The Centre for the Study of Political Graphics (CSPG) explores the enduring power and immediacy of the political poster in the fight against inequality, their capacity to acknowledge and bring to light the injustices and atrocities of the world, and through their archival, keep alive the stories, voices and controversies that they have come to represent.

CSPG worked with Canadian studio Blok to develop a graphic identity that would honour the role the centre serves as a chronicler and catalyst, reflect its position as a participant in the fight for human rights, and leave space to frame and connect the graphic and bring to light the diversity of their political poster archive. 

Blok channel the impact, immediacy and communicative clarity of political posters into CSPG’s visual identity. They do this through type size, proportionality and arrangement, in conjunction with eye-catching colour and use of contrast. In their type-centric approach identity takes a step back and functions as a frame for the images and messages that have endured or caught the spirit of the recent past or employed today.

Read more about this project on BP&O.

Canadian graphic design studio Blok worked with The Broadview Hotel to develop a visual identity that would embrace and express the building’s contemporary new voice following a recent renovation, possess the wit and attitude of its interior flourishes which are informed by the hotel’s eclectic past, and finally acknowledge and celebrate the hotel’s East End roots. This is achieved in the contrast and collision of image and type, emphasised by a simple colour palette, and expressed in the variety and character of secondary typefaces. These included Gothic 13, Neuzeit Grotesk T OT & GT Sectra Display.

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Richard Baird (bpando.org):

Lucky 21 is a film production company, located in the US city of Dallas, who bring a “contagious energy and tireless drive” to the industry and have a production team and director roster that includes the talents of Jeff Bednarz, The Chartrands, and Tom Ryan, some of whom have worked for big brands such as TGI Fridays, AIG and Home Depot. Lucky 21 recently commissioned design studio Blok to develop a new visual identity solution, which included type, pattern, material and language choices, that would help the company to establish a strong brand personality and better position them to move into and take on the competitive Los Angeles market.

Simplon Norm is available as part of the Simplon collection from Swiss Typefaces.

Nota Bene is a restaurant, located on Toronto’s Queen Street West, with a menu made from locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients. It was opened by chef David Lee and business partners Yannick Bigourdan and Franco Prevedello in 2008, and was awarded “Best New Restaurant” by Toronto Life and enRoute Magazine soon after.

To coincide with the restaurant’s 2016 relaunch—which saw David Lee take sole ownership and the unveiling of a new menu and interior—Nota Bene worked with Canadian graphic design studio Blok to develop a new visual identity. This was inspired by David Lee’s approach to food and the restaurant’s new environment; a marriage of organic detail and contemporary materiality created by +tongtong, and runs across menus, stationery, business cards, postcards, packaging and website.

Read more about this project on BP&O.