Order from chaos- productivity techniques for creative types

“A creative mind is a disorganised mind,” someone once said. I think. (I can’t remember where I read it, and I’ve lost my notes…)

Add to that the umpteen buzzing distractions which swarm around us today like digital bees and it’s a miracle we actually get anything done at all. Read the rest of this entry »

International digital arts festival, NEoN, announces the winning entries from its character design competition. Entrants were challenged to create a unique design within a simple template, based on NEoN 2010’s theme of ‘character’- the competition attracted well over 500 entries, from all around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

The Scottish Creative Network has reported that their inaugural photo-shoot day held at the Radisson Blu Glasgow was a successful and educational experience. A total of 5 groups including models, make-up artists and photographers booked up to make use of the stylish space. Read the rest of this entry »

Lynn Sayers McHattie is a designer, consultant and PhD student at Glasgow School of Art in the School of Design – Visual Communication. Working with photography, film and typography; her practice examines the tensions between the individual, consumption of fashion and material culture. Read the rest of this entry »

At Folio14 we like to share. That includes sharing ideas, projects, biscuits and even a joke. How often have you wanted an opinion on your work? Perhaps you are proud of a particular piece and would like to showcase it? Read the rest of this entry »

Although it’s now easier than ever to get your message out there, it’s increasingly hard to get it noticed. Whether it’s a blog post, website copy or a presentation – there are millions of other messages out there competing for your audience’s attention. How then to get them to remember what you have to say? Read the rest of this entry »

Chris MacFarlane, a Glasgow based Graphic Designer and Print-maker will be exhibiting his latest work at Recoat Gallery. “A is for Etc” is a collection of screen prints, collages and sculptures in his first ever Solo Exhibition. The work explores our relationship with type, advertising and signage. Read the rest of this entry »

International digital arts festival NEoN’s second public debate event will discuss the issue of ‘Digital Museums’ on Tuesday 28th September 2010 at the D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum, University of Dundee. Read the rest of this entry »

Brands are everywhere. You eat them, wear them, drink them and watch them. You wash with them, drive around town in them, use them to clean the house and relax with them at the end of the day (possibly whilst wearing branded pyjamas). But have you ever thought of yourself as a brand? Read the rest of this entry »

The Scottish Creative Network has organised an exclusive photo shoot day in one of Glasgow’s top hotels. The Radisson Blu, is an award winning venue, both for it’s accommodation and architecture. Greig Middlemiss of The Scottish Creative Network has negotiated special introductory rates to secure access to the hotel and welcomes photographers, models and make-up artists from all backgrounds to join in. Read the rest of this entry »

My art director dumped me. In typical art director style. It was while we were playing a game of Pictionary. She drew a portrait of me and then a large turd. It cut me deep.

Sometimes I wonder if that would have happened if we’d played Scrabble instead. I would have trumped her ass with QUARTZ over a triple word score tile and then, just to kick her when she was down, I’d have rescinded our creative relationship by spelling out YOU and SUCK. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you live in the Glasgow area? Do you enjoy reading and sharing books? The quirky community of the Hidden Lane has started a book group and welcomes anyone to get involved. Read the rest of this entry »

Susie Wright is an illustrator and printmaker working between Edinburgh and London. Wright’s work is inspired by her Scottish heritage, natural history, architecture and landscapes. Her style of illustration has developed from a strong observational practice and she often draws on location. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s not called ‘the pit’ for nothing.

You’re standing there sweltering, clinging onto your gear whilst being jostled by competing photographers.

You’ve got three songs to get ‘the shot’ then you’re out – on a deadline to download it, process it and fire it off to the agencies.

There’s a baying crowd at your back and a band with their amps turned up to 11 in front of you. If you’re lucky, it might be a band you actually like… Read the rest of this entry »

NEoN 10 is a seven-day international digital arts festival taking place in Dundee featuring moving image, performance, music and technology driven arts. Read the rest of this entry »

All part of the service? – when exceeding client expectations is the wrong thing to do

You’re only as good as your last job. So naturally your tendency is to do the best you can.

Sometimes, this can result in you over delivering. Read the rest of this entry »

Wil Freeborn has 10 years of digital media experience working with clients such as BBC Scotland, National Museum of Scotland and Future Museums. He shares his thoughts on how his online presence has evolved.

There was a time I would spend a few months building an online folio that I would have up and running then after a year or so redo it, I don’t do this anymore. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you taken part in a tweet-up yet? Following the success of this year’s series of Twestivals, a friendly group of twitter folk have carried on the trend with regular tweet-ups in various cities throughout the UK. Read the rest of this entry »

Stewart Priest is an audio producer specialising in all things radio. Having worked at Scotland’s biggest commercial radio station and now working on a freelance basis, he can provide a variety of audio services for radio as well as providing audio content for the private and voluntary sectors. He takes time to tell us a bit about podcasting. Read the rest of this entry »

Like most I’d say photography started out as a hobby, grew in to a passion and blossomed in to a career. Originally I had intended to work in theatre having spent most of my youth and adolescence working in amateur theatre but when the time came to choose photography seemed equally enjoyable and more likely to provide a living. Read the rest of this entry »

Kerr Vernon is a Glasgow based Graphic Designer with over 12 years experience. Working in partnership with the best web developers, photographers and writers in the industry he delivers creatively-led, engaging and dynamic design for print and the web. Read the rest of this entry »

The Dunning DNA Lab was born out of the collective design and marketing talent, experience and knowledge within the team at Dunning- Creating Sparks. Our aim is to boost our clients profile and profits. To do this we must be able to understand their psyche, resonate with their passion, share their goals and be inspired by their product or service. Achieving this doesn’t come easily and requires a team of dynamic professionals with extensive creative insight and business acumen. Read the rest of this entry »

TRC Media has created a new fast-track programme for emerging digital talent.
Gen Up was piloted in Scotland last year and was an immediate success. It gives new digital talent (from games, computer arts and design, animation etc.,) an intensive mix of hands-on experience, industry immersion and internships with Channel 4, BBC, games companies, advertising agencies and other parts of digital media. Read the rest of this entry »

Gill Booles is Words Are Everywhere. She provides content. She also provides marketing services. She understands copy and how it works as a direct marketing technique, how it should work as a marketing tool. And she works across all channels because what works offline (in print – brochure, newsletter, poster) will work online too (web, blog). Gill is also a trained journalist, copy editor and proofreader. With a background in communication she share her thoughts on business marketing. Read the rest of this entry »

Creativity, Computing & Entrepreneurialism

Girl Geek Scotland is hosting a series of workshops to complement this year’s Speaker Series on ‘Creativity, Computing and Entrepreneurialism’. The workshops, which are aimed at women who are thinking about starting, or have recently started, a Scottish business, will work around themes that will target what we believe are existing weaknesses in female business culture, namely: Negotiation, Funding Strategies, and Creativity in Business. Read the rest of this entry »

Scottish finalists announced in search for Britain’s Best New Business

The five finalists have been selected to compete in The Pitch Scotland 2010’s competition on Thursday 8 July at The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
They’ll get the chance to face a panel of high-profile business experts, including serial entrepreneur Karen Darby, founder of Simply Switch and Call Britannia, to pitch their business for the chance to win a £50,000 prize package. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most eclectic sides to the West End Festival,  join the creative community of the Hidden Lane in Glasgow this Saturday 26th of June for fun and frolicks. The all day programme includes live bands and performances with open studios showcasing art, design, fashion and photography. Read the rest of this entry »

Creative Boom Edinburgh Needs Your Help!

Would you like to get involved in an online magazine designed to celebrate, inspire and support the creative industries throughout the UK? Are you a local illustrator, web designer or graphic designer? Read the rest of this entry »

I have to admit I resisted this well-trodden route into features journalism at first. Who was I to impose my views on others? What did I know about …

In the end my three years (up to 2000) as a comedy critic for The Scotsman did indeed lead to other work opportunities. It also led to being massively over-entertained in the month of August, and an aversion to comedians that is probably mutual. Read the rest of this entry »

The big event is almost upon us. On Thursday the 17th of June, Glasgow plays host to Scotland’s first media140 event; a global movement bringing together a collective of forward thinking people to meet, discuss and express opinions on the future of the real-time social web. Read the rest of this entry »

Marco Vezzani is a Web Developer based in Grangemouth. He kindly takes time to share his thoughts on how web development appealed to him even from an early age.

What prompted you to be a Web Developer?

Well that’s a hard question to answer seeing as when I was growing up and at school the internet wasn’t quite what we have today. I arrived late to the whole web design/ development concept as only universities and libraries tended to have web access, so I wasn’t really exposed to it in the way that people are now. Read the rest of this entry »

Join The Scottish Creative Network’s monthly event for Photographers, Models, Makeup Artists & other creatives. From beginners to professionals, freelancers and friends to the downright curious- come along, chat and share a drink! Read the rest of this entry »

So you’ve arranged your post-its, pushed your desk near the window, drawn up an elaborate timetable and your business cards are fresh from the printing press. As important as stationery is on your road to self employment one of the first steps to freelancing is to register with the Tax Office. Read the rest of this entry »

Greig Middlemiss is a freelance photographer from Glasgow creating distinctive portrait, fashion & lifestyle images. His use of ‘urban’ as a key theme characterises his work which can be viewed online at Different Light Photography. This week he took time to talk with us about his involvement with photography. Read the rest of this entry »

What is this then- an online compendium for digital creative talent in Scotland? But what does it do? Well sit nicely and I’ll tell you. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m Keith D and I’m the co-owner of Edinburgh Spotlight (ES), a site covering news and reviews of places & events in the capital. Read the rest of this entry »

What prompted you to be a web designer?

I studied Photography to HND level prior to my Multimedia Degree. I had initially wanted to be a forensic photographer but as I got older I realised it was probably not something I would be happy doing Read the rest of this entry »

Katie Anderson is a freelance writer, blogger and social media consultant currently living in the West End of Glasgow. She enjoys literature, good food and maintaining her shoe collection. Read the rest of this entry »

Kev O’Neil started his entrepreneurial journey by launching his first creative agency in 1998. He is the founder and owner of 2 companies: Moviecom.tv the online TV channel for business- referred to by clients as a business “YouTube” & 29studios. Read the rest of this entry »