- Jolanta Zute - creative living

All things design, creative, craft and more.

Pictures of pictures

Last year I made it my mission to to collect a range of film cameras and take as many interesting photos as possible. Needless to say my collection of cameras turned out to just be the one, and my collection of photos stretched to a whole two films which is a little unfortunate however this little unexpected camera that cost me £5 at Camden market took me by surprise.

Using the first film was to be a bit of a test, I didn’t know whether the camera worked or what the outcome would be so the results have been a sporadic set of photos. The first lot were taken around London, in my flat and generally out and about including the train to Greenwich, the second set were slightly more interesting taken at Oradour-sur-Glane, France - a village that has been left entirely as it was after WWII attacks. 

The camera? This, Miranda 35SF. I’ve never seen one like it before so I’m not entirely sure whether it’s a real deal or a knock off, either way she turned out some interesting shots.

Inspiring the uninspired. Lately, I say lately - I mean ever since things go a little too ‘corporate’ in my life I have begun to lose my sense of creativity, but worse an inability to find a source of inspiration thus making me one miserable and useless zombie woman.  After not having time for myself let alone socialise or find my missing ‘creative brain ticker’ an event came along that kind of slapped me in the face (in a good way) a wake-up call lets call it. The event you ask? LOL CAT TEH EXHIBISHUN created by a lovely Swedish lady - Jenny Theolin. The exhibition has been based around the world of LOL Cats with a diverse range of creators and makers contributing their artistic talents in aid of Battersea Dogs & Cats home.During this event I had the chance to view some cat-tastic pieces of work that brought me straight back to the fact that there are no limits to design and art, a room full of cat art proves that fact! So, a wonderful night curated by an extremely talented Jenny, with a range of conversations with some amazing artists, not forgetting the art itself, has truly picked me up out of my arty-blues into a litteral whirlwind of ideas and some rethinks about my future path.If you’re interested in visiting this cat filled world here are the details: Location: THE FRAMERS GALLERY,                36 WINDMILL ST.                LONDON W1T 2JT Dates: WED 23 JAN 2013 – FRI 15 FEB 2013 Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10am – 5.30pm                          Saturday 11am – 5pm Website: http: www.lolcattehexhibishun.com

Inspiring the uninspired.

Lately, I say lately - I mean ever since things go a little too ‘corporate’ in my life I have begun to lose my sense of creativity, but worse an inability to find a source of inspiration thus making me one miserable and useless zombie woman. 

After not having time for myself let alone socialise or find my missing ‘creative brain ticker’ an event came along that kind of slapped me in the face (in a good way) a wake-up call lets call it. The event you ask? LOL CAT TEH EXHIBISHUN created by a lovely Swedish lady - Jenny Theolin. The exhibition has been based around the world of LOL Cats with a diverse range of creators and makers contributing their artistic talents in aid of Battersea Dogs & Cats home.

During this event I had the chance to view some cat-tastic pieces of work that brought me straight back to the fact that there are no limits to design and art, a room full of cat art proves that fact! So, a wonderful night curated by an extremely talented Jenny, with a range of conversations with some amazing artists, not forgetting the art itself, has truly picked me up out of my arty-blues into a litteral whirlwind of ideas and some rethinks about my future path.

If you’re interested in visiting this cat filled world here are the details:

Location: THE FRAMERS GALLERY,
                36 WINDMILL ST.
                LONDON W1T 2JT

Dates: WED 23 JAN 2013 – FRI 15 FEB 2013

Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10am – 5.30pm
                          Saturday 11am – 5pm

Website: http: www.lolcattehexhibishun.com

One designer, one ego.

My observations of late have taken me down a route to write this post, bare in mind this is only a view point of an over analytical Junior designer.

I believe there is a great difference between an outstanding designer and that of an egotistical one. From previous work or just a mear chat about how ones design development I have learnt a great deal about why agencies and designers are where they are, well, some of the reason why and it all leads back to one place - their ego.

Ego centered designers have one thing in common - they’re always right (in their mind anyway) with an inability to take critic or want for discussion to develop an idea between a selection of minds. On the other hand an outstanding designer, no matter at what level, be it Junior or Senior has the ability to listen, learn and greatly develop a design with knowledge and direction from others.

So yes, this is a bit of a design rant out of frustration for growth of good design, great design. It seems like the ability to listen and work as a team is escaping people and far too many designers want to be a one-man-hero which doesn’t always work for best. It’s fine to know when you’re good at what you do but it’s also a skill to take opinions in order to develop.

(Source: jolantazute.co.uk)

Last night I had an opportunity to attend a one-of-a-kind talk shop, one that was not a typical protentious event in East London, rather that a creative brain child from the folks at Be Viacom. The Be Viacom Talk Shop has been a two day of event consisting of informative and creative talks with subjects such as social TV to fashion and creativity being led by a list of some of the most inspiring people (full list seen here). 

Due to manic work days I was only able to attend one event, ‘Naomi Who?’ with a top of music and fashion featuring Melanie Hick (Editor in Chief, District MTV), Princess Julia (DJ and Editor at Large at GQ Style), Quentin Jones (Illustrator & Filmmaker) and Lulu Kennedy (Fashion East Founder). With discussions and Q&A’s from the audience this was a brilliant talk with some interesting insights into fashion today. Followed by music, networking and some killer cocktails (dry ice, foam, champagne with jelly bubbles) a fantastic way to get everyone talking further.

Now to get to the really important part, the studio - the creative hub of the event, an MTV mashup of Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and District MTV, to call it a creative chill out space is an understatement (see photos) created by a talented team with a helping hand of Alex Noble, a creative mastermind who gave the place a psychedelic twist of brightly coloured emblazoned walls and garnished mannequins covered in array of colours.

A fantastic night to say the least, wouldn’t mind more Thursdays like this. More Talk Shops like this.

Thoughtful logo design. A good designer, or should I say knowledgable designer knows that a logo isn’t just about being pretty rather that is has to convey a message about the company and be generally relevant. Now I know this time has passed and the war has been going on for too long but take our not-so beloved London 2012 Olympic logo designed by none other than the renowned designers at Wolff Olins - with so much time and skill on their hands they could have pushed for something breathtaking? I mention this only for one reason, I’m sitting here staring at the beauty that is the Rio 2016 logo - so full of thought and says an ample amount about what it stands for, from vibrance to a disguised ‘Rio’ spelled through the dancing characters, in my opinion it’s one of the most thought out logos to come to light this year. This logo alone has convinced me that Rio 2016 will be amazing (now that’s some powerful logo conviction): http://imjustcreative.com/rio-2016-olympic-logo/2012/08/14/Overall logo quality has been dipping, whether it’s due to small and upcoming businesses using the ‘£20 per logo’ agencies on gumtree or maybe no one really cares about functionality and meaning but more about aesthetically good looks and only that (well, we are a vain bunch) it seems that what’s on the inside no longer counts for a lot, and yes I’m still referring to logo design.

Thoughtful logo design. A good designer, or should I say knowledgable designer knows that a logo isn’t just about being pretty rather that is has to convey a message about the company and be generally relevant. Now I know this time has passed and the war has been going on for too long but take our not-so beloved London 2012 Olympic logo designed by none other than the renowned designers at Wolff Olins - with so much time and skill on their hands they could have pushed for something breathtaking? I mention this only for one reason, I’m sitting here staring at the beauty that is the Rio 2016 logo - so full of thought and says an ample amount about what it stands for, from vibrance to a disguised ‘Rio’ spelled through the dancing characters, in my opinion it’s one of the most thought out logos to come to light this year. This logo alone has convinced me that Rio 2016 will be amazing (now that’s some powerful logo conviction): http://imjustcreative.com/rio-2016-olympic-logo/2012/08/14/

Overall logo quality has been dipping, whether it’s due to small and upcoming businesses using the ‘£20 per logo’ agencies on gumtree or maybe no one really cares about functionality and meaning but more about aesthetically good looks and only that (well, we are a vain bunch) it seems that what’s on the inside no longer counts for a lot, and yes I’m still referring to logo design.

(Source: jolantazute.co.uk)

2012 is all about Great Britain, from the Queens Jubilee to the Olympics. With the festivities comes advertising and branding, probably my favourite part about all the going on when known brands rebrand their packaging and adverts to suit the occasion. In the image above i’ve displayed a selection of the ‘Best of British’ food and beverage selection, from a wonderfully and classically designed collectable tin from M&S to quintessentially British Pimm’s and Cadbury’s Dairy Milk bar followed by your cupboards classics of Heinz beans and the loved/hated Marmite. I know that I will be spending the year collecting the above and more, there is nothing quite like classic and beautifully crafted design to kick up some well needed inspiration, maybe I’ll jump on the Brit band-waggon and produce a few classics myself - watch this space.

2012 is all about Great Britain, from the Queens Jubilee to the Olympics. With the festivities comes advertising and branding, probably my favourite part about all the going on when known brands rebrand their packaging and adverts to suit the occasion. In the image above i’ve displayed a selection of the ‘Best of British’ food and beverage selection, from a wonderfully and classically designed collectable tin from M&S to quintessentially British Pimm’s and Cadbury’s Dairy Milk bar followed by your cupboards classics of Heinz beans and the loved/hated Marmite. I know that I will be spending the year collecting the above and more, there is nothing quite like classic and beautifully crafted design to kick up some well needed inspiration, maybe I’ll jump on the Brit band-waggon and produce a few classics myself - watch this space.

Tesco have finally broke the chain of the horrific and avoidable ‘value’ packaging. Supermarket store chains such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s all have their missable own brand value packaging such as those sorry looking tins of beans staring back at you from the bottom shelf overpowered by Heinz and Branston’s well known friendly tins. I’ve never before bought anything value before, not because I’m a snob but rather that I’ve never paid much attention to the products due to their toxic and questionable look, however, on my most recent trip to Tesco I was unknowingly enticed by some friendly own-brand packaging.
 The new Everyday Value packaging is designed by Rocket Design, they’ve introduced a friendly illustrative and simple take on the design with slightly muted tones on a cream background with pictorial illustrations of relative food produce on each of the different labels. 
This is a step forward for all basic, cheap and value products across all companies. We as the public have a view on basic and value goods in the every day-to-day of being tacky and rubbish (some may not agree) even though a lot of these products are no different to a high range alternative, bar some high-end packaging and a triple price tag.

Tesco have finally broke the chain of the horrific and avoidable ‘value’ packaging. Supermarket store chains such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s all have their missable own brand value packaging such as those sorry looking tins of beans staring back at you from the bottom shelf overpowered by Heinz and Branston’s well known friendly tins. I’ve never before bought anything value before, not because I’m a snob but rather that I’ve never paid much attention to the products due to their toxic and questionable look, however, on my most recent trip to Tesco I was unknowingly enticed by some friendly own-brand packaging.


The new Everyday Value packaging is designed by Rocket Design, they’ve introduced a friendly illustrative and simple take on the design with slightly muted tones on a cream background with pictorial illustrations of relative food produce on each of the different labels.


This is a step forward for all basic, cheap and value products across all companies. We as the public have a view on basic and value goods in the every day-to-day of being tacky and rubbish (some may not agree) even though a lot of these products are no different to a high range alternative, bar some high-end packaging and a triple price tag.

The importance on inspiration for any creative is huge. During my first year of university I attempted to start a collection of anything that I find remotely interesting from tea tags and adverts to packaging and objects such as shells and small knitted hats from Innocent smoothy drinks. Five years on and my collection is limited, that’s not to say i haven’t been collecting in other ways however my box hasn’t grown and has been kept dormant until now - I found a use for most of my inspirational goods, a new project!

Keep those little things you find, take pictures and collect anything, and I truly mean anything because you never know when that box of ‘quirk’ will trigger your imagination or have a use for a great project. 

(Source: jolantazute.co.uk)

I’ve been tweaking my printed portfolio a little after some well advised feedback. The logos deserved a page each with samples and sketches, the text has been enlarged for better readability along with a slightly bolder title to give a little contrast between text. All sheets printed on 335gsm paper.

I’ve been tweaking my printed portfolio a little after some well advised feedback. The logos deserved a page each with samples and sketches, the text has been enlarged for better readability along with a slightly bolder title to give a little contrast between text. All sheets printed on 335gsm paper.

considertheaesthetic:

I’m always surprised by how many cheese brands have really fantastic packaging. I don’t exactly associate cheese with good design, but it seems that these companies know a thing or two about the advantages of having a good-looking product.

Fairview Cheese has really taken the cake with there wonderful teal and black packaging.

Designed by Coley Porter Bell, my absolute favorite part of these designs has got to be the wrapping paper. Putting facts and interesting tidbits about cheese on the packaging paper was pure genius. It’s fun and quirky and adds a whole new level of creativity.

Whilst strolling around Tesco searching for lunch I came across Neuro, a range of performance and enhancement drinks for every aspect of your life. The reason I noticed Neuro is because the bottles resembled somewhat of shower gels that were placed in the wrong part of the store alongside with bad layout of the queue isle where the Neuro bottles were placed next to Dove shampoo - bad move.Neuro bottles themselves are the height of the Lucozade bottles, they come in six colours topped off with large plastic caps and labelled in a very simple way. Unfortunately even the label doesn’t scream ‘drink’ don’t get me wrong, the bottles make you take a second look however it’s not for the right reasons.So many companies want a different approach to packaging, something that’ll get them noticed yet when it comes to consumerism design needs to reflect aspects of what people can relate to - of course it has to relate to the relevant product, using cereal packaging to sell cat litter won’t work and the same goes for this situation.

Whilst strolling around Tesco searching for lunch I came across Neuro, a range of performance and enhancement drinks for every aspect of your life. The reason I noticed Neuro is because the bottles resembled somewhat of shower gels that were placed in the wrong part of the store alongside with bad layout of the queue isle where the Neuro bottles were placed next to Dove shampoo - bad move.

Neuro bottles themselves are the height of the Lucozade bottles, they come in six colours topped off with large plastic caps and labelled in a very simple way. Unfortunately even the label doesn’t scream ‘drink’ don’t get me wrong, the bottles make you take a second look however it’s not for the right reasons.

So many companies want a different approach to packaging, something that’ll get them noticed yet when it comes to consumerism design needs to reflect aspects of what people can relate to - of course it has to relate to the relevant product, using cereal packaging to sell cat litter won’t work and the same goes for this situation.