Upside down, left to right: a letterpress film
Here’s a beautiful documentary by Danny Cooke about letterpress printing at the Plymouth University printing workshop. It’s not only a nice film, but gives a sense of how much time and care once went into producing printed materials. A vast volume of communication products are churned out at a frenetic pace these days, and it’s not surprising that some of the fine quality has been lost. But, letterpress printers are popping up everywhere: reviving the craft and bringing back the tactile, handmade feel.
Upside Down, Left To Right: A Letterpress Film from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.
Designer as photographer
I’m really impressed by the work of US-based photographer and designer Peggy Wong. She is a former Deputy Art Director for Martha Stewart in New York and turns her hand to professional photography. She brings a graphic designer’s eye to every photo and the results are always impressive. Peggy describes herself as a designer, photographer, traveller – which sounds like the perfect job title to me. See more of Peggy’s work here.
I chose these two great Peggy Wong images of the beach at Malibu to remind those of us on the east coast of Australia that this is what summer should look like, and to warm up our friends in the northern hemisphere who are a little chilly right now.
© Peggy Wong
Diane Keaton week
It’s been Diane Keaton week here at Fusebox Design. We watched Woody Allen’s classic Annie Hall last weekend. There are lots of fashion moments throughout (Diane’s hat, tie, waistcoat and chino pants, for example). This week I’m working my way through her recently published autobiography, Then Again. But what has really caught my eye is this lovely portrait of Diane Keaton by Annie Leibovitz. Just beautiful.
© Annie Leibovitz
Butterfly beauty
These butterfly images are really amazing. They look like they’ve all consulted a graphic designer for those patterns and stripes. It’s beautiful inspiration straight from nature. The names are also good fun. The first image (from the top) is the neglected eighty-eight butterfly (Diaethria neglecta). The second is the peacock pansy butterfly (Junionia almana). Third is the zebra-winged butterfly and the final shot is the blue morpho butterfly (Morpho sp.). The poor old blue morpho lives for just 115 days – but what a beauty.
© Joel Sartore, National Geographic
© Tim Laman, National Geographic
© Joel Sartore, National Geographic
© Tim Laman, National Geographic
Paris versus New York
Vahram Muratyan is a graphic designer who has made a name for himself with his blog (and now book) Paris vs. New York – a playful visual comparison between the two cities. It’s cute and clever and made me smile. Have a look here for more of his great prints and the newly-released book.
Vahram Muratyan
The king of cool
Anyone else feel like joining me in a vote for Bryan Ferry as the coolest guy alive? I think it’s all in the fringe. And here’s a link to a bit of music while we’re at it. There’s really nothing quite like a cheesy 1980s film clip full of models.
Portrait: Marion Cotillard
Here is a really beautiful portrait of the French actress Marion Cotillard. Remember her as Édith Piaf in the film La Vie en Rose? Perhaps actors are just in a lot more photos than the rest of us, but I’m always amazed at how different they can look from one photo shoot to the next. Versatile face; versatile personality. I guess that’s acting.
ilikeproserpina, Tumblr
Rocks
Some people collect stamps. I collect rocks. I’m sure it’s a by-product of looking at the ground when I’m walking. Here are a few new additions to my pile. I love the colours of rocks, the feel of rocks in your hand, the smell of them.
I wonder if Virginia Woolfe had pockets full of rocks when she waded into the river? Maybe she just collected rocks too.
Mt Buffalo poster
This weekend we are heading to the hills: Bright in Victoria to be precise. There’s something very calming about being in the mountains for me. However this won’t be the case for Peter, who will be riding his bicycle up some of those same hills in the 2012 Alpine Classic.
Mt Buffalo is one of my favourite alpine areas in Australia. It has lovely big chunky boulders – as you can see in this vintage poster. Our Australian Alps are fairly small (compared to the mountains in other parts of the world). But they are seriously beautiful.
Image: Josef Lebovic Gallery
Sharp Berlin lines
I am really in love with these photographs by Berlin-based photographer Matthias Heiderich. Sharp, crisp lines and a big sky is a recipe for sucess in my book. He is a self-taught photographer – which is very inspiring.
Photos: Matthias Heiderich
Gong Xi Fa Cai
Happy New Year and here’s to a prosperous 2012 – year of the dragon. I think I love Chinese New Year even more than I like the regular one.
If you see a dragon, put some money in it’s mouth for good luck.
Lemon Graphic
In a nut-shell
Many of my picture books when I was a kid were stories of princesses, gnomes, fairies and forests. I knew that the word of Peter Rabbit and The Famous Five just was not mine. I loved Milly Molly Mandy, but she lived in a cottage with a thatched roof – and I wasn’t really sure what that meant.
But I was devoted to May Gibbs’ beautiful illustrations of Sugglepot and Cuddlepie, the gum-nut babies. I knew those gum leaves and nuts – they were in my backyard. I collected them, knew what they smelled like. Other characters were birds and lizards and creatures I knew. To this day I am still a bit afraid of the big bad Banksia man.
When I wonder how it is that I find myself as a graphic designer, I think back to moments as a kid, colouring-in and drawing gum-nut babies.
The Red-flowering gums (Corymbia ficifolia) are in full bloom here this Australian summer. I can’t help but imagine all those little gum-nut people in pink skirts and hats.
Images: Josef Lebovic Gallery
Vintage signage
Boy, signage is not what it used to be. Compared to any local shopping mall, there’s something very sympathetic, dignified and elegant about these vintage examples. Keep your eyes open around many cities and country towns, and you might see examples in quiet, unexpected places.
If you love old signage and typography have a look at Vernacular Typography – a site which documents some great examples from around the world.
Photos: © Molly Woodward
Muppet love
I’ve spent this afternoon looking at images of the Muppets – and I swear, it is work-related. The experience has been a bit like visiting old friends.
Given they’re such individual characters, I’m amazed at how beautifully they come together in a well-composed photograph. And they’re a wonderful lesson in illustration: the eyes, the mouths, the colours and the hands. My hat will always be off to Jim Henson.
How could you ever pick a favourite? They’re a perfect ensemble. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I may have to.
© Disney
