Other thoughts

To underpin the practice, I’m also fascinated and excited by the theory of visual communication and how we interpret and create meaning from the things we see.

In a world where we’re bombarded by man-made images more than at any other period in history, understanding how we can be manipulated and fooled may just help us spot the ‘fake news’ and hidden persuaders!

Seeing is believing…isn’t it?

Seeing is believing…isn’t it?

Here we are in the midst of another series of 'The Apprentice' and I bet that I wasn’t the only person that spent the first series, way back in 2005, wondering where about in Canary Wharf, Siralan’s (as he was back then) offices were? The rapid images of Canary Wharf...

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The map is not the territory

The map is not the territory

As we’ve discovered from other posts we don’t so much see as perceive. Our eyes and brain don't function like a camera; light falling on our retina is only the beginning of a much greater mental journey. What we think we see is constructed within our brains and...

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Beauty is in the brain of the beholder

Beauty is in the brain of the beholder

It’s been a manic month and finding the time to write a full post has eluded me! So instead, here is something I’ve seen this month that I really want to share with you. Grab a coffee, sit back and watch: "What makes a masterpiece"  (sorry this isn't the full...

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A question of (Christmas) taste!

A question of (Christmas) taste!

As you fight the scrum in the shops and gaze longingly at all those beautifully packaged products remind your brain that all is not as it appears! Consumer packaging has been market tested for donkeys’ years and for good reason...it exerts a mystical power over us in...

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Look into my eyes

Look into my eyes

I read somewhere years ago that it’s virtually impossible to ignore an advert or design with a face, or more precisely eyes, on it and this seems to be very much the case – we just can’t help but try and make eye contact even if it is only symbolic. Our mind gets...

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On the face of it

On the face of it

As social creatures we need to recognise each other and our mind can perform some astounding feats when it comes to recognising faces. If you ever saw QI then you may have seen the splendid Einsteins face illusion which demonstrates this quite clearly. (You can watch...

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The apple of our eye

The apple of our eye

For all his flaws (hey, we're all only human) I think we'd all agree that Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, was an inspiring, innovative and passionate leader. And a man that understood only too well the connection between what something looks and feels like with our...

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Hey good looking!

Hey good looking!

We all know that the world of consumer product packaging has been tried and tested for its effects on us for years (see 'A question of Christmas taste”). And the Design Business Association (DBA) is a great resource promoting the powerful business case for the use of...

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In the blink of an eye

In the blink of an eye

"Our eyes travel around at 30mph taking in more information than any of our other senses." James May “Things you need to know about your body" BBC2 June 2011

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