LICKETY SPLIT NO. 7 (THE BEYOND HUMAN ISSUE) !!!

The Expozine awards gala took place at Casa del Popolo (who, btw, could really use our support right now) last night to much fanfare, and we want to send our heartfelt congratulations to Amber and the LS team for grabbing the title of Best English language zine! Amber’s an amazing partner in crime, and Lickety Split is a much needed sex-positive salve against conservatism, censorship, and boredom everywhere. Congrats grrrls!!!

Though Issue 10 is not officially launched yet (see below), we did give a copy to the fine folks at Expozine last November for their perusal and evaluation. And we’re happy to announce that we’ve been officially nominated in the category of Best English Language Zine! Again! Issue 7 took home the honours many moons ago, and I don’t know if that helps or hinders our chances, but we’re very excited to be in the running again alongside our friends at Lickety Split and Place Magazine.

The Awards Gala is this coming Tuesday, March 3 at Casa del Popolo, 4873 St-Laurent in Montreal. 7pm! Admission is free and beer and liquor specials will be in effect all night. Check the Facebook event page here.

Four Minutes to Midnight issue 10 has just been reviewed by the reknowned design critic Kenneth Fitzgerald as part of his Chronological Survey. Kenneth has recently reviewed books by Stefan Sagmeister and Debbie Millman, and was a regular contributor to the late, great, Emigre magazine, so needless to say, I’m humbled by the company. I’m inspired and honoured by his critique, not (simply) because of the considered praise from someone I highly respect, but moreso by the depth of his analysis and the revelatory insights of his interpretation.

His understanding of what we’re trying to do with the zine is frighteningly accurate, to the point of spotting the genesis of this project in Steve Baker’s article from New Perspectives: Critical Histories of Graphic Design. Even I had forgotten about that! While studying at Post St. Joost in Breda, I found a stack of the three issue Visible Language series in an old locker, devoured the articles, and shortly thereafter began the process that led to FMTM as part of my MA thesis.

In reading Fitzgerald’s review, I’m reaffirmed that what we’re doing is relevant and has the possibility of genuinely connecting on an aesthetic and emotional level. I’m also challenged by his criticism of its stylistic codification and the danger of commodification. There’s much more work to be done.

Thanks Kenneth!

Read The Chronographical Survey #3: Four Minutes to Midnight, Issue 10.

If you’re interested, here’s a list of other reviews we’ve gotten over the years.

Geof Huth reviews Issue 7: When I Start Writing

Geof Huth reviews Issue 8: Better Living through Typography

…and issue 9: When Else Could Anyone Get Anything Done?

Snap Magazine gives us The Lo-Down (starting on page 19)

Montreal weeklies the Hour and the Mirror gave us a little ink to hype our Musicians are Cowards event.

UPDATE (15/06/10): Emma Healey’s article on 2356 and the fugue in the June issue of the Link, Concordia’s independent paper.

Copies of Four Minutes to Midnight are currently available at these fine establishments:

MONTREAL

Drawn & Quarterly Bookstore
211 Bernard Ouest ~ 514 . 279 . 2224

Librairie Formats
2 Sainte-Catherine Est, espace 302 ~ 514 . 842 . 5579

Monastiraki
5478 St-Laurent ~ 514 . 278 . 4879

TORONTO

Type Books
883 Queen W ~ 416 . 366 . 8973

Book City
716 Queen St. West ~ 416 . 964 . 1167

You can also purchase copies online through Paypal on the individual issue pages of this website.

(updated 16 Dec. 2013)

Street poster designed for Tadamon! in support of the international Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israeli apartheid. Given the escalating war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, I urge everyone to stay informed and take whatever action they can to end this horror.

Download a pdf of the poster here, and start covering the hoardings.

Paranoid Type in development

2008 was a busy, productive year for me, and conversely a kinda quiet one for LOKi design. While my energy was largely focused on Issue 10 of Four Minutes to Midnight and my work at Fjord, LOKi design did have some really fruitful collaborations with DelMarr, Omen, Jaime Candy and Studio Poper in Slovenia. The next year looks exciting, with more creative projects on the horizon, and a further bringing together of FMTM and my studio work.

Getting the tenth issue out was quite a milestone and we’ll be officially launching it early next year, alongside a gallery exhibition featuring the artwork of our talented contributors over the last few issues. The details of these events are still up in the air, but we’ll be getting on it soon. Any suggestions are more than welcome.

So, to all our friends, clients and collaborators, Happy New Year and here’s looking forward to an amazing 2009!

Photo: Sabrien Amrov. Hundreds gather in downtown Montreal in solidarity with Gaza.

Sabrien Amrov’s photo essay here, and much more vital information on the Tadamon website.

Hel Grotesk Gothiq is featured in the second edition of Judith Schalansky’s ‘Bible of Blackletter’ Fraktur Mon Amour. Check out Armin’s review over at Speak Up! Congratulations and thanks Judith, it’s a beautiful book!

UPDATE 26/12/08: …it’s a beautiful book, which I now OWN! Thanks baby!!!