Last friday, while Sue enjoyed her birthday at home, Nathan and I took a trip to our old stomping ground at BIAD for our second presentation since graduating. This time we were invited to talk to students on the professional practice module. We felt all prepared, and were actually looking forward to it, until we arrived and were told that the presentation would be made in what we think is the uni’s largest lecture theatre, as apposed to the average-sized classroom we had expected. Nonetheless, with rather sweaty palms, we went ahead with our plan and it seemed to go down well. We spoke about the hurdles that we have overcome as a company since starting, and what to expect as a newby to the industry. Nath had a course to run off to at lunch, which left me all alone for the afternoon’s question and answer session. I was handed a bunch of questions scribbled on scraps of paper, but I didn’t have nearly enough time to answer them all, so I have picked out a few of the unanswered questions bewlow: Q: SMILE, why did you start your own company straight away after leaving university? A: With the current financial climate, it was clear to us that competition for any jobs in our sector would be very high, so with nothing to loose we jumped head first into industry. We had worked together on university and commercial briefs while studying, and we knew we had a very special working relationship, so it seemed the natural progression was to continue with SMILE, and we’re glad we took that risk!! Q: Are you all workaholics? A: In a sense yes, we all love what we do, and that is the driving force behind SMILE, but at the same time we know how to have fun, and how to let our hair down. Hence the reason why we have recently acquired a studio pool table!! Q: What is your greatest weakness? A: I was dying to answer this question, but unfortunately we ran out of time. My biggest weakness, and fear is public speaking. 12 months ago I would have actively avoided any kind of public speaking, let alone presenting in front of a fairly full lecture theatre. But I am living proof that it can be done. I still get butterflies at the thought of public speaking, but with every experience it is getting better, so my advice to any students feeling the same way is have a go, you might be pleasantly surprised!!

Last friday, while Sue enjoyed her birthday at home, Nathan and I took a trip to our old stomping ground at BIAD for our second presentation since graduating. This time we were invited to talk to students on the professional practice module.

We felt all prepared, and were actually looking forward to it, until we arrived and were told that the presentation would be made in what we think is the uni’s largest lecture theatre, as apposed to the average-sized classroom we had expected.

Nonetheless, with rather sweaty palms, we went ahead with our plan and it seemed to go down well. We spoke about the hurdles that we have overcome as a company since starting, and what to expect as a newby to the industry.

Nath had a course to run off to at lunch, which left me all alone for the afternoon’s question and answer session. I was handed a bunch of questions scribbled on scraps of paper, but I didn’t have nearly enough time to answer them all, so I have picked out a few of the unanswered questions bewlow:

Q: SMILE, why did you start your own company straight away after leaving university?

A: With the current financial climate, it was clear to us that competition for any jobs in our sector would be very high, so with nothing to loose we jumped head first into industry. We had worked together on university and commercial briefs while studying, and we knew we had a very special working relationship, so it seemed the natural progression was to continue with SMILE, and we’re glad we took that risk!!

Q: Are you all workaholics?

A: In a sense yes, we all love what we do, and that is the driving force behind SMILE, but at the same time we know how to have fun, and how to let our hair down. Hence the reason why we have recently acquired a studio pool table!!

Q: What is your greatest weakness?

A: I was dying to answer this question, but unfortunately we ran out of time. My biggest weakness, and fear is public speaking. 12 months ago I would have actively avoided any kind of public speaking, let alone presenting in front of a fairly full lecture theatre. But I am living proof that it can be done. I still get butterflies at the thought of public speaking, but with every experience it is getting better, so my advice to any students feeling the same way is have a go, you might be pleasantly surprised!!

CiB shop stock - new prints!

Nathan’s already mentioned this I think, but I thought I’d remind you that there are a few new additions to the SMILE wall at the CiB shop in the Bullring.

I’m selling some of the posters that were featured on the blog not too long ago. So, if you like the look, pop down for a nosey! £45 each (framed).

SMILE in the Created in Birmingham shop

We are proud to say that we are now displaying and selling some of our work in the UK’s busiest shopping centre: The Bullring. With an annual draw of around 40 million shoppers a year, we’re suitably excited.

Here’s a little bit of history for those of you that don’t know the whole story…

Created in Birmingham was started as a blog to link up Birmingham’s artistic and creative communities. Since then, it has won a 2008 weblog award and a Media Guardian Innovation Award for Best Independent Blog.

Then all of a sudden Created in Birmingham announced that it was to make the jump from a virtual space to a physical one. Chris Unitt (owner of Created in Birmingham) asked us to curate a section of wall in the new shop - we jumped at the chance.

We like to show you not just the final outcome, but some behind the scenes photos - so we’ve put together a little collection for your viewing pleasure.

So huge thanks are in order to Chris Unitt (above) who has made this happen for us.

Our prints have been well received and we’re starting to see some new people talking about us online.

Smile have curated part of the wall on the right hand side as you walk in, and I love it. It’s typographical loveliness - bold and Brummie.
Shona McQuillan
Just been to the CIB shop and bought ‘The forgotten City’ print. Nice work @SmileUpdate great typography!
RobertBloxham
Really impressed by wearesmile.com in the #cibshop, now just trying to work out which one to buy :)
Andy Higgs
Popped into the #cibshop earlier. Great stuff. I especially enjoyed the lovely type works courtesy of @smileupdate
Adam Williams

So come on down to the shop, it’s in the Birmingham Bullring on the Debenhams half, opposite the Apple store and H&M. Let us know what you think! We’ll post up details on the prints for sale in the coming days.

Created in Birmingham pt. 53!!

A sneak peak of one of the pieces going to be displayed at the Created in birmingham shop. It’s getting close to opening day now and we are totally ready *wipes sweat off brow.

It’s really exciting seeing it come together, we’ve got some great things to display so make sure you pop on down! (opens this friday)

The Coffee Table: Hand drawn scripts and stock inventory

Not much to show ON the table this week, but let me reassure you - there’s some cool stuff going on here. There’s some work that I cannot wait to get printed. It’s been fairly photo/typo-graphic here the last few weeks and everything is coming together.

I’ve been getting back to basics. Reading lots, learning new things and devising new theories. I’ve been looking at scripts and trying my hand at them.

We’re staring to get some very good work in for our selection at the Created in Birmingham shop. If you want in, then you need to move fast. Email us quick.

And on an entirely unrelated note, I visited my mum this week - who gave me the coolest memory stick ever. Its a surgeon who’s head you have to rip off to access your data.