OBEY THE GIANT

RICK POYNOR, OBEY THE GIANT - REVIEW COMING SOON

Rick Poynor Uncanny: Surrealism + Graphic Design

26.01.11 -  2:30 Huddersfield University

 Rick Poynor is a british writer and international speaker who studies graphic design, typography and  other visual cultures. At his lecture on Surrealism and Graphic Design, Rick described his commissioned exhibit in the Czech republic and all the research he undertook to complete it. Rick split this talk in to sections he thought were important in the surrealist movement:

permanent revelation
the exhibition
the polymorphous image
the surreal body
cabinet of wonders
the liberated letterform

Rick tracked the surrealist movement through the decades and all across europe, not just with local surrealist designers in Czech Republic but across Poland and in it's high in the art capital of Paris. Rick has a unique enthusiasm for a movement which has always been more shocking than pleasing. The Uncanny, not just the title of the lecture but the theme, the feeling of familiarity yet unknown at the same time and by bringing the subconscious thoughts forward you can get the raw ideas. Rick proved that surrealism has a rich history and is still influencing design today, coming all the way from the early works of Dali, all the way to Ed Fella's pictorial letters of the 90s.

Best Hotel Service. Fashion trunk. by The Berkeley, London

Yet another winner from Wallpaper* Design Awards 2011, this time for Best Hotel Services. From The Berkeley, London you can obtain a steamer trunk made by Norton MacCullough & Locke, which consists of 11 draws filled with vintage accessories and jewellery to borrow for the night to wear at your leisure or purchase if anything takes your fancy. The contents change according to the season, but the trunk itself is timeless, made from leather, metal and woodwork the level of craftsmanship is so exquisite that each piece is unique and exclusive in its attention to detail. I am not sure about the idea of a hotel hiring out a wardrobe but the vehicle in which it arrives is something I would except gladly.

The Berkeley itself is stunning, in fact all of the Maybourne Hotel Group chain are. I have a favourite room the Pavillion Conservatory Suite, for it's stunning view and it's furnishings finish the room completely with ever detail making the room more palatial and comfortable to move around in while staying relaxing and un hotel like. It may cost you several handmade trunks per night cost wise, but if you are wandering around Hyde Park take a turn down Wilton Place and spare it a glance.

Best Watch Design Awards 2011 Wallpaper* Magazine

J12 Retrograde Mysterieuse

For the tenth anniversary of channels J12 range, this new watch has the crown set on top of the dial as not to disturb the bezel. This may make the watch has a lovely circular edge but means when the minute hand reaches ten past it then spins backwards for the next ten minutes at double speed and reaches the twenty past. This may make the design too complex for the average use but the beautiful undisturbed finish is lovely. Chanel's previous J12 watches experimented with a variety of coloured jewel details as well as surrounds, but the Mysterieuse is unique in its exposure of the inner workings. 

When I backtracked to look at the complete J12 collection on the Chanel website I was struck by the fluidity of moving between products with rising and falling menus an images. I enjoyed spending several hours perusing the in's and outs of Chanel's latest collections. 

www.chanel.com