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Athena Christmas Party

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Last night the TLD girls – Keren, Tina and Gemma went to the Athena Christmas party (Amy was in South Africa and we all missed her).

It was a brilliant event that included a Christmas Shopping Market and a Business Showcase Hall, where members exhibited their products, a business card draw and most exciting of all – a Fashion Show!

The outfits worn during the Fashion Show were all by Leny from Leny G Couture Design and the models were styled by Nicoletta from Pinkananas. The models were also treated to being professionally made up by make-up artist to the stars Sarah Jagger.

Our very own Gemma was a model for the evening and she says: “The modelling was great fun, we practiced our walks behind the scenes but I was still quite nervous when it was my turn to strut my stuff. The dress I was wearing was beautiful and had been picked especially for me by Leny and Nicoletta.”

Here are some pics:

Gemma - our very own model

Gemma - our very own model

While the models were showcasing the dresses Nicoletta was describing the dresses. This is what she said for Gemma’s dress:

“GEMMA wears FLOWER CHILD

A feast of sunny joyous colours that celebrate Gemma’s bohemian beauty with the flowery details cleverly scattered throughout this simple and elegant cut to add movement or create sleek lines. A fabulous combination of romantic nuances with classic chic.”

Modelling Montage with Nicoletta describing the dresses

Modelling Montage with Nicoletta describing the dresses

Movember

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

You may have noticed a suprising increase in moustache abundancy recently – and subsequently as we roll into December, a sudden lack of Tom Selleck look-a-likes.

Are you experiencing any unexpected moustache-withdrawal symptoms?

For anyone who doesn’t already know, Movember is an annual charity event, where for the month of November, men across the world grow moustaches and get sponsored for doing so – all in the fight against prostate cancer!
Think of it like the men’s version of the pink ribbon.

The Movember rules are simple:

  1. Each Mo-Bro must start November 1st with a clean-shaven face
  2. Then, for the entire month of November, each Mo-Bro must grow & groom a moustache according to these rules:
  • There is to be no joining the mo’ to the side burns  – that’s a beard!
  • There is to be no joining of the handlebars on the chin – that’s a goatee!
  • A small complimentary growth under the bottom lip is allowed – (AKA ‘The Tickler’)

It’s been an interesting month to say the least – Thankfully, Keren was very happy for me to participate, and even gave me my first sponsorship! This also meant that I couldn’t back out if the Mo’ became too much to handle!

The first week wasn’t too bad, since at that early stage you can get away with the stubble, though it can look a bit pathetic at the start…

But as the weeks went by, it grew. And grew some more. And that’s when the funny looks on the tube started.
However it’s a defining moment to be on a crowed tube, and see a random man across the way who is also sporting a ‘tache, looking slightly embarrassed. You catch eyes, and give “the nod”.. From one mo-bro to another!

By the end of Movember, my mo’ was huge and more comical than embarrassing!

So far I’ve raised £160 for the cause – much more than I thought I would when I started out!

And at last count, the UK has raised a total of £3,841,626! Almost 4 MILLION pounds!

Globally, Movember has generated £19,790,822 so far, and donations are still welcome!

See this page for the current tally

Here is a link to my donation page (with pictures!)

On Friday night (27th November) I went to the London Movember Gala Party in Battersea Evolution – and it was the best night I have had this year!

It was so much fun, the place was full of awesome friendly people, with such a great atmosphere, I had 2 great friends with me and it went on from 7pm to 3am!
There was an orange carpet outside (the colour of the movember site) – inside was funky 70’s music, 12 bars, photographers, cage dancers, breakdancers, raised dancefloor with camera men feeding footage to a big screen, mechanical bulls, dodgems, ping pong tournaments, poker, blackjack, roulette, goodiebags, and free photobooths (see a picture of me with 2 sexy “Mo Chicks” below!!

The London Gala Movember Party

We still want your help donating so click to sponsor Michael and Top Left Design for Movember!

Our postcards – illustrated by Tina!

Monday, November 30th, 2009

4 postcards by Tina Webster from Top Left Design

We wanted to show you a set of 4 postcards designed and illustrated by Tina Webster. Tina works for Top Left Design (as you may have noticed on our Team page) and is also a freelance illustrator. She graduated from Kingston University in 2008 and her work has been featured in the Guardian, Supersweet Magazine and on the London Architecture Diary website. She has also taken part in a number of exhibitions in central London including a submission for Shelter House of Cards exhibition for Amelia’s Magazine, and the Coningsby Gallery and 93 Feet East

Her illustration style is mainly collage and paper cuts. She works by painting paper and then creating textures with objects such as folks, tissue paper and sponges. This gives her illustration work as 3D feel. Her work is suited to book illustration, editorial and advertising. The designs above form part of a series of 4 postcards for Top Left Design. They feature animals which we also use on our Twitter page background.  The postcards will be sent to our clients and friends and the cards can be collected and then placed together to created one big image.

4 in a row postcards by Tina Webster

If you would like to find out what Tina is up to, you can Find Tina on Twitter!.

4 postcards for Top Left Design

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Top Left Design postcards by Tamlyn Hall

Here are the first 4 postcards we made for Top Left Design. See above!

Michael joins TLD and grows a moustache soon after

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

The open day we held was very successful, thanks to our ad on Sugar Jobs Job Board, and our chosen candidate Michael Hobson happening to apply at midnight, and the fact that Keren saw his response and was awake to write back to him inviting him in for the next day’s open day. Two weeks later, after the open day, a trial day, a Thomas International PPA test, and an intense grilling interview, Michael joined the TLD Team.

He has been doing brilliantly so far, and has participated actively with us on Twitter (follow him on www.twitter.com/tremulantdesign.
Oh, and you may as well follow us too!

One thing he can do which none of us girls at TLD could is participate in “Movember“.

Luckily our friend Alan Ogden from 3DPixel.net (who run our hosting servers) decided to use his own photo retouching skills on our faces, with impressive results.

See below – but really we still want your help donating so click on the image to sponsor Michael and Top Left Design for Movember!

sponsor Michael and Top Left Design for Movember! - it's a good cause! He is growing a  Tom Selleck style mustache and following all the rules!

Amy Day – 3 surprises

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

On the 14th of October, it was Amy’s last day in our London office.  We had 3 surprises organised for Amy. It was hard to keep these things a surprise, because she kept trying to guess. We called this day “Amy Day” and the preparations were extensive.

Surprise number 1: Marina Conway-Gordon from Recognise and Relieve came with her massage bed and each of us had a sports massage.  (Annoyingly, Amy had guessed Marina was coming over in advance – so no surprise there – Grrr!!!)

Surprise number 2: We went for tea at the Dorchester (Marina let it slip as she was leaving – she said “have fun at the Dorchester” and then Amy burst out laughing as Surprise number 1 – Marina – gave away Surprise number 2! Not that she meant to. Aargh!)

Surprise number 3: We had Tamsin Fox-Davies come over with a new goal-setting game called The Wish – which we all played together. At least this surprise was not one that Amy expected.

Top Left Design in a Photo Booth

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

We went out on Saturday night last weekend as a final night out to see Amy off before she goes to South Africa. Don’t worry, she isnt leaving Top Left Design, she is just leaving London! So, she will be working from South Africa. Cargo in Shoreditch, London – (www.cargo-london.com) and this is a picture of all of us in the photo booth. It shows up HERE a lot BIGGER than it does if you hold the pictures in your hand. Well, we do hope you like it!

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TLD Xmas begins

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Xmas at Top Left Design

We have already had our official Xmas Party!
This is not the ONLY celebration we have planned, but it’s the “formal dinner” one where we all went out for our Xmas meal, pulled some crackers, ate, drank, and wore hats.

We did a joint party with our friends from The Well Studio and Pilot Bean and there were approx 20 people there.
From Top Left Design there were 5 of us – Nick our intern, Keren, Amy, Anine and Gemma.
We went to the Hoxton Bar & Grill on Great Eastern Street, and we had a full three course meal. I must say, there was amazing selection of wine and dessert there.

You may be wondering – “Why did that have their Xmas party in November?”
The reason is that Amy is off to South Africa quite early in June and because Dave Partrick is off on holiday this weekend, we really didn’t have a choice!

We also had Christmas Crackers with mini games inside and a special Xmas quiz. The prize for the quiz was a bottle of Veuve Cliquot Champagne and it was won by Lee and Pete from The Well Studio.
The questions were thought up by the 3 company directors – Keren, Dave (from the Well Studio) and John (from Pilot Bean)
Needless to say, Keren, Dave and John didnt participate in the quiz as that wouldn’t be fair, we knew all the answers already!

What is a Favicon?
What does AJAX stand for? (funniest answer: Amazing Jammy Aphrodisiac Xylophones)
What does CMYK stand for?
What does Kbps stand for?
What is a “soft bounce” (funniest answer: it’s a squidgier version of a hard bounce)
How many pixels are there in an inch? (Funniest answer: “10,0000”)
Who got kicked out of Strictly Come Dancing last week?
How old is Dave Patrick?
What are the names of the 3 companies here?
How many engaged couples are there here?

We wouldn’t mind opening the TLD Xmas Quiz out to all of you (Ok, it’s the TLD, WS, and PB Xmas Quiz if you want the long name)

Some of the questions, such as engaged couples at our Xmas table and Dave’s age, are of no relevance to you readers unless you were there – so instead, here is the quick quiz. Submit us your answers by email and then you too could win Veuve Cliquot Champagne or another equally generous prize.

So, your questions are:

  1. What is a Favicon?
  2. What does AJAX stand for? What does CMYK stand for?
  3. What does Kbps stand for?
  4. What is a “soft bounce”
  5. How many pixels are there in an inch?

Get back soon with your answers!

Tower 42/Vertigo 42 – for TLD birthday!

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

Hi All,

Top Left Design turned 2 as a limited company in August. (Although of course it existed in it’s previous guise since 2002 – ages ago!

Triple celebrations began on the 1st August, with cupcakes at the office, and then at the end of August there is a spa day planned! But now it’s the middle of August.

So tonight we are going to Vertigo 42, which is in Tower 42, in the City of London! If you have never been there, we urge you to try it. Its a top floor bar which shows panoramic views of the city – worth a visit at least once! We will take some pics and maybe post them here on this blog!

Champagne Bar at Vertigo 42 - where TLD go celebrating

Champagne Bar at Vertigo 42 - where TLD go celebrating