LIVE SURFACE

Livesurface is a royalty free stock site which has a range of blank canvasses for you to paste your work onto.

For example this billboard image is a layered file which when you add your art work adds the lighting effects to make it look realistic without you having to put any effort in.

The images templates are high-res, pre-masked, multi-layered images with built-in 3D surfaces. They make creating finished photographic images from your artwork as quick as cut + paste.

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STAMPS

Stamp collecting isn't everyone's cup-o-tea, I've got a few kicking about. A first-day issue set of children's classic tv, and a set of ol Henry and his wives. Some of you avid jam readers will know I collect postcards - so I kind of appreciate stamps in the same way. Teeny bits of art or design. Anyway. A new set was released today, and it will definitely interest a few of you. British Design Classics. Here's whats included:
Supermarine Spitfire
The superlative Battle of Britain fighter with its distinctive elliptical wings was designed by R J Mitchell who sadly died before the plane went into production.
Mini Skirt
Mary Quant rewrote the fashion rules for women forever with her daring design.
The Mini
Sir Alec Issigonis made use of every available space in the small car that was as much a fashion statement as a means of transport.
Anglepoise Lamp
George Carwardine’s flexible design brought light wherever it was needed.
Concorde
Aerospatiale and BAC’s supersonic jet was capable of twice the speed of sound and beautiful to look at too.
K2 Telephone Kiosk
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s design bright-red phone box always stood out on the streets of the UK.
Polypropylene Chair
Found in public buildings throughout the world, almost everyone will have sat on a Robin Day chair at some time.
Penguin Books
Edward Young’s book jacket design was instantly recognizable as a Penguin edition.
London Underground Map
Harry Beck’s easy to understand design was based on an electrical wiring diagram.
Routemaster Bus
Once a symbol of London to visitors from all over the world now only a few of Douglas Scott and Colin Curtis’s remain on London’s streets.

Click for gloriously large image (stolen from EDP). Info taken from royalmail.com.

WORDS ARE PICTURES

I was just skimming through a post on digg.com. 'Websites with beautiful typography'. On there, I found the porftolio of Craig Ward. We've posted a piece of his work before (good typography is invisible). He has loads of stuff worth checking out, alot of which is letterpress print, rather than purely digital. Which we like. Not only is the work good, but the website is also rather pleasing. Have a look.

TYPENUTS

Basically, a wordpress powered site, collecting free desktop wallpapers. There's even some for all of you iphoners. I've just bagged me a couple. You can either enter your own work for people to enjoy. Go get yours.

BUCKLE

I usually try not to post stuff I've found on other design blogs - but sometimes it's hard not to.
Head over to the type junkie and you'll find a link to etsy. I haven't looked into it, but it seems to be a friendlier version of ebay. Anyway. Someone on there is selling this!

A belt buckle made from real letterpress! How cool is that?! Now, I'm into my geeky type clothes n that - but I think this might take it a bit too far... Although, I do like the idea of being able to have a miniature mobile print press, for all those impromptu ink stamping needs.

MAX KERNING

A funny website using a fictional chatacter 'Max Kerning' to promote suitcase fusion 2

Max it up

LOVELY PACKAGE

I've never really done much packaging work... I like the idea of it; moving away from 2d print, edging closer to the world of 3d product design (which is where I'd like to be - eventually)...
I've bought DVDs in the past - just because I liked the cover. Whenever I buy wine, it's usually the label that draws me in. And if I ever saw any of these - I'd want to buy them, before I even knew/cared what was in them!









It's good to know that some lovely people have set up a lovely packaging design blog. Lot's of decent examples, laid on a nice clean site. Bookmark it.

R.C.P (random cool picture)

If this was on my desk - I'd be a happier person.

LETTERPRESS

Every now and then, you see something, and it doesn't really sink in. You have to go back to it a while later to really appreciate it... This is a good example.






"This letterpress poster was handcrafted character by character over the course of roughly 100 hours. Characters from the Bickham Script Pro, Engravers MT, and Epic typeface families form the edifice featured in the artwork, the Salt Lake Temple. Each poster measures 16"x24" and is printed on Crane Lettra Pearl."

Jesus.

12 in12

Over Christmas I received my copy of 12 in 12.

Craig Oldham's different approach on what he learnt in the first year after leaving University on his quest to become a graphic designer.

It's brilliantly written and witty and best of all FREE (well he askes for a contribution for postage)

get yours here