Congratulations are due to Grand Opera House senior press officer Eadaoin Flanagan (hope I spelled that right) who has been participating in the Arts & Business “Art of the Pitch” programme, hosted by Cathy Law Communications and Whitenoise.

She and five other marketing officers from various arts organisations presented to a ‘Dragon’s Den’ of potential corporate sponsors this morning in Belfast and her presentation scored the highest, winning a £1000 cash price… nice.

The “Art of the Pitch” is a unique programme which offers arts organisations the chance to polish their pitching skills through one on one mentoring, presentation coaching and the chance to work alongside a designer over an intense three days to develop a killer presentation produced to the very highest standard.

While Cathy Law takes care of all the talky stuff, Whitenoise did what we do best, taking, logos, messages and images and creating a series of stunning presentations mixing traditional flat board visuals, animated logos, video, sound and the dreaded PowerPoint, to great effect. Eadaoin’s designer ‘buddy’ this time round was the multi-talented Ingrid – well done missus!

The project was immense fun even though we were working at breakneck speed. Now the dust has settled however, so it’s back to some real work…

Mark C

Most available flat surfaces in the studio are covered in print samples at the moment, as the Whitenoise design team wrangle over what goes in and what stays out of the client work section of Book 6.

With limited space in the book and far too much to choose from it’s not an easy process, but it’s been interesting for us to revisit some of the cool design work we’ve produced for our clients since the publication of Book 5.

Meanwhile Peedy and Ryan are cooking up some awesome eye candy for the accompanying DVD. Notable highlights may possibly include VR fly-throughs the like of which we reckon you won’t have seen before…

and also something top secret, hush hush, involving ‘phonetic interpretation and manipulation of graphic elements’ whatever that is. Below we have Ryan inspecting his mission briefing…

And in between all that, of course, regular client work continues at its usual maddening pace. Hey, thank God it’s Friday, that’s all I can say.

Mark C

So this week we’ve been spending some quality time thinking about Whitenoise Book 6, the latest in the line of iconic, fabulous, anarchic, extravagant and downright weird Whitenoise publications. We’ve decided that after over nine years as Belfast’s edgiest, funkiest, most disturbed, oft quoted (and misquoted) and essential design studio, we need to really push the boat out.

Previous books have seen us printing on literally dozens of different paper stocks, employing the most extravagant and ostentatious print techniques and flagrantly misuse and abuse our own marketing budget with staggering results, so we’ve set the bar pretty high.

Book 6, provisionally titled “An Experiment In Typography” and planned for a launch in the late summer, is going to – quite literally – demolish and overrun the boundaries of what is considered the norm in vanity publishing – believe me, this will be like NOTHING you have seen before, and you will not be disappointed. Keep checking back for more…

Mark C

WHITENOISE are pleased to announce (official voice, cough) that we have been appointed by BBC Northern Ireland to provide branding and creative services on an across the line basis, covering broadcast, online, advertising, print, events and ambient. We will be joining three other local agencies in handling the promotion of all BBC Northern Ireland’s output commencing immediately, and have to say we are VERY VERY EXCITED!

This good news comes on the back of the great work we have been doing for the BBC “TeethGrinder” show and “Pipes and Drums” documentary (check our YouTube page for this work).

Hey, it’s a great way to end the week!

Mark C

Amazing how the offer of a 4pm finish can motivate people to tidy up the studio. Look at that spotless floor – you could eat your dinner off it…

And here’s the kitchen staff hard at it…

So we’re all off to celebrate – or will when the pub opens. Talking of celebrating, this week sees me and  Missus C celebrating 20 years of wedded bliss. And the said we’d never last…

Have a great, relaxing, boozy and blessed break – see you next week.

Mark C