Category: Design

  • Earl of East London

    Earl of East London

    On our last trip to London we met Paul Firmin and Niko Dafkos, the founders of Earl of East London. Inspired by their travels and love of beautifully produced vintage homeware, they launched an online shop and market stall in Netil Market a few months ago with an ambition to turn it into a lifestyle brand.

    Earl of East London sells a curated mix of vintage curiosities, candles and cacti  which combines their passion and interest in seeking out independent businesses producing beautiful objects. Paul says: “I think initially that might sound like a strange mix but I suppose what we are really trying to sell is an eclectic lifestyle, one which is inspired by living in East London, from places we have travelled to and from the media we choose to read. We only stock things that we love and would have in our home”

    Currently Earl of East London focus on bringing goods from the US where they spent some time last year. “We particularly love the eclectic mix of businesses and products from California, geographically its well positioned to have so many influences and thats why its such interesting and a hub of creativity. We love how supportive the creative community is of each other there but how they are also very business minded in a way that creatives sometimes struggle with”, Paul adds.

    Look out for Paul and Niko and their stall at the Netil Market most weekends, and follow their InstagramFacebookTwitter for the newest updates.

    earlofeastlondon.com

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  • Why Neutral Backgrounds Are So Useful

    Photography is really an abstract art posing as conceptual realism. You’re not just capturing something as it is, but rather, you’re capturing a perception of what something is. We all know that although cameras work a lot like the human eye, they don’t’ see as we do. They have better focus, more range of color interpretations and they can even make optical illusions where once there were none to be found. Maybe that is why neutral is so important for us. In so many ways, neutral backgrounds are useful to our eyes and it’s because they help us to perceive objects both as they are, and as they could be in our minds. But where does this occur in the real world?

    Image via pixabay

    Product photography

    If you were a small business, you would want your product to be shown in the best light. There’s no other way to do this than in a photography studio. This is because the neutral background, adaptability for the space to become anything you want, (which helps in perception manipulation) and lighting changes, is so useful to product photography. You can hire a photography studio that can look like a living room, a garden, an outdoor living area or pretty much anything you want. They are inherently empty but not quite, empty. They have room to maneuver, change, adapt and be made in such a way, as to build up the image of a product. The most important thing is, having neutral walls. White, beige, cream, silver, black and grey are the colors permissible.

    Bringing out your features

    Neutral Backgrounds are also used for headshots. Actors want their features to blossom and stand out, so a white background is chosen. But for those that want to change the shape of their face, or perhaps bolster their age, they could choose a black background instead. It’s a tug of war that’s been going on among actors for many decades, in terms of which is better. But the truth be told, they are both better than having something in the background. The entire focus should be on you. And the only way to do that is to use colors which don’t conflict with your skin, eyes and hair. Headshot photographers charge a petty penny too, because they know how to focus on your face and yet still keep the neutral background in focus too. This way your features can look both natural and more defined.

    More depth and variety

    Modern homes have neutral walls and that is a godsend to photographers in the real estate market. By having white or black walls, the decor stands out more. The changes of shape, color and size, play a more magnified role in the photography of interiors because of it. It’s also why so many people like the minimalist style, because they want more of what they like, to stand out and not be overshadowed.

    The neutral background in photography is at first glance, rudimentary. Bt actually, when you do it right and you have the right subject, you bring out the best in it.

  • Hepcat

    Hepcat

    Hepcat is a start-up lifestyle brand based in San Francisco founded by Nash Finley and George McDonough. The brand focuses on sustainable design, and explores alternative materials, manufacturing techniques and outside of the box thinking.

    Bourbon Barrel skateboards are the first of many products that Hepcat hope to put out to the world. We all know that upcycling can get a little crafty so it’s always great to see a nice example of reusing materials done right. We’re definitely looking forward to seeing more products coming from the brand.

    Hepcat is currently running a Kickstarter campaign which you can support here.

    If you have a product or project you’d like us to write about, please email us at hello@thefuturepositive.com.

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  • Evie Cahir

    Evie Cahir

    We recently discovered the work of Evie Cahir, a Melbourne-based illustrator who has worked for clients the likes of Vice and Neon Magazine and is inspired by drawing on public transport.

    Evie says that there isn’t a technique as such in her work. She simply layers coloured pencils, applies weak watercolour washes and peels off strips of masking tape until she feels that the work is complete.

    We especially like her project Mapping Melbourne – developed on her many trips across the city – and also her self published zines.

    www.eviecahir.com

  • Finding Good Staff For Your Startup

    Finding good staff is not easy, especially for start-ups. Because especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers, they fight against established large corporations in recruiting. In addition to their long-standing, good reputation and above-average salaries, they can offer something else. A high degree of security that the salary will be paid at the end of the month. Even if resources may be limited at first, start-ups should rely on a high level of professionalism in recruiting from the start. After all, the success of your own business model also stands or falls with good employees. And even if start-ups are usually unable to pay the comparatively high salaries of corporations, they often have completely different arguments to convince job applicants of themselves. 

    Photo: Unsplash

    Quite a few employees are now attracted to an exciting task in a young company. They want a dynamic environment with many like-minded people, the opportunity to implement their own ideas and exciting development opportunities. Perhaps even the prospect of company shares in the rigid corporate structures with a range of tasks that are clearly defined for years in front. Here you can find out what start-ups should definitely consider when looking for employees. This is in order to win over potential employees, which channels can be used in the search and why.

    Plan sufficient resources 

    Good employees do not fall from the sky, but have to be searched for, which is very time-consuming in most cases. They may come from all over the world. There is such a thing as a global talent visa. Plenty of skilled workers are found abroad. Don’t limit yourself. 

    Sufficient time and a corresponding financial budget should be planned for the search for personnel right from the start. Because whichever type of tender you choose – most of them are simply expensive. The complex task of finding employees should best be spread across several people. A team member could look through the applications, and send confirmations of receipt. They must document the most important applicant key data. However, the boss should definitely be involved in the selection of candidates and the conduct of the interviews. In small start-up teams, it is particularly important that the personal chemistry is right and that the new employee is a good fit for the company. In addition, the new employee should ideally be entrusted with responsible tasks right from the start. 

    Develop a clear requirement profile 

    Even if everyone seems to do everything at the beginning, things can go awry. Sometimes, clearly defined processes are often missing. Therefore, a clear requirement profile should be created.  In the first few months of business activity, this is often only possible by the founders themselves. This is why the first employees have special priority and the search for employees should be a top priority in this phase. Because the first employees often have to have a particularly high level of commitment, flexibility and a hands-on mentality. They also have professional qualifications. You can find the best workers by being honest and open about what you want.