Letman was recently invited to speak at Walker Art Center in Minneapolis as part of the Insight Design Lecture Series. In a time when we handwrite less and less to communicate, Letman’s lecture and the live type work that it accompanies serves to emphasise both his skill, and the importance of cursive script as a craft.

Big Active’s Mat Maitland has just overseen the creative direction for the new Basement Jaxx single ‘Back 2 The Wild’ including the video as well as sleeve artwork.

The promo, co-directed with Natalia Stuyk, features Mat’s signature collage style along with specially made items by French hair stylist / fashion designer Charlie Le Mindu and make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench. Maitland also shot the sleeve image which similarly uses a Le Mindu headpiece.

Jim Stoten features on the cover of this month’s Creative Review. The illustration was taken from an animation collaboration with Adam Buxton and The Layzell Brothers, who feature in the magazine as part of a feature on ‘Animators to Watch’.

To coincide with his talk at Berlin’s Pictoplasma conference, Will Sweeney has been invited by gallery and print shop In:Surgo! to present a selection of new digital prints and earlier silkscreen work. The show is the first exhibition of Will’s work in Germany, and is presented back to back with prints by comic book legend Charles Burns.

Mat Maitland just finished this video with Kenzo to accompany the release of their women’s Resort 2013 collection.

Color Wheel by Siggi Eggertsson

Jody Barton recently collaborated with Lithuanian artist collective Mother Elaganza. The project, Chocolate Pictures, brings together graphic artists and contemporary chocolatiers. Taking some of Jody’s most iconic images, Mother Elaganza see chocolate as ‘the perfect raw material for this edible pop art’, with the biggest problem facing the owner being whether to admire it or to eat it.

Parra was chosen as one of 50 artists to create a cover for the D&AD Annual, as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. The original artworks, including contributions from Quentin Blake, Rankin and Terry Gilliam were all auctioned to raise funds for the D&AD Foundation, established to offer financial support to the next generation of creative talent.

Sanna Annukka has published her first book, a version of Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Fir Tree’. Sanna’s Finnish folk style works perfectly with the Nordic tradition of Andersen’s original tale of a young tree so preoccupied with growing up that he forgets to live for the moment. The hardback book is cloth-bound with gold foil block details, while inside, the spreads blend elegantly with the text to create a real festive treat.

For the past four years, Klaus Haapaniemi has worked with Sato Yanai at Nippon Design Center to create the Christmas campaign for Japanese department store Isetan. For this year’s collection, Klaus has created the world of ‘Wonder Eden’, comprising twelve different kingdoms. From The Land of The Alchemists to Giant Little Country, Klaus’ worlds are inhabited by strange plants and magical creatures. The illustrations are being used as three-dimensional window displays, in-store as decorations, as well as online on the dedicated Wonder Christmas site.