By Wladyslaw Pluta

In late October this year, an exhibition of Polish and Hungarian poster design, 1956 Plakáton, was launched at the Polish Institute in Budapest. The new work, by a range of designers from both countries, aimed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian rebellion in 1956; the national uprising that demanded an end to oppressive Soviet rule. The communist state was eventually dismantled in 1989 but the events of ‘56 remained a turning point in the country’s history.

50 years later, however – amid the celebrations of the ‘56 uprising – and there was violence on the streets of Budapest once more, after it emerged that Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany’s had admitted lying to win re-election. Ewa Engler, a young poster designer from Warsaw, told us how it felt to be exhibiting work commemorating the events of ‘56, while in the midst of contemporary protest.

Elvis and the Birth of Rock, a new title from Genesis Publications, showcases a remarkable collection of mostly never-before-seen photographs of the pioneers of rock’n'roll: Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin and more…

Here at CR towers, we get sent lots of lovely things – among them, promo CDs and actual releases arrive by post for our delectation. Below are the sleeves that we like the most from the last month or so.

Fancy getting your film shown on BBC One? How about spending an evening with a host of top film stars at the BAFTA’s? As part of its support for the appropriately-named Orange British Academy Film Awards, Orange is inviting aspiring film-makers to submit a 60 second short film around the theme of Celebration to its 60 Seconds Of Fame competition.

This rather nice set of posters (featured on Computer Love) is by German designer Michalt Slawek. All very lovely, but they left me wondering one thing: Why is it that this has become the default way to photograph graphic design work?

An innovator in graphic design, typography, photography and furniture design, Paul Schuitema was a member of Kurt Schwitters’ Ring neue Werbegestalter (Circle of New Designers) whose associates included László Moholy-Nagy, Herbert Bayer and Jan Tschichold. Yet despite Schuitema’s significant role in the development of typography for mass communication and advertising, he remains less recognised than his contemporaries. A new monograph by Dick Maan sets to redress this balance, and to offer the first concise overview of Schuitema’s work including his graphic design and typography, as well as his photography, furniture and film work.