Nigel French

Anti Copying in Design fully supports the Make it Fair campaign and would like to thank the News Media Association for amplifying this message for all copyright content creators. Click here for more information and an email template to help you write to your MP ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e7fxYNWN Make It Fair - News Media Association - https://lnkd.in/ettQ8xbt Britain’s 1.97 Designers or those with design skills not only rely on design rights but also create copyright-protected works. Their designs can qualify for copyright protection if they show originality, such as artistic elements, graphics, or unique patterns. This means their work can often benefit from both copyright and design rights, offering broader legal protection against unauthorised use. They, too, are seriously affected by any attempts by AI to use their work without permission which would affect livelihoods and growth. #designs #dcms #dsit #anticopyingindesign #ipo

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4 sites to bookmark for creative play and exploration: 💻 Public Work - A search tool for high-quality public domain images—great for designers and educators 💻 The HTML Review Issue 04 - A digital zine showcasing creative, experimental web design 💻 Metaflop Modulator - Create custom fonts by adjusting sliders—ideal for fast, code-free type design 💻 Tooooools - Apply lo-fi visual effects to images/videos—quick, creative edits in a browser #itsnicethat #INTResourceSaveForLater

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In my 22 years as an illustrator, I’ve noticed one constant: every THIS IS THE DEATH OF ILLUSTRATION prediction has been followed by a new cycle of demand. Pre 2008 There was steady magazine, newspaper, and agency work. Illustrators were relied on for distinctive visuals that photography couldn’t always deliver. Editorial pages had budgets and agencies commissioned regularly. 2008 crash The housing market collapsed, commissions dried up, and many predicted illustration would never recover. I saw colleagues pivot to corporate work or other creative disciplines just to survive. 2010 to 2019 There was a huge rebound. Editorial houses invested in unique visual identities, agencies embraced illustration for campaigns, and freelancers who could offer a signature style thrived. It was a period where craft and consistency were highly valued. 2020 pandemic Budgets collapsed again, projects vanished almost overnight, and even long-term clients paused commissions. Remote work changed the way clients perceived value in illustration. 2023 to 2025 We now face AI disruption layered on top of ongoing economic pressure. Clients have new options for speed and cost, but the nuanced craft and storytelling of a hand-drawn illustration remains hard to replace. Reading The State of Illustration report by the heroic Darren Di Lieto, these cycles are reflected in the hard cold numbers. Commission volumes rise and fall, but the underlying demand for distinctive, human-led visuals persists. Like any creative field, illustration doesn’t die; it evolves. The real question is what role we, as illustrators, will play in shaping the next cycle? Also do yourself a favour and head over to Darren Di Lieto and purchase his industry report "The State Of Illustration". He does all the work so we don't have to.

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Just recorded a couple of tutorials for Adobe Learn about typography in Illustrator. Please check them out if you a spare 10 minutes. They're free and you can view them here: https://lnkd.in/e_CJ3Xu4 [They are under Tutorial articles and video: Develop typographic logo variations and Incorporate a typographic logo in a flyer]

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Typography as a force for change. ⚡ At Art Directors Club (ADC) Festival next week, Sina Otto and Tom Foley will give an inside look at Re:Vision — the 2025 Type Trends Report. This year’s report explores how typography reflects and shapes our rapidly changing world. From AI to activism, from sensory design to sustainability, they'll explore six themes where creativity is both a mirror and a catalyst. If you're attending, don’t miss this deep dive into the cultural zeitgeist — and the type shaping its future.

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Did you know? The UK’s graphic design industry is now worth over £4.5 billion, with steady growth driven by digital content, branding, and UX/UI demand. Freelance designers make up nearly 50% of the workforce. Graphic design courses saw a 12% rise in enrolment across UK universities in 2024. The top sectors hiring designers in the UK right now are: · Tech & SaaS (Software as a Service - cloud-based software) · E-commerce · Green energy · Creative agencies #GraphicDesignUK #DesignTrends #CreativeIndustry #UKStats

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Museums aren’t competing with each other. They’re competing for attention. It’s not just TikTok. It’s Netflix. It’s BBC documentaries. It’s YouTube creators. It’s ChatGPT. When the museum playbook was written in the 1800s, taxidermy was cutting-edge technology. The world changed and museums will need to evolve. If your exhibit doesn’t earn their attention, the feed will. The answer isn’t louder media or flashier screens. Create presence. Moments that feel alive, that optomize for stories in shared space Because the real competition isn’t another museum. It’s a vast field of content and stories, great and small. 

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A new report that reveals promising path for museums to connect with new audiences—what I like to call generations of #interactions. Museums in the Metaverse (MiM) project at the University of Glasgow highlights a strong public appetite for accessing museum collections through #VR and #extendedreality. A global survey of over 2,000 #culturalheritage enthusiasts found that 79% are interested in using digital technology to explore collections that would otherwise remain out of reach. Engagement with VR is already significant—77% of respondents would likely use it for this purpose, with 52% expressing definite interest. Adoption rates are also promising, as 55% have already experienced VR firsthand. Notably, 38% of participants indicated a willingness to #pay for #virtualculturalheritage experiences, signaling potential new #revenuestreams for museums.

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