'I Wonder' is a gilt-edged new tome from Marian Bantjes, combining graphic art with her lesser-known skills as a writer. On its elaborately ornamented pages, the Wallpaper* contributor (and designer of a Laser sailboat for Wallpaper* Handmade, W*137) looks at the role of wonder in design and imagery, through an eccentric mix of musings, personal anecdotes and what she, herself, calls 'harebrained ideas'.
A chapter exploring how we honour things that resonate with us, illustrated by ornamental pasta, is swiftly followed by a look at the experience of the 'really ugly' signage in her home town of Saskatoon, Canada. These rich, playful and often funny pages are wrapped in an aptly indulgent, gold and silver foil cover.
Images from the 'Cemeteries' chapter, which serves as a pictorial interlude, wherein a view of cemetery portraits speak to the book's recurring themes of wonder, honour and memory, p.098 & 099
The 'Secrets' chapter pushes the limits of legibility and ultimately breaks those limits when it prints actual secrets in encoded text, p.112 & 113
The '1 Sign 4 All' chapter addresses the ugly signage on display in the author's home town of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, p.100 & 101
Pages from the 'Secrets' chapter use gold encoded text, p.116 & 117
In the 'Alphabet' chapter, Bantjes amusingly and profanely critiques the 'design' of the alphabet, commenting on the efforts and motives of a team of imaginary designers, p.122 &123
Graphics from the 'Alphabet' chapter, p.128 & 129
The 6-page chapter 'Assembling Two IKEA Bookshelves' shows the progress, frustrations, distractions and asides involved in spending an afternoon assembling two Ikea bookshelves, p.142 & 143
The chapter 'Memory 2: Notes on a Life' is based on the author's eulogy for her mother, as it examines a life as represented by the handwritten remains of hundreds of 'To Do' lists, p.174 & 175
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A first look inside the new Oxford Street Ikea. Spoiler: blue bags and meatballs are includedThe new Oxford Street Ikea opens tomorrow (1 May), giving Londoners access to the Swedish furniture brand right in the heart of the city
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For the 2025 Eurovision theme art, Swiss design principles get a glow-upLondon-based branding agency NOT Wieden+Kennedy marries graphic design history and exuberance in its theme art for this year's song contest
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Ten low-pro sneakers that capture footwear’s new streamlined moodSuper-flat soles, narrowed silhouettes: the low-profile sneaker is this season’s defining footwear style. Here, the Wallpaper* style team selects its favourites
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How to be a crisp sommelier: Neil Ridley on ‘bringing fun back into food and drink’The humble crisp is an easy crowd-pleaser for laidback hosts. Drinks expert Neil Ridley shares his tips for creating the perfect crisp-and-drink pairings, whatever the occasion
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‘Bethlehem’ is a new recipe book celebrating Palestinian food‘Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food’ is a recipe book by Fadi Kattan that celebrates culinary tradition and explores untold stories
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René Redzepi, Mette Søberg and Junichi Takahashi on Noma’s new cookbookLifting the lid on Noma’s secrets, a new cookbook celebrates the pioneering restaurant’s season menus, and offers a deep dive behind the scenes
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60-Second Cocktails book shakes up summer happy hour at homeThis 60-Second Cocktails book brings summer happy hour into your home with easy but sophisticated cocktail recipes and tips to guide even novice shakers
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New cookbook transforms horror movies into terrifying food artHorror Caviar, the first cookbook from A24, features recipes inspired by horror movies, from creatives including Laila Gohar and Chloe Wise, alongside essays by Carmen Maria Machado, Stephanie LaCava, and more
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Edible flowers: the how, the what and the whyA new book from Monacelli, Edible Flowers: How, Why, and When We Eat Flowers, uncovers a fascinating history
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Match point: learn how to properly pair food and wineLearn a thing or two about fine cooking and wine selection with this new book from the London Club
