Andrea Manzati is an Italian graphic designer and illustrator. This space travel series was created for Fast Company and was displayed as full page illustrations. Andrea Manzati’s style reminds me a little bit of Ben Newman and Matthew Lyons’.
Space Dog Books is an interactive book publishing company that aims to introduce readers to new worlds through the use of touch-sensitive devices. Last month they released their first book app, Treasure Island – A Space Dog Book, and I was blown away by the experience.
I had the opportunity to speak with Tymn Armstrong, Art Director at Space Dog Books, and he was kind enough to share his thoughts on the project and give a behind the scenes look at the process of “creating universes in a digital world.”
Jon: Thanks for sharing with us. Congratulations on the launch of Treasure Island. When you set out to create content for these devices what led you to children’s books?
Tymn: First off, thanks! It was a lot of work. Over a year of production went into making it and it feels so great to see it completed.
I think we’re starting with children’s books because they present more challenges than adult books. There is this misconception that children’s publishing is easy because it’s for kids but it’s actually quite the opposite. It’s an extremely competitive industry with some of the most talented people in the world of books. That said, we do have plans for books that are not necessarily children’s books. We don’t ever want to limit ourselves.
Jimmy Turrell launched his new website recently and I spent the evening pouring through his work. Really great stuff, my favorite is this set of designs for Yellowire. Check out the rest of his work here.
Ben Newman is a British illustrator with such an interesting use of shape, line, color and composition. Although I have no idea what some of his pieces are even remotely trying to say, I still feel a welcoming connection. My eye is seeming worked back and forth throughout each piece playfully. The bird illustration in particular reminds me of the type of illustration you’d see in grandma’s living room from the late 40s or 50s.
Really refreshing illustration work from Kilian Eng. I’m really getting an Avant Garde Magazine / 70’s-80’s illustration vibe from all this. Love the use of texture, it all feels so authentic.
More of Eng’s work and inspiration can be found at His Tumblr. (thanks Francisco)
I don’t know quite how to describe Feric Feng. His site describes his work as a “surreal blend of the natural and mechanical” — which is an apt description, if only lacking in deserved adjectives of praise. ‘Gorgeous’, ‘innovative’ and maybe ‘spell-binding’ would be my additions. For me his renderings conjure aspects of the work of Si Scott. Something about the complexity and super minute detail. Such detail that most people probably don’t even perceive the intricacies of the work; rather it just looks “complicated” until you look further and realize how much consideration and attention each element has been given. I have my eye on a few of his prints.
A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across these beautiful pieces by Cristiana Couceiro. I was immediately engaged by the simple, collage-like style and muted mid-century colors. There is also something about the use of monochrome mountain imagery and type that really catches my eye.