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Walking through the town centre, I feel slightly intimidated by the amount of people passing by me that I know nothing about. Groups of people chattering excitedly, no doubt talking about what they did at the weekend and how drunk they got. Others merely stride past, submerged in their own thoughts while their ears are plugged from the outside world by their iPod. I am guilty of this also though. I speed through the city, iPod blaring cheesy pop music, subjecting myself to the typical city alienation.With the world passing me by, the only thing stopping me from my auto piloted progress is the disruption of people and the crossing of roads. This time though, instead of choosing to walk back to university with the blinkers on I decide to turn my iPod off and take a slower, more casual walk, allowing my feet to take me where they wander. It is only now I notice things that I've walked past countless times in hast and never payed much attention to. For over a year now I have walked the same way everyday and failed to notice things, one of these being St. Mary's Church. This church has one of the most beautiful exterior's I have seen in the whole city. The ornate windows and the detailing around the edge of the church is breathtaking. I don't understand how I have never noticed this before and how it has just blended back into the urban landscape. Now whenever I pass it, I cannot miss it!
This journey reminds me of book I came across a while back...Little People in the City. This is street based installation art at it's best! These little pieces of art are easily missed and only on careful observation can be seen - similar to my journey in the city. Check it out and let me know what you think...
http://little-people.blogspot.com/
With thanks:
Photo: http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/41643/2172484200104237032S600x600Q85.jpg
Photo: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2286418022_c68e68daaf.jpg
Everywhere we look there are symbols controlling how we respond to the environment around us. From warning signs to recycling signs, we are submitted to constant visual directions.
For instance, think of the colour red...what does it make you think of? Danger? Love? Attention? Passion? I'm sure at least one of these were in your head. So why is it that this is the case? After all the colour red is just that - a colour. It has no meaning, does it?
When you are walking past someone in the street wearing red, do you immediately feel frightened? Why not? I mean red means danger doesn't it? What about love? Do you suddenly feel drawn towards them? Well maybe but chances are it is not because of the colour of top they are wearing.
Are designers to blame for these associations? After all, warning signs, whether you are in Britain or China, are all red. Red catches your eye and because of this Scientists have recommended it be used for signs that are supposed to grab our attention - it was only a matter of time before advertisers jumped on this bandwagon to sell products! Take for example, Coca Cola. When I asked the question before what you think of when you think of red, did any of you think of Coca Cola? It's hard to forget about 'Coke' though seeing as it almost presents itself to us everyday, whether on the shelves in shops or in sport (e.g. Olympics, football sponsors) we are aware of it. Originally designed for medicinal reasons it was John Pemberton who first discovered this addictive concoction that was a supposed cure of headaches and morphine addiction . Is it not ironic that now many people cannot go a whole day without their 'coke fix'? I am all for the use of colour helping us in everyday life but I don't want it to affect the choices I make. Scientists are using it to help us but designers are using it to sell their products, is this right?
With thanks:
Photo: http://www.yellericecream.com/Uploads/600px-Stop_sign_svg.png
Photo: http://blog.mindblizzard.com/uploaded_images/Coca-Cola-723214.jpg
To begin with when I was asked to create a blog I thought great! More work for me to do on top of everything else, but with a little research into the 'blogging' world I realised that writing a blog is not what I expected it to be...The prospect of writing to an audience is slightly daunting and takes you back to your school days where you were forever trying to impress your teachers with your writing skills and were constantly comparing your work to other people's. Now though, through experience, you realise that writing is personal and that everybody has a different perspective on things and that even though your writing will be viewed through different eyes, it is something that clearly means something to you. (The only trouble is that you have to find something brilliant and inspirational to write about first!)I'm not going to lie, the pressure of trying to write something impressive can bring on a sudden writer's block. You can have all the ideas in the world in your head and then the next minute...gone! Endless hours of searching for the 'right' material can sometimes feel like banging your head against a brick wall and then, sitting straight in front of you, is your inspiration...two football tickets hanging from my wall.Some people may have their own opinions on this, one being big deal and the second, your a girl - you can't like football. Well, for one it is and two they can! Since I was a little girl I have supported Liverpool FC which is a major influence from my dad (and probably the fact that Mel C from the Spice Girls was a fan when I was younger). Getting the tickets for my 18th birthday present was probably the best present I have ever received. Nothing can beat the feeling of walking through the Shankly Gates on match day; my ears ringing from the tales of my dad's previous trips to Anfield. Pushing our way past excited supporters we headed towards the Kop. For those of you who don't know what the Kop is, it is the cremê de la cremê - the best football stand in the whole world! The atmosphere inside the ground was amazing and singing football chants alongside fellow 'kopites' was enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck. It was then that I knew, I had just lived a childhood dream...And yes we won 3-0 that day with Robbie Keane scoring his first league goals for Liverpool.
