Plain simple

Make cigarette packaging plain, government urges

After reading this article I was intrigued. The government wishes to make cigarette packaging plain to turn people away from the prettiness that apparently draws people to them.

But what is plain? In a way it is the same question you can ask with any product except in this instance the products are 'the bringers of death.'

But it is often in plainness that you find beauty. The idea that amongst all the glitz and glamour, the plain and simple might stand out. I already think cigarette packets are plain (Marlboro - a simple logo and red chevron half covered with a sticker telling you the dangers of smoking). The danger sticker itself, is that plain? It is plain and that is why it stands out.

I believe the quality of cigarette packages are incredible. The ease in which they open, and the fact they continue to function effortlessly over and over again without breaking. Does the design of the box need to be made 'plainer?' You rip the top off and your cigarettes fall out every time you put them away. That would certainly turn me off, I don't smoke for the record.

Once again it is the packaging and the way that cigarettes are dressed up that the government are focusing on. Are they doing it right? I am not so sure!

11 November - onedotzero Cascade crescendo

... although crescendo it is quite not as I am sure there will be a follow on from this. The four teams made their presentations and it was a lovely evening. The vibe was very positive and I learnt a lot about the way I work and the importance of collaboration.

Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion

I went to see this fantastic exhibition. The Barbican is one of my favourite places in London, it feels like it was designed as a set for an old James Bond film. It's a real example of beauty within.

But anyway, the exhibition. It had these fantastic pieces of silk fabric hanging from the ceiling which divided up the room. The type was printed on this fabric. A fantastic variety of clothing on mannequins, the odd name I recognised however most was unfamiliar.

Some of the films captured me the most with Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto talking about their experiences and how they ended up in fashion. Kawakubo was working on the sets for television adverts at the time and resorted to making her own clothes as the ones supplied just weren't quite right. She kept on making ... Comme des Garcons ... the rest is history.