SCAD: Sleep Comes After Death

So, obviously when you are exhausted the best idea is to go out dancing until the wee hours of the morning!

Where were we when (alliteration) I abandoned you? After the design museum, we headed back towards our hotel. There was an exhibit that opened earlier this week at the V&A museum (which is still right across the street from us). This exhibit was a digital media exhibit, exploring art in new technology. It was pretty interesting. When you walk in, you walk past these cat-tail shaped things, which have sensors on them so as you walk by they light up. Simple stuff. The cooled part of this exhibit will be hard to explain, but I will try. There were all sorts of cylinders strung up together, in a grid I guess. They were painted from tan to black. When you stepped in front of it, the cylinders rolled, making a mirror image of you. Now, it was not detailed enough to get your eye sockets or anything, but it was detailed enough so that you could see your outline, and some 3-d details. Very very cool piece of technology. There were about 30 pieces in this exhibit, and it cost 4 pounds. I think it was worth it though. Stuff I need to know about, and keep on top of!

After I finished in there, I headed back to my room - exhausted. I sat down for about 10 minutes, then the guys came knocking on my door. The three of us went to see the Festival of Choirs at St Martins of the Fields, by Trafalgar Square. It was like all Festivals of the Choirs, but it was a good change of pace. Very pretty music, and who doesn't love the birth of Jesus!

Phillip is from Texas, and on the first night we were here we stumbled across a restaurant/bar called the Texas Embassy of London. So, of course we went for him! I had some Corona and Quesadillas! It was a delicious meal. I love Mexican food, and have been missing it greatly for the past few weeks. There was a girl working there from Colorado. From there we wondered until we found the plaque that said "Something something something, the Republic of Texas." Phillip was very excited and happy about that! Got back around midnight, and slept.

This morning we met around 10 again. Nice. First stop was Pentagram. Obviously everyone except for me and one other got on the wrong train. People just don't know how to travel. I cannot imagine being in a non-english speaking country with this group. They are a mess. I miss my car a lot, and my freedom, and my independence.

Anyways, back to Pentagram. This studio is more Graphic Design than Advertising Design. It was good to stop by there, and learn about them. (Especially since I thought about GRDS as a minor, and haven't gotten around to dropping it yet - oops) Also, they gave us each a $60 book. Something to look at on the plane! The lady that met with us does package design for luxury brands (fine wines, etc) and the guy focus more on department store stuff. A nice mix, and they complimented each other very well.

Next we had a meeting at Wolff Olins, which was a branding agency. We met with an American transplant, and a British guy. The American lady worked on Targets "Up & Up" brand, in New York. Since I am taking BRANDING THEORY next quarter -wahoo?- it was a good introduction into their process. Of course, we won't have a process in our class, and it will probably be a shit show - welcome to SCAD group projects! Anyways. They also design the shit logo for the Olympics in 2012, which are here in London. I feel like last time I was here they had just found out they had the 2012 games, and had started construction. Interesting - I hadn't thought about that until now. There is a lot less construction going on here than last time, but the city skyline is still interrupted with a lot of cranes. Besides the point.

We were done with all of that around 3, and it took until after 4 to get back to the hotel. Gotta love a city that has train rush hour all day. Hung out with Ashley in the room, blogged a wee bit, and got ready for our $10,000 dinner. Yes, SCAD paid for this - and by that I mean, it was included in our trip costs.

We went to an Italian place within walking distance from the hotel. It was delicious. Since the professors said that the bill would include everything except alcohol, I think my meal alone came to about $100. We had like 3 baskets of pizza bread (between 4 of us); I had a calamari appetizer; gorgonzola, mushroom, and pink sauce pasta; chocolate truffle yumminess; a cappaccino; and about four diet cokes. I would count that a success. Also, the professors were taking shots of Lemoncello. Silly old people. Gotta love em! Dinner took about two and a half hours. Which was about an hour and a half longer than anyone wanted to be there.

At 9:45 most of the group (about 25 of us) met in the lobby to go out! We started at a few pubs close to the hotel. Eventually we ended up splitting up, and 9 of us went to a place called "Motion." Obviously this is a dance club. A dance club full of AMERICANS. It was bullocks. Haha, actually it was a lot of fun and we knew most of the music, but I would have preferred be with the natives. My feet are killing me and I am sleepy.

I have to be downstairs by 9:30 tomorrow morning, oye. Its almost 4 here now. Should enjoy a few hours of sleep before we go to the Abbey. Love you all! Be home soon!