Blog. What we're doing. What we're thinking. What we like. What we love. And not a single mention of what we had for lunch.

One of the UK’s hottest talents and star of ‘This is England’, Vicky McClure, is officially Illamasqua’s new leading lady.

If like us, your waiting with baited breath for Vicky’s premiere in Channel 4’s This is England ’86, airing tonight at 10pm, watch her in action first in our new short film ‘Poem’. Having previously worked with legendary film director, Shane Meadows, and queen of music herself, Madonna, Vicky is the muse and star of three beautiful short films specially commissioned by Illamasqua.

The first in the series, 'Poem' has just launched today, is a poignant portrayal of Vicky’s transformation into her alter-ego through the art of making-up.

You can see the video here, and find out why we chose Vicky here.

Posted by Natalie Hargreaves.

Yes, it’s finally launched! After our endless hours staring at computer screens, not blinking for days on end, our work is done (at least until the Spring/Summer campaign). 150 Republic stores woke up in August with a shiny new campaign, including new logo, strapline, window dressings and some impressive cash desk POS. ‘Your Rules Your Republic’ is now live in all stores across the UK and Ireland, so if you’d like a closer look then drop into your local Republic. If you’d like a not-so-closer-look, scroll down to the pictures below.

A massive thanks to all involved – it looks fantastic.

View more of the work here, or read about it here.

Posted by Nicole Leavings.

The Home Office has just released images of the new UK Passport design (top image). Which is all very nice, but upon looking at the images on its Flickr page, what's more interesting are some the UKs old Passports, dating back to 1852:

New passport design.

Passport from 1852.

Passport from 1880.

Passport from 1947.

Passport from 1910.

Posted by Lee Bennett.

The following post was printed in this weeks issue of Design Week, and is a response to being asked to write about something that has inspired me. Many thanks to Lynda for asking me to contribute.

Inspired: Lee Bennett

I can trace one of my earliest inspirations all the way back to my childhood. Although it's something I greatly admire now, it scared the living daylights out of me at the time. I watched this particular film title sequence repeatedly, not because as a 10-year old I loved the typography and animation. No. It was because I found its eeriness so haunting that it scared me from watching the film itself.

Countless times I sat in my Knight Rider pyjamas (probably with a glass of soda-stream by my side), huddled behind a pillow, determined that this time I would be brave enough to make it past the title sequence and watch the actual film. But as I pressed the big green VHS play button (not Betamax thank you - my Dad was wise), the tension started. Dark abstract shadows moved slowly across the screen. As the cast names rolled up, large white panels slowly appeared one-by-one top frame. Symmetrical at first, next came the cross-bars. It was the music that did it. An eerily disturbing sound echoed from the TV speakers, building slowly to a full screeching tension just as the last letter became legible; A L I E N. That was it. Stop. Eject. And run upstairs to seek comfort and safety under my Transfomers bedspread.

I'm glad to say that I eventually watched the full film in my teens, and I still enjoy watching the title sequence today. Only not wearing Knight Rider pyjamas.

Posted by Lee Bennett.