citylikeyou — Stafford / Ben Anslow

Ben Anslow is a designer and illustrator working mainly with print, specifically in book design. Since graduating from Staffordshire University last year he has gained recognition from a variety of design publications, including Wallpaper*, Digital Arts and the London Design Festival. In 2011 Ben was awarded a D&AD Best New Blood and an ISTD membership for his typography. He is currently doing illustration work for Penguin Books.

http://benanslow.com

Designer Illustrator

Current city: Stafford

benanslow.com

Stafford / Museum

The Shire Hall Gallery is in the central area of Stafford town and is an exhibition space, library and cafe rolled into one. Recent exhibitions have included paper-cutting artist, Rob Ryan.

Stafford / Architecture

The village of Brocton is well known for having a number of timber-frame houses, but this house just stands out to me in particular. It was built in 1911 and is one of the most atmospheric and characterful houses you could possibly come across, in what is otherwise a quintessential English village.

Stafford / Lake

In 1936 George Orwell described Rudyard Lake in one of his diary entries as ‘very depressing’. Today though, I can confirm that it really is a lovely place, with a fascinating display of lakeside cabins and boathouses—more reminiscent of something you’d see in New England than the Midlands. The most popular thing visitors do is set themselves the goal of walking full circle around the lake, which is about 4-5 miles and takes around 2 hours.

Stafford / Place

Well known as being J.R.R. Tolkien’s inspiration for ‘Middle Earth’ in the Lord of the Rings books, Cannock Chase (colloquially ‘The Chase’) is somewhere that friends and I have frequented for many years. If you go to a part called Broc Hill at just the right time, you can literally just sit there and watch the sun disappear behind the horizon, and witness some stunning gradients in the sky. Also a great place for running and photography—you even get to see the odd few deer just bounding around. Cannock Chase is officially listed as one of England’s ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB).

Beijing / Designer

Zara Arshad was born and raised in the UK, but has also lived in Syria and Indonesia. She now resides in China as a graduate of the BA (Hons) Design course, Goldsmiths College. Strongly influenced by Bruce Mau, Troika and Graffiti Research Lab, she continually promotes internationalism and the potential of design to solve social and political issues. As well as practicing as a freelance, multi-disciplinary designer, Zara currently works on the Organising Committee for Beijing Design Week 2011 and writes for Design China.

London / Designer

For the last six months, I have been a strange tourist in Munich. I came here to work in a studio and had not so much time to visit it properly. But I partly came in Germany because I was interested in its specific creative approach: it’s precision and rigorousity. In it’s system culture in a way. And indeed it’s a very intellectual society, ruled by color codes and order. It was definitely funny to see that these things are visible in many daily aspects of life. Or maybe it’s just me wanting to see them... Very soon, I will move to London - where I would like to do some freelance work, in product, furniture and space design.

Muscat / Designer

Hello! This is Abrar from Muscat, Oman. It seems like you do not have anyone from my city. Sounds like a great chance for me to share it!

Mannheim / Art Director

Carolin Wanitzek is an independent scenographer and set designer from Germany. She designs three dimensional installations using various materials. Working in the field of scenography she blends graphic design, set design and photography to develop concepts for extraordinary worlds. Her work is published in digital media, magazines and catalogues. She also constructs designobjects which appears in interior design and public places. Currently she is working for national and international clients like Hewlett-Packard, Vodafone, Spiegel Verlag and the BASF and is partner at OUI R Creative Studio.

Berlin / Designer

Raby-Florence Fofana is a Berlin based Artist & Designer. Her work intersects with art, illustration and design. She loves abstract composes in painting, collages and patterns and is also working sculptural with ceramic and porcelain.

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