July 04, 2008
Update - July
I’ve updated the blog with new work. Look at the top and bottom for them on my portfolio page! Finally I have form validation!! No more will I receive random blank messages. Bigups to this sweet script!
Are you a premature poster? Do you write the first line of your blog posts and then publish it? Are you looking right now at this thinking....where’s the rest of it? That’s because I have a bad habbit of writing blog posts and not finishing them. When I get half-way through I think to myself....why would anyone want to read this load of bullshit! Anyhow....
Starting a Club Night
I decide to jump into the crazy world of creating and running a club night. More details to follow on that but I’ll keep a running a diary of how thats going. Here’s a taster…
The Mix
I quite enjoyed making a mix and publishing it on this blog, I think I’ll do it again. I’m getting better at mixing by the day. The next mix will be tens times better! Any song requests?
New Version of the site
Yes I’m happy with the design of this site and am content to leave it be now the form validations done. You know what that means, yes! a Re-design! Yay! Now If I only had a gadget that could freeze time! I have a concept that’s hopefully going to blow people away. Its going to take lots of carefully thought out planning though but the end product will be worth it!
Flame Digital
On the 1st July just gone It was Flame’s 4th Birthday, and 3 years for me too!! the times gone quite quick. I’ve got a years worth of memories all crammed from the first three months, the rest is a bit of a blur! A nice cheery blur though. We now have the team in place to do serious damage to the industry’s best!! Bring it on!!
And finally - Nice links
- Fellow Bolton fan Chris at Twenty4 has a lovely new design
- Jason Santa Maria of Happycog fame has done something special with his web site. The new concept really does give the site personality!
June 26, 2008
The Mix number one!
I’m a perfectionist and I realise I’ve got a massive way to go with regards to “being good” at mixing music beautifully. I’m just going to say what the hell and throw this out at you. All done on Pioneer CDJ-400’s, the mixings shit in places, but good in others. Sometimes you just got to put yourself out there. These are the songs I’m enjoying at the moment and would love to share them with. So here it is, download the mix, put your headphones and enjoy..
Ian’s Techno/Electro Mix
- Seth Vath - Barbarella 2
- Gui Boratto - Chromophobia
- Hamma - Culchadisco (Tocadisco)
- Lost Thought Part One - Popof
- Don’t Go - PUZIQue
- The Cricket Scores - Boy 8-Bit
- Charlotte - Booka Shade (Dubfire Remix)
- Sex, Lies & Audiotape - Deadmau5
- Kill Bill vol.4 - Modeselektor
- Beward of the Bird - Claude Vonstroke
- Hear me - Drop the Lime
- Suspense is Killing Me - Boy 8-bit
- Thunderstruck - ACDC (Crookers remix)
- The Cheese is the reward - Deadmau5
- Yellow Brick - Noisia
- 40 seconds - Proxy
download it here - zshare (58.68mb)
Afterwords, If you enjoyed that you will probably enjoy this mix too by Patrick Micheal
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z5ELDM4Q (37.66mb)
posted in Music •
June 03, 2008
Wedding Invite
Something i’ve been working on in my spare time. Its an wedding party invite for Ben (flame) and Hannah. The theme was circus style, not the traditional style of a wedding party, its a little less informal than that due to the party being the next day. I’ve gone for a really solid textured look using photoshop brushes and textured paper for the finish. The photo’s really don’t do it justice.
View some more shots
- Flat (front and back)
- Flickr (1, 2, 3, 4)
posted in
May 28, 2008
Finally!! I have some decks!!
I’ll post a mix very soon!
posted in Look at me •
May 28, 2008
Logo in Creative Times
posted in Look at me •
May 09, 2008
My article in Web Designer Mag This Month
Look its me!!
Click here to view the article
posted in Look at me •
April 06, 2008
Tips for budding design superstars!
Part one - I think we all forget what its like starting out as a fresh-faced junior in that scary and intimidating busy design studio. Here’s some of the tips that helped me push on.
College / University
Ask yourself this, “am I ready to unleash my powers on the world just yet?”
First off, you’re in education learning the trade. The best thing about studying is the amount of independent learning you do. You can gather a style for yourself. Your own mark that will separate yourself from the rest. Ask yourself this, “am I ready to unleash my powers on the world just yet?”. Maybe your style could do with some more tweaking and refining, Maybe your tutor is an invaluable resource and your learning so much....If so you’re in the right place...for now.
But If you think that you’re ready to jump headfirst into the design industry, Great! What’s that I hear you say? You won’t be able to find a job without a degree? Trust me, It doesn’t matter how old you are or what qualification you have If your portfolio is good enough then so are you. There are jobs out there, just waiting for you. We at Flame are looking for a junior designer and Summer Interns as I speak.
Finding a job
So you have honed your skills, have a respectable portfolio and have curved your sleeping pattern back into shape. What to do now?
- Sort your CV/Resume out, PDF’s a nice format.
- Get your portfolio online, if your a web designer make sure your code validates and it displays nicely in the main browsers on a mac and PC.
- Search the job listing boards, here are some that list jobs for the north-west of england. The Serif, thedrum
- Research the local agencies, the best in the region. Ring them up and ask for the email address for the person who’s in charge of the job openings.
Send your CV and explain a little about yourself and what you can offer. Sending in a basket of cakes always goes down a treat and will at least get the person in charge to read your email twice-over.
Hopefully you will have some interviews lined up now, if not don’t give up. Keep going, its all about pushing on. Getting yourself into the office is the most important thing you can do. The idea is to be creative, and communicate your creativeness to your potential boss. Do this and you’ll soon be working in a exciting and rewarding studio.
Soon I’ll talk about asking for help making mistakes, asking for a pay-rise, being a active voice in creative meetings and other various tips which I haven’t come up with yet.
posted in Ramblings •
posted in Ramblings •