Visionaire

Visionaire is a magazine with a difference. In fact, I don't know if you can even call it a magazine. It's described as a 'multi format album of fashion and art produced in exclusive numbered limited editions'. Whatever it is, if you buy it, you're officially too cool for school. It's published three times a year and each issue features a different format and theme. Famous artists from the fashion, design and art world collaborate with each issue, making each one completely unique. With a volume costing around £135- it doesn't come cheap. But they always sell out fast.
Issue 26 (above) had the theme 'Fantasy'. A round box held pieces of round, unbound artwork. Featuring work from Tim Burton and Victor & Rolf, it also included a mask designed by Hermes.
To celebrate the 50th issue, 'Artists Toys' came as a collection of ten toys by ten different artists that sat in a white tray with a silk screened clear cover. Each toy took the form of a Russian doll, housing another two, within it.
Issue number 54 'Sport', is now available and you can you actually wear it. Using special printing technology, photographically printed Lacoste polo shirts feature work by artists including Nick Knight, Phil Poynter and Karl Lagerfeld to name a few. This issue is available in four different sets, each housing three collectable shirts.

Click here to visit the website, where you can see more of its amazing issues.

Slick Design in Seattle

These magazines caught my eye when I was in Seattle last month. They're free weeklys about the city, providing info about what's on that week. I was quick to scoop up a copy of each as I love the design, particularly the covers. The artwork, colours and typography really grab attention. They're printed on newsprint which gives them a raw, down to earth feel, which works well with the retro designs. I like the way the two magazines compliment each other, especially in that both cover headlines are attractively morbid!

Found Magazine

I popped in to The Photographer's Gallery and came across this cool exhibition by Found Magazine. The idea behind the magazine is pretty simple. They collect things that people have found such as letters, photos and all sorts of objects. There's an entertaining mix of wierd, hilarious and beautiful stuff. You get to see snippets of stranger's lives and it's fascinating! I don't think the exhibition is there anymore but check out the website at http://www.foundmagazine.com/

Surreal Things: Surrealism and Design

This exhibition at the V&A museum is fascinating. It shows how Surrealism transformed from an art movement into the commercial world of theatre, film, fashion, interiors, architecture and advertising during the 1930s. Most of the pieces are truly bizarre, such as Salvador Dalí's famous Lobster Telephone and Oscar Dominguez's silk cushioned Wheelbarrow. There is an ongoing sense of wit and fantasy throughout the exhibition which I love. The highlight for me was the final section on advertising and magazine design. Some of the old covers of magazines such as Vogue and Harpers Bazaar are real works of art and so different from the typical magazine covers we see today. With work from artsists such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, René Margritte and Man Ray, to name but a few, this exhibition is a real treat for any art and design lover.