Penguin Classic Hardbacks

Penguin have come up trumps again, releasing their new range of hardback books. The design is simple pattern repetition in two colour. I saw the books whilst perusing through the shelves of Waterstones the other day and I was tempted to buy the whole lot, even though I already own half of the titles.

Below is a close up of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre in red and gray with what looks to be horse chestnut leaves in a traditional arrangement. I will definitely endeavour to introduce them to my bookshelf as soon as I have some spare cash.


I really like this one, mainly for the subtle colours and delicate pattern which I feel really goes with the story of Wuthering Heights. Each pattern is appropriate to the story and I think this is very important, even if it is conceptual and not immediately apparent.


The design is by Coralie Bickford-Smith and more of the covers can be seen on Flickr Other book covers by Bickford-Smith can be seen on her personal website cb-smith.com


More information is available on the Penguin Blog

Mossenger

Mossenger is an event created by Anna Garforth as part of YCN Live. The Mossenger project uses moss to create type for the verse of a poem written by poet Elly Stevens. This live art event already took place between August 26th and September 5th, 2008 in Stoke Newington, London. The pictures above show some of the living moss words from the poem attached to the walls.

Also known as 'Sporeborne', it was featured in Creative Review, Oct 2008. Garforth writes:

"It seems as if writing with moss, represents an unusual synthesis between advanced civilisation and nature. It is a chance for us to speak as individuals and artists, but also to be the spokesperson of organisms which have no voice in our world. We hope that not only the words will be noticed, but also the moss itself, put to the forefront through it's sculpting, fashioned into a form we can understand."


Garforth also created the visuals for a flyer and web banner for a conference that CABE (The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) are holding on the emerging role of green infrastructure within the urban environment. These images seem to be based on the images from the Mossenger project.

More of Garforth's work can be seen on crosshatchling.co.uk

Design Classics & Bond Stamps

I recently purchased four sets of these new special edition stamps from Royal Mail, depicting some of the greatest design classics of our time. There are ten stamps in each set.

1. Supermarine Spitfire: RJ Mitchell
2. Mini Skirt: Mary Quant
3. Mini Cooper: Sir Alec Issigonis
4. Anglepoise Lamp: George Cawardine
5. Concorde: Aerospatiale-BAC
6. K2 Telephone Kiosk: Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (pictured above)
7. Polypropylene Chair: Robin Day
8. Penguin Books: Edward Young
9. London Underground Map: Harry Beck (or Henry Beck as I know him) (pictured above)
10. Routemaster Bus: Design team led by AAM Durrant

Each of these stamps are clean and iconic, making the stamps themselves sought after design pieces.

I also gave into some special edition James Bond stamps recently, which I won't be using. These are to be saved, since they are too good to use. Each stamp shows a strip of four Ian Flemming book covers, creating an elongated stamp which is more unusual than the standard.



All stamps are available from the Royal Mail

Abandoned

Today I am bringing you images of some interesting looking abandoned buildings. The way these have been shot are quite beautiful in some instances and make you wonder why they haven't been snapped up by some savvy investor to be reinvented and reused as some luxury accommodation.

Well here is your answer. The pictures above are from San Zhi, Taiwan. It is abandoned city in the North of the country and was initially intended for luxury accommodation. However during the construction of these pod like apartments, there were several fatalities.

The government funded project was then halted due to lack of funds and the entire project was brushed under the carpet due to the unusual amount of deaths during site construction. The government wanted to be seen as far away from it as possible to avoid bad press.

An aerial view of the site can be seen here



The above photograph (car) was taken in Centralia, Pennsylvania where an underground coal fire has been burning for years, deeming it an unsafe area to live in. Quite an amazing story:

"Johnathan Faust opened Bull’s Head Tavern in Centralia in 1841, and Centralia was incorporated as a borough in 1866. The anthracite coal industry was the principal employer in the community until the 1960s, when most of the companies went out of business. An exposed vein of coal ignited in 1962 thanks to weekly garbage burning, and as a result a huge underground coal fire commenced. Attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful, and it continued to burn throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Adverse health effects were reported by several people due to the carbon monoxide produced.

In 1979, locals became aware of the scale of the problem when a gas station reported a fuel temperature of 172 degrees Fahrenheit (77.8°C). This provoked widespread attention, boosted in 1981 when a 12-year-old almost plunged to his death as a 4 foot wide, 150 foot deep sinkhole suddenly opened beneath his feet. In 1984, $42 million was spent on relocation, with most residents moving to the nearby Mount Carmel and Ashland. In 1992, Pennsylvania condemned all houses within the borough, meaning that of the 1,000+ residents in 1981 - only a handful now remain - mainly priests. The fire still rages on, and according to experts could do so for another 250 years."

Source: listverse.com

Photograph above with stained glass was taken in Pripyat, Ukraine which had been home to most of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant workers. the place was abandoned due to threat of radiation after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The city will not be safe for human habitation for several years to come, and even then it will be a long time before people consider it healthy to develop once again.

Top 10 Abandoned Places

The Man Who Couldn't Open Doors

Paul Arden unfortunately passed away last year. But he was and still remains, a great asset to the design world. His book
It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be is my personal bible. Full of inspiration and feel good factors, it helps you through creative uncertainty and gives you the positivity you need to go the extra mile.


Interestingly enough, I discovered that Arden made a film called The Man Who Couldn't Open Doors. This I feel is in the same vein as his bestselling book and something that is very relevant to my experiences at the moment. I am looking for a job after the company I worked for went into liquidation just before Christmas. This is exactly what I am trying to do: open doors.

In this industry it is not easy, many of these metaphorical 'doors' being firmly closed to new graduates and inexperienced newcomers. And in the current economical job drought that we find ourselves in, in Britain, it is much more difficult to cut the mustard...which I just googled and ironically is a graphic design agency! Showing how flooded the market already is.

The short film that Arden produced is beautifully shot, with a great soundtrack and a strong art house suspense to it. A good measure of humour is also thrown in which I find always helps with the witty narration. Enjoy it for yourself below.

The Man Who Couldn't Open Doors | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

Cinematographer: Alex Thompson
Director: Paul Arden
Written by Bo Fowler.

The Standard, Downtown

I endeavoured to stay at The Standard hotel, in downtown LA since it is well known as a design youths mecca. However, my recent graduate budget did not quite stretch to this and I ended up staying at the Wilshire Grand down the road for nearly half the price. I did go and have a nose around though to see what I was missing out on.

I didn't get to see any of the rooms, but after doing research, I found their information graphics to be both user friendly and amusing. I think these signs really capture the spirit of this hotel. It pioneers to be different, to be young, hip and with it as the upside down signage and logo suggests. The Standard hotels want to be seen as the last of the party hotels, still allowing smoking in some of their rooms. This would probably put me off staying there, since I can't stand the smell, especially somewhere you sleep!




Something I didn't expect to run in during my visit to The Standard, was Rudy's barbershop. One of my favourite graphic design firms in LA created the mural for this trendy budget chain and I just so happened to pass it. I took some photos with my disposable camera but they didn't come back, so here are the ones from National Forest's site, which can be accessed below.
nationalforest.com




LA is not a place I can see myself living, but there sure is lots to see and do if you have the money and the know how. It was an enjoyable, fun packed week.

P.S. If you want a really great haircut, you must look up my friend Rayzor on Melrose Avenue:

Gorgeous Hollywood

Walt Disney Concert Hall

After visiting San Francisco and Cosa Mesa (Orange County), I travelled to downtown Los Angeles, where I stayed right around the corner from Frank Gehry's awesome Walt Disney Concert Hall.

This amazing building is something which I could not have prepared myself for. After watching 'Sketches of Frank Gehry' nearly two years ago, I was inspired by his unorthadox architecture and creative approach to public buildings. He is a master of his field and I have a lot of respect for him. To see a Gehry building in reality is a wonderful experience. I stumbled across it whilst trying to find LA's MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art). I believe it must be viewed several times, at varying times of day in order to see it in as many lights as possible. I only visited twice due to my limited stay, but it left a lasting impression.

On the plane on the way back to England, several weeks later, I was subjected to the awful Steve Carrel film, 'Get Smart'. The end segment of the film is set in Gehry's concert hall and even though the film was cringe worthy, seeing the building shot by a Hollywood film crew, brought back great memories.

You can walk up and around the building, through the converging planes of silver sheets. The space is clever and exploring it is a joy. Inside there is a bar made from thick glass layers. It's a must see for those in LA.

Golden Gate Bridge

I recently embarked on a journey through California and Florida. My first stop was San Francisco, where I stayed with my boyfriends aunt, Theresa. We walked an awful lot and I got to go to some great restaurants as well as the farmers market at the Ferry Building. One of my biggest achievements in the city was that I walked from the Mission district, through the downtown area and to the Golden Gate Bridge. I took this photograph just before Theresa and I walked over the epic 1.7 mile long bridge (4200 feet).

I have to say that my feet were hurting rather a lot when I completed the bridge and so we took the bus home. But now I can say that I did it. And I have this beautiful picture with the cloud falling over the immense structure as a reward.


Click here for a flickr feed of more pictures from my travels.

Opening Ceremony of 2008 Beijing Olympics

The opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics absolutely blew me away. Politics aside and regardless of the CG fireworks, the drum countdown was so breathtaking, it made me watch the entire four or so hours of the ceremony. The power of the 2008 Chinese people who kept in time with such military precision was certainly a sight to behold. They beat their square drums, which lit up and created aerial images in lights. Probably one of the most impressive moments was when these light patterns went on to form the countdown numbers in both Western numbers and Chinese characters.

The history of the drum, sometimes called a Fou is an interesting one. Originally it was just a large pot which could be round or square. However, during social gatherings, after the Chinese people had drunk maybe a little too much, they would sing and make music as is common in many cultures. The Fou therefore became a makeshift instrument, which then found its way into popular instrument territory later on.

If you haven't already seen and appreciated this section of the Olympic Ceremony, then it is an absolute must. Do it now!

Watch now on youtube.com

Design Salary Survey

How much are designers really on? Coroflot's recent survey of salaries in the design industry tells us just that. Professions from Architecture to Fashion design were compared and coming up on top were Design Management jobs which averaged between $70K-$80K according to a 2001-2007 analysis poll.

So, are you in the wrong profession?