Debbie Smyth

This is Debbi Smyth, she uses pins in a board and then wraps coloured thread around them to create pictures. I think this work is really good, and I think i may try to use this in some of my later work. 

Leeds University BA [Hons] Graphic Design

Click to to go to website

This is another three year course on Graphic Design. At the end of the three years you will come out with a Honours degree. Again you need atleast 240 UCAS points. In this course you cover a range of subjects, for example; Typography, Print, Drawing, Digital media, Photography and moving images. 

I'm not so sure about this University, the course sounds really good and interesting but the situtation of the unoversity is the thing that lets it down, because it is in the city I don't think I'd enjoy it as much, yes there may be more people and bars to meet and go to, but I wouldnt like being in the middle of a city and no countryside around.

University of Cumbria - BA [Hons] Graphic design

Click to to go to website

This is a full time course at the university of Cumbria, Carlisle, the course is three years long and you need atleast 240 UCAS points to get onto the course along with a good portfolio of work. At the end of the three years you will get an Honours Degree.

I really like the look of this course and the university, it is really close to the Lakedistrict and the Yorkshire Moors, where I could complete my mountain leader training. That aside I think I would really enjoy it at Carlisle.

Portsmouth University BA [Hons] Graphic Design

Click to to go to website

This is three year course at Portsmouth University. The required amount of UCAS points are between 240 - 300, and at least 100 point from that must be to do with art or graphic design.  At the end of the three years you will get an Honours Degree in Graphic Design.


I think i like the look of this university, the only thing that would stop me from going to this university is Portsmouth itself, I have been a few times and I haven't enjoyed the visit. Apart from the i can't see anything wrong with the university itself. 

Plymouth University BA [Hons] Three Dimensional Design - Product Design

Click to to go to website

This is a three year course at Plymouth University. During the three years you cover a wide range of topics broadening your graphic design capabilities, to get onto the course you have to get 240 UCAS points. The first year consists of short projects, to get you into the idea of university. At the end of the three years you will get an Honours Degree in Graphic Design

I like the sound of this course, the University looks very professional, and the course also looks professional. The area around Plymouth is also appealing, i have family that live near Plymouth and the countryside around there is also stunning.

Dead in the water last Christmas, Saab has been re-born with a new product, a new vision and a new dutch super car owner. Guy Bird examines the future plans of every architect's favourite car

Featured in Blueprint issue 295 October 2010


On the 18th December 2009, Saab's demise began after the parent company General Motors (GM) failed to buy a suitable buyer. For 40 years Saab has been designed by a company called savvy, these designed cars for customers who wanted to appear stylish without being flash, and practical without being dull. 

When GM took over Saab in 1989 the designs became derivative and the iconic hatchback shape turned into a saloon for court customers and it became not so original because more GM parts were used in the manufacturing of the cars. 

Sales crashed from a 2006 peak of 133,000 sales to 40,000 by 2009. They blamed the two basic model lines and said that they were to old. Whilst Saab were trying to fix the problem, GM was in dire financial problems, they lost £25bn in 2008, and in order to bail themselves out they but Saab up for sale in January 2009. In early 2010 Saab was bought by an earlier rejected offer by a company called Spyker, and in June 2010 almost all global dealers had a new Saab to sell. 

Also GM was well advanced in updating the Saab models so also in 2010 came the 9-4X crossover, (a bit like the chunky Audi Allroad estate). Pininfarina designer Jason Castriota says:

"This is a new chapter so I want to put out a bold new vision. You can't go into a knife fight with a wooden spoon."

1956 Saab 93

1960 Saab 95

1981 Saab 900 saloon

 These are some of the old car designs from Saab.

Fiat's car of the people

Featured in Autocar, the original car weekly, 3rd November 2010

Fiats new concept car was shown at the Sao Paulo motor show in October. The Mio was designed on the interactive part of the official fiat website, more than 17,000 people were official collaborators to the project. It is designed to be a city car, it is shorter than the Smart's city car called the Fortwo, the exterior of the car is very futuristic, with camouflaged headlights,a large glass roof canopy and completely covered wheels. The interior follows the futuristic look, with mobile phone integration and touch screen controls. Fiat design boss Peter Fassbender said "A good designer tries to realise the wishes of everyone, and with this concept car we are truly working on everybody' behalf." 

The Fiat Mio front view

The Fiat Mio rear view

This is the Fiat Mio at the Sao Paulo motor show

http://www.salaodoautomovel.com.br/en/Home/

Restless Times Exhibition

 

 On Monday 18th October 2010 I went to the restless times exhibition in Sheffield. It was all based on work during both of the world wars. Above is a piece of work from David Bomberg called In the Hold, I think that this piece of work is original and very good. Below is a piece of work from Cyril power called The Tube Station, this is a weird piece of work in my opinion but i like it.

 

On the same day I went to the Abram Games exhibition in the Sheffield Hallam university, I really enjoyed looking at his work, he did most of his work during the war, and he did propaganda posters for the war. Below is his example of work.