We all get a bit envious sometimes: Especially when a piece of creative comes along that we wish had been our design. This seductive piece of audio visual for Bristol's own Invada Records is by Marc Bessant: Creative Director at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios and an all round nice chap. He created a set of four exquisite sleeves for the UK vinyl release of the acclaimed Hannibal TV series soundtrack. Each double LP sleeve features photography from Executive Producer David Slade's personal collection and Bessant's restrained typography, giving the work an effortless, undesigned air. It's a lethal sensory combo – design work we wish we'd done and incredible music. Invada Records Marc Bessant David Slade Hannibal Wiki
US dollar bills continue to confuse and confound many international visitors to the States. To the uninitiated, this family of banknotes can seem almost identical (especially in low light in the back of a taxi travelling under the Brooklyn Bridge at 3am). Over the years, many valiant self-initiated attempts at a redesign have been made but as far as we're aware a complete overhaul has never been seriously considered by the U.S. Government. And so we discover the work of Idaho native Travis Purrington, attendee of the Basel School of Design in Switzerland. Although respectful of the significant historical American figures and their achievements, Purrington chooses to focus his designs on "... the advancements and culture within American society." We think the forward-thinking currency designs of Travis Purrington are worth a shot. In any event, these banknotes will soon be available as high quality large format prints and collectable banknote prints. Get in line! Take a look at Travis Purrington's Launch Sequence
We love the London Underground map. To many, visually, it is London and from a designer’s point of view it is the transit map that set a standard in legibility and clarity for so many others around the world. It is inevitable that comparisons between the London Underground map and other major cities' transit maps are going to be made by visitors. A recent family trip to NYC rekindled our interest in the work of design genius Masimo Vignelli. In this case, our attention was drawn by a small display at the Museum of Modern Art featuring Vignelli's work on the 1972 version of the New York MTA City Subway map – one that fell under the scrutiny of many New Yorkers, unhappy with it's geometric styling and inaccurate proportions. It was replaced after just seven years in action with a new design by Mike Hertz and whilst being geographically accurate, as far as getting from A to B is concerned, it has arguably made the experience somewhat complex for visitors. But what do we know? 30 years down the line and Hertz's core map, bar a few upgrades, endures. For lovers of the more functional and modernist subway guide, all is not lost: they can enjoy the digital version of Vignelli's map, renamed The Weekender, or in its own dedicated phone app. The Weekender map The Weekender app Massimo Vignelli 1931–2014 Mike Hertz interview: the Gothamist Even better! Buy one here