Shrouded in Mystery

I’ve received some odd emails since Sept. 03 from a guy named ‘Curtis’. I don’t really want to write about this because I know they want me to and I don’t want to become a source of free advertising. The emails are personal, they mentioned my name and the name of one of my blog friends. It seems that I’m not the only one receiving these emails although all seem somewhat different. Meaning that someone is reading certain blogs out there on certain topics and putting a lot of effort in contacting each and every person linked to that blog.

Of course I did what was obvious: google search, IP and domain check, but they’re clever! I found out that most people who had received something similar are somehow related to design, London and the internet. The emails are cryptic and ask you to do certain things in order to get clues. I ignored them until I got fed up after the fourth and so I sent a reply to tell the person that I was not interested in playing games. To my surprise I received another [ignoring my reply] with a password and login to their website and I’m now officially ‘their secret agent’.

One email told me to check the classifieds on page 4o of a certain London newspaper. It’s an add about Buckm1nster/Dy m ax ion, a B1-Lanc3r and a telephone number, people rang the number but all you hear are hisses and someone screaming. From there you have to use the info found on websites to get more clues. There are some theories to be found online about the mystery of these emails. Some say it’s some kind of promotional thing that will take place next week, according to an email I should be ready for action: 18:45, 24/09/08…

Typos in this post are made on purpose because some of these words are used as keywords by this mysterious organisation to find those involved through Google and I’m sorry but I don’t do free SEO hence my changes in names etc. I know you guys are out there reading this, so to Mr. Curtis or the syndicate: if you would offer me a design job then yes; that might draw my undivided attention. Although intrigued, I’m kind of busy and if you would genuinely be interested you could’ve read about my activities on here and my reasons why I am this busy…

The image below is all the free advertising you’ll get for now…

:P

The next clue… Mission accomplished and aborted (?)

Follow-Up

I meant to write a follow-up about Beck’s Canvas exclusive preview party last week but I found myself being busy redesigning the gloves online shop which seems to be a much bigger design project than I could’ve imagined. Not just design-wise there’s also a lot of code hacking and tweaking. It’s fun, it’s definitely a learning curve and adds to the skills department. Odd thing is -or perhaps the positive side- that I noticed some are charging £1000,- for an ecommerce redesign and it doesn’t look half as good as what I’m doing [and I ain’t bragging].

I wonder if I might have missed an opportunity or perhaps I’m creating a new one… The ‘garden landscaper’ website is almost finished and hopefully will be going live next week, I’m waiting for hosting details. Once that’s online I could start one for Monica, another that will be exciting and challenging. Yes life is busy and focused… In the meantime I’m suffering from a serious cold and high fever since a few days now. Not fun while it’s also 28C° in my office, I’m gonna keep it short so I can get away from the computer every now and then and rest a bit.

About Beck’s Canvas… I went to Farringdon to pick up MvdM. from work, we took the Circle line to High Street Kensington, from there we walked passed the Dutch embassy to the Royal Academy of Arts where the paparazzi was waiting for us outside. Later at the reception I was told that some celebrities were expected, some were actually there. No I did not ask, I just stared… *hehe* My friend KB. and her partner missed their connection so they showed up an hour later. In the meantime MvdM. and I went in, went straight to the bar for a drink -because waiting for others makes you thirsty- and had a look at the exhibition.

I wasn’t allowed to take pictures of the exhibition but kindly received some through the PR agency which I will show below. My favourite label was by Riitta Ikonen, she’s got some cool stuff on her website. I love her sense of humour, have a look at her amazing mail art and her ‘Snowflake project’. I really like her artwork that’s used on the label of Beck’s. And since I was allowed to take pictures of the reception I will leave you now with a small selection. I had a great evening, got slightly intoxicated, met some really nice people and bought a lovely chocolate ice cream on my way home to match my dress…

ps I received my friends invitation this morning and only realised today that next week I’ll be in Scotland, time flies! She told me she had received lots of wonderful reactions about the invitation [which I designed for her] and I’m so looking forward to seeing her! She was in the Lowlands and brought back purple plastic wine glasses from the Hema for the party. Only Dutch would see the fun in that and especially those who live abroad *hehe* There is no such thing as Hema anywhere else… which is a true shame. We love our Hema!

© Beck’s, The labels and artwork

By Riitta Ikonen

Preview party

Preview party

Preview party