The super talented Sea Design has updated their site with some new work. I’ve loved the new look of Grafik Magazine and always wondered who was responsible for it. Now I know and I’m not surprised.
Tag: Typography
Intervista: Build
Established in 2001 by Michael C. Place, Build has since forged an international reputation as a forward-thinking Graphic Design studio with an exceptional eye for detail and a sense of style that transcends popular trends of graphic design. They believe good ideas can be applied to anything. Michael took a moment to answer a few questions for AisleOne.
How long have you been designing?
Left college in 1990, so 17 (and a bit years).
Who or what turned you on to graphic design?
I first heard the term in school, my art teacher saw the way I drew and asked if I had heard of “Graphic Design?, he lent me a book on the subject, I thought it was interesting. Then when I left school I did a foundation course, one of the modules was Graphic Design, I liked that the best and went on to study it at OND & HND.
Who or what are your influences?
One of the first was a guy called Rod Clark who designed a very forward thinking music magazine called “Underground?, an amazing proto-swiss-punk design. Malcolm Garrett for his Buzzcocks sleeves, but one of my biggest was Vaughan Oliver, his work for 4AD Records was (and still is) breathtaking.
What is your favorite typeface?
I’m not sure, that changes from day-to-day.
What is your favorite color palette to work with?
Black & White (is that a colour palette?).
Can you explain your creative process from brief to completion?
I’m guessing it’s really no different from most peoples, read the brief, think, sketch, think, procrastinate, sketch, think, procrastinate, present, refine, finish.
Do you use a grid system when designing and how do you feel about them?
Sometimes, depends on the project.
Who do you feel is currently doing innovative work?
I’m really enjoying the work of Stockholm Design Lab.
What are you working on now?
A set of 3 EPs for Flying Lotus, identity for Generation Press, planning for 2 book projects, 1 pitch, 3 big projects we can’t discuss and trying to shift a flu-virus.
What is your favorite color?
Blue or Black.
What is your favorite album?
I don’t have a favourite album, I have hundreds of favourite albums, I would feel that I would be letting someone down by singling out just one. At the moment I’m really enjoying ‘Pop Ambient 2008’.
What is your favorite movie?
Anything that contains the following–
Dinosaurs, spaceships, time-travel (backwards & forwards), aliens, cowboys & indians, vampires, vampire hunters, robots, laser-guns, light-sabres, submarines, flying cars, talking animals & Robert DeNiro.
Intervista is a series of interviews conducted for AisleOne with some of todays top talents in graphic design.
Helvetica Neue Descending A T-Shirt
Nice t-shirt available at the Typography Shop featuring Helvetica Neue in weights descending from Ultra Black 95 to Ultra Light 25.
Made In Bunch
Made in Bunch identity initiative by London based studio Bunch that askes designers to take their logo and produce a visual reaction to it. It’s finally coming to a close after one year and over 450 contributions.They’ve had entries from the best, including Paul Davis, Carlos Segura, Ed Fella, Jonathan Ellery, Malcolm Garrett, Paul Insect, Stefan Sagmeister, James Joyce, Omega!theKidPhoenix, Hans Gremmen, Supermundane, Jethro Haynes, James Goggin, Grandpeople, Francois Chalet, 12Foot6, Bruno Maag, Damien Poulain, Build to name a few.
There are some really great submissions and I’ve even created and submitted one myself, which is displayed above. Simple idea, I created each letter based on the B logo to form the word BUNCH. Might actually be an interesting typeface. Hmmmmm…
McCain’s Typeface
Great article by Steven Heller of the NY Times on the typeface used in John McCain’s presidential campaign. The McCain logo is set in Optima Bold and Heller asked a few designers, which include Michael Bierut, Ellen Lupton and Matthew Carter, two questions: What does Optima say about John McCain? And should this, or any, candidate be judged by a typeface?
I’m not a fan of Optima or McCain for that matter, but it’s definitely an interesting read.
More Rare Swiss Design Books
These next two additions to my collection have to be the most rare and the most expensive but also the most satisfying. Publicity and Graphic Design in the Chemical Industry (1967) and Graphic Design in Swiss Industry (1965) are both by Hans Neuberg and are part of the excellent ABC Verlag collection and contain page after page of some of the finest design work you’ll ever see. From packaging to letterheads these books will keep you hypnotized for hours… if you can find them.
You can see more photos from both books on my Flickr page.