Today sees us all wishing a happy 18th birthday to Emma. She put on her best sulky face when the camera came out but we managed to catch her usual smiling self a moment later.

This week we’ve had the talented young Megan Lane with us on work experience and wanted to share the fantastic little stop motion animation she’s created with you all. At only 15 years old, she’s one to watch out for in the next few years!

It was a baking summers afternoon in Manchester and the unforgiving heat hung heavy in the Creative Spark studio, the only sound a gentle whir of a desk fan overlaid with the staccato rhythm of mouse clicks and key taps as the team worked diligently. As the clock’s hands created a fleeting but perfect horizon, there began a shuffling of feet and a small but ever-growing furore around the sofa. Delicious snacks and fine beverages were brought forth from their staging area in the kitchen, the electronics were tuned to The Beeb and the last few members of staff, still thus far engrossed in their work, were gently encouraged to join the rest of the team to witness what could have been England’s last grasping hope at planetary football domination for the next four years. Luckily, we won.

Roll on Sunday and our first match of the knockout stages!

Meet Tom, he’s spending the next 3 month’s with us on placement as part of the Manchester Masters scheme. He’s one of the chosen 10 on the scheme this year, so it’s an absolute pleasure to have him on board helping out on all things marketing. Why this picture? I have no idea, answer’s on a postcard please.

…well, not quite as he’s probably a bit little to be networking yet!

Big congratulations and lots of cooing to our client Emma James from Thirsty Thursdays who gave birth to beautiful baby boy Fox on 14th September.

The lovely Fox weighed in at an eye-watering 9lbs 9oz. Well done Emma! We hope to see him in the Creative Spark office very soon, so we can turn him into a computer geek!

Baby Fox Sumner, born 14/09/09

Emma, Baby Fox and his big brother Rock looking pretty chuffed with his new brother!

Last week saw our Work Placement’s Desk™ in use once more by the hands of Jamie Johnson, an aspiring young designer who’s currently at sixth form and looking at pursuing a career in the design and web industry, following in his father’s (Pete Johnson of AWA Manchester) creative footsteps. He got stuck into designing magazine and CD covers with an enthusiasm that should see him do very well in the future.

If you’d like to do a work placement with us yourself, please drop us an email with your details.

Yesterday saw our first visit to the Big Chip Awards, and whilst we didn’t win, we had a good night with the folk from Manchester United Soccer Schools, Ricky Gervais(ish) and Bill Bailey.

Congratulations has to go to our friend and collaborater Ian Hogg who snapped up two awards for a great piece of CGI animation with ahd imaging. Watch out for next year, we’ll be back to get some for ourselves!

Snarling Liam

Last weekend saw most of the Creative Spark gang haul-ass down to Heaton Park through the driving wind and rain to watch Oasis in their massive homecoming gigs.

Despite the rubbish weather, we all had an amazing time. Oasis played a big set of 24 favourites including Masterplan, Half the World Away, Champagne Supernova and Live Forever.

Kasabian were also amazing and we all wished that we’d got to their secret gig in HMV on Market Street on Monday.

Gemma and Georgina get into the Golden Circle

Andy's Mad Fer It

Noel givin' it some

Oasis ripping up Heaton Park

This weekend Carl, our studio manager, finally got to say hello to his daughter Nina after nine months of excitement, nerves and outright fear. We’re all looking forward to meeting her soon and finding out whether she’s as cute in real life as she looks in these photos!

How old do you have to be before you can use a Mac nowadays anyway?