A Kooji Kissmas!

Hugs and Kooji Kisses to all our buddies out there! Have a Happy Kissmas and best wishes for the New Year, MWAH! 😀

Mole Warfare - FREE demo tunnels it's way on to android phones

For a while now, as lead creative at Media Wow,  I've had the opportunity to work on some fun, side-projects as time allowed. Now, after some intense learning and the release of Flash CS6, I've been able to release a demo of my first smart phone game, Mole Warfare!

The inspiration for this warfare epic hit me one day, walking home from work via the Leeds - Liverpool canal. For some time I had been wishing to have a go at developing a simple and addictive premise for a mobile game. I wanted to make use of the touch-screen interface AND the accelerometer as well as some nifty physics in one neat package. This would also provide an opportunity to do some illustration and character design :)

To beat the moles you simply light the fuse at the best length / timing and then guide your bomb down into enemy territory to find your quarry. Timing is key to ensure the bomb explodes close to your target so choose your fuse length wisely.

Work will continue towards the full release of the game, with lots of fun levels to play through. For now though you can whet your appetite with the 6 level demo, now available on Google play here!

You can also read more about the game on the Media Wow blog here.

Leeds Alternative Comics Fair

We had a real treat in store for us yesterday: the Leeds Alternative Comics Fair! We both eagerly headed over to A Nation of Shopkeepers in Leeds to see what delights were on offer.

Image © Steve Tillotson

There were a few familiar faces including our friend Fon Ma a.k.a. The Pern (who taught us some kick ass self-defence moves last year), Hugh 'Shug' Raine the mastermind behind Reet Comic (we have stacks of those on our bookshelf) and Kristyna Baczynski whose blog we've been reading for years after spotting her work at the Northern Design Competition years ago.

It was a great afternoon out and a real contrast to the gloomy weather too. We even grabbed ourselves a copy of Kristyna's comic, 'Ladder' :D

Eggtastic!

What!? Everyone colours in and decorates their (gone off) eggs at Easter! Right everyone? Are we right!?? Sure we are!

Just don't eat 'em (especially if they've gone off).

20 Ways Pitch

Our friend Peter Kershaw from Duchy Parade films has produced yet another fantastic film "20 Ways" and is now seeking support to complete post-production. In his own words "20 Ways is a comic satire, a metaphor that uses drama, humor and music to explore the question of immigration." Watch this video to see Peter's pitch:

 
The pitch was produced by NMFR at Santa Fe Community College and edited by Gene Mederos. Cinematography by Patrick Reid

You can find out more and offer support by visiting: http://www.indiegogo.com/20-Ways

Cows, Cats and Crazy Creative Animation

We caught this month's Creative Networks which featured one of our favourite animators and YouTube sensations, Cyriak. We've been nagging them for ages to get him in (by putting his name again and again as a suggestion for speakers on their feedback form), so we were really pleased when the talk was announced.

'cows & cows & cows' © Cyriak http://www.cyriak.co.uk/

His presentation was hilarious and unusual but also insightful. Having found previous design jobs unsatisfying, Cyriak decided to take his animation skills and love of the bizarre online, showcasing his self-initated projects on YouTube. Eventually he caught enough attention to start winning clients, often approaching him with bizarre and very specific requirements, (things in the same vein as 'a rhino skateboarding over Jesus' head and falling into a bowl of jelly whilst waving a white flag').

'Welcome to Kitty City' © Cyriak http://www.cyriak.co.uk/

As well as an obsession with mutating cows, sheep and other animals, (including his pet cat), Cyriak has also worked on some fantastic music videos. One of his latest projects (below) is simply beautiful and shows just how far he has come in a short time but it's heartwarming to know that he continues to produce his own self-initiated, twisted and higly entertaining animations on the side :)

'Hooray For Earth - "True Loves" (Cereal Spiller Remix)' © Cyriak http://www.cyriak.co.uk/

Check out Cyriak online at http://cyriak.co.uk/ and on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak

Ruby Wedding Anniversary

It's my parent's Ruby Wedding Anniversary so we made this paper bouquet so that they'd get something a bit different this year. As you can see it's pretty, it's shiny and it'll last forever! :)


Happy Anniversary Mum 'n' Dad!

Rest in Peace Racheal

We had some terrible news this week which we found out through a post on Amy's website: Pikaland. Our friend, Racheal Anilyse, passed away at the end of last year.

We met her online in 2009 and collaborated with her by submitting illustrations to her zine, Underground Art School. Rach worked so hard on it - it was much more than just a zine really, it was a website for recent grads and creative professionals too. We exchanged many emails over the years, chatting about our lives and our creative work. She was always enthusiastic, supportive and encouraging.

Racheal had hinted that she was ill but never to this extent. We had no idea her difficulties were that severe. Reading back over old emails makes us now realise. She was an incredibly brave person. We hadn't heard from her in a while but thought she was just very busy creating beautiful illustrations for her children's books.

We never got to meet her in person and now sadly we never will but Amy shared some lovely news that really cheered us up. Racheal's family has started the Racheal Anilyse Art Initiative through the Rose Foundation of Haiti, and the University of Hartford School of Art (where she studied) has established a scholarship in her name. The University also has an online guestbook where you can leave a message. Knowing that her memory will go on with these initiatives has really made us smile :)

Rest in Peace Racheal. We'll miss you x

New Year, New Portfolio Website

Hurrah! 2012 is upon us and with a brand new year comes my shiny new portfolio website! It's minimal, it's easy to navigate and it's all about the work.

Check it out here: www.quantempus.co.uk

Have Yourself a Kooji Little Christmas!

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas! Love from Kooji X

RIP Steve Jobs

We were both very saddened to hear the news today that Steve Jobs, known the world over for his pioneering work at Apple, passed away after battling against pancreatic cancer.

The Apple website and it's tribute to Steve Jobs

He had resigned as CEO of Apple earlier this year due to his ill health but had continued to persevere despite this. A creative visionary, inventor and innovator whose products have transformed the way we see the world. He leaves behind a great legacy.

Rest in Peace Steve and thank you.

Coffee & Cigarettes

Our Kooji Collective buddy Kelly Birg (a talented Fine Artist, Graphic Designer and Photographer to boot!) got in touch with us recently and sent us a link to her amazing sketch book:

http://www.arthousecoop.com/users/kbirg/artwork

She submitted it to the Art House Co-op's traveling sketchbook project and it's crammed full of beautiful sketches, photos and groovy patterns all based around the theme of coffee and cigarettes.

Kelly graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design from Western Michigan University in 2005, then went on to make a name for herself as a multi-disciplinary artist. We were lucky enough to meet her at SIGGRAPH (a massive conference held in the USA) the following year and we've been in touch with her ever since.

Check out her artwork on Art House Co-op and be inspired!

Kooji Creative Emporium

We've both been busying away to bring you some new products on our Zazzle Store. The Kooji Creative Emporium stocks the finest T-shirts, posters, fabric bags and pretty much anything else we can stick our artwork onto!



Take a look here: http://www.zazzle.com/koojicreative and be astounded by our feats of creativity and imagination :D

Ready Or Not Here We Come

This year's Graphic Design degree show 'Ready Or Not Here We Come' at Leeds College of Art wasn't to be missed and so we both dashed from one display to the next grabbing business cards and taking photos. We're always pleased to see such creativity and come away feeling inspired.

What was really interesting for us was the hand-drawn element we found recurring in several graduating student's work. We both seem to gravitate towards the more illustrative design work when we attend shows like this. It adds a touch of magic to a design and gives you a hint at the personality behind the work.

Here's the snaps we took this year as we buzzed around from one honey pot to the next:

Image © Chris Matthews www.immunityfromdestruction.com

Image © Charlotte Riley www.helloimcharlotte.com

Image © Nichola Tiffany www.nicholatiffany.co.uk

Image © Mille Haugnaess http://millehaugnaess.co.uk/

Image © Ollie Saward www.olliesaward.co.uk

Image © Leigh Wortley www.leighwortley.co.uk

Image © Jonny Packham www.jonnypackham.co.uk

Read our blog posts from previous year's degree shows here:
http://koojicreative.blogspot.com/search/label/EndofYearShow

For more tasty morsels of inspiration:
Check out our bookmarks of links found on business cards from the degree show: http://www.delicious.com/KoojiCreative/EndofYearShow+2011

Graduate shows - What is the point?
Target Print is a Leeds based digital and litho printer. It's owner, Peter Biggins, wrote a blog post about his experiences at this year's shows. Read it here: http://leedsprinter.blogspot.com/

Save Babies UK

We got chatting with one of our neighbours recently, Pat Roberts, a lovely lady who runs a charity called Save Babies Through Screening Foundation UK. We're always keen to blow the trumpet for charitable causes and show our support so we're asking you all to do the same.

Save Babies Through Screening Foundation UK is a non-profitmaking organization run by volunteers. Our mission is to improve and save the lives of children by working to prevent disabilities or early death resulting from diseases that are detectable and treatable through newborn screening.

Visit the website here:

www.savebabiesuk.org

Join them on Facebook here

Free Comic Book Day 2011

WooHoo! It's here again! Free Comic Book Day. We realised that we'd forgotten but we're glad we remembered, yay! Lots of free comics (well a few, we'd slept in and a lot of them had gone by the time we got there - hey it's Saturday :P)

One of our favourites was 'The Dark Crystal: The Origin of the Dark Crystal' as it had lots of character design and illustration by Brian Froud (who created our precious Pressed Fairies books) - a flippable comic too as the other side was called 'Mouse Guard' by David Petersen.

Thanks to the guys at Travelling Man in Leeds: www.travellingman.com  for the free comics and sweeties too :D

Visit the Free Comic Book Day website: www.freecomicbookday.com

Happy Easter and Picnic Fun from Kooji!

Happy Easter everyone! The sun is shining and it looks like we're set for a gorgeous Summer. Go get yaself set up with a picnic and some Easter eggs, yum!

Check out our previous Kooji Cards here - we've done some goodies :D

CF Studio Launch and The Blank Showcase

Amy and Bek A.K.A Lord Whitney invited us both to attend the launch of CF Studios, their new collaborative workspace and the exhibition 'The Blank Showcase'. They asked their guests to bring along items in response to the initials CF and the collected or created pieces were then added to the exhibition wall.

Here are a few photos from the evening:

 Here's some amusing wordplay from Johnny

 and here's Katherine's feathery fancy

...and here was our submission: Crappy Film (Plan 9 from Outer Space directed by Ed Wood)

It was great to see the creative duo in action once more and to check out their fun social experiment. The pieces on display were really quirky and imaginative and we look forward to seeing what they come up with next!

Visit Lord Whitney here: www.lordwhitney.co.uk
Find out more about the studio: www.cfstudios.co.uk

Miss You - Stuart Menzies Farrant

Check out this beautiful new song "Miss You" by our Kooji buddy, Stuart Menzies Farrant. Stuart's got himself a new profile set up on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/stuartmenziesfarrant and Miss You is one of his most recent releases.

Stuart Menzies Farrant

Stuart's portfolio, including the mini album: Le Mal D’Afrique can be accessed at:  www.myspace.com/visionlandmusic

Singer/songwriter stuff and last album can be found here:
www.myspace.com/stuartmenziesfarrantuk

We've been chillin' to his music for years, this new track in particular has a real reggae feel to it - fantastic! We love Stuart's music and you will too!

Introducing NU:VO

Bukkie Dos Santos, one of our Kooji Buddies and long-time collective member, got in touch to show us this groovy showreel for her new venture NU:VO take a look:

Be Daring, Be Different from ART NUVO on Vimeo.
ART meets COMMERCE - A contemporary approach to Brand Vision by Nu:vo

The delivering of creative excitement and contemporary visual ideas to lifestyle and fashion clientelle.

The NU:VO CREED:
Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.
-Christian Dior

What a tantalising visual feast! We can't wait to see more :D