Food for thought“You will learn most things by looking,” he would say, “but reading gives understanding. Reading will make you free.”
Paul Rand, quoted by Jessica Helfand.

Paprika — design from Canada

December 17, 2008, 6:46 PM

Outstanding work from Paprika, based in Montreal, Canada. The prints will make you drool, for sure. Emboss, foils, laser, diecuts, you name it. I also admire their identities, minimalistic, simple, most of them based on type and images — one doesn’t need a complicated logo when a good, clear&functional visual identity is present. Another thing to admire is their ability to create both rational, strong design and emotional, delicate design (check out their beautiful packaging).

paprika2-m.jpg

paprika1-m.jpg

(via Dieline)

favicon

252

Yurko Gutsulyak — From Ukraina with love

November 20, 2008, 3:35 PM

Wonderful works made by Yurko Gutsulyak, an ukrainean designer. His matches-calendar won a lot of awards, and one can easily see why. I also love the beautiful Cognac CD case, the nice stationery for the Golovan and Partners law firm and many more.

picture_pic_file_63_fire_2.jpg
picture_pic_file_107_jazz_koktebel_4.jpg
picture_pic_file_91_golovan_law_firm_identity_1.jpg
picture_pic_file_68_koktebel_2.jpg

(via Dieline — thanks Alin for drawing my attention :) )

favicon

245

Red&Blue

July 28, 2008, 11:55 PM

Beautiful, simple and cheap chinese packaging. Type works best, as always. Especially when it’s hanzi :)
chinese-bandage-m.jpg

(see it larger on flickr)

favicon

222

Vintage Graphic Design

May 25, 2008, 5:04 PM

Another goodie-set on Flickr, containing pages from an old Graphis Packaging issue. Some beautiful stamps:

stamps.jpg

and a beautiful grid&type-based packaging (yes, Helvetica forever! :P):
type-packaging.jpg

favicon

208

Mr. Porky – swiney todd stuff :)

March 7, 2008, 12:08 AM

I know most would be horrified by this product, but for me they are pretty much like Proust’s madeleines, reminding me of my grandparents’, as a kid, sitting comfy on the big old sofa, Christmas Eve, eating pork scratchings and smoked sausages, sipping some good home-made rosé wine out of a tailor’s-finger-pad-sized glass…

To my delight I’ve found these Mr. Porky (note the hilarious butcher – the POS had him full monty, uncovered as packs were sold :)) ) in an irish pub here in Bucharest yesterday. They went smoothly along some vodka beers. Or was it the other way around? :))

mr_porky.jpg

favicon

175

Ugliest bottle on the shelf?

February 20, 2008, 1:30 AM

Maybe not, but it sure strives to take the prize. Just bought it today because I couldn’t believe how awkard and comunist-cheap-booze-reminding-me it was. Not to mention the weird glob-glob sound it makes when drinking because of its badly designed neck. It would make a great Molotov-cocktail if it weren’t plastic :)

20022008973m.jpg

favicon

159