Welcome to the Liv Design blog, an eclectic mix of great design and quirky finds

We're big fans of Converse trainers here at Liv Design. There's something about them. Timeless classics you might say. The footwear equivalent of the LBD (that's 'little-black-dress' to the uninitiated). Everyone should have a pair. Cool enough for hanging out, smart enough for going out, practical enough for a bit of sport. The trouble is, despite Converse having a wide range of colours available, plus the option of creating your own colourways, are they in danger of become a bit dull and samey? Well, Converse's answer to that is a big NOOO! Following on the success of recent tie-ins with Metal gods AC/DC and Iron Maiden, out come more retro-music ranges featuring the rebellious punk pop bands Blondie and The Clash. Sitting firmly in the 80s revival trend we think you can't beat a bit of nostalgia, but for the younger generation they might be in for some 'new' music! Our faves are the Chuck Taylor All Stars Clash Badges Hi... For the full rang

This is a beautiful and skillfully crafted book from Bloomsbury Publishing by Grade Design and Tom Lane to tie-in with Heston Blumenthal's recent Channel 4 TV series. The illustrations and typography by Tom perfectly capture the magic and fantasy of Heston's medieval inspired dishes. Mythical creatures, flourishes and scripts are used with great effect to create a great gothic setting for the recipes. Visit Tom Lanes website for more images and pages of the book.