“The aim of this blog is to provide resources and tutorials for all web designers and web developers, from the beginners right through to the experienced.”

The articles are well presented and easy to digest, so if you’re interested in web design then I recommend you head over to the site and start subscribing to the content.

I’ve recently opened a Flickr account so that I can share my photos, images and designs with the community. I’ll be using it like a photo blog to post any interesting snaps that I take, whilst I’m out and about.

So head over to The Colour Mill’s Flickr page and if you’re a member (it’s free) why not say hi?

I’d been working with Swansea based design consultancy James Good on some illustrations. Whilst there, they had begun developing an idea in social enterprise into a fully fledged business opportunity.

Bubble Squeak is their creation; a “no frills car cleaning brand” that will “give people the confidence to get themselves out and earning”

Before I knew it I was out on the road with the James Good gang (including photographer Thom Hayes). I was dressed head-to-toe in their new Bubble Squeak uniform and posing with a bucket and sponge. Good job it was a glorious day in sunny Swansea!

Fable © Lionhead Studios

There’s another great looking amperSAND event this month.

This time Andrew Lindsay, Animation Director at Lionhead Studios talks about ‘Game Animation, Art and Technology’, covering the following questions;

• How do artists and animators work within the parameters set by the tech., do those parameters restrict or inspire us?
• What implications does ‘playability’ have for the things we create?
• Can the balance between the two (tech and art) be managed in favour of the art?

The event takes place at Swansea Metropolitan University’s School of Digital Media on Wednesday 22nd April.

Hopefully see you there!

Find out more about amperSAND events here.

I recently completed an internship programme at Swansea Print Workshop, a not for profit company in Swansea that is run by volunteers and a few members of staff.  Professional artists, amateurs and school children are invited there for fine art printmaking courses (such as Collograph, Cyanotype and Linocut) and open access to the facilities.

My time there was spent learning about traditional printing techniques such as Photo Screenprint and arts administration training in Marketing, Publicity and Image Library Organisation.

The workshop is based near Swansea city centre in a converted terraced house that is full to bursting with old fashioned printing presses, studio spaces, computers and even a mini darkroom. The workshop is real hub for the Swansea art scene and I’ve caught the bug, I’ve decided to help out there as an occasional admin volunteer.

By offering to help out the workshop with their admin tasks; including scanning images, desiging posters and leaflets, and generally helping with their marketing and publicity tasks, I hope to stay involved and to learn more about the various printing processes and events that happen there.

It takes an interesting look at how design has improved the profits of organisations and industries using examples like the exports industry in 1830s Britain, the making of the original King Kong and the Apple iPod.

“The record shows that in economic downturns, investing in design is not a luxury, it’s a competitive necessity.”

You can read Good design is an upward sales curve on the Design Council website (but you will need to register first).

In an effort to give back to the community and to support a cause that is not only worthwhile but also looks like a lot of fun, I’ve decided to donate money to the Swansea Community Farm. I’m told that the amount given will keep the chickens in feed for a month, so it seemed only natural to pop over to the farm and meet the beneficiaries.

Thanks to Kari and Phil for sorting out the photo shoot and of course to the chicken for posing so patiently. Hopefully next time I’ll get stuck in with some hard work and get my hands dirty.

http://www.swanseacommunityfarm.org.uk/

So, I thought it was about time to update this website’s design by adding some seasonal colours into the mix. Gone is the fresh green grass from the background, instead we’ve got some crisp red leaves and a deep orange bar along the top.

Looking forward to tasty pumpkin soup and bonfires!