Can you spot the logo?

I found this piece when searching through various websites, and as a budding graphic designer I found it quite a fun and interesting task. Have a go! Can you spot the different brands, I only managed to identify eight.

Mario Testino

Mario Testino is widely recognised for his celebrity photography, what I love about Testino is that he manages to capture the feeling of fame and fortune within his pictures, they epitomise a certain kind of accessible, star- friendly, flashy and trashy glamour. I have seen pictures of his exhibition in The National Portrait Gallery in 2002, where he hung celebrity images all over the wall. Each photo as bright and captivating as the other, the images appear to be fighting with one another to grab your attention, much like reality. Testino manages to apply and encorporate high fashion photography for many different ad campaigns, for example his most recent photograph of Kate Moss for the London 2012 campaign "40 Artists,
40 Days"; the idea and execution of this photo only further highlights his creative energy.

You will notice throughout Testinos images although each and every photograph looks vibrant and unique, many of them have one thing in common-the use of primary colours. I think he likes to use these constraints to push his creativity and try to produce equally unique pictures within these confinements.

His work is often fun and playful, I love the art direction behind these "Working Girls" photographs. They remind of the traditional spot the difference pictures but with a modern, controversial, high end fashion twist.

Allianz Arena

This summer along with three friends I drove to Croatia, on our way we drove through Germany where we saw the spectacular Allianz arena. On the way there we saw it in its white form where it looked like a squished golf ball, it was only on the way back it stood out even more when it was illumnated red. It is a truly amazing sight, the use of light, curvature of the exterior wall and trapeziodal sections certainly make it stand-out among other stadiums. Each trapezeziodal shape is made from inflatable ETFE cushions and can light up individually, if Bayern Munich plays at home the stadium will be red, it will be blue if the Munich Lions are at home. Inside the satdium the coloured lights create a lurid atmosphere that bears a beguiling resemblance to German Expressionism. This stadium certainly challenges the boundaries betweeen architecture and art.

A glass and a half full of joy

I'm sure you are all familar with the recent Cadbury adverts, I like many others really enjoyed the first Gorilla advert with the Phill Collins sound track. It was different, certainly grabbed your attention and provided some humour. Although I enjoyed the advert i'm not sure I understood what the advert was about or what it was advertising. They made a follow up advert with trucks driving around an air field to the soundtrack of Queen, and even more recently they have used the same two adverts but with different soundtracks. These however have only irratated me to the point where I turn over, I can't put my finger on what particularly gets to me, maybe because I don't understand the message or link to the product advetised? I just don't know.

I guess the point to any advert is to make you remember or talk about the product, well they have successfully acheived that whether it be a good repsonse or bad response they got me talking and maybe they think like the old catchphrase "all publicity is good publicity". If anyone can enlighten me to the thinking behind these adverts please let me know, then maybe I can start to enjoy them like the majority of other people do.

London City Hall

I was flicking through channels when I came across a program on Channel Five called "Behind Closed Doors"-Part of Open House Week. It was telling you about different iconic buildings around London and Manchester, but gave you the opportunity to see inside these buidings which is not normally open to the public. It featured London City Hall; growing up in London I think I have taken these buildings for granted such as The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and The Guerkin because they have always been there I have never really stopped to appreciate them. I am particularly drawn to City Hall, firstly because of its obvious interesting shape, but it is even more of a statement because of its surrounding gothic buildings. The design of this building goes a lot further than just its asethetic appeal, it is completely made out of glass but the important factor is is that whilst the people working inside can see out, the public can see in. It is meant to provoke a feeling of trust and openess to the general public, as a Public Service building this is of large importance. Its shape is not just to create a modern, funky building, its decreases the surface area exposed to sunlight and inclines so that each floor shades the offices below-therefore there is no need for air conditioning. I have never really been interested or apreciated architecture before but this program has open my eyes and taught me not to completely rule out huge sectors of design.

The Dark Knight

I recently went to see the Dark Knight (the new Batman film). I expected the cliche good verses evil, and a game of cat and mouse between Batman and villain, this is what a got but a whole lot more! I was gripped for the whole two and half hours. It has dark and depressing subject matter but it takes you on a thrilling ride of artistry. The film provides many twists and turns conbined with amazing special effects and computer animation, which leaves you feeling exhilarated and breathless. Heath Ledger plays the joker and an excellent performance it is, unlike usual comic villians, Ledger gives us a sadistic, twisted character who is not to be taken lightly-it definatly deserves its 12a rating. It is a must see!

eBook Reader

I saw an advert for this in the Guardian, it is the new eBook reader from Sony. It is just like an ipod but can hold up to 160 books, you can also download new books from Waterstones eBook store.

Interesting idea and I can see the benefits I think, but not sure I am convinced technology needed to be pushed this far? I think its takes away the pleasure of settling down with a good old book, you can't exactly take it to the beach, on the plane you can't use it going up or down, not good for your eyes...not sure its as practiacal as it looks!