Dezeen Magazine

Lies Cost Lives by Yves Behar

Dezeen's top 10 graphic design and illustration moments of 2018

For our review of 2018, design reporter Gunseli Yalcinkaya picks out 10 defining moments in graphic design, including Edel Rodriguez's depiction of Donald Trump, Kanye West's Kids See Ghosts album and the social-media response to the Pittsburgh shooting.


Lies Cost Lives by Yves Behar

Yves Béhar responds to Pittsburgh synagogue shooting with Lies Cost Lives graphic

Swiss designer Yves Béhar created this graphic in response to the mass-shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue in October, to warn against rising anti-semitism in the US, which he blamed on president Donald Trump's "current culture of lies".

The San Francisco-based Fuseproject founder released four illustrations on his Twitter and Instagram accounts after the shooting at The Tree of Life synagogue.

Find out more about Lies Cost Lives ›


Kanye West unveils Takashi Murakami-designed album art

Kanye West unveils Takashi Murakami-designed album art for Kids See Ghosts

The much-awaited release of Kanye West's Kids See Ghosts in June was hyped further with this psychedelic album artwork designed by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.

The contemporary artist, who previously worked with West for the cover art for his 2007 Graduation album, looked to traditional Japanese watercolour landscapes when creating this fantastical artwork.

Find out more about Kids See Ghosts ›


Edel Rodriguez imagines alternative cover for Trump exposé Fire and Fury

Cuban-American artist Edel Rodriguez designed this alternative cover for the tell-all book documenting Donald Trump's first nine months as US president, after the original was described as bland. It was so popular it spawned the Twitter hashtag #betterfireandfurycovers.

Rodriguez chose the colours of the flame to resemble the president's visage. The orange represents his tanned face and the yellow top mimics his blonde hair. An open mouth with bright white teeth is placed in the centre.

Find out more about the Fire and Fury cover ›


LogoArchive magazine explores the visual language of mid-century branding

This year saw London-based designer Richard Baird launch a quarterly magazine to celebrate minimalist mid-century logos, which proved to be very popular amongst Dezeen readers. 

Called LogoArchive, the publication accompanies the designer's popular Instagram account of the same name, which features over 1,000 examples of mid-century logo design.

Find out more about LogoArchive's midcentury logos ›


Nendo designs children's book to illustrate how creative ideas are born

This whimsical children's book by Japanese studio Nendo features an ordinary mug as its protagonist.

Titled What is a cup?, the book aims to explain how creative ideas are born. It follows the mug as it searches for its missing spoon and tries to solve the issue by changing itself into various different forms.

Find out more about What is a cup? ›


David Hockney reveals iPad-designed stained-glass window in Westminster Abbey

David Hockney creates iPad-designed stained-glass window for Westminister Abbey

Merging the old and new, British artist David Hockney's stained-glass window designs for London's historic Westminister Abbey were made using his iPad.

Commemorating the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the design depicts a vividly coloured pastoral scene, intended to reflect the Queen's "deep affection for and connection to the countryside".

Find out more about Hockney's window ›


Mysterious Aphex Twin logos appear in destinations across the world

Mysterious Aphex Twin logos appear in destinations across the world

Earlier this year, mysterious illustrations of electronic musician Aphex Twin's logo were spotted in locations across the world, ahead of the release of his new EP Collapse.

A prime example of guerilla marketing, fans took to social media to post photographs of the various sightings, furthering speculation of the album drop.

Find out more about Aphex Twins logos ›


Celine logo rebrand

Celine drops accent to better resemble original 1960s logo

Perhaps the most controversial instance of rebranding this year, Hedi Slimane's decision to axe the accent on luxury brand Celine caused uproar among the fashion scene, who saw the move as attention-seeking and lazy.

Find out more about the Celine logo ›


Tilda Swindon and Vivienne Westwood among those to design protest posters

Open-access protest posters by Vivienne Westwood and Tilda Swinton appear in Visionaire

For its 68th issue, Visionaire magazine asked artists and activists to create posters protesting on issues ranging from gun violence and criminal justice to climate change and equal voting rights.

Tilda Swinton, Nan Goldin and Vivienne Westwood were among 10 figures commissioned by the publication to design protest posters for readers to download and use for free.

Find out more about Visionaire's protest posters ›


Pentagram designs rebrand for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Earlier this year, design Agency Pentagram created a new visual identity for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, now known simply as Battersea. 

The rebrand aims to present the charity "as both a compassionate caregiver and a leading authority in animal welfare", based around a "family" of hand-drawn, watercolour-style logos of different breeds of cats and dogs.

Find out more about Pentagram's redesign ›