Blog

I spent a lovely Sunday pottering around the popular vintage and and textile fair in Newcastle. It was the first one I had been too and I was sold on the great poster by Alice Pattullo. The day was really enjoyable, inspiring and full of lots of nice people.

The images come from ‘The Observer’s Book of Flags’ published in 1966. They appear in this pocket size book at approx 5cm wide and look great blown up into a desktop.

Great Britain Navy
Former Admiralty Flag and also used by the Queen when she was head of the Royal Navy

• 1280 x 800
• 1440 x 900
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200
• 2560 x 1440
• iphone
• ipad

Uganda
Bands of colour with a Crested Crane in the centre.

• 1280 x 800
• 1440 x 900
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200
• 2560 x 1440
• iphone
• ipad

Washington State, USA
Baring a replica of the State Seal

• 1280 x 800
• 1440 x 900
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200
• 2560 x 1440
• iphone
• ipad

Burma
‘The President’s flag’ of Burma with a peacock on.

• 1280 x 800
• 1440 x 900
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200
• 2560 x 1440
• iphone
• ipad

Netherlands
The ‘Geus’, the naval jack of the Netherlands.

• 1280 x 800
• 1440 x 900
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200
• 2560 x 1440
• iphone
• ipad

Belgium Airforce
Target and gold lion with superimposed stylised wings.

• 1280 x 800
• 1440 x 900
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200
• 2560 x 1440
• iphone
• ipad

New Mexico, USA
The Ancient Zia sun symbol of the Zuni Native Americans and the colours of Old Spain who once ruled the area.

• 1280 x 800
• 1440 x 900
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200
• 2560 x 1440
• iphone
• ipad

South Dakota, USA
The Sunshine State also known as The Mount Rushmore State

• 1280 x 800
• 1440 x 900
• 1680 x 1050
• 1920 x 1200
• 2560 x 1440
• iphone
• ipad

We were really happy to be asked to redesign and build the York Open Studios website this year. We are pleased with how it looks and works and hope it added to the experience of this great event.

This year was a good one. As well as enjoying all the new work it’s always interesting to look around the studios, homes and unseen buildings. The concrete structure of Bootham school is a hidden joy. I particularity like it when the house and artwork mingle into one. Some of our favourites from 2012 were Mark Hearld, Emily Sutton, Michael Kirkham, Karen Mabon, David Campbell and Richard Mackness.

Some postcards from Jane’s collection of vintage matchbox labels have been made into postcards (via the folks at Art Press). Some of the cards are now on sale in Paperchase. We are giving away five sets – simply leave a comment in this post. These are just a small part of larger collection – if you have a little time to spend check them out!

It’s national book day. I love books with a mild obsession. ‘Glass in domestic building’ is a recent purchase from Janette Ray books in York. Published in 1957 by Pilkington Brothers it promotes modern glass design while selling all their wares in the back of the book – handy that! I particularity like the illustrations and blocks of bright fresh yellow – a taste of modernity.

Figgjo was founded in 1941, it is located and named after Figgjo, near Stavanger in Norway. It is best known for its mid-century modern ceramics decorated with colour and characters. Figgjo still trades and if you visit the factory there is a shop and small museum which displays some of its best vintage pieces. Today Figgjo’s mass produced ceramics lack the quirky originality but you can pick up some lovely one-off pieces such as the Sterke Striper hand painted collection.

More Figgjo Museum photos on Maraid Flickr

On a lazy, lovely sunny day pottering around Mundal, Norway’s book town I came across some magazines called Skolekringkastinga. At approx £16 a magazine there was small chance of a bulk purchase so I did something a little cheeky and photographed them in the book shops. From what I can gather they are bi-monthly educational magazines for Norwegian kids. The 1940s illustrations are my favourites.

• More Skolekringkastinga covers on my Flickr

‘Tied up in Tinsel’ by Ngaio Marsh. Cover design by George Critchard. 1973

We have finished designing the 2011 Maraid Christmas cards – a set of three bright and happy designs. All we have to do now is wait for them to come back from the printers!

Yesterday we visited Nick from The Print Project in Bradford to discuss some new Maraid Design business cards. It was the kind of meeting we like; coffee, chatting, looking at old machinery and thinking about design. Nick talked us though bits and pieces of print history and typography. Now we are even more excited to have a little bit of letterpress magic come our way.