NORTHERN PLANNER

I was talking to someone the other day who has been on a creative awards judging panel. He brought to light the mutual dislike shared by creatives and designers. I was amazed when he said that design work had been judged seperately from advertising – the ad people thought designers didn’t have a clue about good ideas, while designers thought creatives had no idea what looks good.

Why is it like this? Are they not both just different expressions of a good brand idea? Is the Innocent logo about the an idea or how it looks? Is the power of the Nike tick created by all the communication around it or the the tick itself?

Is planning the glue between designers are creatives? Should it have to be?

Our relationship with food is a complicated one – psychological as well as physical I suppose, with lots of experiential and emotional associations. Knowing what’s the right weight- and what to do about it isn’t made ay easier by mixed messages in the media either. Here’s two examples:

1. I was reading Closer magazine (british gossip mag) and was astounded to see some celebs criticised for being too thin. Not amazing maybe when you consider then influence they have on people- except the same magazine had ‘this week’s celeb diet’ a few pages on and then some startling facts about the UK obesity crisis. Is skinny bashing so bad in this climate? Maybe hypocrisy is even worse.

By the way, there was a special diet by a footballers wife – running a lot watching your calorie intake(!).

2. On Radio 2 yesterday I heard an interview with Anne Diamond (British C list celebrity) who’s campaigning for a more sensible approach to dieting and weight control. Great, a voice of reason in a confusing void I thought. Then she made a point that some people, including herself, just cannot lose weight – she tried everything apparently, excercise, eating less, funny diets. True for a minority I’m sure – just like those annoying people that are stick thin yet eat what they like.

The solution to her problem? A band sqeezing the stomach so you physically cannot eat too much. Magically, the weight has been dropping off….yep, she tried everything but now something’s making her eat less, she’s losing weight.

In other words less food made her lose weight. Maybe something simple like watching what you eat and taking a walk actually works for most people after all. 

I’ve previously banged on about on about the brilliance of nature and evolution in teaching us stuff. This article from the Guardian has some beautiful examples, including  wind turbines based on sycamore seeds and a desalination plant that mimics a beetle (the species, not the car) it also doubles as an open air concert venue.

Back at work, after 10 days off. Slightly dazed and traumatised with over 500 emails to trawl through and a pitch tomorrow.

While I try and remember what it is I do,  I’ll draw your attention this post from Planning Blog. Apparently tea is better for you than water. Regular readers will remember my love of the leaf, so I’m sure I’ll be forgiven for pasting Carol’s copy.

"Experts believe flavonoids are the key ingredient in tea that promote health."

"Dr Ruxton said: "Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so its got two things going for it." "

…. have you read about the Poincare Conjecture? Scott‘s  put up a link the Washington Post Article if you haven’t. Basically, it’s possible that someone has solved one of the biggest mathematical problems of modern times, which may lead to things like understanding the shape of the universe.

The problem is, thickos like me can’t even understand the problem itself, let alone the solution. Doesn’t make you humble when you think about people excelling in a world of things you’ll never understand?

On the other hand, my philosophy tutor took us out whem we finished our finals at University. He was one of the few people who could bridge mathematical thinking with abstract left brain stuff. We had to show him how to use his credit card when it was time to pay……

Northern Planner is venturing down side to Cornwall. Back in a week and a half.

.. so it’s good job that Scamp has kindly fallen for my cunning ruse and posted the ten things creatives want to know when they start in a new place. Brilliant clues for bribery that I would never ever stoop to…

Response To Andrew

Here’s a great post from Carol on the value of good research. So good I’ve nothing to add, just read it, and enjoy the other stuff on the site too. I love the dry, slightly bemused  way this blog is written. A joy.

No one likes being dumped, but on the other hand it might mean you meet the partner of your dreams.

The Guardian from yesterday has found a silver lining to current nightmare people are having in airports:

" Aren’t you secretly thrilled at the new see-through bag and ‘keys, ticket and passport only’ regime? No more standing in the aisle while a beefy Australian finds a home for a giant metal – framed rucksack or waiting for some idiot to stuff a 20-kilo wheelie bag in the overhead locker. Air travel will never be the same again. We hope."

I don’t recall any problematic Aussies (outside of cricket anyway) but I do remember people who insist on taking everything they posess into the cabin.

Trawling through shots for the previous post, I found this from my Mum’s house.That’s me in the middle of my nephews. We’re staying with them in St Ives next week.

I also found this picture of my Mum’s cherry peel cake. There’s nothing like tastes like home.

And here’s some shots of Tate St Ives. We’ll be visiting.

That’s Mum in the background.