, livery, t-shirts for events, office interiors, their fleet of their trucks… everything! By and large, identities were designed the purposes of visibility. They are still needed for visibility. There is a huge change in colour in sunlight versus colour in interiors. The colours that may work for visibility on a tall building cannot translate to interiors and retail design.

High chroma is what we need for visibility, but as we enter the retail space we need to be trendy and use a different colour palette and modulate the palette direction. You need to get the words right before you get the content and product right, eg: grocery branding, an association of green with fresh.

Colour is not about likes or dislikes, its more to do with profits, we are in business and companies want profit through colour. So the real question is “will this colour increase my profitability?” is this colour going to reduce my inventory and SKU? is it going to fly off my shelves? Will it do much for my brand equity and image? All these matter.

Colour designer acts like a surgeon, if I am ill I will medicate myself. But if I am seriously ill, I will need a physician or a surgeon to doc much more.

A paint company known for the best luxurious flat- world paint would call us in to prepare a special effect paint or even to evolve the marketing strategy for the year. What we would say is that we are doing rooms for kids because parents are willing to spend anything on kids these days. We created visualization for children, and what is appropriate for children and how they should address the children’s needs. This gave them a leg and a entry into homes, which they didn’t have earlier. How to take brand values and convert them into products and 3D spaces in terms of colour….. it is not about doing identity or a logo. You have a business plan? You have a marketing plan? What is your colour plan?

For those who drink COLD water after meal

2008-02-21T04:30:00.000-08:00

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive.
(A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send the link to a friend. It could save a life. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about. )

sugarcane

2008-02-21T04:24:00.000-08:00

drinking or eating sugarcane out in the open is not a safe bet....but may be places like swati and soam restaurant are safe to consume a glass of sugarcane juice. more so its healthy and even has a good taste. its also used in many festivals in india.
i really want to design a sugarcane juice maker for household purpose. a small convenient machine with less mess and obviously easy to clean and maintain....and hygienic.

museums in india

2008-02-21T04:16:00.000-08:00

as a child we have seen it and as a graphic designer visited them over and over again for various purposes...they are none other than museums in mumbai. it is a sad state of museums all across india. there are many museums from historical to ones influenced through science. nehru science centre in mumbai is one of the maintained and most visited places... but it is not just an exhibit place or a museums it a knowledge building. jehangir art gallery and other town area museums are frequently visited by tourist. but compare these to other international ones and they are way beyond anything. from signage system to architectural developments.... not much has changed in india. this offers a design challenge to all professions including graphic, architects, space and exhibition designers, etc.

ROBERT FROST

2008-02-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

i love this song

2008-02-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

HERO
by mariah carey

There's a hero If you look inside your heart You don't have to be afraid Of what you are There's an answer If you reach into your soul And the sorrow that you know Will melt away

And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you

It's a long road When you face the world alone No one reaches out a hand For you to hold You can find love If you search within yourself And the emptiness you felt Will disappear

And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you

Lord knows Dreams are hard to follow But don't let anyone Tear them away Hold on There will be tomorrow In time You'll find the way

And then a hero comes along With the strength to carry on And you cast your fears aside And you know you can survive So when you feel like hope is gone Look inside you and be strong And you'll finally see the truth That a hero lies in you

A KID ... i want to be

2008-02-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

i always wondered... why do we grow to become so perfect that we forget to explore life to its fullest? give a object to a kid (i am saying the word object to categorise whatever comes under this) and the kid plays with it......but if an adult is given the same object he only knows how to use it for what it is.

kids are amazing explorers... we learn so much from them. i learnt it, when i had a small new member in my family....my neice... who is so mischievous (having both mallu and maharashtrian genes) that u give her anything she starts fiddling or playing.....with it rather than using it for it is meant to be.......this gives me an opportunity to take her as my best critic...my friend as an explorer for whatever i get or make or do... be it my talks...my experiments on food or otherwise.

kids at whatever age they are ....are always exploring their world ...getting to know the unknown differently and achieving their dreams... i wish i could rewind my years to the best ones!

CST Station

2008-01-31T10:26:00.000-08:00

first class signage

2008-01-31T10:18:00.000-08:00

this sign has not changed for ages? mumbai railways ladies first class signage.....look at the condition and also the signage now in 2008. do we need a new one?

gas carrier

2008-01-31T10:16:00.000-08:00

ever wondered how these workers would be carrying these heavy cylinders through our roads and look at the tyres....and even their feet? can we design something that works for them?

a dreamer...in style

2008-01-31T10:07:00.000-08:00

i lovethis pic.....on a sunny day on my way to work i come across this helmut beggar(not that he is wearing one in the snap). he is stationed at this signal at bandra turner road everyday dreaming of something that we wont be comfortably doing at the site that he is on. lots to learn from life ha.....!!!

are you gheehappy?

2007-12-28T05:02:00.000-08:00

Sanjay Patel, an amazing animator for toddlers, he has some spark to fuse when it comes to animating indian gods and godesses. shiva, ganesha, kali are just a few, enjoy his work!

where do u get good ideas from?

2007-12-26T23:08:00.000-08:00

this is a question i keep asking myself, its a thought that crosses every designer when we see some good design. but what is it that really makes a good design click. is it its thought or idea, is it the execution the way its presented or is it something else........ or is it everything. i always believe that designers have a task of balancing a lot in life as a professional - be it good design or the right message or even doing justice to the right brief.

ideas for me as a designer have always come in an unconventional way, i mean brainstorming, research are all part of it but while you are sipping coffee with friends it clicks....may be having a shower it clicks or even while sleeping it clicks...and what i do is grab the scrap book or my sketching notes diary and pencil and just scribble it.

why does it come so perfectly at a imperfect time. its like when you are on a vacation its there. is it because we have the hwole day to balance out our schedule? or whats left??? who needs to get reminded????? who should i contact for this? etc etc. i wonder if i have some company in these thughts.

amazing business cards

2007-12-20T00:34:00.001-08:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dailypoetics/sets/72057594104389710/

Taiwans new recycle logo

2007-12-20T00:22:00.000-08:00

ref site:
http://www.bubblejive.com/taiwans-brilliant-recycle-icon

while i was surfing i found this new logo for taiwan recycle....its a good play of posiive and negative space.....look at the white space and u knw what i mean!!!

i enjoy his work and typo

2007-12-20T00:18:00.001-08:00

http://blog.iso50.com/

amazing architecture post stamps

2007-12-20T00:14:00.000-08:00

old is gold

2007-12-20T00:13:00.001-08:00

i think its an amazing reuse of waste and an attractive packaging also?

amazing typography

2007-12-18T01:50:00.000-08:00

://www.random-project.co.uk/news/press/Random_after_party.pdf

for all who hate tracing

2007-12-18T01:21:00.000-08:00

http://vectormagic.stanford.edu/vctr/vctr_flex?p=v&k=FnvvXfSRgAvcnDGulrXuHJPYuP6gwjUo&v=714921

a must visit places

2007-12-18T01:13:00.000-08:00

http://thisisthelife.com/en/peninsula-hotel.htm
this site has a varied number of places to visit...with some amazing outlook to landscapes and travelling around the globe. a must see for all travellers. enjoy

Q: Can you offer parting words of advice to aspiring creative professionals looking to take their careers to the next level?

2007-12-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

Emily:

- Check your ego at the door – be flexible and humble (we all can learn from others)
- Each client and project is unique
- Honesty works both ways
- Do not be embittered by past relationships, learn, and move on
- Don't burn bridges
- Under promise and over deliver
- Always return calls – no matter who it is
- Put everything in writing

i love this piece of advice.......i think this works...only if u obey by whats above wouldnt we be able to churn out work a bit faster and an easier way to get along with our colleagues....with no nights and late hours of work bothering us.....i think its great!

giving creative feedback

2007-12-05T02:00:00.000-08:00

1. Give your own opinion
The only person on this planet who sees things your way is you. Even if you are a novice surrounded by experts, there is still the possibility that you will have spotted something ‘obvious’ that no-one else has noticed. Don’t try to second-guess others’ opinions or be something you’re not.

If you’re not sure how your view will be received you could start with “This may sound silly but…” - it’s amazing how many times I’ve said that and found people nodding and agreeing.

2. Make your own role clear
If you are an expert in the medium, you are in a position to give a different kind of feedback than if you are not. Not necessarily better, just different. You will only irritate a professional if you try to intrude on their territory. But even if you are ‘only’ the manager, you are perfectly entitled to give feedback based on your knowledge of the client, the audience, the market and so on - as long as you make it clear in what capacity you are speaking.

I mentioned in my previous post that I know very little about graphic design, but am happy to give a ‘layman’s view’ of how a piece of design strikes me. If I’m asked to give my opinion on a poem however, it’s a completely different matter. This is a task I approach with relish and a completely different perspective - one of the reasons I enjoy writing poetry reviews. But this doesn’t guarantee that in any given situation my views on poetry will be more helpful than my views on design.

3. Be explicit about your criteria
Your criteria may be subjective, but at least you are providing a reference point for your judgment. Others are then free to challenge your judgment on its own terms or propose alternative criteria.

In his book Purple Cow Seth Godin tells the story of the adult focus groups who hated South Park because they found it offensive. In terms of their criterion (offensiveness) they were absolutely right - but fortunately the broadcasters realised that offensiveness was a key part of the programme’s appeal to its target audience - teenage boys.

Valid criteria can include: your own knowledge as a practitioner; the audience’s response; the client’s response; the brief; the market; the competition; money; time; practical issues.

4. Be honest, but not brutally honest
There’s no point fudging the issue if you really don’t like a piece of work or think it doesn’t meet the brief. But you don’t need to be brutally honest, especially if you will be working with them again and want them to do better next time.

Unless you’re a sadist, of course.

5. Support the person even if you can’t approve the work
Creativity is risky, so no-one can churn out a masterpiece every time. Wordsworth wrote reams of turgid poetry, Dylan and Bowie have made plenty of duff albums - but we forgive them because of the good stuff.

Remember, creative people identify very strongly with their work, so they are liable to take criticism personally. One of the most valuable things you can do for them is to give them your support and encouragement at a time of ‘failure’ - they will (usually) remember and try to repay your faith.

Well, there it is. I’ll write another post shortly on how to receive feedback on creative work.

Over to you…
What tips would you add to this list?

good design

2007-12-05T01:58:00.001-08:00

Good design is innovative
Good design makes a product useful
Good design is aesthetic
Good design helps a product to be understood
Good design is unobtrusive
Good design is honest
Good design is durable
Good design is consistent to the last detail
Good design is concerned with the environment
Good design is a s little design as possible

The Politics of Design

2007-12-05T00:31:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that the real world in which the designer functions is not the world of art, but the world of buying and selling. For sales, and not design are the raison d'etre of any business organization. Unlike the the salesman, however, the designer's overriding motivation is art: art in the service of business, art that enhances the quality of life and deepens appreciation of the familiar world.

Design is a problem-solving activity. It provides a means of clarifying, synthesizing, and dramatizing a word, a picture, a product, or an event. A serious barrier to the realization of good design, however, are the layers of management inherent in any bureaucratic structure. For aside from the sheer prejudice or simple unawareness, one is apt to encounter such absurdities as second guessing, kow-towing, posturing, nit-picking, and jockeying for position, let alone such buck-passing institutions as the committee meeting and the task force. At issue, it seems, is neither malevolence nor stupidity, but human frailty.

The smooth functioning of the design process may be thwarted in other ways, by the imperceptive executive, who in matters of design understands neither his proper role nor that of the designer; by the eager but cautious advertising man whose principal concern is pleasing his client; and by the insecure client who depends on informal office surveys and pseudo-scientific research to deal with questions that are unanswerable and answers that are questionable.

Unless the design function in business bureaucracy is so structured that direct access to the ultimate decision-maker is possible, trying to produce good work is very often an exercise in futility. Ignorance of the history and methodology of design -- how work is conceived, produced, and reproduced -- adds to the difficulties and misunderstandings. Design is a way of life, a point of view. It involves the whole complex of visual communication: talent, creative ability, manual skill, and technical knowledge. Aesthetics and economics, technology and psychology are intrinsically relate to the process.

One of the more common problems which tends to create doubt and confusion is caused by the inexperienced and anxious executive who innocently expects, or even demands, to see not one but many solutions to a problem. These may include a number of visual and/or verbal concepts, an assortment of layouts, a variety of pictures and color schemes, as well as a choice of type styles. He needs the reassurance of numbers and the opportunity to exercise his personal preferences. He is also most likely to be the one to insist on endless revisions with unrealistic deadlines, adding to an already wasteful and time-consuming ritual. Theoretically, a great number of ideas assures a great number of choices, but such choices are essentially quantitative. This practice is as bewildering as it is wasteful. It discourages spontaneity, encourages indifference, and more often than not produces results which are neither distinguished, interesting, nor effective. In short, good ideas rarely come in bunches.

The designer who voluntarily presents his client with a batch of layouts does so not out prolificacy, but out of uncertainty or fear.
He thus encourages the client to assume the role of referee. In the event of genuine need, however, the skillful designer is able to produce a reasonable number of good ideas. But quantity by demand is quite different than quantity by choice. Design is a time-consuming occupation. Whatever his working habits, the designer fills many a wastebasket in order to produce one good idea. Advertising agencies can be especially guilty in this numbers game. Bent on impressing the client with their ardor, they present a welter of layouts, many of which are superficial interpretations of potentially good ideas, or slick renderings of trite ones.

Frequent job reassignments within an active business are additional impediments about which management is often unaware. Persons unqualified to make design judgments are frequently shifted into design-sensitive positions. The position of authority is then used as evidence of expertise. While most people will graciously accept and appreciate criticism when it comes from a knowledgeable source, they will resent it (openly or otherwise) when it derives solely from a power position, even though the manager may be highly intelligent or have self-professed "good taste." At issue is not the right, or even the duty, to question, but the right to make design judgment. Such misuse of privilege is a disservice to management and counterproductive to good design. Expertise in business administration, journalism, accounting, or selling, though necessary in its place, is not expertise in problems dealing with visual appearance. The salesman who can sell you the most sophisticated computer typesetting equipment is rarely one who appreciates fine typography or elegant proportions. Actually, the plethora of bad design that we see all around us can probably be attributed as much to good salesmanship as to bad taste.

Deeply concerned with every aspect of the production process, the designer must often contend with inexperienced production personnel and time-consuming purchasing procedures, which stifle enthusiasm, instinct, and creativity. Though peripherally involved in making aesthetic judgments (choosing printers, papermakers, typesetters and other suppliers), purchasing agents are for the most part ignorant of design practices, insensitive to subtleties that mean quality, and unaware of marketing needs. Primarily and rightly concerned with cost- cutting, they mistakenly equate elegance with extravagance and parsimony with wise business judgement.

These problems are by no means confined to the bureaucratic corporation. Artists, writers, and others in the fields of communication and visual arts, in government or private industry, in schools or churches, must constantly cope with those who do not understand and are therefore unsympathetic to their ideas. The designer is especially vulnerable because design is grist for anybody's mill. "I know what I like" is all the authority one needs to support one's critical aspirations.

Like the businessman, the designer is amply supplied with his own frailties. But unlike him, he is often inarticulate, a serious problem in an arena in which semantic difficulties so often arise.
This is more pertinent in graphic design than in the industrial or architectural fields, because graphic design is more open to aesthetic than to functional preferences.

Stubborness may be one of the designer's admirable or notorious qualities (depending on one's point of view) -- a principled refusal to compromise, or a means to camouflage inadequacy. Design cliches, meaningless patterns, stylish illustrations, and predetermined solutions are signs of such weakness. An understanding of the significance of modernism and familiarity with the history of design, painting, architecture, and other disciplines, which distinguish the educated designer and make his role more meaningful, are not every designer's strong points.

The designer, however, needs all the support he can muster, for his is a unique but unenviable position. His work is subject to every imaginable interpretation and to every piddling piece of fact- finding. Ironically, he seeks not only the applause of the connoisseur, but the approbation of the crowd.

A salutary working relationship is not only possible but essential.
Designers are not always intransigent, nor are all purchasing agents blind to quality. Many responsible advertising agencies are not unaware of the role that design plays as a communication force. As for the person who pays the piper, the businessman who is sympathetic and understanding is not altogether illusory. He is professional, objective, and alert to new ideas. He places responsibility where it belongs and does not feel insecure enough to see himself as an expert in a field other than his own. He is, moreover, able to provide a harmonious environment in which goodwill, understanding, spontaneity, and mutual trust -- qualities so essential to the accomplishment of creative work -- may flourish.

Similarly, the skilled graphic designer is a professional whose world is divided between lyricism and pragmatism. He is able to distinguish between trendiness and innovation, between obscurity and originality.
He uses freedom of expression not as a license for abstruse ideas, and tenacity not as bullheadedness but as evidence of his own convictions. His is an independent spirit guided more by an "inner artistic standard of excellence"(1) than by some external influence.
At the same time as he realizes that good design must withstand the rigors of the marketplace, he believes that without good design the marketplace is a showcase of visual vulgarity.

The creative arts have always labored under adverse conditions.
Subjectivity emotion, and opinion seem to be concomitants of artistic questions. The layman feels insecure and awkward about making design judgments, even though he pretends to make them with a certain measure of know-how. But, like it or not, business conditions compel many to get inextricably involved with problems in which design plays some role.

For the most part, the creation or effects of design, unlike science, are neither measurable nor predictable, nor are the results necessarily repeatable. If there is any assurance, besides faith, a businessman can have, it is in choosing talented, competent, and experienced designers.

Meaningful design, design of quality and wit, is no small achievement, even in an environment in which good design is understood, appreciated, and ardently accepted, and in which profit is not the only motive. At best, work that has any claim to distinction is the exception, even under the most ideal circumstances. After all, our epoch can boast of only one A.M.
Cassandre.

- Paul Rand
from "A Designer's Art"

(1) Anthony Storr, "The Dynamics of Creation", (New York, 1972), 189

decor world

2007-10-15T03:33:00.001-07:00

http://decor8.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html

purchase power

2007-10-15T03:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday Poll - What influences you to purchase things for the home?

What influences you to purchase home stuff?
Select up to 4 of the following:

I truly need the item, duh!

current trends influence me

I have to gift someone

to freshen up my space

a teriffic sale

websites, magazines, TV, blogs like decor8

my friends: they have it or influenced me to buy it

emotional makes me feel good

one upping the jones'

I don't - I browse for ideas and then make it myself

fro the post-its!!!

2007-10-15T03:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.justkeepthechange.com/getting-creative-with-post-it-notes

amazing vinyl use

2007-09-24T05:04:00.001-07:00

http://www.vinyluse.com/gallery-vinyluse/?language=it

design on a glass wall of a gallery

2007-09-24T05:02:00.000-07:00

ganpati bappa on a dabba....

2007-09-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

this was a campaign by times of india group...love the style in which it is painted.

ganpati bappa morya !

2007-09-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

matunga a place for all to visit for a huge round of all types of god ganapati.... with big trunks and silver modaks.....flower garlands and yes lots of lighting for the decoration

the kyoorius way

2007-09-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

a thank you board for all who attended the design event at goa.

GIRLS IN MY CIRCLE

2007-09-11T05:16:00.000-07:00

When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
and then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you go through things with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers
as you delight in your children and their activities.
Another friend is there when you want to exercise,
lose weight, shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say,
"Let's cry together," another,
"Let's fight together,"
Another, "Let's walk away together."

One friend will meet your spiritual need,
another your shoe fetish,
another your love for movies,
another will be with you in your season
of confusion, another will be your clarifier,
another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,
on whatever the occasion,
on whatever the day,
or wherever you need them to meet you with their
gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
or to hold you back from making a
complete fool of yourself,
those are your best friends.

For some, it may all be wrapped up in one woman,
but for many of us,
it's wrapped up in several....one from 7th grade,
one from high school, several from the college years,
a couple from your current job,
a few from your old jobs,
on some days it's your mother,
on some days your neighbor, on others,
your sisters, and on some days, your daughters.

So whether they've been your friend for 20 minutes or 20 years,
AND....ONLY IF YOU'D LIKE TO, pass this on to the women God has placed
in your life to make a difference...

at his best

2007-08-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

“ If I do anything, it's that I take away.... I don't add... I don't embellish. The thing that you want to do is take a sophisticated idea and reduce it to the simplest possible terms.... so that it's accessible to everyone. Generally the opposite happens, people take a stand-alone idea and tie into knots. Very few people understand the elegance of Simplicity. I hate clutter.... or motion confused with accomplishment.

Gordon Willis, cinematographer of many great films, answering questions on one of his best, Manhattan.

design

2007-08-15T04:15:00.000-07:00

“ Design, which used to be almost unknown as a profession, has become a major source of pollution. Encouraged by glossy lifestyle magazines and marketing departments, it’s become a competition to make things as noticeable as possible by means of colour, shape and surprise. Its historic and idealistic purpose, to serve industry and the happy consuming masses at the same time, of conceiving things easier to make and better to live with, seems to have been side-tracked. The virus has already infected the everyday environment. The need for businesses to attract attention provides the perfect carrier for the disease.

Design makes things seem special, and who wants normal if they can have special? And that’s the problem.
What has grown naturally and unselfconsciously over the years cannot easily be replaced. Not that old things shouldn’t be replaced or that new things are bad, just that things that are designed to attract attention are usually unsatisfactory. There are better ways to design than putting a big effort into making something look special. Special is generally less useful than normal, and less rewarding in the long term. Special things demand attention for the wrong reasons, interrupting potentially good atmosphere with an awkward presence. Preserve Normal, resist Special!

BUBBLE HELL LOGOS

2007-08-12T01:32:00.001-07:00

http://blog.eachday.com/2007/8/1/bubble-logo-insanity