GLASGOW-based design studio Graven is premiering a series of short films called Graven Design Log on the world wide web, supported by Ambiente, the world’s largest consumer goods trade fair held in Frankfurt in February 2017.

Graven Creative Director Janice Kirkpatrick, pictured, has written and presented ten one-minute films in which she explains the primary role of design in creating the products, businesses and brands that are the bedrock of successful economies. She said: "I want to use Graven Design Log to explain what design is, why it’s critically import for the future success of the UK and what it can do to help UK businesses compete successfully with those elsewhere in the world”.

Graven Design Log #01, entitled The Meaning of Cheese, was a festive offering released on December 23 and featuring Ayrshire-based cheese-maker Tricia Bey whose products are sought-after by Michelin-starred chefs. The second in the series, Sticky Pattern, is available to view from today and explains how drawing and digital technology lead to pattern creation and a sustainable source of product development that also helps to build distinctive and unique brands.

Graven Design Logs are delivered in partnership with communications consultancy, Spreng Thomson, and shot in the beautiful Carrick area of south Ayrshire, produced by Fiona White and filmed and directed by David Council with an original soundtrack by composer Brian McAlpine.

The 10-part web series will be released in instalments on the company's website and via Twitter @GravenHQ.

graven.co.uk

EAST Lothian's Greentrax Recordings is to release a new album by veteran singer/songwriter Alan Bell, for many years a member of the well-known Blackpool Taverners Folk Group whose 20 year career included radio and television appearances as well as a Royal Command Performance. Bell was founder and director of the Flyde Folk Festival and hi sbest known songs include Bread & Fishes and Windmills.

The new album, The Cocklers – Songs from a time and place, focusses on his native North West of England and includes songs documenting the Second World War service of trawler The Lord Middleton and the crash of an American Liberator bomber on to a primary school near Preston in 1940, as well as celebrating First World War veteran Harry Patch, who died in 2009 at 111 years old. The title track is about the Chinese men and women who died in Morecambe Bay in 2005.

The album was recorded in Preston with a five-piece band and will be released at the start of February.

greentrax.com