007 in the Great Britain tourism campaign

James Bond does his bit for Queen & country in the Great Britain tourism campaign, with a little help from Aston Martin.
Talking tourism, France is the worlds No.1 destination in terms of visitor numbers at 33m, but tourism income is half that spent each day in the UK and a third of that spent in the USA. And Paris (12.92m visitors) has now slipped to the world's 3rd most popular city after 2nd London (15.96m) and 1st Bangkok (15.98m).

Pinterest Paul Vickers Design - latest

Sunflowers and Van Gogh branding

The brilliant and evocative Van Gogh Museum branding by Koeweiden Postma. The distinctive 'brush strokes' pattern works really well with the Rietveld inspired cubist shape. Sunflower colors are also used in the museography very well.

Rijksmuseum branding by Irma Boom Office

The Rijksmuseum logotype, branding, typefaces and color palette, which is based on the colours found in the collections masterpieces, are exhibited and explained in the museum. Nice detail.

Amsterdam loves bikes logo

Logo on floating bike park and free bike repair workshop, Amsterdam.

My Mon'op brand review

My Mon'op banding review on the new look Brand New site.

France & UK stamp design - a different philosophy...

A new version of the Marianne stamp has been unveiled by François Holland, creating polemic, of course. Interesting to compare the different national design philosophies. France has Inna Shevchenko, the founder of Femen. The UK has the Arnold Machin bas-relief of Elizabeth II originally created in 1966 and updated.
Inna Shevchenko on Twitter says:
"Femen sur les timbres français. Maintenant, tous les homophobes, extrémistes et fascistes devront me lécher le cul avant d'envoyer une lettre !"
The design, illustration, layout and typography quality is seriously lacking in this retro-kitsch Ciappa and Kawena version of Marianne.

The semiotics of 'no entry' signs

The 'no entry' branding for Société Générale always amazes me.
A white horizontal bar on a red ground is a universal symbol for no entry. Société Générale have even gone to the extreme in not writing their name on the brand lock-up. To me it is unwelcoming and says walk on...

Sardine tin typeface

Tin Type is one of the excellent creations produced during the typeface design course I run at the Ecole Bleue. Design Margaux M.
For further examples visit the school website. Portfolio 3.

En Vie / Alive aux frontières du design

With the news dominated by 3D digital printing, this example of biotechnology and nature in design is  intriguing: vases, packaging 'printed' by bees...
En Vie is at the Fondation edf.

Facades of La Samaritaine, Paris

Two views of La Samaritaine facades: the Sanaa Rivoli proposal and mosaic tiled typography on Rue de l'Arbre Sec. Hopefully the mosaics will be preserved and restored as part of the €500 million renovation by Japanese Sanaa. Opening 2016

Designed by Nantes branding/packaging workshop

Work produced during my Designed by Nantes branding & packaging workshop 2013 at the Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique.

Angelia Jolie and Paul Vickers Design

Conduct a Google image search for Help Syria's children, it leads to Angelia Jolie and Paul Vickers Design.

The Great Food branding debate and logotype design - continued

Its getting hot in the kitchen in France with continued debate about labels to protect fine cuisine. A quick search of the different brands used to promote French gastronomy reveals some desperately poor ideas and executions. The Culinary College of France's logo, too similar to GBC's, a smiling plate and the very kitsch brass sign... British Food branding certainly takes the biscuit.

Tear-off in case of riot. Taksim Square Raki packaging

The brilliant poster and packaging by   Manuel Urbanke and Maximilian Hoch on the Turkish Taksim Square situation. Tear off the label to transform the bottle of Raki into a Molotov cocktail.

Is French gastronomy inspired by British gastronomy?!

A new label and logotype has been launched in France  by some of the best chefs in the country: Paul Bocuse, Alain Ducasse, Joel Robuchon etc. to promote real restaurant prepared fine food, and to differentiate from those who just microwave industrial prepared sachets.
But the logotype looks distinctly like, totally inspired by? the Great British Chefs logo, launched in July 2011 and created by award winning Hat Trick Design.
The French version seems a very pale, retro copy of the clever British one. No agency is credited for the design. Imitation may be the highest from of flattery but it seems inappropriate that French gastronomy should be so freely inspired by British gastronomy!
http://www.college-culinaire-de-france.fr
http://www.greatbritishchefs.com

Design in English / English in Design

I am animating a continuing professional education seminar for design industry participants on the theme 'Design in English / English in Design' - a tool to develop design industry specific english vocabulary and communication skills.
Via Réservoir Créatif.

Designer's Days Paris, Roche Bobois interactive table

Interactive light and infra-red installation by Elizabeth Leriche on the surface of a Roche Bobois table.

Designer's Days events Paris

Designer's Days in Paris with 'Et demain... la légèreté' by the Ecole Bleue and an interactive furniture installation by Elizabeth Leriche at Roche Bobois.

Conceptual 2D/3D Typeface Design project

Typeface design at the Ecole Bleue. Students were briefed to create a conceptual and original two or three dimensional typeface. Proposals include 3D fonts, animated dynamic type, pop-ups and designs playing with light, shadow and movement.
Top to bottom: Valentine G, Thomas L, Céline B, Haifa C, Marine C, Antoine B-J, Marie C & Pauline B.

Dynamo - light & movement in art & design

Dynamo at the Grand Palais Paris, explores kinetics, light & movement in art & design. Brilliant.

ABC Logo Quiz

Logo Quiz with Ecole Bleue students to evaluate visual culture, observation skills and memory. One logo for each letter of the alphabet.

Over 12 000 views of my Slideshare presentations

Our UNHCR Syria's children posters

Seeing Eye People service launched in NY

To enable people to safely text and surf while walking the streets of New York, the Seeing Eye People service has launched. Tether up and be safely guided to your destination whilst never letting your eyes leave the screen.
Via Improv Everywhere.

Monop' review published in Australia

My Monop' review for Brand New is published in Australia at design agencies.com.au

Bonjour Monop' brand review published

My review of the new Monoprix and Monop' branding is published in Brand New.
http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/bonjour_monop.php

Syria Child Refugee UNHCR poster at airport

Help Syria's Children

Our Help Syria's Children poster. All aid to www.unhcr.org
http://bit.ly/ZODvxC

Worlds Greatest Graphic Designers posters

Poster design by students from the Ecole Bleue - a tribute to 50 of the worlds greatest.
Marine Cabasse, Vinciane Klein,
Romain Manesta, Chloé Ambrogi

The Next Day

Subversive design and viral campaign by Jonathan Barnbrook for Bowie's The Next Day album.

Kröller-Müller Museum brand typeface

Great typeface developed as part of the new branding and identity for the Kröller-Müller Museum Amsterdam by Edenspiekemann.

Coca-Cola happiness!

Great Happiness poster for Coca-Cola by McCann Germany. With a nod to Amazon. smile.

Updated portfolio on The Creative Finder

http://thecreativefinder.com/portfolio-broad.php?username=paulvickers

Two new Great British brands launched

New brand identities for British Athletics by SomeOne London and Great British Chefs by Hat Trick Design. Paralympic sports players are included. The Chefs brand allows for different chefs tools to be used to create the C.

Meanwhile the UK promotes itself as the Great business destination

The Great Britain campaign - Great technology, Great entrepreneurs...

A design disaster 'Made in France'

The total disaster Made in France logotype by Arnaud Pigoudines of Jak, Paris. He describes it as ‘a logo-picto to put onto products and labels, at a small size, where space is limited’, ‘the principal was to be easily recognisable on a pack’. 
Some joke! This does not work in small sizes, is hard to print, has colour registration issues, requires CMYK or special colors, will be a lot of fun to embroider on textile labels. The hand drawn A is just a joke - oh and the clever Eiffel Tower reference! The lock-ups are bizarre and the 'Made in' changes position, size and weight.
This proposal seems to discredit the design profession by its amateurism and is sure to do strictly nothing to help promote and dynamise French business. Merde!

Misplaced manhole covers!

A graphic nightmare. Once you start noticing them you see them everywhere. Via partickmaloney.net

Sculptural book cover by Phaidon

Great pop-up sculpture book cover.

Open Days Ecole Bleue Paris

22 23 24 March are the Open Days at the Ecole Bleue. The occasion to discover the global design work of the students from the Preparatory Year to 5th Year diploma class.
Top Marine Cabasse, bottom Benjamin Lina