Mark Porter turns us on to the stylish and progressive design of the 1960s magazine Town. He writes:

Under art director Tom Wolsey, [Town] had a golden few years in which it set the template for an entire visual language. It had all the style and energy of the better-known magazines, and a unique – and very British – personality of its own.

Check out these covers. Minimal design and a distinctive use of photography:

courtesy of Mark Porter

things to look at has a few scans from the pages of Town. Again, great photography and art direction:

courtesy of things to look at

courtesy of things to look at

In his post Porter writes:

If you’ve never seen a copy of Town, beg, borrow or steal to get one. Marvel at the virtuosity; despair at the brilliance; and then channel the energy. There’s so much there that it still gives off sparks!

Read more about Town at magforum.com.

BBDO New York created and just released a series of print ads for the flooring company Armstrong. Each ad was photographed by Norman Jean Roy and features celebrity look-a-likes to emphasize their It only looks like the real thing tag line.

From Advertolog.com:

The campaign uses the theme “It only looks like the real thing” to show the upscale appearance and quality of Armstrong’s laminate floors. To highlight the theme, each execution features professional look-a-likes for well-known celebrities Lucille Ball, James Dean and Marlin Brando.

The photography is beautiful, natural, impeccably produced, and right in line with Roy’s style. Check out more of Roy’s work here.