Studio repaint...

Our magnificent Graphic Design and Illustration studio/workspace is being repainted during the winter break.

And, much to Tony's chagrin, when it comes to matters of interior decor, Jim and Dwayne cling resolutely to the male stereotype, despite Tony's best efforts to help them get in touch with their "feminine side"...

Dwayne, Jim & Tony (all 33) think decorating

... so when that inevitably failed, we asked the students to suggest colour schemes.

The hot favourite was obviously Nathaniel Hunt's 'Rococo Revival'; heavy on decorative plaster work and gold-leaf, light on visual sensory respite. But the scheme that was finally chosen was a Silver Grey and Marr's Green combo (Marr's Green, the world's favourite colour according to our friends at GF Smith!) and last week the painters were in making a start. Here's where they're up to, first coat on...

There is just the thorny matter of cushion covers and curtains to sort out now!

Lett's Diary

Yesterday, 2016 graphic design graduate Shona Lett (33), popped in to Grillust™Towers to show us a little green book; the Favourite Design 2016 Annual...

...and what a bumper edition it is too, with Shona featured not once, but twice in its hallowed pages.

You can find more of Shona's work at www.shonalett.co.uk

Bovill/McCarthy Day at Grillust Towers

2010 graduates, Gary Bovill (33) now a senior designer at MC2, and James McCarthy (33) similarly positioned at Drumbeat, made a triumphant return to the studio with a splendid talk on 'What makes a successful brand' followed by a quick and dirty challenge to 3rd year students (all 21) to propose brands for one of two enterprises - one for a residential/retail/office warehouse development, the second being a perennial Grillust™ favourite, Pies!

A meat pie. An officially ratified food group at Grillust™ HQ.

Students ended the day by presenting their ideas, and all received positive and productive feedback from Gary and James. A big thank you goes to the both of them for taking time out of their busy schedules and showing such an interest in the current crop of Grillust™ hopefuls.

Four minds as one, sort of like The Beatles. Bearded 3rd year students (L-R), James Cook, Tom Selwood and Kyle Bridson contemplate the truly important things in life alondside MC2 design supremo, Gary Bovill.

Grillust Graduate to Judge D&AD Awards in 2017

D&AD (Design and Art Direction) is the leading professional organisation for those working in design and advertising. The D&AD Professional Awards are recognised globally as the ultimate creative accolade, entered and attended by the best from around the world. And one of our own graduates, Rick Banks, who is now a leading figure in the graphic design world, has been asked to be a judge of the Awards in 2017. We remember Rick metaphorically 'in short trousers' and now look where he's got to! 

VÄG, the Swedish psychedelic rock band - You heard them in Carlisle first!!!

Our friends and Grillustasi™ entrepreneurs, Snask, have some work featured on packaging blog The Dieline. It's for their Swedish psychedelic rock band, VÄG, acquired on a drunken night out (well, that's how the tale is told).

Freddie & Magnus insisted on bringing VÄG along when they visited us a year or two back, and jolly energetic and psychedelic they were too. Well, now you can by them on vinyl by the looks of it...

 Shake, rattle and roll Freddie & Magnus!