Alvin Diec's inspiring work

I fail to remember the first time I came across Alvin's work. All I know is that the playful yet reserved design of his XX Poster (below) has been imprinted on my mind since. I was subsequently thrilled to find the poster in question posted on the Grain Edit blog. Finally, an name to the work! I was even more thrilled to find further beauties on his website. What an imaginative yet restrained sense of composition and typography he has.

Stranger and Stranger

I was recently introduced to the impressive portfolio of Stranger & Stranger who's sensitively designed packaging are lovely to look at. Yes, they're bottles of alcohol but their exquisitely executed typography and beautifully designed artwork screams luxury.

Looking through their work got me thinking about the rich visual history that's entwined with alcohol. The labels communicate something of the culture of the country that the drink originates from and even manage to embody the (implied) sexuality and class of those who should drink it. Whether its the strong Blackletter typography of the 'Flaming Heart' Scotch Whisky or the elegant Didot used in the letters for Pino Grigio, it is clear that there is a rigid visual language to associated with alcoholic drink branding.

For me, these are successful examples of design because Stranger & Stranger speak this language fluently. They have researched the rules of their language to the point where they can reinterpret them while continuing to reassure the viewer that the contents inside is still a marvelously good whisky, or an incredible full bodied red. This translation is simple because they don't veer too far away from the set visual boundaries. They never overwrite its history or alter its sexuality. Furthermore it only appears simple because we are bombarded with these visual languages day in day out. As viewers and buyers of these products we are just as fluent in their language, the difference is that people like Stranger & Stanger are masters of its execution.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS WORK!

What a talented chap, visit his website for further delight.

Sketches and screenprints old and new

These are amongst my favorite drawings and prints I've ever done but they sit unseen in sketchbooks and dusty portfolios. I thought I'd revive them with a scan and an upload onto the world wide web! 

Mode of Transformation - Mowhawk Paper Promotion

In their efforts to show off the latest printing techniques and range of effects, promotional booklets produced by paper suppliers can run the risk of looking gimmicky. In this design by VSA Partners' for Mowhawk Papers the printing is modest and beautifully anonymous; the exquisite craftsmanship and thoughtful compositions are what promote the product.

I like the subtle analogy of the paper's history to the evolution of the bicycle and think the combination of digital and hand drawn typography softens the message.  For these reasons it is up there as my favorite piece of editorial design of last year.

Typography Inspiration

During my time at LCC I had the pleasure of meeting Dave Dabnar in his letterpress studio. Once you get past the dodgy scene-setting intro, this film captures Dave's typographic passion and wisdom. I remember thinking that his somewhat ridgid views regarding digital typography, were so valuable. It's so easy to meaninglessly move type and image around a page on a computer. Type setting on the other hand, makes you slow design down much like writing on a typewriter disables you to reshuffle words to make sentences sound good. 

I then remembered a friend telling me about Will Self's conversion to typewriting as a way of thinking more about what your creating. Speaking about the difference in approach he says:

"I think the computer user does their thinking on the screen, and the non-computer user is compelled, because he or she has to retype a whole text, to do a lot more thinking in the head," Will Self on Typewriting. Full Article here

I really try to retain the sort of creative approach upheld by Dave and Will in my own work and think that every designer can benefit from swapping mouse for pen, keyboard for metal. Even just for a day!

Final Drawing for Vintage Stylist

I've finally finished the final pen and ink drawing for the Vintage Styling service 'Have You Met Ms Jones'. I surprised myself at how much I enjoyed fashion illustrations. I've since been trawling magazines and the web for images to interpret and while I like a little meat on my bone, I get drawn to the model's spindly frames. They make fantastic lines to draw.  Perhaps a range of screen prints is on the cards!?