The line of Steinberg

Like many designers, I strive for clarity, strength and simplicity in the work of our studio. I sometimes achieve it, sometimes not. For inspiration, I often turn to the undisputed Crown Prince of clarity, the Grand Poobah of simplicity: Saul Steinberg. The ideas he communicated for the New Yorker with the slightest flick of the pencil are startling: witty, profound, surprising, fun. He described himself as “a writer who draws”. I call myself a designer who draws. But not as well as Saul.

Journeys with Johnston

Paul Felton:

Transport for London have launched a new poster project that celebrates the 100th anniversary of Edward Johnston’s iconic typeface for the London Underground. Some lovely designs from the likes of Alan Kitching, Magpie Studio, SEA and The Beautiful Meme show just how relevant the 100 year old typeface still is today.

Brand Bard

MultiAdaptor

Paul Felton:

Shakespeare Lives is an international programme of events to celebrate Shakespeare’s life and work, on the 400th anniversary of his death. The ‘Shakespeare Lives’, logo is activated with the word ’in’ to create a flexible system to communicate the myriad of places where Shakespeare still ‘lives’ today. Typography is anchored to the name in a series of blocks that are a homage to the historical print process of hot metal typesetting that typified the posters and programmes of Shakespearian times.

Material Design: Making Color Easy

Buck / Google Design

Jeffrey Iacoboni:

Even something like color palette guidelines don’t have to be static. This animation not only explains the dynamics of choosing colors for Google products, but does in an easily digestible and enjoyable way. What designer doesn’t love watching moving fields of color?

Hide&Eek!

Jim Sutherland:

A bedtime book for children (and adults) where hidden images magically appear by torchlight. Illustrated by Rebecca Sutherland.

NUA signage

Jim Sutherland:

A signage system for Norwich University of the Arts. The building shapes are used as wayfinding icons – linking a series of disparate locations across the city.

Inflatable Bag Monsters

Joshua Allen Harris

Rob Duncan:

Great Idea by New York artist Joshua Allen Harris. Creatures constructed from trash bags come to life using the air flowing around and out of the New York Subway stations.

Pharmacy First

M_Four Creative

Rob Duncan:

Simple, effective, clever idea from M_Four Creative. How do you encourage people to go to the Pharmacy before heading to A&E? Take out A&E…Simple!

Natsuki

Erretres

Rob Duncan:

Natsuki is a new Japanese restaurant based in Madrid designed by Philippe Starck. Erretres have designed the identity bringing together the traditional elements of Japanese life in a very modern way. It is inspired by the phases of the moon (Suki meaning ‘moon’), and traditional Kamons (Japanese family emblems). These new Kamons were then infused with neon light colors and the Kawaii culture of Japan. The result is beautiful, fun, fresh and sophisticated. A really lovely project.