Designer Summer BBQ
Every designer is familiar with the work of London & New York based agency The Partners. They have a long list of high profile clients and projects. It’s nice to see that they still find time to be a little creative in-house. Featured on FormFiftyFive a few weeks ago, they released some shots of their rather clever Summer BBQ posters. Simple yet brilliant.
Wood
Hello Anagrama (all hail Mexico)
Mexican design agencies are getting a lot of publicity these days - and it’s obvious why. Similar to the Studio Savvy (posted on F&W a few months ago), Anagrama have a fine body of work. Stand out pieces include Micheline & Al Fresco (selected images above).
Check out their full portfolio here.
Via formfiftyfive.
Wood
Hello new facebook, goodbye google+?
Earlier this week Facebook announced their latest concept, Timeline, a way to ‘Tell your life story with a new kind of profile’. First impressions - I like it. It made looking back through years of photos/posts/shares easier and far more enjoyable. I can definitely see people responding well to it, after the initial ‘I hate change’ backlash. But what does this mean for Google+? As Ferry posted a few weeks ago, he can’t find a place for Google+ - is this one more nail in the coffin?
It’s also interesting to see some of the new creative work from Facebook. Back in April it was revealed that Nicholas Feltron & Ryan Case, the data design duo behind the new wave of everyday states and numbers (Feltron reports, Daytum), had joined the staff at Facebook. This followed the hiring of Ji Lee (from Google Labs) to become Facebook’s first creative director. Visually, Timeline looks a lot slicker and defiantly has a Feltron feel to it. We see how I get on over the next few days.
For more information check out these excellent articles - TheFoxisblack & BBC.
To get on board before the official launch next week click here.
Wood
Killer Film Poster Design
Although I’ve seen a number of Jeremy Saunders film posters before, I had know idea he was behind so many classics (thanks to thefoxisblack). His portfolio showcases a cracking selection of executions, from illustration to hand drawn type. Instead of me rambling on, I’ve taken this lovely paragraph of copy from his website:
“It’s still my ambition to inspire in the viewer that same sense of excitement or intrigue that I felt lying on my bedroom floor leafing through monochrome advertisements: that need to discover precisely what feelings, ideas or emotions the key art represents, what treats and surprises are in store when the viewer steps into the darkened auditorium. For me cinema is still the most magical of mediums; having the opportunity to work with filmmakers and compressing their ideas into a single, reductive, seductive image is a dream come true.”
Wood
A lesson in beautiful typography
Rosario Florio is a graphic designer hailing from St. Gallen, Switzerland. You may have spotted bits of her work on various typographic blogs. Rosaria has a wonderful Swiss design style to her work. Like many great Swiss designers, her portfolio showcases precision, technical craft and an attention to detail that has been the bench mark of Swiss design for years. Typographically, there is a subtlety and quietness to the work - enhanced by the considered use of white space and leading. It really is a lesson in beautiful typography.
As always a few of my favourite images are above. And be sure to check out her full website here.
Wood
Hand Crafted Design
I’ve only recently come across the work of Kyle Bean, when he was asked to create the wonderful pop-up card for The Design Museum. The project, a bit of a blog favourite, aims to promote their imminent move to the former Commonwealth Institute that will house the museum from 2014. (Check out the video to see the card in full working glory.)
Kyle is a Brighton based designer specialising in hand crafted models, set design and art direction. His work has been used across window displays, installations and advertising, and has a real warmth and natural charm to it.
View his full portfolio here. Selected images above.
Wood
Rare ‘Golden’ Work
I can’t remember when I first heard about Leeds based design agency Golden, but it was well over a year ago. More importantly I’d never seen any of their work - until now. September Industry (design blog/journal) have been granted rare access to a selection of their new work, and it’s well worth the wait!
Their portfolio demonstrates a fine range of executions, that is bold and refreshing. Standout favourites include projects for Redblue Research (ingenious colour choice) and Music Balloon (visually stunning) - images above.
They’ve also answered one of my age old questions - whats going on with their website?
“The website – it’s just not a tactile channel for us, so therefore we wanted to do something that we enjoyed, that we liked,” says Carolan. “It was great fun to do, it looked great, and it’s got a great track over the top. It is just 90 seconds of us. If you like it get in touch, if not, drink up.”
View the full selection of work here.
Wood
Award winning Eurostar rebrand from SomeOne
I’m fairly new to Identity Designed, but it’s quickly becoming a regular visit. ID basically covers everything under the ‘brand identity’ umbrella, providing great articles that explore the processes, influences and opinions from international projects.
Simon Manchipp, co-founder of London-based SomeOne, has recently contributed his thoughts, intersected with client quotes, on the recent rebrand of Eurostar. I’m a firm believer that every piece of design, no matter how small, needs to address a problem and ultimately have a clear concept. Whether your communicating a brand, product or idea with no clear goal, design can be redundant. As Nick Mercer, Commercial Director of Eurostar outlines the reasoning behind the rebrand:
“With so much change — we needed a way to signal what’s new within the service — our new brand identity will signal these changes… so where you see the new look, you’ll experience our new thinking.”
Before I read this article I was unsure on where I stood on the Eurostar rebrand. Some elements I liked, the pictograms and signage is excellent, others I felt were a little to complicated and over thought, the Fresco typography. That said I have warmed to it, and as always, once you discover the reasoning behind a project you begin to appreciate the approach and execution a little more.
Eurostar seem more than happy with the outcome, as Sarah Sempala-Ntege, Head of Brand & Design for Eurostar suggests:
“SomeOne have not just re-branded our organisation, they have created a work of art that we are simply delighted to call our own.”
Definitely worth checking out the full article on Identity Designed here.
Wood
The Great Bear
‘Ursa Major, The Great Bear’ create super natural (not the sci-fi kind) skincare products for men. Like most designers, I’m a sucker for great packaging design and branding; and Ursa Major certainly fits the bill. The guys from PTARMAK are behind the design work. It’s well worth taking a look at their website for some truly excellent design (and portfolio photography). Here.
Selected images above. Full Ursa Major website here.
Wood
Cavalier Essentials
“If Steve McQueen carried a beat-up leather duffle bag on the back of his motorcycle; what would be in it and how would the products look?”
Intrigued? Well, designer Taylor Pemberton, with the help of photographer Collin Hughes, have come up with an answer. Cavalier Essentials is a beautiful hand-crafted line of accessories & fine goods. To quote the website: “a line of vintage products designed for the rugged, yet sophisticated gentleman”.
What particularly stands out for me is the product packaging. It timelessly captures the style and attitude of that period. Products for the gentleman. These go along way in supporting the entire lifestyle vibe of the project.
Always a pleasure to see these self initiated projects.
Wood
