We Like These (II)

Need a Name for Your New Band?

Well look no further*...

Up here at Cumbria we spend a lot of time talking to students about their work. Invariably during these conversations we say things about design and illustration that immediately strike us as also being very good names for bands.

These examples come from a feedback and assessment session with first year students held on Friday 28 January.

Mental Margins of 5 Millimetres

Notes: A Nu Metal band. Four members (male), lots of hair (no faces) and piercings. Guitars tuned down as low as they'll go. Lead singer has issues. Never smile for photographs. Very pointy, demonic logo.
Further advice: Use a few umlauts (you know you want tö).

Why's it Wobbly George?

Notes: Cartoon(ish) Punk Ska. Three members (guitar, bass, bongos). Wear Hawaiian shirts and always gurn/moon for photographs.
Further advice: Your one hit will be rubbish but impossibly (and annoyingly) catchy.

The Turbine Thieves

Notes: Intellectual, bookish types who read English at University. Pretentious song titles. You must have the ability to talk at length about Albert Camus. Gender/sexual orientation irrelevant (the more interesting the better).
Further advice: Your first album will be entitled 'A Dummies Guide to the Nausea of Existence'.

*Cumbria Band Names™ are provided free of charge but please do send us press photos and MP3s of your music.

Thursday Is Life Drawing Day

Will Freeborn

For a healthy dose of 21st Century sketchbook wizardry head on over to Will's site and get ready to go "wow!"

T&D

Don't tell anyone, but this little 'coffee house' is possibly Carlisle's best kept secret. It is in fact (strangely) an amazingly well disguised chinese restaurant/takeaway (and coffee bar) with eye wateringly cheap prices, friendly staff and a 'unique' interior.

Where exactly is it? That's for you to find out. When you do find it though we would recommend the prawn toast, the hot and sour soup, the shredded beef, the Schezwan chicken, the Thai green curry, and...

You can also bring your own bottle.

We're All Just Hanging Around

The women in my life love clothes shopping - I don't. The consequence of this is that I spend more time than I'd like waiting aimlessly outside shops (in all parts of the country). During these idle minutes/hours my attention is invariably drawn towards fellow sufferers...

Out of the Woods

3rd year students Sarah Cowan, Rosie Geissler and Jina Gelder currently have a joint exhibition at Foxes Cafe Lounge in downtown Carlisle. It's on for a month, so pop down there and enjoy a moccafrappachocolattespresso and a macaroon while perusing the artwork.

What the Flickr!

Last week, 3rd year student Andy Ireland was mostly designing promotional material for the summer show.

Dutifully he posted up his work in progress to his Flickr account where his poster was immediately appropriated by Orphicpixel and hailed as a "Fresh and Creative Poster Design of 2011".

It's a shame they couldn't link the image correctly to Andy's site, but I guess that's those pesky Orphic*pixels for you!

* Orphic [ˈɔːfɪk]

adj

1. (Myth & Legend / Classical Myth & Legend) of or relating to Orpheus or Orphism

2. (sometimes not capital) mystical or occult

Dylan's Hair

Dylan's hair is a thing of legend around these parts...

The Year 2 Graphic Design student is blessed with some of the most sculptural 'locks' known to humanity. We would even go so far as to concede that his hair brings constant variety to our studio. Not a day goes by without it finding a new, culturally relevant and dynamic arrangement (even when partially concealed by a wide range of head wear).

Dylan's hair has many talents, including defying the laws of physics and shape-shifting (to suit both occasion and mood) and to celebrate this ability we are running a small competition...

We asked Dylan's hair to impersonate a well known thing. To stand a chance of winning, you must correctly identify which of the following statements is true.

I think Dylan's hair looks like:

A. a forest fire

B. a Rowntree's Walnut Whip (sans walnut)

C. the Indian subcontinent (rotated through 180 degrees)

D. something that would be of interest to physicists

Answers must be returned by Friday 4th February.

Only answers written on hair will be considered by our judge (Nicky Clarke).

How Things Work (Part 2)

Here's how to handle an escalator (of particular use for bungalow dwellers...) courtesy of Davey Rees (Year 1 Graphic Design).

Mark Collins (also Year 1 Graphic Design) has been looking at alternative sources of power. His spookily 'current' piece also adds hamsters to the mix!

Roar!!!

Follow the link - You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll certainly think twice about getting that tattoo you've been considering.

Now That's What I Call a Headline #01

agency signing

Recent graduate Ian Morton, as well as landing a pretty sweet design job has just signed up Inky Illustration as his agent. Well done Ian, we look forward to feasting our eyes on your illustrated delights in the future.

Gigantic Swish!

East of Eden

Well South actually.

Many of us have the pleasure of commuting to University across Carlisle's Rickerby Park. It's lovely at any time of year, but during the winter the climate can conspire against us...

Photos 1 and 4 were taken on days when a brisk walk would have been advisable (-17 degrees celsius anyone)?

Photos 2 and 3 record the days when only a canoe would suffice (the River Eden can become a 'lake' that is half a mile wide).

Still, it beats the tube.