I’ve posted about the fascinating embroidery design of Evelin Kasikov before (whoa CMYK colour chart) and I love her latest work “Analogue/Digital”. In it, four paper objects represent print and screen formats where “pixels and dots, single elements of digital and printed image, become physical using hand embroidery”. RGB pixels stitched on a tablet screen, CMYK typography highlighting the print process, stitched TV signal bars enveloping a book and a 7 colour GIF bursting across a hardcover – it is a gorgeous exploration of the analogue and digital themes that dominate our lives. Oh how I would love one of these striking books on my shelf. Have you ever seen a pixel look more beautiful?

(photographs via evelin kasikov)  

The portfolio of artists Ronnie Yarisal and Katja Kublitz is plump with wonderfully thought-provoking work but it was these sculptures that really caught my eye today. Both titled ‘Totem’, the structures are beautiful in their strong angles and mixture of colours. To me, the deeper meaning comes when one considers that totem poles often reflect extraordinary legends, notable figures, history, story and artistic beauty. Sounds like the perfect description of what lies between the covers of a book too…

(photographs via yarisal & kublitz; spotted via present & correct)  

The RGB Colorspace Atlas by artist Tauba Auerbach caught my attention earlier this year but after losing the link, I started to wonder if it was just a wonderful dream! In three 8″ x 8″ cubes, Auerbach showcases “all the colors in existence” and the entire RGB gradient across 3,632 pages. Each book is a different RGB scheme and each page is a frame of the colour palette (its creation aided by video animation). A digital offset print on paper, the striking cloth cover and page edges were airbrushed by Auerbach. The unique binding was co-designed by Auerbach and Daniel E. Kelm and bound by Kelm and Leah Hughes. I’m still trying to sort out how RGB colour would be printed accurately but regardless, the piece is a gorgeous piece of sculptural colour…

(photographs via daniel e. kelm, tauba auerbach and designboom)  

Fabulous colour and a leaning book-like logo are two components of the vibrant new identity for Vicente Aleixandre library in Badia del Vallès, Spain. Designed by studio Txell Gràcia, I especially love the signage and wayfinding throughout the library from bright window graphics to four panel subject signs. A clean, modern and colourful canvas for showcasing beautiful books…

(photographs via txell gràcia)   

Single Strip of Colour: I love this method of colour blocking books because it is subtle yet bold and looks smashing in neutral and colourful interiors alike.

Unique Colour Palettes: No need to follow the idea of making a rainbow. I prefer colour blocked bookshelves that use unique colour palettes including mixing soft hues with bright ones. In most interiors, it makes the look feel less forced and helps if you happen to have books in one particular colour family.

Gallery White Spaces: Colour blocked books can look incredible in all light interiors especially when the design follows an artful, gallery sensibility. You definitely can’t get away with many ratty books in this approach!

Dark backgrounds: Black, wood or neutral grey shades can make bold backgrounds for books organized by colour. I especially like that first image as it showcases how bright coloured books can look beautifully striking when mixed with many white spines.

Bring up the topic of colour blocked bookshelves with interior design-minded friends and you will find those who adore the look and those who hate it. Design critics can be especially snarky on the topic! Personally, I love it but understand that it can go into cheesy territory fairly quickly. I’ve been searching for images for a couple months that exemplify the colour blocking styles that I love –  a single strip of colour, unique palettes, white gallery settings and dark backgrounds. I find I like the rainbow look less often then a random but organized selection of hues. I particularly like when just a row of colourful books splash into an industrial space. Colour blocked books definitely colour me happy… What about you?

(photographs via the design files, the selby, design*sponge, trendland, decor8, apartment therapy, fjeldborg, easy living, hus & hem, design*sponge, better homes and gardens, the selby, one kings lane, heart home magazine, deco my place, seventeen doors, little green notebook, hus & hem, lonny magazine, terkultura, apartment therapy, yatzer, the design files, lovenordic and chotda)

I frequently daydream about having a large studio to fill with work surfaces, supplies storage and colourful details. A piece I would definitely purchase for said studio is the Supergrau Expose, a front-facing presentation space for magazines, thin books, records or portfolio examples. So handsome. Available in black and white, I love the giant colourful bands securing the books in place. As Supergrau points out, this board embodies the quote “show me what you read and I’ll tell you who you are”…

(photographs via schoener wohnen and supergrau)

I love when designers and brands find a way to highlight their colour collections in an innovative way. Case in point: decorative plywood company Ichiro’s 2012-2013 catalog designed by the Irobe Design Institute. A gorgeous collection of nine mini-books, I love the scale of swatches and the way the hues are integrated into images that speak to their inspiration. Also fabulous? The Ichiro Japan Shop 2012 by Torafu Architects – a showcase space of prototypes and plyboard hues. I love the thought of a living, breathing swatch book customers can explore and hope more brands embrace a similar dedication to colour…

(spotted on spoon & tamago) and trendland)

Paper sampler books are always full of lovely swatches of colour but rarely gorgeous items of design themselves. I love this GF Smith’s sample book created by MadeThought to showcase the brand’s “iconic range of premium coloured papers and boards”. The tab cutting style reveals all 50 colours along the book’s edge and highlights the endless hue combinations possible. Oh and don’t even get me started on that sublime binding with multicolour stitches…

(photographs via september industry)

Some refreshing and colourful branding for LUX* Island Resorts by London studio & Smith. The identity reflects “a lively, spontaneous brand seeking to avoid the predictable patterns associated with luxury travel”. I love the thick, modern typography and tropical-feeling colour palette. How great is that launch invitation featuring a roll of tickets for various facets of the resort? And a great publication design for “50 Reasons To Go” with thready ribbons. Oh and believe me, if I ever get to a LUX* 5-star resort, I will be grabbing every single one of those beautiful room toiletries. Yep, I want to head to the tropics right this second…

(photographs via & smith, spotted on designworklife)

As someone who could spend several hours at a newsstand, I love visiting CoverJunkie where fantastic magazine covers and their creators are celebrated. Three that have caught my eye this month include the Suddeutsche Zeitung Magazin ”Rama dama, design issue” and its explosion of colourful smoke (please tell me there is a behind-the-scenes film of this cover shoot?) as well as a clever, elegant Olympic issue by Sport magazine and a layered FUKT magazine of contemporary drawing. Both digitally and in print, long live the magazine!

(images via coverjunkie)

It may be for children but I would love a copy of The Color-Play Coloring Book created for MOMA by Pascale Estellon. The oversized book is full of colour-focused activities that allow kids (and awesome adults) to play with colour mixing, light and dark shades, warm and cool hues and so much more. I can’t wait to see more spreads of this handsome book of colour learning. Many look frame-worthy!

This joyful video is making plenty of news today and for good reason. It is a happy maker! A few months ago, I posted a stop-motion video by Canadian designers Lisa Blonder Ohlenkamp and Sean Ohlenkamp featuring a colourful bookshelf re-organization. Well, the talented pair took things to the next level in their latest piece, “The Joy of Books”. With the setting of Type bookstore in Toronto and a whimsical score composed by Grayson Matthews, Sean and Lisa (and many volunteers) spent sleepless nights turning the shop into a truly magical world. I love the patterns and colours of flickering book spines, the two dancing book covers and the ending when all of the supplies pop back into their spots. I couldn’t agree with the last frame more – ”there is nothing like a real book”. I just know this is what shops do while we are sleeping…

(thanks Jen and Catriana!)

I first became smitten with the work of designer Sarah Illenberger when I discovered she was behind the fantastic cover of one of my favourite books, Papercraft (the second photo above). In addition to clever photography work like the raining watermelon I posted about previously, Sarah creates brilliant handmade paper pieces for publication covers, advertising pieces and set design. I was thrilled to read on the weekend that in September, Gestalten is publishing an entire book devoted to Sarah’s spectacular work. The cover, shown at the top of this post, is just plain fabulous. It’s amazing how a few twists of gold paper becomes a modern croissant. How great are those slices of speckled sausage? I can’t wait to read Sarah’s book and marvel at her handmade wonders and zest for making everyday objects joyful.

(read about on design boom; photographs via gestalten)

I know “don’t judge a book by its cover” is appropriate in most situations but sometimes a book design is so beautiful, I could buy it without one care about its content. Luckily, Amazing Face by Zoe Foster looks chalk full of interesting beauty information on top of its good looks. I am in love with the look of this book by Penguin designer Allison Colpoys. Rather than rely on obvious beauty photographs, the book features gorgeous illustrations, vivid colours and a real feeling of makeup as art. I have only been able to find these four spreads of the book but I am giddy about seeing the rest. A brilliantly beautiful cover and unique take on the topic. Did I mention how much I love the detail of green and pink ribbons to use as bookmarks? I am certain I will look more attractive after buying Amazing Face simply because I will be holding it!

(images via the design files where there is a great interview with designer Allison Colpoys)

This book and video of the Wimbledon Men’s Final (Federer vs. Nadal) by designer Bryan Ku is the perfect merger of three of my very favourite things: books, tennis and cleverness. How brilliant and creative to interpret a sport this way. Love those sport scores in iconic tennis ball yellow-green too. Here’s hoping Bryan ponders doing a whole sport series!

(video via vimeo)

I would love to go to lunch with artist Arthur Buxton as he looks at colour in a truly fascinating way (you may remember my post about his Van Gogh pie graphs.) His newest piece focuses on British Vogue magazine covers from 2001 to 2011. In reverse chronological order, from left to right, each block is a separate cover. Within each block, the strips of color that vary in width, represent the five most common colors proportionally found within that specific issue. The larger bands represent the years, starting in May and moving backwards. (If you’re like me, you will need to read those instructions a couple of times!) While there is the expected influence of skintones, it is interesting to see how similar the colours stay across soft tones, pinks and some fall hues. Even though a variety of colours became popular in each of those years, the covers don’t really deviate from a feminine palette. Other than two issues of blue, there is very little from the yellow, green, blue or purple colour families. I would love to see Arthur use this method in different eras. I imagine the 1960′s are full of vibrant powdery hues, the 1970′s are a blend of warm tones and the 1980′s are bursting with colour and neon. A really fascinating commentary on what colours are used to sell magazines.