Contemporary souvenir brand The City Works is run by two creatives, Sylvia Moritz and Rowan Ottesen. After completing her Design degree at the University of the Arts London, Sylvia practiced as a print-maker, with her intricate city etchings turning a few heads. The idea of a brand that utilizes this detailed urban style in a flexible, creative, and affordable way came to be, and so The City Works was born in April 2015. Since then the duo has relocated to Vienna, Austria, where each city collection is carefully researched and intricately drawn, with a variety of items made using the designs.
The places we hold dear to us have their own character and their own stories to tell. From where we grew up, to where we settled down, to the places we visit, and those we still dream of seeing. In Spring 2015, The City Works set out on a journey to illustrate these places. City by city. Brick by brick.
“The places we hold dear to us have their own character and their own stories to tell. From where we grew up, to where we settled down, to the places we visit, and those we still dream of seeing. In Spring 2015, The City Works set out on a journey to illustrate these places. City by city. Brick by brick.” – Sylvia & Rowan write. The City Works has found the hearts of paper lovers, as the collection is available in a whopping 150 stores internationally. The brand has also partnered with museums, universities, and publishers to create custom intricacies.
Whether you’re a seasoned native or a curious traveler – take a closer look, and see what you might see
The City Works takes pride in their attention to detail, making it the cornerstone of everything the duo embark upon. “By combining research, quality craftsmanship, and the finest materials, our designs are made to stand the test of time. Just like the landmarks we depict.”
Always opting for the best, the decision on which papers to use on the notebooks was made carefully. “For all of the notebooks we make, we use Munken Pure 100 g/m² for the inside pages. We really like the quality, the premium feel, and how it never has any blemishes or defects. It has a nice creamy off-white colour and is very tactile, flexible, and durable. We use 100 gsm because it is a little heavier than paper in other notebooks, and gives our customers more creative choices when using our books”, The City Works writes about their paper choices.
We really like the quality, the premium feel, and how Munken Pure never has any blemishes or defects. It has a nice creamy off-white colour and is very tactile, flexible, and durable.
“We like that it comes in a variety of weights, and works well with so many different printing techniques. It’s also reassuring to know that it is such an environmentally friendly paper. It’s produced in a very sustainable mill in Munkedal, Sweden, and so we like the story it has to tell. It’s important for us to work with papers that are not produced halfway around the world.” The collection includes versions such as The Hamburg, The Hague, The Bergen, The Graz, The Zurich, The Budapest, The Brussels, The Munich, The Cologne, The Linz, The Frankfurt…..and many, many more! Each stationery product of The City Works is designed in-house and made within the European Union. You can purchase your own notebook here, and make sure to hit the follow button on Instagram for more beautiful paperwork inspiration.
Vienna Gift Wrap is made from Munken Pure 90 g/m², while the “Line Guide” inserts are also made with Munken Pure 170 g/m².
Images © The City Works, Sylvia Moritz