Design Debate

The latest sample pack from GF Smith was handed to us by our postman last week, Naturalis x 1-5, featuring Daniel Gustav Cramer , Lee Funnell , Sir Peter Blake, Wim Crouwel and Peter Saville . I have been very impressed with GF Smith's presentation since I first came across them, it is rare to find good design showing off good paper stock. For example, sample packs from some printers are often very lacklustre, when a little attention to detail would sell their work far more effectively. This new pack has a lot to recommend it - branding, packaging, foil blocking, even the smell - but the A3 prints inside are outstanding. I have seen both Lee Funnell and Daniel Gustav Cramer's work previously in the books sent out by GF Smith, but this format showed them off in an unexpectedly good way. Cramer's photography is exquisite, and shows off the Naturalis stock admirably. After endless corporate mail shots, oozing blandness, it is a pleasure to be given some credit. GF Smith show ...

First post on my new blog, might as well start with a moan! I have a feeling that most of my thoughts on design will be a rant... Anyone who knows me will probably be aware that I am not a fan of Orange's television advertising campaigns, so this will hardly be a surprise, but I just cannot let my thoughts on their latest be left in my head - I fear for my already feeble grip on reality. The title is so pretentious for a start, " I am who I am because of everyone "? My word, that is so trite. The implications from their latest advert - the one I have included a screen shot from, where a cartoon-ish ball of activity sweeps through an inner city estate tidying things up, and leaving some very media friendly graffiti in its wake - are certainly admirable, giving something back to the environment we live in, but just so far removed from real life it's embarrassing. There does seem to be some effort to move away from the preened models that have been used for the last few ...