Nobrow

In Waves

Released earlier this year to widespread acclaim, In Waves by AJ Dungo is a rare work of non-fiction that is as moving as it is fascinating. A dual narrative, AJ weaves together a history of the great heroes of surfing with the deeply personal story of his relationship with his late partner Kristen, and her prolonged battle with cancer.

Since its release In Waves has received widespread critical acclaim and was recently nominated for the grand prize at the prestigious Angouleme festival. A very special graphic novel that will touch the heart of any reader.

Americana (And The Act of Getting Over It)

Americana by Luke Healy is a unique book: part travelogue and part graphic memoir it’s a work that effortlessly stitches together multiple narratives across time and place. The main story is more than compelling enough- Luke recounts his 147 day journey across the 2660 mile long Pacific Crest Trail (a staggeringly long hiking path that winds up from America’s desert border with Mexico to Canada’s mountainous one).

However, the journey that Luke documents is more than just a hike, it’s the culmination of a lifelong obsession with the USA that he has never quite managed to shake. In his own words:

“I’m driven by my hunger for the American experience. But also by the hope that if I gorge myself on it, I’ll become sick of the taste.”

Written with an easy humour, Luke has a good eye for details and for capturing the subtleties of conversation and a culture not his own. A thoroughly enjoyable read that you don’t necessarily have to be a traditional travelogue fan to enjoy.

DeadEndia: The Broken Halo

The Broken Halo (written and illustrated by cartoonist and all round wonder Hamish Steele) follows on from where DeadEndia: The Watcher’s Test finished off, but can also be read as a stand alone graphic novel if you fancy jumping straight in. But a short summary for any newcomers: war is brewing across the thirteen planes. And as always, haunted house attraction and portal to hell Dead End is right at the centre of it.

DeadEndia manages to achieve what few can do – simultaneously combining high paced action with delicately written characters who feel as fully fleshed out as long-long friends.

SKIP

A mind-bending feat of illustrative talent, SKIP by Molly Mendoza has to be seen to be believed. Molly’s a true new powerhouse in the illustration world, and this book more than displays her wide range of skills.

The story itself is an epic tale of friendship, compassion and growth. It follows the two main characters, Bloom and Gloopy, as they travel through alternate worlds, skipping through dimensions to encounter weeping giants, alligator islands and topsy-turvy 2D worlds. A must for any self-described illustration aficionados, or for those with a love of the surreal.

Hicotea

A recent Eisner-award winner, Lorena Alvarez is a true rising star in the comics and illustration industries. Hicotea is the mesmerising follow-up to her 2016 book Nightlights, and is equally as visually stunning.

Within Hicotea Lorena explores our own relationship with nature and animals, creating a work which is as thought provoking as it is beautiful. The story follows Sandy, who after peeking into an empty turtle shell whilst away on a school trip is transported into a magical new dimension. Filled with sculptures, paintings and books, the turtle’s shell is a museum of the natural world. But one painting is incomplete, and the turtle needs Sandy’s help to finish it…

Flying Eye

Hilda and the Mountain King

A must buy for any Hilda fan, Hilda and the Mountain King is the sixth instalment in Luke Pearson’s beloved Hilda series. Following on from the harrowing cliff hanger in The Stone Forest which saw our blue-haired heroine wake up in the body of a troll, Hilda and the Mountain King is a tale packed full of adventure and excitement.

A great choice for either a dedicated fan of the comics or for someone wanting to read beyond the events of the first series of the Netflix show, Hilda and the Mountain King delves deeper into the community of Trolls of which we’ve previously only seen snippets of, and whilst doing so revealing more about Trolberg than we’ve ever seen before.

Kai & the Monkey King

The third in Joe Todd Stanton’s series of stories about the adventurous Brownstone family, this book is also an excellent stand-alone read. Professor Brownstone takes us to China this time round, telling us the tale of Kai and her search for the mischievous and rebellious Monkey King. Bursting with dangerous beasts, magical myths and (believe it or not), powerful peaches, we follow Kai as she begins to realise that our heroes might not always be all they’re cracked up to be.

The perfect gift for any budding adventurers or those interested in ancient myths and legends, Joe’s lush illustrations can be stared at for hours.

The Sleepy Pebble and Other Stories

Getting children to sleep – an age old problem, which an endless amount of books have been written about. However The Sleepy Pebble and Other Stories offers a unique alternative to endless self-help books: a collection of soothing stories accompanied by a selection of techniques to help your child practice mindfulness, and to aid relaxation at bedtime.

Written by Professor Alice Gregory (sleep researcher and professor of psychology at Goldsmith’s University) and children’s book author Christy Kirkpatrick, The Sleepy Pebble is elegantly illustrated by Eleanor Hardiman.

A chapter in the last section of the book written by Professor Gregory lists a series of tips to aid sleep, and some advice on how to utilise the book to the best of its ability. An ideal gift for any parents looking for a little bit of help with the bedtime routine.

Ancient Wonders

From the Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands as proud today as it did when it was first built, to the lustrous and alluring Hanging Gardens of Babylon, journey across the world and through time, marvelling at incredible feats of humankind and the awe-inspiring wonders they produced.

The dream gift for anyone with a love of history, Ancient Wonders is fully illustrated throughout by the talented Avalon Nuovo, who really brings these fabled artefacts and monuments to vivid life.

Fanatical About Frogs

Did you know that some frogs grow as big as a newborn baby, while others are smaller than your fingernail? Or that frogs eat their prey whole, using their eyes to swallow their food?

Find other such fantastical facts in Fanatical About Frogs by Owen Davey, the next in line in his acclaimed animal series (Mad About Monkeys, Crazy About Cats). This gorgeously illustrated work of non-fiction would appeal to anyone with a fondness for animals, and is currently on the shortlist for the 2020 Blue Peter Book Awards!

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We’re excited to announce that OFFSET are helping to produce children’s book to be released Christmas 2019 to raise money to fight homelessness.

Written by Shane O’Brien and Stephen Rogers, it will feature the talents of amazing Irish illustrators including Kevin Waldron, Fatti Burke, Sheena Dempsey, Peter Donnelly, Steve McCarthy, Fuchsia McAree, Chris Haughton, Ale Mercado, Steve Doogan, Steve Simpson and more to be announced.

“How will Santa Find Us” tells the story of a little girl and her younger brother who lose their home in the week before Christmas. We follow their family as they are moved from place to place in an effort to find somewhere to stay. All the while their parents try and distract the kids form the reality of their situation by taking them on a journey through their imaginations. Each page will be drawn by a different Irish illustrator – their individual styles bringing to life the imaginations of the children running wild.

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Homelessness in Ireland is now at crisis levels, with the number of homeless people climbing over 10,000 for the first time this year, including some 3,800 homeless children. This project is a means of response from the Irish creative community – to raise awareness, create empathy among Irish children and to raise funds to help provide vital homeless services.

We will be announcing our charity partnership soon, and will also be seeking partnerships with publishers and printers. If you are able to help or wish to get involved, please contact Bren@iloveoffset.com.

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We are humbled, honoured and extremely overwhelmed to have been awarded the President’s Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Design at IDI Ireland Awards in Dublin’s CHQ last Thursday, particularly special given this our 10th edition next April #OFFSET Dub 2019. It is wonderful to be acknowledged by our peers and we would like to especially thank Kirk McCormack for his wonderful intro speech to our award.

*IDI President’s Choice Award for Outstanding Contribution to Irish Design 2018* (24.01.2019)

“I feel very privileged to have been able to present the IDI President’s Choice Award for Outstanding Contribution to Design in Ireland to Lisa Haran and Bren Byrne (Bren Be).

The Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI), and the wider Irish design industry, are extremely happy with the decision and feel it is immensely well deserved.

Apart from their many other activities within this country, it was felt that their huge efforts in creating, re-creating and sustaining OFFSET as, not only Ireland’s, but one of the world’s most inspirational conferences for the creative industries is significant and singular.

They have instigated and curated moments that will remain long in the memories of our community. When Swiss typographer Bruno Maag challenges your very perception of how deep design can actually occur; when the creators of everything from monograms to Monument Valley (@ustwo) have now been made accessible to you; and when you bear witness to the reticent calligrapher Seb Lester visibly weeping on stage as he has just realised that his work is truly appreciated; it is clear that something special has come into being, and the people who have created the conditions for those moments have changed the way design is perceived and have managed to engage both the general public, professional and would-be designers.

Furthermore, we believe that because the recipients are still young, and what they are doing is still emerging and evolving, that this sets a positive precedent and shifts away from the perception of Outstanding Achievement awards as being somewhat “posthumous”. We want to acknowledge talent, intent, and impact while its fire is still burning.

The decision to award this accolade jointly arises from the fact that Lisa and Bren have driven their events and initiatives as a duo. It acknowledges the collaborative aspect of achieving quality in design and attempts to highlight that, in most cases, the most visible person is not the sole contributor to success.

There is also a deep sense of family in the way they work and how they have remained so persistent all the while raising kids and living in the city, yet still managing to disproportionately effect the Irish design landscape and beyond.

Thank you to Lisa and Bren for accepting this small acknowledgement. Congratulations, and please continue to do what you are doing for design in Ireland.”

Kirk McCormack – Bren Be – Lisa Haran

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Kingdom

Jon McNaught has gained a following around the world for his beautifully illustrated, poetic and atmospheric graphic short stories and he is well known for his striking editorial illustrations. This Bristol-based artist put aside 4 years to create this nostalgic and tender homage to the classic British holiday. A family sets off for a long weekend at a caravan park on the coast. We follow them through the familiar landscapes of a summer holiday: motorway service stations, windswept cliffs, dilapidated museums and tourist giftshops. Kingdom is an ideal gift for the family members who still bring up the caravan holidays you shared as kids; this atmospheric and contemplative work explores the rhythms of nature, the passing of time and the beauty and boredom of a summer holiday.

Through A Life

Tom Haugomat’s elegant, striking illustrations make Through a Life the perfect coffee table book with it’s deep and touching, yet accessible, silent narrative. This title follows the saga of a boy who grows up to be an astronaut, just like he always wanted…until a fatal shuttle crash upends his life, and he begins to find solace in beauty here on earth. Told through a series of poignant vignettes, Through a Life is a sweeping story of dreams, expectations, nature, and loss. The perfect gift for anyone who grew up through the space race or and the dreamers who watch the skies.

An Illustrated History of Filmmaking

This detailed non-fiction title is an exploration and a celebration of everything that led to the way we create motion pictures today. Adam Allsuch Boardman showcases his love of cinema with this beautifully crafted title. With detailed, technical drawings explaining ingenious early filmmaking devices and sweeping spreads that reveal the filmmaking process on huge sets such as Seven Samurai and Star Wars, this makes a must-have guide for any film enthusiast on your gift list.

Nobrow 10

To celebrate 10 years of Nobrow, the cult publisher curated an extra special covetable edition of the Nobrow magazine. This 10th anniversary edition features 70 established and up-and-coming artists responding to the theme of ‘Studio Dreams’. Artists such as Lisk Feng, Alexis Deacon, Keith Negley, Icinori, David Doran, and Emmanuelle Walker, among many others have painted, drawn and printed their ideal workspace. Available in paperback and hardback, the hardback is individually numbered with a foil-stamped cover and a dust jacket poster.

Gamayun Tales 1 – The King of Birds & 2 The Water Spirit

Based on traditional Russian folklore, Alexander Utkin has created a luscious and lyrical masterpiece. If you’re looking for a gift for someone who enjoys magic and adventure, then the Gamayun Tales series should be the first, and last, place you look! The first title, The King of Birds, introduces our merchant protagonist with a story about how an apple can start a war. The Water Spirit continues the epic adventure with a tale that rejoins the merchant as he unwittingly condemns his son to a life under the sea.

The 2018 Flying Eye Books Christmas Gift Guide

Everest

Mount Everest, the most famous mountain on Earth. Hundreds of people clamber to the summit every year, following in Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s footsteps… but there is so much more to this mountain than the people who climb it. With sumptuous and stylish illustrations by Lisk Feng, this dynamic book reveals the great mountain’s ancient origins, the flora and fauna that thrive upon its great flanks, and the rich mythology of Sagarmatha, the Goddess of the Sky. This title is a great gift choice for any mountaineering mum or daredevil dad who want to inspire wonderment and a sense of adventure in their child. Sangma Francis and Lisk Feng have created a truly stunning non-fiction title, a real feast for the eyes which offers as much in terms of education as it does with its incredible aesthetics.

Mika: The Bear Who Didn’t Want to Sleep

This is a title that even the toughest Grinch will feel a twinge of nostalgia upon reading. Harking back to traditional illustrated books, Mika showcases Amsterdam-based Erik Kriek’s incredible paintings in this Scandinavian tale. Mika the little bear loves to run and play all about the forest, but she soon learns that winter is on its way, and she is meant to spend these long, cold months hibernating with her mother and father. When the Old Owl tells Mika about the Northern Lights that appear every winter, she can’t stand the thought of missing something so beautiful, and so she sets out on a secret, snowy adventure to find them! Mika is the perfect wintry children’s title to fire up any young child’s Christmas spirit.

Professor Astro Cat’s Human Body Odyssey

The human body is one of the most complicated things in the Universe, which explains why Universe-obsessed Professor Astro Cat and his space-based gang have come together to teach us about all the wondrous parts of our ‘inner-space’! From head to toe and everywhere in-between, there’s nothing left out of this fascinating human body odyssey. This is the newest release in the bestselling Professor Astro Cat series. As well as being visually gorgeous, this title is the perfect gift for to learn essential biology, broken down into accessible and memorable facts by Dr Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman.

Tales from the Hidden Valley: The Artists & Hello Mister Cold

Welcome to Carles Porta’s beautifully imagined world, where and new friends are found in the strangest of ways. The new Tales from the Hidden Valley series from award winning illustrator, animator and graphic designer Carles Porta celebrate each season of the year. This duo of books is a great set for children to connect with nature at a chiller time of year. In The Artists, It’s autumn in the hidden valley and there’s a sense of change in the air. Ticky is about to fly away to warmer places, and Yula is painting him a farewell gift. In Hello Mr Cold winter has blanketed the hidden valley with snow. A strange, trumpet-playing new visitor has appeared, and word is that he has kidnapped Yula! The Tales from the Hidden Valley series has a mysterious folk-tale atmosphere with eccentric characters that make it a great gift idea for fans of Tove Jansson’s Moomins.

Hilda and the Hidden People

For Hilda fanatics, this gift is a ‘no-brainer’! Illustrator Luke Pearson’s beloved blue-haired heroine has gained quite the following since the debut of the acclaimed Netflix series. Made to accompany the Hilda animated series, these fiction titles are great for young readers and gives fans a new insight into Hilda’s world, her thoughts and feelings, and features exclusive duotone illustrations throughout.
This first book in the series, written by established author, Stephen Davies, joins Hilda as she encounters her very first troll, negotiates peace with some very persnickety elves, and reunites two lovelorn ancient giants. Fantastic creatures and daring adventures are all just part of another average day for Hilda…

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From the very first seek and find book that I opened by author and illustrator Brian Cronin, I was hooked, completely and utterly and transported into a magical world of colour and wild imagination.  Bed time stories took way longer as myself and my daughters explored every inch of every page to find the answers, only giving up when our sleepy eyes deceived us and we knew there was always tomorrow to try again.

Cronin’s book makes you take the time to really appreciate the exquisite detail as you search for missing ornaments and decorations for the main character Grandad. I should caution you that this contains a wonderfully insane neon-colour palette that acts as a barrier to finding the hidden gems, but stick with it and you will find much more than Christmas decorations. This is a book to be treasured and passed down through the generations and provides endless fun. In fairness more of a challenge for the adults than the kids, but I reckon that was Brian’s thinking.

We have some copies to give away to OFFSET 2019 ticket holders, all you need to do is like Brian’s facebook page and email us with proof of ticket purchase.

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The Conference takes a deep dive into topics that pose the greatest challenges for designers and creative business owners, directors, partners and managers who lead design teams and run successful studios. It’s been described by attendees as an unmissable opportunity to build your network, share ideas and learn up to date industry trends and best practice.

‘The day after last year’s conference, I put one piece of advice into practice and immediately cut down project negotiations with an existing client from a couple of weeks to less than a day. They’ve since increased their work with us and gone on to sell us internally in their organisation to other teams, saying that what makes us different is how easy we are to deal with. That one piece of advice made a difference to our bottom line, client relationships and the work itself. The advice was nothing ground breaking, really. But taken in the context of the day, listening to new perspectives and hanging out with colleagues and competitors, we were motivated and excited enough to try a new approach. For anyone working in management in creative industries, this conference is important.’
Brian Herron, Principal Designer, UX & Strategy, Each & Other

Design Leaders Conference is focused on the business of design, running a studio or agency, and leading a design team. Keynote sessions feature executive speakers from the US, Canada and Europe discussing everything from the challenges and opportunities of defining and honing leadership style, to aligning talent and culture in dynamic design and creative environments with a profitable business strategy.

Confirmed Speakers for 2018

Aimed at both creative directors and design agency owners and managers, the format and content of the day means you will come away re-invigorated and inspired, with actionable insights to bring back to your agency or studio.

‘Design Leaders Conference is an outstanding event, an open platform where we can network, share ideas and listen to the opinions of other leaders nationally and internationally. It is great that we get such a valuable opportunity on this scale and level to talk to our industry peers about the challenges we face and opportunities we meet. We look forward to the next event.’
Jane O’Reilly – Deputy MD, Image Now

Do you take your career and your business seriously enough to spend one working day of the year thinking and talking about how you can be better at your job?

If the answer is yes, grab one of the last few tickets

The Design Leaders Conference is an initiative of Design Enterprise Skillnet and promoted by the Institute of Designers of Ireland & ICAD

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Typography Now | Friday 23rd

In 1991 the seminal book ‘Typography Now’ was published. This film looks at its origin, purpose and some of the reasons for its phenomenal success. The relationship, in this period, between work that was taking place in Holland, the US and Cranbrook in particular, and in the UK is fascinating and the results influenced a generation of designers.

PUNK & PAGEANT | Saturday 24th

This film charts the development of Why Not Associates from graduates of the Royal College of Art in 1987, to figureheads of British graphic design. Their rise took place at a significant period of real change and have made a valuable contribution to the history and value of our discipline.

THE MORE I DRAW | Sunday 25th

“The More I Draw” tells the story of renowned illustrator B. B. Cronin’s journey to New York and shift from his long career in editorial illustration to creating acclaimed children’s books. Showcasing Cronin’s brilliant artwork and animation, the film combines observational footage in Cronin’s Brooklyn home and studio with brutally honest interviews. Though highly opinionated Cronin doesn’t trust himself to speak in public: here, candidly, he talks about his eccentric upbringing in his family’s 1970’s Dublin rooming house and argues every creative should quit their employed positions to freelance.

Cronin’s successful shift to children’s book illustration has led to some of his finest and most fulfilling work to date. “The More I Draw” explores the notion that it is vitally important for creatives to stick to their creative truths.

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OFFSHOOTS | 11:00am | Main Stage on Friday 23rd

AOIFE DOOLEY

She might only be 5ft tall but she is five feet of razor sharp comedic genius! Aoife Dooley is an illustrator; author and comedian based in Dublin, best known for her web series ‘Your One Nikita’ (formally known as Dublin Hun). Her work encompasses her experiences of growing up on the Northside of Dublin and parodies of iconic (North side) Dublin characters.

She published her first book ‘How to be Massive’ in 2016 and her second ‘How to deal with poxes on a daily basis’ in October last year. 2017 also saw her take the stage and launch her career as a stand up comedian, winning U Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Award for best Comedian.

Ale Mércado

From a passion of Cinema, comics, and traditional relief printing to quitting his day job, Alé Mercado is an illustrator and graphic designer increasingly gaining recognition for his designs and work.

Born in Granada now based in Ireland, the artist who originally studied and worked as an industrial engineer has honed his illustration techniques allowing him to follow his passion, creating work that is rooted in concept, creativity, visual language and narrative. Recently he was shortlisted for the prestigious Observer/Comica/Jonathan Cape Short Story Competition and was shortlisted for the IDI Irish Design Awards.

Arice Andrea

Arice wants to recast personal experiences and perceptions; which come to life thanks to 3D graphics. By arousing emotions, evoking forgotten memories, or galvanising visions to freely interpret; Arice lets the viewers wander into alternative worlds through his eyes. For his work he rejects any kind of label.

Computer graphics are just a medium, for a wider purpose: streaming visions able to astonish and leave an emotional imprint.

After graduating in Computer Science, he moves from Milan to Dublin. This is the time when his short film “Don’t You Know You’re Queen” comes to life: an artistic outlet; dictated by a deep, personal need to share his point of view about some aspects of today’s society. D.Y.K.Y.A.Q. marks Arice’s debut as a Director, while putting into practice many diverse technical skills acquired in the previous years. His unique visual approach particularly in his work on fashion imagery and film has earned him notable commissions from Italian VOGUE and ETRO and many key award wins including the 2017 IDI Grand Prix, IDI Award Best CG Short Film 2017,  Best Italian Fashion Film – Milan 2017, Best Experimental Film and Gold for Best VFX – Berlin Fashion Festival 2017, Best VFX – San Diego La Jolla 2017.

SUBSET

SUBSET are a collection of artists, from various fields, exploring several mediums. If they see an opportunity to express themselves they go after it. What they do changes almost every day but so far they have worked on multiple artistic projects, most notable being their Stormzy, Gracie and Donald Trump pieces which have been a catalyst for discussion surrounding Dublin City Council’s approach to large format artwork in the public realm. They have also worked on client projects for brands such as Paddy Power, Red Bull Music, Conor McGregor, BMW, Dr. Marten’s, Kendrick Lamar and the DAA, to name but a few, in areas such as Sponsored Art Campaigns, Visual Communication, Video Production, Photography and Interior Design. They want to transform Dublin in to an open air gallery, they have aspirations of transforming the marketing industry and primarily they want to assist in Ireland’s recognition as a cultural juggernaut.

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Believing that people need the right environment to do their very best work, Iconic Offices ensure all of their spaces are created with individual and business success in mind. There is a science behind their spaces, with custom-built furniture to facilitate long hours of meetings, brainstorming and planning, while lighting and acoustics ensure optimum productivity.

From hotdesking and private offices, meeting room and event spaces, right through to custom-built floors, Iconic Offices’ vision is to create high quality, inspirational and design-led workspaces. These workspaces are creative, free-flowing think spaces which are home to business innovators, enterprising pioneers, freelancers, start-ups and multi-nationals. At the heart of Iconic Offices’ is the community, complemented by the ongoing events and networking opportunities, to help companies collaborate with each other and reach their full potential.
This year Iconic Offices  new building – The Greenway will act as our Hub for the majority of OFFSITE events from Sunday 18th – Thursday 22nd March 2018.

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