Director J.Lee Thompson chose to rely on our imaginations in his 1953 black and white film, The Yellow Balloon. In the setting of bombed post war London, a boy loses his pocket money and the chance of buying a balloon. Upset, he steals his friend’s yellow balloon, an incident which leads to tragedy and blackmail.Continue reading “Black and white and yellow”
Category Archives: Design
Time and events change a logo
In 2006, the Conservative party changed its logo to a rough sketch of a British tree. Has the logo changed its meaning since it was launched? The logo was meant to associate the party with care for the environment and the tree doubled up as a symbol for growth. The hand drawn, sketchy brush markContinue reading “Time and events change a logo”
India signage
Photographs by cantstopprogress.co.uk
Type face shock
Typographers strive to make the text they work with as legible as possible, so that the reader absorbs the content to the maximum effect (well, sometimes they do). A font that is clear, ordered and well proportioned is the obvious choice. Fonts like Helvetica and Arial and other modern fonts, especially the specially designed screenContinue reading “Type face shock”
NHS reform? A small change
The coalition government are working on proposals for large scale reform of the NHS. Here is a policy suggestion from a designers’ point of view. A characteristic of waiting rooms of the NHS, and mainly the GP surgery, is the information poster. The posters – how to quit smoking, what to eat, opening times etcContinue reading “NHS reform? A small change”
Warmth in a cold snap
Britain is experiencing a cold snap and consequently there is talk of how to keep warm. This has made me look at old ways to keep out the cold. .This is a detail of a tapestry which hung in a hall in Medieval England. It was a barrier against the cold drafts which crept inContinue reading “Warmth in a cold snap”
Poppy appeal
The Poppy pin badge for Remembrance Day so well designed that you take it for granted. Mass produced, everyone can wear this badge. Die cut crimped red paper flower, symbolic of blood, a green leaf, a bright green plastic stem and black centre with raised letters. It is fixed with dress making pin which isContinue reading “Poppy appeal”
Snuff bottles
A selection of Chinese Qing Dynasty snuff bottles caught my eye. They are made of a variety of natural materials; turquoise, glass, clay, jade, silver, pearl and the blue one is decorated with kingfisher feathers set in silver. They look like they would be a pleasure to hold. The imagery comes from nature; dragons,Continue reading “Snuff bottles”
Public art in Dartmoor villages
Dartmoor villages feel as if they have been built to withstand the harsh and changeable weather of the moor, even on a summer’s day. The buildings look thick walled and sturdy and the space in the streets is intimate. Here the buildings are decorated with bunting and, in a small public area, a sculpture showsContinue reading “Public art in Dartmoor villages”
Airmail envelope
The lightweight, blue and red airmail envelope is hardly used anymore, replaced by the sending of emails which is quicker, cheaper and easier than posting a letter. It is set still more firmly in the past with it’s Woolworths branding and price tag. For more on packaging, see categories >>
Coffee Table TV 