Maintaining a healthy mind, managing to work and doing your bit for society as we go through a period of extreme changes. Graphic Design is by its nature a lonely occupation. But what can we pass on to others that may help in these difficult times. For years, as a Graphic Designer, I have sat…
Category: excellence
there are only good ideas and bad ideas?
I was really lucky to get a relaxing day out last week at the #yorkshiresculpturepark The work currently on show is not only sublime, the ideas are great. An exercise in restraint, holding back on the superlatives. : ) The current big show is Giuseppe Penone: ‘A Tree in the Wood’ and it is #wonderful….
The hidden benefits of great sculpture
The hidden benefits of great #sculpture Determined to fully recover from a long bout of wretched pneumonia, I self medicated a prescription of high dose Barbara and Henry. It seemed like a great plan. Armed with only my good friend Tim and a small camera for company we drove up the M1, through a sunny…
Finding inspiration for the next piece of work.
‘world class work that lifts you’. Its Tuesday, it’s 3pm and it’s scorching hot in the office. so what do you do? A quick drive up the M1. It’s only 20 miles from Sheffield City Centre and it’s a mini work break up to the 40th birthday party of the #YorkshireSculpturePark #YSP. It’s perfect weather…
Peak District Design… is coming soon
Peak District Design will be launching soon at www.peakdistrictdesign.co.uk A small business specialising in the orginal artwork and design of Si Homfray. A few images from forthcoming products can be seen below.
logo design – a process with heart
I thought a few personal notes on the process behind producing this logo for the lovely people at Sheffield Sling Surgery might be interesting. The brief was unusual and in written form came along the lines of ‘I want something I will love’. My motivation was high as I knew a little bit about the…
X-ray crystallography inspiration for a logo
Here are a few images from a recent logo design project… I was so grabbed by the patterns thrown out by x-ray crystallographs at a microscopic level I was determined to create something digitally that felt good and represented the patterns without being too clinical. It is always fascinating study finding the differences between some…
love what you do and do what you love…
developing a corporate image and having fun at work is possible! … working for minibeasts shop forthcoming website launch… #funatwork #graphicdesign #designexcellence @sihomfray www.hammerdesign.co.uk
how do you design a new business card?
My 2017 crystal ball prediction… it’ll all be alright in the end! How do you design a new business card – you just design a new business card! In hommage to, and inspired by, the wonderful sayings of the great simon mayo and the equally magnificent mark kermode… straight from the ‘now becoming legendary and…
8 things to look for in a graphic designer
Are you looking for the holy grail? Is what you want out there? A graphic designer with relevant experience, an understanding and sensitivity for your work and that something indefinable, an edge that will make you and your business really shine? Here’s a set of 8 top tips and aspects to look for when appointing…
* please think responsibly
designing a christmas card for your own business is right up there with pulling teeth as things designers and business owners really love. it’s the one opportunity in the year you have to do something a little different, to be yourself and maybe even try to show off a good idea… after overthinking nearly every…
it’s a kinda magic… or is it?
so what goes into a graphic designer? is it a learned skill you can learn, is it innate and a genetically acquired skill or is it magic? I’d like to put forward the theory as a completely self taught graphic designer who has earned a living delivering many different types of commercial design work since…
a few words on design and marketing
is this the shortest book on design and marketing for the small business possible? Cards from the hammer design ‘KISS’ ( keep it simple si ) series. design 1. smart: work that is run through a planned, thorough, professional process is most likely to succeed in its objectives. 2. on point: the brief needs to…
so who are hammer design?
hammer design is the graphic design business of si homfray si homfray has earned his living as a professional graphic designer and marketing person since 1986. his major skills include graphic design for print, visual communication, branding, exhibition design and making marketing ideas happen. si is currently working with the web, print, exhibitions and a…
a commercial designer and a questioning artist…
A commercial designer and a free flow, free thinking artist? Can a commercial designer be truly creative or a game changing artist? Does such a thing actually matter and if so to who? How do you get experience from both sides of the fence? So many questions… but what are the really important questions, the…
it’s all about the orange – colour psychology for 2016…
It’s all about the orange – a cool or fashionable colour of the moment. But what does orange mean to you? Well there seem to be many popular theories about warmth, energy, vitality and an open mind or is that yellow? The theories conflict. Generally it is a confident colour, extraverted, warm and happy. It…