Welcome to the Liv Design blog, an eclectic mix of great design and quirky finds

At Liv Design we love great illustration. Our current favourite is the work of Peskimo. Fantastic characters full of charm and innocence with a little bit of cheek and mischief. Peskimo is Bristol based duo David and Jodie. They've been creating characters and creatures since meeting at university and have created characters for toys, animations, advertising and clothing for people like KidRobot, Sony, Barclays and Vodaphone. Visit their website to find out more. They are currently exhibiting with at the  Teasemade Exhibition with fellow artist Chris Dickason.

Once again it's that time of year when the shops are all full of chocolatey goodness and bunny shaped sugary delights. Feel like you couldn't face another Easter of overdosing on sugar? Well, help is at hand. On March 28th it's the Nottinghamshire Motorcycle Charity Easter Egg Run. Why not donate all those eggs that you couldn't possibly eat yourself, and let them go to to a better home. The eggs are collected and distributed to disadvantaged children across the region. If you wish to donate money simply send a cheque to Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue service payable to 'Easter Egg Run'. All money collected will go towards providing day trips for disadvantaged children and children with special needs in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. Last year over a thousand bikes took part on the run and over 2300 eggs were collected. Over £1,000 was also raised on the day and with the help of local businesses, supermarkets and other donations over £5,00...

Love it hate it, there's no denying that the Nissan Cube will certainly get you noticed on the road. With it's Manga style looks and unique asymmetrical style it's certainly a quirky design. It's been described (rather harshly) as a "fridge on wheels", a "bonsai minivan" and a "Brinks Mat van that went into a boil wash"... First launched in Japan over ten years ago, the Cube immediately achieved a cult status and was adopted by the stylish, underground and urban set - the ‘denso’, carefree in spirit, unique in mind. It was intended to appeal to young people passionate about being individual and as a lifestyle choice, more than a car. It has gained a huge cult following within the creative sector with appearances in fashion, magazines, video and commercials, and online. The Cube was even voted one of the 50 cars that changed the world by the London Design Museum. Until now the Cube was only available in the UK as an import. To ret...

Here's a recent brief that we're really proud of – and the client was over the moon too! We were asked to create the complete branding for a new deli and farm produce company called 'Sophie and Boo'. As part of the branding we created the identity, stationery, jar labels, product stickers and swing tags. The brand portrays a mix of both modern and traditional themes and reflects the high-end exclusivity of hand-crafted products. The brand stands out amongst more traditional 'farm shop' produce and appeals to a more modern, younger and sophisticated market who appreciate quality products.

On a visit to the lovely Selfridges at the Bullring in Birmingham recently, I spotted this. A 'limited edition' bottle of Evian water. Not any old water, but a £5 bottle of water by world renowned Nottingham fashion designer Paul Smith. So I bought one. Yep, I bought a regular bottle of Evian water for nearly £5. Am I mad? Probably. It's been said before. Would I have bought it if it didn't say Paul Smith on it? Nope. Funny that. Odd that Paul Smith, maker of top UK fashion, would have it's brand adorned on a bottle of French water. Or is it? It's actually very clever, for both companies. Both are actually crossing into areas that you wouldn't necessarily associate with their brand. They're dipping their toes into another market with the aim of selling to a new or different target market. It could be that they want to branch into a new cultural market, a geographical market, or younger market. What they're doing is appealing to a new audience. Usi...