D8

Glasgow based D8 have done lots of exhibition and print work. It tends to have a clean, simple aesthetic which is what I like in the work of others. I think some of the exhibition stuff for Tramway looks similar to the identity I came up with for my In/Visible Grids exhibition, which shows we're thinking along the same lines.

Alexandra Mendes

The finish of this card is amazing. The gold stock and ink make it look really exclusive and special. The wax seal is also a brilliant finishing touch. This is the kind of feel I want to achieve in the magic brief as it would help make the society into something secretive and cool.

Shaz Madani

OMG theres too much! Shaz is a recent graduate of LCC and has done loads of great publication work. I especially like the things shes done for Topshop. Love the use of type and colour/finishes.

Magic Symbols

These are magic symbols with more of an occult background.








From:

http://links2theoccult.co.uk/magic.htm
http://gyllenegryningen.blogspot.com/2009/12/art-of-evocation-review-of-grand-key-of.html
http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/goetia.htm
http://www.saintdoctor.com/KabalaDoctor.html
http://www.fromoldbooks.org/Search/?kw=diagrams&source=Mathers-Goetia
http://kachina2012.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/greek-astrologers-and-nazis-had-king-solomon-in-a-knot/
http://spiritualsatanist.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html

Children's Kits

Its hard to find examples of magic kits that are already out there. They all seem to be really poorly designed like these:




I prefer these ones that have been produced for the Science Museum. The packaging looks a lot cleaner with more modern type and brighter colours. Black/horror might be appropriate to magic as a theme but the other kits just look drab.

Bartender Tricks

A good way of making magic appeal to teenagers would be to teach them things to impress their friends when out drinking. I found loads of good tricks on this website: http://bartendermagic.com/ This older target audience would also allow me to create a pack with a more refined design identity rather than something flashy and playful that would appeal to children.

Magic For Kids

http://www.cardtricksite.com//tricks.htm
http://kids.mysterynet.com/magic/rules/

These two websites have some simple tricks that children would be able to follow with a couple of basic illustrations and they all use items that are easily found around the house. These would be good to include in the trick manual if I decide to aim it at kids.

50th Anniversary Of Country Definitives Stamps

The presentation of these stamps is stunning, love the packs they come in.

Women Of Distinction Stamps

I like these a bit more as they incorporate more text into the design.

Charles Darwin Stamps

Olympic Stamps

Classic Album Covers

The current range of collectable stamps available from Royal Mail are classic album covers. Studio Dempsey were in charge of designing them using famous images of album covers. They were issued on 7th Jan 2010.

"For decades the album sleeve has been the canvas for some of the most imaginative graphic artists in the world. This stamp issue salutes this unique art form and celebrates some of the greatest examples, used by UK artists.

This band of designers and photographers have not only reflected the visual styles of many musical cultures, but have also defined and created them, too.

The stamp issue explores some of the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people’s lives."

As well as providing the stamps in a set they also present them in a nice book and on souvenir sheets. I think the sheet is really well designed: "The Classic Album Covers Souvenir Sheet is a superb way to collect the new stamps. The sheet reproduces them as gummed stamps, and they have been arranged in order of album release. The sheet design mimics that of a record cover and is 22.4cm x 18.9cm."