“Wilhelm Staehle is a horribly disfigured gentleman who often frightens small children when he emerges from the seclusion of his sprawling estate on the eastern coast of the America’s...”
There’s something to be said for playing around at work; especially when the results turn out this good.Wilhelm Staehle is the creation of Will Staehle, a southern-California-based designer, and recently Art Director for HarperCollins in NYC.
While Will Staehle seems like your normal, everyday, overly-talented designer, it would seem he uses his alter ego as an outlet for those dark thoughts one hopes no one else ever hears. And he presents these ideas in a way that’s impossible not to like.
The illustrations themselves appear innocent on the surface, channeling some sort of victorian/scrapbooking matchup. But it’s the subtle commentaries straight from the deranged brain of Wilhelm himself that adds the irreverent, sparkling wit to each composition.
What’s notable about what Will Staehle has done (apart from creating some beautiful pieces of art) is that he’s found the perfect outlet for his own brand of humor, and turned it into a way to promote his personality. Viewing these compositions, I wish not only that I had done them, but hope that someday I’m able to get a burger with the man behind them. And did I mention you can buy these? Please, sign me up.
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If you don't know who the Heads of State are, you should. Only two guys, they seem to excel at blurring the line between illustration and design. You can see a ton of their work at their fantastic website. Below are some of my favorites:
I don't know how "edgy" or earth shattering this concept is, but the coolness/novelty factor is definitely a big 10. Sometimes design can become overly intellectual, and it's refreshing to see something that's just for fun. And who doesn't like chocolate?
What at first appears to be archival images from WW2 combat is actually....toys? I find it amazing how an artist can use different materials not usually associated with the subject matter to create a visceral, unexpected emotional response. From the CR Blog:
Hitler Moves East: A Graphic Chronicle, 1941-43 is a unique photography project from US artists David Levinthal and Garry Trudeau that was originally published in 1977. But the book, which documents the German invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II, isn’t quite what it appears to be at first glance. While all the images are photographs, they’re actually all of toy soldiers arranged upon a series of intricately modelled dioramas.
Link: War Games
I don't know much about Darren Haggar, other than he's a British designer that was stolen by Penguin Group USA, and now art directs and designs some really fresh and well crafted covers for The Penguin Press. He has a revamped website, which is a great place to see some truly beautiful work, both from him and from designers he's art directed.
Paul Buckley mentions Darren Haggar in this interview as well.
Link: Darren Haggar
Tags
action figures book cover book covers book design book jackets brian dettmer chip kidd chocolate clothing design comics darren haggar design diorama dust jacket graphic design humor illustration inspiration music packaging penguin usa photography poster design posters print print design publishing sculpture silhouette swiss time magazine two will staehle world war
About Me:
- Working on:
a 108 book series..... - Listening to:
Spaceman - The Killers - Reading:
Drood - Dan Simmons (sick cover!) - Watching:
the Watchmen.
