Fashion Market

This is a book I bought a while ago but then totally forgot I had, it's a little bit like getting something new! Fashion Market features interviews with 13 UK artists and designers from Spitalfields Market in London. It's a fantastic source of inspiration, full of colour and creativity. I love the unique stitching on the cover too, no two copies are quite the same.

The House Book

These are pages from The House Book, by Terence Conran published in 1974. By chance I found a copy tucked away on a clients book shelf, I had a good look through it at the time but resisted asking if I could keep it. Fortunately afterwards I found myself a well worn copy on Amazon. It's incredible how contemporary it looks today, even down to the layout and typography. I love the colourful stairs in the top photograph, it makes me wish we had stairs! The bottom photograph reminds me of my parents house when I was little.

All-American Ads

We needed to research some advertising from the early 1900's today and found this book, All-American Ads 1900-1919. Nearly all the work is created by hand and as a result each piece has a really beautiful unique quality. It's surprising how some of the styles and messages are still so relevant today.

By Hand

I've always loved to draw type and I used to carefully practice my handwriting when I was little. Since I left Art School and started work as a designer nearly all the type I use now is digital. I've only just realised how much I miss drawing and creating letters. When I saw Hand Job: A Catalog of Type by Michael Perry, I had to get myself a copy. It's an absolutely delightful book, with page after page of yummy hand drawn type. It's given me all sorts of ideas and inspiration already.

Coping with clients

I'm realising the better I get at my job, the harder it is to take client criticism and requests. I thought it would be something I would learn to cope with, not so. I feel more justified in my decisions and opinions with some years of experience behind me. Hmmmm, does that mean I'm actually getting worse at my job then?

I'm going to read How to be a graphic designer without using your soul by Adrian Shaughnessy... and the Stupid Client Quotes on Clientcopia to cheer me up. It's not just me, honest, some clients really are twats.

This is for me

Yesterday Mr Brown gave me a copy of Rob Ryan's beautiful book, This is for you to celebrate our two years together. It's a collection of his exquisite paper cuts, telling the tale of his longing for someone to love.

See more of Rob's work at [misterrob.co.uk] including his work with Paul Smith and album cover art for Erasure.

Penguin Covers

These beautiful Penguin and Pelican covers are from Joe Kral's extensive collection. This style of cover, from the 60s and & 70s, is designed on the Marber Grid, which unifies the Penguin Books from that era.