Second Draft

We often look to different mediums for inspiration here at the studio, and a recent collaboration between London-based musician Max Cooper and Tokyo director Masanobu Hiraoka has caught our attention. Their project, On Being, is a masterclass in translating complex data into a fluid visual narrative. Cooper started the project by asking the public a simple question: “What do you want to express that you feel you can't in everyday life?” The resulting database of anonymous answers—ranging from the mundane to the profound—formed the basis for the album. For the title track’s video, Hiraoka took this concept of shared humanity and interpreted it through a distinct animation style. He uses rotoscoping and frame-by-frame pencil drawings to create a continuous flow. The visuals morph seamlessly from personal footage of the animator’s own child into microscopic biological structures. It is fascinating to see how a single line is used to connect these disparate elements, maintaining moment...

Henri's Walk to Paris Hardcover by Saul Bass   Vintage Kids' Books My Kids Love I've been completely captivated by a recent article from AIGA's   Eye on Design   titled, "Why did so many mid-century designers make children's books?". It explores a fascinating and somewhat unexpected corner of design history: the period when some of the most influential graphic designers of the 20th century turned their talents to creating books for children. We're talking about legends like Paul Rand , Saul Bass, Ivan Chermayeff , and Leo Lionni – names synonymous with corporate identities, film title sequences, and modern art. So, why the pivot to picture books? The article delves into several compelling reasons. One key factor was the post-war baby boom, which created a massive market for children's literature. Simultaneously, advancements in printing technology made it possible to produce high-quality, colorful books more affordably. But beyond market forces, ...

What a busy year! 2015 has been a blur in the studio with a real variety of exciting projects. With our own work we have been focussed on the 2016 calendar - something a little different! We are posting them out now to our clients and soon you will be able to buy one on our website. We brought you our pick of Design Classics - actually quite a tricky brief! There is so much good design out there, we selected those items that stood the test of time and are still being referenced in design today. If you sign up to our newsletter you can see which piece we feature each month. Here a few of our favourites from this year... Our 2015 calendar was all about time travel! For December we conclude with The Time Machine, H.G. Wells' marvellous creation. A book that has inspired countless future generations with stories that dart through time. Our idea came from the well loved movie Back to the Future Two, where Marty McFly travelled to the future (and the past)  to right some wr...