Computer Arts issue 121

Sometimes the most innocuous of ideas can spiral into something much bigger. Take the special 10-page feature in the latest edition of Computer Arts, for example.

What began as a simple discussion in the office about which were the world’s most influential design centres ballooned into a feature where we visited 24 cities on five different continents to find out what was hot in the local design scene.

The result is Global Design Hotspots, a guide to the world’s design capitals taking in cities from Accra to Buenos Aires and Moscow to Manila. See the latest trends in global design today!

Also in issue 121 our international theme continues as we meet cutting-edge Japanese design agency Loworks, we explore the opportunities in magazine design and there’s a great selection of tutorials, including a guide to digital screen printing.

Can you afford to miss out?

Paul Newman, senior editor
ca.mail@futurenet.co.uk

COVER STAR
Bangkok’s Rukkit Kuanhawate back in fine style

Have you recovered from the joyous visuals Catalina Estrada created for issue 120’s cover yet? Judging by the number of wallpaper downloads from the Computer Arts website (over 2,000 in just a few days at the time of writing) it would appear not.

Brace yourself, though, because for issue 121 we drop the Rukkit bomb in spectacular style.

Bangkok’s Rukkit Kuanhawate is one of the most talented illustrators we’ve ever seen: his work is quite literally the apogee of the vector style and proved ideal for illustrating our global design hotspots feature. Vibrant, playful and packed with feel-good factor, this is one of our favourite covers ever.

PROFILE: Loworks
Japan’s agency of the moment on making it in a tough market

“Japanese clients often prefer the value of a designer’s name to the quality of their work. And some design companies value quantity of work over quality,” says Loworks boss Haruki Higashi.

Fukuoka’s dynamic agency is certainly no stranger to quality and is successfully combining traditional Japanese elements with a modern aesthetic. Its whimsical style, as Jason Arber finds out, is proving popular with both domestic and international audiences.

Read our exclusive profile to find out more about the team’s creative process and why Japanese design has caused such a stir in the West.

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNIQUES
Bleeding-edge techniques for bleeding-edge designers

Expand your skill set with the superb range of creative tips and tricks in issue 121.

Photoshop and Illustrator take centre stage as Icelandic illustrator Ingi Erlingsson reveals the secrets of effectively blending bitmap and vector styles, while Illustrator users with some ink, glue and a pair of tights at the ready can also learn how to do screen printing digitally.

Following the popularity of JJ Johnstone’s last After Effects tutorial, we’ve also invited the Rockadee kid back to provide a quick primer on keying with green screen backdrops and there’s a four-page guide to creating interactive online portfolios with Dreamweaver’s many tools.

WHAT'S ON THE CD
A full version Shade LE Designer awaits

Pride of place on this month’s disc goes to Shade 7 LE Designer, a superb 3D modelling application from e frontier. The package, worth $99, integrates seamlessly with Poser and there’s a tutorial in the magazine by Christian Darkin that focuses on how to get the most from it.

Elsewhere, we present video training for Dreamweaver 8 from Lynda.com, a video documentary where Hillman Curtis interviews the legendary Pentagram and a digital darkroom toolkit featuring 50 essential Photoshop plug-ins.

SPECIAL READER OFFER
Subscribe to Computer Arts and save 30%

Why run the risk of missing an issue of Computer Arts? We’re currently offering a 30 per cent discount on a year’s subscription, a saving of £24 a year -- the equivalent of a night at the opera or a slap-up Indian meal for two!

Subscribers also get a special edition of the magazine without any coverlines and, believe us, they look pretty damn special.

Head right this way to subscribe.

COMPUTER ARTS PROJECTS
What’s hot in Computer Arts’ sister magazine

The current issue of Computer Arts Projects covers new territory once more by examining the enormous popularity of character design and the techniques behind it.

Not only does the issue come with two free flat-pack design toys courtesy of FWIS, but there’s also a superb Jon Burgerman cover, inspirational instruction from such character design luminaries as The Boy Fitzhammond and Christopher Lee, plus designer toy mayhem from Tado, Jeremyville and James Jarvis.

Grab your edition from all good newsagents or call +44 (0) 870 837 4722 today to reserve a copy.