All Things Bowie

© Duffy Archive

The design blogosphere is teaming with posts surrounding the timeless androgynous wonder man that is David Bowie. We can thank the V&A exhibition David Bowie Is for his delightful return to the spotlight.

© Inside David Bowie is at The V&A Museum

It’s Nice That gives a complimentary review, describing the show as “a winding, trippy passage through Bowie’s life, beginning in with projections of images taken in the gritty working-class back streets of the 1960s. Through tales of the sexual revolution, poetry, album artwork and God-like pop stars, we watch David Robert Jones stick an arm out of his shell and emerge as David Bowie, ruler of pop and anti-drab saviour of the cultural world.”

© Creative Review

What about a shiny souvenir at the end of your exhilarating visit? And what better to grant those wishes than 101 designers creating pretty Bowie typefaces in matte white ink screen printed on 240gsm of rainbow mirri. All we need is the Marks & Spencer’s narrator and there you have a perfect designer’s day out. Creative Review have a fab run down on the designers that got involved and shared their creative process.

© Creative Review

If a mere poster doesn’t fully satisfy there is also a splendid publication accompanying the exhibition. Design agency Barnbrook were commissioned to create a book for the iconic show.

© Creative Review

The book features topical orange accents, glossy photographs taken through the years and charming handwritten lyrics. Full bleed images bound together in a hardback marriage made in typographical heaven.

© Creative Review

Partially to the success of the exhibition we have the release of the latest album from Bowie, already storming to the top of the UK charts.

To round off the post I have the exceptionally true to Bowie form named The Stars (Are Out Tonight). Directed by Floria Sigismondi and co-starring the (equally?) androgynous Tilda Swinton. Davie boy, you’re still a legend.