Paper clip

Background
Designers are expected to design their own Christmas cards. Every year it gets harder and harder to think of new ideas, especially when clients ask you to think of ideas for them too. Consequently it's usually a last minute panic. Or you just cop out and buy a bunch from some card shop.

Brief
Design yourself yet another Christmas card.

Solution
Whilst fiddling with a metal paper clip, I noticed that in the process of straightening it into a three inch long piece of wire (this is how I often spend my time when I should be doing something better) there was a stage at which it resembled the shape of a Christmas tree. So I drew a green paper clip and printed it actual size, bang in the middle of the A5 white cover. For the inside, I drew a partially unfolded 'tree-shaped' version, positioned it centrally on the right-hand page, then added the brilliant copyline 'Happy Christmas' underneath.

Result
I liked it and that's all that counts. Thought about trying to sell the idea to a company such as Rymans... but still haven't got around to it.

Spotter

Background
Hospitals are soft targets for thieves. With so many people coming and going, it's easy to just walk in, put on a white coat and walk out with stolen wallets, televisions, computers or even hugely expensive hi-tech items such as x-ray machines. Hospital car parks are prime targets too. Because staff are busy and finances tight, it's virtually impossible to impose appropriate levels of security. University Hospital Birmingham decided to tackle the problem by launching an 'in-house' campaign.

Brief
Create a campaign identity and a few posters to get staff to wear their identity badges at all times when on duty and to get everyone (staff, patients and visitors) to look out for anything 'shifty'. If you spot anything suspicious, alert a member of staff or call the security hotline. Oh, and make it cheap because we have a very limited budget.

Solution
'The Spotter Campaign'. Positioning strapline: 'Spot-on hospital security'. Invented a central cartoon character named 'Spotter' who wore glasses and was obviously suffering from measles. Used just two colours throughout: red and black. Produced three posters. The first had the headline 'Spot the difference' with the sub-head 'Spot the badge' and featured a couple of white-coated doctors, one with his badge and the other without. The second, 'Spot the suspect' showing a shifty character in a white coat clutching a pile of loot. The third, 'Spot the invitation to car thieves' showing a car in a car park with loads of goodies on the back seat. All very obvious and simple but got the message across. Subsidiary body copy was put at the bottom of the posters inside a 'Spotter' speech bubble. Drew everything myself and, as most of the type was hand-drawn in Spotter's speech bubbles, costs were kept to a minimum.

Result
Apparently it was a huge success and crime figures dropped. Hardly made any money (so what's new?!) but gained much personal satisfaction.