Michael Marks
  • 15/11/16 Uncategorized , Writing # ,

    What’s the Cliché that all the sheep say?

    You may have noticed, (as mentioned in my post The Website Cliché Drinking Game) when you’re browsing websites, there are three phrases that are used more than any others. They are:

    “We pride ourselves on…”
    “We have a proven track record.”
    “We have a passion for…”

    You’ve probably seen these clichés so many times that they’ve lost any actual meaning. They’ve been so overused that the original thought behind them has been lost – like leftovers that have been so reheated that the original flavour is no longer discernible.

    But ask yourself, did these phrases ever have any actual meaning? Any actual relevance to you and me? Well, let’s break them down: Continue reading

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    What’s the Cliché that all the sheep say?
  • 09/11/16 Writing

    The Website Cliché Drinking Game

    Have you noticed a strange sense of déjà vue when you’re visiting websites? That niggling sense that you’ve been there before? That you’ve read the website before – even if your browsing history assures you it’s your first visit?

    Don’t worry. It’s not a glitch in the Matrix and you’re not experiencing a temporal loop. It’s simply that a lot of websites rely on clichés and lazy writing. It just feels like you’ve been there before because the writer has fallen back on a bunch of meaningless, time-worn phrases. Continue reading

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    The Website Cliché Drinking Game
  • 15/01/15 Steve Jobs , Tutorial , Writing

    From the brain to the page in three steps.

    Where does an illustration begin?
    For me, it starts with an image in my head; the finished image, hovering beautifully in my mind’s eye. Then it’s just a simple matter of translating the incandescent glory of that ideal image, through my hands, via pen and mouse, to become solid – or digital – reality. Easy! Continue reading

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    From the brain to the page in three steps.
  • 15/01/15 Design , Illustration

    Danny the (trainee) Demon part 2

    What has gone before, on Danny the [trainee] demon…
    In my previous post,  I showed you the storyboard, sketch and finished image of  a selected spread from ‘Danny the [trainee] demon’, a children’s book I wrote and illustrated a year or two ago. In this post I’ll be showing you the same process with a spread from further on in the book. Why? Well, as another helpful example of how how my ideas make the tortuous journey from my brain to glorious completion. As I’ve stated previously, this is how the process works for me – but I hope you also find it useful, yet entertaining.
    Continue reading

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    Danny the (trainee) Demon part 2
  • 15/01/15 Illustration , iPad , Star Trek

    What my white iPad says about me. And you.

    It seems like a small difference, whether your iPad or iPhone is black or white.

    Surely the content is what really matters? All those apps you download, all that browsing, tweeting and facebook posting you do – it doesn’t make any difference if you do them from a white device or a black device. Does it? Actually, yes.

    What you actually look at is between you and your mobile device. However, the colour of that mobile device is what the rest of the world sees. And your choice of colour says something to them – and something about you.
    Continue reading

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    What my white iPad says about me. And you.
  • 13/01/15 iPhone , Star Trek

    Billy the puppy has it all figured out

    I’ve come to the conclusion that my new puppy has got it all figured out.

    Every day Billy gets up, stretches, shakes out his fur, ambles over to his food bowl and eats what’s in there.

    He doesn’t wash, doesn’t clean his teeth. Doesn’t choose clothes or even care what the weather is. He doesn’t check Facebook every half hour or get excited about the next iPad launch.
    Continue reading

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    Billy the puppy has it all figured out
  • 11/01/15 Star Trek , Steve Jobs , Writing

    Hello world!

    Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging! Continue reading

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    Hello world!
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