So 2012 is now well and truly underway for us here at Creativepool.
The agency market has started the year off well with Mother, Agency Republic and DARE to name a few of the advertising roles. The Inhouse sector has also been buoyant with Metro, New Look and Moo.com also on the site. The recruiters also seem busy after a traditionally quiet December.
From the conversations that I have been having with agency and industry bodies alike there seems to be optimism in the air for our sector. Digital is still a growth area and a big skills gap still exists for good UX designers and developers (front and backend). Retail had a good Christmas which always means more work for design companies across the board.
The big trend for 2012 for creatives seems to be is the motion graphics and animation market. There is a big trend for animation work on the web and the UK has some of the most talented individuals in the world.
Michael Tomes
Managing Director, Creativepool
@CPMike
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Design
Longlist announced for the Designs of the year 2012
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Now in it's fifth year, the Design Museum's Designs of the Year Awards highlight the absolute best in design from a range of industry disciplines including architecture, digital, fashion, furniture, graphics,
product and more. With the longlist now announced for the 2012 Awards, see which designs made an indelible mark alognside the amazing the wind-propelled Landmine Detonator!
Which designs led the way in the last year?
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Design
Keep Calm, it’s another Keep Calm novelty item
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It's January and most of us are grumpy so this week's blog features a shameless grumble about something which has been annoying quite a few of us for some time now - the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' graphic
which has been replicated and abused to within an inch of it's life over the past few years. The tipping point arrived when the 'Keep Calm' hoodies did, along with the Facebook app which allows you to create
hilarious personalised posters for your mates.
Keep calm and read on
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Motion Graphics
Showreel of the week - Andrea Malpede
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Creativepool freelance member Andrea Malpede has created a true demonstration of motion graphics versatility. With fantastic graphics ranging from title sequences and animated clips to surreal and dream-like
imagary, there is an absolute abundance of styles on display here.
Expand your motion graphic styles
Join us on Vimeo
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Interview
Simon Shaw - Exposure
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Exposure are a creative communications company operating around the globe with over eighteen years of experience. During that time they have created award-winning campaigns for some of the
world's most infamous brands. The company's Creative Director, Simon Shaw gives us one of our most in-depth interviews making this an essential behind-the-scenes look into the industry.
Uncover the key to creating award winning campaigns
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Copywriting
i love apostrophe’s me
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So, Waterstones or Waterstone's? What do you think? Ashley is firmly in the camp favouring the latter, sticking up for the rules of English grammar in all their glory. There have been a lot of comments on
this blog already - including one from the head of marketing at Waterstone's! Ashley remains unconvinced, though (and a tad angry, apparently!)
Click here to wade in for a good old battle of words...about words!
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Illustration
David Anthony Wood
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David is one of those illustrators who's style is truely their own. Utilising a bold, effective style with an emphasis on superbly positioned text within the images, check out David's work in our
exclusive interview. With experts tips on the illustration industry through to the equipment David uses, this is must-see for any illustrator seeking inspiration from new styles.
Make your illustrations stand alone
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Competition
Firefox Flicks
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Fancy competing for an amazing $5,000 of film equipment while having your work judged by a global audience including a panel of Hollywood judges? Firefox Flicks is a competition where you
can put your creative skills to the test by creating a promotional clip for the infamous internet browser to be seen all around the world.
Direct your way to online stardom
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Media
The Artist. Why the producer deserves the loudest applause
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The Guardian said “This witty and moving homage to the silent movie era is one of the most purely enjoyable movies in years.” We can’t argue with that, but we also think the guy that produced the movie is not
getting the credit he deserves…
Who is the real star of the show?
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Design
Blog of the month - Logoed
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Logoed is one of those blogs you can lose yourself in for hours. For logo-lovers everywhere, this site showcases the very best in logo design in what is an expansive and beautifully presented
resource for ideas, inspiration and more.
Take all the logo inspiration you could ever need
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Video
150 members and counting!
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There is only one place to see the best creative showreels around and that's on our Vimeo group! Now with over 150 members, our group has become the ultimate creative resource on Vimeo. If you're
looking to upload your work, take part in our discussion forums or just stock up on some inspiration, you will find it all here.
Join the ultimate creative resource on Vimeo
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Design
The 10 coolest art toy designers
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From minimalist character designs loosely resembling people to bizarre futuristic characters, the world of art toys is a platform through which designers are really showing their creativity. Often abstract,
surreal, futuristic, cartoon-inspired and at times horrific, these are nothing like the action figures you bought as a child (or in my case …adult). Here are ten of the best vinyl art toy designers around.
Step inside the world of vinyl
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Social
This week's top LinkedIn discussion
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Why may recruitment consultants be reluctant to embrace Skype as an interview medium?
With the enormously useful app downloaded on devices across the land, why is it that recruitment consultants are less than enthusiastic about utilising the immensely popular communication tool?
Will rec cons come round to video chat?
Join The Creativepool Network
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Media
Wedded bliss – discovering an inspiring media hub
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Once in a while you stumble across a jewel in the media mud. An organisation which is very different from the hundreds of others one has encountered before. It's quite a thrill when it happens and it happened
to Magnus Shaw last week. Here he describes the treasure trove that is Nottingham's Confetti.
Unearth the hidden jewel
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Freelance
This week's pick of the very best CP freelance talent
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The best current freelancers on the site are right here! Click an image to view their profile. Did your work make it into this space? No?
If you'd like to get your work in front of over 60,000 readers of the CP newsletter then make sure your profile is up to date and displaying your best work.
Then let Chris know and make sure you keep checking our newsletters to see if you made the grade.
Get your work included
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5 things we like - graphic design blogs, photography e-zines, packaging design and more!
Got some examples of sites that you can't do without? Something useful or just damn cool! Then send it through to Chris
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