November 3rd, 2008 Tribute to Herb Lubalin

A gallery works in memory of Herb Lubalin, one of the most influential graphic designers of the 20th Century.
via fffound.com

October 31st, 2008 Stamps!

We stumbled upon a gem — a collection of stamps from the distant and not-so-distant age of European graphic designers, that we’ve probably never seen before. Stamps by Hermann Zapf, Adrian Frutiger, Wim Crouwel, Peter Bil’ak, and many more.

October 29th, 2008 Behind the covers

Ever wondered who designed these beautiful album covers?

Introducing Kate Gibb, a silkscreen artist, recently commissioned for several projects, such as The Guardian Guide & Creative Review Magazine. Just last year, she designed a beautiful collection of stamps for Royal Mail as well as a book cover for Penguin Classics for H. G. Wells.

To check out her initial sketches for Chemical Brother’s cover, click here, and here.

October 28th, 2008 A timely debate

In 1972, graphic designers Wim Crouwel and Jan van Toorn debated their ideas and beliefs before an audience at Amsterdam’s Museum Fodor. On 2 November, in commemoration of that now-historic night, the pair will converse before an audience once more.

Jan van Toorn, according to the Design Critic Rick Poynor, prioritizes more on the essence of a subject matter, with a touch of informality, confrontational with its content and form and with a cultural and political influence. Crouwel disagrees with van Toorn’s approach. Quoting Crouwel, “You must not try… to get the message across better than the one who is emitting the message,”.

These rejection and approval of subjective interference will be debated once again, and still remains an important discussion among graphic designers today. As what we observed today especially in Europe, works are created in a purist pattern of thought where typography alone represents the imagery, as images are considered overused and to a certain extent, mundane. The purist followers are in fact the now ‘trendy’ and ‘neo-modernist’. [Link to Poynor's article]

Both Dutch gurus’ debate will at the end contribute to a publication of a book, Crouwel–Van Toorn. For more information on the proceedings, check Premsela.org!

via manystuff.org

October 27th, 2008 Anuj Sharma

While looking for potential posts, we stumbled upon one of Desi’s fashion gem — Anuj Sharma. His cutting edge garment has won attention and admiration at last year’s India Fashion Week, releasing the Season 2008 Collection at the catwalk. Traditionally, Anuj’s garment kept in mind of the most ubiquitous sari and salwar kameez, where uncut fabric floats around the body and then tied and folded into cowls, curves, rolls which cascaded down figure from the front or back. However, Anuj felt that cut garments possesses its beauty in simplicity in form, design and fabric. Such garment with geometric forms will bring an attention at ease especially when it is matched with a solitary earrings, armlets, head band and sandals on the feet.

In his Autumn/Winter ‘08 collection titled eyelet it be, the pieces have been hammered together, exploring the concept of the eyelet. The pieces can be worn both backwards and front , for two contrasting looks.

In his Spring/Summer ‘08 collection, each garment has been designed using a rectangular fabric of the same size which has contrast piping all around it. The collection is completely made without putting any darts or cut on the fabric. For more , click here & here.