What if a book broke and cracked like glass or concrete? In the new issue of Meantime, we are reimagining the materiality of a book. Imagine holding a publication so precious and fragile that it slipped through your fingers, fell to the ground, and shattered into pieces like glass or porcelain? Its value is not diminished just because it is broken. The art of kintsugi teaches us that things broken can be repaired with gold. The imperfect, new piece in turn becomes more exquisite than it was before the break.
Inspired by this, we designed the magazine in the style of kintsugi. With cracks on the cover embellished with gold foil using hot stamping, and two chipped book corners done by hand, design and storytelling go hand in hand, as the issue explores stories of heartbreak, separation and broken relationships. Saturated in the magazine’s signature Pantone neon, the design of the cracks extends into the inside pages using an additional Pantone metallic ink.
Inspired by this, we designed the magazine in the style of kintsugi. With cracks on the cover embellished with gold foil using hot stamping, and two chipped book corners done by hand, design and storytelling go hand in hand, as the issue explores stories of heartbreak, separation and broken relationships. Saturated in the magazine’s signature Pantone neon, the design of the cracks extends into the inside pages using an additional Pantone metallic ink.
It’s a piece of work created to be owned—touched, turned, placed on your table, displayed on your bookshelf, or passed through hands. It’s a product that exists and takes form, and its weight gives meaning and truth. It’s a labour of love (yes, breakups too are a form of love. Sometimes, to leave and to let go is to love).
Nice to see. Nice to touch. Once broken considered sold.
Nice to see. Nice to touch. Once broken considered sold.
Typeset in FLARA & TENET
Every issue of Meantime encapsulates a theme, and this round it is about “Bad Stories”. As the theme circumnavigated around the seven sins, we designed it with a deep die-cut across the entire publication, akin to our sins sinking us. Printed in Pantone 803, the boomZx neon is reminiscent of toxins and poisons.
Each chapter begins with the title of the sin melting into the ground. With the shape of the publication, we sinfully broke all kinds of typesetting rules — orphans, rivers, widows, and horrible rags are aplenty. Oops and sorry 😘😘…!!! Hidden print effects are also included — bullet holes (a nod to a crow culling campaign), foiled spread (representing self-reflection), and more.
Each chapter begins with the title of the sin melting into the ground. With the shape of the publication, we sinfully broke all kinds of typesetting rules — orphans, rivers, widows, and horrible rags are aplenty. Oops and sorry 😘😘…!!! Hidden print effects are also included — bullet holes (a nod to a crow culling campaign), foiled spread (representing self-reflection), and more.
The exposed stitched spine is emblazoned with the words LET THAT SIN IN — a parodical localised reference to Elon Musk the time he carried a physical sink as he entered Twitter for the takeover.
Typeset in TENET
Meantime #3 Funny Stories
Find another project that lets you put these things together: An unconventional bitten cover, neon dreams, custom emojis, augmented reality, and flying poop.
Yes, flying poop. Misbehaving clients, check your phones please.
Find another project that lets you put these things together: An unconventional bitten cover, neon dreams, custom emojis, augmented reality, and flying poop.
Yes, flying poop. Misbehaving clients, check your phones please.
ShopBack, an online rewards platform that is expanding globally, was founded in Singapore in 2014 to make shopping more rewarding, delightful and accessible. To bring that spirit to life across every touchpoint, we created a custom typeface family that embodies the core of ShopBack’s value proposition and its personality — bold, fun-loving, reliable.
Inspired by the distinctive geometry of the ShopBack logo, ShopBack Sans is a unique family with sharp edges and customised anatomy. With a plethora of stylistic alternates, the letterforms allow upbeat and impressionable execution across a multitude of touchpoints.
Inspired by the distinctive geometry of the ShopBack logo, ShopBack Sans is a unique family with sharp edges and customised anatomy. With a plethora of stylistic alternates, the letterforms allow upbeat and impressionable execution across a multitude of touchpoints.
Designed as a variable family with 8 styles, ShopBack Sans is a tool for community storytelling and business intent — reinforcing our belief that customised type is a vehicle in elevating a brand’s DNA.
Scarpetta is a dining experience where craftsmanship, aesthetics, and the joy of savoring life take center stage. Serving handmade pasta from an open-concept bar top, the restaurant blends flair, taste, travel, and beauty into every detail. Honouring the gesture of using bread to scoop up the last traces of sauce—the brand embodies this movement, celebrating the art of savoring every bite.
Our in-house typeface Flara captures this fluid motion, while illustrations, drawn with flair and raw energy, reflect the rhythm of pasta-making—spontaneous yet precise. A palette of pops of yellow balanced with cool tones and rich textures enhances the sensory depth of Scarpetta’s menu and atmosphere.
Beyond a delectable menu, the brand shapes the spatial and social experience, fostering exclusivity and connection. The elegant yet playful identity makes every touchpoint—signage, menus, and social presence—an extension of Scarpetta’s artistry. More than a restaurant, Scarpetta is a destination.
Beyond a delectable menu, the brand shapes the spatial and social experience, fostering exclusivity and connection. The elegant yet playful identity makes every touchpoint—signage, menus, and social presence—an extension of Scarpetta’s artistry. More than a restaurant, Scarpetta is a destination.
Local Loco, your go-to destination for rare and exotic plants in Singapore! They are made up of a passionate team of plant enthusiasts who are "insane in the membrane" about bringing you the most unique and exciting botanical specimens. Whether it is a special variant of monstera, an almost impossible to find anthurium, or a one-of-a-kind philodendron, they can help you indulge in and achieve your dream plant.
The new brand identity for Local Loco is a celebration of the wild, the eccentric, and the unconventional. In a world dominated by minimalist aesthetics and clean lines, Local Loco stands as a rebellion—a glorious defiance against the notion that less is always more. The brand embraces chaotic and dynamic visuals, showcasing distinctive and atypical forms, shapes and colours.
The new brand identity for Local Loco is a celebration of the wild, the eccentric, and the unconventional. In a world dominated by minimalist aesthetics and clean lines, Local Loco stands as a rebellion—a glorious defiance against the notion that less is always more. The brand embraces chaotic and dynamic visuals, showcasing distinctive and atypical forms, shapes and colours.
This approach is designed to capture the essence of Local Loco's mission: to shake up the greenery game with a bold and mischievous spirit. The designs are characterised by its bold, whimsical, and slightly irreverent tone. They encapsulate the brand's vibrant personality, which permeates every aspect of its visual and verbal communication.
Whether you're a seasoned plant enthusiast or a first-time buyer, Local Loco promises an exciting and supportive journey into the world of plants, celebrating the beauty of imperfection and the power of being unapologetically true to oneself.
Whether you're a seasoned plant enthusiast or a first-time buyer, Local Loco promises an exciting and supportive journey into the world of plants, celebrating the beauty of imperfection and the power of being unapologetically true to oneself.
ECHO Café isn’t just a coffee spot—it’s a conversation starter. With a quirky and witty branding brought to life through hand-drawn illustrations, every cup, coaster, and corner of the café is infused with personality. From playful doodles that tell coffee-fueled stories to vibrant colors that energize the space, ECHO is designed to make you smile before you even take your first sip.
Beyond its fun aesthetic, ECHO serves up bold flavors, expertly brewed coffee, and a space where creativity thrives. Whether you’re here for the caffeine, the charm, or just a good laugh, one thing’s for sure—ECHO Café is as lively as the people who walk through its doors.
