Pen & Paper 2011 - Young Authors book release

InHouse Design is proud to announce the release of "Pen & Paper: The collected works of the LICS Young Authors."  This small printing was a big deal and represents the culmination of a 6-week after-school writing workshop completed by a talented group of 8 and 9 year olds. We hope it will be the first of many books that these Young Authors publish.  Congratulations.  

The Young Authors, hard at work.

Custom Portrait Photography

There is a time and place for everything.   


At InHouse Design Studio we believe childhood is a time for fun and friendship.   For our part, we are pleased to offer an alternative to “Sit-Still-and-Say-Cheese” studio portraits and school pictures.  We love our school photos, by the way, but those go straight into the scrap book, it's the snapshots we treasure, the ones we send off to the grandparents, the ones we proudly post on the 'fridge and frame for everyone to see. 


Shot “on location” at your child’s favorite backyard play escape, we offer a custom photography package catered to your needs -- prints to hang in your home (or office), small digital files to post and email, and large format digital files on a CD for “takeaway” that you can print at your leisure and at your favorite photographic print workshop. 

Our aim is to capture the magical moments of childhood before your tots turn to teens and suddenly .....those sweet, innocent moments are lost forever.

Contact InHouse Design Studio for more information and to view our full Portrait Portfolio.  

Don’t let these precious moments pass you by! 

ImagiNation Afrika

Aiming to be the first of many children's museum on the continent, ImagiNation Afrika is laying the groundwork for it's flagship center in Dakar, Senegal.  Their "wired" logo captures the spirit of play and ingenuity on the continent.  Wire cars are ubiquitous in Africa.....they are made from recycled material, carefully engineered and most importantly, made by kids for kids.  (It's actually quite unusual to find one for sale).

This short film from Dutch designer Rob Van Acker, who lived for some years with his family in Mongu, Zambia, brings this point home. The film features a 15 year old wire car 'manufacturer.'



 Stay tuned for more exciting news from ImagiNation Afrika as they carry on with their inspiring work on westernmost tip of Africa.

Blue Moon announcement

Open just 9 months, it’s an appropriate time that the Blue Moon Cafe owners announce the "birth" of a new project....Blue Moon Catering!   

For Sunday brunch or office lunch, the Blue Moon is bringing the cafe to you.  Check in with the staff at the Cafe (Woodlands Shopping Complex, Lusaka) for more information about ordering custom lunch boxes, pastry trays, bagel baskets, ice cream sandwiches, gourmet coffee stations and more.  Pick up a catering menu to two to have on hand for your next meeting or event. 

Game On: Alive and Kicking reveals new product

A recent InHouse visit to the Alive and Kicking stitching workshop (on the grounds of the ZamLeather) in Lusaka had us privy to a new project underway.  Here is a sneak peek at the prototype:

It's a bird? It's a plane?  It's the fastest land animal in the world! 

Alive and Kicking celebrates the beautiful game and African wildlife

As with all A&K balls, their new Cheetah Footballs are leather, hand-stitched (right here in Lusaka), hand-screened, fair trade, fair labour and....they are exceedingly cool.  For a closer look at how the balls are made check out this exclusive photo essay.

Communicating Science to the Public

Frogs as Indicator Species - Communications Strategy for 5-10 year olds

Recently I had the pleasure of spending some time with a favorite pastime and profession: Communicating Science to the Public.  It's a specialty that allows me to combine my training and experience in science, art, and communications in one fell swoop.  The challenge of getting complex scientific principals to a wide audience whether that audience is 5 or 50 is one that InHouse Design welcomes.

In the meantime

Setting up a business here has been interesting.  I have one last hurdle before I can be official;  in the meantime am putting some time into InHouse Design.  Too bad I can't bill myself.  Or could I?  Above, the new logo with some artwork -- this will be on the business cards and letterhead; the text logo box will be used on its own for most branded projects if it goes on there at all.  In case you don't recognize the image, it's my office/design studio. Come over and see for yourself! My doors are alway open.

CD Release

InHouse Design is proud to announce the release of Zambian artiste Mathew Tembo's latest CD, Dadi Mwana.  While we'd love to take credit for the rockin' rasta grooves, InHouse Design was only responsible for the design of the finished product - art, photos, and graphics.  Special thanks to all the Jennings boys, including Uncle Alan who participated in the initial photo shoot at the University of Zambia.   The unofficial press release and some insert art:

Introducing Dadi Mwana, the latest CD release from Mathew Tembo and the Dark Black.  

Dadi Mwana’s upbeat, Afro-fusion, reggae-fueled tracks feature Chinyanja lyrics skillfully married with music performed on some of Zambia’s indigenous, handmade instruments - the marimba (silimba), kalumbu and kalimba.  On this Album The Dark Black grooves behind Mathew while Zambia’s favourite artistes (including Cactus, Chileshe Nshumfuwa, and Jay Jay Munthali) join in the celebration.    

(the last photo was switched out in the final version of the insert with one where he's not cracking up at the boys and their seriousness about their work.  Mathew was so sweet to put up with 4 photographers and 5 cameras...two belonging to a 4 and 7 year old...)

Event Profile: Lusaka Christmas Fair (Sunday 5 December)

WHAT:  Annual Christmas Art Show 

WHERE:  Leopard's Hill Polocrosse Club (Follow the signs off Leopard's Hill Road - directions below)

WHEN:  9AM to 4:30PM

DETAILS: Lusaka's annual Christmas Arts and Crafts fair has expanded and outgrown it's traditional host (Sugarbush Farm).  The fair this year, called the "Zambian Arts and Design Show" will be held at the Leopard's Hill Polo grounds.  The show features all the familiar favorites and some fabulous newcomers (see exhibitors list below).   There is a 10,000kw entry fee (for anyone over 12 years of age), plenty of safe parking, plenty of on-site snack/food/meal options (plus a full bar available), entertainment (choirs, drama groups and more) and a kiddie play area.  All stalls are under tents and protected from the weather.

DIRECTIONS:  From the Crossroads Shopping Mall, travel 10km on Leopards Hill Road (10-15 min).  Turn Right down Chifwema Road.  There is a good gravel road running parallel to the main road (which is being tarred.)  Follow this road for approximately 4.5km (10-15 minutes) and turn left into the Polocrosse Club.

opening day 2010

We have finally and officially launched the design studio’s Lusaka office.  We hope to continue with the same business model as the Seattle studio -- creating meaningful design products for non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals  while promoting the local arts and design scene by highlighting new creative industry businesses, profiling fine artists, and of course, working.

InHouse Design Studio specializes in graphic design, phototography, and fine arts.  We do logos, brochures, flyers, posters, and tee-shirts.  We run workshops, create documentary exhibits, and show off products.  We aim to make you look good.