Creative chat: Manhole Covers of the World
“Art (Design) is not what you see, but what others make you see.”
Edgar Degas
This morning, Designhouse welcomed Björn Altmann, graphic designer, illustrator and typographer, for one of our Creative Chat sessions, and it was a genuinely inspiring start to the day.
Björn shared his latest publication, Manhole Covers of the World, produced in collaboration with Swiss publisher Niggli AG.
The book is exactly as it sounds, and all the better for it. A meticulous, visually arresting catalogue of manhole cover designs drawn from over 80 countries, presented through 170 crisp white-on-black illustrations.
The result is a quietly extraordinary object, one that reframes something entirely overlooked as a lens through which to explore culture, craft and civic identity.
The conversation that followed was rich. Björn spoke openly about the process behind the project, a creative journey that unfolded over two decades.
From the earliest concept through to finished publication, the commitment required to see something so singular all the way through was not lost on anyone in the room. This is the kind of labour of love that rarely gets made, and even more rarely gets made well.
What struck the team most was the discipline behind it. Twenty years of due diligence. Quietly building something with rigour and curiosity, without losing sight of what made the idea worth pursuing in the first place. It served as a timely reminder of the value of following a creative instinct through, however long the road.
We’re grateful to Björn for sharing his time and his thinking with us. Sessions like these are part of what makes Designhouse the place it is.
Designhouse has partnered with FTSE 250 companies and global enterprises for over 50 years, delivering strategic brand consultancy that creates measurable competitive advantage. If you’d like to discuss your brand challenges, we’d be glad to talk.
