It has been estimated that the vast majority of human communication is not only non-verbal it is also non-conscious. We often think about non-verbal communication simply in terms of body language, but in fact, it plays a major role in all forms of human communication… particularly in areas such as the visual arts, cinema, theatre,…
Originally designed as a sales presenter program, the rigid way in which Powerpoint forces information to be structured means that it can be a dangerous liability when used in complex situations where comprehension can mean the difference between life and death. Indeed it is widely thought that the rigid structure of Powerpoint that was -…
Spectacular images with names like ‘Mystic Mountain’ and the ‘Twin Pillars of Creation' that have been produced by the Hubble Heritage Project have redefined how we imagine the universe around us. And yet, on closer examination, it would seem that the way in which these images are constructed, says more about the culture that created…
It all began by chance, when the artist, David Hockney, came across two photographs that had happened to fall on to the floor of his studio. These two images had landed in a way that suggested an intriguing relationship between them. The first of these two photographs featured a figure - with his head tilted…
In 1996, Gary Wolf, a writer for Wired Magazine, noticed that someone calling himself Marshall McLuhan was posting comments on the Wired website. This struck Gary as more than just a little curious, since Marshall McLuhan had been dead for more than sixteen years. Not one to be put off by such details, and sensing…
From the Wild Lands in the North, to the Great Deserts in the South, and the Majestic River of Telmar in the West, to the High Castle of Cair Paravel in the East, the land of Narnia is an extraordinary region populated by centaurs, dragons, talking animals and all manner of wonders which no…
I was driving across the burning desert When I spotted six jet planes Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain It was the hexagram of the heavens it was the strings of my guitar Amelia, it was just a false alarmThe drone of flying engines Is a song so wild and blue It…
In 1989, Midland Bank, a traditional British high street bank, with a history of low customer satisfaction scores, decided to launch a separately branded, phone-based operation. This was to be called “First Direct” and was the first phone banking operation of it’s kind in the UK. Not only did this new venture look very different…
It was the great american graphic designer paul rand who first said: “Don’t try to be original, just try to be good”. And this advice is nowhere more valuable than in the discipline of typography. These days any fool can knock up a half decent piece of design, given the wonderful menu driven, template based,…
With "Photo Opportunities", Corinne Vionnet, a Swiss-based artist, has created a series of haunting images, that also provide an interesting commentary on the stereotypical way in which we relate to familiar landmarks. To create the mysterious visions, Vionnet combined hundreds of photos from tourists, online keyword searches and photo sharing sites alike. She then superimposed…
