As part of preparations for the 60th Birthday of Penguin publishing Classics in 1946 Penguin UK asked Tony Davis of Art Meets Matter to explore creating a new series of porcelain mug designs to reflect the modern look of the Classics and Contemporary Fiction.
The result is the Penguin Moderns 1st Edition of eight author/title combinations. Each mug features dramatic, typographic design in grey, black and orange details and quotes or extracts from the best fiction published by Penguin.
Complementary designs
The original mug designs have become classics of the kind. The challenge for the Modern's was to create complementary style and new statement. Tony Davis comments by avoiding the use of library photography and other commissioned designs common to the covers, however appropriate, we've created a stylistic reference to typographical strengths and intrinsic style of the current paperback series
The designs are already in demand and to be stocked by Conran, Heal's and other leading retailers. Available from 21 November 2005.
Award-winning collection A unique collection of bookish designs based on the classic Penguin¨ paperback book. Each product design in the collection adapts and plays with the colour, typography and iconic look of the original Penguin series first designed by Edward Young in 1935. The paperback series changed the way people accessed books and learning forever and the iconic distinctive look lives on in public design consciousness.
Tony Davis describes the process of creating the idea I've always felt there was natural affinity between books and coffee or tea-drinking which wasn't reflected in the objects we drink out of. It seemed natural to put them together. Luckily, Penguin Books Ltd had the vision to see the potential of this synthesis, and allow us to create what you see today. The witty combinations of author and title combined with colour used in the original books has crossed all age and interest boundaries.
The collection now extends from the 2004 award-winning Penguin Mug published in porcelain through to Espresso, Pencils, Bookbags, Tea-towels and the iconic Penguin Deckchair launched at the 2005 Hay Literature Festival. Both the Pencils and Bookbags also won Highly Commended Awards at 2005 Gift of the Year.
Everyone has a novel inside them or so the story goes and many aspire to forms of creative enterprise like drawing. As a student of bizarre...more...
With something to drink out of, something to write with you really ought to have something to sit on...so the Literary deckchair idea was born...more...
New titles We are looking to add 6 new titles in 2006. Why don’t you suggest a favourite? Send your suggestions to: newtitles@artmeetmatter.com
We’ll publish a shortlist of the favourites and the person who chooses the correct shortlist of 6 could win a Penguin Deckchair! 100 runners-up will win a free pack of Penguin Pencils.
(In the case of multiple winners the names will be drawn from a hat). Closes 31 December 2005.
A unique collection of bookish designs based on the classic Penguin¨ paperback book. Each product design in the collection adapts and plays with the colour, typography and iconic look of the original Penguin series first designed by Edward Young in 1935. The paperback series changed the way people accessed books and learning forever and the iconic distinctive look lives on in public design consciousness.
