What a fabulous design.  I have always had a soft spot for underground houses.  This is not your typical footballer’s house.  Beautiful.

So, what about the exciting thing?  Well, I had my interview for the third year Creative Practice course on Wednesday and have had an offer today.  I’m very giddy.  That is what prompted me to update – I’m very proud of myself and want to tell everyone!  My proposal for the third year is to do with the cat products that I have been talking about, which I am still really excited about.

This year is very nearly finished now.  Just the final show presentation board to complete and PPD to hand in.  I can’t believe it – it has really flown over.  Final show is 6th June.  I shall be letting my hair down…

This is both simple and beautiful…as things should be.  My cats would love this.  I’m a little envious that I didn’t think of it…

Look at these fab letter shaped cat things…

I’m part glad and part sad to see this…glad because I got the link through Design Milk….I have been arguing that cat furniture was trendy and viable for some time now…but a little sad because I had thought of something fairly similar….I’d better hurry up designing these cat things it seems…

New From the Czech Republic, Catworks Modern Cat Furnture Spells Out Good Design for Moderncats | moderncat :: cat products, cat toys, cat furniture, and more…all with modern style.

The presentation focused partly on talking us through the challenges and decisions that had to be made throughout the projects we were shown, and partly what was expected of a student.  George Bond stressed several times that a full degree and good grades were vital in this current economic environment.  He also suggested you have a lively and approachable personality (though I am not sure this is the kind of thing that can be taught or even altered).

He also explained to us that good record keeping and keeping notes on what a client has agreed to is vital.  Client’s lie, apparently, usually in order to obtain a discount on work completed.  Cynical though this sounds I well believe this as, during my limited experience in the industry, I have seen this in action.  George Bond is not the first person to mention this which leads me to believe that it is far more prevalent than you would expect.

What has been holding me back from creating one is that I really need some sort of logo.  This has given me some problems as firstly, I wasn’t sure whether to use my own name or create a company name, and secondly, I’m not sure what to describe myself as.

We had a really interesting talk by the course leader of creative advertising the other day on this very subject.  He told us not to invent a company name as this gives the wrong impression when you are looking for employment.  It is you personally that an employer is interested in, not a fictitious company.  That’s that problem solved.

As to what to promote myself as, well, here is my dilemma: I am not comfortable describing myself as an Interior Architect, even though that is what I am studying.  The main reason for this is I don’t feel I have enough experience to ‘go it alone’ and don’t actually want to be responsible for entire projects, budgets and all.  I’m not really certain that I want to work full time for someone else either, though.  What I would be happy doing is some freelance modelling and rendering work which, in an ideal world, would bring in some money and allow me to pursue the cat products design that I am interested in.  Right, I am burbling now and I am even annoying myself.

What I should probably do is just be a student for the moment.  The intended audience for the cv/portfolio is people attending the final show, and they are expecting students.  I think I have completely over complicated the whole thing and I should just keep it simple.  I have been looking for inspiration on design of the cv and really liked two from www.smashingmagazine.com.

I liked this one as it felt friendly and personal

http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/images/design-cv-resume/sam_brown.pdf

And I liked this as it is really bold and modern, yet still simple and readable

http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/images/design-cv-resume/sarah_parmenter.pdf

I shall have to work on this.  I daresay I shall be posting the results.

This is a really interesting story…you should read it…

BBC News – Gateshead church to become arts base.

My final major project is coming up soon.  I had planned to refit and remodel the Tyne Tower for the project.  I, strangely, really like this building – although I’m not usually a fan of this 60′s brutalist architecture, I was overjoyed to see the car park and Trinity Square come down.  I always thought you could do a lot with this building, particularly as it is in such a prime location.

Anyway, here is a news story on the BBC which says is it about to be demolished.  I had no idea.  I’m going to have to rethink my fmp now… 

BBC – In pictures: Tyne Bridge Tower in Gateshead.

Anthony Gormley’s new sculpture.  I’m just mentioning it as I saw Domain Fields at the Baltic a few years ago and it completely took my breath away.  I’m not sure you can really get the feeling from a photo; you kind of have to experience it.  Anyway, here it is.  Beautiful.  I love his work.

The link to the news item is below.

BBC News – Canterbury Cathedral unveils Gormley sculpture.

I don’t usually repost from Dezeen otherwise I would be on all day.  However, I simply had to repost Dancing Squares by Nendo, firstly because they remind me a lot of my own Tectonic Shelving System, and secondly because they are so completely beautiful.  They encompass many of my favourite things in design, they are simple, primitive shapes with the smallest detail giving them a real twist and designer edge.  Shiny white too!  I bet they are well made too; objects that look simple have to be, with no decoration or other details to draw the eye.

There is another reason that I posted this.  I have been trying to convince myself (and others) that cat things are cool and designer, and I think that the concept drawings showing the motion and effect of cats supports my case.  People who have cats are smart as can be…I knew it.

You can get more information about the designs and Nendo from the link below.

Dezeen » Blog Archive » Dancing Squares by Nendo.