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FIRST BLOOD

Challenge number 1 was to use just one swatch… I did plan to use a gradient swatch but decided black and white was the safest option… Gene had similar thoughts… While I took my Illustration to Mexico, Genes inspiration came from Japan.

First image to 10 downloads on istock wins

Heres what round 1 looks like…

Mexican Sugar Skull Vs Japanese Geisha Girl

Vs

WATCH THIS SPACE MORE TO COME SHORTLY

Next challenge: The Ocean

Yoooo yooo so most of you all know I have a fair bit to do with iStockphoto.com… One of my roles with the company is to look after the steelcage which basically is a way to learn develop and challenge other keen photoshop users and designers… everyone from highend designers to first timers get in there an duke it out all in the name of fun.. well besides the winner gets a nice handfull of istock credits…

So getting to the point once a year a Battle Royale competition is held to find out who is king (or queen) of the cage not only for the recognition but the winner recieves $5000 cold hard US dollars…

Unfortunately for me I cant compete but for you theres not many design related competitions that come close so make sure you go and enter.
The good thing is I still get to flex my design skills in the competition designing the header you see above and soon to be reveled seed photoshop files.

Heres the link to more details over at iStockphoto

Every young man goes through a stage where the Doors just speaks to the soul… I know I went through it and its funny although I don’t listen to them much now the experience still lingers with me. So taking on the project of designing the bands new site was very special and it was something I knew i didn’t have to design as the doors are the doors and already have an established look so in this build I really concentrated on functionality and tying in all the latest technology to make one wicked site.

A light weight phase 1 of the site is up but there’s still a long road ahead of the doors dot com, part of the tactic by the management company was to make the site in phases which is smart for a few reasons the site has a lot of traffic so keeping the site fresh with new additions creates further traffic and allows the site to grow organically rather then pre-empting where to focus their energy.

Client: Doors Management Co.
Agency: Simple Season

Im a massive fan of Iron Mike so getting to design his site was an honor I really wanted to make this site pop to pay homage to such a great fighter.

The massive problem with this site was there was pretty much no source content, I had 1 small web size picture and that pretty much was it.
Luckily we had video and from an early stage I knew the video was going to have to play a big part in the design of the site. Half way through the build John from SimpleSeason the agency I was working with on the project decided we need to create some fresh new content and commissioned up and coming artist Jeff McMillan to paint a bad ass picture of Tyson featured on the home page.

The site ended up being quite nice in the end, but some features were trimmed from the final build due to time constraints.

Client: Tyson Management Co.
Agency: Simple Season

Also had the privileged to do some design for the trailer for Tyson’s new film which should be released very soon

I was pleasently surprised when this illustration (one of my personal favorites) was featured on iStockphoto as Image of the week and then to be featured in the hotshots top 8 images from istock and getty images one week later. From the exposure I also picked up a contract to illustrate a monster type family for a British tv station (which is still in develoment but ill post it when its done)

I really enjoy illustrating in this style but very rarely get to do it, I hope to make some more stock images in this style over the coming months and really solidify and define the style to take it to the next level.

Illustration made in CorelDraw and Illustrator

I was lucky enough to be on Lupe’s guest list for this years big day out festival… For one who doesn’t like free tix but I was totally stokes I finally got to see his show as I missed his show in Seattle due to a flight delay… Anyway after the long wait I definately wasn’t dissapointed lu tore the place down… His a magician at working the crowed and his energy is infectious… I’ll go as far as to say one of the best live performances I’ve seen… I was a bit bummed I didn’t get to catch up with him but hey there’s always next time and hopefully I’ll be working on some stuff for him very shortly

Ive been collaborating with some LA local photogs and videographers documenting the style & culture of LA.
The end product will be a photo journalistic and more important artistic book.
I’m very excited as we are getting close to completion so I thought its only fitting I show a sneak peak on my new blog.

For some of you who may not know I contract to Istockphoto.com as Design Content Lead and as my title suggests I work on content related design parts of the site.
Apart from that im also a contributor to the site and about 3-4 times a year they travel the world throwing massive photography events.
anyway Late 2008 I was lucky enough to attend an Istockalypse in Seattle. The event was for an exclusive group of photographers so I felt privileged.
I was fairly nervous as 1 the amount of talented photographers that were attending and 2 I was buying a new 5d receiving it the night before the event.
I flew in from Australia the night before for the 3 days of photo shoots so I was expecting a bit of a rocky start due to jet lag hahahahaaa and who thought you could get lost finding the space needle

Anyway after all my anxiety the 3 days spent at the iStock event was truely amazing, I met some good freinds face to face for the first time and made a whole lot more (made my digital friends analogue) and what I enjoyed most is the chance to collectively shair ideas techniques etc so I felt 10 times more wiser then when I stumbled up the space needles steps.

This was not my first event I attended one in Barcelona in 2007 and a couple in Australia over the past couple of years and each time im left wanting more… I  hope to make the next one which I think will be in North America which hopefully I may catch you there