I’ve never had the experience of going to a Northern Soul all-nighter. An old friend, Elaine Constantine, has made it her mission to document the passion and power of this unique night out. Elaine is in the early stages of making a film about the people and the clubs that seem to be caught in some sort of cultural time warp. These short clips offer a taster of how the film is shaping up. The subjects have this stunning beauty that seem to only be exemplified by the power of Northern Soul music. The track featured, ‘If this is Love’ by The Precisions fills you with the power and the passion of this amazing movement. I cannot wait for the completion of this project.  

By assembling paper cutouts into the wheels of bicycles, london-based graphic designer Katy Beveridge, creates a zoetrope– the spinning devices that typically produce the illusion of a moving animation from a series of static pictures. Interestingly, this zoetrope effect can only captured on film; to the naked eye, the movement of the wheels occurs too quickly and is perceived as a blur. captured frame by frame, however, beveridge’s snowflake-like designs produce captivating animated visual effects that mimic bobbling gears, growing plumes, and other abstract forms.www.katybeveridge.com

Many of you may already know of our love of all things by Robert Brownjohn at this office. The Maverick’s artwork for the Rolling Stones’ 1969 album Let it Bleed goes on sale at Bonham’s auction house next month with an estimate of anything from£30-£40,000, and anyone who would like to give me an early Christmas gift can readily bid for it. The lot includes two felt pen concept sketches on envelopes, together with two colour positives and two colour negatives of the final front and back covers; a US pressing of the album; a photo of Keith and Mick checking the cover proofs; five British postage stamps featuring the cover; and a copy of ‘Keith Richards: Satisfaction’, by Christopher Sandford, Carroll & Graf, 2004″. It will be included in Bonhams’ Entertainment Memorabilia sale on December 15th in London.

Keith Richards asked Brownjohn to work on the sleeve – the pair were friends at the time. The working title of the album was ‘Automatic Changer’, hence Brownjohn’s approach referencing the way that old-fashioned record players allowed users to pile up records so that they played one after the other as they each dropped down in turn. But instead of records, Brownjohn stacked up a dinner plate with a magnetic tape/film reel cannister, a clock face, a pizza and a bicycle tyre. This little lot was topped off by a garish cake made, trivia fans have delighted in informing people over the years, by a young Delia Smith.

http://www.vimeo.com/32558952With the music industry in dire straits, film production companies are throwing themselves at other industries in an attempt to have work produced in a stylish, pop video way. Step forward Fashion. With the huge power of e-shopping and the the demand from customers to see moving image from their favourite designers, fashion companies have become the new champions of the 3 minute video. Last night in London, InStyle magazine hosted their 10th anniversary party in Soho. At it, they aired a selection of films that they commissioned on the theme of ‘Style’.

ABOUD CREATIVE and DIGITAL PRO co-produced Sir Paul Smith’s first foray into this genre. The film was shot at the end of a 2 day editorial shoot in Nottingham with model Thali Lennox. It is by no means a finished document, merely as taster of how we will be pursuing the communication of fashion in the future. Still fashion imagery will always be king, but the Web, iPads and Apps are dictating to the industry that people want to see things move. The key to success in this area, is ‘the narrative’. There has to be a reason and a story behind the content, otherwise it will fail.

Everybody says great design can only come out of New York, London, Paris, Milan and other capital cities around the world. Crap. DIVISION OF LABOR come from Sausalito, California, and what they do is great. I don’t know alot about these guys, but I certainly love their output, and their love of craft. Their store is particularly inspiring, especially in the run up to Christmas. Their use of typography, their observations on Design, and their witty approach to the business of design is inspiring. Take a look at great design, and enjoy the ride. (I also can never resist a good diagram) http://divisionoflabor.com

I’ve known Rankin since the early days of 1988/89 when we were all just starting out and trying to break into the world of communication and photography. His drive has never ceased to amaze me. When many others achieve what he has achieved, they invariably settle, and bask in reflected glory. Not him. ‘Dazed’ was created, countless books have been published, films have premiered, not to mention his huge output of commercial and editorial work. The are no signs of slowing.

Ready to get back into magazine publishing again, we see the launch of a new bi-annual publication called ‘The Hunger”. It is aimed at ‘The Culturally and Visually Hungry’. Rankin recognises that this world is full of collaboration. Creativity is all about collaboration, and that is what is central to this magazine. Teamwork, and recognition of that team. There are countless people out there purporting to be ‘Creatives’ but very few have that right to be called that. Rankin’s new venture is an attempt to pull together these people and celebrate their drive and lust for excellence in creativity.

Within this issue, I am very proud to say that there is a 4 page story on the origins of our ABOVE ALL ELSE project. To be included in such a publication is really a great honour, and I am very grateful to Rankin and his team for including our work. With sounding biased, I wish this magazine every success it deserves and I look forward to seeing many more issues.

One final note, for all of Rankin’s success, I never cease to be impressed by his modesty, and self deprecation. His Editor’s letter is well worth reading, as it gives one a true insight into his drive and quest for creative betterment. http://www.hungertv.com/

A question mark usually hovers over my head when visiting a church, but this artist literally placed one over the alter. This light installation in the Parisian church of Saint Paul et Saint Louis was part of the annual ‘La Nuit Blanche’ festival in 2007. It is featured in a new book, ‘Alphabets, A Miscellany of Letters’, published by Black Dog Publishing.

Visitors entered the church through a lateral door and first saw a scattered group of luminous spheres hovering above the choir. As people approached the centre of the nave, the spheres began to form a giant question mark. The artist, Robert Sadler, sought to illustrate the profound symbolic association of light and knowledge. Simple, stunning and effective. Another ‘I wish I’d done that’ moment. 

Have been looking for this card for a while, found it in my sketch book today. Stunningly simple, beautifully executed. Circa 1992.

“The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud.”

Jimmy Rabitte in The Commitments.

Listen to this video first, then watch it. You wouldn’t quite imagine that the voice comes from the man in the video. Michael Stafford (AKA Maverick Sabre) was born in Hackney to Irish parents, and grew up in Wexford, Ireland. His voice has been compared to Finlay Quaye, but in my mind, the potential is far greater. All part of the not intentional folk theme permeating this week, alongside James Vincent McMorrow and Ben Howard.

Looking through my drawer labelled ‘Miscellaneous’, I came across a sampler for a fragrance that has been around for a couple of years. SMILEY is marketed as the world’s first anti-depressant fragrance. It is sold as a psycho-tonic perfume that activates happiness. At $45 for a 1.7-ounce bottle, it’s cheaper than an hour with a psychiatrist, but with possibly less conclusions. Let’s see if it helps me through the day…

Our ongoing collaboration with family has resulted in a story for Numero Japan. Simon Aboud’s forthcoming film, ‘Comes A Bright Day’ starring Imogen Poots, is featured in this month’s  issue. Paul Smith, who has dressed the cast, photographed Imogen in a variety of Paul Smith outfits. The story shows Imogen in and around the various sets used during the filming. Whilst the story is out now in Japan, the film premieres in London sometime in February 2012.

While we are on a ‘print’ roll, we thought we’d mention two recently published productions that we have art directed for Sir Paul Smith. The first is an ongoing collaboration that Paul has with Italian magazine Grazia Casa. Shown here, is James Perkin’s wonderful home, and venue, Aynhoe Park. We have shot several campaigns and stories there, and it ceaselessly proves to be a gem. Our favourite is the Unicorn who greets you at reception.

Nearly done with book day…. I have two heroes of design, notably both American. I do not subscribe to contemporary design magazines, or buy contemporary design biographies because I feel I have still too much to learn about the past before I admire the present. If I could advise any designer to whom to look to, I would say Robert Brownjohn and Saul Bass. Brownjohn’s visual biography, ‘Sex and Typography’ is always by my side at home and at work. He did what I aspire to do: Outstanding Still and Motion design. Now, finally, a definitive book on another American genius, Saul Bass, has arrived. Between these two men, they have completed every project I have ever aspired to be part of: James Bond opening sequences, Identities for Aircraft Livery and titles to the most famous films ever made. “Saul Bass, A Life in Film & Design” has finally been published. If you only buy one more book on design to accompany Brownjohn’s, buy this one. You will never need another for inspiration. Turn off the computer, and dive into this. This is why I do what I do.

Whilst none of us could do without the web, there are days when it gets too overwhelming. It is refreshing to look away, and get into some books instead. Today is book day, for me, at the office. The retro novelty of looking through books and getting inspiration is something that I really try to encourage people to do, but time often gets in the way. Remember that feeling of discovering an idea embedded in a book? Well, for those of you who have visited our offices, we are book addicts. Here is a recent influx of new titles that we particularly like. New York, is the common theme for this bunch. Beautiful production values, and great photographers. Set your screen to sleep and learn to turn the pages, rather than sweep them with your finger. It feels much nicer.

After each Japan trip it usually takes about 3 weeks to discover what I actually bought during my usual 4 hour shopping frenzy on my last day. I discovered these lovely sets of wrapping paper that I bought in PARCO building. They are from a company called YONGADOU. Illustration from Japan is probably my favourite. It’s sheer simplicity makes me wish that I could draw freely like these people. The site is almost entirely in japanese, but with a bit of guesswork, you can find your way around.  http://www.yonagadou.com/

It’s not often that we get opportunities to commission illustration, which is a shame, but in this age of austerity, perhaps we may be seeing some sort of resurgence in the medium.These illustrations caught my eye. Gianmarco Magnani operates under the name of Silence Television. His work is super clean, crisp, graphic and very eye catching. The images shown here are pieces that have been released as a series self promotion posters. A large selection of his work is available to purchase as limited edition prints. Well worth a look.

http://silencetv.com/blog/

http://shotbyshooter.blogspot.com/ is a site that focuses on, currently, the interesting faces and characters that adorn the streets of London. Shooter documents the inhabitants of London as they go about their lives. All the portraits are impromptu and candid camera grabs; a blend of fashion portraiture and street theatre. It is slowly becoming a telling social document of the variety of cultures in london. In our business of fashion shoots and campaigns, we are blinkered in viewing models as vehicles for product, as opposed to looking for the character of the person as a primary deciding factor in casting. Voted as one of the top UK style blogs, it is well worth looking at. Beauty is evident in all of the people here.