Artist, Friend of Provide Design and all round top bloke Simon Chambers opens his new exhibition on Friday 12th June. This new body of work from Simon is entitled ‘Portals of Perspective’ and shows a new route of development for his vibrant abstract style.

Having seen a sneak preview of some of this collection of work, we must say it some his finest to date. If you are passionate about abstract art, or you are looking for that original piece to fit that empty wall in your home or office, please go along and check it out.

The exhibition is at The Courtyard Gallery in Aylesbury town centre and the private view is on Friday 12th June – 7.30pm to 9.30pm. If you would like an invitation please email simon@simonchambers.net

The exhibition is open to the public from June 13th – 28th, Mon – Sun, 11.00am to 6.00pm.

Visit www.simonchambers.net for more info.

… sums up a lot of what happened at my Dad’s 60th Birthday Party this weekend just past.

When my Dad was 6 years old he saw the Dagenham Girl Pipers performing a march. He has been telling us all about this memory for the last year mentioning that he would love to throw some kind of party and have them perform at it. A nonsense fantasy he thought.

With my Dad’s 60th birthday happening this year, some how my Uncle Tony managed to book 7 of the 22 strong Dagenham Girl Pipers Marching Band to come and play for my Dad. A surprise party was organised, cryptic invitations sent out and on the day it was a total shock for my Dad and most of the party guests too!

The band performed brilliantly and blew everyone away. It was a surreal experience watching a bagpipe marching band doing their thing on my parent’s lawn, but one I will remember for ever.

Then after the band were done, there were more suprises! A convoy of steam engines on their way to the local pub for a skittles match just happened to pass by. With invitations of beer shouted to them from across the road they pulled in and showed everyone at the party their fantastic machines…

Then after they had left, with the party well under way another surprise floated over the horizon. A local balloon flight decided to take a landing spot in a nearby field. The balloon flew so close overhead that words were exchanged from party revellers to the flying travellers.

The party then went on into the night with wine, song and ping pong. A day to remember!

Full photo set at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/providedesign/sets/72157617589304241/

Are you looking for a hotdesk near Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard or Aylesbury? FunkBunk, the home of Provide Design is now offering hot desks to writers, designers, freelancers, photographers, marketeers, muskateers and anyone else who needs a desk for just a few days out of the month.

In addition to full time desks being available there are 3 desks currently available for hotdesking. Prices for hotdesk spaces start from £30 per day depending on how many days you book in advance. Hot desk rental includes wireless or wired high speed broadband access, free parking and free tea and coffee.

The atmosphere here is non-intrusive, friendly and creative. With the added bonus of having somewhere to hold meetings and your own business address, hot desking at the FunkBunk is the way to go!

For more photos and information please visit www.funkbunk.com

If you would like to book a space or come over and have a look for yourself please email iwanttobe@funkbunk.com or call us on 0845 003 9559

Here at Provide Design we don’t like to think of ourselves as Party Poopers. We like to think of ourselves as Christmas Crackers – explosively good and containing lots of nice surprises (and the odd really bad joke). Today we just wanted to write about something which becomes very apparent this time of year.

We’re not being Party Poopers and there isn’t a humbug in sight, but as Christmas gets closer it seems a lot of us use it as a reason to panic and forget about what lies ahead until it is all over and we are comfortably in the New Year.

From a business perspective we have seen many Christmases where everything is rushed into the last few days. Suppliers drop the ball, clients ring expecting the impossible and there isn’t even time to think about the Christmas shopping! This is when detail is missed and our need to get the year over and done with can cloud our foresight and we forget about planning for the coming months.

This year we did it differently. We planned all our marketing activity, we booked our jobs in advance so there would be no need for Christmas Eve deliveries and we made sure that when January comes round it will be a solid continuation on from 2008. No drastic resolutions – just keep stuck to the business plan.

We also employed the assistance of marketing experts to guide us on what our next move should be. Designers and creatives we are, but as marketeers we have a lot to learn – always bring in the professionals to move this part of your business forward.

So this year we will be relaxed and comfy over Christmas knowing what is coming next. Nice feeling – works great with mulled wine.

So Merry Christmas everyone – have a great time. Unwind and if you’ve not done it already, at least mentally prepare for an awesome 2009 – it will be one!

I think it was Einstein who said; “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources” , as inevitably all designers will, one way or another, draw their inspiration from a variety of sources. As graphic and web designers it’s always a good idea to keep ahead of the field and see what’s around the corner and ultimately to keep your ideas and creativity fresh.

Well, here are our favourite design related websites for 2008. We have selected these sites as they have not only inspired us, but have become the weekly read with a cup of coffee as well as useful tools and resources we call upon now and then.

Graphic Exchange

www.graphic-exchange.com

Web Designers Wall

www.webdesignerwall.com

I Love Typography

www.ilovetypography.com

Think Design Blog

www.thinkdesignblog.com

CSSRemix

www.cssremix.com

Coroflot

www.coroflot.com

Core77

www.Core77.com

ffffound

www.ffffound.com

Colour Lovers

www.colourlovers.com

The Favourite Website Awards

www.thefwa.com