Get Up for Good Design

A few weeks ago after a stressful day at work I decided to find some peace of mind in a library. I love libraries especially if they are filled with books and magazines on design, art, and photography. My fascination has something to do with how the books and magazines are placed, all neatly alongside each other showing off their spines with wonderful prints, typology and colours. That evening I was lost for 4 hours between shelves of beautiful books, and I came across a graphic design magazine, which many might have heard of but was new to me, ‘Novum’. The edition that I got hold of was from 08/09 and featured some work of a design studio from my hometown Barcelona. I always get excited when I read things about Barcelona-based  designers in non-Spanish publications because I get the impression they do not get enough international exposure.  Especially because whenever I speak to people about Barcelona they always mention the good weather, the food, the clubs and the architect Gaudí but the city has more to offer, some very talented graphic designers for example.

Novum’s article was about a beauty salon called ‘Get Up,’ which funny enough is about a 20 minute walk from where I live in Barcelona, but I don’t remember seeing it ever.  The Alexis Rom Studio with a limited budget brilliantly developed the salon’s corporate design identity.  They created a simple logo and a stamp set with a number of different faces and hairdos, which can be combined as wished.  So the salon’s staff can tailor the visiting cards and flyers to their taste. This flexible and fun solution most definitely provides Get Up’s staff with something to do during those rare moments of boredom at work.  Next time I am home for Christmas I may pay them a visit and beg them to let me play with their cool stamp set. In the meantime I am happy to learn more of Alexis Rom Studio’s work and have one more reason to love Barcelona (http://www.alexisromestudio.eu).