Another pseudo-responsibility I have allowed to fall by the wayside is my creation of the Hottest 100 mini-posters. This is another thing I am working on correcting, and with any luck you should see the next installment by week’s end.

In the meantime, please enjoy this tasty morsel: The brief, given in my Advertising Design class, was to create a speculative print advertisement with myself as the product. The only requirement was that it had to include an identifiable representation of my face. I think I’ve met that…

Juan Ojeda, aspiring Brand Creative

Edit: Apparently I forgot the first ‘i’ in ‘aspiring’. All fixed now!

It’s also important to note that this simply class work, and that it has no marks, points or grade attached therein. So while I am pretty proud of the concept and the execution, it was more of a hobby project and thus isn’t as polished as it would be, were it an assessable/paid piece.

That’s all for now, but I promise I will be back soon, with another Hottest 100 mini poster!

The Dog Days are Over – Florence and the Machine

The Dog Days Are Over - Florence and the Machine

The design is based on Florence Welch’s description of the song’s meaning, as well as an attempt to capture the offbeat energy and emotion in the song.

Stay tuned for the next installment – Uprising by Muse.

Wrong! Social responsibility extends beyond carbon emissions and child labour. It means taking ownership of our impact on every aspect of our society — Political/Legal, Cultural, Demographic, Economic, Natural, Technological and any others you might think up.

Here are a few simple ways to ensure that our impact on the world is more good than evil.

1. Recognising that you do have an impact (and identifying it).

There’s no sidestepping the issue here — your actions make a splash. The first step to being more socially responsible is simply accepting this fact, and identifying the key areas for improvement. You can do this by…

2. Thinking outside your own box.

Projects in our industry are almost never the sole work and responsibility of one person; the nature of the design beast is highly social and group-oriented. And while things might seem peachy from the confines of your cubicle, you should also consider how your work will affect others involved. Yes, the die-cut business card you created in Adobe InDesign is only a digital file, but that fancy shape might create a lot of waste for your printers — how can your work help them be more socially responsible?

3. Watching what you’re using (and how you use it).

When the project has physical results, it’s fairly easy to monitor and control the materials with which the end product is created. We can usually specify the card or paper stock, inks, and binding materials for a company brochure, for instance. Something that is perhaps less obvious — but with just as much impact — is the way we use these materials. Does the job necessitate such an excessive use of ink on white stock — and if so, might you benefit from tinted stock instead? Often the entire gamut of variables is open for modification, only the client or designer is unaware, or unwilling to make the effort.

Digital projects are a bit more deceptive, as their impact is not always evident. Consider the tools you use — are they open-source/community-developed (WordPress, MoveableType, jQuery library) or commercial (Adobe Flash, Microsoft ASP.Net)? Are they standards-driven (HTML, Javascript, PHP, Firefox) or proprietary and profit-driven (ActionScript, ColdFusion, Internet Explorer)? Edit: Proprietary products do provide employment and fund R&D, however there is no reason that this can’t be provided by open-source, standards-compliant projects. Look at Google for proof. As with design for a physical product, we aren’t always allowed — whether through industry habits, client preferences or availability — to specify the development tools. When we are given this freedom, it is more socially responsible to select from those that are community-developed and standards-driven, as these are developed for the benefit of people rather than a corporate entity.

4. If you see something, say something!

We produce work, therefore we create an impact; ergo, it is essential to monitor — and perhaps alter — our behaviours for the greater benefit of our society. However, as professional thinkers and influencers, we have a unique opportunity to help others do the same. Our day job is full of interactions with clients or peers, whose requests and solutions may not always be as socio-friendly as they could be. If you’re presented with a situation wherein you can devise a more sustainable, more socially responsible solution, don’t be shy! A polite

have you considered this approach?

will rarely be met with much worse than a polite

that’s not for me,

and might even result in a resounding

You genius! What other helpful insights can I pay you to offer?

This is by no means a complete or definitive guide, but rather a handful of suggestions to get you started. If you have any other suggestions, I’d love to see them in the comments!

I saw these specimens on a mop bucket in my brother’s laundry, and my interest was piqued.
Does anybody know what typeface this is? It appears to be in transitional cursive style, or maybe oblique transitional serif.

Kings & Quinns is, in a nutshell, a fashion blog. Musings, discussions and rants centre on the vast and beautiful – for lack of a more appropriate word – world of fashion culture, from Haute Couture to more accessible street fashion. What makes this blog interesting and perhaps different to other fashion blogs – though I must say I am no aficionado in that respect – is the fresh perspective brought by the author. Katherine is a student (with all the monetary “perks” pertaining thereto) living in Canberra, Australia (somewhat of a fashion anticlimax) and yet she manages to deliver poignant observations, and with unabashed flair.

Contained within the walls of Miss Quinn’s website are interviews with local designers, idiosyncratic observations on popular fashion culture, thought-provoking discussions on the social implications of the industry, some pretty hilarious anecdotes, and most of her posts are riddled with eye candy on which to feast. The writing style is oh-s0-smooth – intellectual yet unassuming, flamboyant yet succinct, witty yet accessible. All of this is to say that each post in itself is a joy to read, but the article that really got me hooked was Model Guidelines for Models which talks about the issue of body image from a practical point of view. Possibly at the heavier end of the spectrum, it is an article that lends a different perspective to an always-topical issue.

As a designer it’s important to keep abreast of the visual zeitgeist in all its glorious forms, from print to web to fashion, et cetera, ad infinitum. I am by no means an old hand when it comes to fashion but through Kings & Quinns I’m starting to learn – and I must say I am thoroughly enjoying it. Please Miss Q, do not stop writing.

This post actually has nothing to do with thirst, but everything to do with me popping my t-shirt-making cherry, so to speak. Last night after finishing up with a work project, I realised that I was faced with three options:

1. Begin another work project, thus spending all day on the grind.
2. Abandon all productive endeavours in pursuit of some serious couch-surfing.
3. Combine productivity and relaxation by being creative.

It was obvious to me which I would pick – mostly because I didn’t want to spend all day working, and second-mostly because I was able to watch TV shows AND be creative at the same time.

Alas, I digress (as seems to be the fashion on this website). I have long had a desire to make my own t-shirts, since retail tshirts are either too commonplace, too popular or too expensive. Last night, after much deliberation, I took hold of that desire and made myself a fashion garment. Here are some photos from the momentous occasion.

If anyone has any cool ideas for more t-shirts, let me know – I’m always on the hunt for design ideas. Now, ’tis time for me to go outside and enjoy what’s left of this gorgeous day!

- Juanito Bandolero

Thankfully, my siblings have raised very resourceful children – possibly due to the fact that the parents are quite well acquainted with the Australian postal system. Here’s a quick view of the artistic contributions that I have the opportunity to exhibit, thanks to a couple of very creative little tackers.

gallery colour-lion drum my-face family happy-face happy-faces lego

A big thanks to all the contributing artists, and a reminder to all other budding creatives – the J.Ojeda Commemorative gallery-wall is always looking for new pieces.

-J.Ojeda,

Art Curator extraordinaire