Be my valentine Roger, because you gave the world a typeface called Mistral. Better than any writing, any name under Mistral’s spell is the “designer” factor for any willing hairdresser or night club no less

Be my valentine Paul, with your mind and silk screen press running over time, we wish we could design book jackets like you with their familiar visual served with playful wit

Be my valentine Koons, why make art when there are creatures like Popples need to live

Be my valentine Kos, is the picture art or the process? That ice cracking and splitting, microphones standing there as witnesses to something stark, unremarkable and still

Be my valentine Jim, your music is heaven and the covers you commission are at times just strange and a little warped

Be my valentines Irma and Anette, we are insanely jealous of your design in print – with inspired books and posters that make us sing, please, please send us the secrets of your design thing

Be my valentine Vince, how come you like using fluro and why do your t-shirts rock? Offices everywhere, a name that is a thing, you hang with Carlo and Ray, can you send us some of your t-shirts – girls medium and guys xxl, is that cool?

Be my valentine Brian, yes we are devotees of the art rock parade too

Be my valentine Orpheus, the father of song, an ancient story yes, yet times don’t seem that different at all

Be my valentine Drew, you made Donnie Darko happen in 2001. A film shot in 28 days, with a rabbit named Frank and a plot that foresaw that in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds, the world will come to an unknown end, fueled by the tunes that made people reference the 1980s again.

Be my valentine Maurizio, keep messing up the art world and crunching out your amazing magazine – Permanent Food

Be my valentine Beck, may you come to Australia soon, we want your dance moves now as well as your tunes

Be my valentine QE II, as on the Beatles’ Abbey Road, that odd song by Paul McCartney that sounds the Fabs’ last gong

The studio has spent the last few months developing a range of brands for the business and government sectors. Spring Osteo Clinic is a new osteo practice located in Surrey Hills, east of Melbourne’s city centre.

The brief called for a robust mark and type treatment that communicated a new professional and contemporary clinic. The research process was again invaluable, as we discovered that a human graphic form strapped with the clinic’s name was a no go for this new brand – as it appeared that every osteo practice in Melbourne used the human form – realistic to abstract, in their brand identities.

At the concept and design stages a range of outcomes were presented – people and spring based, along with type and colour options. A clean custom typeface was approved and developed from scratch along with a spring symbol. We recommended a bright colour palette to assist with setting a positive mood for patients. The spring symbol was developed to convey notions of activity, growth, and positivity. The whole package enforced that Spring is a clinic that assists patients to start, or maintain a path of well being and good health.

The brand mark is being applied to signing, apparel, digital and print applications.

Thanks again to Catherine for your vision, excellent briefing and guidance.

Make an appointment with Spring here

The Sticky Institute, Melbourne’s mecca for Melbourne’s wayward, diverse, inventive and compelling zine culture is over February hosting the Festival of the Photo Copier – a space for zine lectures, launches, chat offs and exhibitions.

The Undiscovered Press (unleashed on the masses) is a hands on exhibition that makes every effort to overwhelm visitors the zine making pursuit. Entry is free and well worth an hour or so of your attention.

The Undiscovered Press (unleashed on the masses)
Opens 12 February
Platform
Degraves Street Subway / The Campbell Arcade,
Enter via Flinders Degraves Street,
Melbourne Victoria Australia

Curated by zinemaker Melissa Reidy, twelve zinemakers from all around Australia have shared their unique vision for telling stories, creating narratives and dreaming up objects made of paper, photocopies and binding material. Ziners include Androniki Douramakos, Arlene TextaQueen, Marc Martin, Brendan Halyday, Fergus, Mary-Helen Daly, Sarah Foster, On Wednesday, Cameron Baker, Pat Grant and Michelle Vandermeer.

Drop into the Institute while you are there

Visit the Sticky Institute here, visit Platform here

Flinders Street Station circa 1953, Public Record Office Victoria.

January 2010 marks the 100th year of Flinders Street Station. Flinders Street Station, Australia’s oldest central railway station located on the South Western corner of Flinders and Swanston Street along side the Yarra River.

The building which stands today is the result of an architectural competition in 1899. The winning design named – Green Light, which includes a large dome and tall clock tower, was the design of railway employees James Fawcett and H. P. C. Ashworth in French Renaissance style. Building works commenced in 1900 and the complex was officially opened in 1910.

The depicted lettering samples can be found on mass in the Degraves Street subway. The system looks to be the original wayfinding signing system developed for the station in 1910, however this statement needs historic clarication. When one first came across this lettering it reminded one of coming across pieces of broken blue china at the bottom of my grand parent’s garden. Hand painted in vibrant cobalt, or China blue, on glassy white porcelain tiles, this now distressed signing system stands quietly, incomplete, broken and somewhat redundant amid the current mix of hanging signs, light boxes, and folded metal panels with vinyl, silk screen and illuminated type.

We hope that the Victorian Department of Transport historic archive, or the Department of Infrastructure has a pictorial record of this signing system as time is taking it toll on its presentation. As it is Flinders Street Station 100th birthday year a comprehensive documentation project may be the perfect birthday present.

Visit the Department of Infrastructure’s modest historic web presence here

The Unofficial Soundtrack to the 2010 French Film Festival takes us into a dreamy space.

Kat Macleod from Ortolan has developed another wonderful diva pitted with corse stenciled title type and the spare uncomprising type of Mr Frutiger, in blue jeans mode.

Released in January 2010, share the love and transcend into the space of new French sounds…

Thanks again to JF for your ongoing and inspired support.

Visit Cartell Music here