Hasta La Ideas

Nuns for your tree, rapid prototype chocolate treats and QR code wrapping paper: just some of the Yuletide-themed ideas received at CR this year

For the more religiously inclined designer tree, Graphicdesign& (Lucienne Roberts and Rebecca Wright’s project exploring how graphic design connects with the ‘wider world’) presents Three Wise Women, a set of three Christmas tree decorations featuring the design of nun’s habits. The set are the result of a collaboration between theology expert Veronica Bennett and illustrator Ryan Todd and tie in with the theme of the next Graphidesign& event which will explore the intersection of design and religion (more here).

If you don’t want to go dragging religion into Christmas, Cass Art has Robobaubles, “a series of highly imaginative and witty make-your-own robot-inspired Christmas paper toys and decorations” created by Matthew Robins.

Talking of trees, The Design Museum has commissioned one of its former Designers in Residence, Giles Miller, to design a bespoke six meter tall cardboard Christmas tree which will hang in the museum’s public atrium. The tree is made up of 3,600 individually cut and handmade pieces and features various woodland creatures.

A smaller range of cardboard trees, also by Miller, is on sale in the Museum shop.

Stuck for gift ideas? The Chase has created wrapping paper adorned with QR codes that make up familiar seasonal images. Scan the codes to reveal hundreds of gift ideas.

And if you are struggling to find an appropriately stylish card for your deisgner friends, check out Soma Gallery‘s Christmas shop. Here’s Patrick Eley’s Snöel Letraset-style Christmas card

And more cards by Gemma Correll

Online, a couple of projects have caught our eye. Writers’ group 26 is collaborating with illustrators from LCC and Plmouth College of Art to create 26 Stories of Christmas. In October, the group briefed 26 of its members to respond to a traditional Christmas object in 500 words. But there was a twist. “We asked each writer to choose an object that means Christmas to them,” says Rob Self-Pierson, 26 board member. “We put the objects in a hat and paired them randomly with our writers, so nobody knew what they’d get. Everyone then had just two weeks to write a cracking story.” Each story was then paired with a visual artist from the LCC or PCA.

And last, but certainly not least, Moving Brands has rigged up its RepRap 3D printer to work with chocolate so that it can output a miniature advent calendar-style choccie every day up until Christmas.

Staff submitted stories from which an object was chosen to be reproduced as a 3D chocolate.

CR in Print

If you enjoy reading the Creative Review website, we think you’ll enjoy reading the magazine even more. The December issue of CR includes a profile piece on the independent creative scene in Liverpool, a major interview with Dutch book designer Irma Boom and a great piece on ‘Poster King’ Edward McKnight Kauffer. You’ll also find articles on Dentsu London, a review of the Walker Art Center’s Graphic Design: Now in Production show and a fascinating debate on the clash between design and advertising betwen Wally Olins and CHI’s Dan Beckett.

And if that wasn’t enough, the issue also includes a FREE paper toy for readers to cut out and customise.

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.