Barbara Kruger‘s Op-Art piece in today’s New York Times is very apropos.

Beijing, China

In mid-October, the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University hosted a 50-year retrospective exhibition featuring the work and distinguished career of my good friend (and former Icograda board colleague) Professor Yu Bingan. Widely known as “the godfather of Chinese type” and “a pioneer of visual communication design in China,” Bingnan has had an interesting and prolific career as both a designer and a design educator.

Originally from Shanghai, Bingnan moved to Wuxi at a young age to escape political turbulence. After initially attending Lu Xun Art Academy in Yan’an, he moved to Europe for six years and continued his studies at the Leipzig College of Graphic Design and Book Art, in what was then East Germany (it’s by dent of this that Bingnan and I can communicate in German, as I am practically illiterate in Mandarin).

Since 1962 he has been a lecturer at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (the former Central Academy of Arts & Design) and from 1985 to 1990 he served director of the Book Art Department. Bingnan has served for decades as an international design juror for arts & design competitions, his works have won distinctive international and national prizes, and he has published numerous articles and books on design theory. Bingnan became the first Chinese member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI), he served as a vice president of Icograda (2001-2003), and he continues to represent Icograda in China as a special liaison and through active promotion of Chinese graphic design associations.

Read an interview with Professor Yu Bingnan here; view more images from the retrospective exhibition here.

Among the artifacts on display at the retrospective was this newspaper article from 2009, when the Icograda World Design Congress was held in Beijing. (Thanks to Sophia Shih for sending me the images for this post).

London, UK

Sony Music has unveiled a graphic installation documenting the company’s 125 year musical history. Designed by Alex Fowkes, the Sony Music Timeline runs throughout the central atrium of Sony’s open plan Derry Street offices. The installation features nearly 1000 names of artists signed to Sony Music and its affiliated labels from the foundation of Columbia Records in 1887 to the present day, including musical icons Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin, The Clash, Michael Jackson and many many more.

Interspersed among the artist names are certain key developments in technology, musical formats and corporate history — from the invention of early recording cylinders to vinyl, cassette, CD, radio, MTV, the Sony Walkman, the iPod and the introduction of digital streaming services. The work is organised by decade into 54 columns measuring over 2 meters tall and covering almost 150 square meters of wall space. It uses CNC cut vinyl as the sole medium for the whole installation.

Sony’s partnership with Fowkes is set to continue as the Sony Music Timeline will grow each year with the addition of new artist names signed by the major.

(Thanks to my colleague Adrian Shum for the link).

New York, USA

When I began full-time practice back in 1976, the profession of graphic design was going through some dynamic changes. Looking back, if I were to identify the 10 designers who I was most influenced by, Herb Lubalin (1918-1981) would certainly be on that list—his bold and innovative graphic approach, engaging ligatures, and eclectic typography are unforgettable.

A new monograph on Herb Lubalin has just been published, and a nice set of Lubalin images can be found online here.

Durban, South Africa

It’s been a while since I’ve featured i-jusi and the work of my friend Garth Walker on this blog… from 2011, here are some spreads from the third issue in “a series of type-specific themes, encouraging artists and designers to create typefaces, hand lettering, and the like, based on their own personal South African experience.”

Nuremberg, Germany

A selection of the unmistakable posters of Pierre Mendell (along with preparatory sketches and small collages) is on display until 14 October at Neues Museum für Kunst und Design, Nuremberg.

See more and learn more here.

Beverly Hills, California

AdamsMorioka designed this poster for the International Conservation Caucus Foundation’s annual gala in Washington D.C.—but is was also designed as a tool for children and members of the United States Congress to learn animal group names. The goal was to raise awareness for the ICCF’s mission to promote the projection of U.S. leadership for international conservation worldwide. Here’s how they explain what led to the concept… with a nod to mutual friend Marian Bantjes.

“One thing I’ve learned is that the most talented people have the best stories and information. Michael Bierut always has something interesting. Michael Vanderbyl has hilarious stories. Marian Bantjes has a wealth of information about subjects I never considered. For example, Marian knows what to call any group of animal. I would say, “Hey, dude, check out that bunch of zebras.” Marian knows this is not a “bunch,” but a dazzle of zebra.”

(source)

Budapest, Hungary

Frustro is a display typeface designed by Martzi Hegedűs based on the Penrose triangle, an impossible object.

Thanks to Bob Roach for the link.

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Typeface designers Robbie de Villiers and Jeremy Dooley have developed a custom typeface called Chatype that they are hoping will become the city’s typeface. They’ve successfully raised funds for this venture through Kickstarter…

The goal is to help the city and its businesses forge a distinct and cohesive identity through a custom typeface, sending a visual message to the world that Chattanooga—a rapidly growing city in the midst of a creative renaissance—is “more than just your average Southern town.”

(source)