Gorillaz Graphics
Thursday, April 20, 2006

New graphics from the Surestate stable. All are competition banners for websites... great to work with the people from the Gorillaz, they make life so easy, their illustrations make any piece of work eye catching. We used some nice photoshop brushes from Magurno to create the dripping paint graffitti style effects, helping to break up the block elements and create a more subersive "Gorillaz-esque" feel. The hazard tape strips help highlight the Terms and Conditions, but also tie in with the overall design.

The Red House Children's Book Award competition banner is a little more sober and traditional in it's design than the Gorillaz. The gradient effects and pastel colours chosen to tie in with Simon Dawe's nice illustration.

The Dubble Eden Project Banner was a little more complex as we needed to retain the branding of the organisers of the competition, Dubble Choclate, yet entice competition entrants by an unrelated prize - a family ticket to the Eden Project in Cornwall. The Eden Project website revealed their media pack download which contained some decent images of the domes. We 'cut out' the header graphic from the Dubble Agents website and layered this over the top of the Eden Project logo and pics... the combination of the Dubble strapline and the Eden logo worked really well! Copyfit the supplied competition text and the job was a good un.

posted by Surestate at 11:08 AM      

Karen Wallace - Author and Scriptwriter
Friday, April 07, 2006

We have just added the final touches to a website for childrens writer Karen Wallace. Karen is an award-winning author who writes books for children aged five to fifteen years old. Karen also writes scripts for children's television, natural history programmes and the occasional documentary. Some of her most recent development work has been with Aardman Animations and Platinum Films.

Karen wanted a website that illustrated the vast array of books she has had published. The design of the site was inspired by a deck of cards (the header) and a christmas tree (the footer). The site is quirky, original and fun, and thus reflects Karen's writing and also makes it appealing to the intended audience: Children and Teachers.

I am delighted with my website. It looks great and says everything I want. Best of all the experience - for an established technophobe - was quick, clean and painless. Even pleasurable! I shall spread the word immediately. Thanks a lot.
Karen Wallace

Karen Wallace - Children's Author

posted by Surestate at 12:40 PM