The Edit: five projects including Studio Bang-Gu modular type-driven magazine Play Play Laaaaah

Each and every day, we're lucky to discover dozens of interesting and inspiring projects from around the world. From global identities and campaigns to side projects and independently published books, The Edit is home to five of them; every two weeks.

Studio Bang-Gu draw upon Singapore’s heritage and way of playing in their reimagining of Singapore’s dragon playground. The pages of the accompanying zine, Play Play Laaaaah, aim to evoke memories of childhood – a simpler time when decisions were made based on a game of hand gestures. Built in 1970, the dragon playground is one of the most famous playgrounds in Singapore – simple in function yet rich in imagination, the playground has provided a space for children to meet and play across cultures, races and religions. Honouring the nostalgia of youth and the history of Singapore, the zine is about reimagining Singapore’s most iconic playground for the next generation, inspiring future generations to be curious and imaginative while playing. The forms of the playground itself are reconstructed to form a modular display typeface, providing endless possibilities within the design output. Paired with the reimagined wooden dragon playground design, the zine offers a history of the playground, flashback moments of the games the designers used to play, and several examples of the exciting possibilities that can be created with the ‘playground’ toy.

New York-based design agency High Tide have partnered with audio furniture brand Symbol to create an identity as timeless as its products. Challenging the current furniture market – full of disposable furniture design – Symbol is driven by a passion for design, music, beauty and function. The brand hopes to shift how we connect with the pieces in our homes, led by the belief that beautiful furniture holds lasting emotional value. With this in mind, the visual language by High Tide channels the vibrant nostalgia of notable design eras, from mid-century design to 70’s typography. Type and colour carry the warmth, boldness and personality of the brand, further embodied in the oversized mid-century-inspired wordmark. 

As part of London Design Week 2022, creative studio DNCO delved into the mysterious metaverse. With more and more brands wading into digital waters, with the metaverse growing in both popularity and significance, what impact will it have on the design industry and the wider world? With their experimental exhibition, the London-based team sought to investigate the limitless world – and refute any misconceptions – through the lens of six key questions such as “how will the metaverse affect our sense of identity?” and “why does the metaverse look so wild?” Drawing upon seminal cyberpunk literature alongside contemporary scientific research, DNCO proposed their findings – and comments on the shifting nature of identities and places – through a vivid typographic design, pulsing neon lights and playful VR technology.

“When purchasing a car in Japan, you must first prove you have the private space to park it.” These are the words designer Alice Ishiguro Tosey invites us to consider throughout the many pages of her charming publication Camouflaged Cars of Tokyo. With expertly camouflaging colour palettes, blending cars neatly with their surroundings, Ishiguro Tosey raises the question, “is there significance to these colour-coordinated settings or are they just serendipitous moments?” The result is a playful and personal observation of Japan, highlighting the value that is placed on harmony in both society and design.

Australian creative agency Cul-de-sac have delivered a timeless identity for Formi’s hair products, reflective of the personality and ambitions of the brand’s founder and Australian influencer, Laura Jade Stone. Blending fun and sophistication, the identity and packaging are tailored for a youthful target audience, whilst empowering people to ‘feel good and do good.’ Cul-de-sac opted for muted blues and greens throughout the colour palette, emphasising the environment and ecology, representing ‘something of the moment.’ These hues provide a subtle backdrop for the Formi wordmark, set in Fleur by Lián Type Foundry, chosen to embody the old-school glamour with hints of Parisian art-nouveau. This is supported by the contemporary, flexible and highly legible geometric sans serif Pangram Sans. The elegant type choices and matte hues of the packaging are extended to feature within the brand’s digital outputs, maintaining a simple and comprehensive look.