This month, Cygnus’ lunch and learn session featured Terry Graham who gave us a glimpse into the life of an award-winning photographer and director with a knack for capturing blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments.

Turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. His work, commissioned by heavyweights like the Metropolitan Police and the New York Times, dives deep into the nooks and crannies of society, revealing ambiguous locales and characters that tell deeper stories and social commentaries. With a passion for authenticity, Graham approaches real people in their natural environments, creating portraits that exude emotion and provoke empathy through his genuine storytelling.

Graham’s secret? Building a sense of understanding and trust with his subjects, ensuring they feel comfortable so he can blend in with the furniture and document their worlds from a fly-on-the-walls perspective. From hairdressers doubling as community hubs (who knew a perm could be so interesting?) To intimate glimpses of a couple navigating dementia, Terry’s work is both compositionally striking and emotionally stirring. Each photo series, whether it’s a gripping tale of daily perseverance or the quiet beauty of mundane moments, is a testament to his ability to blend into the background and uncover the magic in the seemingly mundane.

Thank you Terry!

With the Olympics around the corner, it only seemed fitting to give our two cents on emblems past, present and future. But first, a (very) brief history lesson. Since the Olympic logo creation in 1913, hosting nations have competed in the unofficial title of best emblem to accompany the five-ringed logo, taking inspiration from the nation’s respective cultures which became quite formulaic in their approach.

However, in true British fashion, 12 years ago (if you can believe it) the London Olympic logo was out and in full swing, shaking up a storm since its first debut. The logo was met with criticism due to the fact it didn’t use stereotypical “British” references like former emblems and wasn’t in line with the design trends of the time. However, (in our totally unbiased opinion) it has arguably become the most iconic emblem created to date (sorry Paris.)

Known for its ‘ugly’ angles and quirks, it is almost the perfect representation of the capital. Edgy, different, a bit rough around the edges. Whatever your opinion, we can agree it’s bold and brave. Created ahead of its time, it broke the mould, still standing up today against even the 2024 Paris emblem which has arguably followed the classic Olympic formula seen by other predecessors.

Looking to the future, it seems LA 28 has taken inspiration from 2012 in the second-ever stacked typographic route for a hosting emblem. Inspired by the dynamic city and characters within it, the emblem defies having a singular identity, built with the digital age in mind it has unlocked another level of storytelling that hasn’t been seen before. 2028, we’ll see you there.

Wisdom Kaye, director, model, stylist, photographer, videographer, and trendsetter has struck gold again with another viral video tickling the fancies of font fanatics and fashionistas alike.

In response to a fan request, Kaye created a show-stopping video, creating outfits inspired by fonts, featuring all the classics (love or hate them) such as Times New Roman (pictured top right), Futura, Impact (pictured bottom right), Papyrus, Comic Sans, and more. The fashion fusion led to a whopping 53.7 million views on Kaye’s Instagram and 23.5 million views on TikTok, resulting in a social media masterpiece with numbers still rising.

Who’d have thought typography was the secret to internet fame? With every typeface exuding its own characteristics and personality, it seems obvious that styling famous fonts would be a home run. And yet, Kaye tapped into a space never seen before, showcasing his originality and personal flair, sparking conversations and debates that sent the platform’s algorithms into a frenzy.

With all this taken into account, Kaye has definitely lived up to Vogue’s title of “best-dressed man on TikTok”, and we’ve got everything crossed for a part two.

Our latest excursion took us to the stands of New Designers, an annual London showcase, bringing together the best graduate typography tamers, visual virtuosos and product prodigies from across the UK into one dynamic melting pot.

While exploring the stands, taking in the latest trends and innovations, it was clear many were designing with their finger on the pulse of societal issues. With each project reflecting a part of its creator, it was hard to identify any recurring design influences.

However, despite the variety, one clear theme emerged: a generation dissatisfied with society’s status quo. The design graduates’ passion for tackling meaningful and hard-hitting topics such as misogynistic behaviour and accessibility is not just inspiring—it’s contagious, and after conversations with a few of those exhibiting, it’s clear to see that they’re set to soar. Their fresh ideas, innovative designs, and sharp copywriting skills are bound to make waves. Consider us impressed!

Want more Olympic content? We’ve got you.

How do you communicate the incredible calibre of Great Britain’s Paralympians?
Papa John’s required an awareness campaign surrounding their newly forged partnership with ParalympicsGB to change perceptions and generate £250k through fundraising ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.

The result? ‘We are limitless’, a campaign and rallying cry created to underpin the exciting partnership as well as communicate the immeasurable talent of those competing. Highlighting the challenges and undying perseverance that got ambassadors Alice Tai, David Weir, and Alfie Hewett to where they are today, the campaign aimed to inspire those with disabilities, proving when you put your mind to something, you truly are limitless.