Things I have learned in my life so far
January 10th, 2008Yay! Stefan Sagmeister came up with a new book. To be released on March 1, 2008. 248 pages of what Stefan has learned so far. That’s a lot lessons you know.
1 year 6 months old
December 14th, 2007Have been working late lately. Leaving the studio at about 3.45am is certainly not a very healthy thing to do often. Waking up after about 4 hours of sleep adds salt to it. What more a long hectic day of picking up phone calls and coordination.
When I was a student, I was told to grab this book, How to be a Graphic Designer without loosing your soul before entering the industry. Hoping that it will help. For some strange unidentifiable reason, I never did bought the book. Why? Maybe I haven’t lost my soul (I guess).
Other than that, since using the word passion is a little bit of a cliché in this context, lets just say there are more interesting things that constitutes over graphic design. I find these things absolutely interesting. Example: Just take a look at the faces of people when you tell them you’re a graphic designer.
Also, it’s just kind of cool to be a designer.
* This books has a glorious display of typography!
Sharing Penguins
October 2nd, 2007Over the past few years, we see Penguin Books coming up with covers that create significance in the world of design. One example is the cover design for Meditations, taken from the Great Ideas Series 1, designed by Phil Baines that swept neat a D&AD award. From the Great Ideas Series 1 & 2, down to the newly released Penguin Celebrations.
As shown below, stunningly beautiful, dressed up with Jan Tschichold’s legendary 3 stripes design. Orange for fiction, Pink for distant lands, Purple for viewpoints, Dark Blue for real lives, Light blue for great ideas and green for mystery. This amazing collection features some of the best books of that kind such as The Shadow of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuscinski for adventure & travel, How to be Good by Nick Hornby for fiction together with Sue Townsend’s Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction, etc. Check out their beautiful website here.
Another highlight thats worth to be displayed on the book shelf is definitely the Great Ideas Series 1 & Series 2 that has actually created a lot of attention in the design and type industry. I am a proud owner of about 22 copies out of the 40 copies of the entire series, just to share. Below are some take outs from series 2:
Moving on, we witness the Great Journeys series (which will trigger the ‘Marco Polo’ & ‘Christopher Columbus’ in us!). We here observe the beauty of duplication & repetition:
Then, the really beautiful & delicate touch on the front covers of the Great Loves series. Very elegant use of color and typeface. Using natural elements of mother nature with David Person’s traditional approach in creating the abstraction of the covers (scroll down here for the interview). I spotted this series in MPH at Mid Valley, amazingly stunning when viewed physically.
We also see the really interesting covers for Penguin Epics. This time, displaying mythical cliques and taking them to the next level by adding abstraction via modern approaches of graphic elements in the designs. Pay a little attention and you might realize that these designs are actually influenced by interpretations of each respective culture which concerns about the stories. I enjoyed the expressive type treatment.
All the books above are gloriously sized at 111 x 181mm, the ultimate.
(Also the ultimate 700 Penguins book covers for devoted Penguin cover hunters)
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Many people use flights for long distance traveling. The las vegas flights are famous for their high comfort level. Likewise all airlines are famous for their quality and features. The new york flights are known for the food they provide. Even the flights to london also provide a variety of quality food items. You can even get flight discounts by many airlines. However, for some people even the cheapest international flights are unaffordable. They do not even get a single chance of have a look of the flight scenery all their lives.
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More Penguins
August 3rd, 2007Update from previous Penguin Related post.
This time, we enter the 1950’s of the Penguin era. Most of the books shown here were printed back then.
We can see that the horizontal grid, devised by Edward Young in about 1935 still stays. It used to be with the ever popular Bodoni Ultra Bold on the publishers name and the two alternatives of Gill Sans for the book title and authors name. The grid was later redrawn by Jan Tschichold in 1948 which did not introduce a new look but a modification/improvisation of the current.Tschichold also added a fine thin line as a border to the orange panels.
Well, I guess I am lucky enough to get one of the early 1950’s redesigned Pelicans. The frame, introduced also by Tschichold in about 1949. Eventough I don’t own one of those covers with illustrations on it, I do find the typeface, Gill Sans pleasing and easy on the eye on this one. Also, the rather bold idea of extracting some text describing its contents on its cover.
The Penguin Poets series, first appeared in 1941 featuring the italic Garamond for its authors name. The design was done by Jan Tschichold again back in 1954. (Seen on “Browning”)
“The Art of Marriage” & “Successful Living”, both covers designed by David Gentleman. Distinctive illustrations commissioned to fill the border space of the cover. Again, we notice the use of Gill Sans & extracts on what the book contains on the covers.
I have actually left all my Penguin Books in the office. I guess BOSS won’t mind if you guys pop in during our less busy periods to take a good look at them.
Enjoy.
Guitar World Magazine October Issue
July 25th, 2007
This is probably the coolest issue for this year other than the David Gilmour issue. You can check the preview of the October issue DVD here.
So cool.
Stefan Sagmeister talk in Malaysia
July 19th, 2007Stefan Sagmeister is coming to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 13th. Speaking at the Securities Commission at Sri Hartamas. Grab the tickets for the event quick! Only 300 seats available. A preview of the ticket is as shown below:
*Well, if you are here in hope of looking for tickets, all of them are sold out I guess. I don’t have anymore left.
*Edited: 6th Aug 2007
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You always start off with your vacation by booking a room in a hotel. However, this booking task should be performed on time as the hotel reservations are normally not available due to the rising tourism industry. For example, it is really difficult to get a room in miami hotel. So in order to avoid any problem during the trip you must choice hotels in time. Usually people like to select more adventure hotels to add fun to their holidays. The best america hotels excel in their quality and comfort. However some people still like to stay in cruise port hotels.
The big screen
June 22nd, 2007May to July are all respectively movie months. Attractions such as Spiderman 3, Pirates of the Carribean 3, Transformers, Shrek 3, Die Hard 4, Oceans 13, The Simpson movie, etc.. The list goes on and I going practically crazy because I want to watch them all(!) Do not forget Resident Evil 3 which might be out in September too!
I had a good start for the movie months marathon; Spiderman 3 was a very emotional movie. So emotional that the girl a few seats away wept tearfully when Harry Osborn died. Yes, he died, but as a goodie. Yes, he teamed up with Spidey. A story like movie such as this one never fails to entertain both adults and kids alike. If you’ve been working too hard lately, get off your seat and get a seat at the big screen.
Of all the movies, there is however on specific movie that I’ve been waiting for the past year. One that not many people know of. A movie that is celebrated widely across India. Streets were filled with celebrations when such movies were released. The name of the movie is:
Yes. Starring India’s superstar, Rajinikanth. Now, I have deep respect for this man. Not only for his charisma in the movies but for his heart for the poor. He signed a contract that after his death, a fairly huge amount of his possessions will go to the poor living in the streets of India. If there were to be another anticipated actor in Asia other than Jacky Chan, it would be him. Among South India, both he and Kamal Hassan stand side by side, making it big time in the world of movies.
Most of his movies are all high budgets. Over the years, he has created various signature moves such as turning his shades rhythmically in style while putting them on, tossing a cigarette straight into his mouth from a certain distance, etc. Also, a won fairly decent amount of fans all around the world.
Back in year 2005, when his movie then, Chandramukhi was released, I went to the cinema and watch it with a friend. it was indeed a very different experience from watching a typical Hollywood-styled happy ending. This was different.
Yes, it was a happy ending but the state of mind that I’m in while watching the movie is one that I rather enjoy in the show. If you were to be absolutely critical in watching this movie, you will be bored; in fact not only this movie but every movie. Why not just sit back, enjoy what other people have such high hopes and anticipated for. Why not just put aside all self-indulgence while trying to enjoy a movie?
I really dislike it when people put themselves ahead of the argument about whether a movie is likable or not. I heard so many comment, both nice and not-so-nice, fair and totally bias, etc. I’m actually very tired of hearing that.
Which brings me to a separate point, making a movie is obviously not easy.
Disappointments will come if one tries to find merely what one expects or wants to see in a movie. It’s not your work and not your show. I rather avoid shows that I feel I won’t be able to enjoy even if it’s a well-spoken-of-hit.
Same principal can be applied in book-reading and in selecting music. Up to today, I still wonder how on earth a salesman friend of mine back then highly criticize Bob Dylan for his songs. Which always reminds me of his song “The times they are a-changing.”
In M.Night Shyamalan’s excellent movie, Lady in the Water, I was satisfied that he took the character of the movie critic to the grave. He killed him. In significance of the characters portrayed, the critic is actually the one who misleads everyone else. Forming pre-recorded ideas about certain movies even before watching. Being predictable while watching and expect linear expectations while viewing.
*If you want to join me in any of the movies above, except the B-grade’s please, give me a ring. I have 6 takers for SIVAJI already, and it’s tomorrow.
SIVAJI:THE BOSS:YOUR BOSS:SO KEEP QUIET AND WATCH THE SHOW
@ FiFFteen in Goa, 2006 
