The Mancunian Candidate – Web Design, Development and Digital Product Strategist

Back In the Game

So after a long (and very interesting/rewarding) 9 month contract I’m back in play in the consultancy world again.

I’ve missed it so much. Although the reliability of a long contract is great, I’ve missed the excitement and the opportunities to use ALL of my skills instead of just the contract prescribed ones. I have also deeply missed working on varied projects that span different sectors, which due to my inquisitive and learning personality I enjoy so much.

Introducing A New Project

It’s been a while since I last updated this site. I’ve been busy doing all kinds of things.

One thing I’ve been working on is a brand new business: BriefBox – Underwear by subscription. Buying underwear and essentials is one of those things that you have to do, but is rarely fun and it’d just be easier if it was magically replenished without you having to do anything.

Logorama Wins Best Animated Short Oscar – and Rightly So

Logorama is a 17-minute animated film produced by French collective H5. The film depicts events in a stylized Los Angeles, and is told entirely through the use of more than 2,500 contemporary and historical logos and mascots. It’s well worth watching in it’s entirety whilst you can. Watch it after the jump.

Did Ian Simpson Watch 1984 Before Designing The Beetham Tower?

Manchester’s Beetham Tower is a building that I love. I know many of the City’s inhabitants aren’t fans, but I love the sharp impact that it has on our skyline. Without wanting to sound too Kevin McCloud, the juxtaposition of this huge ultra-modern shard of glass rising up from the red brick, industrial revolution buildings is stark and impressive.

Anyway, whilst watching the movie adaptation of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four I couldn’t help but notice what appears to be a clear render of the tower through Winston’s apartment.

Another Very Short Music post – Stephen Fretwell, Magpie

I’ve not listened to this album for at least a year, and even before that plays of it came randomly and realtively far apart.

That’s a shame really, because every time I hear it I wish I played it more often. I really like this album. I like Fretwell’s outwardly northern vocals. I like his similarly bleak northern lyrics and songwriting ability and I like his voice.

Brief Comment on a New Band on My Radar – Get Back Guinozzo

I actually can’t recall where the recommendation to check this lot out originated from, but so far I’m kind of glad I did.

It’s far from the best album I’ve ever heard, and probably will not even make it through to the hallowed position of a band or album I listen to regularly. But, seeing as though I’ve not heard anything noteworthy from the fellow countrymen and fellow purveyors of relaxed and leftfield electro that is Air for a while, “Get Back Guinozzo” are a worthy substitute.

A Shameless Plug for a Friend’s Band – Mazes

So, the other week me and t’other half nipped over to the Lock Tavern in Camden for a nice Sunday lunch and a couple of beers, when randomly an old friend from Manchester walked up to the bar. Not only was it quite strange to bump into someone I’ve not seen for a while, it was all the more unusual as he lives in Manchester but he was down here.

Another Short Post – Revisiting Nathan Barley

So, I’ve just spent a couple of days working freelance on-site for a “trendy” London (Shoreditch) design agency and for some reason I was reminded of the brief glimmer of brilliance that was the TV series Nathan Barley.

Ian Brown – Stellify EP and Video

I’ve not got much time to properly review this today, so I’ll expand on it later. But Ian Brown’s new EP Stellify is well worth buying for both time-served King Monkey fans and new-comers.

What Do People Talk To Me About?

As a web-type-person, I often find myself in conversations with friends or new acquaintances who either:

1. Have the bestest idea ever, ever, ever for a website that they want to make.

2. Are curious about what stimulates my technological erogenous zones.

3. Think I’m a gamer who can recommend the best video game to buy at any moment in time.