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