BT 09- Beijing Typography Exhibition 2009

Beijing Typography Exhibition 2009 will be one of the official exhibitions of Xin: Icograda World Design Congress 2009 in Beijing, under the theme of “Typography, Unity with New Life.” Chinese characters symbolise both words and images, indicating sound and meaning. In its five thousand-year history as a language system that incorporates pictograms, ideograms and phonograms, the Chinese language has evolved into a highly sophisticated writing culture, illustrated by the creation of the first form of (wood-based) printing. Furthermore, the idea of calligraphy as a “sophisticated art” has influenced many countries worldwide. Over the last 30 years, however, a new set of technological difficulties have been faced and overcome, including the migration from traditional writing and mechanical systems into a digitized one. The exhibition has an ambitious goal to be one of the most largest graphic design exhibitions to take place in China to date. It is expected that, through this exchange between different cultures and languages, the Chinese language will be able to inspire a contemporary visual expressiveness informed by a cultural richness.

The Line of Fashion

With a sure, knowing line, a whoosh of color – a look, an attitude, even an era can be defined. This is the power of fashion illustration. The line can capture the very spirit of the time, the look, the feel, even the sound of it. The final effect is one that no camera can duplicate. But where has it gone? In the foreword to Susan Mulcahy’s book on the great illustrator Kenneth Paul Block, Yves Saint Laurent bemoans the loss of the genre. “It is a pity but today there are no more fashion illustrators. For however much I admire photographers, I have to admit their work is done to the detriment of the design. It is often the background that takes pride of the place. In the case of an illustration, it is the opposite. The design is well and truly present and alive. I remember all those fashion drawings I so admired.
Kenneth, Eric, Joe Eula, Antonio Lopez and many others were for so long the painstaking partners of couturiers. They all showed themselves to be true artists.” With the exhibition “The Line of Fashion”, opening on April 1 and running through May 2, the Society of Illustrators in association with The Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation pays tribute to Kenneth Paul Block, Rene Bouche, Antonio, Eric, Joe Eula, JC Leyendecker, Mel Odom, George Stavrinos, Michael Vollbracht and many other great fashion artists who wait patiently for the world’s great museums to open their doors and welcome them.

IDA Poster of the Year Competition 09

The International Design Awards invite designers worldwide to showcase their creative talents. The poster competition is open to graphic designers as well as architects and designers of products, fashion, and interiors. Whether the poster is your creation, or your work was featured in it, you are invited to enter your noteworthy designs for the Poster of the Year Competition.

Design object – “Pins”

What is bugga?
It is a renovation project converting bits and bobs into fashionable accessories.

Coca Cola Light Bottle – Manolo Blahnik

Manolo Blahnik has done it again! He was asked to create another iconic dress for the Coca-Cola Light bottle. His first one, created in 2005, was reportedly designed thinking at something that made Manolo smile. Now I think he’s just trying to re-edit the smashing success his bottle had back in 2005. The design itself doesn’t look bad, very coherent with Manolo Blahnik signature but too stylish for the Coca-Cola light. Only 10,000 bottles were dressed by Mr Blahnik and the distribution reseau is yet unknown to me (most likely Colette). There’s also a contest held with this occasion called Coca-cola light In Fashion With Manolo Blahnik. It’s about loving your shoes (and don’t we all?) and showing it. More you love your shoes, more you get closer to creating your personal Manolos with Manolo Blahnik in London.

Harvey Nichols posters

New Brillant Designer – Ashish

Ashish Gupta burst exuberantly onto the LFW runways in 2004 and won the New Generation award three times. Born in Delhi, the son of two doctors, he studied Fine Art in India, moving to Middlesex to do a BA in fashion design and then on to Central St Martin’s for an MA, graduating in 2000. His plans to work in a Paris design studio were foiled when his bag containing his entire portfolio of work and his cash was stolen at the Gare du Nord. He quietly began making clothes for friends until being spotted by Yeda Yun, then of Browns Focus, who gave him his first order in 2001.His fusion of Western and Eastern cultures results in an eccentric and unique collection with a mix of sportswear, high octane glamour and breathtaking craftsmanship – beautiful, handcrafted pieces are all manufactured in-house at his workshop/factory in India. This season, Ashish was asked by Tori Amos to design several key outfits for her current world tour. Tori Amos also wore Ashish designs for major promotional material and key television appearances to promote her new album ‘American Doll Posse’  Other VIP customers include Jerry Hall, Victoria Beckham, Madonna, M.I.A, Lily Allen, Kelly Osbourne, and Patrick Wolf. Ashish also recently collaborated with Topshop on a second ‘Ashish for Topshop’ capsule range.

21c Museum Hotel

21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky is the first of its kind—a 90-room hotel dedicated to world-class luxuries, Southern-style hospitality and contemporary art from living artists. Nestled in the heart of Museum Row and downtown Louisville, 21c is an epicenter for culture, activity, and artistic expression. Whether you are visiting Bourbon Country, spending at day at Churchill Downs, or hosting a lavish Southern wedding, 21c has all the upscale offerings you’d expect from a boutique luxury hotel, yet offers so much more. Applauded by Travel & Leisure Magazine as “one of the most ambitious unions of art and hospitality ever undertaken,” and hailed by The New York Times as “an innovative concept with strong execution and prompt and enthusiastic service,” come meet the infamous Red Penguins and discover how 21c Museum Hotel is redefining the art of hospitality.

Lowline by Avşar Gürpınar

Born in Istanbul in 1982. Graduated from Istanbul German School in 2000 and studied Electrical Engineering in Istanbul Technical University. Started with the Master’s Program of Industrial Product Design in ITU in 2004. Working in Sabanci University as a teaching assistant since March 2006. LOWLINE (or ‘çömelmelik’ in Turkish) is a low sitting unit. Inspired by the small stools the tradesmen use in front of their stores and the unique “crouching” movement of Turks; it re-interpreting old gestures, which are inclined to be forgotten.

2nd Project for VA 203