EDEL ILLO

piece by Edel Rodriguez

I stumbled upon this sweet spot illustration in The New York Times for an article called "New Justice, No Peace" in the Opinion section. The politics of the article are not the focus of my attention- but this simple, yet informative, illustration caught my eye. I've always hearted the NYT's Style section and T Magazine, and secretly wanted to ring up their creative director and beg for a business lunch.

This piece in particular is reminiscent of Saul Bass and Paul Rand- in execution and in conceptual territory. Most important, Rodriguez captures the point of the Op piece. Well done.

SUNSHINE VS. CREATIVITY

Piece by Barbara Kruger, a bi-coastal artist

I've been vacationing in the southern version of my favorite home state over this holiday season. On the drive down the coast, we pass time with NPR podcasts. I love This American Life, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me, and All Songs Considered. On an episode of All Songs, host Bob Boilen interviewed a couple of members from Spoon. He asked the band about where they draw their creativity. The band named lots of obscure references which let my mind wander...

As we wound through the cliffs of Big Sur, I wondered if I moved somewhere warmer, to a more relaxed city, would I still be as creative? The question is not so much about me as an artist/designer, but more about how environment affects creative people.

I love what is going on in the Northernmost European cities- Copenhagen, Hamburg (lived there!), and seemingly all of Sweden continues to churn out young innovative talent. Are they all rock stars because of all the hype- or is there something in that cold water?

Then there is LA. Of course there are tons of plastic star f-ers, but it seems plasticity is not requisite to break into the art scene. There are tons are artists who are very anti LA, all while living in the thick of the Botox.

If all you have is sunshine...

Piece by Camille Rose Garcia, a Los Angeles-based artist

MERRY HAPPY

TATTOO

I found this type tattoo on Veer’s blog. It is going a tad bit overboard. The entire Garamond ital set looks like swashy fun, but I am sure it did not feel fun. Maybe some brave soul will get an epic like the Iliad, similar to that puzzle face guy who was on the X-files back in the day. I have to wonder though- why Garamond? Is this person an old school novel designer?

I guess I just can't commit to one typeface like this brave soul.

OH PUCCI

Pucci is Palm Beach retiree and kitten heels poolside. Nothing wrong with that. But this scarf is a sweet update to their iconic 60's aesthetic. Love.

SHOWS

Check out the awesome, inspiring shots of hip kids in hip clothes from a dark basement venue in New York, with a cafe upstairs. Above, a shot I took of my friend's band Shamefest, also of Electric Umbilical Cord. Check 'em.

BARNEY'S

God, I love Barney’s.

If I had a billion dollars, I would buy all gifts, clothing, cosmetics and housewares here. It is so well edited for a department store, it feels like shopping in a boutique that your best friend owns.

And these plates are to sin for...

JUNIOR BAZAAR

I just love the playfulness of Junior Bazaar (1945-1948). A spinoff of the more grown up Bazaar, it targeted a younger audience while still emphasizing style and sophistication. Art directed by Alexey Brodovitch, the magazine shines with playful layouts, bold color, innovative fashion photography and styling.

image via: reference library

LAURIE SIMMONS

Simmons' take on pop culture and feminism is intriguing. This piece from 1989 is slightly disturbing, but dipped in a sweet palette of color:


A later piece in 2004 creates a collage at first glance could be out of a 70's House and Garden, and on second glance could be a really chic-chic opium den:


Here's an interview with Simmons at Artkrush.

INSTANT PERKINESS

Instead of a mid-day coffee break:

MAD LOVE

I heart almost everything Charles Anderson Design does. The work is fresh and fun, but still has strategy behind it.

LATITUDE/LONGITUDE

From my current company's parent company:
Latitude 48.914/Longitude 02.286' by Christopher Lawson and Marcos Villalba: 'It's a very considerable part of our philosophy to encourage the next generation of creatives, and for us we find there's a freshness discussing things with students.'

I just love that students came up with something highly conceptual, fresh and easily reproducible for a luxury retailer. Cheers to creativity.
The story at Wallpaper* is here.

CHAMPERS

If a bottle of wine or champagne has a cool label, I will buy it. Viktor & Rolf impress me once again with their newest collaboration. Upside down packaging, even.
viktor&rolf+piper

LE BOOK

I've had some requests to post my design work, and since my portfolio site I designed in 2005, I've been slammed with actual work work. I put together a simple site to show what I'm up to. The only bummer is that with my packaging, everything is backdated design-wise by a year or more, because the products have to go to market before I can show them. Check back for updates...My work is here.

VITAMIN W

I saw a homeless man on my way to work. Nothing new when you live in a city. He did a side karate kick and said "good morning" to me. Then, I noticed he had two bags tied to his shopping cart. One, full of San Pellegrino and Perrier. The other, only Vitamin Water bottles.

Maybe he keeps himself busy by reading the clever copy?

REFINERY 29

I'm loving Refinery 29's "Street Seen" section. It's like a Vice Do's and Don'ts (with mostly Do's.) Some of the styles are teetering on the edge of trying-too-hard hipsterdom, but most of it is pretty fresh. The shopping counterpart is awesome too.

BUILT BY WENDY

I love this sweet throwback graphic from Built by Wendy. It brings me back to the days when Mom always had to have doilies on every table, their intricate crochet details protecting the poished wood and marble. The graphic fits nicely with the brand's handmade roots and aesthetic. The designer in me also loves that they retained legibility with their logo and information. And of course Wendy's clothes are super sweet.

SHOUT OUT LOUDS

This is the latest album cover design from the Shout Out Louds, a new fav of mine from Stockholm. At some point, I remember the nautical call flags being assigned to a typeface, but I can't seem to find it in my library. (I may have lost it in the great first iMac crash of '99). Either way, I hope to decode the message. {UPDATE: BF says the flags just represent each letter. Who knew it was so simple?}

Also, check out their new video for "Tonight I Have to Leave It" and their website. Both are sewn up and make sense with the nautical theme, without hitting you over the head with mermaids and seaweed.

LULA

When Jane magazine was abruptly squashed by what only can be seen as a media corporation not giving a damn about actual taste in music and culture for the masses, I was slightly blue. (The fold of Sassy magazine really ruined my life for a while, but that is another post.)


Now, from the UK, we have Lula, a gorgeously conceptual magazine. I subscribed as soon as I purchased their second issue. Is it even better than Jane? A modern Sassy? I would like to tell you more about this visual girly romp, but I feel like I can't form a REAL opinion until I see/read another issue. I art-directed a few issues of start up magazines, and I know from experience that things can change universally over the first four or so issues of a launch. Lula, please get your American subscribers in the loop. We hope to love you!

DAVID LYNCH FOR GUCCI BY GUCCI BY THE GUCCI GROUP LLC

This new "film" (what they call commercials in some parts of Europe) by David Lynch just makes me laugh. Loving the use of "Heart of Glass." He obviously sees the irony in directing a perfume commercial for Gucci. I wonder if their target audience will? Or, if sales are actually good, then who cares? Certainly not Gucci's creative team.

PARK LIFE

Such a gem in the Inner Richmond!
After a breezy breakfast outside Q, we stumbled upon a store that with some real treasures: design books, magazines, soft cotton tshirts, house stuff and more. They carry "Piece by Piece" (shout out to Nic and Mike T!), and we picked up the Heavy Metal Parking Lot DVD!

HANNAH STOUFFER

I am finishing up a project at work with Hannah. She's a fantastic illustrator and amazing to work with. This is a fancy illo from her website... I will post our collaboration when it launches in Spring 2008.

THE GUM THIEF

Absolutely engaging book marketing. Who knew?

WHY START NOW?

There are so many amazing things to see.
In an effort to organize my life, I wanted to start my own record. It could be style, music, fashion; I just call it awesomeness.

I hope you enjoy.