Abdul Basit Khan is a graphic designer, currently working in the Department of Architecure at the University of Singapore. There is a wonderful amount of research-based projects in his portfolio.

I don’t even know how to begin describing this Netherlands-based studio. Atelier Carvalho Bernau specializes in highly functional and painstakingly crafted design work. Their work is primarily print-based and typographic, in fact they do a lot custom typeface design. I love how their site captures the gorgeous letterforms they’ve created alongside photos of high-end book design projects.

Take a look at Jiminie Ha‘s work, really beautiful stuff there.

All I can say is I want to work for SvB soooooo bad. Ridiculous. Amazing, Beautiful. They make it look so easy.

Off the Wall
Yale MFA Graphic Design Thesis Show 2010

May 15-22, 2010
Closing reception: Saturday, 7-10 p.m., May 22, 2010
Yale University
Green Hall Gallery
1156 Chapel Street, New Haven CT 06511

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From the Press Release:

“Off the Wall is an exhibition of the print, motion, site-specific and interactive work of this year’s fifteen MFA candidates in the Graphic Design program at the Yale University School of Art.

Faced with the challenge of presenting their work in a way that celebrates both the individuality of each designer and the spirit of the class as a whole, the students decided to take their work off the walls. In a gesture that reduces the exhibition to its most essential form, all works will be placed on the floor. As the title implies, Off the Wall is unorthodox and intuitive. Instead of grouping the work by maker or medium, it will be arranged loosely, letting visitors make their own links and connections between objects. By presenting their work on the floor, on the same surface that viewers stand, the designers ask the viewers to engage with objects they encounter. Each piece becomes accessible, allowing visitors an opportunity to pick up, read, view and directly experience all works on display.

During Yale’s intense, two-year program, students build a coherent, investigative, and experimental body of work, culminating in a thesis. Though each student’s thesis project expresses a singular methodology, they share common features: the application of a visual method to studio work and the writing and design of a catalogue raisonné. Alongside designers’ print, video, and interactive work, Off the Wall will feature the fifteen thesis books, which contextualize the designers’ work in relation to their emerging practices.”

“Life of the Mind is the studio of designer, writer, and filmmaker Mark Owens. Founded in 2005, the studio pursues conceptually based projects in print, motion, and apparel design.

Before starting the studio Mark earned an MFA in graphic design from Yale University and worked closely with a number of New York design studios, including three years in the on-air design department at MTV Networks.”

Seok Jaewon runs a design studio in Seoul, Korea called Studio Heyday. Jaewon’s work is a blend of intelligently-conveyed thoughts and themes in a sequence of beautifully composed projects. I am a sucker for attention to detail, and Seok has that down pat whilst presenting new perspectives on social, cultural and personal topics in a charmingly enlightened manner.

I wish I had thought of this first. The Decomposition Book.

The image above is by no means representative of all the work produced by the fabulous studio Skin in Norway. However, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a studio with a potato packaging project in their portfolio, I just had to post it. Check them out, they have great work.

I was fortunate enough to meet Jan Wilker (one half of karlssonwilker) at the Princeton Design Conference this past weekend. He’s an all-around spectacular guy and a smooth talker too. That being said I feel like I couldn’t possibly mention his name without also noting the summer workshop he’s running with Paul Sahre and James Victore. I believe this is the third year that the “Tremendous Trio” (yep, I made that up all by myself) are doing their thang. Go check it out and get on the mailing list, then sign up.

“The Session manufactures theme-zines in the finest DIY spirit, serving serious readers through a distribution network consisting of dealers. (…) The Session will favourize, focus and execute. It will continue to be committed and maintain a strong balance sheet with an anarchistic yet anal leadership.”

Just go check it out.

Su Blackwell‘s paper sculptures are amazing. I’m addicted to this kind of “beauty through deconstruction” kind of artwork, especially when it involves books.

As a designer who loves music, as much if not more than design itself, and a former guitarist/bass player I was really happy to learn about Soundscreen Design. We recently heard from the fine people over at Soundscreen, who happen to be operating out of Greenpoint in Brooklyn, about some of the projects they’ve recently worked on. The company designs, produces and distributes a line of music-related products like books, apparel, totes and even a few goods for your studio/home.

One of the projects they’ve been putting out is the Artist Music Journal Series, now in it’s 7th installment. The most recent edition features the work of Post Typography, who we posted about back in February. According to David DiCamillo at Soundscreen, “The book is part of our Artist Music Journal series where each month a visual artist or musician is asked to create a 24-page book of artwork by drawing inspiration from their connection to music. Each book is limited to 1,000 copies, printed on thick stock, offset, box-scored and saddle stitched, and comes sealed in a 10″ jacket with a letter-pressed signed sticker. ”

Sounds like an amazing project to be a part of, make sure to check them out. The books are only $17!

I found this art director/illustrative designer, Zeptonn, through the wonderful blog Doodlers Anonymous. Browsing his portfolio you will see how his characters sneak onto any item and make it exciting, whether it be a mural, apparel, print collateral. The bottom line is: Cute, fun, strong “vectorish” graphics that all make me giggle with joy. Sold!

I’ve always loved these experimental covers for Faber & Faber done by MIchael Kosmicki. The covers have recently made their way around the book design blog circuit, always catching my attention. It appears that Kosmicki (based in London) has a really great portfolio to go along with them.

“Candy Chang is a designer, urban planner and artist in Helsinki. She likes to make the city more accessible and engaging through research, design, and the creative use of public space.”

There are some really interesting projects over at her site that cross disciplines between community awareness/advocacy, technology, urban planning and design/art. I wish more designers thought along these lines, it makes for some very exciting results. I think some of these same projects could make for some interesting assignments in design schools.

OK, so lately I’ve been on this kick for looking up the work of design studios with an obvious modern/minimalist aesthetic. Grids, Helvetica (or other sans), black & white only, you get the point. Extra points if they’re in the UK. I’m not really sure why, but as I’ve “matured” as a designer (who know maybe I’m lying to myself) I’ve been able to see a greater attention to detail and clarity in communication that is so often associated with designers who think/create in this manner.

My friend Andy turned me on to the work of Fraser Muggeridge Studio in London, and at first I thought the work was too generic. It made me feel numb in fact. I got it right away, don’t get me wrong, I just wasn’t sure if I liked it. But then, as I began to look through each of their projects, I felt intrigued by the subtlety of their work. I was drawn in to actually look at the pieces, their purpose and message. I think there’s something genius about it now, they are designers that are able to show a tremendous amount of restraint in allowing the content to shine forth.

PS-Make sure to refresh the homepage a few times, different work tends to come up.

Our good friends over at Thinking For a Living™ have just re-launched their site! The new site makes good use of some innovative navigational techniques and has a slew of great resources, articles, links and more. Make sure to check them out and visit often.

The Hans Brinker Budget Hotel is the self proclaimed Worst hotel in the world and to prove this they published this wonderful book to show you how bad their place really is! known for their innovative advertising and promotions the Hans Brinker crew keeps up the greatness but will never catch me in that slum!!

Photograph by Jim Wilson/The New York Times

I’m going to be completely honest, I think the iPad is the stupidest name for a device that seems to be pretty cool. Then again, I doubt the name matters all that much, just look at the iPod right? I don’t have a full review of it yet, I’m still trying to “digest” all the info. Here are links to the people who know what’s really going on with Apple’s brand new tablet device.

Apple
NY Times
Gizmodo
Engadget

Oh, and one more thing, why can’t it do teleportation yet?

As a book designer I can’t help but feel drawn to the ideas concerning digital reading devices and the future implications for digital publishing. The naturally-occurring tension between the current print-based domain that we’ve been under for so long and the endless opportunity (read: challenges) that the digital realm of the future holds for us is of great importance to my career as a designer. That being said, I’m always looking for new ideas that are emerging as attempts to clarify this tension and solve problems between the print/digital transition of media and content.

Check out this great video which explores one new possibility of reading magazines in a digital format. I will never be sold on the idea of reading all of my media on digital devices, call me what you want, it’s just not natural. Rather, what I am drawn to is the idea of being able to contain vast libraries of information with the ability to call upon specific pieces (articles, songs, movies, video clips, excerpts, etc.) whenever we feel like it. That’s very exciting to me because it furthers the ability to expand knowledge, education and ultimately, power to so many others around the world in new and unprecedented ways.

For more information on this project check it out here: Bonnier

Once in a while I’ll come across something online that just leaves me speechless. This is one of those things. As a book designer, this project by Isabelle Vaverka really strikes a chord with me on so many levels.

I love these generative drawings by Leonardo Solaas that I came across. They were eventually used by a group of architecture students in Chile for a book project. Amazing linework, I’m in love with the fluidity and organic nature of this set of graphics.

Contemporary Fine Arts is an amazing gallery out of Berlin hosing the projects of artists such as Daniel Richter, Rudolf Springer, and recently published Dash Snows The End of living the Beginning of Survival also check out there really great store for more books..

I came across this incredible video via We Love You So, the Spike Jonze/WTWTA production blog. It chronicles all of the production work and great inspiration behind the Pictorial Webster’s project. Someone’s gotta get me one for Christmas! I used to love looking at old dictionary engravings in antiquarian books when I was in design school.

NYC designer Deanne Cheuk might have one of the most expansive and diverse portfolios around. Originally hailing from Australia, her work has found it’s way into magazines, on t-shirts, snowboards, bags, textiles, plates, cups, sneakers and more! She’s art directed magazines, designed sunglasses and toys—it’s like every thing touches turns to gold! In 2006, Target even launched a line of her products!

I have been doing nothing but watching these as of late. What a great idea, we have started a new Good Folk series of interviews along the same lines and we can’t wait to sure them with you all.

a little video to go along with the book..  i heard great things about this tour but this video really makes me wish i had gone!

Kevin Finn (Finn Creative) is a designer out of Australia that’s really been making waves lately. Open Manifesto is a magazine side project he launched. It’s fourth issue, out now, is on Propaganda and features conversations with Milton Glaser, Peter Saville and Errol Morris. There are also essays by Steven Heller and David Stairs.

Kanye created a really great coffee table book (Design by BaseDesign) covering the Glow in the Dark Tour in which i heard nothing but good things about.. The book is just another aspect of Kanyes attention to detail and covering all angles of art..  more info below…

KANYE WEST: GLOW IN THE DARK

Interview with tour collaborator Spike Jonze

288 pages with gatefolds / 9⅝” x 13” / 400 photographs /CD with unreleased music and interview

HC w/jacket $50.00 U.S., $62.00 Canadian, £30.00 U.K.

Deluxe edition with Clamshell case: 12½” x 16½” / 978-0-8478-3294-1

Trade Edition available on amazon.com; Limited Edition available through
Rizzoli Bookstore 1-800-52-BOOKS

Rizzoli International
Publications, Inc.

Designed by BaseDesign

Via Kanye Blog

Emily Lessard is a graphic designer based in Brooklyn. An MFA graduate from Yale, she’s worked at Heavy Meta and Ogilvy‘s Brand Integration Group (BIG). Check out the great work she does.

Illustrations by Sam Weber for a new illustrated version of one of my favorite books in high school, Lord of the Flies. I can’t wait to see this when it’s done.

I’m lousy when it comes to French, but I’m pretty sure the name of French design studio Helmo translates to something like “badass”. Because that’s what their work is. I just want to get my hands on some of these posters they’ve done, incredible.

One of my favorite studios right now is Project Projects. Their work makes up an impressive collection of websites, exhibits, books, identities and environments. Their work is consistently effective in it’s communication and aesthetic. I think that what they do best is focus on the message behind every project, rather than attempting to dress it in some trendy graphics or type. Smart and beautiful, that’s it. Must be why they were named finalists in this year’s National Design Awards by the Cooper-Hewitt.

If you don’t know the work of M/M Paris then I feel very sorry for you.

Check this bad boy out they designed!

I wish I was born in Brooklyn. It seems like only good things come from there. Hence, the work of Thumb.

The artwork of Xu Bing always stuns me. A Book From the Sky, above, took him 4 years to complete.

There are some great books over at Mark Batty Publishers, including the one above titled Skateboard Graphics. Check out some spreads below.

Via Core77

Heist is a Toronto-based studio that produces some amazing work. You might remember them from the Rochambeau lookbook.

Nice work from NYC studio Landers|Miller. Their work covers design, books, illustration and product design.

Gotta love this Paul Rand poster by Felix Sockwell. Sockwell also recently designed the cover artwork for a great book I’m currently reading, David Barringer’s There’s Nothing Funny About Design. I highly recommend it.

Lovely covers from Jason Booher.

Great work coming out of Chicago by Scott Reinhard.

I’ve been tinkering with the idea of producing a separate portfolio, solely with book design work, through the Cargo Collective publishing platform. It’s still very much a work in progress, but you can see some of my (never-before-seen) proposed covers there. Book interiors will also be updated in the very near future. So check back and feel free to give me any feedback.

Amazing group of materials for Carhatt’s brand & retail guidelines designed by Fitch. This is true graphic design folks.

I’m headed to the Jacob Javits Center today for BookExpo America, with Karl. BEA is America’s largest gathering of authors, agents, publishers, and vendors in the book/publishing industry. Should be a lot of fun, I can’t wait to check out some of the other university presses and trade publishers like WW Norton, Penguin, Chronicle, etc. Of course my employer, Princeton University Press, has a booth so that’s probably how I’m fortunate enough to attend in the first place. If all goes well look for some pics when I get back.

Chicago’s Dustin Kilgore has some happenin’ work on his site.