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 / 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).

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.

Stockholm / Designer

Graphic designer and founder of Sakaria Studio, a Stockholm based design studio for typography and visual identities.

Philadelphia / Art Director

Daniel David Kent is an Art Director & Graphic Designer originally from Northern Illinois. Previously from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he now lives in Philadelphia. Daniel works on projects associated with the arts, fashion, publishing, cultural institutions, and activism. Daniel also runs Ceremonious People, a sporadic publishing project, since 2010. Many of the publications involve collaborations with writers, photographers, and illustrators. The publications are made by hand in small editions. Currently ACD @ Urban Outfitters

Porto / Designer

Olga Noronha, a 21 years old, London based portuguese jewellery designer, has been relentlessly examining the relationship between bodies, attitudes and surroundings, both in the wearer’s and the audience’s points of view. Olga’s creations are never mere ornaments, but are art pieces that celebrate the marriage of sturdy mechanics and delicate anatomies. Constantly challenging and exploring the relationship of interactivity, Olga illustrates the connection between ‘to see’ and ‘to be seen’. Wishing people not to be apathetic towards her work, whatever the reaction – good or bad, Olga welcomes doubts for they may lead to surprise.

New York / Designer

Photograph by Andrew Cenci

Cologne / Designer

Gerdesmeyer Krohn is an office for industrial and interior design based in Cologne. Christoph Gerdesmeyer and Jonas Krohn recognized their mutual understanding of design during their studies. Their core work is to create new products and interiors. Based on previous monitoring and analyzing of the current situation they are recognizing problems or potential for optimization to generate unique solutions — visionary solutions that treat functional and aesthetic aspects equally.

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