Hands On: Rain, Gravity, Heat, Cold by Blok, Canada
Posted: Filed under: Architecture and The Built Environment, Graphic Design Reviews, Hands On | Tags: Book & Magazine Cover Design, Book & Magazine Design, Branding & Packaging of 2017, Canadian Design, Coloured Paper, Design Blog, Design For Print, Design Reviews, Design Reviews: Editorial Design, Designed by Blok, Editorial Design, French Fold, From Toronto, Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog, The Best Graphic Design Work of 2017, The Very Best of 2017 Comments Off on Hands On: Rain, Gravity, Heat, Cold by Blok, CanadaOpinion by Richard Baird.
Superkül is a Canadian architecture studio with a diverse portfolio of understated boldness, subtlety and spacial richness, rooted in a process that intends to find the essence of each project and remain true to this throughout design and development. To celebrate the studio’s first ten years Superkül worked with Blok to create Rain, Gravity, Heat, Cold, a book that would serve as a collection of work and as a tool to articulate the firm’s unique philosophy and design approach. This was an exercise in discovery and positioning which then was expressed materially through paper transition, finishes and printing techniques.
In the first of an on-going series, BP&O takes a hands on look at Rain, Gravity, Heat, Cold. This follows, and intends to augment, the initial impressions given by Blok’s press release and promotional images, as reviewed in BP&O’s first article which can be read here.
Ekta Sketchbooks Vol. I–III by Lundgren+Lindqvist, Sweden
Posted: Filed under: Art and Design, Graphic Design Reviews | Tags: Art Book, Artist Books, Book & Magazine Cover Design, Book & Magazine Design, Book Design Review, Branding & Packaging of 2017, Design Blog, Design For Print, Design Reviews, Design Reviews: Editorial Design, Designed by Lundgren+Lindqvist, Editorial Design, From Scandinavia, Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog, Graphic Design Shortlist 2017, Material Thinking, Swedish Design, The Best Graphic Design Work of 2017, The Very Best of 2017 Comments Off on Ekta Sketchbooks Vol. I–III by Lundgren+Lindqvist, SwedenOpinion by Richard Baird.
Ekta Sketchbooks is a three volume book collection dedicated to the work of Ekta, the moniker of Swedish animator, sculptor, designer and illustrator Daniel Götesson (b. 1978). Limited to 300 copies and available from ll’Editions these present—through pages thickened by collages, drawings and layers of paint and tape—moments of creative relief, and represent the context for the endless experimentation that characterises Ekta’s process and output. What is particularly distinctive about Ekta Sketchbooks is that many of the pages have the quality of original works. These reference the past, and offer glimpses into Ekta’s future output, and have been bound into three volumes with embossed and gold stamped covers, and united in a personalised fabric covered box, designed by Scandinavian studio Lundgren+Lindqvist.
The Broadview Hotel by Blok, Canada
Posted: Filed under: Graphic Design Reviews, Leisure and Tourism, Logo Reviews | Tags: Black Block Foil, Brand Identity, Brand Identity Reviews, Branding, Branding & Packaging of 2017, Branding Blog, Branding Reviews, Business Card Design, Canadian Design, Coaster Design & Beer Mats, Condensed Logotypes, Condensed Typography, Design Blog, Design For Print, Design News, Design Opinion, Design Reviews, Designed by Blok, Fonts in Use: Grouch, Fonts in Use: GT Sectra, Fonts in Use: Neuzeit, From Toronto, Graphic Design, Graphic Design Blog, Hotel Logos, Logo Design & Branding Blog, Logo Design Inspiration, Logo Design Resource, Logo Designs, Logo Opinion, Logos, Logotypes, Sans-serif Typography, Stationery Design, The Best Graphic Design Work of 2017, The Very Best Brand Identities of 2017, The Very Best of 2017, Type Foundry: Grilli Type, Typography, Wordmark Design Comments Off on The Broadview Hotel by Blok, CanadaOpinion by Richard Baird.
The Broadview Hotel is located within one of Toronto’s most recognisable architectural landmarks. This was built in 1891 by a wealthy businessman who recognised the strategic importance of the East End as the city was expanding. It has been home to a business centre, acted as a political and social hub, and used as a hotel, boarding room and more recently, a strip club.
The building, over the last two years, has undergone extensive restoration and renovation, and now features a distinctive glass structure and new floor on the roof. This was done with great consideration for the original architectural details. Interior design, created by DesignAgency is inspired by the local community and is infused with a contemporary yet old-world grace. The hotel is made up of public spaces and 58 private bedrooms. These are peppered with what is described as a witty eclecticism that pays homage to the building’s past, with certain rooms featuring the original brass poles from the strip club. These homages are set alongside modern finishes and amenities.
Canadian graphic design studio Blok worked with the hotel to develop a visual identity that would embrace and express the building’s contemporary new voice, possess a similar wit and attitude, and finally acknowledge and celebrate the hotel’s East End roots. This is achieved in the contrast and collision of image and type, emphasised by a simple colour palette, and in the variety of secondary typefaces. This run across and links a plethora of printed assets. These included business cards, menus and coasters as documents here, but also wayfinding and signage.
