The Weekender: As far as weekly run-downs go, this one takes the biscuit

Date
26 July 2013

This week two healthy and quite well-off young people gave birth to a baby boy – and the WHOLE WORLD lost their sh*t! Nah we’re not trying to be edgy good on them – producing a king is pretty cool. But quick thing Twitter, ALL the jokes have now been done. Yep that one. And that one. That one is days old now. That one doesn’t make sense. Oh wait because heir sounds a bit like hair? Yeah done. So at ease online wags, let’s all just look ahead to two glorious days of revelry…

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HTML Flowers: WE TAKE OF OUR HANDS TO FEEL

6. If this doesn’t move you there is no hope

This extraordinarily poignant little film by Josh Bogdan tells the story of 97-year-old Hal Lasko and the masterpieces he produces on Microsoft Paint.

5. Get out of town George Alexander Louis!

Royal baby this, Royal baby that blah blah blah. The only baby that counted this week in our world was the one shot by Maciek Pozoga, part of a brilliant portfolio we brought you this week.

4. GCSE French and then some

Learning a language is tough, but learning Mandarin? Whole new ball game my friend but wait up! Let Chineasy and their ingenious system of symbol-based learning – illustrated by Noma Bar – get you on the way.

3. We want flying cars, say we want flying cars!

Sadly there’s no flying cars at the new Design Museum show The Future Is Here but there is a really thought-provoking look at the new technology and new ideas shaping design in 2013.

2. No, wait, you owe us!

Studio Contents step up to the plate for the redesign of eclectic theatre organisation IOU. Smash it out the park. Job done.

1. Wowsers of the week

Grant Gronewold aka HTML Flowers, produces a blog the likes of which you’ve probably never come across before, full of illustrations, writing and so much more.

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This week’s Things

Hot? Sweaty? Bit warm around the edges? This week’s Things probably won’t help you to alleviate moisture issues or to improve your personal hygiene, but we can give you a sense of envy which borders on unhealthy with some cracking images of men diving into luscious, cool, deep pools. Also included – a book shaped like the tower it’s about, a timely series of illustrations on the first ever Tour de France to celebrate its 100th anniversary (Wooooo! Go Chris Froome!), some great screen-printed record sleeves and a book about the environment. Bet you’re feeling even hotter under the collar now, aren’t ya? Aren’t ya? Yeah. You are.

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Otto Von Beach: 100 Revolutions

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Otto Von Beach: 100 Revolutions

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Otto Von Beach: 100 Revolutions

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Otto Von Beach: 100 Revolutions

Otto Von Beach: 100 Revolutions

The Tour de France encourages the secret pro-cyclist in many of us to rear their sweaty heads, so as a welcome alternative to the helpful “Cor, that was a steep hill, wasn’t it?” or (my personal favourite) “so is that what they do when they want to go for a wee?”, illustrator Otto Von Beach has created a series of posters based on the very first Tour, to celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. They’re beautifully created, incredibly detailed, and what’s more there are a whole bunch more on his website to feast your eyes on.
www.vonbeach.com

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Savwo: Digitalis Recordings

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Savwo: Digitalis Recordings

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Savwo: Digitalis Recordings

Savwo: Digitalis Recordings

Record and music paraphernalia always does a stellar job of sating our graphic gluttony, and this from the good hand of Savwo (for Digitalis Recordings) is a fine example. Far from digitally enhanced faces and swish curved corners, Savwo has gotten down and dirty with some screenprinting to create this great record sleeve which would be as happy on your living room wall as in your music collection.
www.savwo.co.uk

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Hat-Trick Design: Centre Point

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Hat-Trick Design: Centre Point

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Hat-Trick Design: Centre Point

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Hat-Trick Design: Centre Point

Hat-Trick Design: Centre Point

In a glorious celebration of the upcoming redesign of Centre Point, the huge tower which looms over London, Hat Trick Design have produced this actually quite brilliant and very, very long (in size, not pagination) book which (you guessed it!) mirrors the design of the tower itself. Featuring some great vintage photography (from back in’t’ day when it was still new and shiny) and an insightful look into the way the Centrepoint charity, which looks to alleviate homelessness in young people, is run, the publication provides a beautiful record of the various ways in which a piece of architecture can both shape and reflect the culture of the city it stands in.
www.hat-trickdesign.co.uk

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Victory Journal – Summer 2013

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Victory Journal – Summer 2013

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Victory Journal – Summer 2013

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Victory Journal – Summer 2013

Victory Journal – Summer 2013

We’ve long been fans of Victory Journal so we were very pleasantly surprised when one of the team popped into the studio to say hello this week and to drop off the Summer 2013 issue. The journal describes itself as “the new refuge of the true sportsman” and this issue, based on water, boasts two of my absolute favourite images from the week – the Leap of Faith shoot of divers mid-jump is a proper stunner, as is the gorgeous image of an abandoned swimming pool in the catskills. Never have mould and algae and cracked tiles looked so darned appealing.
www.victoryjournal.com

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Stephen Emmott: 10 Billion

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Stephen Emmott: 10 Billion

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Stephen Emmott: 10 Billion

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Stephen Emmott: 10 Billion

Stephen Emmott: 10 Billion

Above and beyond kicking yourself for forgetting to take your recycling out or remembering to turn the tap off while you brush your teeth, every now and again it’s important to remind yourself how overwhelmingly miraculous our existence on this planet is, and moreover, how rapidly we are causing it to deteriorate beneath our very feet. Our slow nibble away at the environment and the ecosystems which surround us are spiralling out of control, and Stephen Emmott is doing an admirable job of reminding us.

As ever, our principal concern is with the book design which makes this humble tome hop off the shelf and into your hands (fluorescent orange does the job nicely) but in this case the contents will shake you up far more than the design choices which shaped its appearance. If you don’t believe me, read the back cover – this is definitely one to get your hands on, and to remind yourself of every day.
www.penguin.co.uk

Tweet of the Week



We’ve been spoilt this week by Armando Ianucci who’s been sending sneak previews of the new Alan Partridge film script.

The truth behind apalling coffee shop art is OUT!

We knew it. And this. is. hilarious.

Awkward rave of the week

Oh God. So awkward.

Laughing at people with unfortunate names of the week

I feel so bad for all of you. Yes, that’s you too Lucious Pusey.

Accicental penis drawing of the week

Surprisingly accurate, this woman’s got talent.

Flying whale photo of the week

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Wheeeeeeeeee!

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