Last month I mentioned that we were to be published in the British Design 2010 book... well... ta da! It's been launched. Callooh! Callay! Now all we need is a coffee table..

A touch on the long winded side, but this post by Eric Karjaluoto rather hits the nail on the head. 

click here to read it.

Marshall Alexander creates amazing papertoys. So armed with glue and a scalpel, or safety scissors for children and the accident prone, you can download his work for free (yes FREE!) and get cutting and sticking. Love it. Love it. Love it!

Well well well, another intern is out of the Dog House and into the big wide world looking for a new owner. Having made a nurturing home in the studio for three whole weeks, we thank him for all his help, big ideas as well as enthusiasm (hurrah!) and hope that he has gained some extra skills to help him along his way. We wish him luck - someone throw him a bone!

This morning, in the battle for space on the bus I found myself wedged up against a woman reading a book. Though the 'book' was a digital tablet rather than an item of paper and ink. No I'm a big advocate of the paper kind of books, but i couldn't help but  be impressed; it was the perfect solution to reading standing up on public transport. No pages to turn.

I started thinking on the question of print versus digital. In the fullness of time will one prevail while the other is left languishing in history?

Digital media is currently the most profitable means of delivering news, products and services as it fundamentally reduces the cost of distribution of content to virtually nothing. Its fast (by the time you read a newspaper it is already old news), easily accessible, updatable and editable. When used for marketing it allows for more precise targeting, effective feedback and efficient stats, transcending the limitations of individually printed media. If we take the fair assumption that technology will advance making access to digital content even more accessible, it seems like it’s a one horse race.

But...

Print has an physical impact and tactile presence that cannot be matched by a computer screen. The production costs for digital content may be almost nothing, but there is the difficulty of making money on the content of non-tangible products or services. Would the public be enthusiastic if they have to log in, pay and commit to licensing agreements, where before they could access it for free? Online advertising only generates so much revenue. A site littered with banners and flash advertisements is more likely to make readers to log off than search for the content. At the moment being online is dependent on the electronic delivery system which, unless there are big leaps in technological developments, will always have its limitations.

My prediction?..

Over the next decade people will continue to turn to the internet for their news and information resulting in the further destruction of existing newspapers and printed media, but from the ashes of these other more targeted publications will rise to take their place. Businesses will continue to put more of their marketing & advertising budget into online ventures, however print will carve a niche for itself staying in places beyond the internet’s reach, where human sensory participation requires the physical tactile presence of paper. Especially where the content is heavily reliant on images.

It'll be interesting, the future.

Hurrah! and congratulations to Jeavon & Catherine who from 1.30am this morning are the proud parents of Stephen Ianto (that's pronounced yan-toh to those not familiar with the Welsh pronunciation). He's a week late but well worth the extra cooking

Sunday.
I woke up.
Trotted out to breakfast. 
Tripped down the rabbit hole into the world of Anish Kapoor.

In this world he has, quite literally, made a bloody-esque mess of the Royal Academy (there is a warning that clothes may be stained) and it's brilliant.

Kapoor fearlessly creates big tactile shapes, mirrored surfaces, bold colours and arresting experiences.

The best is Svayambh; a huge block of squishy red wax that slowly and repeatedly creeps through 3 rooms shaping to the mahogany arches of the Academy. Leaving in its wake dollops of waxy blubber to gather on the bright white walls and polished parquet floors, challenging those of child-like mentality to poke their fingers in the gloop without being caught by the exasperated Royal Academy attendants.

on until the 11th December 2009 it's a well spent £12 and 2 hours

 Brilliant bit of advertising

Yesterday our service provider had a wobble and we were without internet or mail for the afternoon. Feeling a little lost without digital connection to the outside world we reassured ourselves, between bouts of brilliantly creative design work (of course), by playing the piano or pattycake.