On a walk round Habitat last week for something substantial to sit on, a couple of things for the wall actually drew my attention – these retro-style maps of London and Paris by Alice Tait.
They're canvas prints, each one with a really cool retro illustration of the major sights of each city. Slightly informative, very eye-catching.
Each one is 60 x 80cm and is digital image printed onto a canvas backing. They sell for £89. An image of the Paris map is over the page.
We've already highlighted the reprint of the 1956 This is Tomorrow exhibition catalogue, re-printed to accompany a new display about the exhibition that's on at the Whitechapel gallery. That exhibition is frequently held up as the beginning of British Pop Art. What better way to mark the impact of Pop Art onto everyday life than buying this accompanying This is Tomorrow tea towel?
The tea towel reproduces some simple black and white artwork from the original exhibition. Couple that up with the distinctive 'This is Tomorrow' typography and you've got a striking piece of design. Fans of art and cooking will also be pleased to hear that an apron, again reproducing work from the show, is also available.
The tea towel costs £18.
Buy it online
It initially showed in Sheffield, but from this week, you can catch Pete McKee's Cover Version exhibition in London, specifically at The Design Conspiracy.
It's a celebration of album artwork, with McKee and notable figures from art, music and graphic design re-inventing or paying tribute to their favourite vinyl sleeves. Pete McKee's Electric Ladyland is above – reworked as Electric Landlady.
Others showing art include Sir Paul Smith, Tony Husband, Kid Acne, Masrk Riley, Richard Hawley and Lord Dunsby, with his Melody artwork. You can check it out at The Design Conspiracy's new exhibition space at 12 Stukeley Street, just off Drury Lane in central London.
An interesting way to promote your business, this poster by graphic designers and illustrators Telegramme Studio is simply called We Make Posters.
The four colour screen-print uses some of the artwork and typography you'd associate with retro advertising. The piece originally appeared on the back of Creative Review magazine and is described by Telegramme Studio themselves as a shameless advert for their own work. That seems pretty successful then, as the print is desirable in its own right.
The print is limited to 80 copies and costs £35.
Buy it online
A lot of online stores seem to be going big on British transport posters right now (not least in asking prices), but The Peanut Vendor has gone Gallic for its own public information range – with these vintage French health and safety posters.
There are a few different designs to choose from, including the one above, which warns of…well, we don't know as we don't speak a lot of French. If you do, let us know via the comments.
Anyway, it's from the 1950s, it's incredibly eye-catching and it's sized at 40 x 30cm. All of them sell for £40 each.
It's a portrait of you – but these vintage UPA cartoon-style portraits by SkribblyKids come with their very own retro twist.
As the title suggests, it's a personalised portrait on offer – you send over a photo, clothes you want to be wearing, colours etc, the artist will send back a rough drawing, changes are made and the final image is posts off to you. Yes, you and your family (or anyone to be honest) in vintage cartoon glory.
The image above is just one example, but more are available to view on the Etsy page. Want one? You're looking at around $100 (around £64).
