From the desk of Mr. Monk

"If you’re unemployed ok, just call yourself freelance."

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:49:52 +0000

“If you’re unemployed ok, just call yourself freelance.”

- Jedward

Me: I can't believe the new Coldplay album isn't on Spotify.

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:32:38 +0000

Me: I can't believe the new Coldplay album isn't on Spotify.
Nat: Probably because the money goes to Oxfam or some shit.

"They’re like rapey squid!"

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 11:16:02 +0000

“They’re like rapey squid!”

- Nat on cuttlefish

Caught Sue in the act of singing to Christmas songs rather...

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:28:59 +0000

Caught Sue in the act of singing to Christmas songs rather loudly whilst working.

What an awesome product. Sign me up!

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:46:21 +0000

What an awesome product. Sign me up!

The Misuse of QR Codes

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:29:00 +0000

On my way into Birmingham, I saw a billboard with three letters and a QR code. Ridiculous. Who on earth is going to get their phone out and scan that whilst they’re driving?

People that use QR codes because they’re “edgy” and “fresh” aren’t looking at the real communication problem at hand. QR codes almost always feel like a bolt-on idea that was thrown in at the last minute and never feel like an integrated part of the campaign. They are a genuine vehicle for data that bridges the gap between real life and the digital realm, but they are being overused and abused.

Stop following trends and start crafting solutions to problems.

How I fell back in love with writing again I had used iA writer...

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:48:06 +0000

How I fell back in love with writing again

I had used iA writer on my iPad on the recommendation of Erik Spiekermann. I had always hated Word, Google Docs did some crazy shit with formatting and Pages had too many features for my liking. Then there was iA writer on my iPad where all I could do was write. It was brilliant - no fluff and great typography. I ended up making little ‘systems’ for basic formatting tat I picked up from looking at how other people wrote in plain text.

That’s when I came across Markdown. Maybe I ‘get it’ because I can code. I immediately identified with the way that there was only one way to have a heading. A universal formatting system. Amazing.

Then I noticed that iA writer for Mac was on sale. I bought it and started writing proposals at work in Markdown in iA writer. I feel like I’ve fallen in love with writing again. It just seems so natural and easy. I’m amazed at what a difference an application makes. Imagine if someone made Adobe CS the way that we all wish it was. Designers might actually be productive, instead of fighting with crash reports an inconsistent UI.

It’s rekindling my love of all the arts. I was out with a good friend, Johnny¹, who was talking to Chantal Powell² about books with such passion - much in the same way that I currently feel about writing - that I’ve downloaded the books and I’m just about to start 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. We were out at Wolverhampton Art Gallery for the private view of ‘The Fall of the Majestic Elk’³ and we came across an exhibition of ephemera from the Munich Olympic games. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been to an exhibition. Looking at art and design online just is not the same. It’s a priority for me now to get out more to see the great stuff that is out there.

The only feature I long for, is collaboration. I miss being able to share a document and get multiple users working on the same page. Maybe one day iA will craft a hosted version of writer.

This is my first post I’ve written in Markdown. It’s pointed out though that I need to re-theme this blog and make it a typographic dream.

Maybe now I’ll start to write the posts that I’ve always wanted to.

An amazing copywriter (http://www.eustondoyoucopy.com/) ↩
A contemporary visual artist (http://www.chantalpowell.com/) ↩
A collaborative contemporary art exhibition (http://majesticelk.weebly.com/) ↩

Purple potato mash. No joke. (Taken with instagram)

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:29:52 +0000

Purple potato mash. No joke. (Taken with instagram)

"If the market is quiet, be loud. If the market is loud, be quiet."

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:05:19 +0000

“If the market is quiet, be loud. If the market is loud, be quiet.”

- Matt Lees

Nat Pullin on knowing her engine

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:31:07 +0000

Nat Pullin: You can get at least 250,000 miles out of a cavalier.
Matt Lees: Really?! What engine has it got?
Nat Pullin: A Vauxhall one.

Font Lorry

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:39:13 +0000

Check back soon for details.

Photo

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:07:22 +0000

Photo

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:06:38 +0000

Photo

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:05:50 +0000

"The problem with kids is once you’ve had ‘em, you’ve got ‘em for ages."

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:01:59 +0000

“The problem with kids is once you’ve had ‘em, you’ve got ‘em for ages.”

- Nat on having children. WIN!

"STOP DIGGING!"

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:02:15 +0000

“STOP DIGGING!”

- Nat on Tony Robinson

"How can she teach English when she’s American?"

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:37:01 +0000

“How can she teach English when she’s American?”

- Natalie Husselbee

A little something I’m working on at SMILE.

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:45:14 +0100

A little something I’m working on at SMILE.

Sue on French

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:10:00 +0100

Me: How can you have a female Bannana?
Sue: I know! It's quite clearly male.

Whilst carrying out studio repairs...

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:25:33 +0100

Me: Put it in the hole above
Sue: That's what she said.