contradiction

contradiction, originally uploaded by julian marshall sykes findings.

I found these two in the magazine rack in Sainsbury's this week. The magazines were next to each other and it really made me smile. If you look in particular at the Coleen piece on both covers. While you will always be get these contradictions they still make me laugh. It seems even more so when the picture is of her in the same dress.

Academi - Welsh book of the year

Academi - Welsh book of the year , originally uploaded by julian marshall sykes findings.

Launching this years Welsh Book of the Year awards. See the Longlist as your local bookstore.

Cancer Care Cymru Fashion Show Hilton Hotel

It was a rush but we got there in the end. We all took a night out to attend the Cancer Care Cymru Celebrity Summer Fashion Show at the Cardiff Hilton Hotel. It was a great night out with a big turn out and really well supported by celebrities Chris Corcoran, Amanda Prothero-Thomas and also some of the members of the Cardiff Blues  Rugby team Xavier Rush, Jamie Roberts and Nicky Robinson. Also through the sponsors and supporters Debenhams, Clarins and Princes Gate to name a few.

We went there to show our support and we also were really hoping to win the raffle, unfortunately we lost in the raffle and in the auction we were just pipped to the post in two lots. Anyway I must thank all of the Cancer Care Cymru staff who made it into a really great night out. Roll on six months when they will be doing the next show.

Cardiff Design Festival 2008

It is only April but the planning for Cardiff Design Festival is already in full swing. Although it takes place in mid October there have been some official and unofficial offers of support and sponsorship alreaady. We were speaking to Olwen Moseley Director of the Festival the other day and some of the events sound very exciting. Most of them are top secret at the moment but confirmed events are going to be from NakedWales, WonderCulture and of course some by Design Wales and the Festival itself.

Check out the cardiff design festival website (www.cardiffdesignfestival.org) to keep up to date with the latest news and plans for the event. Also look out for the new website which will be launched by us (www.hoffi.com) in the next month of so. We will be trying to get as many people involved in the Festival as possible this year so if you think you may have an event or want to volunteer help in anyway get in touch.

 

The Project of Place

Professor Nigel Morgan
Cardiff School of Management, UWIC
Date: Wednesday 9th April 2008
Time: 5.45pm for 6pm start

Well that was the invitation and it certainly did not disappoint. Both me and Car decided to go and see what it was all about. The lecture was centered around Destination Branding and just how powerful it is both within getting people to visit locations as well as how in some cases it has lead to the degradation of women within their country. The really interesting point of the lecture for myself was how destination branding and it's marketing is forming a disneyfied view of the particular location/space in question. In someways this is pretty obvious, but what I really started thinking about is where borders lie?

So for example could a government invest in companies such as a chain of restaurants that, in their eyes, are representational of their country? and so by exporting the chain to other countries then they maybe a stepping stone to visiting the real thing.   

We have been working with alot of companies recently that have a footing in the tourism market to some degree and I am really looking forward to relaying them with new ideas.

 

BUZZ and Co

BUZZ and Co
Originally uploaded by julian marshall sykes findings

This bag really attracted my attention the other day. I was waiting for the bay car on St Mary Street, when I noticed this movement in the corner of my eye. I couldn't quite understand what it could be as the shop was closed and I couldn't see anything that could have made anything move. Then as I moved nearer to take a closer look. It was actually the bag label that had a hologram on it. the company is MODA and when you approach from different angles the label changes the MODA name from vertical to horizontal.
It was really effective at attracting the eye and definitely made me look at the product.