heysusy

Collage Montage

I love the collage-inspired look of these scarves by Christian Dior. The photo-realistic effect in the lower designs is particularly great. I love how the red one looks like a collage out of fashion magazines... it really speaks to the fashion audience, and feels inspired by them. I would love to see rainwear printed like this -- boots, slickers, umbrellas...

MOAR MOAR MOAR DIOR here

Great Nice Weird Ugly

When I got my first junior junior design job, the principal of the studio gave me the book Make It Bigger  by Paula Scher.

I think the phrase "Make it Bigger" is probably one of my favorites. I saw Paula Scher speak in Boston, and her talk centered on that idea. For designers, it's a phrase that often comes across from the client's side of the table...as in, make our logo bigger, so there is a double entendre since much of Scher's work is about scale and changing what we're capable of visually accepting...always a thought I liked a lot.

I came across the book again about a week ago and looked through it. At the end, I found the excerpt up here. I have paraphrased so that it's a bit more generalized but this is the essence. Push it! Then push it again!

Drip...Drip....Drip!

When I did the National Stationery Show this spring, I was near-ish the MoMA booth. I saw these paint drip notebooks there and really liked them. I have been wanting to post them but didn't get around to it til I saw these Minna Parikka shoes and gloves. Can't wait to see her s/s 2011 lineup.

DAILY CRAVE { sharp pencils }

Etsy makes what Kate Spade takes! These are so cool!

Snatch up the NYC set (my fave) and check out the rest... Right HERE!

{Daily Crave } Creative Blocks

They often say a small child is happier pushing a chair across a room than playing with a complicated, computerized toy. Do you think that rings true?

I was reading a book over the weekend called "Hamlet's Blackberry" about how over-connected we all are becoming, in terms of technology. While our technologies are indeed useful and help us in many ways, they are at times overwhelming...something I have been pondering more and more lately.

The book mentioned that because we all go from task to task so quickly, and are interrupted so often, our experiences can begin to lack "depth"... which I thought was interesting. What is depth?

Well, it's more of a sensual thing, for me... feeling, smelling, touching, hearing, noticing... tasting... looking. But also learning. Help me to be more present in the moment. I spent the holiday up at the lake, disconnected --- but REconnected.

These are handmade blocks made of everyday woods...and I liked the idea that a child can learn so much, on so many levels, through this simple toy.

Found HERE

LETTERS I LIKE { hand drawn type from the biggies plus one }

HI All.

I have been collecting images of items/campaigns with lettering I like for a while now. I thought I would share some of them here!

Personally, I really love the way the handwritten letters activate these bottles of nail polish, and the way that Bobbi Brown has used hand drawn lettering to get the point across in her Pretty Powerful campaign - wish I had better images of this lovely work from Bobbi Brown, but I didn't get photos of it when it launched this spring in NYC.

Coach has some interesting type treatments in it's new Poppy line - although I'm pretty much against so much logo a go-go, stylewise it looks good.

And last but not least, the Billy Bookcase (the 140 ton MDF killer bookshelf system) by Ikea turned 30 this past year... custom edition graphics above.

Bernhard Willhelm Polish Here
Bobbi Brown's excellent Pretty Powerful Campaign here
Coach Poppy Here
Billy Bookcase turns 30 Here

OH, and before I forget...
My own versions (depuis 2007!) I'd say they were effective!

Packaging Pow { pinpals }

I am just in love with the eye-catchingly primitive packaging designs of the PinPals. They remind me a little of several of my favorite Comix and Cartoon artists... R Crumb, Harvey Pekar, Roz Chast (who made my favorite New Yorker cartoon EVER)...and my absolute fave, Lynda Barry... Personally, I think that gritty style is about to make a major foray into the pop scene and advertising (just my opinion - it's currently being adopted for use on the new Target 6 train wrap here in NYC)

I always love it when I see independent designers who go that extra mile with their product packaging. It's an element that I think can really excite an item, and make a bold statement about it's maker. The pinpals definitely take advantage of that opportunity!

More of their great (and affordable) work here.
Also loving their puppets.

DAILY CRAVE { making it better }

Good morning everyone...

When I came across this paper clip I had to pause. Some of you who read my blog, or know me personally, might know that I consider the paperclip to be one of the most beautiful pieces of design on earth. Simple, easy to use and re-use, small, elegant.

Given the over-complicated and daunting state of the world right now, this iteration of the paper clip seemed particularly relevant. Not only as a piece of product desgn...but as a little work of contemporary art. A reminder of what it's possible to do if we remember to stop and think.

More about this design here

WHERE ARE THEY NOW { spinthread, emma carroll }

I thought I'd end the week with a little installment of "Where Are They Now", which is my little series centering on new ideas coming forth from popular artists seen in the blogosphere.

I thought I'd center on Spinthread, whose interesting, embroidered necklaces burst onto the scene a few months back, and Emma Carroll, whose innovative and colorful uses for leather caught my eye a couple seasons ago.

Anyway, it's so great to see each of these talented designers moving into some new ideas, and going further with their distinct styles. In Emma Carroll's case, she's been debuting some new, bright, equestrian meets geometric pieces, which I am really liking, and while her prior pieces centered more on pieces of leather, these new items have more emphasis on the hardware...rivets, grommets, chain and metal. I'm also just loving her playful series of pouches! What a great accessory, and I like the concept that you can carry a bag that's actually three separate pockets. Quite Interesting!

In the case of Spinthread, she is moving into some new forms for her jewelry. Bracelets, Necklaces, and even These Incredibly Embroidered Epaulets (which are fantastic!). Not only are these new shapes larger, they also give her great embroidering style more room to show off. Personally, I'm really loving the yoke-style frontpiece combined with multiple chain, or textile necklaces.

One of the things I always think to myself when I see a new designer with a hot style, blowing up in the blogosphere, is... "That's cool. But can they keep it going?" Because that is the trick. And it is always inspiring to see designers who start off strong, moving into new places and showing us more of their talent. Personally, I hope these two designers keep surprising me!

Enjoy your weekends all.

Spinthread here
Emma Carrol here

DAILY CRAVE { leave it to weaver }

Hi Everyone!  I'm sorry to have been away from my blog more than I'd expected this week. I have been very, very busy working on some new business stuff. More on that later.

For now... I thought I'd post about these really neat little handwoven textile swatches. As I've said before, I never get tired of looking at bold abstract shapes. To me, the randomness of these patterns, taken from handmade rugs, fills my creative mind with possibilities and refreshes my eyes.

Purchase a set here (only $3.50 for a high res file) to print and use in crafts, decor, or paper art.