Colour is one of the most basic but most essential tools for designers. Not only does colour help us make things look good, but is also a key to creating emotion within a design. Every colour sends out subliminal messages that need to be considered when creating an identity for a business.
When I was wee, we’d often go and watch distant relatives or friends coming out of the church on their wedding day. I rarely knew who they were or thought about what they were doing as I was too busy anticipating what was to come when they hopped in the car to begin their married life together - the SCRAMMY!!!
The Scrammy, which I think is a Scottish tradition although I may be wrong, takes place after the congregation have left the church. The groom and other males involved in the wedding dip into their sporrans or pockets and throw out handfuls of loose change for all the children to scramble for. After filling our pockets it would be off to the shop for some sweetie fags or a dipdab!
Late last year, a client of mine Jeremy Lazarus, contacted me to produce some illustrations for use in his new book Ahead of the Game
The book was published recently and Jeremy kindly sent me a signed complimentary copy (pictured opposite).
The illustrations were simple line drawings but an interesting project to work on and rewarding to see the final layouts in print!
The ban on smoking in public places has been in effect for over a year here in Scotland now, and the English ban will come into force on 1st July 2007.
Bins-Direct Ltd first approached me late in 2005 to put together a basic catalogue site and some promotional material to display their cigarette bin supplies ready for the build up to the Scottish smoking ban.
Over the last couple of months, I’ve been developing the website design for them and producing some new brochures and flyers to freshen things up ready to promote the company across the rest of the UK in good time for their smoking bans coming into force.
Something I absolutely love but never seem to be able to find time to devote any real time to is photography. I have shoeboxes full of random snaps from school and uni days and a hard drive full of folders full of shots since getting my first digital camera in 2001. I never go far without my digicam!
I recently read an article about a photographer, Fin Macrae, who took a Polaroid shot every day in 2006 and is now publishing them on his site each day of this year. I love this idea of capturing a different image to represent each day of the year, I also have a bit of a thing for the retro look and feel of the Polaroid snaps 
You can take a look at the project so far here.
If you’re interested in viewing a few of my own favourite shots from the last couple of years, you can view them here.
