Zambia Space Academy c1960

From 1960-1969 Zambia had a space program with ambitions of beating the US and Russia in the race to the moon.  A retired school teacher set up facilities on Great North Road near the capital Lusaka.  Training exercises, designed to simulate the effects of space travel, included disco-era calisthenics and rolling its 'Afronauts' down a hill in a 55-gallon drum.

The plan was to send a young cadette to the moon with two trained but uncooperative cats.  If that trip went well there was to be a follow up mission to Mars involving 12 Afronauts and ten cats.  The Space Academy submitted for but did not receive $7,000,000 in funding from the Zambian government and another $1.7 billion from the UN.

The Afronauts were championed by Captain Matha Mwamba, a 17 year old girl.  However, Mwamba's parents pulled her out of the Academy when they discovered she was pregnant. "They won't concentrate on space flight," says the Academy's director, "there's too much love-making when they should be studying the moon."

The unofficial "Zambia National Science, Space Research and Philosophy Academy" had a tiny aluminum and copper rocket which they claimed was ready to be blasted into space.  In addition the Academy's scientific pursuits, the program had an evangelical objective:  to make Zambia "controllers of the Seventh Heaven Interstellar space."

There are BBC newsreels and newspaper clippings which document this remarkable program.  Their 're-discovery' by the InHouse/OneWay design team launched this whimsical resurrection of the 'Afronauts.'  Be a part of history with your very own Zambia Space Academy t-shirt!

AFRONAUTS shirts are on sale now at One Way Zambia outlets (contact one of us or check in at the Manda Hill Kiosk) - Adult sizes S-2XL Heather Gray + black "ringer" tee AND (shown above) white + black.  

Tracking the Orange Buffaloes

InHouse has been in the unique position of being able to 'track' Zambia's elusive Orange Buffalo.

From the beginning InHouse has been working hard to carry on with its "communicating science to the public" mission while still taking on purely creative and purely commercial projects (check out THIS fun project!).  In Zambia, Inhouse is very involved in health communications campaigns -- creating brochures, posters, logos, etc, for international and local projects to not only 'brand' their campaigns but more importantly, to (1) arm community health workers in with the most up to date and correct information and (2) provide them with effective ways to get that communication to the people who need it most.

The Orange Buffaloes Project was done in collaboration with a few international NGOs started years ago with a straightforward logo design...the logo went onto shirts, hats and smocks and brochures....The latest iteration of this project was the branding of bicycles in collaborations with Akros and PATH through World Bicycle Relief, whose line of specially-designed and super-sturdy bikes is called the "Buffalo Bicycle." (Hence, the Orange Buffalo Project!)  

InHouse is lucky to be partnering again with Akros Global Health to document their most excellent work in the field and was brought on at this *nearly final* stage of the Orange Buffalo Project.  The last stage will be a follow up -- once the Orange Buffaloes have seen some rough days on the road and been scraped and skuffed and are all tired out from their hard work in rural Zambia.  For now -- here are some snaps from "the maternity ward" as WBRs Brian Moonga calls his assembly floor.

14 guys (all men today) staff the 'ward' and give life to 120 bicycles a day.

And here they are, all ready for the first distribution.  In all over 1,100 Orange Buffaloes will be 'released' into the wild.

These community health workers now have a new way to *physically* get InHouse-designed materials out into the community!  (Win-Win and pats on our back.)

Here is the link back to the Akros website -- Photos by InHouse. 

SPECIAL ISSUE: August's SPORT FISHING magaine

Special Issue: JULY's SUNSET

Special Issue: JUNE Traveler special

SPECIAL ISSUE: May Feature

Barista Magazine was perhaps too obvious a choice for May's Special Issue given InHouse's relationship to the coffee, coffee shops, coffee growers, barista judging, barista training, etc.  That said, it's also appropriate and timely (having just seen the World Barista Championship come and go in the month of June) so off we go to the land of coffee.

Barista Magazine's design/layout went under the knife pretty recently providing yet another fascinating study topic.  What trends were they following? What standards are they setting now? What specific choices did they make with their remodel with regard to ditching design elements (or hanging onto them)?  The new look was overdue -- they went 7 full years with the same masthead and cover design. It will be interesting to see how this cover design evolves.

For these covers, two black and white photos from Zambia's Barista Championship were chosen. We've presented two different layouts.  These options would give an editorial board two very different covers to choose to publish.  And, for Barista magazine, either would be a 'black and white' first.

Barista Magazine's inside is done by a fabulous and highly specialized 'industry' design shop in Portland, Oregon (Pail Design). If you ever get a chance to peak INSIDE this publication, it's a feast for the eyes and well worth tracking down a current and back issues as it's chock full of fascinating information -- all beautifully and creatively presented.

Maybe what we really need to do is to start an AFRICAN BARISTA Magazine?  Oh dear...what fun trouble are we going to get into next?

InHouse is proud to have contributed photos from Zambia's Barista Competition to Barista Magazine's online blog and their coverage of competitors in the World Barista Championship held in Melbourne, Australia at the end of May.

SPECIAL ISSUE: April Feature

"Triathlete" has been in the works for a while.  As a study project, it was put on hold as we tended to clients and met other deadlines.  BUSY IS GOOD!  The particulars for this project are interesting from many technical perspectives:  their choice of fonts (they use a lot of different and fairly obvious fonts but alter them all significantly), the use of photography (most of their cover photos are action shots and have several layers with the masthead sandwiched in between), and mixing colours.  "Triathlete" also does not have a single set of fonts they use from issue to issue -- they really change things up from month to month; issues share the masthead (which is very oddly positioned on the page and creeps over both the right and left printed borders) and little else.

We considered a dozen photos and even did a pool photo shoot.  The pool shoot was great fun but the results were disappointing:  the pool chemicals were not cooperating (it was just cloudy enough to make the photos not quite clear) and quite frankly, our underwater camera is not meant for this use and the quality of the photos were disappointing when they were made life-size.

I'll be highlighting some new partner companies (and their services) in the coming weeks as well as catching up on Special Issues for May and June!  Thanks for insisting on finally seeing our SPECIAL ISSUE April Feature. 

SPECIAL ISSUE: March Feature

This is the third installment of our SPECIAL ISSUE project.  As mentioned previously, we hope to carry on with a new magazine cover 'study' each month.  The topic must be timely and unique and of course, it has to be a challenge!  The challenge this month was a mix of planning, logistics and styling.

The options for this cover were limited.  I had decided in advance that I wanted a cake....but it was the cake we were eating, not the cake I was making for a photoshoot.  For this cover-photo, the cake was cut and ready to be served to hungry guests...the lighting was rotten and the cake's middle ice cream layer was threatening to melt. In short, there was not time for styling or planning the 'shot' needed except to make sure there was something that could be used for this purpose. I had about 4 minutes and only one chance and time to dash off a few quick shots of the cake uncut, cut, and some of the slice, the cake and the slice....you get the picture. Photojournalism meets food-styling.

The basic layout was already set (based on the cover studies) and I wanted a quick turnaround and the pressure of a deadline.  The cake was devoured immediately after the photos were taken but for a few chocolately crumbs; the chance to re-shoot has passed.  From a dozen or so images this one worked the best.  Others were better photos but with the layout, this was the most suitable.

For any photoshoot it is so important to have the final product in mind.  If the final product is not yet known, you really have to be sure to cover your bases:  get landscape and portrait shots that you love, pay attention to details, and commit to using photos in their most 'natural' state.  Photoshop can do magic but the best photos are ones that are very carefully composed, where the photographer has done everything with the camera to get it press ready with just a few touchups - or ideally, none at all.

The photographer must pay attention to all the technical details as well as the aesthetic.  They must compose an image that draws attention away from the things they can't change. This is as true for a cake as it is for a person....it's easier to sweep up a stray crumb (for the cake) or brush a few unruly hairs (for the person) than is it so try to 'clean up' a messy photo after the fact.  And truth be told, if I've extensively photoshopped an image of my own, I rarely like the final product.  Technically it could look just fine but as the photographer I'll know the things that were corrected, covered up, wiped away... changed.

I remain committed to the advice given by photographer Michael Wang: take a good photo....don't crop, don't photoshop...just take a good photo.  And in his memory, I carry on.  I also can't leave things well enough alone, so I went back to the remaining slices this morning and put together this 'staged' and  'styled' version of  the same magazine.  Same project but a totally different challenge.

Open Book

A quick project...

SPECIAL ISSUE: February Feature

 Here is the second installment of our SPECAL ISSUE.  For 2013, InHouse plans to put together a new magazine cover each month. The idea behind this project is to set aside some time for study.  The choices for images, font, masthead, colours, layout, formatting, etc are far from arbitrary.  And for a magazine cover -- as opposed to a one-off poster or brochure -- these elements must be consistent from issue to issue, no matter the topic.  As with many design projects, a magazine layout 'works' when the reader recognizes the magazine (and all it's familiar elements) but actually notices the story.  The magazine needs to be familiar enough to keep readers/customers buying every month but also different enough so the reader/customer knows that it's a new, exciting issue sitting on the store shelf for them.

(The first SPECIAL ISSUE)

Oh, Boy. (7) A Portrait Study in B&W

These portraits are far from the traditional portrait style.  So far in fact, that they are more 'studies' than anything.  I'm feeling particularly sentimental about being a parent lately and wanted to capture and share a few moments in my young son's life. He was out playing with a tiny remote control boat he bought himself with his 'christmas money.'

This study shows a style of photography I love to do and recently returned to.  

New Partnership: One Way + InHouse

In order to provide better, more comprehensive service to InHouse clients in Zambia, InHouse Design Studio proudly announces a new business relationship with "One Way Zambia."  Together with Inhouse, One Way can provide clients with high quality corporate branding products (everything from key chains to uniforms) in addition to digital designs, photography and printer-ready advertisements.

One Way is working hard on behalf of it's clients to make sure that 100% of the product they deliver to retail customers (at their Woodlands Shopping Centre shop, the Duty-Free shop at the KK International Airport, and the Mosi Kiosk at the Manda Hill Shopping Centre) and custom-corporate clients is of the highest quality and delivered in a timely manner.

Visit the One Way shop in Woodlands (upstairs from the Blue Moon Cafe) to see their products first hand.

Happy Holidays from InHouse Design Studio

HIGHLIGHT: Documentary and Narrative Photography

One of the core photography activities of InHouse Design Studio is documentary photography.  In Zambia this means working in two very different arenas: Non-Governmental Organisations/Civil Service Organisations (NGO/CSOs) (in co-operation with government) and local businesses.  

Private Companies

For local businesses, having an image library can mean better advertising and better relationship with customers and investors.  For example, an international bank hired InHouse Design to take client portraits.  The photos showed small business owners at work with their small-business loan projects:  a hairdresser, charcol seller, a vegetable stall, etc.  The bank used the portraits to decorate their offices but also to celebrate and ‘show off’ the success of the business owners...success facilitated by them.  

Alternatively, an image library can tell the story of their product, as with the case of “Alive and Kicking” where a factory visit showed off just what goes into turning a cow-hide into a football.  While their doors are open for the general public to schedule a tour, few people actually have the time and energy to get down there during business hours and see for themselves.  

The collection of photos from “Alive and Kicking” can be accessed night and day from any desk around the world.  A client sitting in their cabin on Kodiak Island can see and learn just as easily as someone in an Adelaide high-rise.  It’s the smell-vision they’re missing out on....but maybe missing the odour of the tannery where the football workshop is co-located with in the heat of summer isn’t such a bad thing!

(Links for Alive and Kicking:
The Making of a Football
The Alive and Kicking Prequel)

Alternatively, InHouse takes assignments to organise for advertisements and promotional materials -- more commercial photography than narrative portraiture than documentary photography.  I'll make an argument another day for "Lunch Portraiture."  Until then....

If you weren't hungry before...you are halfway out the door to the Blue Moon Cafe, right?

NGOs/CSOs  

InHouse has worked with a number of international and local health-sector NGOs (e.g. Malaria Consortium, PATH/MACEPA, Broadreach Health Care, Roll Back Malaria Health Communications Partnership (HCP) and most recently Akros Research) to create image libraries and record field work activities. It’s part of our mission to “communicate science to the public.” With a background in arts, science and education I feel uniquely qualified for this mission. Each assignment is different but the general idea is to collect a library of images either for a specific project (e.g. photos that will be used directly or used for creating artwork for a specific project -- a flip chart, poster, brochure or presentation) or to build a collection of photos that can be used for future projects.   These might be more generic images, i.e., photos of where the field work generally takes place (e.g. rural villages in Eastern Province, urban clinics in the Livingstone community, or the hospitals right in Lusaka.) They could be images of specific events (e.g. a community health fair, a meeting of chiefs, a concert or (for malaria) a bednet distribution.  When an NGO hires InHouse Design Studio for such work, the NGO ‘owns’ the photos and can use when and how they see fit.  

Community Health worker field training for Malaria Control/Test and Treat

Using quality images to tell your “story” can really serve you well by highlighting the work you do and to better advertise yourself to your donors and to the community.  A deep image reference library can make executing communications campaigns that much easier and more efficient.  Instead of spending two hours Googling “Images: Southern Province, Zambia, village, water supply”  when you are on a deadline and coming up empty-handed, you can refer back to your organisation’s own image library and be certain of not only being able to find the ‘right’ image from your own project, but also bypass any possible copyright infringement issues.

Now open in Woodlands....ONE WAY!

* Men's Women's & Children's Apparel * 

* Exclusive Mosi Gear * Perfect for Gifts * 

* Custom Embroidery & Screen Printing * 

* Corporate Branding *

100% Made in Africa Using Biodegradable Inks

ONE WAY Zambia has been open at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for a while now, selling high quality and super cool T-shirts, caps and all kinds of fun stuff.  They recently launched a line of exclusive MOSI gear and customers have demanded better access to these great, fun products.  Lots of folks were crying to get their hands on these designs, claiming they were for 'gifts' but I've spotted more than a few new Mosi shirts and cool beaded caps around town ... maybe they are just testing them out until they decide to give them away?  

Great for yourself and great for gifts, the line of products at the ONE WAY shops is now available in TWO new retail outlets (in addition to the airport.)  You can find them at the new Mosi Kiosk at the Manda Hill shopping centre and you'll also find a brand-new, fully-stocked retail shop at the Woodlands Mall -- just head up the stairs by the Blue Moon Cafe and once you're up, hang a left and get your pocketbook ready. You won't be disappointed.

Back to School. Back to Work

An example of the 'in-camera' potential with the new photography equipment.
Behind every good photo is a good photographer, but having new equipment sure makes it fun!

As we turn the calendar pages, September jumps out as a month of new beginnings, most notably the return to the classroom for all our favourite young people.  At InHouse Design Studio, September is the time for exploring new opportunities, starting new projects and also...heading back to the classroom.  Armed with a spectacular new camera kit, I'll be participating in a number of different photography workshops, technical skills instructional classes, and some exciting professional projects.

On the design side, our studio is on the verge of offereing new services.  The program that I have been putting off mastering (for no good reason) is Dreamweaver.  Diving into Dreamweaver -- a visual design-driven and code-supported program -- will enable InHouse to add website design to our client portfolio.  In the coming weeks, look for our own new website and be ready to sign up for your own!

Introducing TAONGA: Handmade in Zambia

Sabangwa with her little one, shown wearing the girls' sun bonnet.

Alice, modelling one of her hats

InHouse Design proudly introduces TAONGA, Zambian’s newest creative studio featuring the work of two talented Zambian seamstresses, Sabangwa and Alice.  They are launching their business with sales at this month’s Dutch Reformed Market in Kabulonga.  

Taonga is starting smart and small with three sweet and stylish designs:  sun bonnets, bucket hats and embroidered dresses for the littlest members of your family.  They are using locally procured chitenge and materials for all of their designs. They can take special orders but have a variety of ‘stock on hand’ for you to pick the perfect design that suits your and your little ones’ style.

Special Note: “Taonga” has several meanings:  in ciNyanja it means ‘thanks’ and in the Maori tradition of New Zealand a taonga is a special or treasured object. We wish them the best of luck in their new business venture!  Keep and eye out for new designs and fresh ideas from these wonderful hard-working ladies.  

The Adventures of Tintin in Zambia!

InHouse Design Studio is proud to add this novelty poster to our collection of independent design projects as a tribute to our favourite cartoon character.

To give you a bit of context, Nyami-Nyami is the river god of the mighty Zambezi that watches over Lake Kariba and controls life in and on the river.  The Lake was formed in 1956 when a huge dam was built on the river which separates Zambia and Zimbabwe. There are many Tintin-worthy stories from the construction project -- mysterious accidents, two 'thousand year' flood events that destroyed much infrastructure, the relocation of people and animals that lived in the now-flooded areas that now make up Lake Kariba, and of course the ongoing separation of Nyami-Nyami from his wife by the dam.  Wikipedia has the full baTonga legend of Nyami-Nyami, which certainly would make for a good book-length project in and of itself.  We'll tuck that idea away for another day.

The Knife Edge Bridge spans the Zambezi River directly across from Victoria Falls over the boiling pot of the river gorge's Eastern Cataract.  During the rainy season the mist from the falls rains upwards ferociously and even a quick dash through the cloud will leave you soaked through in a matter of seconds. We're sure we've seen these fearless crime-fighting friends race across the bridge and disappear into the mist.

Very Special notice:  Blistering Barnacles! Intellectual property rights of course prohibit distribution of this poster!

Blue Moon

Dailass Nalwamba, Zambia's 2012 Barista Champion.

Zambia's first and only American-style cafe, the Blue Moon, is an ongoing source of pride for InHouse Design which developed the Blue Moon brand.  This week the Cafe is hosting a number of different TV crews as they document Dailass and Miariam's preparations for the World Barista Championship (and Gourmet Coffee Expo) in Vienna, Austria.  Dailess competed in the Africa Championship in February, placing 3rd and has high hopes for her European debut.  Here are a few photos from the tasting and coaching yesterday.

  Dailess presenting to the three sitting judges (this judge refused to be ON camera, opting instead to stay behind the lens!)

For the competition the baristas have 15 minutes to prepare and present their espresso (4 shots), 8 cappucinos, and 4 specialty drinks.  While preparing the drinks they must explain to the judges what they have prepared and the tastes they should be evaluating.  Dailess is bringing a 100% Arabica from Munali farms and Marika's Gourmet Zambian Coffee Roaster which has strong lemon notes and a hint of dark chocolate.  As explained by a certified judge from Marika's Coffee, the barista is evaluated for their preparation, explanation and knowledge of their coffee (amongst other things).  If the judge tasted cherry and caramel it means the barista has missed the mark.

The specialty drink Zambia's star barista is presenting is an iced espresso with macadamia nut milk sweetened with the tiniest bit of honey.  Two agricultural products of Zambia are, you guessed it, macadamia nuts and honey.  It's a lovely and refreshing drink and is of course presented beautifully in a hand blown glass and crushed ice.  (See some photos from our visit to Cilla's Macadamia Nut farm!)

 

 Dailess doing her post-presentation interview for MUVI TV.  Tomorrow she'll practice again in front of the ZNBC crew for the news and for "Kwacha Good Morning."  With all the press, she's clearly comfortable in front of the camera and had great, intelligent answers to her interviewers questions. It'll be fun to see these features hit the big screen.

The superstar, getting feedback from the judges.  She's so proud to be representing the Blue Moon Cafe, her country and female baristas everywhere!  Good Luck Dailess!

THIS JUST IN:  Catch Dailass Malwamba's performance as competitor #40 (of 54) in Vienna

Curious?

Please tell me you are at least a wee-bit curious?

Yes? 

That's the idea.

This InHouse event promotion poster has three elements to pique your interest.  Can you spot them?

1 - a new take on an iconic design

2 - an odd relationship between a piglet and dodgeball

3 - a mysterious secret coded message (that black and white box)

The InHouse Explanations:

BEFORE I go into the explanations, I have some bad news for all Dodgeball fans of Lusaka.  Don't get your tube socks and sweat bands out just yet...the Big Man just issued a temporary Piggy Pardon and this incredible event has been postponed.  Before you go and cry about it, just think of all the time you'll have to brush up on your skills (a la Napoleon Dynamite) and your Dodgeball movie trivia.  Plus, that little piggy is only going to get yummier.  Back to the task at hand: 

1 - During the second World War the British Ministry of Information produced the now-famous "KEEP CALM and CARRY ON" propaganda poster (with the Imperial Crown of King George VI, not with a piglet) to increase morale.  It was the third in a series and while 2.5 million copies were printed, the distribution was limited.  The original designer is not known and the Crown copyright expired in 1989.  It was virtually unknown until an original poster was discovered in a second-had bookstore in 2000 and it became and instant hit in the design community.  There are new and contested efforts on behalf of a private UK company to establish trademark over the image but has been so widely distributed, used and parodied that it's difficult to say where their efforts will lead them.  

While we wait for the lawyers to hammer this out, for now, it's reasonable to assume that the idea of the "Keep Calm" image is one we can all enjoy free of copyright restrictions.  (It is interesting to note that the legals battle began some 11 years after it became widely popular to the point of now being cliche.)

2 - Our version of this famous poster carries the mark of a piglet and says "Keep Calm and Play Dodgeball." And while the original poster is red...this version is dodgeball red.  The "fine print" finally offers an explanation: the event is a combination lunch feast (PIG ROAST) and Dodgeball Tournament.  It took a few tries to figure out how to put these two very different events onto a single poster.  By the time you get to reading the information, you should already be mentally assembling your team and marking the day in your planner.  There is a second, equally curious version:

This version (same elements, same colors) is for a different crowd...one that will instantly recognise a dodgeball but wouldn't necessarily be drawn in by the "Keep Calm" message of the other poster.  

3 - The secret code, otherwise known as a QR or Quick Response Code.  This is not really a 'new' thing at all.  QR codes are 2D versions of a bar code.  It was first used in mid 90's by the automotive industry to track vehicles along the production line.  A subsidiary of Toyota owns the patent rights but has chosen not to exercise them.  In the last few years use has expanded to other industries.  Most recently, it's caught on in advertising. 

If you have a smart phone, you can quickly and easily download a QR app and your phone can 'read' the code and take you directly to the website (or in this case the Blue Moon Facebook "event" page) where you can instantly access even MORE information about the event.  In MadMen advertising lingo, the QR Code can take a consumer deeper into the 'conversion funnel.' Which means a company can get the observer that much closer to being a customer/client by eliminating the need to remember a website address, a phone number, a company name, or...you get the idea. Just scan and click and you're right were we want you:  deep in the conversion funnel. 

That sounds unpleasant but it's actually pretty darn cool.  It's a first for Lusaka -- even cooler.