Blog: Design

Japanese Match Labels



I came across these gorgeous 20's/30's Japanese Match Labels yesterday on Christian Northeast's blog, Lunch Tongue. He has a scapbook full of them and has posted a small selection. I really like them all as the illustration styles are great - but the legs have to be my favourite with the those tiny red heels.

Images copyright Christian Northeast.

Fri 31 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Ephemera , Illustration

2 Comments

From the reference box #47


#47 - a Swiss letterhead from the 60's. I'm terrible at languages but I think the letter is in German and I'm pretty sure the 'V+S' is a tourist board logo. However I could be totally wrong, so if you have any info please get in touch.

I found it nestled amongst some bits of ephemera I bought a few weeks ago and really loved the logo, it's such a funny choice of typeface for such an official looking letter, but I think it's great. I especially like how the '+' has been reversed out of the 'V' to create the national flag - simple but effective!

If vintage design and ephemera do it for you, check out what else is in our reference box here.

Thu 30 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Typography , Ephemera , Reference box

2 Comments

Christian Northeast



I love the quirky, retro style of Christian Northeast's illustrations and collages. They're a successful mix of strong composition, a touch of the surreal, bold graphics and bright colour. He's got a great collection of typography and lettering pieces in his portfolio too. Check it out here.

Images copyright Christian Northeast.
Via Notcot.

Wed 29 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Illustration

2 Comments

Vintage Playing Cards


I've just uploaded my fledgling collection of playing cards to Flickr. I've not been collecting them very long so there are only 20, but they've got some great graphics.


If playing cards are your thing check out older posts here and here.

Mon 27 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Inspiration

4 Comments

Ephemera Assemblyman


Ephemera Assemblyman has some great vintage posters, photography and ephemera on his blog. There's loads to look at, but be warned once you start trawling through the collections it's hard to stop! Here are a few of my favourites...



Images copyright Ephemera Assemblyman.

Wed 22 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Ephemera

4 Comments

Another Color Helm!


Remember The Color Helm I posted about a while ago, based on Wilhelm Ostwald's Colour system? Well I've finally come across another one - Mr Bluehaunt of The Haunted Lamp has the one above.

They originally came in Professional, Spectrum, Student, Womens’s Wearing Apparel and Interior Decorator’s models. Mine is the Student version, but this one is different and seems a lot more complicated - I wonder if it's the professional one?

Here's mine again for comparison:

Top image copyright The Haunted Lamp.

Tue 21 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Inspiration

5 Comments

Paul Rand Book Covers


Paul Rand is one of my favourite designers of all time and I love looking at his work. The last time I ventured over to his commemorative website it was incomplete, but now it's all there in the gallery; logos, posters, advertising, packaging and book covers, there's almost too much to look at!

I love his book cover design and as I'm working on some myself at the minute I thought I'd share my inspiration...




The whole collection of Paul Rand's work can be seen here. It's constantly being updated as more and more examples are found and documented.

Images copyright Paul-Rand.com

Tue 21 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Typography , Inspiration , Illustration

2 Comments

From the reference box #46


#46 - Commemorative 'British Textiles' stamps celebrating great British textile designers, designed by Peter Hatch and released in July 1982.

The set of four stamps showcase prints from (left to right); William Morris - 'Strawberry Thief', Steiner & Co. - 'Untitled', Paul Nash - 'Cherry Orchard' and Andrew Foster - 'Chevron'.

Check out more reference box goodies here.

Mon 20 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Ephemera , Reference box , Illustration , stamps

1 Comment

Bauhaus-Era Postcard


Had to post this, it's a Bauhaus-era postcard found by jp of Amass Blog on Ebay! The '3' is just gorgeous - the geometric shapes and the orange, I just love it.

Image copyright Amass Blog.

Fri 17 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Typography , Inspiration

1 Comment

Natsko Seki


Japanese illustrator Natsko Seki has some really great work on her website - it's wonderfully whimsical and a little surreal. I love how she combines illustration and collage to create a warm, nostalgic feel.

If you love Natsko's work as much as we do you'll be pleased to know that some of her limited edition prints are available over at Design Supremo.

Images copyright Natsko Seki.

Wed 15 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Things to buy , Illustration

0 Comments

Hobby Stamp Blocks at Present & Correct



Present & Correct have these gorgeous Dutch stamps from the 70's available in blocks of 4. They have 3 different 'Hobby' themed designs left - painting, music and ballet.

Images copyright Present & Correct.

Tue 14 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Things to buy , Illustration

2 Comments

Typographic jewellery


I just came across the work of Berdene du Toit on The Ampersand and I love it - type and jewellery - what's not to like?

Canadian based Berdene handcrafts each letterform out of MDF, sands it down and then sprays or paints it to give the desired finish. Her pieces vary from single letterform earings/necklaces to elaborate multi-piece designs (as above). These long chains (below) are my favourite though, particularly the yellow one with the little dangling 'i'.

Checkout the full range of Berdene's fabulous jewellery here.

Images copyright Berdene du Toit.
Via The Ampersand.

Tue 14 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Typography , Delicious things , Things to buy

2 Comments

Festival of Britain Guide, 1951


I've seen loads of these Festival of Britain guides for sale in the past, but for some reason they've always had pages or bits of pages hacked out of them. Finally though, I found this one in perfect condition.

The cover's my favourite part of the guide. It's a natural coloured, thick paper with a 4-colour print including white. White litho must have been quite unusual in the early 50's, but it looks great and really helps showcase the Festival logo - an iconic Britannia emblem designed by offical war poster artist, Abram Games (seen above on the cover).

The Festival of Britain was a national festival launched in May 1951 to promote better British design, construction and engineering, to create a national feeling of progress and to boost British moral. It was also a centenary celebration of the Great Exhibition held in 1851.

Exhibitions were held throughout the country, but the main venue was on the South Bank in London at a specially designed site developed by architect Hugh Casson and his appointed team. The team aimed to introduce the idea of urban design and showcase the principles intended to be used in the re-building of London; elevated walkways, modernist style architecture and multi-level buildings. Sadly though, only The Royal Festival Hall still remains.

Here's a plan of the South Bank Centre site:

Here's a selection of the adverts throughout the guide - the BOAC/BEA (below) is really great.



FInd out more about the festival here.

Mon 13 Jul 2009

Posted under: Advertising , Design , Exhibition , Architecture

6 Comments

Secret Blisters 09 - Posters Now Online!


Print Club London have put the remaining Secret Blisters 09 posters in their online store and don't worry, all the artists have now been revealed!

Contributing artists include Anthony Burrill, Andy Smith, Si Scott, Jon Burgerman, Steve Wilson, Richard Hogg and Eine.

Above from left to right is work by Anthony Burrill, Abi Williams and Andy Smith.
Images copyright of the artists.

Thu 09 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Typography , Things to buy , Illustration

2 Comments

From the reference box # 45


#45 - Vintage photographic studio cards. Photographic studios in the late 19th and early 20th century would hand these out as a kind of business card to advertise their work and show clients their proofs.

They're a thick board with rounded corners and often have gold, printed edges. Intricately designed studio details are printed on the reverse and a photographic image (usually a very serious portrait) is glued to the front - a contrast I just love. Some cards also had foil blocking and debossing on the fronts to embellish the studio name.



If you like these, check out our other reference box items here!

Wed 08 Jul 2009

Posted under: Design , Typography , Reference box

4 Comments

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Welcome to the Delicious Industries blog. We're an independent design studio based in Brighton, UK and this is our scrapbook packed full of design, illustration, photography & typography inspiration. Check out our work here.

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