"this is the end…"

Those that know us here at NDGD, will know that we love magazines, and we love free stuff - so you will have heard us mention at least once, the marvel that was Rugged magazine, because it ticked both those boxes! Produced by the Carhartt clothing brand, Rugged was always a good source for finding some cool new gadgets, clothes, and more importantly for us, photographers, artists, graffiti crews and designers. It was also designed well, with some great page layouts & typography. We keep referring to it in the past tense because after 19 issues & 7 years, Rugged has decided to make issue 19 its final print! So we just wanted to say a fond farewell to a great piece of print, & to give you a heads up if you want to try & grab a copy before its gone forever… keep on rolling!

"let's talk about…"

Last night saw the official launch of the Ladvice scheme from the Brook sexual health clinic, based in Blackburn & Darwen. The programme is aimed at young men & provides advice & support involving all areas of sexual health. Running alongside the programme is also the Text Mad service, which is a confidential text-in service providing the same advice & support.

After being disappointed with a professional design agency response to their brief, the team from Brook approached us here at NDGD, hoping that we could successfully design them an identity for this new initiative. We of course said yes, and set our second years loose on the brief.

In a record quick turn-around for us we were calling the Brook team back into college to view what our students had come up with - and we are proud to say they were blown away!! They decided to run with a logo designed by Adam Hunter, and after a couple of tweaks, Brook have now started using the two logos by Adam to help promote Ladvice & Text Mad around the Blackburn & Darwen area. We want to say a massive congratulations to Adam for having his work selected & for once again making the NDGD team feel like proud parents!!

"holidays are comin'…"

NDGD Xmas Bash - Thursday 17th December 1pm - 4pm

Sue, Mandy, Kate & Tim can't wait…we are in serious need of some christmas spirit(s)…

we're big on the internet!!

We are on the current news stories list for the official Blackburn College website, in fact we are on the front page of the website at the moment!!! Featured is the story of Rob Dignan and his two prize winning logos that he has designed while being in the second year. We have already written about his ARC project logo, but we have been keeping the Crem International design under wraps until it goes into productive use, so watch this space for further on that. Another well done to Rob…future logo designer/internet celebrity!

Read the Blackburn College article about Rob's design success here

Visit the Blackburn College website here

Young Northern Designer 2010

The Northern Design Competition 2010 website went live recently, which followers of our blog & the NDGD adventures should be familiar with, because in the 2009 Young Northern Designer competition, we had three of our students shortlisted into the final!!! As such, when you click through to the 2010 Young Northern Designer category, you are greeted with a fantastic picture of ex-student Alex Hindle, all suited & booted, being presented with his award for his advertising project. We are of course, now gearing up to enter the 2010 competition with our current second years…the submission isn't until April, but watch this space for any developments. No pressure guys, but we want at least FIVE finalists this year…

You can visit the Young Northern Designer 2010 page here…

See the YND 09 archive with Alex & Jake's work here…

See the YND 09 artwork from Alex, Jake & Jack here…

it's all part of the act…

The heat is on for the 2nd years. Team A and Team B are fighting it out in the weekly Great Big Advertising Quiz, and it has to be said that Group A are trouncing Group B so far! The T.V. ad re-enactment week was one to remember though, with some great performances! The oscar went to Tom Eccles for his excellent role as the little girl in the Haribo 'sign the confession' ad - he even sported a cute ittle pigtail…bless him.

We're not sure about graphic designers, but we reckon you are a bunch of frustrated actors…walk-on parts & movie roles surely await…

So, watch this space for the final results of the advertising quiz…come on Team B - pull it back, pull it back!

design winner number 1…

Recently we here at NDGD were approached by Blackburn Cathedral, and we were asked to design a logo for the relaunch of one of their community support projects - the renamed ARC Project (Asylum & Refugee Community). We were visited at the college by some of the people that the project has been supporting - people who have literally had to escape their home countries in order to save their lives - it was a very moving briefing for many of our students, and this definitely helped inspire them to create some outstanding logo designs.

All of our second year students submitted a design, and three were shortlisted - Gemma Anderton, Rob Dignan & Sam Norris. These designs were then put to a public vote at the cathedral, with Rob Dignan's design being chosen as the winner. So a massive well done to Rob, and we look forward to seeing his logo in use soon. We here at NDGD are proud to be able to represent such a good cause!