Simon Oliver

A simple process allows you to use six striking fonts on computers running Windows Vista or OSX (Apple Macs operating system).

These won’t work on older computers; the usual fonts will be displayed. So there is nothing lost.

I used Candara on this website. I didn’t want the type to fight with the bright graphics I’d designed. A font like Constantia or Times would have caused a distraction and upset the heirarchy. Candara has a kind of relaxed quality that fits with the message I am trying to get across.

It looks great big which is why I used image files instead of HTML text on the top navigation. Anyone using a older operating system would still get the same impact, which should help to convince the user of my design capability.

Its winter and its cold. There’s a recession on and moneys tight. Global warming, blah blah blah.

This is album is full of energy and takes that drab winter feeling away. Its synth pop with great lyrics and has an eighties feel.

Mild mannered English husband Adam lives a colorful existence in his dreams. He comes out with some brilliant ramblings when he’s asleep. His wife records them and puts them on a blog. He can get quite angry and talks about his bottom a lot.

Here are a few chosen moment:

“I like the balloons. I want one. If I don’t get one, I’m gonna squeeze one out right here, right now…. I warned you!”

“You know, with you you you, it’s all me me me. Well fuck fuck fuck fuck you you you.”

“I do like your eyes. Mmmm-hmmm. Shoved up your fucking ass so I can see the shit you create. Bye-bye!”

“Hey, don’t… don’t say anything. Why don’t you put it in an email, then I can ignore it at my pleasure.”

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This art movement was about saying something and getting your point across. Its use of geometric forms, cut out imagery and the same colours gave it a simple dynamism and power that was accessible to all people.

There had never been anything like it before and it shows how design can be a hugely effective form of mass communication.

Not really ‘design’, but when I got into Picasso’s and George Braque’s work something clicked. I went from drawing lengthy photographic pictures to something a bit wilder and expressive. It really opened up new doors for me and I haven’t looked back since.

Robust aromatics such as rosemary, sage and bay will survive the coldest weather and add a wonderful bass note to stews and roast game. Use them generously – no weedy little sprigs, please – and twist, crush or tear the leaves before you add them, to release their amazing essential oils. They should be added at the beginning of cooking, not the end, so their flavour infuses the whole dish.