Studio Gearbox: Always on Their Game?!

Complete props to the boys in Sisters – Studio Gearbox. Book Design. Identities. Primo work. I'm taking a wild guess, but I'm thinking these gents may be Uttley Grads, as their work is most certainly up to snuff with their fellow Sisters (Oregon, that is). All told this firm is a big talent, and though you don't need me to tell you this (because they've already said it themselves on their bios), they are always on their game. Their superior thinking and design execution well eclipses the junior copywriting on their site. In my unsolicited opinion, and since this is called BarryBlog, words like "zing" and "with it" just don't communicate with the same freshness and relevancy that their work does. Regardless of my thoughts on this, hats off Studio Gearbox.

( via book art director Beth Sparkman )

Book Design: The DesignWorks Group

Started in 1996 by David Uttley and formerly called UD Designworks, The DesignWorks Group represents a passion for great design, which shows in their work. Their entire portfolio is strong, but if you're a book designer like many of my colleagues, your jaw will hit the floor when you see how stellar their covers are. I've admired them for a long time, and once you see their work, you'll see why. I met David a few years back and he seems like common folk. But with uncommon skills.