France & Germany in one sitting (+)

This weekend has been a great opportunity to soak up some culture and investigate the contrast between Strasbourg, the principal City of the Alsace region in France, and Kelh, its brutalist German brother.

Paul Brooks Design studio is based in Kelh, on the German side of the river Rhine. During WWII Kelh was occupied by the French and named a suburb of Strasbourg.  The French destroyed the traditional German architecture, which was later replaced by a brutalist modern aesthetic when the Germans reinstated their authority and reclaimed the town in the early 50s.  One building in particular, on the very outskirts of Germany, stands tall, peering over the bridge into Strasbourg, a reminder the German spirit will not be broken. 

People in Kelh enjoy a ten minute wait before crossing roads, an attitude applied to a more relaxed pace of living, and as a result I didn't see anybody shuffling their feet staring at the floor, a common sight here in London.

A five minute walk and three hundred yards over the bridge - which acts as a cultural transformation machine - and you’re in Strasbourg, France. This beautiful, historic, world heritage site serves as a bridge of unity between Franco-German cultures and is home to an inspiring and stimulating atmosphere.

People in Strasbourg are respectful and understanding of the British tourist and so long as you are prepared to try French, they are a quite happy to explain your mistakes in English. I had no problem ordering food, drinking booze or even having a casual chat. I’ve got some work to do in terms of learning the languages but I’m assured I will be able to get by.

The experience was a culture shock and an inspiring change from the norm, both cultures live by completely different ideals and practice a refreshing and diverse attitude towards day to day living. I’ve enjoyed some great meals, beers and chats in Strasbourg and I can’t wait to get stuck into work in Kehl.

London Design Festival (Design)

This week has been a great week for all things design here in London. The LDF is the umbrella for lots of little excitements happening all over the capital, featuring bits and bobs from the exquisitely stimulating and inspired, the noteworthy and mediocre and unfortunately, as always, some banal and pretentious nonsense. 

I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy some great seminars at 100% Design and wise up on some innovative ideas in communication, spatial, product and furniture design at the V&A. I’ve also had the privilege to meet some insightful and intellectual creative thinkers at the Designersblock and tramshed.

All in all it’s been an extraordinary week.

Here are some photos of the experience.

New and exciting applications for RPing at the V&A

A very Fantastic Mr Fox at the Power of Making showcase

Interactive visual communication at the V&A.

Probably the best espresso outside of italy

Rat style pick up

Luna landing gear nod, very nice.

If Dieter met Ray & Charles

A splash of contemporary colour

Reflective Geometric Fusion

Cobi, the latest from Steelcase

Tip Ton by Vitra

Krusin collection by Knoll

The embodiment of pretentious nonsense, I  appreciate the form however. 

After show drinky at the Tramshed, we were all well oiled.

Keep it tight, get it printed and buy a quality portfolio (SHU)

Now you’ve got 'all the gear and no idea' you can get yourself a sweet looking portfolio, this should give you the confidence to waltz around the studio and hopefully into an interview situation with your head held high.

No employers are going to want to look at anything stuck together with sticky back plastic and pritt stick. The design industry is incredibly competitive and presentation is the first thing you will be judged on. 

What are we going to do tonight Brain? The same thing we do every night Pinky; Try to take over the World (Wide Web). (SHU)

Just like a Pinky and the Brain sketch, trying to get your work off your desk and in an employer’s face can be difficult.

A decent MAC or PC (SHU)

Having my own reasonably powerful PC was integral to me, it allowed me to work on industry standard software like Solidworks and Adobe CS at my own leisure. Working with these programs to a point where your work has a professional standard takes ages and it is so much easier when you can dip into it at any point. 

If you are clever but have trouble spelling you may be able to swing a laptop or desktop for free through the dyslexia support scheme. You should also be able to get hold of student editions of most software for free too, just ask John or Marylyn - I’m sure they would be happy to chase something up.  

I chose a MAC; awesome for stuff like Adobe CS and looks beautiful but in hindsight a powerful PC would have been cheaper (if you’re paying) and work’s much better with CAD packages. 

Sketching and drafting materials (SHU)

Being organized is integral as a designer, you don’t want to be the one always nagging for a pencil. This stuff is expensive and if you’re like me and just invested in a new set of COPIC markers, you’re not going to want them abused. 

I’ve used:

• COPIC & PROMARKER Markers : awesome for a quick render.
• MUJI gel fine liners : For a nice smooth line.
• MUJI gel fat liner : Good for power lining. 
• Retractable pencil : keeps your work neat and light, good if you’re heavy handed like me.
• Strong steel ruler : draws straight lines. 
• Decent scale ruler : essential.
• French Curve : Curvy
• STAEDTLER Rubber : keep it clean
• Sharp Craft knife : useful when warning people OFF your s**t!
• Spray Mount : sticky
• A nice crisp DALER ROWNEY A3 marker pad

There are loads of different ways to do things and lots of supplies you can invest in, look after them and they will serve you well for a long time. 

Design Journals (SHU)

Again you’ll find loads in the library but you can’t take most off site. I found it easier to subscribe to a few so I could pick them up at my own leisure. They also retain their value a long time after the initial browse. 

I’m into:

Icon 

Onoffice

Wallpaper

Blueprint 

A few good books (SHU)

You will be able to find most books in the library (awesome because it’s free) but a few for yourself will aid you well after you’ve graduated.

• I enjoy: 

Sketching

Drawing techniques for product designers

Process 

50 Product designs from concept to manufacture

Industrial Design 

Techniques and materials

Materials

For inspirational design 

Manufacturing Process

For design Professionals

Advice not Gospel (SHU)

Ok, lets give this blogging thing a go.

When addressing Sheffield Hallam undergrads directly I will feature (SHU) in the title, when posting about my experience in Germany I will feature (+) and when posting generally about Design I’ll feature (Design). This should help you (SHU) lot when you’re hung-over and you can’t really be bothered to read.