ICAD Book Launch

Behind the scenes at last night's ICAD book launch at the Radisson SAS, Golden Lane, Dublin. WARNING: Gazing at the carpet for extended periods of time may result in feelings of dizziness and nausea.


The book is a cracker. Entitled 'Gold, Silver, Bronze and Green', it is a definitive collection of awarding winning-Irish advertising and graphic design over the last five years. It is made from 8 different recycled paper stocks* and it weighs around 4 stone**: top drawer. If that wasn't enough, guests were also treated to a ringbound notepad, an ICAD awards leaflet, a free trial version 'create your own creature' computer game, and... hold it... a sexy gold and black canvas shoulder bag to take it all home in! No messing. Grocery shopping for those present will surely never be the same again.
*true ** possibly not true


I was allocated the lofty title of 'mound-supervisor'. Any guests who got up close to the finished mountain of bags will no doubt acknowledge this feat of engineering endeavour - dubbed a piece of 'installation art' by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD no less - and I can only say I was proud to be associated with its realisation.


Against-the-clock-fun was also had putting together the lightboxes dotted about the venue, produced exclusively by wrongsizesigns.ie


But after all the hard work, we were able to join the revellers and soak up the inspirational words of John Fanning (grandfather/godfather of Irish advertising), Martin Wright (ICAD President) and the aforementioned Minister, washed down with a few Kobra Beers (sic).


PS. Several complaints have been lodged by Dublin taxi drivers to the Gardai, the Dail and Joe Duffy after a sizeable amount of ringbound notepads, ICAD awards leaflets and free trial version 'create your own creature' computer games were discarded in taxis across the city last night.

Views from a bridge

Taken last night from Ringsend bridge:


Lansdowne Road is rising again.


Shipwreck: an omen for my presentation to come.


And two weeks on from the Feast of the Assumption, Ringsend Church have decided to call in some outside help.

Upstarts, round 2

The second night of the Upstarts workshops was hosted by DCoy in Ringsend. Head honchos Elaine McDevitt and Mary Doherty were in attendance to run the rule over the squad.


Many interesting angles on the Music in Gardens event were presented, including rainbows, soundwaves, plasticine, mirrors, sunshine, general organicity, French horns and defacing trees. A quiet word has been had and next week the Officeless snapper may remember to take a few photos.

My own response to the brief was based on the tunes of the St George's Brass Band brought to life in the surroundings of the gardens. I made a meal of my presentation and I didn’t explain my ideas very well; lesson learned for next time.



Invite as a packet of seeds:



All in all a good night with lots of advice and pointers from Steve Smith, Gavan Duffy and the ‘ICAD Mams’.

AOB: Electric Picnic, fluorescent ink and free sandwiches.