Pretty in the City
Bham's first design festival is inbound
Mate, if you need design work done and you're considering designers from outside Birmingham, then we need to have words. If this city were a giant squid it would have design-flavoured, multi-coloured ink oozing from between its gifted gills at all times. And on that note, here's the highlights of the first ever Birmingham Design Festival, as chosen by the organisers. It runs June 7 to 10 and welcomes everyone from seasoned graphic professionals, to those who just like nice looking things.
A LEGEND IN ATTENDANCE
If we could have bottled the look on festival organiser Luke Tonge's face when he told us Aaron James Draplin was speaking at Birmingham Conservatoire, we would have bottled it, had Draplin himself design a label for it, and flogged the lot by the case load. Those on the inside are describing Draplin's attendance as "the big one". You may know him best (or not at all) for the Field Notes brand: a collection of smartly-designed, vintage-style pocket notebooks and calendars, but he's worked with a hefty amount of names (some of which are above). He'll be joined by the Yarza twins, whose website is a real rabbit hole, and graphic designer and creative director Tom Muller who was named as one of the top 100 designers working in the UK today, by The Drum. Book
LETTERING LESSONS: You've seen Jim Kerr's work, even if you don't know it. The man behind Seven9Signs is responsible for some of the most visible art in the city. This is one of his. As is this. And this. And if they're not ringing bells then you'll know his skills from Zindiya (above), the Dark Horse, The Pig & Tail and many more F&B designy delights. He's conducting a sign-writing workshop from his Digbeth studio and you're more than a little bit invited. You'll be looking at tools of the trade, layout, lettering styles and brush control, and you'll go home (or to the pub) with a "show card" of your own design. Book
PRETTY PENS: If you've ever had a meeting with a member of the I Choose Birmingham team you'll know that we have a rotating collection of holiday bought pens that we use to take down, erm, detailed notes, each one tackier than the last. To be honest they're causing a few problems in high-level negotiations.Ajoto design dreamy and timeless writing tools and could perhaps transform our business. They'll be talking pen and wallet design, while Uniform Wares will be giving you the steer on how they go about making wonderful watches that don't cost eleventy hundred pounds. Book
SOLO: TWO STAR WARS STORIES
The fest has teamed up with The Electric Cinema for a spesh screening of Solo: A Star Wars Story with an introduction from Andrew Booth (Creative Director) and Laura Dishington (Lead Designer on Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Blade Runner 2049) who both collaborated on Solo. The pair will take you on a journey through the creation of the graphic design in the Star Wars universe, and how practical effects complement and enhance the production design. Chewbacca impressions are strictly banned within a 30 metre radius of the venue. Book
FOILY FROLICS
You know when you're handed a business card and there's a foily sort of effect on the logo, or perhaps on the print, and you have yourself a bit of an American Psycho moment? Foiling is the process and it's a super stunning way to add a moment of pizzazz to a design. Experts Foilco will be at Rope Press on June 7 to show you how it's done and to let you make some of your own designs. Book
BESPOKE BEERS
In an act of covetable coolness the festival organisers have linked up with hop-happy beer makers Birmingham Brewing Co to produce four kegs and 600 cans of a one-off BDF beer. Cans will be available to buy at every event on the calendar, and it's set to sell on tap at as yet unnamed pubs. Expect more hops than a 1980s school hopscotch court, and a hint of floral in this hazy pale ale.
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