Hidden elements

If you’re interested in logo design then Logo, from Lawrence King Publishing is a great reference and it’s not just image after image, a lot are accompanied with an insight from the designer or client into the idea behind the logo. But what caught my attention was something less remarkable and which had been staring at me in the face all along and somehow, through looking at it in a different context ie. in a book and displayed in black and white, it made me spot something ‘new’.

Call me daft but I’ve watched Formula 1 since i was old enough to get downstairs at 6 in the morning to watch it, but never did I regard the F1 logo as any good, in fact I thought it was a bit naff (which the typography generally is). Yet when I flicked through Logo, I noticed straight away what i had missed, that the 1 in F1 is the white space in between the F and the speedy swooshes opposite! Where did that come from?

Another one I noticed was the playstation logo, I had never realised that the strange shadow of the P was an S!

I have no idea how I missed theses little touches (seen as they are so obvious), I suppose that when something has been in your line of sight for so long you just don’t take note of it anymore, you just recognise it’s shape.

Here I a few more nice and not so obvious examples of typographic trickery from the book including one that for obvious reasons, I wish I had done.

Get the book on here.

Letterpress loveliness

Just received this letterpressed beauty in the post from Glasgow Press. I’m probably one of many designers who went straight over to order their own copy as soon as they read about it on Creative Reviews blog. It is designed by Kerr Vernon and really is pretty nice to hold, it features five A5 postcards with lyrics from Glaswegian bands pressed into the GH Smith Colorplan and all held together by a belly band with a wax seal — brilliant.

A great mailer that will surely succeed in bringing in some work and at the least rasing their profile in the minds of print loving designers everywhere.

 

Get a copy here.

Happy New Year! — Bermondsey Street Art Calendar

Got some printed loveliness from the folks at Bermondsey based design agency HudsonFuggle over Christmas for their street art themed calendar. Loving the bright orange printed on card. Read more »

Contagion – Billboard

I’ve always been a fan of clever, creative advertising, especially when it breaks out from the constraints of traditional media while reinforcing the message of the advert. This ‘billboard’ from Warner Bros, for the upcoming film “Contagion”, does just that. It’s a viral ad campaign. Literally!

(ok, not really ‘literally’ because, biologically speaking, viruses and bacteria are two different things, but you know what I mean!)

The clever use of bacteria to develop the message over time is great, and reminds me of another clever campaign from a few years ago by Audi which rusted over time to reveal an advert for the Aluminium A2 car (clever because aluminium doesn’t rust).

Here’s some words about the campaign that I’ve ‘borrowed’…

“Building on its reputation for always being ahead of the curve, Warner Bros. Pictures Canada created a unique outdoor installation merging science and advertising that is guaranteed to leave movie lovers, science buffs and art enthusiasts in ‘awe’ or ‘eww’.

In support of Academy Award ® winner Steven Soderbergh’s latest film “Contagion” — in theatres September 9th, Warner Bros. Pictures Canada teamed up with microbiologists and immunologists from around the world to create a one-of-a-kind bacteria message board located at 409 Queen Street West in an abandoned store-front window. On August 28th, two large Petri dishes were inoculated with live bacteria including penicillin, mold and pigmented bacteria and almost overnight have revealed the true Contagion — an artistic interpretation of the spread of a virus as depicted in the film.

The public was invited to witness first-hand the remarkable growing power of natural bacteria on Wednesday August 31st from 11:00 AM — 2:00 PM. The first 50 people who arrived received passes to see “Contagion” in theatres and other themed prizes.”

Find out more here on Advertblog

A station fit for Kings – Kings Cross Station Redevelopment

Kings Cross station finally looks to stand proud beside its magnificent neighbour St Pancras.

Having just returned from a weekend in London I thought I would share some architectural wonder with you. Possibly my favourite building in the world has to be St Pancras international train station.

If ever you were looking for an architectural explanation of the word grandeur, then that is it, the recent regeneration of the building has transformed it into a modern masterpiece. Next door however is a building that, even though part of the same single transport hub seemed a little forgotten, until now. Kings Cross Station is undergoing a massive regeneration in partnership with English Heritage which will include the relocation of the ticket hall and the demolition of the ugly (and apparently intended to be temporary) 1970’s green front. Read more »