09
May 2012

7 Awesomely Creative Web Designs

May 9, 2012 By 1 Comment

7 Creative Web Designs

We’re all familiar with the standard conventions in website design these days – you know: banner, menu, maybe a couple of squares around the page to click on. But here I have selected seven websites that have just that bit of extra creativity which can make a site stand out from the crowd.

Creative Web Design #1: The J Peterman Company:

Uncommon fashion for men and women

j-peterman-company

This site opens up to a pretty standard layout – a slideshow dominating the page with quirky quotes on designer clothing-like painted backgrounds, above a few old-style shop advertisements to click on. Also the standard menu list on the left for departments. Nice-looking with an easy-on-the-eye colour scheme, reminiscent of a tailor back in the good ol’ days. Plus the time in three cities around the world – reflecting, I presume, the by-line Traveling the world to find uncommonly good stuff.

This site really does give the impression of class, fine style and a discerning palate – matching the types of things for sale (mostly clothes plus some interesting old items). A buyer would trust this site to deliver what it promises!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspiration, Web for Creatives Tagged With: ,
25
Apr 2012

Arts Open 2012

April 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Well it’s been a busy few months for the Explainafide team, with web design and community events involvement, building to a crescendo in the last couple of weeks as we have been preparing for the upcoming launch of our latest project – the Arts Open Festival of Open Studios.

What is Arts Open you say?

Arts Open is an arts based festival incorporating over 50 artists and revolves around a self guided tour of art spaces, studios and galleries. Participants are able to download a map, or pick one up from the Castlemaine Information Centre or participating venues, then make their way at their own leisure to some or all venues.

Arts Open is the brain child of some very prominent a Castlemaine based artists who were becoming frustrated by inaccessibility and lack of information about the art and artists based around this well known arts community. They wanted a format that could be easily accessed by the community and tourists, and executed with ease by the participating artists. And so Art Open was born.

Arts open kicks off on Anzac day, April 25th with some participants opening their doors, and the remainder following suit on Thursday 26th April, and will run through to Sunday 29th April, so there is plenty of time to get round to everyone.

There are various music and entertainment events running throughout the extended weekend so taking a look at our Arts and Culture page on the official Arts Open Website will help you to better plan your weekend.

The making of this website and helping with the organizing of this event has been a truly enjoyable and rewarding project and has enabled the Explainafide team to work with and get to know some remarkable and esteemed members of the community and has hopefully helped to cement us in the fabric of this remarkable town and inspiring art community.

Even if you can’t make the event please check out the website & view the video below made by Jim Coad from Video Architecture.

Filed Under: Inspiration, Web for Creatives Tagged With: ,
09
Apr 2012

Acronyms in Business

April 9, 2012 By 1 Comment

Acronyms as Logos

Acronyms are everywhere in today’s society. The global use of emails and text messaging has heralded a whole dictionary full of regularly used acronyms, some of which have also made it into everyday conversations – OMG (oh my god) LOL (laugh out loud) ROFL (rolling on floor laughing) OTT (over the top) and the list goes on.

Acronyms are extensively used in business to abbreviate everything from company names to business employment titles – FC (financial controller) PRO (public relations officer). We all use acronyms in everyday life without even knowing it – ever had a BLT for breakfast? Do you eat a low GI diet? Have you been accused of not being PC, and are you interested in the effects of the GFC?

Since we are in the midst of an ACW (acronym crazy world), why not take advantage and use an acronym to advertise your business and make a snappy logo?

Here are some acronym logos, some are very well known while others are less conspicuous. But they all work.

Acronyms help to say a lot with a little.

WWF Logo
Who hasn’t heard of WWF? Coupled with the bold font and the panda image, this acronym is one of the most widely recognized acronym logos around.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Design, Inspiration Tagged With: , ,
25
Mar 2012

Design Thinking: Tim Brown on TED

March 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Another great talk by Tim Brown on Design Thinking or Creative Thinking.

For many years we have viewed designers as people that make things aesthetically pleasing. Yet prior to that designers were responsible for solving major problems and hurdles that society needed solved.

What Tim Brown discusses here is that ideas based on human centered actual needs, rather than aesthetic needs, have to be focused on more by the design community and the broader community at large.

Quoting Victor Papanek from “Design for the Real World”,

Too many designers have mis-directed their talents to design things we don’t need, to be sold to us using money we don’t yet have, only so we can impress our friends who don’t really care.

Tim Brown is the CEO of innovation and design firm IDEO, which blend design, business and social studies to come up with deeply researched, deeply understood designs and ideas — they call it “design thinking.”

IDEO is the kind of firm that companies turn to when they want a top-down rethink of a business or product — from fast food conglomerates to high-tech startups, hospitals to universities.

IDEO has designed and prototyped everything from a life-saving portable defibrillator to the defining details at the groundbreaking Prada shop in Manhattan to corporate processes. And check out the Global Chain Reaction for a sample of how seriously this firm takes play.

 

design-thinking-ethos

Filed Under: Inspiration, Video Tagged With: ,
19
Mar 2012

Castlemaine Artist: Ben Laycock

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Castlemaine Artist: Ben Laycock

Think infamous artists in Castlemaine and immediately Ben Laycock comes to mind. Born with a paintbrush in his mouth, Ben has been a colourful member of this great arts community for close to two decades. But when I had the opportunity to interview him I didn’t know where to start. His studio is full of art and the various flotsam and jetsam that tell us loads about what informs and inspires his unique style. The bold palettes, landscapes that hit you right between the eyes. Ben is prolific.

I have known Ben for over 10 years and have worked with him on several community and artistic projects but I really didn’t know much about the journey through his creative past and its profound influence upon his view of the world. I think it is fair to say that he is a highly unconventional character who has chosen not to accept the values of the “real world”.

Who else would go on a five day hike through the bush without a pair of shoes.

 

 

To view Ben Laycock’s amazing Artwork click here…

Or to see more of Jim Coad’s video projection work through his project Video Architecture.

Both Ben & Jim are exhibiting as part of Arts Open 2012 where 50 of Castlemaine’s leading artists are opening their studios to the public, many for the very first time.

castlemaine-arts-open

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: , ,
22
Jan 2012

Overcoming A Creative Block

January 22, 2012 By 1 Comment

8 Tips to Overcome a Creative Block

Being creative is easy when it’s a recreational process, it is something you do in your spare time to relax and take time out from your work or personal life. A passion for creativity starts from an early age, and is taught to be a recreational hobby . In society, art is considered a pastime and children learn to do art as a fun aside to otherwise tiresome school work. Holiday and weekend activities often include creative endeavours, whether it is painting or sculpting with clay, building or playing in the sand pit, or making cupcakes and cookies.

As you grow into adulthood, so can your passion for art grow to become a bigger and bigger part of your life. For the more talented among us, the possibility of creating a career from your talent becomes a real prospect. It makes sense, it’s something you’ve always done and are good at. And let’s face it everybody’s dream is to make a living doing what they love.

Starting any business can be a long and hard slog. Like any new venture, there is always a plentitude of things to do and steps to implement along the way. The process of starting an Art Business can be very involving, albeit also very fun and exciting – organising a business name, arranging price scales, colour coordinating your workspace; all are very empowering moves towards your ultimate goal of running a successful Art Business.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: , , ,
14
Dec 2011

Let Kindness and Gratitude Come this Christmas time:

December 14, 2011 By 1 Comment

Kindness and Gratitude

In this busy Christmas season many voices speak of peace and joy in word and in song. My attention is drawn to another set of virtues. Kindness and gratitude make life worth living.

An old Persian proverb says: Write kindness in marble and write injuries in the dust.

Kindness is thinking of someone else before us. Today a beautiful post came from Peter Legge, CEO of Canada Wide Media Limited. It tells a moving story of The Salvation Army founder General William Booth. When asked to telegraph his officers with one word to describe his organisation he said others.

Kindness sees others need first. It hears their heartfelt cry. It gives the knowing smile, the reassuring touch. Kindness reaches out where some fear to go. It hugs the unlovely; it listens to the ramblings of lonely souls. It visits the shut in.

You are kindness in motion. Your voice, your hands, your ears are all you need. If you have money share some. As you have been given time give some. Each talent a gift designed to share.

I’d gone to the local Worker’s Club for a meal. As a disabled man shuffled to a table near me I cleared the things in his way. He nodded with thanks. As I left another man called me over and said “That was a very nice thing that you did”.  Someone was watching one small act of kindness. I was touched by the gratitude both men showed me.

Genuine unexpected appreciation moved me greatly.

Gratitude and the ability to say thanks takes so little effort. It can make a magnified difference’s. Today I rang an old teacher and mentor I’ve known for forty years to tell him of my new book and to thank him for his encouragement across the years. In your work watch how leaders treat their staff. It tells so much about that person. Taking time to express thanks or to reward performance on a regular basis marks out the great organisations and teams.

kindness-and-gratitude

 

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: ,
08
Dec 2011

The Present Moment

December 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Present Moment

The digital age thrusts countless offerings of serious and trivial communication at us in our work and personal lives. Smart phones connect us anywhere, anytime. Mundane and micro business tasks can be accomplished in a touch. To increase our effectiveness and our wellbeing requires cool mastery of each new machine and warm regard for those with whom we live and work. By the choices we make and share with others we can remain authentic people.

This present moment is all we have. Our business and personal partners will be delighted when we give them our complete undivided attention. Withdrawal symptoms may set in at first.

Persevere with your new habits and it will get much better.                      Your productivity will soar.

no-mobile-phones-art-business

Image: robzand/ Creative Commons

Both Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and her mother Elizabeth had the practiced skill of making each person they met their only focus.

Active listening pays!

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: ,
01
Nov 2011

Artist Raghava KK discusses the five lives of an Artist

November 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Artist Raghava KK discusses the five lives of an Artist:

Raghava KK’s paints and draws in a cartoonish style examining the body, society, and our world- and to top it off he’s a mighty fine speaker too.

He first started out drawing cartoons for an Indian Newspaper in Bangalore and from there his early works included large watercolours on canvas using both his hands and feet. These were exceptionally well received but when his mother became ill he entered a new artistic style that alienated many of his fans and collectors.You can view his website here.

That’s one of the reasons I think I loved this talk so much. He candidly discusses the highs and lows, the triumphs and difficulties he has overcome to get to where he is today.

He has exhibited everywhere from the Bronx to Nimes-France, London, and of course Bangalore.

This talk is from the TED conference in California. Other notable speakers at the conference were Bill Gates, James Cameron, Sheryl Crow, and mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot.
 
 

 

 

raghava-kk-incoherent-collosal jaunduced-eye-raghava-kk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thou-shall-not-be-bionic
 

 

Filed Under: Inspiration, Video Tagged With:
22
Oct 2011

Google Art Project

October 22, 2011 By 3 Comments

Google Art Project

These days Google is synonymous with the world of search. But scratch the surface a little deeper and there are a huge amount of side projects that are quite literally staggering. One of which that is particularly of interest to the Business of Art family is Google Art Project.

Google has used their street-view technology to record, film and photograph 17 of the worlds biggest museums & many of their art work.

Some of the Museums & Galleries represented in the

Google Art Project

  • The Tait London
  • The Met in New York
  • Van Gogh Amsterdam
  • The Hermitage in Russia
  • Uffizi in Florence

google-art-project-the-tate [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: , ,
Next Page »