From streets to tweets

Chris Osburn (Juxtapoz magazine) recently did a talk at Yorkshire creative networks event on 'streets to tweets'. He is a professional photographer based in London who photographs graffiti artists work and sells the photographs. This was seen to be quite controversial with some members of the audience, mainly the graffiti artists. The main question that Osburn put forward was: is the photograph adding to the image or taking away?

He argued his point with the photograph he took for graffiti artist Sickboy. Sickboy uses the image on his promotional material. He claims that his creativity arises from the way he takes the photograph. In this instance the girls add to the image as it depicts how audiences interact with the image. Is this an artform? The graffiti artists would say not. They claim that he is cashing in on others art and using the fact that the art is illegal and they can't make money from it to cash in himself.

However, the street artists are aware that they produce art that can't make money and will be removed, so is it fair for them to scrutinise people taking photos if it is in such a public place? Probably not, even if those photos make the photographer money.

Pottery town

In my family's hometown of Stoke-on-Trent, there is an amazing pottery heritage. I recently visited the Clarice Cliff pottery museum. It was brilliant to explore my home town's vast history and visit the museum of a designer whom I adore. The shapes and designs of her pottery were the most unique of its time and still are today. It is undisputed that Josiah Wedgwood is the biggest Legacy in Britain's pottery industry but for me Clarice Cliff is by far the most creative.

Paper pictures

CHRISTIAN HÜCKSTÄDT

I Really admire these wonderful pictures. All of Huckstadt's pieces are created from colourful cutout cardboard. They are fun geometric creations with an unique look and stunning 3D effect.

Screen-printed illustrations

Stunning screen-print effect design by Jamie Wieck. The three colour limitation adds to the beauty of the illustration.

Guardian Illustrations

For a newspaper the Guardian has some exciting illustrations. This brand concept for the Guardian's presence at the Hay festival literary event is beautiful. The work produced by Sian Everett design and illustrated by

Joel Holland

works well over a number of deliverables.

49 objects lurking in my kitchen drawer...

Beautiful illustration by Jamie Wieck: "49 objects found lurking in my kitchen drawer".

Katie Kirk's retro selection

Katie Kirk's retro style.

Paper wow

Absolutely gorgeous style produced by Robert Ryan. His brand is extremely recognisable and his techniques truly unique. All of his works are cut into paper then scanned or photographed to produce an individual way of presenting work. I LOVE the shop design and would happily cover my whole house in his fascinating and adorable pieces.

MacDonalds drawing

Tom Pearson did this illustration for a MacDonalds design competition. I love how intricate the design is. He hoped that when produced as a wall vinyl it would visually appeal to children in the restaurant. I think it would be, it would keep me entertained for a while!

matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed

Beautiful Window fronts by Kyle Bean for Selfridges. The copy really exemplifies the beauty of this concept:

'matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed'

The idea is that on each side of the scale is the same object, just one is transformed into a different creation of the same components. The collection sees five stunning pieces each with its own captivating beauty. The simplest is a cardboard box for an office chair being transformed into a cardboard office chair, while another is 1000 aluminum cans being crushed into a small square. One which I particularly enjoy is the transformation of three fairy-tale books into one fairy-tale castle. The last two turn into mobiles. A weding cake (for the girls) and a Honda motorcycle (for the boys).

The whole project is wonderful from the idea itself to the execution, and it was obvosly impressing the audience too!

Joseph Wright of Derby

Where to start? The colours, the realism, the early recording of science, the emotion, the lighting... There is nothing quite as stunning as a Joseph Wright of Derby Painting. This painting is singly the most beautiful depiction of a science I have ever seen.

The first time I stood before it in the National Portrait Gallery I was taken aback by how moving it was, that was three years ago. I am desperate to see it again. The small JPEG above gives it no justice. You have to see this in the flesh and be drawn into the scene of 'An experiment on a bird in air pump'.

£30,000 prize for 28 billion coin shaped Jigsaw pieces

In 2005 The Royal Mint released a competition for the public to design the coin collections. It was judged by Gordon Brown and the Queen. The coin design would win a prize of up to £30,000 and your design could be in the pockets of everyone in the UK. Can you imagine your pitch at an interview?

Interviewer: Wheres your portfolio?

Interviewee: Its in your wallet, sir.

26-year old Matthew Dent won the competition with the design above. It also recently landed him a black pencil at the D&AD awards.

His design is heraldic. The royal coat of arms represents England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales all coming together on this single design. Dent states that he wanted a jigsaw puzzle design so children, and adults alike, could play with the design. Its an absolutely beautiful concept. A coin shaped jigsaw puzzle. The pound coin was later released as the lid, the explanation and the model with which to create the puzzle itself. It ties the whole design together and provides a stunning outcome.

The only problem with the design is that, singlely, the coins are not easily recognized as this. I saw the new 20 Pence first and while not phased by the coin design I didn’t quite understand it. With uneven lines going off the edge of the coin and the complete ignorance of borders I thought… how strange, are they trying to be edgy and contemporary? However, when I understood it for the first time I was impressed. As was The Prime Minister, The Queen, D&AD and as I am sure others would be too.

I think its quite clear Britain wont be moving to the euro quite yet.