Welcome to Design For Today, a small press inspired by mid-century design and lithography. Ephemera, objects of curiosity, books to read and touch, and above all, craft printing. We collaborate with innovative illustrators and support new talent. Click here to find our full catalogue.

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Country Life Rojankovsky Detail from the map of Plouf’s (canard sauvage) world in 1930s France. One of a series of animal books that Rojankovsky illustrated and lithographed for the Pere Castor series. They were hugely successful, translated many times and published in England and the USA. Worth searching out the early French editions as the printing and paper quality is far superior. #rojankovsky #plouf #perecastor #canard #frenchchildrensbooks #stonelithography #mapsofinstgram #countryliving
Made in India Detail from a piece of printed ephemera about the Jeep. I’m a sucker for the vintage Indian Matchbox labels, their vibrant colours and popular art appeal. #popularart #matchboxlabels #packaging #printedephemera #madeinindia
London Art Book Fair Busy time here today & on tomorrow too at The Whitechapel Gallery. So many tempting books that you won’t find on the high street, or in some cases never again, as the editions can be small. @whitechapelgallery #books
The Real East End Pearl Binder I’m exhibiting at the Whitechapel Gallery this weekend, a far cry from the East End of 1932 when Pearl Binder drew these lithographs. Then, as now, East London proved a fertile ground for artists and thankfully enthusiasts such as The Gentle Author have curated the legacy of these and current East London Artists. #pearlbinder #therealeastend @whitechapelgallery @eastlondonprintmakers #eastendvernacular
Summer and Winter Eric Ravilious as we begin to move towards Autumn here’s a unique impression from an unused Ravilious block c1932. It’s from the new book of Ravilious’ Scrapbooks, compiled by Brian Webb and Peyton Skipworth and a fascinating insight into what fascinated Ravilious, let alone some gems from work in progress. #ericravilious #scrapbooks @webbandwebb #woodcuts #greatbardfield #helenbinyon #summer #winter
5 Silly Cats Lewitt-Him A story for cat-lovers everywhere, first published in 1944 by Minerva Publishing as a large format book, later in a smaller format. Their design partnership produced some of the best wartime posters, children’s books and graphic design of the mid-century. #lewitthim #minervapublishing #cats #catsofinstagram #fivesillycats #graphicdesign #posterlove #classicchildrensbook
FREE Collage Workshops! Clare Youngs Sunday 23rd September, 12 - 5pm. To celebrate the publishing of Animal Parade Clare is offering two free workshops (one for children & adults, and one for adults) at @bouncingoffthewall the 20th Century graphic arts fair, held at Greenside Primary School, W12 9PT. If you’d like places, contact me via link in my profile, first come basis. The Special Edition of Clare’s new Book is also available to pre-order. @clareyoungs #collage #theartofthebook #animalparade #bookarts #thecraftofprinting #designfortoday #bouncingoffthewall
Helen Borten ‘I know how far a root can spread And how a baby bird is fed’ A double spread from her 1972 book, Do You Go Where I Go? She illustrated some fantastic children’s books, a couple of the best have been reissued by @flyingeyebooks and she’s rightly back in vogue. #helenborten #babybird #birdsofinstagram #feedingtime #midcenturymodern #childrensbooks
REKA The River A wordless Russian children’s book from 1930 that follows the river, from source to mouth, illustrating the transition from rural to industrial. It’s in stapled book format but would have made a great panorama, as Alexander Exter was to illustrate for the Pere Castor series some years later. I wish I could read Russian to translate the illustrator but the front cover is included if you swipe through the pictures. #theriver #mouthoftheriver #tothesea #russian #avantgarde #peka #russianchildrensbook
Le Mauvais Jars Nathan Altman Lithograph from his 1935 illustrations for Marcel Ayme’s story book of a misbehaving goose. Once Altman returned to Russian Nathalie Parain took over the illustrative duties for these titles, some of the most delicious French children’s books of the 1930s. #goose #lemauvaisjars #gander #nathanaltman #emigree @librairiegallimard #nathalieparain #frenchchildrensbook #stonelithography
Perry Colour Books an omnibus edition of some of the wartime Perry Colour Books (modelled on the Puffins) that were published from the camouflage and model making centre at Farnham Castle. A bizarre story but Pauline Baynes’ first books were published as Perry Colour Books, along with her talented sister Angela. #perrycolourbooks #farnhamcastle #camouflage #paulinebaynes #angelabaynes #wartimechildrensbooks #homefront #puffinpicturebooks
Downland Man Eric Ravilious & Alice Pattullo A sneak preview. There are four new books arriving from Design For Today this Autumn, including Downland Man. This will be the ‘lost’ Puffin Picture Book featuring the Hill figures, Chalk paths, and mounds by Ravilious with black and white drawings by Alice Pattullo. It’ll be available to pre-order in a couple of weeks time via the link in my profile. #downlandman #chalk #hillfigures #prehistory #ericravilious #landscapesofprehistory
Proofs arrived! Animal Parade Exciting to see the proofs of Clare Youngs adventure in collage arrive yesterday. All set to to bound in quarter cloth next week. There’ll be a Special numbered edition too, complete with a signed and numbered giclee print on quality Somerset paper and you can pre-order now via link in my profile. #animalparade #proofcopy @clareyoungs #collage #handprintedpaper #artistsbook #thecraftofprint #craftbook
Silbury Hill Downland Man The last time I visited, as a student, you could climb to the top, as I did, and let the imagination run. These days, sensibly, there’s no public access. But still such a magnificent sight, and site. The largest man-made mound in Europe! #silbury #silburyhill #neolithic #leylines #prehistory #ericravilious
She followed her nose ... The Wall of Stuff Liz Loveless’ story of a hoarder, isolated and trapped by his Wall of Stuff, yet freed, emotionally and physically by his faithful dog. A screenprinted Picture Book transferred to litho plates and printed in spot colour. Available via link in my profile. #dogs #dogsofinstagram #wallofstuff #thehoarder #collectors #designfortoday