"Address Is Approximate" - A stunning short film using Google Street View

This stunning Google Street View stop animation short gets a lot of attention at the moment. It was created by Tom Jenkins of Theory Films and tells the story of a lonely desk toy that longs to escape the office. So he takes a cross country road trip to the Pacific Ocean in the only way he can - using a toy car and Google Maps Street View. Sit back and enjoy the journey!

Music by the Cinematic Orchestra (cinematicorchestra.com).

All screen imagery was animated - there are no screen replacements.

Produced, animated, filmed, lit, edited & graded by Tom Jenkins (theoryfilms.co.uk / facebook.com/theoryfilms - NEW MAKING OF PICS ON FB PAGE / @thetheoryUK / twitter.com/#!/thetheoryUK).

Shot using Canon 5d MkII, Dragonframe Stop Motion software and customised slider.

Size matters - Make the logo bigger!

This post is for all the graphic designers and web designers out there. Because it's Friday. Because it has been a long week. Because this is the mantra of some of the clients you deal with. Because you've heard it at least once today. Because you need something for the weekend…

Two minutes and thirty seconds of rocking "Make the logo bigger".
It will make you feel better!

MaketheLogoBigger.mp3

This song has been composed and performed by Burn Back, a fictional rock band named after advertising legend Bill Bernbach. They were created by advertising team IHaveAnIdea to promote their "Portfolio Night".

"German Tuesday - Deutscher Dienstag" Part 12: Tissue?

It's the time of year again when one doesn't seem to get any daylight - it's dark outside in the morning when you leave for work and it's dark when you get back - and people start sneezing and coughing all around you. So this means it's also the time of year when we get bombarded with TV commercials for flu/cold reliefs and tissues.

But on my recent trip to Germany I've come across a TV commercial that stands out from the crowd. It is for "Tempo", the first ever German brand of tissues. The brand name has since spun off as a generic name and is used colloquially for a tissue, even though it might be of a different brand.

The commercial uses animated illustrations to show different situations in life where you might be in need of a tissue. And as 'life unfolds' so does the tissue. I like the style of illustration as I think the simple 'scribbled' effect goes really nice with a tissue and the strapline just sums it up perfectly: "However life unfolds". Enjoy!

 

ukcpi Annual Report 2011

We have recently designed and produced exhibition graphics and an annual report for the UKCPI.  They represent UK producers of cleaning, hygiene and surface care products. They range from soaps, washing powders, household disinfectants, air care and polishes, to the wide range of professional cleaning and hygiene products used in industrial and institutional applications.

We decided to create really bright coloured icons representing different parts of their industry and use them over the top of a newly created diffused bubble background and a bubble top graphic.
The client was absolutely delighted and so were we!

Cover and inside pages of the review

Pop Up exhibition stand

Pull Ups

Glyndwr Innovations

Glyndwr University in Wrexham is already one of our clients, and we had the opportunity to produce the marketing materials as well for Glyndwr Innovations. We had already designed and produced a brochure for them but they needed to be more prominent in the marketplace and as they had an exhibition coming up we were asked to look at a new brand and concept for them. 

The new Glyndwr Innovations brand was devised in conjunction with the Glyndwr University brand to sit alongside it and be a complimentary brand but still have it’s own identity.
 

We positioned them on a black background and used strong colour identity to make them stand out. The response to their new look has been fantastic and has given them the right foundation to build on their future growth.

New brand

Pull ups for exhibition

  

Brochure design

 

"German Tuesday - Deutscher Dienstag" Part 11: St. Martin

With Halloween and Bonfire Night and its lovely fireworks just gone by I think it's time to take a look at a German tradition - and design in a very different sort of way.

On 11th November is St. Martin's Day, a widely celebrated feast in Germany and parts of Western Europe. It goes back to St Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier who was baptised as an adult and became a monk. The most famous legend of his life is that he once cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm so the beggar wouldn't die from the cold. That night Martin dreamed that Jesus was wearing the half-cloak Martin had given the beggar, saying: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clothed me"

In Germany it is tradition for children to make their own lantern, go from door to door with the lantern, and sing St. Martin songs, in exchange for sweets. Another widespread custom in Germany is bonfires on St. Martin's eve, called "Martinsfeuer" with processions that accompany those fires.

Now, what has this to do with design?
Well, from kindergarden till later on in school you have to design your own lantern. Each and every year. So, I thought I share a collection of some of my childhood lanterns that my parents have kept all those years (bless them!). I guess you can tell which ones I did in kindergarden...

A small collection of my childhood designs.
The teacher gives you a theme to work on.

Secondary school if I remember correctly.

Primary school - we had to collect and
dry the leaves first.
It was all about a hunter and forests.

Picture of a procession. St Martin traditionally rides in it.

Fun Friday - Cookie anyone?

It's been another busy week here at Mako so what better way to start the weekend than with a smile. Relax and have fun!

Derwent Sketch book commission

Alan Jones a director from Mako Creative has been commissioned by Derwent Pencils to produce a drawing of a bear cub to be reproduced onto the front of their sketchbooks. "I couldn't believe it when Derwent approached me" said Alan. "This is a huge honour and I am very humbled that Derwent chose me to produce the drawing, but I am glad they did!" The drawing took over 15 hours to produce using Derwent soft graphite H, 2B & 8B pencils onto Derwent A3 cartridge. "Derwent pencils are really a joy to use, you can sharpen them to ultra fine points and lay a really rich velvety layer of graphite down to  build  up subtle shades with precise control."
These quality sketchbooks will be on sale in an art store near you anytime soon.