Showcase: Heads of State

Really good 2 man design studio in Philadelphia, some lovely work and a nice view of their working environment and history. I really like this book cover - handy for FDA1 Typo brief.

Student Showcase: Colin Dunn

Very nice little portfolio site and blog by student Colin Dunn at MICA. His work is lovely, his typographic book based of found signage is beautiful and should be an inspiration to you all - it's essentially the same project you have all had.

He also has some student work on Lovely Packaging - simple but beautiful - just enough colour and humour to make it work.

Showcase: Kind Company

Kind Company are a Brooklyn based design collective, only small - their work is commercial, understated and beautifully executed, it's also very 'warm' and human but still modern.

Researching design groups in the UK and abroad are really important ways to see how new trends emerge and how people problem solve from different perspectives. It's useful to see the output that's typical of company that is essentially just 2 people - their website is a masterclass in restraint and good layout.

I really like their solution for this restaurant - and it ties in with the talks I gave FDA1 about just what you are expected to do when you devise a new logo - and how far you are expected to take the brief.

Showcase: Uppercase Journal

Uppercase is an American design publication, they also run a website, shop, blog and digital scrapbook with regular updates, links articles and discoveries.

It's beautifully presented and designed - and interesting that it has a very 'American' feel to it - and that the lines between design and illustration are more blurred than over here on the UK ( a good thing ). This link is directly to the blog, you can navigate around Uppercase via the directory at the top.

Showcase: Owen Glidersleeve

I'm 100% sure that most of you think I'm barmy giving you all these creative typography briefs and can't understand why I do it and how they can possibly be relevant.

Owen Glidersleeve is a very in-demand freelance designer specialising in the creative and unexpected typography that Art Directors love. Nothing in here is out of your skill range. He graduated from the University of Brighton 2 years ago. I think his work is brilliant.

Showcase: AquaVelvet

From now on I will be adding showcase section to the blog, an occasional spotlight on blogs, sites or online resources that I think are worth looking at - with an emphasis on personal blogs by creatives here and abroad. You can learn a lot about design by engaging with other creatives, investigating their thought processes and observing how they present themselves. We are in the business of communication - and how you act, talk, walk, dress and present yourself and your work are all things that telegraph messages about you and your work to potential colleagues and clients.

I'm starting with Aqua velvet - an American personal design blog, using a very smart Wordpress template. She obviously has a real fascination for Modernisism ( check out her biog ) and her mid century graphics collection is superb. Feel free to suggest sites for the showcase and I'll post them here