Categories
Books Illustration

Reflections from a Broken Face


On Sunday 25th September, at c.220pm I broke my face. I was playing 11-aside football, jumped up for a 50/50 challenge to head the ball and then .. BOOM.

Categories
Books Environment Fashion Inspiration

Conscious Consumption

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Naturally drawn to Sarah Lazarovic’s book A Bunch of Pretty Things I did Not Buy because of its neon orange cover and hand written type, I almost read the whole book in the shop (not because I didn’t intend on buying it) because it sucked me in. Lazarovic takes you on a journey – her journey tracking the relationship she has with stuff and her decision not to buy things. Rather than reiterate a narrative around how bad fast fashion is for this world, she crafts a charming and powerful manifesto “The buyerarchy of needs” illustrated through personal anecdotes and a guide to buying things that are made to last, encouraging readers to think before they spend.

Categories
Books community Hong Kong Projects I like

Read More Hong Kong

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Spotted in Pacific Coffee this morning: a corner shelf full of preloved books. The books are part of a city–wide sharing initiative, known also a ‘book floating‘.

Categories
Art Books Design Travel

Citix60

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CITIx60 are a new series of guide books for some of the most creative hubs around the world. Published by viction:ary, each book features recommendations a select group of local artists, designers, illustrators, chefs, musicians, photographers and more.

Categories
Books Design Projects I like

Selfie on the Bund

© Alex Johns

Department store mascots. First floor views. Naps on the move. Abandoned boots. This is Selfie on the Bund, a photo book by Alex Johns.

The 36 page book documents journeys through the various districts of Shanghai, capturing curious and humourous views. I just received mine, lucky number 8. You can check it out here.

 

Categories
Books Writing

Portmanteau

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(Card from Print Smitten on Etsy)

For years my sister had a special word on reserve for moments when it’d been a while since I’d eaten. Hangry. The combination of being hungry and angry. Anger caused by hunger.

Hangry is an example of portmanteau: the joining of two words to create a new one, with a combined meaning. The term portmanteau was adopted into the English language to refer to Portmanteau luggage, which is luggage with two equal compartments. The origin of the word is French (portemanteau) meaning ‘to carry’ (porter) and ‘mantle’ (manteau).

Categories
Books Design DIY Handmade Writing

Don’t Eat Ants (And 59 Other Things Mum Taught Us)

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Today my mum turns 60. For months my sister and I tried decide what we should do for her. What sort of gift or gesture would do justice everything she has done for us, our family, friends and the community. Our mum is an incredibly modest woman. She is never boastful, never seeking attention or reward. She is relentlessly positive and acts altruistically nearly all of the time.

So we decided to make a little book. A book that would share with people the wonderful person that she is and the life lessons she taught all of the children she helped raise.

Mum, if you’re reading this, your physical copy is in the post. It’s just a little late – like me and Missy when we were born.

Big love to Zoë Quirk and Alex Johns for helping us pull it together – Zoe for producing and sympathy crying throughout production; and Alex for late night lessons in book binding lessons and for laughing at us crying. Thank you x

Categories
Books Football Inspiration Projects I like

Football Type

Football and type are two very wonderful things. This limited edition book designed by Rick Banks looks at football and fonts and the ways they have connected over time, from the numbers and fonts used on the back to shirts to the meanings people prescribe to typography used in the game. And, to make it an even cooler project, it comes with a choice of five different colours, each numbered like a premier league shirt and all proceeds go directly to the Football Foundation – a brilliant organisation that supports grassroots football in the UK. I’m so stoked for mine to arrive.

Categories
Books Brands Design Inspiration

‘Made With’ by John Grant

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John Grant is one of my heroes. He is a brilliant brand strategist, ideas generator and in the words of my boss Naresh, he’s a “one man think tank”. He is truly inspiring.

When I did my masters, John’s book The New Marketing Manifesto was on my required reading list at London School of Economics. Through various work projects at SI Camp I got the chance to meet John and work with him. And for the past six years our paths have always crossed. The past year in particular I’ve had the privilege of working with him at Pentagram where he helps out with various clients.