I'm in love with sunsets

When we have sunsets like this, I just want to stay outside breathing the cold air in my lungs. I'm always stunned with how beautiful nature is when I go for a walk alone.

Day walk

On a lovely little field next to my house... It's a bit nippy out so wrap up!

What's it worth?

My latest university project has given me a quote. The quote is 'What's it worth?' We have to interperet this and produce something/anything which we see relevant to the quote.

I started thinking about how different things are worth different amounts to different people. I tried to think of things that we don't really value or even know how to value and settled with the human body. How can you put a price on human body parts that make us who we are?

After a lot of thought and discussion (and crying my eyes out at the movie '7 Pounds' starring Will Smith) I decided to do my piece on how much organs are worth. Then my boyfriend mentioned the black market.

After a lot of research I finally made the decision to do my piece on how much human body organs are worth on the black market. And, it's surprisingly very interesting but also sad and worrying.

The black market is simply an illegal 'underground' market in which organisations buy and sell human organs to those that need them. However, this isn't just about taking a kidney from someone who is deceased, oh no no, this is about an ongoing market for taking organs from living donors, and not always by the choice of the individual. Some people in under developed countries are kidnapped, drugged and literally cut open and left to die in some cases. It is horrendous.

There's actually a village in an underdeveloped country known as 'The Kidney Village' because almost every man had sold his kidney for money to provide for their family. Can you actually believe it? It sounds crazy but goes on in literally every country in the world.

Anyway, if you care to know how much your body on the black market is worth, take a look below at a poster info graphics piece I've created on the topic. 

I hope you find it as interesting as I did learning about it.

Impressive Chalk Artist

In the centre of Lincoln today is a chalk artist. I had to share his work as it's fantastic. Unfortunately, I don't know his name but here are some photos I took....

Dissertation Writing...

Name ten male graphic designers.... fairly easy right? Now try naming ten female graphic designers.... a lot harder isn't it?

So, I'm writing my dissertation. Whilst some people are like 'ohh I really can't be bothered, I hate writing essays'- I'm actually particularly driven, especially because my chosen subject is something I'm passionate about and have a clear interest in... 'Inspirational women in design' (definitely bringing out my inner feminist).

I'm asking why women are not as recognised in the design industry as men are, particularly in Graphic design. Is it because there are social constraints? Are women still expected to do 'womanly' jobs or even to still stay at home being the homemaker whilst the men are out being the breadwinner? Are there other underlying reasons?

I want to question how women have contributed to design and why they are now emerging and becoming more recognised now more than ever.

I have ongoing research which seems to tell me something new every time I sit down and study. I also have a new found respect for women like Ellen Lupton, Laurie Haycock Makela, and also women who have wrote about such a particular issue that nobody seems to be addressing. I think it's incredibly important to question why the role of women in graphic design is consistently marginalised or overlooked.

By April I will have finished my dissertation and it should hopefully be available to access if any of you are interested in such issues and topics. I better get back to working now...

Updated website

http://ruthdandilly.com/  ch-ch-ch-ch-check it out !!

Old gems

These photos were taken in San Francisco a few years ago on a trip. I came across them on my laptop and just had to share them.

Make me believe

Here's a link to another song that I have covered by Kina Grannis.

Watch it here.

I hope I've done it justice. It's a hard song to sing.

Films to Watch in 2012

So I set myself a little challenge of 'Films to Watch in 2012'. I'm definitely a Romantic Comedy type of girl but I wanted to broaden my knowledge of great films that everybody raves about.

So, here is my list of films to watch in 2012. Let me know if you think there are any more 'Classics' or maybe some that you recommend?

(May I say I have seen some of the LOTR, Harry Potter, James Bonds and Star Wars but I wish to watch them again in order...(before some people say 'OMG YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HARRY POTTER??!!!'))

New Years Resolutions

I thought I better write these down, or publish them on here or something to make sure that I actually commit in some way!

A new year is the opportunity to try something new, to motivate yourself, to start things and do things that you otherwise might not have done.

So here are my new years resolutions. I hope this year will continue to be as great as it started.

Happy New Year!

Peter Rabbit Mug

I am in love with my new Peter Rabbit mug. How cute?!

And my lovely chicken mug :)