Monday 22 September 2014

Pen Is Envy

A little thank-you note I made earlier (Muji fineliner on paper)


I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in my stationery lovin’ tendencies. As the title's cheeky nod to Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale indicates, I certainly wasn’t the first to note the power and potential of the humble pen - it is mightier than the sword, after all - but as well as the deeper meaning to be garnered from this kinda adage, there’s an indisputable and indefinable pleasure that comes from endearing ephemera. Don’t tell me those Back-to-School/Uni/Work stationery purchases haven’t ever made you a little bit more excited about going back.   









Beyond its utilitarian function, stationery, in its tangible loveliness and often aesthetic appeal, serves as an instant and above all accessible pick-me-up. While the ‘notes’ function on your smartphone can surely save your ass every now and then, physically writing it down (and adding some playful doodles) somehow feels more satisfying. Stationery facilitates creativity, keeps it real and - in the case of my recent purchases (see pics) - looks very handsome indeed. 
You’ll rarely, namely never, catch me without my mini black Moleskine diary and 0.5mm Muji pen. It’s been that way for years, and will stay that way for years to come. Being a serial list writer (I’m a lists about lists gal), daily doodler and non-stop notetaker, these two trusty tools play a requisite role in my funny little existence; it’s no exaggeration to say that I’d be a bit lost without them. And as clever as they might be, we can’t always rely on our nifty digital devices - needless to say my pen and paper pals have never failed me on battery level/frozen at a crucial moment. See Ikea’s latest spot-on ad for a well deserved big up to the unassuming, indispensable Bookbook™.  



Putting pen to paper is cathartic, personal and, nowadays, almost novel. There’s a real sense of personal gratification, too, that comes from surprising loved ones with a spot of handmade snail mail; there’s a lovely appreciation that's returned when receiving a piece of careful craft, your distinguishing handwritten font. Not even Helvetica tops that.




Here's a list of some of my personal go-tos for sweet stationery supplies (if you're curious):

> Hello Paper
> Muji
> mt - masking tape (the queens of washi tape)
Present & Correct (longtime ❤)
> Paper Poetry
> R.S.V.P


Wednesday 17 September 2014

Lemme upgrade you


As it marks the - very much temporary - end of my Berlin residence, I thought it might be fitting to give a lil facelift to the Berlin Guide I put together after spending summer here last year. Coincidentally, the very first post on It's Brogues! If you ever find yourself in the city beautiful (or perhaps already live here), I hope it serves you and your friends as a not-too-touristy guide to some of the city's standout spots. I've included a bunch of my personal favourites, which just might turn out to be yours too! Click here and enjoy.

Monday 15 September 2014

The 2014 EyeEm Festival & Awards


If there needed to be an affirmation of EyeEm's vanguard positioning in the digital photography revolution, then the past couple of days confirmed it, big time. Their eponymous festival, which spanned two inspiring days, was an absolute testament to a forward-looking business and thriving photo sharing community that's set to rapidly (and deservedly) evolve into something very significant indeed. 



The event, which additionally encompassed the 2014 EyeEm Awards, kicked off on Friday at Spree-situated industrial treasure, Alte Teppichfabrik. Berlin's converted carpet factory, with its expansive rugged walls and deep-set character, provided the perfect backdrop for the day's finely orchestrated line-up. Esteemed and inspirational speakers (think CEOs, CTOs, journalists, photographers, creative directors and more) from the likes of TIME Magazine, Getty Images, The Huffington Post, Gestalten, Etsy, The Photographers' Gallery and LCC - to name just a few - graced the stage with their wise words and learned insights, offering informed and perceptive viewpoints on the contemporary era of image proliferation and mass digitisation. 


Key issues and themes included, but were by no means limited to: the camera of the future, fragile formats, the changing notion of photographers, photography copyright and ethics, the vital issue of organisation and curation amid photo inundation,  the significance of collaboration, monetisation strategies, the changing dichotomy of culture makers/culture takers and the ever-increasing importance of visuals against a background of desktop to mobile transition. In short, a lot of food for thought. 


Friday culminated in the exhibition opening, which showcased the worthy winners and finalists of the 2014 EyeEm Awards. Spread over two floors, the display offered a tantalising taste of the emerging talent and capabilities in the digital and mobile photography realm. As I'm sure I've mentioned before, the inestimably precious nature of old school analogue and its associated creative craftsmanship is a territory I hold pretty dearly, and one that I'm not willing to give up entirely, but - and it's a big but - the sheer potential of the digital domain and the visual revolution is undeniable and very, very exciting.  The proof was there to see (in exceptionally high resolution).






Things became a bit more up close and personal on day two, which took place in EyeEm's shiny Kreuzberg HQ. Zooming in (pun intended) on the concerns and questions covered at Friday's summit, Saturday's 'Community Day' was made up of smaller scale workshops and discussions with industry-shaping professionals, as well as a healthy dose of totally unforced mingling with the lovely likeminded folk in attendance. In a largely online world, the importance of "real life", offline connection and communication cannot be underestimated, and the whole day (and night) epitomised a seamless amalgamation of both; proof that two worlds don't have to collide, but rather symbiotically liaise and raise one another. 




Remarkably and most importantly, the technical masterminds behind it all - the EyeEm crew and all four founders - operate on the most human level; an ethos of infectious, genuine passion and loyalty towards the root cause, each other and their burgeoning mobile photography community. It's a seminal time for photography; how incredibly encouraging that this inspiring, friendly bunch are at the forefront of it.


Thursday 11 September 2014

This week I'm lovin'


It's the little gratifications that ultimately add up to a rich life, and to me - and Virgil circa 70 B.C. -  the greatest wealth is health. That, and good packaging design, obviously. Design is important. These Harvest Moon beverages, which I sourced from my local Biosupermarkt, tick both boxes. While the juice hype is huge right now, fresh and clean livin' is far from a fad, and needn't be overpriced or inaccessible either. With its boundless Bio stores (think keenly priced Whole Foods Markets on every corner), Berlin is a total treasure for slow food followers and the health-aware. 


Retailing at an economical €1.99 (about £1.50), these 300ml bottles of - vegan and lactose free - goodness come in six fresh variations: 

> Acai, strawberry + cranberry
> Guava, passionfruit + mangosteen
> Mango, peach, spirulina + wheatgrass (pictured)
> Raw cacao, banana + vanilla (also pictured)
> Mango + passionfruit
> Strawberry + orange

Having tried and tested each flavour - just for research purposes, of course - I can definitively vouch for their top taste, the raw cacao number being my current sweet treat go-to. Fresh flavours and handsome packaging ought to make you richer, not poorer - good job Harvest Moon.

Monday 8 September 2014

Berlin Festival 2014

Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance

After a successful three-day stint in its fresh location for 2014, Arena Park, Berlin Festival just wrapped up for another year. I was fortunate to nab one of the coveted red wristbands right at the last minute, so I made sure to get down and capture some of the atmosphere throughout its short but very sweet run. 

Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance

While I didn't make last year's event, I gained the second-hand impression that its Kreuzberg venue relocation was a lot more suited to the festival than 2013's Tempelhofer Feld. Comprised of a range of mini venues within close proximity of each other - the Arena main stage, Glashaus, Club der Visionäre, Splash! Mag Stage, White Trash, Badeschiff, Hoppetosse, Art Village and the beach area - the space made for a more compact, all-encompassing experience. 

Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance

Kicking off on Friday with inimitable Berlin-born crew Bass Gang (they killed it as always), the music bill was varied and vibrant. I won't reel off the entire line-up, but weekend highlights included Bombay Bicycle Club, Jessie Ware, Kid Ink, Neneh Cherry,  Editors, Moderat, Foreign Beggars, Genetikk, Jazzanova, Woodkid and Warpaint to name a lil handful.

Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance

I spent a sizeable chunk of the weekend in the festival's Art Village. Apart from housing the Hip Hop - namely Splash! Mag - stage, the vast grassy area featured a wealth of arty delights, including a mini open air Kino, craft stalls, dance stage, Staedtler zone and giant-sized picnic benches. The Food Village was also a fetching feature, containing a wholesome crop of the city's culinary joints.

Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance

Those in search of a little downtime could saunter over to the Spree-situated Hoppetosse. Being just slightly off the beaten track meant the three-deck party boat attracted a more petite crowd of revellers, making for notably more chilled vibes - not to mention a stunning nighttime panorama. A winning way to wind down a pretty first-rate festival.


Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance
Berlin Festival 2014 // It's Brogues © Brogues Cozens-McNeelance