Like most of us I’m spending a lot more time at home right now and my thoughts keep turning to my ‘ideal home’ – and like many others I have spent many hours on the web, browsing endless retail sites, falling in love with everything that I cannot afford and cursing at not being able … Read More
Stuck for ideas for the ideal gift for your loved ones this Christmas? While we are in lockdown I thought I’d share some ideas from 1950. Make cheques and Postal orders payable to me.
To be read in the hushed and reverential style of a David Attenborough documentary: It is late in the year and the threat of frost is almost upon us, but now is the season for freelance designers, fresh and seasoned alike, to preen their feathers and perform the complex and often confusing rituals of courtship … Read More
As we watch NASA and SpaceX launch the Crew Dragon off the planet and marvel at the ingenuity and determination of the human race (while simultaneously despairing of it) I made use of the distraction of our current situation to look at the mission and learn a little more about whats going on. As I … Read More
I was rummaging around last week looking for something else and came across this little gem of ephemera wedged between the pages of a 1970’s Letraset catalogue (I will post images of that here sometime…) It is part of a set that came with Imperial typewriters during the late 1950’s/early 60’s (I think). I love … Read More
In a few days here in the UK we will celebrate Guy Fawkes Night (or Bonfire Night); a strange annual custom that originated from a foiled attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 and is currently marked by the lighting of communal bonfires, burning effigies of the hapless conspirator, and the setting … Read More
I rediscovered a book in my collection that got me thinking and thought I’d share it here. I think it is an elegant example of celebrating a niche area of graphic design that has largely disappeared – bookplates. Little personalised labels that are pasted into books to identify the person, collection or library the whom … Read More
All together now! Who doesn’t love a good sing song! Especially when we’re young! My friend Jon Lawrence (also known as The Music Man!) has just released another collection of original songs for children – with illustrations by yours truly! Here’s just a little taste of what’s inside… Published by Eyrie Press, this is the … Read More
New years resolutions don’t usually feature in my life, but I have decided to put more effort into blogging after the dismal efforts last year, so I guess this can be classed as a resolution. I hope you all had a great holiday and that you gave and received a few good pressies too. I … Read More
Hello again. It’s time to blow my own trumpet. As a freelance designer, I am usually called upon by design agencies to create something that will be a part of a much larger project. Quite often I only see the part of the project I am directly involved in and sometimes never see the end … Read More