I know the text in the Asterix books is supposed to be full of...

I know the text in the Asterix books is supposed to be full of pun-tastic anachronisms, but I think they went too far with this line… #asterix #obelix #design

‘This play will run and run’. Well, 'Strangeways,...

‘This play will run and run’. Well, 'Strangeways, Here We Come’ has been around for 28 years this week. Here’s my theatre poster, as if it had been produced for the stage instead of our record collections (it’s available here). Mind you, in this era of jukebox musicals, surely a Smiths stage extravaganza isn’t beyond the bounds of money-spinning possibility…

Time for a new print. Today it’s T. Rex’s...

Time for a new print. Today it’s T. Rex’s glamrocktastic ‘Electric Warrior’ - the UK’s best-selling album in 1971, apparently. I’ve made this one a little differently, basing it on some old school textbooks (I always associate T. Rex with the early years of going to school, probably a car radio/school run thing). Those old textbooks were great for the way they seemed so instantly old and worn too, not to mention their blank and austere typography (just asking to be, ahem, amended by one’s pencil or ballpoint pen). Anyway, the print is available now via the link in my profile #marcbolan #trex #glamrock #1970s #1971 #vinyl #album #art #poster #print #homedecor #homeliving #books #typography #rock #music #penguinbooks

As we all know, the Beatles never actually existed. This photo...

As we all know, the Beatles never actually existed. This photo was taken in 1967 on the same sound stage where two years later they faked the Moon landings - it’s true, I read it on the Internet. So instead of the so-called ‘Fab Four’ (huh - “Fake Four” more like) here we see (A) Derek Metcalfe, a plumber from Wythenshawe; (B) Gerald “Gerry” Pacemaker, inventor of the Pacemaker; © Harold Wilson (partially obscured for security reasons because he was still serving as Prime Minister at the time); and (D) Bob Holness (saxophone). Needless to say, they took their secret with them to the grave… #Beatles #TheBeatles #fabfour #moonlandings #strawberryfieldsforever #strawberryfields #pennylane #1960s #sixties #pop #art #johnlennon #paulmccartney #ringostarr #georgeharrison

I’m sorry, Mr Bacon, but we cannot accept any of these...

I’m sorry, Mr Bacon, but we cannot accept any of these photos for your passport application. Please re-read the leaflet ‘Going On Holiday? Here’s How To Position Your Head’ and try again. #francisbacon #artist #photobooth #painting #photo

Incredible to think that today marks 30 years since Kate...

Incredible to think that today marks 30 years since Kate Bush’s ‘Hounds of Love’ was released. I’m still hooked on that breathy synth sound before the drums come in on 'Running Up That Hill’ - yep, the first 3 seconds of the album. The photo shows a detail of my HoL print, available as ever from standarddesigns.etsy.com

40 years ago today Pink Floyd released their miserabilist...

40 years ago today Pink Floyd released their miserabilist classic album ‘Wish You Were Here’. Kudos to them for summing up the full panoply of mid-70s alienation, paranoia and existential void - and layering a load of synth pads all over it. And so because of all that I’ve produced a new print of the album transformed into books. It’s available now from standarddesigns.etsy.com 

#pinkfloyd #wishyouwerehere #40 #rogerwaters #davidgilmour #rickwright #nickmason #books #library #typography #design #print #poster #penguinbooks #70s #1970s

HE was a budding postman and amateur taxidermist. SHE was the...

HE was a budding postman and amateur taxidermist. SHE was the inventor of beryllium. But when he read her stark confession “Mama, just killed a man, put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he’s dead” they both knew this was going to be a DANGEROUS RHAPSODY. Available from all good bookshops NOW, if now is 1981. #millsandboon #queen #bohemianrhapsody #novel #pulp #paperback #adverbs #adverbs #somanybloodyadverbs #hemingway #spinning #grave

Albertus. What a great font. It gives everything a touch of...

Albertus. What a great font. It gives everything a touch of ‘Narrated by Sir Kenneth Clark’. Pip pip! #typography #BBC2 #civilisation #design #illustration #london #1960s

Penguin Science News. Basically it’s all x-rays and radar....

Penguin Science News. Basically it’s all x-rays and radar. But then, in a way, so is fiction. #penguinbooks #science #publishing #magazine #1940s #1950s #fiction

‘Prelude to Mathematics’. Personally I prefer the...

‘Prelude to Mathematics’. Personally I prefer the sequels, 'The Algebra Strikes Back’ and 'Return Of The Pie Chart’. #maths #penguinbooks #pelicanbooks #design #typography #starwars

Sorry darling, I won’t be coming down for breakfast...

Sorry darling, I won’t be coming down for breakfast because the kitchenette is literally destroying my eyes. #1970s #interiordesign #furniture #retro #opart #ouch