A collective of nouns

A pride of lions is child’s play. Pipe up with a parliament of owls, or a ostentation of peacocks and you might just impress your friends. But lay down an embarrassment of pandas or a charm of finches and you will surely be crowned the king of collective nouns – it’s a dynasty of kings, if you’re interested.

A murmuration of starlings
A murmuration of starlings

A concentration of kingfishers
A concentration of kingfishers

It was a passion for collective nouns that led graphic designers Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima to set up Woop Studios with business partners Harriet Logan and Mark Faulkner last year. The studio initially set out to create two alphabets of collective nouns featuring just animals, and the project has kept on expanding from there.

A tiding of magpies
A tiding of magpies

A watch of nightingales
A watch of nightingales

Inspired by the feel of mid-century graphics, the prints draw from tactile textures, have a child-like element and, despite being created on the computer, are purposely designed to look hand-made.

The studio’s latest set has been inspired by a flock of birds, including magpies, kingfishers and finches. Woop Studios is busy working on a children’s book for US publisher Chronicle Books and another book which includes a whopping 2000 collective nouns.

An exaltation of larks
An exaltation of larks

A charm of finches
A charm of finches

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  • Jacqueline Mina November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    So fresh & lovely!

  • Brian Eacersall May 10, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    Reminiscent of those wonderful nature posters used on school room walls in the 50’s and 60’s

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