Posted by Will Sweeney

The theme given to Cameron Platter and myself was ‘Sickness & Health‘ so I decided to resurrect Helmut The Hot Dog Man to tell a short tale based on the lyrics to Macy Skipper’s classic rockabilly track, Bop Pills.

‘Them and Us’ takes 20 leading European image makers and teams them up with 20 African counterparts. Each team of two was asked to create a double sided poster in an open exchange of ideas. Both works share thinking but we are able, through the final executions, to compare and contrast African and European views and aesthetics.

The works are being exhibited in 2010 in Europe and South Africa with all proceeds going to Amnesty International.

We have directed a short trailer announcing the launch of the new album by Goldfrapp – the teaser introduces the new campaign which we have created for the band. The website goes live next Monday and the physical album is released on the 22nd March. More to follow in the coming weeks…

Check out this recent XLR8R magazine interview with Siggi Eggertsson. Click on this link to download the full magazine pdf.

Here’s a remarkable new piece of work by Jesse Auersalo for this month’s Playboy Magazine. The original draft was purely monochrome, but when Hugh Hefner himself took the trouble to request the addition of colour, Jesse was more than happy to oblige.

It’s Nice That Issue #3 is the third edition of the bi-annually printed publication from our good friends at creative blog It’s Nice That. All pre-orders received before midnight on March 31st will receive an exclusive, large-scale screen print from Parra. The silk screen print on bible paper is 980 x 550mm when unfolded and has been commissioned exclusively for everyone who orders the publication early. It is available nowhere else in the world and can be ordered here for only £10.

Loops is a bi-annual collaboration between Domino Records and Faber and Faber. The journal offers a platform for today’s exceptional writers to engage with subjects, individuals and issues that colour all corners of the pop music world. Kam Tang’s cover illustration, Art Directed by Wallzo (aka Darren Wall), is inspired by Paul Morley’s piece on Michael Jackson’s life, and in particular the rivalry between Jackson and Prince during the eighties, when both were at the height of their powers.

Over the past few months David Foldvari has been doing a regular piece for Italian GQ Magazine. The result is a set of beautifully drawn portraits cementing his reputation as one of the foremost draftsmen in the business. Here is a selection of the best.

POLISHED / CLEAN / STICKY / DIRTY

If you’re in New York on this Wednesday 3rd March, be sure to check out Jesse Auersalo’s first-ever U.S. presentation as part of the AIGA NY Small Talk series. He’ll be discussing his design background, its relationship to his personal background and how they all affect what he is doing now. Jesse divides his time between Brooklyn and Helsinki, his distinctive, character-driven work is marked by an aesthetic he describes as, “polished and clean, as well as sticky and dirty.

Marina And The Diamonds much acclaimed debut album ‘The Family Jewels’ is released this week. Big Active have worked closely with Marina since her first single to art direct the imagery for the campaign. Photography by Rankin. Cover art and lettering by Mat Maitland. Featured below is the album cover and a special edition 7″ package of the new single ‘Hollywood’. To see more please click here.

Medicom teams up with Porter (great Japanese bag label) and continues its collaboration with Geneviève Gauckler. The range includes bum bags, wallets and notebooks. If you’re lucky, and in Paris, you may find them at Colette.