With postage prices going up today, matm now sends all of its invoices via PDF – this means our invoices arrive faster, and are cheaper to send as we no longer incur costs for paper, printing, envelopes and postage. Below are the key facts and figures about the price increases from April 30th 2012:

• The price of a first-class stamp for a standard letter – 46p to 60p
• A second-class stamp for a standard letter – 36p to 50p
• A first-class stamp for a large letter weighing up to 100g – 75p to 90p
• A large letter sent second-class will cost 69p, rather than 58p
• Parcels, franked mail, recorded post, redirection services and PO Box use will also increase accordingly

But perhaps most importantly, we can now say we deliver our invoices in an environmentally friendly way – by eliminating paper, printing and freight, we have reduced our carbon footprint and save trees. We hope that other businesses can follow suit and switch to faster, greener invoicing too – the only down side is that bills arrive just that bit quicker, but still, we’re loving that!

Aside from being a graphic designer, Brooklyn based artist Dana Tanamachi is becoming increasingly recognised as a custom chalk letterer. Dana has been commissioned by clients such as Rugby Ralph Lauren, Google and Adidas – and we think that her work is striking enough to warrant a ‘we’re loving that!’ So, see what you think – and if you want to see some more of her work, then visit www.danatanamachi.com

Banner for Kings County Jerky Co; drawn on chalk fabric.

The Wes Anderson, Brooklyn

Custom piece for a wedding reception

Wine label that Dana created for Nagging Doubt Wines; Art Direction by Bernie Hadley-Beauregard & Laurie Millotte of Brandever.

‘Tilt-shift photography’ is a unique, almost playful type of photography in which a camera is manipulated so that the real, life-sized subject look like miniature-scale models.

The phrase describes the use of camera movements on small and medium format cameras and also sometimes refers to the use of tilt for selective focus.

Sometimes the term is used when a shallow depth of field is simulated with digital postprocessing; the name may derive from the tilt-shift lens normally required when the effect is produced optically.

Why not have a go yourself if you have an Iphone:  Art&Mobile TiltShift Generator.

Below are a few of our favourite examples for you to have a look at. We’re loving that!

The Motorcycle Live show took place at the LG Arena, Birmingham – and the qr codes were out in force! Pretty much every corner of the hall had companies getting on the qr code bandwagon, including manufacture stands, bike product spec stands, retail outlets and competition forms. Below are a few examples of the various ways qr codes were used on the day:

Here at matm we are able to quickly produce qr codes for you and have generated a number for clients’ business cards. As well as holding personal information such as website details, email address and phone number, qr codes are being used more and more for product/loyalty marketing, as above. Lots of companies are using qr codes, so if you are not yet ‘scannable’ then click on contact us and let us help!

Many Companies have started to show Facebook links from their adverts over the past year. A major Korean Car Manufacturer is using its latest television advert to display the Facebook ‘like’ button, ending with the slogan ‘Kia, inspired by what you like’.

Matm Graphic Designer, Neil, spotted the advert. He said: “The use of social media in business is continuing to gather pace and I am building an increasing number of Facebook pages for Shropshire businesses. My only disapointment with the Kia advert is that their facebook page is geared more towards Kia owners, and not a generic customer experience, but i’m still loving that advert!

Just a quick note from team matm – Stuart, Lindsay H, Jamie, Andy, Tom, Jem, Rich, Lindsay C and Neil – to wish each and every one of you a merry christmas and a happy New Year!

We have had a busy and enjoyable 2011 serving the Shropshire and Midland business communities with PR, marketing, graphic design and web design services.

As well as local clients, we have also been looking after national clients in a number of areas, ranging from construction to bath manufacturing, charities to computer technology and engineering to councils.

We are all looking forward to a great start to 2012 and wish you the same. In the mean time, we will leave you with a limerick from the New York Times, December 29 1910 – one to bring out if you have a particularly ‘festive’ break…!

Good new year resolves are in style

The bulk of them force us to smile

Were I making one now

I would certainly vow

I’ll only drink once in a while!

We created these unusual images in August and September 2011 by carefully selecting photographs taken many years ago in the Ironbridge Gorge, then holding them up at the same location and taking a fresh picture.

By carefully matching the old with the new – the new photograph has the unnerving effect of inserting historical scenes directly into modern life. The ‘windows into history’ project is being displayed during celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of Ironbridge Gorge becoming a World Heritage Site.

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust was so impressed with the 16 photographs taken by matm’s creative team, Neil Dicken and Jamie Doran, that it asked to use them to help in their anniversary celebrations.

Neil said: “The images create a real visual and mental double-take. The beauty of the approach is its simplicity, though the trick is to select the historical photograph that creates the most vivid match in the modern scene. “The photographs are up to 150 years old, so allow the viewer to visualise what some of the Ironbridge Gorge looked like – hopefully they have provided a glimpse into the past.”

Jamie said: “We took both internal and external images of buildings. It is fascinating to see just how much some buildings have changed and in other cases, just how little they have changed. I particularly like the images with people in them, especially where you can see people walking from the present day, seemingly into the past.

“We were inspired by a project called ‘Looking into the Past’ by American photographer Jason E Powell www.jasonepowell.com. When we saw his images we realised straight away that the heritage of the Ironbridge Gorge here in Shropshire lends itself perfectly to a similar project.”

The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust lent photographs from its collection for the project. The images can be viewed in the Iron Bridge Tollhouse at the World Heritage Festival in Ironbridge which takes place on Saturday 24th September.

Paul Gossage Director of Marketing & PR said: “I was thrilled to see matm using our historic collection of images in such an innovative way. Publishing the images is a great way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the World Heritage Site. I am sure they will be much enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”

Details of the Festival are available at www.ironbridge.org.uk.

Thanks also for the help of MarionBlockley Heritage Management

Would love to know what you think or share your links in the comments at the base of the full post …

Recently we posted how we loved the exploded F1 car showing every tiny part of the vehicle suspended from hundreds of tiny wires.

Canadian Photographer Todd McLellan has gone that one step further. From an alarm clock to a 35mm camera, McLellan has shown his audience the inner workings of everyday objects.

Laying each one out in an orderly fashion, the Toronto-based photographer de-constructed the objects for his ‘Disassembly Project’.

Disassembled - Old Flip Clock

Disassembled - Old Camera

Each of the disassembled items were then dropped from a small height and photographed at high speed, with the flash duration set to a 12,000th of a second to capture the falling pieces in motion.

As a marketing agency we appreciate a good creative, but matm won’t be combining photography with falling printers or computers just yet – we’re definitely better at design than disassembly!

Take a look at the full set of pictures by clicking the link above to McLellan’s website and I’m sure you’ll agree with us in saying – We’re Loving That!

Free falling - Old Flip Clock

Free falling - Old Camera

Ironbridge teddy bear maker Merrythought has launched its official London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Teddy Bear – exactly a year before the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27th 2012.

The cuddly bear is based on a design from 1948 – the year London last hosted the Olympic Games – and is made from from the finest gold mohair.

London 2012 Olympic Games Commemorative Teddy Bear

The teddy comes with a choice of three different coloured ribbons – blue, green or pink, rather than bronze, silver and gold – and only 2012 bears sporting each colour have been made. So a limited edition of 6036 bears are available to buy.

That’ll make them almost as rare and sought after as an Olympic ticket.

This poster was designed by London and Los Angeles based graphic design company, Binary & The Brain, in association with the Louisiana Wildlife Federation to raise awareness of the many critically endangered species which continue to be effected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

38 of the coast’s most at-risk animals, some of which face extinction or have already vanished from the state are used to create the shape of the effected coastline and lettering, all are numbered for identification.

Designer Neil Dicken said: “I really like the illustration in this poster – the way in which the combination of animal silhouettes are used to create the shape of the affected coastline – so as well as being very artistic, the poster is very informative at the same time.”

All profits from the sale of this poster go directly to the Louisiana Wildlife Federation to help protect and conserve the endangered species. Visit lawildlifefed.org to find out more and to show your support for their great work.

The Birds

This poster was designed in association with BirdLife International to raise awareness of the 52 UK birds on the endangered red list.

Again, each of the 52 birds were used to outline the lettering and are numbered for identification.

Produced by Binary and the Brain

Available from www.counter-objects.co.uk