After reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being early last year for the second time, I wondered about the art of the cover, and tracked down the artist’s own website. David Miller’s work is nurtured from his fascination of Bohemian circus life and the Czech tradition of pantomime theatre. I assume his frequent visits to Prague brought him into contact with Milan Kundera.
REFINED PALETTE
It was the refined palette and striking graphics – much like the American rock band The White Stripes – that what drew me to Haruki Murakami’s books, long before learning that they were also really good books.
Standing out on the shelves in a collective statement.
They’re a great example of book design and marketing, working beautifully together.
And so, I began my Murakami adventure with Norwegian Wood and Kafka On The Shore. (both wonderful, and a little strange.)
The art for these covers were created by Suzanne Dean; the Creative Director at Vintage books.
In a recent instagram post Dean mentioned the source for some of the images used for the new cover designs for Ian McEwan’s catalogue (below).
One of them came from The Anonymous Project Collection – an intriguing source of vintage photographs I’d never heard of before.
It was for On Chesil Beach, and it shows how the strength of a fresh book design can reach a fresh audience, as well as rekindle a read from those who are already fans.
It’s in the art of the cover where we can make a connection, as well as the quality of the content.
Worth a post simply to remember that.
https://astoka.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Unbearable-Lightness-Of-Being-scaled-e1690226529781.jpg14401168Anthony Stokerhttps://astoka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/aSTOKA-reg-k100.svgAnthony Stoker2023-07-24 20:40:552024-02-02 20:17:27THE ART OF THE COVER.
On the packed commuter train to school, Ryuichi Sakamoto would simply listen;
to the sounds of the journey.
Identifying a series of sounds
that would occur on every trip.
The journey was playing
its own piece of music.
A symphony of everyday sounds
that most would’ve heard,
but too few would’ve listened.
Doors opening.
Doors closing.
The squeeze of the brakes.
The rolling of the wheels.
Clicks and clacks.
Brushes and rasps,
and
the rhythm
of the rails.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FLOW OF FOCUS.
When you’re so immersed in what you’re doing.
Reading or writing,
Painting and drawing.
The path draws you in,
the flow that turns you on,
and time fades away.
Absorbed,
In the hues of sound.
And the colours of taste,
When what you feeling
and doing, dances.
Leading your ideas
in to a tango.
or your thoughts into a Waltz.
Opening up the doors
to your dance floor,
allowing your mind to play,
to create something unique.
OVERLOOKED RHYTHMS CAN INSPIRE A LIFETIME OF INSPIRATION.
https://astoka.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Rhythm-of-the-Rails.jpg8531280Anthony Stokerhttps://astoka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/aSTOKA-reg-k100.svgAnthony Stoker2023-04-06 11:23:082023-04-06 17:46:52THE RHYTHM OF THE RAILS.
“First sentences are doors to worlds”wrote Ursula Le Guin.
They create a sense of intrigue, distinct to any other. Otherwise why would you read on?
They prod at the door of curiosity.
Inspiring thought and provoking a sensation of what might come.
And while those first few words can inspire desire to read on,
the rest of the story needs to deliver.
There’s a parallel, I see, in designing product.
Integrating an essence that captures the imagination.
More than a USP.
More than a tie-up with celebrity.
It’s about creating a spark.
A spark that delights and delivers.
Something unique that tells a story.
From the thread of ideas to the sources of inspiration,
to the materials chosen and the place of their creation.
To the colours and textures,
and the patterns
of play.
To the prices we hold
and the values
they convey.
If your product had an opening line,
what would it be?
And where would the story go?
All shoes are stories. And they’re not the only ones.
https://astoka.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/All-Shoes-Are-Stories4C-scaled.jpg18032560Anthony Stokerhttps://astoka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/aSTOKA-reg-k100.svgAnthony Stoker2023-02-28 13:17:142023-08-09 11:39:31AND THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY ONES.
“Don’t Just Write Words. Write Music.” said Gary Provost
Wisdom from other disciplines and genres can shine a different light.
A shift in perspective can open doors. And create movement.
In Provost’s 1oo Ways to Improve Your Writing, he talks about the rhythm of writing. About the effect of long and short sentences. How they feel. The balance between the two allows the reader to rest. Space. To breathe. And how, in the right moment, you can carry them on a curious journey with detail and texture that raises the temperature, speeds up the heart rate, driving blood through their veins with enough anticipation that they can taste passion on the buds oftheir tongue.
Before delivering the essence of the message, with a line that illustrates the importance of balance, and rhythm.
A pearl of wisdom with a wider relevance than the written word.
A walk in the park is easy. And a walk in nature is good for your health, in a myriad of ways.
Good for problem solving apparently.
Movement helps generate thoughts and ideas.
“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking,” advised Nietzsche.
If you take it a few steps further, literally and metaphorically, and add curiosity to the experience, then a whole world of inspirations opens up too.
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than trees.”- Henry David Thoreau
Inspirations are all around us, it’s just that we often aren’t curious enough to notice.
And nature has inspiration in abundance.
Have you seen the underside of a fern leaf ?
Or looked in to the intimate structure of a dandelion ?
I’d never heard of an Allium until a week ago.
Looking at the leaves on a branch from a different perspective and seeing how they glow in the sunshine with an unexpected vibrancy… fascinating.
INSPIRATION INSPIRES EDUCATION
Designing provides an opportunity to satisfy a need, or a desire, or both – sometimes the desire is the need.
It can also be an opportunity to educate and inspire.
It’s all there if we choose to see.
Being curious, about nature, people or life in general, provokes a sense of understanding, possibly a feeling of appreciation, maybe even a sense of respect.
I recently learned of Terrariums and found the work of Paula Hayes pretty fascinating.
Plants growing in the eco-system of a closed glass container seem to look after themselves?
What? Really?
You might have guessed by now that my fingers aren’t green!
https://astoka.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/TB-012-C4.jpg12291800Anthony Stokerhttps://astoka.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/aSTOKA-reg-k100.svgAnthony Stoker2022-05-24 20:29:302022-05-24 21:09:25A WALK IN THE PARK
THE ART OF THE COVER.
/in Art, Books, Inspiration /by Anthony StokerAfter reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being early last year for the second time, I wondered about the art of the cover, and tracked down the artist’s own website.
David Miller’s work is nurtured from his fascination of Bohemian circus life and the Czech tradition of pantomime theatre. I assume his frequent visits to Prague brought him into contact with Milan Kundera.
REFINED PALETTE
It was the refined palette and striking graphics – much like the American rock band The White Stripes – that what drew me to Haruki Murakami’s books, long before learning that they were also really good books.
Standing out on the shelves in a collective statement.
They’re a great example of book design and marketing, working beautifully together.
And so, I began my Murakami adventure with Norwegian Wood and Kafka On The Shore.
(both wonderful, and a little strange.)
The art for these covers were created by Suzanne Dean; the Creative Director at Vintage books.
In a recent instagram post Dean mentioned the source for some of the images used for the new cover designs for Ian McEwan’s catalogue (below).
One of them came from The Anonymous Project Collection – an intriguing source of vintage photographs I’d never heard of before.
It was for On Chesil Beach, and it shows how the strength of a fresh book design can reach a fresh audience, as well as rekindle a read from those who are already fans.
It’s in the art of the cover where we can make a connection, as well as the quality of the content.
Worth a post simply to remember that.
THE RHYTHM OF THE RAILS.
/in advice, Inspiration, music, Stories /by Anthony StokerOn the packed commuter train to school,
Ryuichi Sakamoto would simply listen;
to the sounds of the journey.
Identifying a series of sounds
that would occur on every trip.
The journey was playing
its own piece of music.
A symphony of everyday sounds
that most would’ve heard,
but too few would’ve listened.
Doors opening.
Doors closing.
The squeeze of the brakes.
The rolling of the wheels.
Clicks and clacks.
Brushes and rasps,
and
the rhythm
of the rails.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FLOW OF FOCUS.
When you’re so immersed in what you’re doing.
Reading or writing,
Painting and drawing.
The path draws you in,
the flow that turns you on,
and time fades away.
Absorbed,
In the hues of sound.
And the colours of taste,
When what you feeling
and doing, dances.
Leading your ideas
in to a tango.
or your thoughts into a Waltz.
Opening up the doors
to your dance floor,
allowing your mind to play,
to create something unique.
OVERLOOKED RHYTHMS CAN INSPIRE A LIFETIME OF INSPIRATION.
AND THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY ONES.
/in advice, Art, Design, Stories, writing /by Anthony Stoker“First sentences are doors to worlds” wrote Ursula Le Guin.
They create a sense of intrigue, distinct to any other.
Otherwise why would you read on?
They prod at the door of curiosity.
Inspiring thought and provoking a sensation of what might come.
And while those first few words can inspire desire to read on,
the rest of the story needs to deliver.
There’s a parallel, I see, in designing product.
Integrating an essence that captures the imagination.
More than a USP.
More than a tie-up with celebrity.
It’s about creating a spark.
A spark that delights and delivers.
Something unique that tells a story.
From the thread of ideas to the sources of inspiration,
to the materials chosen and the place of their creation.
To the colours and textures,
and the patterns
of play.
To the prices we hold
and the values
they convey.
If your product had an opening line,
what would it be?
And where would the story go?
All shoes are stories.
And they’re not the only ones.
SUPERBLY REMARKABLE
/in Art, Catwalk, Design, Fashion, Inspiration /by Anthony StokerLove this innovative fresh take on a fashion show.
KidSuper – Breathing Life Into The Inanimate – SS23. Check out his store here.
DON’T JUST WRITE WORDS. WRITE MUSIC.
/in advice, Art, Design, Stories, writing /by Anthony Stoker“Don’t Just Write Words. Write Music.” said Gary Provost
Wisdom from other disciplines and genres can shine a different light.
A shift in perspective can open doors. And create movement.
In Provost’s 1oo Ways to Improve Your Writing, he talks about the rhythm of writing. About the effect of long and short sentences. How they feel. The balance between the two allows the reader to rest. Space. To breathe. And how, in the right moment, you can carry them on a curious journey with detail and texture that raises the temperature, speeds up the heart rate, driving blood through their veins with enough anticipation that they can taste passion on the buds of their tongue.
Before delivering the essence of the message, with a line that illustrates the importance of balance, and rhythm.
A pearl of wisdom with a wider relevance than the written word.
Don’t just design stuff. Design Harmony.
…
Image originally found via Swissmiss
A WALK IN THE PARK
/in Art, Design, Footwear Design, Shoes, Stories, Uncategorized /by Anthony StokerA walk in the park is easy.
And a walk in nature is good for your health, in a myriad of ways.
Good for problem solving apparently.
Movement helps generate thoughts and ideas.
“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking,” advised Nietzsche.
If you take it a few steps further, literally and metaphorically, and add curiosity to the experience, then a whole world of inspirations opens up too.
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than trees.”- Henry David Thoreau
Inspirations are all around us, it’s just that we often aren’t curious enough to notice.
And nature has inspiration in abundance.
Have you seen the underside of a fern leaf ?
Or looked in to the intimate structure of a dandelion ?
I’d never heard of an Allium until a week ago.
Looking at the leaves on a branch from a different perspective and seeing how they glow in the sunshine with an unexpected vibrancy… fascinating.
INSPIRATION INSPIRES EDUCATION
Designing provides an opportunity to satisfy a need, or a desire, or both – sometimes the desire is the need.
It can also be an opportunity to educate and inspire.
It’s all there if we choose to see.
Being curious, about nature, people or life in general, provokes a sense of understanding, possibly a feeling of appreciation, maybe even a sense of respect.
I recently learned of Terrariums and found the work of Paula Hayes pretty fascinating.
Plants growing in the eco-system of a closed glass container seem to look after themselves?
What? Really?
You might have guessed by now that my fingers aren’t green!
This revelation caused me to wonder …
A terrarium for a heel ?
Cherish the Haworthia Fasciata.