Felix, you make it look so easy.

Felix Sockwell: Master of icon design and seer of simple solutions. You probably have come across some of his work in the New York Times. Or, maybe you know his poster for Bill Clinton’s National Campaign Against Youth Violence. Or, maybe you don't know his work at all. But you probably should.

Fairly often, I troll the design ocean for inspiration and Felix’s work always delivers. He has posted some new designs, and the Maplewood Lions logo was one that immediately jumped out at me.



















Of course! What other solutions exist than to make the leaf as a lion’s mane? None this good, anyway. The negative space of the lion’s face is created with simple curves and even the ears have been left out, yet you get it right away.

Another example from Felix’s new work, which is the result of a collaboration, was beat out by Paula Scher of Pentagram. But this mark for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington DC is so brilliant, so beautiful … and so haunting. Felix breaks down the process on his blog.


















The late, great designer, Paul Rand, once said, “Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.” Anyone who has attempted to find a simple solution to a complex design problem will understand the truth in Rand’s statement. But Felix creates designs that are so appropriate and perfect in their simplicity, and leaves many of us with our mouths agape.

See more of Felix’s work at felixsockwell.com