Middlecott Design is proud to announce Ilikemystyle Quarterly, the first user-generated print magazine. Judith Banham from Middlecott Design art directed this first of it's kind in cooperation with Alex Wiederin from Buero New York. The content of the magazine is generated by the users of the ilikemystyle.net fashion social network.
To see more pages, order the magazine or join ilikemystyle.net go to ilikemystyle.net/magazine


























<< MORE >>

<< MORE >>

We here at Middlecott Design recently undertook a design commission to design a pair of sneakers and an interior for the 2010 VW Polo. The design project was completed on our side around Christmas time and was launched by VW last week.

The Polo 444 will be a limited edition of 50 cars sold in Europe that come with a matching pair of sneakers. The original idea was to design the car interior in the same way that shoes are designed utilizing shoe construction techniques.

Below are some of the official publicity shots.

<< MORE >>

The new German Maxim Fashion has just arrived! This is Judith's 5th issue as art director for the magazine.
The cover design changed slightly at the last minute. You can see the two different covers and some pages below.


<< MORE >>

Yet another product or in this case a book designed by Middlecott has been launched. The recent launch is for the American version of "Breite Wissen", called "The Curious World of Drugs and their Friends"  by Ingo Niermann and Adriano Sack. Just out last month, you better get a copy before they all sell out! To get a preview of what you are in store for check out the following links:
middlecott.com/design/print/book/breiteswissen/
middlecott.com/design/print/book/worldofdrugs/

<< MORE >>

We have been asked a number of times how we came up with our logo. Well, the story is really simple. We asked one of our long term associates, Peter Umgeher, to combine Brook's 2 family crests into the logo. Firstly, we need to tell you that Brook's middle name is Middlecott. The ancient family names of Middlecott and Banham have had crests for centuries and so it seamed logical to use those as a start for our logo. Peter crafted the two crests together in a few iterations from which we chose the final design.

<< MORE >>

Yep, that's right, we designed a gun rest for rifles. In fact, we have done quite a number of projects with Battenfeld, but this is the latest product that we helped to design that they sent us. Unfortunately I do not have a rifle to put this little sucker to use. Anyway, we did not do the engineering, only did the asthetic, which is totally cool with us. This design was patented and we were one of the 'inventors'.See a video review of the gunrest here.

 << MORE >>

A couple months ago we designed a car for the 2008 Michelin Design Challenge. The theme was to design the next classic American car. We undertook this project for fun as we havent done a car recently. We took a purposely conservative approach to this design as were were more about clean a tasteful with a strong American charicter. Taking influence from past classics like Mustanges and Cameros, we bastardised some of these cars into the car your see below, 'Duster'. We took some of the best elements of past Americana and put them together into this design. American design cues like neon rear lights, past muscle car classics with a Smokey and The Bandit look and feel.



<< MORE >>

So, last week we were sent a pair of basket ball shoes that we designed for Kipsta, a subsidiary brand of Decathlon, France.These little puppies were designed a little over a year ago and were launched in July/ August 2008. The design is meant to suggest big support with the color block fully encasing the heel, mid foot and shank. We were trying to make the shoe look and feel 'fitted'. I think we accomplished that look, especially with the sculpted herringbone coming up through the shank and the color block continuing all the way around the upper.Check out this video featuring the Kipsta Konnect baslketball shoe.

You can see sketches and development work for this project on our main website, here is the direct link: http://www.middlecott.com/design/product/footwear/decathlon/kipstakonect/

<< MORE >>

Rickshaw bagworks is a relatively newcomer in the bag industry. The above book is where the idea of the name and identity came form. We work with Mark (the CEO of Rickshaw Bagworks)  on various projects including experimental rickshaw designs. Below are a couple of sketches which were done entirely using my then brand new Wacom Cintiq 21UX. This was the first time using the beast, which was an eye opener as to how cool this thing could be. To be honest, I love the Cintiq, but I do not use it for intial sketch lineart besides this one time. I normally sketch something out in pencil or Bic biro first, then scan in the sketch and color it in with the Cintiq, which is where it comes into its own. THe Cintiq speeds up my sketch rendering at least by double.

These rickshaws were actually called beershaws as they were meant to carry beer. Kinda like a portable bar...

<< MORE >>

ilikemystyle.net has just added a new feature which should make browsing even more enjoyable: you can now add a song to each of your pictures!

<< MORE >>

Middlecott just designed the cover for the book "Packing Inferno, The Unmaking of a Marine" by Tyler E. Boudreau published by Feral House.

Tyler E. Boudreau is a twelve-year veteran of the Marine Corps infantry. He trained and committed himself physically and intellectually to the military life. Then his intense devotion began to disintegrate, bit by bit, during his final mission in Iraq.

After returning home, he discovered a turmoil developing in his mind, estranging him from his loved ones and the bill of goods he eagerly purchased as a Marine officer.

Packing Inferno is the spectacularly written story of the ordeal of a Marine officer in battle and then coming home. It is the struggle with a society resistant to understand the true nature of war. It is the fight with combat stress and an exploration into the process of recovery. It is the search for conscience, family, and ultimately for one’s essential self. Here are the reflections of a man built by the Marine Corps, disassembled by war, and left with no guidance to rebuild himself.

Tyler Boudreau was recently in Jordan with a veterans’ organization investigating solutions to the Iraqi refugee crisis. Tyler’s blog can be found at deeperthanwars.blogspot.com

<< MORE >>

This is the brand new website we designed for Clark Parkin's "One Trunk only", onetrunkonly.com

One Trunk Only is a restricted choice of men’s wardrobe classics manufactured by the renowned German tailor „Regent Handtailored“. Balancing avant garde and tradition, the suits, jackets and coats are essential for a modern gentleman’s wardrobe. Their updated masculine elegance defy time or fashion.

One Trunk Only is coming to various cities, as New York, London and Berlin. During these events customers have the opportunity to view a sample collection of handtailored suits and jackets. After having their measures taken, they can order their made to measure garment, that will be made to their specific requirements. For the first suit, a fitting is adviseable. All final fitting changes are also worked into the pattern, that remains in the factory for future orders.

<< MORE >>

September 25 – November 30, 2008

In autumn the Salzburg Kunstverein presents a solo exhibition of the German artist Antje Majewski entitled „My Very Gestures”. For the first time the artist is bringing together different collections of her work from the last ten years, which deal with gesticulation, dance, expression, and costumes. Antje Majewski became known especially through series of realistic paintings, which grapple with existential questions like friendship, love, masquerade, and death. The subject also revolves around the development and change of individuals in relation to society, history, and social norms.

In her youth Majewski had already begun photographing her sisters in photo stories. Many of her images are based on staged photos with models, for which she designed settings, costumes, and face painting. In the past few years a dance theater piece and multiple films have emerged in which she conveyed the stagings with actors in movement. Paintings and films work together in the exhibition.

An extensive publication designed by Middlecott, is being released from Sternberg Press in New York and Berlin for the exhibition.

<< MORE >>