After a prolonged absence, I thought it was about time that I pulled up my sleeves and actually updated this site. So here it is. A new post and more pertinently, a new site design. Well, actually, it’s another realign because if you have any memory of what the previous design was like, then you’ll realise that this one isn’t actually straying too far at all.

I started working on this way back in April, intending to have it ready for the May 1st Reboot but as that deadline loomed, it was quickly obvious that it was never going to happen. That said, I did think it’d happen sooner than mid-June but there you go.

The most significant change can be seen on the overall site home page (http://www.mattnortham.com) where I’ve ditched the old basic static look and tried to incorporate more of the blog content (as well as content from external places like youtube and last.fm). It’s an approach I used to roll with when I first set up this blog on my scpgt domain but for whatever reason I didn’t maintain it over here. So now it’s back; complete with fancy sliding jquery goodness. It took a bit of tweaking and some wordpress custom fields to get it sorted but I like it now.

The design isn’t actually what I consider completely done so bear with me if there appear to be any issues in the next week or so - but I didn’t want to leave it any longer than I already have. This was supposed to a ’summer’ design and seeing as our summers are notoriously short, I thought it best to just unleash it as is.

But anyway, on with the content.. I promise to pull my thumb out and put more effort into this. Got a few bits of work to add to the portfolio too shortly so stay tuned….

Over at my portfolio site, I’ve unleashed a new piece of work called ‘ángeles perdidos‘ (use Babelfish if that doesn’t make sense.. it’s deep). Go and look.

It’s based on some photos I took in L.A. last summer.. specifically, from the ‘Bona Vista’ cocktail bar in the Bonaventure Hotel.. The views aren’t bad at all. I actually started doing stuff to these photos shortly after coming back from California last July but then promptly forgot about them amidst doing other bits of work; but then this weekend I found my scribblings nested in several old folders and decided it was worth finishing off. There were several other versions but the final one I went with is definitely the most easy on the eye.

You can grab it to use as a desktop wallpaper background thing from my aptly named ‘goodies section‘ too if you like. I have. It’s nice.

Meet The World is a really nicely done (and rather clever) series of flags with new legends attached to them. If that doesn’t make sense, just look at the picture and that’s what I mean.

Some of them are pretty harsh (ie. Somalia) but the facts speak for themselves. Although, to be honest, I haven’t checked the percentages of these facts myself.. but that’s neither here nor there. It’s the message that matters. Nice design-age.

via cpluv.

If you’ve never heard of Hyper Island, then I question your commitment toward being the source of all knowledge regarding Swedish design schools. However, if that’s not a aim of yours, then fair enough.

But really though, you should know about Hyper Island (and their illustrious graduates). As a incredibly small example of how cool it would be to attend there - their building is an old prison. I find that cool

They’ve recently unveiled a new course packed to the brim with things that are undoubtedly going to produce another wave of stupidly talented interactive media professionals. Following a cursory glance of their website, it sounds like the course that I’d jump at if I had the chance and someone else would fund my mortgage for the duration. It’s crazy stupid dope (that’s good). The website has been done by some current students. It says it all. Oh to be young again

Have a look: IAD:08

The ‘blob’ idents on BBC Three have always been a redeeming feature amongst a lot of the tripe that passes for ‘entertainment’ (see ‘Two Pints Of Lager…’ for reference). Their ‘short yet funny in a slightly odd but quite ‘cute’-ish way‘ - ness has been a staple of the channel for as long as I’ve had it on freeview.. and possibly since the start of the channel(?), so it’ll be a shame to see them go. But go they must, to make way for the new BBC Three branding which I actually quite like. It’s pink. I like that. It’s accompanied by a series of new idents which have yet to air but will hopefully be colourful and joyous! Like the sneak preview below..

If you’re unaccustomed to the ‘blobs’, or simply want a refresher - YouTube saves the day again.

Super quick-like, kudos to the four sites that were kind enough to send some linkage my way last week.. May there be many more to come

Daily Slurp, Loop Press, Link Creme and CSS Artillery.

Also, I forgot to mention a couple of weeks ago that almost an hour after launching the new design of ‘scpgt‘, it was featured on a German blog - Farbwolke. Happy times! In case you can’t read German, Google comes to the rescue..

Description: Matt Northam surprised with explosive graphics. As for the viewing of his works out stings are the perfect color harmonies, it seems to generate. He is confined to his site not only to a pure portfolio, he also writes a blog. There, he also tells a lot about his taste in music and other private things. This page is from A to Z durchgestylt. Seeing value.

Brilliant

Briefly, I went up to that there London this weekend to see ‘nineteeneightyfouria’, Shepard Fairey’s wee show at Stolenspace. Twas good. And well worth the 3 hour diverted train journey and trogging around in the cold and wet to go see. Been an admirer for ages now and while I saw a couple of pieces of his in L.A. over summer, it was cool to see the work up close..

The website says:

The exhibition entitled ‘Nineteeneightyfouria’, a reference to the surveillance culture of Orwell’s 1984. (Shepard believes London’s CCTV coverage to be ‘Insane’) is comprised of a range of artworks, from large scale multi media installations to smaller album screen prints Shepard’s artwork both scrutinises and distorts the narrative of the modern American Dream. Commenting on underpinnings of what Shepard terms the ‘capitalist machine’, it aims to critique those who support blind nationalism and war. Fairey addresses monolithic institutional authority, the role of counter culture, and independent individuals who question the cultural paradigm.

I says:

Good stuff.

More ‘nineteeneightyfouria’ pictures at flickr.

New version of my portfolio site, with a few new pieces of work to boot

It’s much simpler than the last version, mainly because this wonderful blog is now hosted here and not there, but I like it. 6th redesign in little over 2 years.. That’s not a bad ratio is it(?)

Looksee: http://www.scpgt.co.uk

To be honest, I wasn’t particularly interested in seeing the film, but these credits are very nicely done and have slightly changed my mind. I have no idea how historically accurate the ‘facts’ are and I’m not really fussed.. They’re put together superbly. Good work.

Go and watch the massive HD version here: http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/thekingdom.html?showVideo=1