Second Draft

It’s not often that a project comes along that feels both new and timeless, but a recent publication featured on  It’s Nice That  seems to strike that balance.  A Life Among Letters  is a book that delves into the work of Czech graphic designer and typographer Clara Istlerová, a pioneering figure whose contribution to the visual culture of postwar Czechoslovakia is significant, yet not widely known outside of her home country. What makes this project so interesting is its quiet, considered approach. In an age of self-promotion, Istlerová’s story is one of dedication to the craft itself. Working entirely with analogue processes, she was one of the few women in the male-dominated field of Czech typography. Her book covers and typographic work show an expressive and intuitive feel for letterforms, a tangible quality that can sometimes be lost in the digital age. If you grew up in Czechoslovakia, the article notes, you have probably held one of her designs without knowin...

The new showcase on the Pickle Design features work we have completed for an exceptional international artist, John O'Carroll. The project involved all of our creative team, below, Emma Julian talks a little about the design that she and Marie developed, bringing John O'Carroll into the process as well. The book contained both a English and Dutch translation. “A favourite of our portfolio is the book we designed for the Padstow based artist, John O'Carroll. This project involved both Marie and I, and was an enjoyable challenge. John O'Carroll is an exceptional artist who is inspired by the natural world around him. He draws influence from the rugged Cornish moors and coast, the gentle Dutch landscape and his time on archaeological digs in Egypt. Our task was to take this varied body of work and put together a book showcasing John's paintings, sculptures and installations. We worked with John to create a mark to represent him as an artist, influenced by his sketches ...

At last we have it, John O'Carroll's first book! We have been working on it for quite some time, and now the finished product is in our hands, and we are very pleased with the result, as is John himself. He signed a copy for each of us. Later this month he will be presenting the book in Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro, along with an exhibition of his work. This is an excellent setting to see the presentation, as much of his work is influenced by Egyptian archaeology. The design of the book is carried over into his new websites we are currently putting the finishing touches to, with strong leanings toward Dutch design practices. The book will be available to buy from his new site.

The book for John O'Carroll is just about finished, just a few minor touches left and it is set to be printed. It features his work from the last ten years, and has been created throughout the world, from the East to West and taking in Egypt and Canada. He has a very distinct vision on how it should be presented, and we have worked with him closely to ensure that this is represented in the book. The book has grown from its initial concept, to its current state of over twice the size, giving a very comprehensive view of his work and approach. We are all looking forward to seeing the finished project, and hope that the exhibition in Holland that it coincides with is a great success. He is setting off from North Cornwall to the Netherlands for the exhibition the book coincides very soon, the exhibition is called Archaiolgia, and features his drawings and paintings. It is to be held in Galerie Roger Katwijk in Amsterdam. The exhibition will run from 6th September to 4th October 2008