Just stumbled across this beautiful stop-motion animation from Spike Jonze, in which designer Olympia Le-Tan's accessories spring to life in a tragic-comic love story. Beautiful.

Spike Jonze: Mourir Auprès de Toi on Nowness.com.

There is a short Q&A with Jonze about the project here: http://www.nowness.com/day/2011/10/17?ecid=emfb1001

If you can find the time to read this piece, and I really ecommend that you try, this appraisal of the collaborative relationship between Alfred Hitchcock and Saul Bass is a gem:

"Drawing upon a wide range of sources, including interviews with designer and filmmaker Saul Bass (1920–96) and film director Billy Wilder (1906–2002), this article reassesses the evidence, scholarship, and debates about the contributions made by Bass to three films directed by Alfred Hitchcock (1899–1980). Between 1958 and 1960 Bass created main title sequences for Vertigo (1958), North by Northwest (1959), and Psycho (1960) and an advertising campaign for Vertigo, and he also acted as a “pictorial consultant” for Psycho (a role that included the design and storyboarding of the now-famous shower scene). The article, which seeks to reopen and redirect certain debates, constitutes a major evaluation of one of the most visually productive collaborations in the history of U.S. cinema."

http://www.west86th.bgc.bard.edu/articles/kirkham-bass-hitchcock.html

Necessity. Innovation. Simplicity...and a beautiful result.

We're excited to announce the latest addition to the Vault49 team, Karan Singh. An antipodean mega-talent in his own right, he adds another notch of mega talent to our crew, and we know you'll all be seeing lots of work with Karan's paw prints all over it.

A few delectable snippets from his burgeoning portfolio are shown below...

We had the pleasure of working for the Boston Magazine again recently for their 'Fall Getaways' issue, and this is our lovely set design proposal.

We finally got some of our Hydro74 prints framed for the office... here's our favourite. A $20 frame from a brick-a-brack shop + a gorgeous serigraph = priceless.

We've come a long way since our first set build for Queensgate, and we still enjoy them as much as ever. Perhaps moreso now that we know what we're doing, and there's less head-scratching when something goes wrong.

Inspired by our ongoing escapades with the lovely Jessica Walsh, this latest piece has just been featured on the SPD website as their 'cover of the day', which is a nice pat on the back.

OK, we're going to make more of an effort to post some of the dozens of great designs that go unrealized each year from our studio... like this beaut.

ABOUT VAULT49

Almost 10 years ago, we started out as a trend-setting illustration and design studio. Today we’ve grown into a creative agency that provides clients with a wide variety of services, though we’re still firmly committed to our passion for cutting-edge design. Everyone in our office is wildly talented, loves what they do, and loves to do it together. We work hard, but we keep it fun. Our first rule of thumb: no egos. Our business is growing, and the future is an exciting place. Bringing a top-notch marketing manager on board is an integral part of our plan.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re looking for a passionate, energetic marketing and communications specialist who can support the company and its growth by managing and disseminating all of the strategy and materials that promote the brand in a way that faithfully reflects who we are and what we have to offer. The first order of business is to raise and maintain our profile in the media and in our target markets, but there are lots of other things to do.

Responsibilities will include:
- Strategic new business communications and opportunities
- Managing and implementing email marketing and social media efforts
- Managing an editorial calendar for website, blog, newsletter, etc. (includes pitching, writing, website maintenance, and chasing others to meet editorial deadlines)
- Researching and submitting Vault49 for industry awards
- Spearheading improved and more ambitious trade press relationships
- Leading efforts to share intelligence and “unused” creativity (pitch materials etc.)
- Strategically placing content and opinion in general press, positioning Vault49 as subject-matter experts on our space
- Managing mailing lists and tracking email and website reports

ABOUT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
You love advertising, design, marketing and PR in equal share. You’re self-motivated, but play well with others. You’re a great writer and extremely thorough in everything you do. You listen well, speak well, and know how to craft a pitch. You have a sense of humor. Having a good industry contact list wouldn’t hurt.

This is an excellent opportunity for an energetic marketing professional looking to prove themselves in a challenging, creative environment.

Send resumes, complete with salary expectations and any other relevant support material to: jobs@vault49.com

Luke Downdney, MBE, established Fight For Peace (or Luta pela Paz in Portuguese) in heart if the Complexo da Mare favela, Rio, in 2000. Combining boxing and martial arts training with education and personal development services it seeks to combat violence by encouraging young people to take responsibility for their own actions rather than relying solely on charitable donations.

A second academy was established in London in 2007 and further centres are planned for six more countries including Columbia, Palestine and Uganda.

In May 2011 Downdney launched LUTA (in Brazilian Portuguese the word LUTA means to fight, to struggle, to never give up) – a performance fightwear and training brand that shares 50% of every sale with the Fight for Peace charity. The brand is already on sale in selected outlets in the UK and is supported by online branded content, narrated by Idris Elba (The Wire’s Stringer Bell), and more recently a pop-up store in London’s Covent Garden.

LUTA is an awesome example of brand that is intrinsically entwined with, and tells brilliantly, a powerful story - an invaluable asset to which most brands strive endlessly. It is a celebration of human strength and a positive ethos that is marshalling the power of the Internet to build a movement that supports communities affected by crime and violence around the world.

http://www.luta.co.uk/heritage/

LUTA is that very rare thing: social responsibility, design and marketing all working together for the best possible cause.