The Chinese ‘30 Under 30’
The Olympics may be over, but thoughts about China’s place in the world order are just beginning. A new book, “3030 New Graphic Design in China,” presents the work of (you guessed it!) 30 of the mainland’s top young graphic designers. Edited by Javin Mo, the book features an extensive selection of posters, packaging, book design and illustration. The pieces, say the publisher, cover the gamut from “provocative and thought-provoking to playful and experimental, reveal[ing] a new idea of creativity in China where the opportunities of astounding economic development negotiate with the legacies of tradition and ideology.” Accompanying essays elaborate on how this new wave of progressive designer balances these matters.
Contact:
www.3030press.com
Bottling The Olympic Spirit
During the build up to the Beijing Games, Coca-Cola invited artists from different nations to jointly depict what the occasion means to them. One result of this bridging of cultures: the “WE8” series of eight highly stylized, aluminum contour bottle designs by several of China’s leading visual artists. For each limited edition bottle design - inspired by themes of Olympic spirit such as Happiness, Peace on Earth, Uplifting Moments and Active Optimism - an up-and-coming recording artist from another country composed a companion song. The art-and-music creations were then made available for free download across all devices and a microsite was created to tell the story of the project. Contact:
www.coca-cola.com/we8
Carbone Captures Duality of Legendary Couple
Ken Carbone was invited to participate in KahloRivera100, an international visual homage to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera sponsored by Alliance Graphique International. The exhibition was mounted to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Kahlo’s birth and the 50th anniversary of Rivera’s death. Carbone, Chief Creative Director of the Carbone Smolan Agency in New York, designed a playful homage to the iconic couple. “I am especially honored to participate because I have a personal interest in the notorious dynamic between Frida and Diego. Their relationship has inspired me to create a poster that can be seen two different ways, depending on the viewer’s preference for either artist,” says Carbone. “I chose to emulate the structure of a playing card, as it best demonstrates the duality of this royal couple in the history of art.” Contact:
www.a-g-i.org or
www.carbonesmolan.com
Digging Fossil
Billion dollar fashion and lifestyle brand, Fossil, is the subject of an exclusive exhibit at Milwaukee’s Eisner-American Museum of Advertising and Design. The exhibit explores the 24 year history of the brand - infused with a core design philosophy that blends old and new, classic and contemporary - via posters, packaging, products, interiors, and more. “Fossil Vintage*ology” is open until the end of the year. Contact:
www.theeisnermuseum.com
