Polymer Paintings

Meredith Dittmar is insanely skilled having made these mini sculptures out of polymer clay. The depth and detail is phenomenal.

MADE by UCA

Poster Design and Credits : MA Show Design Team, Christina Sinn

I met my students a year ago randomly at a party, little did I know that I would end up teaching them all the way 'til the end. Sadly, in three weeks time they will all disperse into their creative destinies.

In celebration, we are putting up MADE by UCA to showcase their design journies and discoveries over a manic year of abrasive and unapologetic mastery of their chosen fields. What else could you expect from these guys when Carluccio's, Bacco, Rubicon, WHSmith marketing directors and owners are going to come down and see their branding come to life.

Here's an open invitation to everyone to come on down to Epsom between the 6th and the 10th of September. Private View is on the 6th, Industry giants are welcomed on the 8th.

Shanab - (moustache)

Came across this nifty poster for a Kuwaiti movie, Shanab designed by Talal Obeid. I've scouted the internet for a trailer (good idea to get noticed) but the DVD is available via their facebook group - hoping that this style of illustration was used (it would be great, hint frigging hint)

Hezbollah hires Designers! A New Niche Market

Top Left : Swanky Arabic Type

Flowey Israeli Flag

Nice illustration of a Spy Plane

Jazzed Up Arabic Type for Each Segment of the Program

The reputation of graphic designers has been in limbo, for the fortunate few, prestigious internships and jobs, for lots of others starbucks has helped some of us keep afloat during the hardest two years outta uni.

Tonight marked Hassan Nasrallah's news conference propaganda speculation on implicating Israel for assassinating the late Lebanese President, Rafiq Al Hariri.

I was busy on a job when I suddenly heard some cheap sample horror music playing. I stopped. I looked up and my jaw dropped. It never occurred to me: Terrorist Hire Graphic Designers.

When the economy is down, money is tight - well ! Some people are always looking - just depends on where you look. Be more resourceful! The poster must of said : Hezbollah Recruiting! The pansy hipsters went in and the only thing they were good for ? Motion Graphics and Design.

We either work at Starbucks or for Extremists. Kill me now!

What the F*** would the brief look like ? Make it scary on a budget with a modern typeface.

Whats even worse is that they had cool graphics introduce each segment of his 'evidence' WITH GOOGLE MAP TECHNOLOGY!

To be honest I think they could get away with using Music with royalities for free. How the hell would you sue?

They even had cute little Spy Plane illustrations, and a small nifty Israel flag at the corner of a traitors photograph. Aww. Nice 'personal' touch.

Since a lot of it is very similar to Al Jazeera's basic news layout, could it be their design time behind the whole propaganda design?

I'm just wondering, how did they set up meetings and a full dress rehersal? I'm dead curious - will other groups and terrorist alike be jealous of their swanky up do and hire the same company/designers?

Wait .. is there a network of, Fugitive Designers?! Fu-giners (sounds awful).

Have a little pride people! Turn down that fascist brief!

Kuwait : Class of 1990

Wow. It has been forever since the Gulf war, I was 6 at the time when it happened, and I can not stress enough how it has changed my life and shaped me as a person. Here is an amazing documentary made by a fellow NES student trying to piece together her class that was separated by the occupation.

Yeti Laptop Sleeve

If your money is burning a major hole in your pocket you could turn your addiction to Etsy, where laptop sleeves are decorated with shocked road kill-esque squirrels, Blimps and Yetis, the Brokesy maybe for you.

Ink Doodles

So had a bit of time to myself, and started to dabble with my sister's inks and remembered why I missed painting.

Latin goes Square Kufic

Science Museum's New Brand Identity

Square Kufic Script in Arabic - "Allah"

I was utterly surprised when I saw the Science Museum's new Brand plastered across town adorned in cheap stock photos. It looked a lot like the Arabic identities you see in the Middle East - loyal to their calligraphic and geometric roots.

Finding latin counterparts to arabic type (vice versa) continues to be huge design issue in the Middle East - could this possibly be one way of solving it? Giving typefaces to foreign design agencies and studios to create their sister font?

Graduate Fashion Weeks was so

and not as strong as the ensemble last year. The good news is 7 UCA graduates out of 20 are up for some of the most prestigious awards GFW has on offer. Gala finale is on tomorrow at Earls Court Exhibition Centre at five. May the fiercest win. 

Rock, Paper, Scissors

Taking advantage of the Bank Holiday weekend, I ventured up north to Edinburgh and Glasgow and came across some quaint, strange and inspiring signage and graffiti.

Britesh Made

Britèsh adj. a bit like a chicken tikka, Indian, but pretty much British in terms of its origin.

Fathers shoes 2009

My father - a proper business man improperly dressed.

I had the chance to go to the RCA MA Show the other day and came across an amazing interpretation of a cultural melting pot. Jasleen Kaur subtly creates a intercultural dialogue of east and west through 'hybrid identities'.

Boob Scarf!

Whilst most women are letting the ladies out in plunging summer necklines, this Etsy seller has brought them out to play and swing around your neck. Woohoo!

Cloudy Identity

Came across my good ol' friend from AUD daze, Somayeh Bardai's continued photographical exploration of gender/ Islam and the unanswerable question of how/where we fit in.

Pass That Dutch

Budding designer, Barry Borsboom took to infographics to best sell his skills. Decisive and sharp.

The next step is.. making it interactive!

I've got to try this out at some point!

Its here bitches! WWW.INJIDARWISH.COM

GO FUCKING CLICK ON !TTTT

Its a work in progress but its on its waaaaaaaaay to greatness (hopefully).

Whale Needs A Hug

A mini collaboration with me and Kosmonol. I brought the whale, he brought the hugs.

Enjoy!

Unforgivingly Funny

Glorify the Absurd

Crawling with entrails, Allison Sommers work ridicules logic with many historical parodies.

Fred's Three's

I had the amazing opportunity to attend a at UCA by Fred Deakin. Famously known for his collaboration with Nick Franglen as the electro-pop (don't kill me) group, Lemon Jelly. Fred is also one of the founders of Airside Studios here in London; who produce some of the most talked about info graphics in industry.

Fred is a balls-to-the-wall no BS kinda guy with an enviously tenacious manner who readily divulged his industry secrets and experience. Pretty fucking rare if you ask me. His experience as a designer and his beliefs on what & how things should be struck a cord with everyone in the room. Reminded me of my early days coming out of Saatchi with a bitter taste vowing I would in some way crush their nuts with the same mantras as Airside.


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Fred's Threes:
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Here are some of things he left behind:

Give people thrills; increases your bond with your fans.
Jobs that you do are your career.
Cherry pick your best assets and run with them.

Mission Statement :

Blow people's mind, have fun, make money.

If you could take anything away from the talk it would be :

Fly a lot of missions - Be open to try everything..
Do it Yourself!!
Collaborate

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For sometime, I've felt that I've been blogging in the dark until I curiously looked this up .. Thanks to all y'all out there x