Sitting down on the job

I am lucky enough to be able to ski quite a lot each season. It is something that customers have become accustomed to and the studio Team have become supremely talented at managing projects during this time. I manage to still oversee most of the essential creative work thanks to the wonders of the interweb...!

Anyway, in March
I helped to test a new sitski. This is a device that allows people with spinal or other issues that affect their lower body to experience skiing. You may have seen athletes on the Winter Olympics using a sit ski - exciting stuff indeed!

This particular model is a bi-ski, meaning it has two skis (single ski versions are also available). In the first instance a user will be 'tethered' by an instructor. (you can see the reigns in the photo) This ensures that a beginner can control speed and descent. In my case this was very neccessary!

Sara Jones, an elite adaptive instructor of Alpine Freedom and the SkiCheck academy was kind enough to be the tether on this occasion, giving me guidance on how to use the outriggers (arm extensions with mini skis on the ends - these can be used in 'walk' or 'ski' mode by releasing a cord). The outriggers allow the skier to change direction and aid in balance too.

In the video you can see how I am using my body along with the outriggers to make changes in direction.

Anyone can ski..its true.

One of the maxims of DSUK (Disability SnowsportsUK) is that anyone can ski.

We are delighted to be partnering with DSUK in order to help them to improve thier image and graphics. PE Creative will be working closely with the DSUK team to help curate their new website, visual appeal and customer facing literature.

This little DL flyer represent one of many graphical items that we look forward to helping with throughout the course of 2019 and beyond.

DSUK will help anyone no matter what their physical or mental ability is, to experience snowsports - to find out more visit their website here .

If you or your marketing team want any help with your creative needs then why not give us a call on 01332 291141 and we will be happy to help.

Steampunk Ski

During the Bavarian week of "Fashing" it is customary for people to dress up in costumes...these can range from a simple bow tie to a full costume.

This season we saw:

Superman
Batman
Clowns
Fairys
Men in Black
Big wigs
Bears
A huge range of broghtly coloured outfits
and a T-rex on a snowboard...wobbling around in the snow...

Not to let down the British end, we decided that English Gentlemen should be our costumes of choice.

This picture shows Jonny atop the new D link chair in Hochfugen, Austria, sporting his Steampunk Edwardian gent attire.

If you'd like to know more about Fashing or just want some nice designs doing then give us a call on 01332 291141 and we will be happy to discuss this with you.

The Power of Pink

When we freshened up our logo we decided on shocking pink for the new colour. In order to ensure that this colour becomes well and truly established we are in the process of redecorating our reception areas. The work is paintwork is being done by our favorite 'resident' decorator Reg Wilson.

Once the paintwork is completed we will fitting new carpets and some interesting robot images should complete the look. We anticipate that the work will be completed by the end of January 2019,  scary to think that 2019 will be our 32nd year of business and our 28th year at Trinity House on Green Lane...

If you have visited the studio you will know the colours and the new look may give you quite a suprise...but if you haven't visited us, then why not come along, we'd be delighted to show you around.

Just give us a call on 01332 291141 and we'll look forward to seeing you very soon!

What a lovely way to do business

Back in the Summer we decided that the rear of our property could do with some new gates. We did exactly what anyone in Derby would do...we put in "Gates + Derby" into Google and we were fed with a number of link options. Ideally we wanted someone genuinely local and someone we could talk to about our needs...(we had a front gate that needed repairing too).

So after some diligence we opted for "The Gatemaker" making an on-line e-mail enquiry, we were quickly contacted by Jami who arranged for their representative Bernie to come out and measure up. Bernie gave us a quote there and then, along with a very reasonable leadtime. We were impressed. Good quality, good price and totally honest.

Shortly after this we had a brand new set of gates delivered for the rear car park - with a promise that the refurbished front gate would follow a week later...

Unfortunately, due to some issues with the powder coating this was slightly delayed. Which led us to a couple of days of increasingly quirky but friendly email banter and communication (involving the mention of aliens and meerkats - both of which adorn the Gatemaker vans - when you see one you'll know it!). Problem resolved, and no harm done...

The front gate duly arrived and we were all delighted, so much so that we ordered another gate for the rear, as this made the property look so much better...and finally the whole picture was complete.

About three months went by  - with no issues.

When, suddenly, quite out of the blue, we received a phone call from Bernie.

It turns out that he is actually a Director of the Gatemaker and at first we thought our BACs payment had maybe failed...however,  the call was about about something completely different...

Bernie explained that when he visited us, he was impressed with the work we do and more importantly, the attitude and approach to our correspondence (I sent them a picture of a meerkat with a machine gun at one point...!). It was our up-front and honest approach that they all liked, 'the way we dealt with a problem' is exactly how he put it.

So, a visit was arranged and we were delighted to be appointed as the creative agency for The Gatemaker and Derby Gates. It's early days yet but we are all very excited about helping this local company to expand and grow.

The pictures above show how we intend to develop the Gatemakers' corporate identity - you can see our initial concept compared to the original below. In additon there will be new sales brochures, a more comprehensive website as well as new stationery, signage and showroom. We are all very much looking forward to helping them throughout 2019 and beyond.

Quite simply, we love working with nice people - if you like working with nice people too,  then why not give us a call on 01332 291141 and we will happy to chat about your needs.

Also, if you need new gates or any metal work refurbishing, then look no further than The Gatemaker - top people, with top quality products.

Its not just about us is it..?!!!

I know we all like to blow our own trumpets from time to time, but sometimes our business 'rivals' deserve a mention too!!!

This is David and Denise Leatt of Three Sixty Media who are good friends of mine. The photo shows them being presented with one of five cups for their golfing triumphs at Kedleston Park this season by the Lady Captain and Captain.

We often play golf together and I am delighted that they did so well. Denise, having taken up golf only three years ago has improved coming down from the mid thirties to 25 and David who has managed to get his handicap down to 6 this season, (no mean feat given that he only plays about 6 times a week!)

Well done you two, lets hope that 2019 brings you more second places..!!!

Getting Back To Basics

I was recently inspired to get back into sketching. Here at the studio we use computers nearly all the time, as such we are somewhat removed from the hand to paper aspect of creativity. In short, I was missing the feel of pen on paper!

As many of you know I often ski guide during the Winter season (as well as occasionally instructing) so it was an obvious choice really -  to do a sketch each day based on something I had seen or photographed during the day. The discipline being, that no sketch could take more than 30 minutes to complete and I was not allowed a second chance..!

So out to Derby I went to purchase some pens and a sketch pad.

After 5 days of skiing on the Hintertux glacier these are the first set of results - a mixed bag I think. The style was getting better as I 'got back into it'.

From the top:
Sara carving with good angles
View from the top of the Tuxerjoch chair
View from top of the Larmstang lift
Little girl vs Krampus (scary but real!)
View of the Marmot chair

I am sure that by the end of the season I should have an ever improving set of around 60-70 sketches, or 'skietches' as I have decided to call them!

I know the team here at PE Creative are all capable of drawing, we all have our own styles so if you want anything drawing or indeed painting then please feel free to call us on 01332 291141 and we will be delighted to help...