James Dawe

A new site and new work from illustrator James Dawe.

Via It's nice that

Main Studio

I don't think I have ever featured Main Studio. First spotted on Surfstation, noted recently for winning the Golden Cube for editorial design during the 88th Art Directors Club NY awards 2009.

DSL - 3 Days left

There are now only 3 days to go until the competition deadline (October 1st), so there is still time to get your designs in. We have already had some good entries in so far, but are still looking for more entries.
If this is the first you've heard of it, you can get more information here.
Good luck!

Mats Ottdal

It's always worth perusing the fine work of Mats Ottdal, and perhaps sitting back and watching his showreel. If you like what you see, then you can always keep up on his activities on his blog.

OK-RM

More good work from multidisciplinary design studio OK-RM

Via September Industry, tipped by Visuelle

Jan Kallwejt

A new update from illustrator Jan Kallwejt

Via Cpluv

Me & My Pen

Of course you will find more good pen work from Daren Newman.

Via Ventilate

Rosh

Artist/Illustrator, Raul Gandolfo Rodes a.k.a 'Rosh' sent his work in, some good pen work to check out.

Dandelion & Burdock

Niall Thompson informed us of the re-launch of the Dandelion & Burdock site, take a look!

Run and Shout

19 year old graphic designer and illustrator, Rodrigo Francisco, sent in his work a while ago, and I've finally got around to posting it! Take a look!

Carbon

Carbon is an internationally acclaimed Motion Graphics Design and Production Studio based in Hong Kong. They create some kick arse work.

Via Cpluv

SEA: New Site

Multidisciplinary agency SEA have a brand new site with, as always, good work.

Via Grafikcache

Mickey Burton

Some very nice work to be found in Mickey Burton's portfolio.

Typophile Film Festival 5 Opening Titles

Handmade by students and faculty at Brigham Young University.

The Consult

I popped over to Dirtymouse and saw that The Consult have updated with a new site and new work.

Via GrafikCache

Transformer Studio

Nice identity work from Moscow's Transformer Studio

Via Looks like good design

Matte

Yew Kee Chung, one of the members of Amsterdam based studio Matte , dropped an email to the Linkage to let us know about their latest update.
'Matte is a lifestyle communications boutique specialising in visual materials and strategic positioning of products and services targeting the emotions of consumers'.

Menno Fokma

Motion director/designer, Menno Fokma, wrote in to inform us that he has recently finished this artwork for musician, Defrag. Take a look.

Designer Sole Competition 2009

In the run up to the 2010 World Cup Original-Linkage, in association with Umbro, is proud to present The Designer Sole Competition!

To celebrate the new Speciali football boot, we have a pair of tickets to a World Cup England qualifying home game*, a full set of Savile Row inspired England Umbro kit, and of course, a pair of Speciali boots to give away.

All you have to do to win these, is show off your graphic artistry by creating a design for the sole of the new Speciali Boot and submit your entry to us. There is no given theme, that is entirely up to you.

The competition deadline is 1st October 2009, the designs will then be judged by the Original-Linkage crew and a winner will be announced on the 7th October 2009.

And here’s some more good news: The Designer Sole Competition will run along side Umbro’s Customise Competition - which means your submission will (providing you follow the instructions below) automatically be entered into this competition as well. That’s right, double whammy prizes are at stake!

Also, we will also be featuring some of the best designs on Original-Linkage for your viewing pleasure during the competition.

THE DETAILS:
To enter the Designer Sole Competition:

1. First, create your design at 300 dpi (You may need this at a later date).

2. Then download this template, and place your design within it.

3. Save this file out as either a JPEG or PNG or GIF ( it should not exceed 5mb) and then upload it here.

4. Important: To be eligible for this competition, you MUST email your design (don't forget to attach it!) and details to: thelinkage@gmail
Your details should include your name, your email address and a title for your piece, and write ‘Designer Sole Competition’ in the subject header.

Lastly, you can submit as many entries you like, and it should go without saying, that all submissions must be your own work.

That’s it! Now get to work and best of luck!


* The England qualifying World Cup tickets prize does not include your travel to the chosen match.
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All entrants are bound to the Terms & Conditions as set by Umbro International. Original-Linkage reserves the right to terminate the competition, without notice at anytime, and is free of any liability.
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Mike Harrison

Aeiko alerted me to Mike Harrison's DeStill porfolio. Lots of good illustration work to check out.

Sort

Sort Design is a Belfast based graphic design and branding studio founded in 2006. Very nice work to be found in their portfolio.

Via Cosasvisuals

Coco Pit

Since we are on an illustration tip, I thought I'd let you know that Coco Pit, a London based art director, has updated her site, with lots of new fashion illustration work including her latest project for Forget Me Not. Take a peek!

Submitted by Coco Pit

Merrick Angle

British born illustrator, Merrick Angle, who is now based in France, sent in his portfolio of work, take a look.

Chad Hagen

Spotted some nice work from Chad Hagen

Autobahn

Got an email from Studio Autobahn this morning, they have just finished an architectural typography project in the suburb of Utrecht, in the Netherlands. More here.

Dan Tobin Smith

A nice update from photographer Dan Tobin Smith

Via Grafikcache

Shohei Otomo

Super Japanese illustration work by Shohei Otomo

Thanks to Marcio, Via Trendland

Human

New work to see at Sheffield based Human Sudio

Via fleuron

Make

Danish branding consultancy, Make, have a portfolio of work worth taking some time over.

Via It's nice that

Manifesto

If you happen to be in Venice between the 12th September-October 31st, you may be interested in 'Manifesto', a unique exhibition which includes the works of Daniel Eatock, Edenspiekermann, Ken Garland, Bob Gill, KesselsKramer, Ellen Lupton, Enzo Mari, Bruce Mau, Mike Mills, Bob Noorda, Bre Pettis & Kio Stark, Stefan Sagmeister, and Vignelli Associates. The exhibition has been organized by Tankboys and Cosimo Bizzarri and will be held at XYZ Gallery.
More info here.

Submitted by Tommaso Speretta

Stefan Lucut

It's worth checking out Stefan Lucut'a new cargofolio.

Via FFF

Noma Bar

I've been seeing the graphic work of Noma Bar, flying around the design blog universe, including work for the upcoming book Negative Spacee. Lovely stuff.

Via Visual Evasion

Kazuki Takamatsu

Ghostly illustrations by Japanese artist Kazuki Takamatsu.

Via Surfstation

James Jean

I am a huge fan of James Jean's work, and seeing any new work is always a treat, just like these wonderfully illustrated Hint Mints.

Via Cpluv

No Days Off

Some good updates from No Days Off, take a look!

Via Human Resources

Lifter Baron

Lifter Baron a.k.a. Rob Angermuller, dropped me an email alerting me to his brand new site.

Mario Hugo

More great work from Mario Hugo

Via The strange attractor

Hunt Studios

Worth taking a look at Melbourne based design outfit, Hunt Studios.

Via fleuron

Muller Design

I see Muller have updated. Take a peek!

Twisted Fork

Some good quirky illustration work by illustrator Dan Matutina, who is currently based in the Philippines.

Via QBN

The Mill: DIX

A slightly gory comic short called Dix ( French for the number ten) which follows Mark, a tortured man who suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder that forbids him from physically stepping on lines beneath his feet. Dix was created by the Mill's award winning team Bif.

Via Motionographer

Artificial Paradise

Artificial Paradise, Inc is an experimental film anticipating a future where a major corporation has developed an unique software, based on organic virtual reality, which holds all the lost memories of humankind. A user connects to this database of the forgotten…what is he searching for?

Production : Condor
Director / editor / compositing : Jean-Paul Frenay
Main 3D artist / compositing : Sandro Paoli
3D artists : Sylvain Jorget and Sébastien Desmet
Additional 3D operators : Otto Heinen and Okke Voerman
Sound Design : Seal Phüric feat. Neptunian8

Selected at the ONEDOTZERO festival in the WOW+FLUTTER 09 category

Via Designlenta

Vasava

Popped over to Studio Vasava and noticed a few new bits to behold.

Richard Sarson

Richard Sarson dropped by to let us know about a new site update along with some very nice new work. Take a look!

Verdana: A big mistake?

The outrage caused by Ikea's recent typeface debacle is fairly justified. If you haven't heard, Ikea have chosen to change their corporate typeface of 50 years from the iconic Futura to [drum roll please] ...Verdana?!

Not sure what happened there, but Ikea explain that it was abandoning its own version of the Futura font because it wanted one that would be effective in many different languages and on the Web, and that Verdana was designed for just that purpose.

Personally speaking I think it shows a lack of understanding on their part, about the importance of appropriate typography. I know Ikea is about cost effectiveness - but that cheap efficiency should perhaps stop at their products.

Some people however think it's a good thing, a visionary move by Ikea's design team perhaps, but quite frankly, I don't buy that.

So what do you think? Are we all being too precious? Does it even matter?
(Of course it matters!!)

Lastly, If do you care that much, get (flat)packing and sign the petition against the change!

Official Classic: DAHRA Auction

HypeForType & Official Classic have teamed up to bring you a one off Charity Auction. All proceeds are going to non profit organisation DAHRA (Designers Against Human Rights Abuse), so head on over to the auction now .

Maths Dreamed Universe

Peter Crnokrak certainly has a knack for creating beautifully crafted posters and here is his latest entitled Maths Dreamed Universe.

Ben Hackshaw

Ben Hackshaw wanted to introduce himself, he is currently looking for a London based studio position and has recently updated his online portfolio.

Danny Yount: 2009 Reel

As always, just too damn good, and something to watch in awe; Danny Yount's 2009 Reel

Via Ventilate

Dieter Rams: Less and More

While we are on events, you may be interested in an upcoming exhibition at the Design Museum celebrating one of the most influential industrial designers of the late 20th century, Dieter Rams. The exhibition will showcase Rams’ landmark designs for Braun and furniture manufacturer Vitsœ, examine how Rams’ design ethos inspired Braun’s entire product range for over 40 years, and assess his lasting influence on today’s design landscape. The show starts on the 8th November, more details here.

One Dot Zero 2009

Not forgetting that the One Dot Zero festival starts next week (9th - 13th September).

It's Nice That

After the success of their 1st publication, the guys at It's nice that have informed us that they have launched their 2nd issue of their publication, only this time, as part of their pre-order are giving away an exclusive screen print by the fantastic Rob Ryan. Check it!