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Favourite publisher Princeton Architectural Press launched their new blog a little earlier in the year. Definitely one to keep an eye on. There's been some beautiful, intriguing, stunning editions in 2012, continuing their exacting standard.
If you're lucky enough to be in New York this weekend they're exhibiting at the New York Art Book Fair at MoMA. Then at the end of October, they'll be at the first annual Designers & Books Fair, which looks amazing.
Back in two thousand and something Adrian Shaughnessy came over here and gave a talk at Ulster University. In it he expressed an idea that, although fundamental to the kind of work I do, I hadn't until then heard expressed so concisely.
Can't remember his exact words but the gist of it was that one of the most important characteristics that a designer should develop is "empathy for your client". It wasn't what I was expecting from AS but at the same time I remember thinking, "Yes, spot on. Well said that man. Good point. Hear, hear."
But how do you achieve the necessary level of insight to understand how their shoes feel on your feet? All the usual ways of course: talking to your client and stuff; it's not rocket science, it's about spending time with them. But then this might help a smidge too: 101 Things I Learned in Business School gives a super-fast snapshot overview summary of the terminology and mechanisms of business. It's a bit of a cheat but let's face it, you're unlikely to study for an MBA.
Now I'm not saying that it doesn't get a bit boring at times, it does; but no pain, no gain. And every now and then it leans a little towards the You-Ess, which is fine if you're that side of the water but if you're not, it's not. Putting those minor points aside though, if you're like me (a designer who has worked for business to business type clients) you might find something between the covers to help you see things from their point of view.
Something like, for example: the benefits of functional silos; how it's better to seek another opportunity than to rush into the present one unprepared; the rule of 72 (interestingly number 51); how "not to decide is to decide"; something or other about decision trees; what makes a good manager; that thing about how government monetary policy relates to borrowing and expansion; how there has never, ever really ever been a true barter economy (EVER!); and even (wait for it) that "there is nothing so practical as a good theory", at least in theory anyway.
I'm doing a talk to final year students in December and I'm thinking I might talk about this book. If anyone out there does decide to give it a go, I'd be interested to hear if you think it's a useful read. Or if, in fact, you think it's not.
I get my hair cut at The Best Little Hair House in Belfast. Often on a Saturday. But you don't really want to know that do you? Andrew does it usually. A wee snip here and there, leave it messy please, a little more off the front. And while he clips and cuts, we always have a nice chat about what's going on. He's got his ear to the ground. He knows stuff.
None of this is relevent to be honest except that on my way home afterwards I tend to take a sneaky peak in at the charity bookshop en route. If I'm lucky I might pick up a…Pelican (or a Penguin). Last Saturday though I picked up a whole different bundle of shit. Tucked in behind the atlases (atlas's? atli?) was a murky old folder. Interesting, I thought, what's in that then?
Well this is what was in that.
It turns out the previous owner of the folder was a seafaring type. In fact, there he is. Perhaps recently deceased, in his earlier, very much more alive days, I imagine nothing could keep that grin on his face like setting sail for a voyage of adventure around the British Isles. My favourite thing though is that chart at the bottom there. That's Stangford Lough, which locals will know and is a very beautiful part of NI - and encompasses our favourite place, Castle Ward.
Anyway, a folder full of dead mans shit: £1. Thank you very much.
Has everyone seen the amazing archive for TM? There's more info and links on Grain Edit. 1977 is a bit of a surprise but generally is an astonishing body of work.
Basically, Edwin H Land predicted the now. Look, there he is, with his iPhone, only that film was shot back in 1970. In the video trailer for his new book that tells the the story of Polaroid, author Christopher Bonanos explains that any parallels between the innovations and attitudes of Polaroid in its heyday and Apple in more recent times are anything but coincidence.
Don't think I've ever mentioned this: I'm a cyclist. There, I've said it. I cycle. Not proper cycling I mean. Not, going out for a run at the weekend cycling. I just do a bit of cycling to work because it'll probably save my life and anyway, it's actually quicker than driving because the traffic in the morning sucks cycling. But I still love it and one effect of it is that I like cycling stuff more than I did when I wasn't a cyclist. So yes, the Olympics was trully "awesome". Wiggy and all that stuff. Brilliant.
John McD is a proper cyclist and tweeted a link to these ace ads by Mother New York earlier today. You can read a bit more about them here.
I'd originally titled this post "Mrs Heller". Ordinarily, that would be a terrible way to introduce someone like Louise Fili, but it is interesting that that is who she is…isn't it? Well, I thought so but as time's passed, I've felt it more and more innapropriate…I certainly didn't intend to give even the slightest suggestion that Fili is in any way in the shadow of her other half. In fact, a quick flick through Elegantissima (the first volume to celebrate her amazing work) and you'll be left in no doubt, Fili is clearly the one half of this particuar graphic design couple with the lion's share of the talent. Which Mr H quite openly admits himself in the book's introduction.
I imagine the work itself is not for everyone; it is a particular kind of work. Rich in apparent retro-style, there's no stripped back Helveticapseudomodernism. There is, on the other hand, page after page after page of hand-crafted beauty. At times it feels like a particularly american kind of graphic design although Fili herself may not like that description - in her opening text she emphasises her passion for Italy.
Perhaps the publication of Elegantissima is timely, following as it does that amazing volume on Herb Lubalin who she worked for before eventually setting up her own studio. And I can't help but mention that it was Fili who encouraged Ms. Hische on the creative path she chose.
Over all, it feels like this is a book well overdue.
"Eagerly anticipated" is what it was and the Princeton Architectural Press book on Nash Gill's print work doesn't disapoint. You'll remember I mentioned BNG's prints a couple of months ago and I don't have much to add. Except to say the book is lovely and captures his body of work extremely well. There's just something about those slices of timber. I've said before that I'm rarely happier than when I'm with my family amongst trees; I think that's connected with why this book touches my soul. Truly great work. Well done that man.
You can buy the book here.