Just Creative Design

Kingdom of Cambodia

Over the past month I have been on vacation traveling across Asia (Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam) and as usual, when I return from any major trip I share some of the stories & photos with you.

Below you will find a select few photos from about 400 taken while in the Kingdom of Cambodia (Siem Riep & Phnom Penh). I will upload the Japan and Vietnam photos when I get a chance to go through them - I still have 1500 more photos to go through. Read more »

The Past, Present & The Future

This post is a general overview of what I have been up to, where I am at and where I am going in the short future.

agIdeas 2009

This past week I have been down in Melbourne for the 3 day design conference agIdeas and it was simply awesome… I learned so much and was awe inspired by the quality and passion behind all of the speakers who had so much knowledge & insight to share.

Unfortunately I didn’t take many notes over the three days so I can not give much of a review of what was said however I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience… from hearing the masters talk about their craft right through to the free beer, pizza and parties. My favourite talkers were Sean Cummings, Stefan Sagmeister, Tobias Frere-Jones, John Marsden, Étienne Minuer, Michale Persson and Stanley Wong.

For those interested in attending a similar design conference (I highly recommend it) here is a great article that lists many US and international design conferences.

Calling For Guest Posts

Would you be interested in writing an article for Just Creative Design? If so, please send me an email with what you have in mind. I need to have the completed article before 24th May. All topics are welcome.

Travel Plans

The reason I am calling for guest posts is because I am going to go travelling for 2 months and won’t have the time to write enough posts for my time away.

For those interested, I am heading to Japan for 10 days, Cambodia for 6, Vietnam for 16 and then I will have 1 week back in Australia and then will head over to New Zealand for 10 days for a snow boarding trip.

If you have read my about page, you may know that I love traveling and have shared my experiences many times here on JCD. This trip will be no different and I will share some of the photos when I return.

These are the other places I have been for those interested: Belgium, Canada (British Columbia, Whistler, Blackcomb, Big White), USA (California, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Las Vagas, Florida), Denmark (Copenhagen), United Kingdom (London), Fiji (Nadi, Suva), Finland (Suomi), France (Paris, Bordeaux, Nice), New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway (Oslo), Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sweden (Goteborg, Stockholm), Vanuatu, Spain (Pamplona, Barcelona), Monaco, Italy (Rome, Capri, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Sorrento), Vatican City, Greece (Corfu), Austria, Germany (Munich, Heidelberg), Liechtenstein, Switzerland (Jungfrau Mountain / Lauterbrunnen), Netherlands (Amsterdam), Norfolk Island, Hong Kong, Thailand (Phuket, Bangkok, Samui), Vietnam, Cambodia (Siem Riep & Phnom Penh), Japan.

NYC Creative Studio Job Offer

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be offered a job in New York City by a creative director at a new media marketing agency. I have put forward my interest in the job and am currently in talks with a few contacts over in NYC to see if we can make the move a reality, considering such things as payment, accommodation, visas, etc.

If everything works out I should be over there at the end of this year.

Update:  July 24th 2009 - It has been confirmed, I am leaving for NYC, January 2010.

As for the future of JCD and my other blogs Logo of the Day and Logo Designer Blog… who knows? Things eventually have to come to an end but I don’t have plans for doing anything like that just yet… I think I will just have to post less frequently.

Other News

Bottle being manufactured in China

Above is a 3D mock-up for a sustainable, refillable glass water bottle that I designed for a Miami based water company a few months ago. The bottle is currently being manufactured in China and I am eagerly awaiting to see the final product in a few weeks. I am quite excited about this project and can’t wait to see the results which is why I am sharing the mock-up with you now.

I will write up about the design process (similar to my Vodka bottle design process) once I get the product in my hands and the professional photographs come through from the client in the US.

I will then proceed to complete their identity (website + promotional material) which I am also looking forward too.

Jobs I am currently working on

Below are some of the projects I am currently working on:

• Liquor Bottle Design (for a Jamaican rum based liquor)
• 4 Identity Designs + Stationery
• Logo Design eBook
• Newcastle Fashion Week Identity + Promotional Material (Pro bono work)
• Comic Strip (in collaboration with 3 others at University)
• Vector Toy Character Illustration (University work)
• Creativity Speech (University work)
• Vero Website / Promotional Material (soon)

I am currently taking work for August.

Layers magazine 3 page spread

If you have a look in the latest issue of Layers Magazine (May/June) you will find a three page spread of me and my work (page 26). I give a shout out to you (my readers) so keep an eye out for that too.

I have a PDF copy of the spread here but I have not received the tangible copy just yet… once I do I will take some pics and post them up in a new blog post.

Sky diving

I should also mention that I am going Sky Diving this weekend… just incase I don’t come back. Eek. Update: Survived and the photos are on my Facebook page.

Want to guest write on Just Creative Design? Now is your chance!

A guest article has not yet been published here on Just Creative Design but now is the time. As previously mentioned, I will be traveling around to 14 different countries in Europe (and Hong Kong) in June/July and I will need some articles to be published during the time that I will be away.

I need to get all the articles in by May 21st at the very latest so I can proof read them, add images (unless you provide them) and time schedule them to post during my time away. If you got some in even sooner it would be appreciated as I am in the process of moving house as well and it is a bit chaotic.

And for a little enticement you will get a link and a brief intro about you and your blog at the top of every article that you submit and it will stay there for the life of this blog. Oh and just so you know, we have been averaging 11,000 visits a day and have 1700+ subscribers - who ever thought?

What To Post About?

The underlying focus of any post has to do with design however it can vary… Think along the subjects of logo design, print design, advertising, web design, wordpress, social media, typography, inspiration, photography, poster design, creativity or maybe you could write a tutorial or a review of your favourite product - be creative. You could also check out the Ultimate List of Blogging Templates and Headings for some ideas.

You may submit as many posts as you like but please remember all posts will be subject to quality standards, so as a guide try to make each post around a page long.

How?

First let me know now that you are going to write one in the comments below and then after you have finished writing your post(s) when ever it may be, please email it to me in a HTML or Word document to jacobcass AT justcreativedesign DOT com. Don’t forget to replace the appropriate symbols.

Looking forward to reading some of your quality articles!

Happy Snaps from Fiji and Cruise

Well I have had a few people asking me for some photos from my time on holidays in Fiji and on a Cruise around the Pacific (New Caledonia - Noumea, Lifou, Isle of Pines) - I was a bit reluctant at first but after seeing David Airey’s post, I thought why not? If you read the captions beneath each of the photos, it describes the photos and you may also learn some things you didn’t know about me.

 

Other Places I’ve Been

If you have read my about page you will know that I love travelling and it may also interest you that I have visited these other places just in case you come from there…Belgium, Canada (British Columbia, Whistler, Blackcomb, Big White), America (California, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Las Vagas, Florida), Denmark (Copenhagen), England (London), Fiji (Nadi, Suva), Finland, France (Paris), Germany, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway (Oslo), Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sweden (Goteborg, Stockholm), Vanuatu, Thailand, Hong Kong.

Future Plans

I am going on a 42 day camping trip by myself (through Contiki) and 29 other people I haven’t met, around Europe (England, France, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City, Greece, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium) and on the way back will be stopping in Hong Kong, China for 3 days.

Update: I’ve posted pictures from this trip here.

Two weeks after I come home from that I will be going to Singapore for 3.5 months to study graphic design at Nanyang Technological University as I was awarded a AUD$3000 scholarship to study overseas. It’s going to be a big year. No longer going due to subjects not being valid for my particular degree.

If you have any stories from your travels (especially if they are from the places I have been) I would love to hear them.