7 rules

while researching for my final major project i found some useful tips for designers/about designers that was graphically more interesting that what i've found so far. i've been looking at big blocks of text, jargon and generalised information. this helpful advice shows that rules and guidance can look good. it is a good use of text, balance and composition all to enhance and clarify the meaning behind the image.

http://www.thedonutproject.com/inspiration/the-7-rules-to-understand-design-and-designers/

a book lover never goes to bed alone

http://bookshelves.tumblr.com/

...so never go to bed alone

stockholm design lab [studio]

"The Venice Biennale is the worlds most exciting visual arts event that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The 53rd International Art Exhibition, curated by Daniel Birnbaum, comprised works by over 90 artists from all over the world. The assignment was to create a new strong visual identity that would communicate the theme‚ Making Worlds. The visual identity should both reflect the atmosphere of the Art Exhibition, keep all activities together and create an extraordinary interest.


The design concept for‚ Making Worlds‚ is a graphic language with a visible connection to the world, that stands strong and clear in its own communication. We combined elements from something truly universal‚ all the flags of the world‚ and created something new. The making of worlds with abstract forms."


for a little bit more information...

the vinyl factory

"The Vinyl Factory is a music and arts enterprise curating exhibitions and producing limited edition vinyl packaging in collaboration with artists and designers. Combining a logotype with a series of experimental mark making techniques Village Green created a simple identity system that is used across a number of promotions and applications."

for more info

the secret life of homes

While doing some general research for my dissertation I stumbled upon this documentary called "The Secret Life of Buildings" on Channel 4. Its a few weeks old now but watching made me appreciate how important the design of - space that everybody uses and has - a home. 

I recommend this hugely even though it is more specifically architectural and interior design but everybody could learn and take away from this. 

Heres the link to watch it on 4OD and below is some information I founded on the channel 4 page about the program and in particular the home episode.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-secret-life-of-buildings/4od

Explore how good architecture can improve our home lives.

Architectural space is a very difficult concept to grasp. We experience it intuitively, and find it hard to describe exactly what qualities a space has. Yet we all have our favourite spaces at home. The corner where we can sit in the sunlight and lose ourselves in a book, the quiet place where we can connect with the natural world outside, or simply the chair where we relax and drift off to sleep. Good architecture is about creating more of those places and integrating them better in a building. It's a difficult job, and it requires a lot of thought, but the results can improve our lives significantly.

Open or Closed?

Walk along any street in Holland after dark and you'll see curtains open and the interior clearly on display. The Dutch do this to reassure the person looking in that there is nothing untoward going on; nothing to hide. They are suspicious of houses where curtains are closed. Contrast this with a street in the UK where almost everyone has their curtains shut. We feel uneasy about people who leave their curtains open in the UK where having somebody peek in seems like someone seeing us naked.

Homes Change People

Our homes are the most familiar spaces to us, and what we do to them is a deeply personal expression of ourselves. Winston Churchill wrote that 'we shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us' meaning that the environments we create also end up changing us. Poor quality homes will, in the long run, make us feel shoddy; well designed homes are able to nurture the better, more positive sides of us.

More Bedrooms Doesn't Mean Better Space

When we compare the average floor area of housing across the Western world, the UK comes bottom. We have less space in our homes then almost every other developed country. Holland, a country with a much higher population density than the UK has, on average, larger homes.

A smaller country, with more people per square mile, and larger homes! How can that be? One reason is that we buy our houses based on the number of bedrooms, not on the floor area or volume of a house, so we get duped by estate agents and developers as to what a 'big' house is.

Good Design Can Help

Another reason is good design. Dutch housing makes efficient use of space and materials in producing good quality housing and lasting architecture that really works for individuals and communities.

The UK is not known for the quality of its housing design. Many new homes, built by developers rather than architects, have small windows, are made of poor quality materials, and are designed for show, not durability and adaptation. We may have a five bedroom house, but does it actually have enough storage space?

How Light Affects Wellbeing

Small windows and cramped spaces can have a very real effect on our physical and mental wellbeing. Reduced levels of natural light can:

- Affect our energy levels

- Weaken our immune system 

- Induce depression

They can also put pressure on the relationships we have with the people that we live with. Bad space can literally break us up.

Making Space for Improvement

If you want to improve the quality of your home environment consider letting more light into your home, using skylights, for example. Concentrate on freeing up space by de-cluttering. And if you can, think about consulting an interior architect to help you redesign your space. Architects are trained to make the best use of limited spaces, not just design funky homes for rich clients. Small spaces are often a much more attractive architectural puzzle and a good solution can help you and your family flourish.

dot.

the worlds smallest animation, made with the amazingly talented guys at ardman.

they are pretty amazing and ever since wallace and gromet as a kid, i love everything they do. the care, love and attention into their work is inspirational and its evident here in this short piece of stop motion, about a girl called dot.

and heres the making of dot.

apple store for type nerds

this is definitely my dream shop

it sells amazing stuff, look contemporary and sleek with a completely unique yet traditional approach to selling a typically digital format

i saw this on this website so check it out and it has lots of info and further links about the shop in the article.

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663343/worlds-first-an-apple-store-for-type-geeks-slideshow

still life

a brilliant song and video to match

[no more needs to be said]

the horrors - still life

bert & ernie

abandoned

a series of drawings, collages and paintings by seth clark

beautifully subtle use of colour and texture

http://sethsclark.com

shaun of the dead

such a iconic film and one of my favourites

some original and alternative film posters.

check out some more here

sounds of summer

music is so important to be and feel creative

with summer approaching (despite awful weather at the moment) here are some really lovely songs to brighten up your day.

some new and some favourite bands of mine that are creative and fun.

Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People

Total Life Forever by Foals

(this album is amazing)

hyperkit [studio]

Huge fan of hyperkits work - love the cross between super clean and retro handmade style.

They have an unique and inventive use of typography. 

House of Propellers

"We designed the identity for this Clerkenwell gallery space which showcases the work of designers, illustrators and photographers.

The traditional element suggested by the gallery’s name is visually communicated using lettering redolent of old shopfronts. This is produced in gold foil on cards, and gold lettering on the gallery window."

SE Housing and the City

"This publication contains research created by students over a period of one term. Hyperkit was invited to host a series of workshops with students to help them with the visual presentation of their research and we were then commissioned to design a book to publicise their findings and ideas.

Students worked together in groups of six, each focusing on a different aspect of housing within the London Borough of Southwark. The reader navigates the publication by black tabs which correlate with the contents page. The final publication is 164 pages, 200 x 270mm, and has a greyboard cover which has been foil-blocked."

Joe and Co

Hyperkit looked to deconstruct the traditional barbershop situation and rebuild it for a contemporary audience with all its recognisable parts present. Initial inspiration for Joe and Co came from looking at how objects are organised within the traditional barbershop, as well as workshops, sheds and garages. This led to us developing a collaged aesthetic when designing the space and the furniture within, combining materials and textures in a very straightforward and functional fashion.

The main materials used for bespoke furniture at the shop are solid English oak, oak-veneered plywood and powder-coated steel. We used oak as it is a warm, natural material that can be traditionally crafted. The coloured steel items were chosen to contrast with the wood. Throughout the construction it was important to us that  you would see how the furniture was made; this is mostly evident in the very visible joinery of the oak display frames and the inlaid metal shelves and troughs.

The graphic and geometric nature of the Joe and Co logo and printed material was conceived as a contemporary substitute to the traditional barbershop patterns such as the stripy red and white pole and the black and white checked lino floors.