A new podcast from the ABC has come to light, which shows an insight of the events of what really happened on the 11th of November 1975.

The famous press conference on the steps of Canberra’s Old Parliament House where the famous words echoed "Well may we say" speech made by Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam on the day he was sacked by the Queen’s representative.

If you are a fan of Australian history or politics, don't miss this podcast. I'm looking forward to checking it out myself!

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Monica’s signed copy of the Dismisal, by author Paul Kelly, 2015.

Here are some branding projects we have produced.

Top: Vlad Mosmondor Fellow DIA FAS ADD, designed and produced the NPC (National Press Club of Australia) logo back in the 1980’s (middle). The Prime Minister of Australia, Bob Hawlk’s photograph shows the logo in full view. Later it was changed to what we have today.

Middle: Monica Shanahan MDIA, produced the award winning logo Ecovilla. Published in the Logo Lounge crests & logos.

Bottom: Vlad Mosmondor’s winning design and branding that was chosen from a competition for the NCDC (National Capital Development Commission) in the 1970’s.

I've been a fan of Bon Jovi since I was 12 years old. I'm a huge rock chick - glam rock you can say. It's a genre that isn't main stream these day, except for when the band ’The Darkness’ entred the scene. Aside from that, like everything in 2020 it seems my youth that was filled with SHE-RA Princess of Power and the latest wonder women film that's set in 1984 are all fashionable now.

Even after 30 plus years Bon Jovi is still rocking. Jon may have gone grey but he's still singing of issues that are current these days. Their sound may have changed since Richie left the group, but that's how life is. Nothing stays the same.

The Bon Jovi 2020 album is the first since the bands 1983 debut album ’Bon Jovi’ and ’7800 degrees Fahrenheit’ where Jon is only on the cover, without the other band members. I liked what John had done for this album cover for 2020, he had thought hard about it. Here is what he had to say:

In the wake of the George Calombaris story where the successful Master Chief judge was heard to have underpaid his staff that were working in each of his 16 restaurant's around Australia. This news had taken back many people. The final outcome arrived where recently a decision had been made where George was fined $7.8m due to his actions.

It's never nice to be taken advantage of in any industry, being that the hospitality or in my case the design industry. Saying that, it brings to light a very unpleasant job application experience.

As a seasoned graphic designer of over 15 years, I was sent a very enthusiastic email notifying me that I have successfully made it to the ‘next stage’ for a graphic design position. For the next round they would like to allow my talent and creativity to speak for them before progressing to any interviews.

Only to be told that I had a small design task to complete with a design brief of some creative work including design materials to assist. This was two pages long... you might as well hire me now to do the job!

On top of that, they only required a ’rough version.’ This task I would estimate would taken me anywhere from 2 to 4 good hours to produce. And if you did complete the request, there is no guarantee that you will receive an interview.

I was thinking to myself, I just sent you my CV, cover letter and digital portfolio for consideration. I do not need to prove my skills or talents any further.

I had alarm bells ringing, this is extremely unethical to ask me and other applicants to provide you with a design concept. This is called ’free pitching’. The DIA (Design Institute of Australia) which I am a member of, does not support such a practice.

The DIA holds the view that any form of competitive pitching – paid or unpaid – is inherently flawed, and therefore by implication, unprofessional.

Young designers trying to carve a niche in a market with well established players face strong temptations to free pitch. The best advice is to think clearly about the extent to which you are undermining your ability to sell your services in future dealings with the customer and the degree to which you are destroying your professional credibility. Spending the same time and resources on an existing client relationship or the broad search for clients prepared to engage you on the strength of your folio is likely to yield more certain returns.

It just re-enforced the ”my time has value" movement that I was following back in 2015. Surprisingly in this day and age, this company had never heard of ’free pitching’ before. They confessed they hadn't read my cover letter or CV as they don't understand what a designer does or what the technical aspects require.

You wonder who is assessing your portfolio when you are applying for these positions. There is no creative director anymore who is in the hiring process, which is vital. You are now dealing with an everyday Joe blow, who has no idea what the role advertised entails ie: aspects such as typography, composition, text and graphic layout, knowledge of pre-press and many other graphic and technical requirements that are needed as a designer, including and above all CREATIVITY.  Which this can only be judged with one who understands design and the fundamentals that goes with it.

I hope any designer who reads this, that they are educated in what ’free pitching ’ is, and hopefully they do not waste their valuable time. I know that I haven't wasted mine!

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Only a few more hours now, until we farewell 2019. I’ve had a lot on my plate this year, not including completing two certificates at CIT, Marketing & Social Media and Cert 3 in Community Services, and receiving my green belt in Karate. On top of that abruptly ending my graphic design, marketing and coms position at the Canberra Business Chamber, due to staff redundancies, my second experience in this.

I’ve also attended well over 30 plus job intereviews in the last seven months in my related career, up until the final day today, with no avail.

I’ve had a great chance to be involved with the chambers rebranding working with the previous CEO Robyn Hendry. Being involved in the design and implementation and the change over from the old branding to the new. I’ve placed a few samples here of my work.

The Business Council, also celebrated 40 years! My father Vlad Mosmondor, Graphic designer was commissioned by the CEO at the time to produce the iconic logo in the 1970’s. The Business Council later emerged into the now ‘Canberra Business Chamber.’ Where I myself was working as their designer up until this year.

So who knows what 2020 will bring... I hope for one thing that my job seeking days will soon be ended like this drought we are having across Australia! We need rain, and qualified people like myself and others who are having difficulties in the unemployment world need jobs too. Good luck everyone, and the firefighters all across our states! Keep up the amazing work.

Mosmondesign’s website has the right stuff - it's inline with the Pantone 2020 colour of the year 😊👍