Michael Worthington the English graphic designer based in California, parted with a wonderful quote that shadows one’s journey in making graphic work – one is only original as one’s sources are obscure. It’s an idea that completely dispells the myth that creative people are this independent font of fresh and original thinking.

One Afternoon in June 1999 Andrew discovered the obscure monograph of Swedish based graphic designer – John Melin. It was an exciting discovery. Every page revealed new posters, book jackets, installations of artful imagemaking and design with lightest yet highly compelling touch.

In an age awash with information available of every variation graphic work and their authors, it is suprising that the work of John Melin has been allowed to pass with little comment or exploration.

The following images are from John Melin’s only monograph – John Melin till Exempel

The Narrows in Melbourne has had the fortune to secure a collection of works, in prestine condition, of John Melin to November 29, 2008. Make every effort to experience this special exhibition.

John Melin
Swedish, 1921–1992
Graphic Designer

Oct. 31–Nov. 29
2008

The Narrows
2/141 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Australia
Telephone + 61 (0)3 9654 1534
Visit the Narrows here

Gallery hours
Wed–Fri 12–6pm,
Saturday 12–5pm
or by appointment

There is commercial naming projects and there are the naming projects that have soul –  the names of our community precincts – St John’s Wood, Seven Dials, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Five Ways, Crouch End, Land’s End.

The Unnamed Precinct project is an initiative of residents, businesses and institutions in the area of Sydney bound by the part of Oxford Street from Taylor Square to Greens Road, including the neighbouring cross streets and surrounds. The five-way intersection of Oxford Street, South Dowling Street, Victoria Street and Barcom Avenue marks the centre of the precinct. The project team work and live in a place that they feel needs to have a name, they are seeking ideas and feedback from the community to clarify this idea.

Having lived and work there, we put aside some time and submitted the following naming options:

In light of the rich local history of artists and artisans one may suggest some of the area’s most prolific artists under the theme – celebrating local creative people

Brett Whiteley AO (7 April 1939 – 15 June 1992) was an Australian artist. One of the best-known Australian painters of the 20th century, he is collected in most Australian galleries. He had many shows in his career, and travelled extensively around the world.

Whiteley suggestions:

• Whiteley
• Whiteley’s Corner
• Brett’s Way
• Endlessism

John Coburn (1925 - 7 November 2006) was an Australian painter. He is also known for his tapestries.
He won the Blake Prize for Religious Art twice.
All the major galleries in Australia have displayed his works. Two of his tapestries hang in the Sydney Opera House and seven hang in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington D.C. His works are also displayed in the Vatican Museum, Rome.

John Coburn also was a lecturer at the nearby, National Art School, Sydney which was at Coburn’s time in the Old Darlinghurst Gaol which was converted to the East Sydney Technical College.

Coburn suggestions:

• Coburn
• John’s Corner
• John’s Way

Thanks to Simeon King from Anagram for sending this project our way

Have a go all you naming people.

Visit The Unnamed Precinct here

Designer and image maker Kat Macleod, from Ortolan, has put together her first show at Lamington Drive, which runs from November 7 to 29.

Kat has worked with the studio on a few projects over the years, notably the revered So Frenchy So Chic image making campaign, and as a collaborating image maker for the first Stephen paper campaign.

We wish Kat well in all her work and travels. Kat is a thoughtful, hardworking and inspired collaborator.

Get down and get yourself some, while we are lucky enough to have her in Melbourne.

Visit Kat’s studio here, visit Lamington Drive and the Jacky Winter Group here

When one isn’t trying to think of the perfect after party play list that pleases absolutely every red blooded person on the planet, one is seeking refuge in type.

The Exeter Hotel is one of the many landmark public houses in CBD Adelaide – One can have a parmagana with an $849 bottle shiraz. The public bar stands as it has since the last renovation for a hundred years – a long room, modest timber finishes, with a long bar and high ceilings – not a white on white fit out in sight. So to stands a history of much of the venacular type. While many cities mow down their obscure type history, in Adelaide it is kept in tact, at least till it’s relevance is discussed at a community level – let’s not forget this is the Australian state that was the first to grant indigenous and woman the right to vote. In the long bar one designer’s interpretation of a local beer brand is allowed to stand next to it’s former incarnation – please enjoy David Lancashire’s interpretation of the Southwark brand in the 1980s completed entirely as a piece of hand lettering. Then there is the Exeter Window lettering, the cross bar of the ‘E’s, is strangely enforced in the ‘H’. One wonders (as only a type nerd can) if the hand letterer made this touch of a whim; on the spot of hand lettering the piece, or was it a design drafted in the weeks, or days before?

Then there is that curious font used for the the recent AGDA National Design Awards developed by Voice studio in Adelaide and it’s inspiration… The Adelaide Produce Exchange facade lettering on Grenfell Street, Adelaide. The word Exchange is a glorious sample of eccentric type design at it’s most individual.

The Australian pioneer of moulded plastic furniture Harry Sebel, passed on 18 September 2008 at 92.

In the early seventies the fabled wooded school chair was passed over for Sebel’s famed – Slim-n-Comfy Sidechair. Back at the time, 70s school children liken this new chair to something that ascended from space – with it’s organic shell and insect like legs. Since it’s inception this unassuming chair has been sold in the tens of millions and can be found on all corners of the earth.

Complicated solutions to any problem are fairly easy to come by, but it takes genius plus a fair amount of perspiration to arrive at a simple solution. Harry Sebel (24-10-1915 to 18-9-2008)

Amongst the many projects and products, Sebel also conceived and developed the Sebel Town House hotel complex in Elizabeth Bay, Sydney in 1963. Sebel created this lair to court and lure international rockstars, pop queens, the rich, the famous, hangers-on and want-a-bes in town. A place to loose one’s self, part with a little money, and potentially be immortalised in black & white on the bar’s dimly lit walls. Like many institutions in Sydney the famed Sebel of Elizabeth Bay has become appartments.

Visit Sebel Furniture here