The mighty Gavin Strange and a GIANT DROPLET

who is Gav Strange? and what is JamFactory?
I’m a designer hailing from Leicester but living in beautiful Bristol! By day I’m senior designer for the Digital department of Aardman animations and by night I go under the alias of JamFactory, creating a plethora of things from vinyl toys to skateboard graphics. I’m a jack of all trades!

How did the concept of Droplet come about?
I started working with Andy Woo, founder of the Crazylabel toy company back in 2007 and I started just playing with shapes, sketching down some ideas for toys and the Droplet shape was one both Andy and me liked, so I started developing it further!

The more I pushed it the more I liked it and developed the idea further. The shape itself is a droplet INSIDE a little water ‘jacket’, that’s why their faces show through at the bottom. The ‘arms’ are actually smaller droplets that flew upwards!

What was the new series inspired by?
Series 2 was more of a ‘character’ study, where the first series was all based on Sweeties, I wanted to push the character side of the toys this time. I had more freedom in the mount of colours used and the individual sculpts for each Droplets ‘little Droplets’, so I was able to give them more of a individual personality, which I was really excited about! Especially with the King Droplet being able to have a Crown, I like that

What inspires you on a day to day basis?
The usual suspects: Music, the random beautifulness that flies around Twitter, ideas that may pop into my head. It’s kinda hard to pick out specifics, as day-to-day inspiration just sort of washes over you, but I like it like that!

What do you do when not being JamFactory?
Oh man, erm I’m guilty of being ‘JamFactory’ all the time to be honest, much to my girlfriends sanity, I find it hard to switch off! I love riding my bike whenever I can! I ride a lovely subtle pink & gold bike and there’s a great scene here in Bristol of like-minded riders, so I try to get out whenever I can. I’m making a film about the bike scene here though, so I’ve managed to turn that into a jamfactory work-related project. I need to stop doing that!

I’m a big game nerd too, can’t beat a bit of console gaming or generally just taking it easy and spending time with my friends and family!

Gavin and his series 2 Droplets at the launch at fiftyfifty, Park St

What are your next plans for the Droplet brand?
Well, now that Series 2 has been released I’m focusing on keeping the momentum going gathered from launch, making sure the Droplet site is full of useful links, resources and goodies. I’m hoping to make a book, featuring photos of the preparation for launch, all the customised Droplets and development sketches from the start of the series. I’m a big fan of printing stuff for the sake of printing, there’s something beautiful about a tangible object. I love the online revolution but I’m still a fan of holding something crafted in your hands!

I’d love to animate the characters some how too, and working at Aardman means that could well be a possiblity, with the wealth of uber-talented animators!

There’s a few other secret bits about Droplets hopefully happening this year, as well as thinking about Series 3 for the future too...

Any other design projects in the pipeline?
Lots! As well as my fulltime job at Aardman, I’m also filling my own time with: the BOIKZMOIND bike film, brand identity project for a modern furniture company, 2 vinyl toys that aren’t Droplet and a super secret project with a close friend of mine that’s going to be a big one! I’ve got a couple of talks coming up this year too, one on the topic of Droplet happening at a few Apple stores around the UK and also one at the Future Of Web Design in London, so that’ll keep me busy!

What are your hot tips of people or brands to look out for this year?
People & brands to watch out for this year: Micheal Leon, AnyForty, McFaul, Rebel8, DOOMTREE, The Hundreds, Robin Davey

Hellloo, ooh my first post today,so thought I would give a shout out to the awesome Peskimo and Chris Dickason who are opening the incredibly funky bar Start The Bus's brand new spanking gallery this weekend in Bristol on Baldwin St,with this fantastic unique show.
Jody and David, AKA Peskimo are originally from the lovely Cheltenham , so I wanted to give them a mention, look out for a full interview coming soon from this brilliant design duo.

Peskimo’s world is teeming with monsters and bunnies, pattern and texture, fun and frolics, combining quirky details and streamlined design with a generous pinch of nostalgia to create art that has won admirers far and wide. The art of Peskimo is complimented by Chris Dickason’s charming and much loved visually striking design. Chris’ illustrations are populated with rambunctious and irreverent characters, the design of which is a cleverly crafted mix of an uncomplicated drawing style and conspicuous colour choices.

The Tease Made exhibition will celebrate the social rituals, history, iconography and biscuit dunking goodness of enjoying a cup of tea. Expect prints, paintings and doodles as well as the occasional three-dimensional surprise. The artwork will draw influence from the mid century aesthetic and vintage graphic design, cartoons and comics and the oddities and absurdities of everyday life.

For more info please visit www.peskimo.com and www.chrisdickason.co.uk

Way back when we first started Creative Boom Cheltenham we ran a story about fabulous local tattoo artist Claire Dunn. This raceweek she's running a fantastic new project to raise money for Wellchild - the charity that supports sick children and their families across the UK.

LUCKY CHARMS.

Here's the brief - you design a lucky charm the size of a fifty pence piece and Claire will tattoo you! It's a simple idea that we really love - the chance to get your luckiest symbol transformed into a permanent piece of artwork AND you get to raise money for a really worthwhile cause. Charms only cost £30 and £10 will go to Wellchild.

For more details email c-dunn-won@hotmail.co.uk, pop into Dunn'n'Dusted tattoo studio @ Love the Salon or call 01242 234123.

And if you do it - send us your photos!

If vintage is your thing you'd best get yourself along to the Pump Rooms this Sunday from 10am - 5pm. Blind Lemon Vintage are hosting a vintage fashion fair which promises to be a smorgasbord of vintage clothes and accessories.

For more details and to book your tickets in advance please visit http://www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk.

Happy sunny Sunday everyone! We are pleased to announce the addition of two new contributors to our armaments of creative goodness - they'll be scouring the streets of Cheltenham and beyond to bring you lots of exciting news, features and interviews about wonderful creative things. They're both hilarious & opinionated as well as being local creative types (our favourite kind of type). We can't wait to see what they've got lined up for us.

So without further ado, please allow us to introduce (drumroll please....) Fran Pearce and Sam Beddoes!

FRAN

http://www.franpearcepr.com

Word. Im Fran, I live in Cheltenham and have a small freelance pr agency specialising in art, design and fashion stuff. I am lucky enough to work for the awesome Creative Review, JamFactory, Anyforty and Momiji amongst others. I also contribute to www.vinylabuse.com as my other big love is vinyl toys. Having been a massive fan of Creative Boom for ages, it is amazing to get an opportunity to write about all the stuff I love. So gonna be looking at all things creative in Cheltenham,also bringing you some fresh stuff that I find on my travels and introduce you to some people that I think are rocking their skills. Good times I hope.

SAM

http://www.sambeddoesdesign.com

Sam here. I'm a freelance Graphic and Web Designer and Illustrator based near Tewkesbury. I've been my own boss full time ever since I left the pot-noodle lifestyle that is education but even then it was freelance work which paid for all those microwave ready-meals. My business is international - I work with people all over the world via e-mail. I'm going to be checking out creative people and places around Cheltenham and Gloucestershire and annoying them into revealing a little about why they do what they do for the sake of your entertainment. I also plan to write a few features on all-time greats (and not-so-greats) in the medium of art and graphic design and how they changed the way we think, and perhaps we can even spark up a little bit of comment-based controversy. Here goes nothing!

WELCOME Fran & Sam

Do you think you've got what it takes to write (or ya know, take photos n stuff) for Creative Boom Cheltenham? If so give us a shout - cheltenham@creativeboom.co.uk - and we'll set you up!

Cheltenham has some hidden gems. StuffedNonsense craft den, Badlands record shop and the Emmaus charity shop spring immediately to mind. There's plenty more though. One of the best things about writing for Creative Boom is a chance to find and celebrate all these amazing spots, and hopefully ensure their longevity by helping newcomers and the initiated find their way.

One such spot is Global Footsteps. On Portland Street, opposite The Cotswold Inn. Global Footsteps are quite possible the most lovely people ever. This is what coordinator Morgan Phillips said to me about what they do:

"We don't just go round telling people to drive less, eat organic food, change their lightbulbs, recycle their mars bar wrappers and so on, in fact we don't do that at all. What we do is give people the opportunity and inspiration to Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give in very enjoyable but environmentally and socially responsible ways!".

How good does that sound? They've got loads of exciting new projects coming up soon and they're always looking for more people to get involved so why not pop along and say hello! They're also looking for artwork to display in their shop so if you're an arty type and you'd like to get your work seen by lots of lovely people why not give them a call?

Here are their deets:

Address: FootSteps, 16 Portland Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL52 2AB

Phone: 01242 577 893

Email: info@global-footsteps.org

Cheltenham is, as far as several thousand people a year are concerned, is home of the greatest show on earth - The Cheltenham Festival. For four days in March the town is taken over as hordes of passionate race fans descend upon us to witness the high point of the sport's calendar.

This year local developer and dedicated racefan Jonathan Pollinger has used the opportunity to develop Cheltenham's first dedicated app. Racegoers will be able to receive up to the minute information about the festival on their mobile phones.

Owners of the T-Mobile G1 and G2, T-Mobile Pulse, HTC Dream, HTC Magic, HTC Hero, Samsung I7500 and Motorola CLIQ can download this free app from the Android Marketplace by searching for “JP Festival”.

In the near future the JP Festival app will also be available for download from the iPhone App Store.

Are you a Cheltenham based developer with an awesome project in the works or already available for us all to play with? If so, drop us a line to cheltenham@creativeboom.co.uk so we can share your techy news with the world!

Do you have any fabric, remnants, curtains, blind material, or any type of fabric can can be reused and recycled to make something new?

If so, bring it along to the "Fabric and Remnant Swap" on 57 Naunton Lane, Leckhampton this Saturday March 6th from 11am to 1pm where you can trade it in for something different and pick up some fab tips for things to make.

Pop in for a chat over cofffee, biscuits and fabric on Saturday!

For more details please call Karen Wilson on 01242 231866 or visit http://cheltenhamconnectgogreen.ning.com/events/fabric-remnant-swap?rsvpConfirm=1

Do you like earthquakes? No, us neither, which is why we're fully behind this awesome fundraising gig at the Front Rooms this Friday.

Tickets costs just £5, for which you'll get to see:

The Howlers (www.thehowlers.co.uk/) play rock n pop covers

Skamp (www.skampmusic.com) playing rock/pop/funk/dance covers

Andy Gladwin (www.illusionist.co.uk) performing some 'up close' magic

plus DJ Malc Manero will be spinning some disco hits throughout the evening.

For more info please visit http://www.thefrontrooms.com

Maybe you fancy writing the ultimate how-to tutorial, or you've got a killer set of icons you want to share with the world.

If you're working in Cheltenham and you'd like to showcase your fabulous creative talent please email cheltenham@creativeboom.co.uk and we'll help you get your work seen.