The UICB fine press facilities are made of multi-disciplinary classrooms where writers can experiment with letterpress and calligraphers can collaborate with illustrators. All share a passion for the book. At UICB, narratives and poetry can be triggered in the process of making a book: through typography, graphic layout  and images. It is a place where the book goes beyond written words and becomes an integral art piece.

Letterpress studio and binding facilities at UICB (pictured above) are places where writers like to experiment and discover new territories.

Sara Langworthy who is an instructor at UICB shows us samples of fine press books by UI Alumni. Attention to detail is a common obsession in book art: from typesetting to engraving.

Years before he opened his custom bicycle studio and store, Sacha White – owner of Vanilla Bicycles and Speedvagen, was devoted to Vespa and Lambretta scooters. To this day the Italian design aesthetics stuck to him and inspired the look and feel of his custom bikes: pastel colors with a slight touch of red, a brand name that starts with a V like Vespa, curvy typefaces…

The symbol for Speedvagen (pictured above on a pair of boots) is inspired by Ferrari’s visual identity. More pictures from the Vanilla workshop are here.

San Francisco is a small big city that strikes a perfect balance between its beautiful surrounding geography, diverse urban life, vibrant creative scene, open-mindedness, ambitious character and entrepreneurial spirit. During our meetings there, one word was heard constantly: collaboration. Hence, SF is a place that brings together designers, engineers, artists and business people from different backgrounds and walks of life.

(Pictured above – from top left: Tram on Broadway, Chinatown, Museum of Craft and Design, Jessie Street, Golden Gate Bridge, Alamo Square)

On Jessie Street, we met with graphic designers Martin Venezky (Appetite Engineers), Scott Thorpe (MacFadden and Thorpe) and Jon Sueda (Stripe) in their shared studio space. It was an opportunity for us to take a closer look at their publishing and editorial work and witness the kind of visual experiments that are taking place in San Francisco. Martin, Scott and Jon are from different generations but all three of them are interested in challenging the medium of graphic design and typography. To them design is first and foremost a form of expression. Business is not a priority to them. Their approach to graphic design is very hands-on, using manual printing methods such as silkscreen and a lot of hand crafted techniques that deliver a certain uniqueness in each of their pieces. Martin has a desk away from the computer where he can dedicate himself to his sculptural work (pictured below)

In contrast, although very much related to SF’s identity, the product development company Moto is dedicated to the integration of high technology in everyday life via the combination of engineering and design. Moto works with large companies to provide them with innovative solutions for their future products. Moto creates new devices that have never been experienced before and therefore most of their projects are kept confidential. One of the few pieces that were shared with us was an interactive touch-screen and an E-ink device (pictured below).

Bennett Peji kindly welcomed us on a Sunday afternoon in his studio located in the Gas Lamp District of San Diego. Bennett wanted to be an architect but ended up becoming a graphic designer with a strong passion for “place making”. To him, graphic design is a key component of the built environment. It is through branding that districts can express their story and deliver a stronger sense of cultural identity for their community.

For the Asia Pacific Historic District in downtown San Diego, a visual identity has been developed to reflect the culture of three different countries: China, the Philippines and Japan. In the past, people from all three countries co-existed in the neighborhood.

Place branding at Bennett Peji Design follows a 17 step-process that ultimately leads to various visual systems such as logos, banners, street furniture, maps, etc. Branding a district can positively affect its image and economy. With a newly branded Asia Pacific Historic District (due in 2010), the goal is to attract more retailers and draw pedestrians from the nearby Gas Lamp District.

“Design can make visible the cultural richness of a city”. At Peji Design, the cultural dimension of design is highly viewed. In a diverse city like San Diego, design is a process that can connect people with their district in a meaningful way.