Project Green Tea - Six days to Lauch & Counting... / 27th August 2010

So, we’re now halfway through the deadline we set ourselves for the refurbishment of Green Tea Restaurant. If you had a look in, you’d declare that we were completely insane and that it would take another month before the restaurant could re-open. Possibly. But, we like a challenge and a deadline. So, we will meet it!

The last couple of days has seen some amazing progress – again, admittedly, if you were to have a look in, it may not look like it. But, look beyond the dusty tables and the bags of cement, and you’ll see…

Cladding has now been fixed to all of the internal walls, and is ready for the next phase – the priming and painting. The stud walls have been secured and replastered. The new bathroom window is in and the room replastered. The wiring has been done for the new lighting. The exterior has been painted – this caused a slight delay as we discovered the paint we’d had mixed didn’t match even though the codes were identical, and of course, rain stopped play on Tuesday. However, it’s looking a lot better now that Midnight Jewel has been applied to the exterior.

So, with the majority of the building work inside nearing completion – although we are factoring in unexpected glitches ! – we’re getting nearer to moving onto the phase where we’ll see rapid differences. Once the builders are totally finished the messy, dusty stuff, it’s a big wash down and then onto the painting & decorating – the exciting bit. We’ve also been sourcing the lighting – what’s been chosed, and where the lights will now be sited, will make a very dramatic difference to the interior. However, more of that in  a later blog.

The look of the website and the signage has been approved by The Green Tea girls, so this  is all starting to come together in the background. The menus are being worked on by the girls – expect some huge changes here. Not only has the menu been streamlined to real Green Tea signature dishes, they’re also working on a healthy menu, in collaboration with personal trainer, Mike Bach. We’ll be seeing the first proofs of these over the weekend, but again, they are a real departure from what you’d normally expect in a Chinese restaurant. A later blog will reveal a lot more about the cuisine changes.

So, off to don work clothes and get cracking on Phase 2 of Project Green Tea…

Helen

Project Green Tea / 23rd August 2010

So, it all started last week. Jenny, owner of Green Tea Restaurant, came to see us about updating her profile on Didsbury Life. We chatted and chatted and it soon became clear that she wanted a little bit more. Jenny was ready to move her business on to the next level – although at the time, neither of us really knew that.

We mutually decided that a “lick of paint” – both inside & out – would do the job. Possibly an update to the menus – but that was really pushing things at this stage. However, a seed of an idea had been sown and without knowing, both parties went away and mulled over a germinating idea.

On a social occasion, we chatted to Sian (if you’re into Twitter, you can find her – @moregeous). We mused how great it would be to almost do a “Mary, Queen of Shops” – and the more we chatted, and the more plausible it seemed. Jenny wanted to move her business onto the next level, but didn’t really know “how” to do it. The combined efforts of Morgeous & WeAreLife did, so we decided to take the bold, uncompromising Mary Portas approach. And do you know what? It worked. Because it’s common sense!

Green Tea is a restaurant with a real difference. It’s a restaurant which is about a proud cultural heritage and Jenny is trying to reflect this in the food. Hailing from Benxhi, in the Liaoning Province of NE China, Jenny is a real ambassador for her region. We took her passion for her heritage and used this a starting point. Who would have known that maple leaves, slate and stalactites would have inspired our initial designs?

This has been a real team effort, from the word go. We’re really lucky that we only work with the best people – a cliche, but very true in our case. Everyone has been literally tried & tested within an inch of their lives – after all, if we appoint people who are a bit flaky, who does it fall back on? We rest our case.

So, the team is gathered. Chris & Pete focusing on the design side of things (website, logo, window display, signage design, twitter set up), Sian project managing the interior refurbishment (and working with her, a brilliant team, including Martin & Mancin), Gregg mananging the all important exterior refurbishment and me, trying to keep the plates spinning.

Oh – forget to explain.  We have a deadine too. And a budget. Budget not a problem as Sian knows everyone in the world of refurb & has a mean streak to her! The deadline is a slight concern – Project GT’s event for WestFest is the RELAUNCH!

So, 11 days and counting…

So far, since Saturday morning we’ve :

• closed the restaurant
• stripped out the washroom
• identified – and remedied – a small case of dry rot. The toxic box remains sealed until 4pm Monday – we love that it’s a bit “Raiders of the Lost Ark” – ish…
• designed a whole new brand
• put a crack team in place
• got people on site from 8.30pm Monday morning
• and – not slept…

So, for now it’s good-bye to Green Tea on Burton Road, as some of you may know it – but hello to one of the most hands-on, exciting projects we’ve been involved in. Regular updates will be posted on the Didsbury Life blog, as well as the Moregeous blog.

More tomorrow night – Monday – when the interior refurb will have started, the exterior will look significantly different and the toxic box may have been unsealed…

Helen

Effective Re-Branding / 25th July 2010

We've said it a thousand times about how an effective re-branding exercise can change the fortunes of a business, and this is no more apparent than in these examples posted on BrandNew. 8th Continent Soymilk hooked up with British Illustrator Ben Javens to help evolve some painfully generic and drab packaging with a smile-inducing breath of minimalist fresh air. 

Chris

Pranav Mistry at TED / 25th July 2010

At TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data - including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper "laptop." Rather than selfishly grab potential billions from his technology. Mistry says he will open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all. If you love technology and have a spare few minutes, this is an essential and inspiring watch.

Chris

Nike Sister One Spot / 24th July 2010

A truly gorgeous Tokyo inspired spot created by ilovedust

Chris

How to Make a Daft Punk Helmet / 23rd July 2010

American prop maker Harrison Krix, who must be the most committed Daft Punk fan in the world, he has spent the last 17-months, yes 17-months building his own Daft Punk helmet with fully working LED display. This is truly the coolest gadget in the world, sadly it is not for sale. Here is the full long arduous journey of its creation, enjoy!.

Chris

A Newport State of Mind / 22nd July 2010

We are probably not the first with this and wont be the last. A Welsh parody of Jay-Z's hit song Empire State of Mind has become an overnight sensation on the Internet. The original song extols the virtues of living in New York. But the spoof version features actors singing about their love of Newport in South Wales, a great lunch break laugh!

Chris

Old Spice - The Power of Social Media / 22nd July 2010

If you're a regular to Youtube or any social media site recently, you will have noticed one of the largest viral video ad campaigns ever gaining momentum. Old Spice is garnering unprecedented YouTube hits and swarming Twitter and Facebook feeds alike.

Tait, a creative director at marketing agency Wieden + Kennedy, generated the incredible response by straddling the worlds of pop culture fans and online geeks. Mere mortals were also treated to personal replies from Old Spice Man. Hundreds of thousands of Twitter users sent in personal messages, hoping they would be selected for the next shout out. The campaign seems to steer a narrow course between celebrity and obscurity, and does so to great effect.

Old Spice using social media driven marketing, has earnt them over 575,000+ fans on their Facebook page so far, and they are hoping that Twitter will follow suit. The simple but yet to the point advertisement shows a towel wearing Old Spice Man moving from one page setting to another. Fans have been able to ask questions and talk to him through the various channels. Case studies based on building a success, have shown that online social media and viral channels are now becoming a necessary tool in promoting a product or brand to the masses.

Chris

Robot Arm Insanity / 21st July 2010

I suppose this is the by-product of engineers having some major spare time on their hands.

It's interesting because this seemingly wacky Robo-Arm concept has now been adapted for theme parks such as Lego-Land. I'm pretty sure the commercial models avoid swooping riders heads so precariously to the floor! Definitely not for the queazy.

Chris

Honda (Cog) / 20th July 2010

Still the most acclaimed advertisement in history. I thought it would be nice to re-live the wondrous 2 minute journey.

Chris

Audi RS7 Concepts / 20th July 2010

Some stunning concept designs for the Audi RS7. Designed by Adriano Mudri.

Pete

Body Boutique by Zip Design / 19th July 2010

 A wonderfully minimal, clean identity & packaging by Zip Design.

Chris

Sensory Box / 17th July 2010

Step into the Sensory Box, programmed and designed by Studio Super Bien

Chris

Effective Re-Branding : Roosevelt University / 10th July 2010

Roosevelt University gave itself a major visual brand overhaul this year as they hired Chicago-based design studio Studio Blue to create a new primary logo system. The result is something much more contemporary and impactful. Credits go to Brand New for unearthing this little gem.

Chris

IKEA (Lamp) / 9th July 2010

One from the archives at over 8 years old. Directed by the acclaimed Spike Jonze. This IKEA commercial encourages us to take pity on this discarded lamp that's been replaced for its spiffy new model. The result is something so effective and so immersing, only then for the viewer to be crashed back to reality by a strange Swedish man proclaiming our stupidity..."It has no feelings, the new one is much better".

Chris

Life loves... Paul Rand / 1st July 2010

Even after his death in 1996, Paul Rand remains one of the most famous graphic designers in the world. He was born Peretz Rosenbaum, on August 15th, 1914, and is renowned for his corporate logo designs.

Rand was educated at the Pratt Institute (1929–1932), and the Art Students League (1933–1934). He was one of the originators of the Swiss Style of graphic design. From 1956 to 1969, and beginning again in 1974, Rand taught design at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Rand was inducted into the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in 1972. He designed many posters and corporate identities, including the logos for IBM, UPS and ABC. Rand died of cancer on November 26th, 1996, and is buried in Beth El Cemetery In Norwalk, CT.

Chris

Stay young, stay foolish / 1st July 2010

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple gives his commencement speech to the graduates of Stanford University. He urges graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life’s setbacks — including death itself — at the university’s 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005.

Chris

Saab 91 Concept / 1st July 2010

Dubbed 91, the hatchback Saab is the work of Italian designer Fabio Ferrante and a bunch of Saab enthusiasts who like to call themselves the Saab 91 Petition and Support Group. I personally think this car is beautiful and always get frustrated by the lure of seeing these hyper cars only as concepts and in car shows, with very few of these inceptions actually making it into production. Ah, we can but dream.

Chris

Life update... / 2nd April 2010

Well, it’s Easter weekend, but that doesn’t mean much when you work for yourself and you have client deadlines to meet. Still, it doesn’t seem like work at Life – as we’ve said in previous blogs, it’s a pleasure to do something you love and so we’ll get over doing a bit of designing. Chocolate may make an appearance too…

So, what has the last week brought?

Well, our friend Thea will hopefully have a gorgeous leather bound book for her launch on April 9th. Andrew Brown, bookbinder at Artisan, will be working around the clock to produce a unique copy of her book, “Running Into Myself“

Thea’s book launch will be held at Didsbury Life, 212 Burton Road M20 2LW – if you’re interested in finding out about the transformational journey of Thea, joining her on three marathons and dipping into mythology – then come along and find out more. The book is an amazingly frank account of her life to date – and so very inspirational, in many ways. 100 copies, from the first print run, will be available for purchase [£12.50] on the evening – and if you want a signed copy, this is your opportunity. Nibbles will be provided by the lovely folk at Folk Cafe Bar .

Word about our photographers is getting out and about – we’re just waiting to see the  results of the recent felicini Didsbury by the very talented Ilian. As soon as they’ve been given the once over by feli and Ilian, we’ll be uploading some samples here. And, talking of photographers, we’re just awaiting the return of our other photographer Mark, from holiday. In the way we like things to work, one of our clients approached us about a shoot for an acquaitance of his who is a milliner and is going to be exhibiting very soon, using the services of a model who is apparently very famous in her native Italy. We need Mr Nelson to return so that we can find out more!

One of our latest projects is a design re-brand for a Didsbury based property development company. What excites us most about this project is that the company has such an ethical view about property development – will blog as it develops.

Two sites are due to launch at the beginning of each next week – one is for a company who produce cleaning wipes. May sound a bit left field, but the site, as has been said previously, is very sleek and sexy. Looking forward very much to adding it to our portfolio, as it’s a bit of departure from other work. The other site is for Bleuet Textiles – an online shop where you’ll soon be able to purchase outrageously beautiful silk scarves, clutch bags and cushions. Products are currently being uploaded and final testing being done – by this time next week, you’ll be being tempted to make those lovely little purchases!

We’re also developing the 2010 Didsbury Arts Festival website and The Didsbury Open Gardens site -

Both sites have an imminent launch date, so watch this space! An online product shop is also under construction for an award winning hair salon – you’ll recognise them when we launch the site!

In the meantime, take a stroll through WeAreLife and have a nosey at projects which we’ve finished, and what our clients say. You can also check out the team – but be warned, if you’re after boring employment history, you won’t find it on our site. Have a look around, and if you see what you like, maybe we can do business with you…

Helen

Life is wonderful... / 23rd March 2010

Helen