the gun club.

Gun website is down

2011-08-25T11:11:00.002+10:00

Sorry everyone - we are in the process of uploading our new website and it's causing a couple of issues. Thanks to our lovely friends like @tonestar for keeping an eye out for us. It will be resolved shortly!

The Design Files & Where They Create

2011-08-25T09:55:00.002+10:00

Thanks so much to the fantastic Lucy Feagins of cult design blog - The Design Files - for reviewing Where They Create. Read the full review here.

Harxest pops into Where They Create Melbourne book launch

2011-08-12T09:41:00.003+10:00

The gracious and incredibly lovely fellow - Stevie from pop culture site Harxest - was good enough to pay us a visit at Paul Barbera's Melbourne book launch for Where They Create, capturing the humble event with some great images.

You can check out the full story on Harxest here.

Amsterdam agency films short doco on Paul Barbera & Where They Create

2011-08-12T09:26:00.005+10:00

Where They Create - Paul Barbera from Dolly Rogers on Vimeo.

Amsterdam based creative agency, Dolly Rogers, has just released a short doco about photographer Paul Barbera and his project "Where They Create" - the popular blog and now book (published by Frame this month).

Dolly Rogers went behind the scenes with Paul on a shoot at Thonik, a graphic design studio in Amsterdam, and interviewed him about his passion for documenting spaces. With Paul's approach to documenting spaces for Where They Create being that of a creative moth on the wall (given his enviable sense for light), the addition of Dolly Rogers shadowing Paul makes this quite an interesting voyeuristic assembly!

We love the doco, and the work of all involved.

Film Credits:

Images and edit : Dolly Rogers (www.dollyrogers.com)
Music : Valgeir Sigurdsson - Lungs, For Merrille

KK Outlet - Hand Written Letter Project

2011-08-08T22:27:00.009+10:00

The offshoot of brilliant Dutch agency KesselsKramer - KK Outlet in London - recently launched a very simple initiative encouraging us to reconnect with the more analogue side of life. The Hand Written Letter Project engaged some of the world's most admired creatives to do just that...and in doing so, reminds us how much of ourselves we lose when our words are digitised. There's no font (not even helvetica) that translates the emotion inherent in our own handwritten words.

The project is to raise money for the National Literacy Trust, with the letters being collated into a limited edition book. Read more here and also here.

Paul Barbera & Frame Publishers present Where They Create – the book

2011-07-23T17:10:00.007+10:00

We could not feel more privileged to be working with Paul Barbera – the incredibly talented interiors photographer, on the release of his first book Where They Create, based on his popular blog of the same name. Published by European design and architecture specialists, FRAME, the book will available globally in September. Gun is working with Paul on publicity for the launch, and the Melbourne launch event.

Twenty years in the making, Where They Create the book offers readers a candid peek into the process and working spaces of some of the world’s most creative minds including Jeremiah Goodman, Olaf Breuning, Opening Ceremony, Acne Studios, Fantastic Man, Wallpaper, and Australia’s own Paul Davies, Tin & Ed, 3 Deep Design and Nicholas Jones.

Interviews with each studio’s lead creative provide individual insights into the relationship and influence between the creative process and physical space, as well as revealing what’s hidden in their desks and sometimes in their fridge. Where They Create the book is a limited release with 5000 copies available globally, with 32 different cover editions representing each studio featured in the book.

The book and the blog are expressions of Paul’s ongoing curiosity towards the creative process, people, and his love of spaces. Where They Create is shot in the most natural and unobtrusive way, allowing the viewer to feel as if they have not only stolen a glimpse of someone’s personal space, more so to feel as if they’re actually in the room.

Paul choice of subjects for Where They Create is simple – he only visits the studios of people whose work he loves and whose space he thinks inspiring. Where They Create the book intimately explores the working spaces of creatives from varied genres, including architects, illustrators, painters, sculptors, industrial designers, media companies, graphic designers, fashion houses, set designers and even food designers.

Having moved from Melbourne, to Amsterdam and recently to New York, Paul works for numerous interior magazines around the world where the focus is on shooting very stylised and considered images. Where They Create counters this aesthetic, shooting things as they are, using only natural light.

Where They Create the book is released in September 2011. For a first glimpse at the book, visit FRAME Publishers.

To explore Where They Create the blog, click here.

Want to join the team of Gunners?

2011-07-09T12:26:00.004+10:00

We need more guns. If you consider yourself brilliant at what you do and what you do is one of these three things...then please get in touch.

We're looking for:

1. A PR Account Exec with great writing skills and a love social media + digital PR. Ideally you will have one to two years experience in communications, preferably agency side.

2. An experienced "digital addict" Producer/Project Manager who is super organised, efficient, clever and loves managing client relationships, as well as keeping internal creatives in line. E-commerce production experience would be brillant, as would some traditional production knowledge. Two/three years experience in digital/production preferred. You might even have some basic photoshop and coding skills.

3. A casual Jnr Digital Designer whose supremely creative, has great ideas and is looking for a fun place to start out. You might be a graduate or have one to two years experience. Freelancers can get in touch too.

We're looking forward to meeting you!

Gorgeous Lauren Phillips shoot in support of homeless young people

2011-07-04T15:15:00.002+10:00

Last week, Channel 9's gorgeous Lauren Phillips kindly donated her time to do a photoshoot with mX in Melbourne, to assist in promoting the annual Kids Under Cover Umbrella Ball - at the Crown Palladium on July 16. The photo ran on the front page of mX and Lauren looked amazing on the trapeze at Circus Oz – all because this year the Umbrella Ball has a circus theme!

Get your tickets to the Kids Under Cover Umbrella Ball and help to raise funds to provide homes and education for the thousands of homeless young people in Victoria. Visit www.kuc.org.au for more information - tickets cost $225 each and corporate tables are available.

Dress up in your best black tie and add a touch (or a bunch) of circus fun. Loads of entertainment on offer and some incredible auction prizes including a table at the Channel 9 Footy Show Extravaganza and a brand new Nissan.

Channel 10 news for Kids Under Cover "Umbrella Ball"

2011-06-28T14:36:00.000+10:00

Last week we had some fun with the team from Channel 10 News in Melbourne, filming a segment to promote the upcoming Kids Under Cover annual fundraiser, the Umbrella Ball - happening on July 16 at Crown Palladium.

Weather presenter Rahkal Ebeli demonstrated his fearless "to camera" skills...dodging yellow umbrellas that the talented people from NICA were juggling in front of his face! Why the juggling you ask? Because this year, the theme for the Umbrella Ball is circus...of course!

Help us help Kids Under Cover by buying a ticket (or a table of 10) to this year's Umbrella Ball, and you will be supporting the incredible work the charity does in building homes and providing education for at risk and homeless young people.

Visit www.kuc.org.au for more information.

Sleeping Beauty Trailer (Bande annonce)

2011-06-24T16:18:00.000+10:00

Can't wait to see this film. Looks incredible.

Sing-a-ma-jigs Superstar campaign recognised as global Best Practice by Fisher-Price® New York

2011-06-20T15:21:00.005+10:00

The Sing-a-ma-jigs™ Superstar campaign Gun developed for Fisher-Price® has been recognised as a global "Best Practice" by the company's head office in New York.

A case study about the campaign has been circulated to all Fisher-Price® offices around the globe, detailing the strategy, insights and current successes of the Superstar campaign, making it a benchmark initiative for the brand across the globe.

The strategic imperatives of the campaign were to:
- broaden the appeal of the brand to an older "tween" consumer
- extend the life cycle of the brand from a once off purchase to a long term property
- transition consumers into brand ambassadors
- create an engaging online presence for the brand

The campaign has been in-field for four weeks, and campaign KPIs for three months have already been exceeded in some instances. All other KPIs are tracking beyond expectations and the level of engagement from the tween audience has been fantastic.

Check out the campaign at www.imasuperstar.com.au

The team at Gun couldn't be more proud and we're looking forward to crowning The Sing-a-ma-jigs™ Superstar on August 10, 2011.

Touch Wood

2011-06-15T12:33:00.000+10:00

With a tag line like "Touch Wood" it's hard to think what this commercial from Japan could be advertising. As you will see though this clever tag line combined with the completely engrossing lead up to the product reveal is entertaining and most importantly memorable.

TOUCHWOOD SH-08C

My Friends Are Pretty - Debut Portraiture Exhibition

2011-05-29T19:25:00.005+10:00

Photographer Ben Capp - a Melbourne boy who has returned home after working in London with prominent photographers and celebrities - opens his debut portraiture exhibition at No Vacancy Gallery, starting June 7 (opening party June 10). "My Friends Are Pretty" is based on Ben's personal life experiences, dealing with life's realities and stresses; and aims to remind us not to take ourselves too seriously, but to step back and have a good laugh at our flaws, our eccentricities, our appearance and our beliefs. There are 17 x A2 prints in the exhibition, each being available for sale.

Before returning home to Melbourne, Ben worked in London and Europe for four years assisting photographers including Sandro Sodano, Ben Ingham, Sir Paul Smith and Bill Bernstein - shooting high profile celebrity editorial portraits and fashion campaigns. Ben has worked with celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker-Bowles, Prince Harry and William, Rod Stewart and Rhys Ifans to name a few.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION - WORDS BY BEN CAPP:

“Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously and forget to step back and have a good laugh at our flaws, our eccentricities, our appearance and our beliefs. Our inhibitions threaten our confidence and ability to relax just to cope with the stress of everyday life.

I was 15 when I realised I was balding and it took some time to come to terms with it. I remember looking in the mirror a few years later contemplating shaving it all off. I thought "I'm ghostly pale, have freckles and ginger chest hair, I may as well be bald too". I understood I was not, nor ever would be, the quintessential Adonis of a man we all may want to be.

I'm a modest outgoing chap, with a solid circle of beautiful friends and an amazing family and this is what matters to me. As does having a laugh. When I was 10 years old, my Mum asked me to think about my purpose in life. After a good think, a year or so later I told her that my purpose was to make people smile.

My Friends Are Pretty is a reminder that we are all pretty in one way or another and we should all be a bit silly from time to time so we don't go nuts.”

No Vacancy Project Space @ Federation Square
Opening night party - Friday June 10, 2011 @ 6pm / Exhibition runs June 7 – June 19, 2011
Visit Facebook Event / www.myfriendsarepretty.com

Top Mattel® toy, THE SING-A-MA-JIGS!™ launch a TV star with “kids-only” online talent search

2011-05-27T08:35:00.005+10:00

AUSTRALIA, May 26, 2011: Mattel® and their ‘International Toy of the Year’*, The Sing-a-ma-jigs!™, are searching for Australia’s next big internet sensation with the launch of the kids-only online talent search – The Sing-a-ma-jigs!™ Superstar. Created by Gun Communications, in the vein of popular reality shows entrants have the chance to win their place on national TV for a month – where the winning video entry will appear as an ad; as well as in popular print and online media.

Melissa O’Sullivan, Fisher-Price® Marketing Manager said, “The Sing-a-ma-jigs!™ already have a huge YouTube following, with thousands of fans posting videos of themselves and their Sing-a-ma-jigs. With that in mind, we wanted to develop an online initiative that rewarded the target market for their love of the brand and their undiscovered talents, by making them the star of the show.

“The Sing-a-ma-jigs!™ Superstar concept aims to provide a fun environment for fans to interact with the brand, and to celebrate their own unique talents. From singing and dancing, to playing sport, doing tricks or showing how great they are at jumping on a trampoline – we’ve learnt from viral videos that a superstar talent can be found in anything, it’s about having fun,” continued Melissa.

The Sing-a-ma-jigs!™ Superstar asks kids to create videos showcasing their “talent”, upload them to the website, get the most votes and win their place on national TV – where their winning video will be shown as an ad during Channel 10’s Video Hits for a month. The winning video will also appear on the homepage of Pacific Magazines’ Total Girl or K-Zone websites for a week, as well as featuring in the print edition. They will also receive a prize pack from Mattel including a range of The Sing-a-ma-jigs!™.

Sarah Sproule of Gun Communications, who created and executed the concept, said about the new campaign, “The campaign exists primarily online, with the ultimate prize also seeing TV and print integration. The channel weighting of the campaign is in line with our targets media consumption – clever in that it recognises how important online is to the audience, but that ‘being on TV and in magazines’ is what really makes you a star in their eyes.

“There is no purchase mechanic required to enter, it’s about having some fun and giving one lucky winner a great piece for their 21st birthday montage!”

The competition is being driven by a targeted print, online and TV spend. Leveraging social channels via the video sharing tools on the site is primary in driving awareness. Visit www.imasuperstar.com.au to view the campaign website. Special thanks to the team at Code Name Max for their work on the website build.

WA AUTOMOTIVE BIBLE – AUTOTRADER - CELEBRATES 21 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS WITH THE RELEASE OF THE 1000TH EDITION

2011-05-23T16:53:00.004+10:00

May 23, 2011: Western Australia’s most successful and much loved “local automotive bible” – Autotrader – celebrates a major print publishing milestone this Friday, with the release of their 1000th edition after 21 years in the business.

Founded in a Karinyup lounge room way back in 1989, the magazine has remained true to its grass roots origins, selling a staggering total of 8, 074, 531 copies to date; with 412, 355 vehicles advertised. The magazine holds a special place in the hearts of WA first car buyers, who have thumbed through its pages dreaming about their first set of wheels…often well before their 17th birthday.

What are the most expensive cars ever sold through Autotrader? A Ferrari 360 Spyder for $214,999, Holden Torana for $250,000, and an XY GT PHASE 3 which also sold for over $200,000. The most unique car advertised to date is a 1967 Ford Thunderbird 4 door, an extremely rare model in Australia.

The 1000th edition is testament to the magazine’s success and relevance to the WA automotive marketplace. It’s the only dedicated automotive publication, and the focus remains on bringing the local marketplace together. The team at Autotrader share their readers’ love for all things automotive.

Acquired from Telstra in July 2010, Autotrader is back to its origins – part of a family owned group with existing automotive publishing interests, Hunterfive.

“The strength of the Autotrader brand in the WA marketplace is based on it being local, and providing a product that’s affordable, effective and easy. It’s a grassroots brand that understands its readers and supports the WA auto enthusiast community,” explained Ash Hunter, Hunterfive CEO.

“We have an aggressive growth strategy in place which will take effect over the next three issues of the magazine, seeing a 20 – 25% increase in commercial advertisers. Coupled with a new distribution arrangement, we’re confident in Autotrader’s ongoing strength in the WA market – where it will continue to be the number one read for buyers and sellers of all things automotive.”

General Manager, Ray Froud, has been with the Autotrader business since it started in 1989.

“I’m so proud that the magazine continues to be so strong in the WA marketplace. I’d like to thank all our supporters over the years – our readers, advertisers and the fantastic team that bring the publication together each week.”

Check out Autotrader on facebook – www.facebook.com/AutotraderWA

For further information on Hunterfive – www.hunterfive.com

Phillip Johnson Landscapes wins Australian Landscape Excellence Award

2011-05-16T11:44:00.003+10:00

May 14, 2011: Our client - Phillip Johnson Landscapes - has won the landscape industry's highest award for commercial work at the Australian Landscape Excellence Awards in Sydney for the maintenance of the tallest green wall in the world, adorning the TRIO apartment building in Camperdown. A collaboration with renowned French botanist Patrick Blanc for Fraser Property Group's TRIO development, Phillip Johnson Landscapes collaborated on the design and plant selection for the expansive wall, and has created innovative maintenance systems which set new global benchmarks in the field.

Organised by national body, Landscaping Australia Inc, the Commercial Project Maintenance Award was presented by Channel 7's Better Homes & Gardens host Graham Ross at the Old Government House in Parramatta. Phillip Johnson Landscapes' work on the TRIO green wall was described as the most remarkable and challenging maintenance project in the Australian industry to date. At 33 metres high and five metres wide (across 12 stories), the massive green wall comprises 4, 528 native Australian plants from 71 different species, all planted from 50mm tubes which have grown to over 305 times their initial size.

A dedicated 36,000 litre tank collects storm water on site which feeds the bespoke dripper-irrigation system. Vertical gardens have been criticised for high water, energy and chemical use in the past, which led Phillip Johnson to create systems with vast improvements in these areas. The tank allows the re-use of water and fertiliser, and they created automatic fertiliser testing and dosing systems, as well as remote access for the irrigation system.

Phillip Johnson's maintenance on the TRIO project has involved constant innovation and improvement to ensure maximum efficiencies in water usage, chemicals and energy requirements; creating a new benchmark in the design and maintenance of green walls.

"For me, this is the best Award available in our country. It is testament to our constant innovation, on a grand scale, aimed at greening our cities to address climate change. TRIO was our most challenging project to date and we are thrilled to be recognised as leading the way in developing systems that increase the sustainability of green walls," explained Creative Director, Phillip Johnson.

"We are working on expanding our portfolio of commercial projects and to be sitting in the audience last night whilst our work in this sector was being described as truly inspirational is our proudest achievement to date."

Geographically targeted typefaces

2011-03-09T11:32:00.000+11:00

As designers and advertisers we all understand the importance of typefaces and their correct application. Fonts say much more than the words they spell out, they can add emotion, a story, emphasis and even change a statements meaning.

The following films were commissioned by the International Education company EF and use kinetic text and highly stylised typefaces to capture the experiences and languages of four different cities. London, Paris, Beijing and Barcelona are summed up using typefaces that are undeniably visually and stylistically linked to each location.

Art direction by Albin Holmqvist. Story from on fastcodesign.com

New Beginnings

2011-02-10T13:21:00.009+11:00

Japanese artist, Motoi Yamamoto, uses salt to create monumental floor paintings, to which he refers to them as his 'labyrinth'.

Yamamoto started sketching with salt to honour his sister's passing from brain cancer, as salt is a symbol of purification and mourning in Japanese culture.

His latest piece, found in Toulouse's Foundation Espance Ecureuil, is an epic feat of artistic labour which consisted of 50 arduous man hours over the course of 5 days and 2,200 pounds of salt!

With his previous works, Yamamoto has invited patrons to dissemble the 'labyrinth' and take the salt with them to scatter in the sea or soil, or anywhere it might contribute to a new beginning.

Beautiful.

Happy new year fabulous people!

2011-01-12T09:28:00.006+11:00

We hope you started the new decade with a bang - whether it be a big ol' smooch from your beloved (or a random stranger conveniently standing by), we hope you enjoyed yourselves, and our special little guns reached you safely where ever in the world you may be.

Let the year begin!

Portability

2010-12-06T20:33:00.005+11:00

The 5th annual Portable Film Festival opens this week. You don't need tickets. Watch it on your phone, from a rooftop, in the bath - it's up to you.

It is an online fest with a key difference to traditional festivals because voting and commentary is left in the hands of the viewer. Divided up into categories ranging from art, fashion and animation through to music, documentary and short film, the Portable Film Festival is one of the largest online cultural events.

http://portable.tv/film-festival

Sounds of Summer...

2010-12-01T23:44:00.015+11:00

A pinch and a punch for the second day of the month!

Forget Melbourne's doom and gloom, why not celebrate the start of a new season with something worth talking about - Summer Camp.

The duo behind the synth-pop, pre-rock, 80s teen movie type of sound, brings somewhat of a nostalgic and heartbreaking element to the table.

This song, Round the Moon, embraces that innocence, the adventures, the thrill and excitement surrounding the crackling intimacy of 'the' first love. Footage taken from a 1970 movie called 'A Swedish Love Story'.

This is the graduation music you never waltzed to. Enjoy it now.

Endless Days

2010-11-23T13:20:00.009+11:00

I am looking forward to Vin Ryan's new show at Anna Pappas Gallery.

Ryan's work spans across various disciplines, his contemporary art always invoked a somewhat diaristic sensibility.

This exhibition is a documentation of habits, rituals or routines embedded in our environment, gestures we usually rarely notice. He has done so by photographing empty plates, bowls and glasses used by himself, his partner and two year old son.

"I'm sitting at the table one night after dinner, staring at the empty plate in front of me. All that's left is a thin film of pesto and a series of expressionistic scrapings left by my fork. I was never one to leave food on my plate. I am fascinated by these simple gestures, these simple abstract impressions of modest and everyday gratification".

Beautiful, delicate work. Cannot wait to see it in person.
Endless Days opens November 18 and runs until December 23 at Anna Pappas Gallery.

frankie magazine creates spaces

2010-11-23T13:07:00.004+11:00

I love frankie magazines unique and sweet approach to all things cool, well now they are focusing their attention to a different area- they have just launched Spaces which is a collection of eclectic interiors from around the world.

We can take a peek into the worlds of creative types from graphic designers to vintage collectors- Selby style. It retails at $22.95 and you can find more information on it here.

Pierre & Alexandra Boulat

2010-11-23T12:31:00.010+11:00

I was lucky enough to visit the magnificent city Paris recently. On one of those days where you roam the streets for hours and hours on end, with your camera glued to the front of your face, I happened to stumble upon what was the most emotional and stunning photographic exhibition I've experienced.

Father and daughter Pierre & Alexandra Boulat have collectively been capturing the various moods and moments of the world, and the people in it, for more than 70 years. Housed in the heavenly walls of the Petit Palais, the exhibition was a retrospective on their individual work, with Alexandra providing a photo documentary on the war in Afghanistan that literally reduced you tears (streams of them). The images were so powerful and personal, some of them made you feel physically sick at being human. But of course the images were equally beautiful in their own right.

Pierre's contribution canvassed images from his career as leading Time Life photographer, as well as portraits from the lives he has shared - from Yves St Laurent and Federico Fellini, to the more humble among us. Pierre's images allow you to be a true voyeur.

The exhibition moved you from smiles, to laughing out loud, to crying a river.

Enjoy.

A sense of space

2010-11-23T12:00:00.006+11:00

More than being awestruck at an individual's incredible sense of space and place, in a world that's increasingly about "throw away" things...we can always find an antidote in brilliant architecture. The concept of permanency acts to motivate and continues to produce work that takes your breath away. It's also a concept we all need to welcome back into our day to day - quality, consequence, lasting, love and more often than not, simplicity.

I hope these images make you stop and smile at the talent in the world.