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Oct 05, 2010

Bright Bright Book Review: Ice Cream & Sadness

Hey Designer!
Do you like ice cream, sadness & sarcasm?

It’s time to get back to paper, and this month, BBG brings you a special treat in the shape of a book review and in the flavor of Sadness and book layouts!

If you’re alive, then you probably know about Cyanide & Happiness, a popular web-comic hosted on Explosm.net from creators Kris Wilson, Matt Melvin, Rob DenBleyker and Dave McElfatrick. Well, after the huge success from their first book, Cyanide & Happiness, they’re back with new comics, more cartoons behaving badly and more insulting humor in:

ICE CREAM & SADNESS
More comics from Cyanide & Happiness.
(More after the jump)

As you can see, the book features ridic comics that illustrate such light topics in a very dark, cynical, often offensive, and exceedingly irreverent (= fun) way!

Also included, cool “Interactivities” to keep you entertained especially when it’s time to work! Choose from repetitive crossword puzzles, secret messages and word word srcambels.

This book is genius and comes out today, October 5, so do as we do and get it here… or just look at our very own BBG comic strip and be convinced. Or else!

Much love from Jocelyn, BBG and Collins Design.

Posted By

Jason Schwartz

Aug 31, 2010

Walk This Way: A New Book Review By BBG!

Signs are everywhere. They tell you what to think of that look everyone just gave you, when to keep quiet, and when you should run away… but they also tell you where to board your plane, where to find food, and in which room you won’t be slapped at a restaurant.

Collins Design’s present of the month is WALK THIS WAY: SIGN GRAPHICS NOW by Matteo Cossu.

No matter where we are, sign graphics find their way to communicate us a coherent message through clear and effective visual images, so design specialist Matteo Cossu presents a collection on some of the most ingenious sign work from around the world, featuring projects and their creators, as well as insight into their creative minds.

A fascinating compilation of photographs take us through amazing signage from museums, libraries, hospitals, theaters, retail, schools and public spaces.

The book also features interviews with sign experts, revealing the inspiration behind their work, the challenges they faced, and their thoughts on the final products. WALK THIS WAY is a great resource for designers and students because it inspires beautiful visual communication.

The book goes on sale today, August 31st. We think that’s a sign that you should get it.

Images courtesy of Harper Collins Publishers.

Posted By

Jason Schwartz

Jun 15, 2010

Today In We Not Only Like Soccer, We Like Toys!

It’s World Cup time! And it’s also Collins Design time!
We must’ve done the opposite of walking under a ladder, because BBG was once more honored by getting an exclusive copy of Collins Design’s newest book: We Are Paper Toys! by Louis Bou.

The book is, of course, about the elegant and somehow mystical world of paper toys, a mix of creativity, curiosity, and a bit of patience.
Since paper toys are so hot these days, this book comes at the perfect time. We Are Paper Toys! is a collection of some of the best toy designs created by famous artists from around the world.

The book is beautifully illustrated and awesomely inspiring. It features 32 designers in 200 pages filled with interviews, photos and design tips for toymakers. The book also comes with a CD with more templates than you’ll be able to make in a summer.

And a special visual bonus, and because here at BBG we firmly believe in the art of experimentation, we decided to enjoy an afternoon of toy making and photography: we printed, cut, folded and glued and went outside to shoot our creations!

Here’s what we made:

Freddy Krueger by Horrorwood.

Rameses Paper Lion by Dolly Oblong.

Carmi by charuca.
///
So if this tickled your origami sense, you’re in luck, because the book is out today!
Order here or here, enjoy maybe here, and promote here and yes, here.

Also, if you buy the book and make a toy, let us know here! We’ll be delighted to set up a paper toy duel! Prize is watching Cloverfield at BBG for the 20th time 😛

Now look at some of the pretty pages:

See all the pictures on Flickr.

Posted By

Jason Schwartz

Apr 01, 2010

Interviews Are Beautiful

First BBG reviewed and blogged about The Visual Miscellaneum. Now the nice peeps at Harper Collins have made our day again by letting us interview his creator, David McCandless!

David makes our world clearer every day through his website Information Is Beautiful, and we share the love for information graphics, facts and whiskey.

The future according to David? New Apple gadgets like the iBuprofen, the iPod Utility Belt (just like Batman’s!) and something mysterious very appropriately called “Mysteron.”

Ok read!

1. If you could have actual data of something very intriguing to make a chart, what would that be?

I’d like to make more images of psychological and emotional data. Like patterns in dreams, moods, relationships – the kinds of things that don’t technically “exist” materially speaking, but are likely to have some hidden patterns and structure in them. Not quite sure how I’d do it though!

2. What chart has been impossible to make?

No chart has been impossible. NOTHING CAN RESIST THE ALL-SPANNING MIGHT OF THE CHART!

3. How do you decide what should be turned into a graph?

Frustration, ignorance and curiosity. Those are my leads. If I’m annoyed that I don’t get something important. Or I don’t understand something. Or I wonder how something works. Those feelings are the fuel for an image.

4. Are you making a chart of this questionnaire right now?

Negative.

5. Fave website today to catch up on worthy information.

Reddit. (Very intelligent comments)

6. Apple’s “Next Big Thing” now that the iPad is out?

http://www.theinternetnowinhandybookform.com/schmapple/

7. What is the best way to drink whisky?

No ice, in a green leather armchair, by an open fire, next to a window, over a loch, at the end of the day.

8. I like Twitter like I like ____.

Cashew nuts

9. Top 3 reasons why you love information.

1. It’s learning – brain food!
2. It’s fun – like putty!
3. It’s everywhere – no escape – so get with it

10. Any chance we can see a David McCandless life chart soon?

I actually really dislike Life Charts. Shhhhhhh! For me, designers should be solving problems and helping the world be more excellent. I don’t see how life charts contribute. Who cares how many bus journeys a designer took??

11. What is the aspect of design you give the highest priority to?

Answering questions.

…

David’s book, The Visual Miscellaneum is out everywhere, so give in and buy it. You can go see your cousin’s new boring play some other time.
By Jocelyn Ibarra for Bright Bright Great.
BBG loves books!

Images via. One more for the road:

Posted By

Jason Schwartz

Feb 04, 2010

Designing For The Greater Good: Another Successful Review By Bright Bright Great!

Have we mentioned how much we love Collins Design?

Collins Design is the editorial behind The Virtual Miscellaneum, a brill book BBG had the pleasure to review, love and obsess about last November.

This time Collins Design made our January by sending us a copy of Design for the Greater Good by Peleg Top and Jonathan Cleveland. A book showcasing the best, brightest, and most successful design campaigns in the nonprofit industry.

The message behind Designing for the Greater Good is that nonprofit campaigns shouldn’t merely share a message, but that they should serve as inspiration to encourage action.

The book includes 24 case studies, interviews with designers, cause-specific campaigns, logos and branding for nonprofits and tons of websites, posters, brochures, advertising, and marketing materials for different events and nonprofits. By the time you finish it, you should at least feel a little enlightened.

Go get this book before you’ve been left behind. On awesomeness!