graphic design, art, typography and architecture

The inimitable graphic designer (aka type-god) Jonathan Barnbrook will hold his Friendly Fire UK exhibition at the Design Museum (June 15 to October 10), and will be a great opportunity to see the development of his work, especially in experimental typography. If you've been in a coma for the last decade (the only plausible excuse for not having seen his work), then take a trip, via a click, to his studio's website. It wouldn't surprise me to hear than Barnbrook is married to a font (now there's a thought), such is his love affair with type - and it really ... [more]

Well, I can't say that I've given much thought to Iranian typography before - until today, that is. The Basel School of Design is hosting an exhibition of '50 Years of Iranian Typography' from today. Professor Renner says: We do not have to work hard to find links between the typographic arts of Iran and Switzerland. I'm not quite sure how Prof. Renner defines "hard work"; I think you'd have to do a lot of really hard work (e.g. labour in a Soviet Gulag) to find anything but the most tenuous of links between the typographies of Switzerland and Iran. He also says: We ... [more]

This new range of lead crystal glassware inspired by metal machine components is the result of a collaboration between Koncern Design and glassworks Rückl Crystal a. s. in the Czech Republic. Glassware was once a burgeoning industry in the former Czechoslovakia, but in the last two decades has faced a steady decline in output and demand (no political astuteness awards for guessing why). I'm a huge fan of design that takes its cue, it's inspiration from the industrial. The range includes: sets of beverage glassware for whiskey, champagne, wine (one design for both red and white) and absinthe. Each piece is ... [more]

I have discovered a wonderful resource in DynamicGraphics.com. How I didn't stumble across it before, I will never know. Anyway, if you're after some inspiration, tips about typography, web design, graphic design, how to save your marriage, then get over to their site (the last in the list is hyperbole - I got a little excited). I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the articles; they appear very well-researched, and offer some invaluable tips. There's a lot of dross out there when it comes to "design tips", but this site is, from what I can see, 100% dross-less. If ... [more]

The red dot awards for communication design are beginning another round this year. Winners will have their work displayed in the red dot museum for a year. They are inviting designers, advertising agencies and the like to submit their work. This year they have have added a little credibility to their Packaging Design category, by appointing 3 specialists in the field, though they don't name names. Registrations can be made on-line at www.red-dot.de/registration. The registration deadline is 22 June 2007. Former winners include NEUE DIGITALE GmbH for their work on the Adidas Y-3 web site (above) - visually nice and ... [more]

I like the work of Georgia Russell, a Scottish artist who creates art from books. Armed with a scalpel and a bucket-load of imagination, she sculpts books, maps and other ephemera into wonderful pieces of art that are often-times displayed in acrylic cases, so that they appear as some kind of specimen. One piece titled, The Ruptures cultures resembles a sea creature or the fine fossilised remains of one. Many of the works have an "organic" feel to them, the finely cut strands of paper resembling windswept grass or aquatic filamental fibres. Though each piece is the product of a ... [more]

I love the cover of this month's Creative Review. Actually, it's not really the cover, because this month they've gone naked and ditched the cover, calling it the "It's about time we did something about sustainability and the environment" issue - more like "cost/marketing" reasons. [hold the cynicism, Ed.] Anyway, it's still my favourite magazine, and after all these years it continues to impress. You can find out more about this title by visiting their site. You can now subscribe to the on-line version, without having to subscribe to the print version (and, no, I don't work for their subscriptions department). Worth ... [more]

She's been with us for 50 years. We see her just about every day. We often use her, perhaps sometimes abuse her. Sometimes she's fat, sometimes she's condensed; she's understated, but still looking good for her age. Helvetica a documentary film by Gary Hustwit celebrates the birthday of this icon of type and, not only follows the proliferation of this font, but looks at typography in many mediums and contexts. The film is screening only at events in the US right now. It should reach Europe and the rest of the world later this year. In the meantime here's a ... [more]

I really like the idea behind this site that tracks data visualisation and information aesthetics. We see data visualisation every day and I guess pretty much never give it a second glance. However, the Information Aesthetics site shows some wonderful and innovative examples of data visualisation that will grab your attention. After a few minutes browsing this site, you'll be looking high and low for that Power Point installation disc, then you'll find another use for it - coaster, Frisbee... This is one of my favourites. Imagine seeing the same data on a graph, or as a number or index ... [more]

Skyfish Graphix is an independent books publisher specialising in wonderfully illustrated picture books that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. I bought this one: “Time is ART”Hiro & Mitsu by Chica Akazaki (赤崎チカ). Learn more about Skyfish Graphix by visiting their website (English and 日本語). [more]