When debate breaks down

While reading the comments regarding a video on the TED site, we came across this, which made us smile.

To be worn with some irony...?

After flying the other day with the "orange alternative" and landing at London Luton Airport, I got to thinking about the airline no one seems to say anything positive about and why I only use it reluctantly. It got me thinking, this airline is in need of positive PR - especially when faced with an online anti fan sites or BBC Panorama's programme. So we thought - for free - we could invert the negative and crete a feel good message and emblazon it on some merchandise. So we fused the brand name with a Milton Glaser heart and voila! Either completely unsellable merchandise, or cult hit to be worn with an ironic smile...

Ferguson Hill Launch FHOO9 Home Theatre System

After much fine tuning Ferguson Hill launch the long awaited FHOO9 Home Theatre System to rave reviews.

This stylish addition to any home won 5 stars in a 3 way test in iCreate Magazine and was equally well received in the Daily Mail, the former saying "The clarity of the Sound is amazing" and the latter saying "The best home cinema speakers ever made"

Read more reviews here.

Hughes Design have been working with Ferguson Hill for many years supplying creative direction. Aside from Copywriting, Art direction packaging design, together with DJA online we recently updated the Ferguson Hill website.

Yo ho ho!

What a year it's been! Big thanks, we couldn't have done it without you:

And everyone else we worked with in 2011

We hope you have a great break and come back refreshed in the new year. Hughes Design will be closed from Friday 23rd December 2011 and will be back properly on Tuesday 3rd January 2012 to address all your digital, design and copywriting requirements.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Mike, Julia, Dan | HUGHES DESIGN

Life's too Short's Warwick Davis' Willow Management Website

We recently put the finishing touches on a new website for Willow Management, the real life talent agency run by Warwick Davis, star of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's new BCC's Comedy, Life's To Short.

Willow Management - The biggest agency for short actors in the world - approached both us and DJA Online late last year to redevelop their talent agency's website. The main objective of the site was for it to be easy for casting directors to view the pictures and videos of all the talent that Willow has to offer, and for the agency to easily update the profile of all the actors on their books.

Another part of the brief was help develop the brand - both Peter and Warwick believe passionately in using real actors for 'short' roles in TV & movies, as no matter how good the technology is, it still can't replicate a real actor. 

We helped with the tone of voice and art directed the photoshoot, while incorporating existing elements of their brand into their design.

Warwick's film roles include most of the Harry Potter movies, Willow, Return of the Jedi, Leprechaun, along with TV Roles including a cameo on Extra's - where Ricky Gervais appears to kick Warwick in the face.

In the new show, Warwick plays a version of himself, an actor, who runs an agency for short actors, but who keeps all the best jobs for himself, is divorced, owes the tax man thousands and is struggling to stay afloat, but agrees to let a film crew film him for a documentary...

It will be broadcast Thursday 10 November on BBC2.

EMIN BARIN - Turkish Typographer

We love the work of Turkish Typogrpaher calligrapher, design and bookbinder, Emin Barin.

The following text is extracted from a website dedicated to his work:

Emin Barın was a multi-faceted graphic artist. In his own field, he was a distinguished example of the harmony of art and craft, which is to say creativity and craftsmanship. First and foremost he was a master of script; the last link of in the chain of traditional Islamic calligraphic art and the beginning of a new calligraphy that was both Western and secular. Yes, he was a passionate lover of calligraphy, but it wasn't just calligraphy. The art of the book is a nexus that brings together writing, paper, illumination/illustration and binding. And that is the art at which Emin Barın was passionate about and in which he excelled.


He put the loops of a broken chain back together in a highly creative way. He was able to raise a form of alphabet the top that was new to Turkey, while also working in reviving a past heritage which had the danger of vanishing.

Emin Barın the calligrapher, Emin Barın the bookbinder, Emin Barın the teacher, Emin Barın the art collector.  Talking about Emin Barin, one cannot overlook any of his many identities. However, he first comes to one's mind as a calligrapher. Not just because he was a master of script, but because he was the end of an era as well as being the beginning of another era. With his life and work, Emin Barın, was one of the best examples the new Turkish Republic's modern and universal way of approaching the heritage of the past culture and art.

Learn more about the man here and see examples of his work here

It's nice to be appreciated

We like to help out where we can by offering our services to a local school to help promote their Summer and Christmas fairs - and so were delighted when we received not only a bottle of Pimms but this delightful "ice cream' themed thank-you card from a future designer/typographer in class 2B.

In reply we'd like to say: Thank-you for the "thank you" & excellent design work, well done.