Beautiful bazaar

Posted by on May 14, 2012 I’m loving this magazine cover for an upcoming edition of Australian Harper’s Bazaar. It’s a beautiful and dramatic portrait of actress Nicole Kidman. But what really impresses me is a magazine that has the courage to break the convention and have minimal text on it’s cover. Among all the vibrant, busy magazine covers shouting at you to buy them on the news stand,...
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Vitra: less reverence, more life

Posted by on Apr 30, 2012 I’m sure I’m not the only one with designer furniture fatigue these days. It seems that even the Swiss furniture designer and manufacturer Vitra feels it’s time for a change of image. They have recently launched a new campaign of moody fictional short films to promote their iconic furniture products. Photographer Florian Böhm was enlisted to direct the films. The approach is...
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Designer as photographer

Posted by on Feb 16, 2012 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...
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Vintage signage

Posted by on Jan 20, 2012 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...
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Muppet love

Posted by on Jan 16, 2012 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...
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Cute coop

Posted by on Jan 13, 2012 I would dearly love to have some chickens in the yard and this great Nogg egg-shaped coop may be just the thing. It’s a stylish hen coop accommodating up to four chooks. I wonder what the chooks think of their stylish cedar wood home? It’s like an architecturally-designed...
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Vintage covers

Posted by on Jan 10, 2012 Here’s some great vintage publication covers.  
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December is flying

Posted by on Dec 6, 2011 Every year I seem to run out of time to write (and post) the Christmas cards I’d like to. What is even worse is the January ritual of throwing the cards I did receive straight into the recycling bin. So, I’m a fan of the e-card at Christmas time – on the proviso that it is tasteful and charming. A few year’s ago we started sending e-cards to our clients, and it seems to have...
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Wood, if I could

Posted by on Dec 2, 2011 In Australia we have Rosalie Gascoigne’s artwork made from rustic recycled materials and reclaimed timber. In Holland they have furniture and industrial designer Piet Hein Eek. I think, if they’d ever met, they would be able to share stories of splinters and a passion for...
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