I stayed at an amazing hotel last week – in Morecambe. The two concepts don’t sit terribly well together, unless you’ve already heard of what developers Urban Splash did to the Midland Hotel to bring it back to its former Art Deco glory and how it sits at the heart of the regeneration plans for … Continue reading design fans should check out the Midland Hotel
Author: Gemma T
Brand and Creative Strategist
Project Management might be really about Customer Service
I’ve been lucky enough to eat out quite a bit recently – and unlucky enough to experience some pretty appalling service in the process. Last week (*cough* Piccolinos) it took ten minutes to get served at the bar, half an hour to be sat at our table and another twenty minutes to order. A few … Continue reading Project Management might be really about Customer Service
The Laws of the Pitch Room
Even though I’m freelance I still take part in quite a few proper pitches. I mean the full-blown strategy + creative + logistics + budget presentations in front of senior clients where they decide based on a ninety minute presentation whether or not to spend a million pounds plus with the agency. Comparing these agency … Continue reading The Laws of the Pitch Room
It’s all about how you see *yourself*
I’m becoming increasingly interested in not so much what we think about other people/places/things – but how we see ourselves. pic by Paurian on flickr, CC applies My Dad’s friends (in their 60s and 70s) are constantly telling him (and me) that they can’t possibly be as old as the other people their age look. … Continue reading It’s all about how you see *yourself*
Planner teach thyself
Since my last employer went through a fairly wobbly time in the 18 months prior to my departure there wasn’t any spare cash for training. So it struck me the other day that I’d probably gone three years without attending a formal, face-to-face training course. Which doesn’t do much for the whole Continuous Professional Development … Continue reading Planner teach thyself
a scenic tour of Britain’s viewing facilities
So I’ve been On Tour this week doing groups in Viewing for a Top Secret Retail Thing. As a compare-and-contrast exercise I’ve certainly come to wonder at the difference in décor, welcome and catering across different viewing facilities. Perhaps we need some kind of star rating for them? One star if you can’t swing a … Continue reading a scenic tour of Britain’s viewing facilities
What’s going on with sausage food styling?
I seem to keep seeing rather a lot of ads focusing on the humble British sausage. But what surprises me about them all is that the food stylist / art director / director / client chose to illustrate the all-round awesomeness of the sausage with a plate of grilled sausages, mash and peas (or sausage, … Continue reading What’s going on with sausage food styling?
Interesting 2011 report
So I spent last Saturday at Interesting 2011 in London. Hosted again by the lovely Russell Davies, it varied in format from previous years, this time focusing more on doing interesting things than listening to people talk about interesting stuff. So we made notebooks, a crowdsourced comic, plasticine monsters, cardboard models and tomato caviar. I … Continue reading Interesting 2011 report
12 months in
It’s been exactly a year since I announced that I’d been made redundant. It quickly became clear that going freelance was the best idea for me so 12 months in I thought it was time for a bit of an audit. I’ve discovered that it’s all about reputation. Who knows you, who rates you and … Continue reading 12 months in
another design fail – this time gamecards
I’m in research mode again and when post-group I found myself in need of food late on Tuesday evening I headed to the local Beefeater. Stop sniggering, all you trendy Shoreditch types at the back, at least at this particular one (in a town I visit quite a lot) I know I’ll get a friendly … Continue reading another design fail – this time gamecards