Hi, We're absolutely bursting with fantastic jobs on the site right now! And if you think that there's only London based jobs then you'd be wrong! We have amazing jobs and briefs from north to south with the likes of Tesco, Loud House, RSPB, Foot Asylum, Hallmark...the list goes on! In other news we were lucky enough to make it along to Clerkenwell Design Week this week, if you were able to make it too, you'll agree it was a fantastic celebration of all things in design and innovation. If you couldn't make it, get it in your diary for next year! Know a LAMP Developer? Creativepool are looking to hire one! Find out more here. Michael Tomes Managing Director, Creativepool @CPMike

Recruitment Job hunt helping hand

Our alerts system has undergone a makeover! For you this means that the notification emails that you receive about jobs and briefs is tailored to you. In real-life speak...you'll be receiving emails that make your job hunt easier and a heck of a lot quicker. This is a vital tool that helps make sure you're at the front of the queue for that job that dream job! Manage your personal alerts

Exhibition New Designers 2012 - CP Special Offer!

If you're a new design graduate of any form this is the place to be! This is the graduate exhibition that you can't afford to miss. The exhibition is divided into nine distinct design zones from textiles and jewellery to furniture design and spatial design. Follow the link to find out everything that's on offer, and who will be there. And with a special discount for Creativepool members there's no excuse! Grab a bargain and take advantage of this fantastic opportunity Grab a discount!

Design 99 problems. Should Jay Z really be designing logos?

Every sports team needs a logo. If nothing else, it's something to put on the shirts. And most professional teams rely on the services of a design agency, but the Brooklyn Nets are co-owned by Jay Z and therefore have the dubious honour of a new logo created by the man himself. The result hasn't really impressed Magnus Shaw. But a b**ch ain't one!

5 mins with... Nicholas Feurtado - Blow Creative

We sat down with Nicholas, the founder of Blow Creative, who took us through his journey in a Kall Kwik print shop to the owner and CD at Blow Creative and it's sister company Blow Digital. He gives us some inspirational words, talks about his backup job as a goat herder, and shocks us with a surprise confession about a company posing pouch! Meet Nicholas...and the pouch!

Event Down our street at Clerkenwell Design Week 2012

Clerkenwell was simmering with the buzz of design and innovation as Clerkenwell Design Week took over the area with shocking pink! If you were in the area at all you'll know what I mean! The week was a fantastic celebration of everything design related that is happening in the area, and showed the true design talent that the UK has to offer. It was a fantastic event with a huge number of design doors being opened to the public. See what we saw!

Employment Testing, testing. Should interviews be auditions too?

So, you've applied for a job, you match the job spec, you've sent your CV, examples of your work, maybe even references and testimonials... But before your prospective employer decides whether or not to hire you, you need to sit a test. And it's on a live brief. Should you have to? The thing is, you really want to get the job... Have you been a mug?

Awards D&AD Student Awards

The D&AD awards are known as one of the biggest in the creative industry. The student award winners have been released, and all of the categories are filled with amazing talent. For a bit of inspiration why not take a look around the work of all the winners, as well as the nominations for each category. The Yellow Pencil Award isn't up there yet, that's to be revealed on the award ceremony night on the 26th June, but there's plenty to feast your eyes on! Who loves yellow pencils?!

Logos Online Logo Contests – the pros and cons.

Having a strong logo is essential for your company, it's what is going to adorn email signatures, business cards, website headings and even shop fronts and product tags. From a designers point of view, knowing how to design a great logo can be a lucrative skill to have. Unfortunately some cowboys have thought up the idea of making logo design contests - where a business owner names their price and the designer with the best logo pockets the cash. Sounds simple and fair but the world of logo contests is cut throat and has attracted a lot of sharks willing to take advantage of unsuspecting fledging designers. Read on for the full story... What does GAG say?

Showreel Giles Harvey

Watch this brilliant video by Creativepool member Giles. It shows a range of Giles' fantastic camera work. His versatility and striking work has landed him work with the likes of the BBC, Channel 4, Al Jazeera, ESPN, Sky, Red Bull, McLaren and Sony Music Videos - to name drop a couple! This year he's also had a short film accepted into the London independent film festival and the Toronto International film festival - see Giles CP profile here. V for Vendetta!

Creativity Do you have to be nuts to be a creative genius?

Have you noticed how the most creative minds tend to be wired differently to most? John takes a look at creative eccentrics and remembers a time when he worked alongside the ad industry’s greatest oddball. Got your wires crossed?

Spotlight... Tracey Long

Tracey has been a freelancer for 2 years. She's got big dreams and is looking for fame and fortune (if speaking with tongue firmly in cheek when she says so)! Tracey's a tea fan with a fear of her bottom spreading, who's ideal job would involve Virginia Woolf and the Folio Society. She tells us what her style of illustration is all about and how a kitchen appliance is what sets her apart from the bunch! Ready,steady...toasted sandwich!

Blog of the week Booooooom

Blog of the week this week is a Vancouver based blog that takes a worldwide perspective on things. Not only that but there's a worldwide audience that visit the blog - and that's because it's brilliant! The blog was created by Jeff Hamada and gives a rundown of all things creative - art, photgraphy, music, design, projects, and my old favourite...misc! Booooooom has everything covered and does it well... Jump into the explosion!

Freelance How to promote yourself as a freelancer

It’s no good being a quiet introverted recluse if you want to cut it as a freelance creative. You’ve got to get your face out there and today we have some tips that might just help you make the right impression. What should you be doing?

Social This week's top LinkedIn discussions

We've set up a number of LinkedIn groups so that you can talk to other creatives online. There's always plenty of discussion going on, so if you haven't already, take a look. We have four groups: the main Creativepool Network is for everyone working in the creative industries, we also have a Creative Director only group, one especially for freelancers, and one for conceptual creatives (Art Directors and Copywriters). On the main group members are deciding if they're nuts or not!: Do you have to be nuts to be a creative genius? On the freelance network we're talking about promoting yourself as a freelancer: The one time in your life you’ve got no restrictions On the conceptual creatives network we're wondering what makes them different - Art Director and Copywriter: If we met in the pub, how would I know the Art Directors from the Copywriters? On the creative director network members are helping out a friend in need: How do you lay claim to your intellectual property rights when you make a pitch and the next moment someone else gets the business with the client leaking it discreetly to its favourite agency? Pick of the week: Girl goes to IKEA, sees photo of her family in on-sale photo-frame. Members are talking about a very strange news story! Who's in the wrong here?

Freelance This week's pick of freelance talent on CP

	This talented bunch are some of the newest and most exciting freelancers on the site right now! If you didn't make it in this week but you've got some great work on your Craetivepool profile get in touch and show us what you can do! Our newsletter is sent to over 55,000 opt-in users, that make up the cream of UK creative candidates and employers. If you'd like to have your news included our newsletter or find out details of our sponsorship options email Owen. Are you an amazing freelancer? Email Owen and tell him!

5 things we like...

	The Restart Page Everyone needs a bit of nostalgia in their lives! This website gives you the chance to go back to your favourite retro operating system and do that old favourite restart which you had to do oh so frequently...great fun! (For about 5 mins!)
	The Best 404 Page Ever You've probably seen over the last couple of weeks that we've been a bit obsessed with 404 error pages! We've been tweeting with the hashtag #funny404error when we've found gems like this one! This one just keeps getting better and better each time you refresh the page...
	Damien Hirst Live Art The Damien Hirst website is currently showing a live feed of a studio. Spend hours watching someone else do work! It's great! Although as I'm writing this it looks like everyone has nipped off down the pub!
	Pentametron This guy is making modern-day poetry magic with poems in iambic pentameter (like in Shakespeare's sonnets) but the big difference is the poets don't know! Each line of the poem is taken from tweets that are unsuspectingly written with the right rhythm and number of syllables! There's been some weird but funny poems on here!
	Stereo Mood Knuckling down to do some very important work, haven't got time to choose a song? Then go to Stereo Mood and let it choose for you! Tell it how you're feeling and it'll set up a playlist to reflect your mood.

Got some examples of sites that you can't do without? Something useful, innovative or just damn cool! Then send it through to Owen