An alternate look at LA, a feud about ice cream and a hoodie to draw on: Here’s March’s Things

Spring is on its way! That momentous time where the birds sing, the trees blossom, and everything seems perfect (in cartoon depictions anyway) officially arrives on 20 March 20. To see us through until then we have copious amounts of reading to do. From graphic novels to historical accounts of West Berlin design, all the boxes have been ticked. Thanks to you we are well on our way to becoming polymaths, or at least to being able to answer more than one question on University Challenge.

If you would like to help our quest for knowledge and contribute to next month’s Things, please send your designs to this address.

Future #4: Tommi Musturi

Issue number four of Future zine continues the dystopian focus from previous issues, pondering what life could be like in years to come. It answers some of the hard-hitting issues, like what will be going on inside plastic bags in thousands of years time, and the unexpected chain of events that follow a man throwing an apple out of the window.

David Black: The Days Change at Night

David Black’s latest book tells a story of Los Angeles, but not the usual one of glitz and glamour. A follow up to Cerro Gordo, it looks at the many contradictions present in LA from the viewpoint of a passenger in a fast-moving car. Literature has informed the book heavily, with a Bret Easton Ellis quote in the synopsis and Ray Bradbury cited as an inspiration.

Viola Wang: Rabbit Bright

Fluorescent colours feature heavily across this children’s book that tells a brave tale. Written and illustrated by London-based Viola Wang, the book utilises rhyme to tell the story of a rabbit that must find light in dark places. The way things seem to be going, it’s probably a life lesson we could all use right now!

Ren and Everpress: Rainbow Club

Artist Ren has taken it upon himself to create Rainbow Club, an inclusive fictional club that encourages freedom of expression. He represents this across multiple media, including a hoodie in a recent partnership with Everpress. Continuing with the values of Rainbow Club it comes with textile markers to personalise it ourselves, and will be keeping us warm in style this Spring.

Michael Deforge: Familiar Face

“In a thoroughly modernised, constantly updating society, where can true connection be found?”

That is the question asked in the blurb of this graphic novel by Canadian illustrator Michael Deforge, and it is one that the book’s story attempts to help you answer. Set in a dystopian future where everything has been optimised, it is an allegorical tale about the risks of living in an overly digital society.

Matthew Dooley: Flake

Ice Cream Wars was a notorious drug-related feud in Glasgow that saw rival gangs sell their goods out of Ice Cream Vans. Apart from involving ice cream vans, Flake has absolutely nothing to do with that…

Instead, this graphic novel tells the story of two (actual) ice cream sellers that are sworn enemies, innocent Howard and his nemesis Tony Augustus. Who comes out on top in this “story of fate, friendship and fighting back?”

You’ll have to read to find out!

Commercial Classics

Filled to the brim with a number of fonts from the Commercial Classics bank, these two publications are bursting with typefaces of all shapes and sizes. From Isambard to Brunel (yes they are separate), it includes many of the fonts created by owners Paul Barnes and Christian Schwartz, as well as a range of staff and collaborators.

Here Magazine

Issue 11 of travel magazine Here takes you on a whirlwind trip across the globe. Delving into creativity in Belfast, feminist bookshops in London, minority-owned businesses in Portland and the music scene in Cape Town. The cover features Serena Williams, and includes an extensive shoot and interview with the international tennis star.

Disa Wallander: Becoming Horses

If you are in need of something to cheer you up, then this book will do just that. It follows one child’s quest to find horses, leading them to meet all sorts of characters doing a whole host of things in this alternate universe. It’s illustrated in Disa’s signature style, combining drawing with scanned and photographed images that provide dreamy backgrounds and textures.

West-Berlin Grafik Design

This book provides an insight into the visual languages employed in West Berlin, delving into all aspects of graphic design, including logos, typography, posters and packaging – many of which are relics of their time. It also looks at some components that you still see today, including much of the visual elements surrounding Berlin’s public transport systems.