• If you had a group of highly professional people a phone call away who could give you access to solid business advice from some of the best in breed professionals

• Your business was registered on a database that is regarded as the only place to go when good quality businesses are trying to source truly effective design

• You had access to a summary of the charge-out rates for over 400 of the best agencies in the country

• You could speak directly to a team that regularly speak about Design industry issues at National and European levels

• Your company could give clients the confidence of a professional code of conduct that refers specifically to the business of Design

• You could claim 20% of the Membership fees back via the Taxman

…sounds great, doesn’t it?

More importantly, imagine – if in five years time, we regularly see Design being spoken about as the key driver of economic recovery, and that UK PLC is really embracing effective design as a tool – and even helping export Design services of agencies of all sizes – across the globe?

It’s why I joined the Design Business Association (DBA). It’s why I recommend you do the same.

Contact John Scarrott at john@dba.org.uk to find out more.

Hands-on Health is a great business. I’d like to show you why. You may be thinking ‘well, you’re biased’. Yes, I did work on the business, bringing it to life. My part of the story is, for a large part – done. But no, I am not biased. Why? Put simply – everyone else who has seen or tried Hands-on Health is saying the same thing – it’s a great business. It feels right.

Hands-on Health offers many different therapies – including massage, back pain treatments and even thai-chi.

Thankfully, I was involved from the very beginning. The clinic is based in an old shop that used to be a stationers. The building was a run down, unloved, and forgotten about Victorian shop, almost abandoned by the local community. It was a sorry looking state. Part of the brief was to bring the place to life, and to add something back by making the clinic stand out, yet not look garish. And of course to change the use of the retail space into a clinic, something that requires a larger degree of privacy than afforded by the 1.7 metre high windows.

It’s been a dream of Albie McMahon’s – to open a clinic offering a multi-disciplinary team approach to health and fitness – for many years. His belief is that health is all encompassing. So, when he outlined the specification for Hands-on Health, he made sure that it was just that – healthy. Healthy to the very core. In fact – he went so far with making the clinic a healthy place  that everything – from the paint, varnish and flooring to the massage oils and cleaning products – is as eco-friendly as possible. The rules were Albie’s.

How eco-friendly is it? Well:

• The flooring is bamboo, grown in sustainable plantations.
• The paint, sourced locally (from Nutshell Paints in Exeter), and mixed to create a colour that is not currently commercially available, is 100% natural.
• The towels are 100% organic cotton.
• The lighting is all energy-efficient.
• The wood – is kept natural – truth to the materials – but is also treated to a coat of natural wood stain and natural varnish from Nutshell.
• The fire doors – again, kept natural.
• The electricity is sourced from Good Energy, a company that generates all of its power from renewables.

And then there is the ecological stuff, that’s also from the local community:

• The polo-shirts are supplied (and embroidered) by Clothing Works, part of the Devon NHS Partnership Trust’s Vocational Rehabilitation Service in Exminster. Clothing Works provides vocational rehabilitation for people recovering from mental health issues.
• The builders, electricians, painter, carpenters, plumbers are all local tradespeople.

• A logo device in eight colour ways, that can be used for different types of communication and allows growth in the future
• A choice of suitable typefaces that work well together
• Graphic design – ensuring that this Exmouth-based clinic stands out amongst the other clinics in town (it does).
• The interior. Using soft natural tones and truth to materials (wherever possible) and a system of internal graphics for the three treatment rooms, the studio
• A solution to the problem of a long narrow corridor – which now feels shorter, and airy as a result of using graphics and colours to play down the length and increase the width
• The layout of ancillary items to maintain the look
• Design and artwork for the shop front, including all window signs and fascia boards
• The exterior, making the entrance – ‘entrancing’. Bespoke open/closed signs and a system of window graphics that keep the look minimal and fresh.
• Adverts and printed materials for the clinic
• A website, based on the WordPress CMS

The work involved is substantial, no doubt. But it’s not over designed. It’s clean, minimal and fresh. Everything that a healthy clinic should be. Above all else, it’s a calm place to be – and many clients and visitors comment on how ‘restful’ it is.

A great business is defined not by what it offers, and not even how much money it makes. It’s defined by the difference it makes.

And the difference with Hands-on Health? In my opinion, it’s 100% healthy – for everyone.

Read more about Hands-on Health here.

Photos by Claire Sloane Photography & Greenland Studio

In walked the great detective Poirot. He glanced around the room. His glances were quickly averted.

In the corner stood Miss UK Design Industry, who was dressed in black, and ipad on her knee, but switched off. Next to the snooker table, the irrepressible Mr Advertisuers. Suave, sophisticated. The scent of Castrol R from his classic XK120 on his clothes, and a dotted handkerchief in his lapel pocket. Seated at the console table was the old Mrs Centaur, a local legend in the publishing trade. Revered for her knowledge. She wore the clothes of good times once had, now a distant memory. And she looked guilty.

They had come together on the island to play at a tennis tournament, and had been staying at the ‘Hotel du Lithographie’ for the weekend. It was Sunday night – the early evening sun poked through the windows, and the sound of children playing could be heard in the distance.

The great Belgian detective Hercule Poirot had brought them all together in the room. ‘Last night, a crime most terrible, most terrible ‘appened. To what – am I referring? The murder of Design Week in cold blood, found dead this morning in the cellar. Indeed, a crime most terrible.’

He quickly cried ‘But nothing escapes the great Hercule Poirot. Nothing. But this was not a murder in the heat of the moment. Oh no. This crime has been planned by someone most clever. Most clever. A work of genius, no less…’

Captain Hastings had a thoughtful expression on his face. ‘Hercule, so you’re saying this was all planned?’

‘Yes ‘Astings, that is precisely what I ‘am saying.’

‘My dear old Poirot, I simply can’t understand how’ Hastings quickly chimed.

‘Mademoiselle UK Design Industry – it was you that didn’t support Design Week, nes pah. When he needed you most, when he came to you in the study the night before to tell him his problems, when he asked you for a small amount of small change each week. What did you do? You mocked ‘im. You mocked him in his ‘our of need, telling ‘im about how his life’s work was poor and in recent times how thin ‘e ‘ad got’ Hercule asked.

Miss UK Design Industry was ashamed. She shouted.

‘NO!. I simply asked him what was wrong. I didn’t like everything about him, that much is certain. But murder? No – I loved him and hated him in equal amounts.’

Poirot paced up and down. His little grey cells were whirring. “Monsiuer Advertisuers – ‘am I right in saying that you had recently blocked Design Week in securing a business deal, the proportions of which are most inconceive-able?”

‘Well, I wouldn’t go that far.I might have stopped him getting some money I guess.” Mr Advertisuers didn’t suffer fools gladly.

Hercule circled his cane on the wooden floor. “Or was it Madame Centuar, who ‘as fallen on ‘ard times. You met Design Week the previous month, nes pah?’

‘Met last month? You insufferable little man. I don’t know what you are talking about”. Mrs Centaur had an acid tongue. And wasn’t afraid to use it.

‘Mrs Centuar, I put it to you that you were most complicit in sealing the fate of Design Week’

‘NO!”

‘Captain ‘Astings, show her the letter. Show ‘er the letter!’. Poirot pointed at Captain Hastings.

Captain Hastings gave the letter to Mrs Centuar, who snatched it out of his hands.

‘Read it aloud Madame Centuar!’. Poirot demanded.

‘I’m warning you Design Week, if you don’t get your sales up, it’s the gallows….’ Mrs Centuar read, slowly. She felt like it was all over. Everyone was looking in her direction.

‘Madame Centuar. It sounds like you are the killer. But, non non non, it was not you – it was not you. But the work of a true genius. Oui. I ‘ad to use the little grey cells. But Hercule always finds the answer. Planned. Oh, make no mistake a murder most clever…’

‘Spit it out will you, I’ve got a cocktail party to go to’. Mr Advertisuers was running out of patience.

‘I put it to you that it was not one, not two, but all of you that had planned and executed most carefully the slow and painful death of Design Week. Monsieur Advertisuers, you didn’t support Design Week when it most needed your ‘elp. Madame Centuar, you kept Design Week thinking everything was over. And Mademoiselle UK Design Industry – where were you when Design Week needed you?’

‘Well, I can tell you were she wasn’t. She wasn’t in WH Smiths, that’s for sure’. Hastings piped up.

‘No. I put it to you that the murder of Design Week was planned by you all. Most clever, nes pah. But not a match for Hercule Poroit. Chief inspector, arrest them all’.

‘Righto Mr Poirot’.

I started a conversation on Twitter last week after posting this:

I was dropping into conversation from the #live11 conference, after watching the event on Twitter. I was less than impressed by the thinking coming from the conference – in my opinion, it was all rather last week, dahhling. Mind you, conferences generally are (an exciting exception to the rule – being Like Minds).

Now. The ‘Post-PC’ bit. Let’s go to Wikipedia, and search for ‘Personal Computer’. Have a look yourself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer

‘A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator. In contrast, the batch processing or time-sharing models allowed large expensive mainframe systems to be used by many people, usually at the same time. Large data processing systems require a full-time staff to operate efficiently.’

Oh dear. Quick Marty – to the DeLorean!  By the way, I’m not the first to proclaim the start of the ‘Post-PC’ era. No. Apple’s Steve Jobs has been talking about this for ages – he’s spookily good at fortune telling, and pretty good at making fortunes from the future apparently. In fact – I wonder if he’s got an Almanac… umm. Marty!

OK, so back to 2011. Now – many people are carrying around with them a smartphone that is as fast, in terms of processor speed, as a laptop in 2003. In other words – the device in our pocket can do a similar job to a laptop from seven years ago.

So – why are we ‘Post-PC’? The rub here – is that entire businesses, can now be run away from a fixed location – or away from a laptop. OK – not all businesses (Design business can’t – I still use a Mac and a PC by the way. But I use a huge Wacom Intuos Tablet that’s akin to a surfboard).

The mass population though, as group of users are now stepping away from the ‘box’, and bringing ‘The Grid’ with them. And in the labs, there are devices like the iPhone 5 (probably currently testing) and 6. Oh, and the iPad 3 of course. And some funky stuff we haven’t imagined yet. (Remember the world pre-2007, pre iPhone?) What we see – what we use every day – is in fact the technology from up-to five years ago – in some cases more than 5 years ago.

So when Steve, the CEO of the world’s largest computer business stands up and says ‘We’re living in a Post-PC era’ – I think it’s a safe bet to assume he’s right. After all, he’s used some of the leading edge stuff that you won’t see ’til 2014. If we had money on it – I’d bet he is right.

But back to today – if you’re a business type – fact – you don’t need a computer any more. You might use a Tablet (so you can see the screen – human factors stuff is still limited by the size of the sausages on the ends of our hands). But the need for a PC is no longer there. All hail the Tablet.

So, is a Tablet a PC? In the Jimmy Wales Special Edition Electro Compendium that is Encyclopedia-Wikipedia, a PC is a sad looking collection of cereal boxes that have wires coming from them, that doesn’t need an o-p-e-r-a-TOR. Well, it’s a question of semantics I guess. But personally, I think a Tablet isn’t a PC. I think it’s a scaled up phone, rather than a scaled down PC.

Well – on that note – I think I can say with justification – that it’s official. We’re ‘Post-PC’. Yes folks. Chuck out your keyboards!

The touch revolution has finally begun. Well, actually… it started four years ago.

It’s the 2011 Exmouth Guide, which I did the Graphic Design for. We got some super images from some great local photographers too, a fresh new logo device and also help from a local creative (Tim Mann) who helped to form the strapline ‘Exmouth – Come to Life’. The most important part for me though, is that finally, the town is showing off the great natural assets that it has – alongside the amazing culture that it enjoys.

This is all part of a project which I’ve nicknamed ‘Project Inspiration’, which is using graphic design to change the way people think about Exmouth (as well as a few other tools). The first part of that project saw the Chamber of Commerce taking a beach 12 miles up the road to show off at the Devon County Show. I’m pleased to say that Exmouth did the same this year, in 2011 – and also generated a great deal of excitement.

Another part of ‘Project Inspiration’ – the identity (closely related to the Devon Style Guide) has also be made into a website – by Exmouth-based WNW Design. Working to my initial specifications with the identity and with some considerable help from the guys at the Chamber of Commerce, I think they’ve done a jolly good job.

It’s nice to see a town of people working together. It’s even better to see Exmouth come to life.

To find out how I can make your business come to life, call me on 07931 5224i7.

Greenland Studio in Exmouth has just been accepted as the only Design Business Association Member in Devon, and one of only twenty six approved agencies in the South West.

The Design Business Association (or DBA) is the trade organisation for the design industry in the UK. In recent years it has been placing great emphasis on promoting standards and best practice within the design industry, offering a wealth of information to clients in need of advice and guidance.

Member agencies are required to work to a strict code of conduct to protect the interests of business clients. By becoming a member of the DBA and joining its list of only four hundred recommended design agencies in the UK, Greenland Studio demonstrates a commitment to supporting clients in getting as much as possible from their agency.

Michael Greenland, owner of Greenland Studio said: “In developing my business, I strive to deliver the very best in value to my clients. Joining the DBA demonstrates my ongoing commitment to quality and provides a support network to help the business grow.”

Exmouth base Greenland Studio offers graphic design, product design and illustration, has worked with household names such as Ocado, Disney and Lavazza Coffee, as well small and medium sized businesses in the South West including the Bristol based Brian Wogan Coffee Ltd, Exeter based PR agency KOR Communications, the Devon pub chain Venture Inns and lighting design company Spearmark International.  Michael explains “Creative design, used well, gives businesses of all sizes a compelling competitive advantage, which is more important than ever in the current economic climate.”

John Scarrott Membership Director of the DBA said “We are thrilled to welcome Greenland Studio to the DBA. There are an increasing number of sole traders and small boutique agencies springing up across the country, producing fantastic work. A particular focus for us this year is to seek out and attract the businesses that share the values that DBA members work by.  Our ambition is to create an inclusive and accessible network for smaller design businesses that allows them to access all the support they need, to grow and develop, becoming the success that they aim to be, without breaking the bank. Clients looking for a high calibre design consultancy need look no further than a DBA member.”

From his Exmouth base, Michael draws inspiration from his scenic business location with its combination of sea views, clean air, great food and strong cultural identity.  Among his professional qualifications Michael has been awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Design Studies from Central St Martin’s University, London.

To view Michael’s work, please visit www.greenlandstudio.co.uk

ENDS

Thing is, anyone can buy a great Saucepan. But – even with the best Saucepan in the world – you’re not Jamie Oliver (unless you actually are, of course). And let me tell you – the chap I mentioned certainly isn’t Jamie Oliver – he’s more like Mr Bean.

Unfortunately, it’s the same with Adobe applications – like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign (to name a few). Anyone can buy them. Anyone. Even people unskilled in Graphic Design.

There are quite a few people going around at the moment – who have bought themselves a copy of Photoshop. Then, they create themselves a ‘sorted’ logo, make a cup of tea, and then hey presto! – instant Graphic Design studio. They then go out, telling all and sundry that they’re a ‘Designer’ who can ‘Design’. Pile it high, sell it cheap. Luverly Jubbly.

Thing is – Jamie Oliver was trained for many, many years – by his family at their pub, and later at catering college, and at the River Café. I’m certain his training was, to coin a phrase – ‘pukka’. Blood, sweat and tears. Rinse and repeat. All the toil and hard work, and then more. And then, he got so good, he threw out the rule book, bought a moped and met a film crew. The rest is history.

Design – of any discipline – is the same. Design (just like cooking) requires hard work, skill, dedication, and in most cases years of training. The blood, sweat and tears – are not optional. To master the basics, you’ve got to experience them first. And nine-hundred and ninety nine times out of a thousand, you experience the basics at School, College, and then University. If you dodge an education you’ll learn on the job, under the watchful eye of your boss (who went to Art School), normally being paid poorly.  And then you learn. And learn again. And again. And then (and only then) your whole career is spent in rinse and repeat, learning more, trying harder, learning more  – until you’ve got a free Bus Pass.

If you’re buying design – it’s a good idea to consider who you’re buying from. Ask them about their education, their ‘on the job’ training, the experiences that made them who they are. Designers are like trees – you’ll find out a lot by cutting through their trunks and counting the rings.

If you’re buying design – you’ll rightly say that not everyone needs a Jamie Oliver. But – no one – not one person – wants to buy from the geezer who just bought the shiny saucepan. No matter how cheap – his food is going to leave a ache in your belly – or worse.

Ask yourself – is your Graphic designer – ‘Pukka’?

P.S. I strongly believe in Design education. Read more here.

You see, thing is that the rest of us out here are recycling, saving water, growing our own, harvesting rainwater etc etc to try to fix Travel Lodge Earth. We’re making changes to our everyday lives, to make sure that our planet can still support life for our children’s grandchildren (and their grandchildren).

Here’s where it starts to get all fishy people. With all that’s happening in the climate – what do you guys go and do? You launch you own perfume ranges.

Well, that’s genius. You’ve been hoisted to a position of power and enormous responsibility – and what happens? You bottle it, box the bottle and flog it to us for Christmas with your name on. Thanks a bunch.

Please, stop selling the perfumes. You need to set an example, right now. There are hundreds of thousands of people out there who don’t know that what they are buying isn’t ‘Genuine Kiera Juice’, ‘Real Essence of Christina’ or ‘Authentic Kate Waft’. Honestly! (They are the ones who buy all the celebrity mags – amazingly those mags were once real, living trees!) OK? Hello!

What your customers are actually buying is a mass produced product that has been inspired by your name. Guess what? The inspiration doesn’t equal the perspiration used to make these.

Irrespective of the ‘current’ thinking on Climate change – what we need are people like you not to peddle their mass produced imported ‘goods’ and show how you’re helping to combat climate change and promoting good, sustainable practices that anyone can emulate – like recycling, like growing your own. And no, I don’t mean turn up to the movie premiere in a Prius. Or separating your trash. Or getting your housemaid or butler to separate your trash.

So, put down the phone to your graphic designeur, and pick up a spade. And dig for victory.

Stop pedaling your smellies. Ask yourself – you might need a few more quid, but does the world really need yet another blend of herbs and vapours, more glass and loads more boxes?

Folks, please just say no too. Please – spare us all – from the scents of celebrity.

I saw Kathryn’s work on Grand Designs a weeks ago – if you missed it, look out for the programme – the episode is called ‘Lizard Peninsula’.

The best bit of the house is the staircase and bookshelf – pure genius.

But now I live in Exmouth. It’s a wonderful place, with 2 miles of Golden Sands, an estuary, it’s local to Dartmoor, the view out to sea is simply breathtaking, and boy – do we have a good time. Best of all – 365 days of clean fresh air. For me – that’s one of the most important selling points.

Thing is, for many years this town has suffered. No one is sure as to why, but for some reason, it just has. Economically, socially. It beats itself up. It shouldn’t (as it really is a great place).

Something needed to be done. So, some people I’ve got to know really well on the Exmouth Chamber of Commerce came together, and decided to do something about this.

You may have heard me talk about producing the holiday guide for the town. That was released nearly six months ago – and feedback has been hugely positive.

We’ve now decided to go a bit further. If fact, a lot further.

We decided to take Exmouth to the Devon County Show. We decided to fund this entirely through local businesses, all working to help one another. And once we’d decided that – we also decided to take one of the most amazing parts of Exmouth to the Devon County Show too. We decided to take the beach.

Our aim: To help people ‘get inspired’.

The Devon County Show starts on the 20th May, and runs until the 22nd. I’ll be posting some pictures up of the Exmouth experience at the show later.

To introduce this, I’d like to show you a little video that Greenland Studio produced to sell the concept to the local businesses. This is a taste of the vision that was shown to people locally, to build support.

We now have 30 local businesses getting involved, a whole raft of entertainments from Exmouth over the three days, and some unique experiences to share.

I’m proud to have supported this project – and am looking forward to seeing the results of myself in the weeks ahead. I’m proud to have worked with some incredibly talented people – you know who you are – thank you (we need to go for a drink).

It’s the first time a town has been taken to the Devon County Show – and we think you’re gonna love it. If you’re nearby, pop in, say hello – and ‘get inspired’!