Are cities looking more alike? Has strolling Helsinki’s new neighbourhood Jätkäsaari become an extension of walking along a path of London's Kings Cross redevelopment zone? If so, how are these developments collectively shaping the experience of the city?

This is the starting reflexion of Familiar; a book that explores patterns of mimicry in contemporary urban development projects in Northern Europe. Based on open-source data available online, it presents a familiar reality through a wonderful and minimal graphic design that uses predominently black and white, with just pastel colours as a subtle support, in geometric, clear and powerful compositions. The faded typographic cover is particularly beautiful.

Familiar has been developed by the London-based strategic designer Luca Picardi, with the support of the British Council and HIAP through a residency at Helsinki Design Week.