The coolest article I read on the Internet last week was from the blog of Johnson Banks, a London based design studio. Titled ‘Phonetikana’, it is about a project they are working on, where they try to “combine the English language and Japanese script in some way”.
The words 'Uniqlo' and 'Michael' as written in Phonetikana.
What’s really amazing about it is that with this combined typeface, you will be able to pronounce Japanese words almost like the Japanese do without even having to learn to read their script!
To know more, read the original article here.
Grocery Store Musical
Just came across a funny video via Swiss Miss and had to share it with you. Six undercover actors spontaneously burst out into a live musical in a grocery store in Queens, New York, to the astonished faces and amusement of fellow shoppers in this video.
The most rib-tickling bit has to be where the black man being wheeled around in a shopping cart does an Obama. “Yes we can!”
What do you think of the impromptu performance?
Seven weeks ago, on a chilly Sunday morning, I found myself at London Paddington station ready to board the 8 a.m. train that would take me to Bristol Temple Meads. The ride was a pleasant two-hour slide show of urban and rural landscapes, of which my favourite was that which had acres of green farmland dotted with large bales of hay. It almost looked like a game of giant chess being played by invisible hands.
Bristol
At the station in Bristol, I met Alison who was an excellent guide for the rest of the day and we briefly explored the city before driving to Cheddar and Bath.
Some photos from Bristol:
Bristol is a hilly city.
A view of Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning Avon Gorge, in the distance.
Clifton Suspension Bridge was completed and thrown open to the public in 1864! It was actually designed for light horse-drawn traffic and still serves today’s vehicular stampede of 11,000 to 12,000 every day. Now that’s what I call some serious foresight! Can someone forward this post to the city planning authorities of Bangalore?
On the road leading to the airport (and onwards to Cheddar), just as you’re leaving Bristol city, you come across vast open fields of green grass on either side. If you find London too expensive to live in, you should consider moving to Bristol.
Lots of open space to run around on.
I finally got to see how GPS (Global Positioning System) devices work and learnt that they aren’t 100% reliable. Like personal computers and mobile phones, these devices are prone to “freezing” too.
A Garmin GPS device in action. The interface is like that of a video game.
Cheddar
About an hour after leaving Bristol, we arrived at the village of Cheddar (yes, the same one where the delicious cheese was first made), famous for its gorge and caves. The weather was lovely with a nice clear blue sky and the sun out. Perfect for some ‘tramping’ (as New Zealanders call it) up the hills on either side of Cheddar Gorge.
After quickly refuelling on sandwiches and tea at an English inn where waitresses wore grandma frocks/aprons of yore, we began on our mission of locating the starting point. We chose the less popular approach over the hills.
Starting our climb on the path less travelled.
Wherein the shadows hide it, therein lies the gorge.
At one point during our hike, I wanted to find a cosy grass-covered spot and take a short nap as a way of legitimising my visit. Alas, when it comes to doing things on impulse, I usually am the only one interested. So, we continued walking and taking in the postcard of a view.
Cheddar Reservoir as seen from atop the hill.
It took us approximately three hours to finish the shorter version of the Cheddar Gorge walk.
Once back in the village, I was keen on seeing how “the only Cheddar made in Cheddar” was made at The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company. So Alison and I went for the tour. Most of what I saw there, I had already seen on TV on a show called ‘Cheese Slices’ so I didn’t learn anything new or find it interesting. But I did enjoy trying out a piece of cave matured Cheddar, which has got to be the cheese with the strongest flavour I’ve ever tasted. Delicious!
Bath
We were back on the road in no time and my desire to have an afternoon nap was fulfilled, surprisingly, in the car. I started coming to, just as we entered Bath and drove up the hill to the city’s best kept secret — a park overlooking the entire city for a stunning view. I literally rubbed my eyes, stretched, yawned, opened the door and stumbled out with my camera in tow.
A view of Bath city from the park on the hill.
Bath city, closer up.
Half an hour later we were down in the city itself and walking the streets of Bath. This is what my eyes feasted upon:
Pulteney Bridge, one of few worldwide to be lined with shops.
A building with interesting architecture.
I was intrigued by how the boat would navigate this bit of the River Avon.
The most inviting city sightseeing bus I've seen yet.
Alison checking out photos from 'Earth From The Air', an exhibition by Yann Arthus-Bertrand that is showing in Bath till January 2010.
Bath Abbey next to the Roman Baths
By the time I had pressed the shutter release button on the last photograph, I was overwhelmed with visuals. Even though I hadn’t felt like I was rushing through a packed itinerary, my sponge-like brain was exhausted with all the stimuli it had to process from three different locations in a span of eight hours!
If I had to do it all again, I would give at least one whole day to each destination to absorb all of its sights and sounds properly. Well, as they say, “There’s always a next time.”
Dear World,
I am writing to share with you a wonderful piece of news. My journey with the published world has begun, albeit in a small (but significant) way.
I have been quoted in an article in the Harrow Observer about recent Banksy-style graffiti discoveries in Harrow, Greater London, as such:
Paras G, who runs a London graffiti appreciation website, said: “While I can’t be completely sure of whether any of these stencils is a Banksy, I have a feeling that they have been done by someone trying to emulate him.
“For one, the quality of stencilling on these three is fairly average, indicating a lack of experience.
“The subjects too, seem to have been chosen without much thought to the message they convey and lack the characteristic humour of an original Banksy, except maybe that of the cat.
“Even there, I would have expected to see a speech bubble inscribed with a funny observation and not the ‘Matey’ tag.”
The author of “Who is ‘Matey’ – the artist behind Banksy-style graffiti in Harrow town centre?” got in touch with me for my quote after having seen pictures from my graffiti-spotting expedition to Harrow Skate Park in 2006.
Fortunately, I haven’t been misquoted, but he could have done a little homework on my background. I don’t run a “London graffiti appreciation website” as you will have noticed from my articles here. I just write about things that interest me and might interest others too, without choosing a specific subject.
Like the 6KQ interview (featuring Kunal Bhat, a graphic designer and programmer based in Chicago, USA), that I have lined up for you next week.
Have a fun weekend!
Best wishes,
Paras G.
For this first edition of the ‘6KQ: Six Kwik Questions’ interview series, I approached Trevor Gilley, a graphic designer based in New York City, USA, whose website and portfolio have been a good source of inspiration to me, many times over. The following Q & A session was the result of my correspondence with him.
[Note: All images used in this entry are the property of Trevor Gilley and may not be re-used without his permission.]
1. Me: Thank you for taking time out to participate in this interview, Trevor. To start with, I’m curious to know how you entered the field of Graphic Design. When/How did you know that you wanted to be a designer?
Trevor: I think most designers discover their ability to communicate through images at a rather young age. For me, it was always easier to express what I was thinking in the form of a picture because it was an exact interpretation of the idea that was in my head.
When I discovered that Graphic Design could be a professional career, I decided to pursue my formal design education at Missouri State University in America. The program there is quite unique in the fact that all the design and illustration professors are Eastern European or Asian. They’ve somehow managed to create this pocket of culture and classic design aesthetic in one of the most conservative places in the Midwest.
2. Me: I’ve heard/read/seen a lot about New York City being a great place to live and work in, especially if you’re doing anything creative. Do you think you’re more fortunate in that regard to be surrounded by people who pretty much breathe art and culture, as compared to residents of other cities in the world (except maybe London and Tokyo)?
Trevor: I’ve always believed that to be a successful designer you have to surround yourself with people that share the same passion for creativity and art. New York City is an amazing place where all of these extremely talented people come to pursue what they love to do, it creates an environment that forces personal growth for fear of being left behind in the flow of energy.
Another reason I love NYC is because of the huge amounts of cultural influences that are available in such a concentrated place. The exposure to different people and their customs is something that I’m most inspired by.
3. Me: What’s your favourite thing about being a graphic designer?
Trevor: Being a graphic designer means that I get to wake up everyday and do what I love. I’m assigned the problem of communicating someone’s idea or product in a way that will be understood by many people. Hopefully they will see what I create and think about the message in a way that is meaningful and unique to each person.
A friend recently compared design to scratching an itch. She said there has to be a purpose for you to spend your time doing it and in the end the scratch always makes you feel better.
4. Me: I find your website and work very inspiring. So much so, that I’ve added a link to your website on my ‘Links’ page. Which designers/websites/blogs/publications do you turn to for inspiration?
Trevor: Most of my design inspiration comes from mid-century design masters that created images of timeless beauty and intellect. That said I do keep a list of blogs (see attached image) that I check on a regular basis for short bursts of inspiration. The one that I’m most fond of at the moment is Idsgn (http://www.idsgn.org).
Blogs that Trevor follows.
It’s very important to have influences outside the world of design. Staying informed of the latest trends/styles and popular culture is an important part of our professions but we should also have interests that are totally unrelated to design. Personally I turn to food as a way to see how other people mix raw ingredients to create an extension of their personality, it is extremely intimate and beautiful.
5. Me: What can Trevor be found doing when not working?
Trevor: Typically I work a lot but when I’m not designing I really enjoy the company of close friends and really good food. NYC has so much to offer when it comes to authentic cuisine from all parts of the world. I’ve really become spoiled by having such diversity in a concentrated place.
I recently took a short trip to the mountains of up-state New York. Spending the weekend in a small log cabin on the edge of a lake, surrounded by nature and free of the usual distractions was a great contrast from the grind of the city. I think injecting diversity in life is the best way keep a fresh outlook that generates new ideas.
6. Me: And finally, what’s good? {:P (If you don’t understand the joke, visit Trevor’s website at http://www.trevorgilley.com/ and look around.)
Trevor: What is good? It is something that I constantly ask myself when I experience something new or see something that makes me think or inspires. It’s also very subjective and every individual evaluates it on a personal level, the answer tells you a lot about how someone thinks and feels. Always ask questions and never take anything for granted, you will be a better designer because of it. Design is Good.
To know more about Trevor, visit his website or follow him on Twitter.
6KQ: Six Kwik Questions
An idea that I’ve had for a while now is to introduce interesting people to each other, through a series of interviews called ‘6KQ: Six Kwik Questions’. This series is meant to help you and me get to know people from varying professions, backgrounds and geographical locations, thus broadening our cultural perspectives and encouraging us to initiate dialogues with unknown others.
Starting later this week then, I will publish the first of the series featuring New York based graphic designer, Trevor Gilley, where I ask him about his chosen profession, amongst other things.
In the beginning, these interviews will be a monthly or fortnightly affair but as I come across more people I would like to feature here, they could become a weekly occurrence.
I look forward to bringing these interesting interviews to you and getting to know what you think of them so don’t be shy in letting me know.
A Joke on Digestion
Q: What is ‘half a digestive system’ in one word?
A: Semicolon
Yellow Bell Pepper: My Happy Veggie?
I didn’t realise how happy a vegetable could make me till I bought this yellow bell pepper at the supermarket and was about to slice it for my afternoon sandwich:
It just makes me smile and feel good about myself.
What’s your happy veggie?
21 Accents By Amy Walker
About three to four months ago, while trawling the Internet for everything related to New Zealand (articles on emigrating there, photos of Auckland, videos of the Kiwi accent, etc.), I came across this gem of a YouTube video.
A 25-year old actress, singer, writer and dancer — Amy Walker — practises her mastery over accents by demonstrating 21 of them in just over two and a half minutes. Starting with three accents from England, she then moves on to those from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Italy, Germany, The Czech Republic, Russia, France, Australia (two), New Zealand (my favourite), Texas, California, Washington, Toronto, Brooklyn, South Carolina and finally one that is transatlantic.
It’s strange that the one accent that everyone loves to make fun of — the Indian one — was missing from her performance. Then again, she isn’t Russell Peters.
I think she deserves a round of applause for her skill in picking up body language, facial expressions and even colloquialisms apart from just accents from these regions. Don’t you?
It has taken me 26 years, almost to the date, to realise that the one thing I’ve never been too tired/bored/frustrated/busy to do is what I should have been making a career out of in the first place — writing! And so, with much trepidation, I have finally decided to retire from the professions of Graphic Design and Web Development. I am no longer accepting assignments related to either, but I would love to write copy for your brochure, website or advertisement so scribble a few lines to me[at]parasg[.]com if you’re looking for a copywriter who knows his grammar, spelling and punctuation like they were verses from a holy book.
In other news, there have been a few changes to this journal starting with an updated name and description. Instead of ‘Paras G.: Graphic Designer/Web Developer/Writer/Photographer’, you are now looking at ‘An Experiment Called ‘Life’: The adventures of maverick writer-photographer, Paras G.’. This change of name reflects the direction I want to take with the website, turning it into a magazine-like platform for my articles instead of a designer’s portfolio website with an attached blog.
Subscribing to this journal has become easier too, with an added option of receiving updates via e-mail (ideal for those who don’t want to spend precious minutes logging in to their favourite feed reader or manually pointing their browsers to parasg.com). To subscribe to new entries through e-mail, click here; enter your e-mail address in the box provided and follow the instructions given for verification. Now every time I publish a new article, it will be waiting for you in your e-mail inbox without extra effort on your part or mine. Thank goodness for Google FeedBurner and today’s technologies for making our lives more efficient!
[Update: As of December 13, 2009, this blog has been renamed 'No Signal'. Also, I couldn't keep my fingers away from HTML, CSS and other geeky stuff and so I've decided to come out of my 'retirement'.]