Archive for ‘Products’

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December 26, 2011

It’s all in the details

 

 

I hope I don’t completely throw you for a loop here, but for once, I’m going to skip the text-heavy post in favor of a few lovely visuals.

First and foremost, this holiday season was all about quality time, comfort food and a much-needed breath of fresh air. But beyond that, it was about subtle design details – the brilliant shine of patent lather, the bold look of all-over glitter, the sparkle of Swarovski, the incredible usability of Apple, the ombre fade of French stoneware and the power-packed pages of the year’s hottest design book. It’s here, deep in these details, where I’m digging up all kinds of inspiration for my latest design endeavors.

Soak it up.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Posted in Design, Inspiration, Personal, Products, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

September 15, 2011

Every once in a while, we all need to be reminded

Throughout my job search, I’ve found that it’s all too easy to become jaded; sometimes, I find myself struggling to reignite my passion for design and remember why I chose advertising as a viable career in the first place.

And while it’s true that my hunt for employment has been taxing, there are brief, liberating moments each week — often, each day — that remind me why I ventured down this path.

Since the September 6th launch of her new book, Grace Bonney has unknowingly given me many of these wonderful reminders. Bonney and the rest of the lovely ladies behind Design*Sponge are all about seizing opportunities, solving problems, sharing perspectives and curating a comprehensive collection of some of the best design work — interior, graphic and otherwise — on the planet.

Many in the design world have anxiously anticipated the arrival of Design*Sponge at Home, and now that it’s here, Bonney and her team have given us all something to cheer about. Absolutely gorgeous from cover to cover, the book showcases countless examples of innovative and creative design and artistry. Both a resource and work of art, it is a rare fusion of design inspiration, education and appreciation. Watch the Design*Sponge promo video below:

 

 

Beyond the book, Bonney herself is a true inspiration. I’ve been following her blog for years, but only since embarking on a somewhat unsuccessful job search have I truly begun to appreciate her work. She — along with many others like her — has inadvertently taught me that in the field of design, agency life isn’t the only life. She’s shown me that with a commitment to my craft, a clear vision, some serious dedication and remarkable time management skills, I can build my own successful — and independent — career from the ground up.

Since the book’s launch, Design*Sponge at Home has received rave reviews. And each time I read an encouraging comment, see another photo of the book displayed in a reader’s home or hear about the creative process that resulted in such an amazing product, I remember why I entered this amazing field:

I wanted to inspire people. To create and collaborate. To see projects from conception to completion. To uncover beauty in the most ordinary of objects. To strategize. To really hunker down with a thought, a concept or a vision, massage it again and again, and emerge with something greater. Then finally, to bring that idea into reality — to turn the intangible into something tangible and make the world just a little brighter.

 

Posted in Career planning, Design, Industry professionals, Inspiration, Personal, Products, Resources | Leave a Comment »

May 13, 2011

Three: Well-crafted infographic prints

Next month, I’ll be making a much-anticipated move out of my college apartment and into new digs with the boyfriend. It’s a big step, but I’m beyond ready — in truth, it’s hard to put my excitement into words.

Lately I’ve spent quite a bit of time obsessing over how we’re going to meld my bright, designerly flair with the simple style of his bachelor pad. In the end, I know it’ll work out just fine — I’ve resolved to cut back on the influx of color that characterizes my current apartment, and he’s promised to approach our new place with an open mind. But while we’re overpopulating our local GoodWill with the discarded decorations of our college days, I’m still struggling to decide how to disguise the white walls of our post-grad pad.

While he’s focused on purpose and price performance, I’m a sucker for clever quotes and whimsical illustrations. Consequently, I’ve been scouring design shops and online galleries in search of the perfect collection of prints. As a graphic designer and a total typography nerd, I’m drawn to the following awesome infographic posters:

 

Image courtesy of Shelby White

 

1. First up is “Typefaces of the World” by Shelby White of Wanken. Available in the Wanken Shop for a reasonable $29, the print visualizes the birthplaces and creators of the fifty most popular typefaces in the 21st Century. 18×24 inches in size, this just might be the perfect piece of art for a history buff and an art director living under one roof.

 

Courtesy of Behance

 

2. Keeping with the theme of gorgeous typography, “Our Grotesk Love Affair” is a series of five posters designed by talented art director/copywriter duo Ryan Atkinson and Stephan de Lange. Available for download on Behance, each print visualizes data collected from a wide bank of participants who voted on their favorite typefaces. Naturally, Helvetica garnered the largest percentage of votes (20.8%). But the results aren’t just gorgeously designed — they’re also clever and witty, with headlines that describe Helvetica as “The Type that Makes Us Moist” and “The High Class Ho of Typography.”

 

Courtesy of Pop Chart Lab

 

3. I have to preface this last print by saying that I’ve already purchased it, and it’s just waiting to be hung up in our new apartment! I knew Greg would love The Very Many Varieties of Beer from Pop Chart Lab, so I snagged a print earlier this month and had it framed as part of his 22nd birthday present. Printed on 100 lb. archival recycled stock, it’s sturdy, well-crafted and hand-signed. Needless to say, it was a great — and inexpensive — investment.

Posted in Information design, Personal, Print design, Products | Leave a Comment »

February 21, 2011

Three: Items on my wishlist

As The Bangles would say, “It’s just another manic Monday.”

But let’s make sure this one’s a little less burdensome than all the rest. In hopes of inspiring some optimism and excitement on a monotonous Monday, I’ve decided to share a few things I’ve recently added to my list of must-haves. Design-lovers out there, take note:

 

1. Be Bold tee

Photo courtesy of Pop + Shorty

 

This one might seem a little less substantial than the other items on my list, but I simply can’t take my mind off of this t-shirt from Pop + Shorty. Using a clever Apple keyboard shortcut, it demands that viewers stand up, take hold and be bold. Though it’s a simple and playful sentiment, it’s meaning can be taken to mean many different things. From my perspective, it’s a challenge for designers, artists, and community members alike to be brave in their actions and fearless in their designs. It’s a bold—pun intended—statement inspiring energy and enthusiasm while encouraging wearers to declare their own spirit and audacity. Count me in!

 

2. Flip camera

Image courtesy of Flip Video

 

It’s time to start getting down to business, because by my count, less than four weeks stand in the way of the incredible experiences I’ll gain at SXSWi. I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about how to best document my time in Austin, and I’ve finally decided that a combination of videography and photography—combined with quite a bit a blogging!—is the best solution. Though I’m not wild about my Nikon point-and-shoot, I’m confident that it will take decent photos throughout my trip. But as of now, I’ve unfortunately got no way to record my experiences on video! Cue Flip Video‘s MinoHD handheld video camera. Compact, concise and absolutely efficient, I think this is just what I’ll need.

 

3. Communication Arts subscription

Image courtesy of Communication Arts

 

There’s been much talk about Communication Arts in my Designing for the Media class this term, and after flipping through the publication’s first Typography annual last week, it’s easy to see why. The amount of advertising and design inspiration is absolutely astounding, and the quality of the work inside is impeccable. I could quite literally sift through any and all of the Communication Arts issues for hours. And because they offer student subscriptions, now’s the time to do so. For only $39, I can order six Communication Arts issues—each on a different topic related to art and design—and dissect them thoroughly at my leisure. What an awesome way to commemorate my last year in college and what will hopefully be my first year in the industry.

Posted in Personal, Products, Resources, SXSW | Leave a Comment »

February 14, 2011

Three: Things I want hanging on my walls

First off, Happy Valentine’s Day! On the one day each year that we devote solely to love, I’ve got a few great adorations of my own to share…

I have a deep appreciation for interior design and a fondness for decorating my own walls with creative and artistic representations of things I admire and draw inspiration from. If I weren’t an advertising and design student, I have no doubt that I would have chosen interior architecture or fine arts as my major. That being said, this week’s series of three is all about the many prints I wish would adorn my own walls. Take a peek:

 

Image courtesy of House Industries

1. “Stencil 5” from House Industries

Hand printed by David Dodde and sold by House Industries, this “Stencil 5″ print is absolutely gorgeous. The bold contrast between the foreground and background colors helps to clearly show the lines and curves of the number, which is a character from the Eames Century Modern Stencil typeface designed by Erik van Blokland. Produced on recycled, acid-free Black French Paper, the print is a whopping 20″x26″ in size. For only $45, I’m seriously considering tossing this piece in my shopping cart—and if I had an extra $275 laying around, I’d probably spring for the font, too!

 

Image courtesy of Jessica Hische

2. “Letterpressed &” by Jessica Hische

This print combines a few of my very favorite things—letterpress, whimsical design and the ampersand. I love the creativity and simple elegance inherent in Jessica Hische’s “Letterpressed &” piece. With a limited edition of only 145 prints produced, this is truly a must-have. The ink Hische chose is the perfect combination of soft blue and subtle green, and the artistic flair she infused into the design is really quite delicate and playful. 8″x8″ in size, the print is available for $40.00 from Hische’s online store.

 

Image courtesy of Keep Calm Gallery

3. “Oh Deer” from Keep Calm Gallery

I’ll admit, I pay close attention to the creative minds behind Keep Calm Gallery, frequently checking the company’s site for new merchandise and creative products. While this hand-pulled screen print has been available in the gallery for quite some time, it still remains one of my favorites. While shipping is slightly pricier that usual since Keep Calm Gallery is based in the UK, this piece—at 21.5″x15.5″ in size—would definitely be worth it.

Whether they’re sculpted, drawn or fused from metal, I love artistic representations of deer heads—I call it a playful fixation, likely derived from the glorious weeks I enjoyed with my extended Minnesotan family during every summer throughout my childhood—and this print is the perfect piece to feed my obsession. I picture it hanging between two bookcases filled with books from my design library or framed and leaning atop an antique chest of drawers.

 

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Are there pieces of artwork out there that you can’t seem to get enough of? Am I missing out on an awesome screen print or letterpress creation that I’m sure to love? Let me know what pieces you’ve got your eyes on—I’m always looking for inspiration and decoration!

Posted in Fine art, Print design, Products, Typography | Leave a Comment »

January 31, 2011

Three: Reasons to love Wantist

It’s that time of week again! To help lift your spirits and rid you of the Monday blues, here’s a little list of things to love about everyone’s favorite gift-giving website, Wantist:

 

Partial screenshot courtesy of Wantist

1. Its unique gift guide

Let’s begin with the basics. Wantist is a successful resource that helps shoppers pinpoint great gifts for that special someone. I’m of the mindset that one of the reasons Wantist thrives is that it not only provides an awesome tool for selecting and locating specific gifts, but it does this in a manner that’s fun and entertaining—much like the gifts themselves. In this era, many consumers don’t just want to make purchases—they seek an interactive experience that allows them to be involved and entertained as they meet their shopping needs, and Wantist provides the perfect place for this to happen. While browsing for that perfect gift, Wantist creatively allows you to choose two adjectives: one to describe the “something” you’re in search of and one to characterize that special “someone.” In this way, Wantist inspires interactivity for consumers who want to narrow down the huge, hand-picked selection of gifts available through the site in a way that defies traditional retail search methods.

 

Partial screenshot courtesy of Wantist

2. The site design and user interface

While consumers seek an interactive shopping experience, they don’t want to be inundated with an abundance of time-wasting, attention-grabbing nonsense. Cue Wantist’s one-sentence approach to a simple, user-friendly interface. With a clean, fresh appearance and an easily-navicable web presence, Wantist keeps the consumers’ best interests in mind. I absolutely love the site’s minimalist design and creative color scheme, and I’m sure I’m not the only customer who identifies Wantist’s simple interface as a reason to keep coming back for more.

 

Image courtesy of Wantist

3. The must-have Mash Creative 2011 Calendar

I hate to publish a post that lacks a little eye candy beyond the occasional screenshot, and that’s part of why I’ve chosen to showcase this creative calendar as one of my many reasons to adore Wantist. It’s such a gorgeous print to include in their extensive selection of gifts. Screen printed by London-based Bob Eight Pop and sold through Counter Objects, the calendar is printed with glow-in-the-dark ink to give it a completely different nighttime appeal. The poster’s detailed description on the Counter Objects product page explains further:

The human race seems to be obsessed with time, it’s the one thing we never seem to have enough of. The year ‘Twenty Eleven’ (2011) is made up of five hundred and twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes, that’s an average of around fourty three thousand, eight hundred minutes a month. Our calendar has been designed to be a typographic representation of the year, each month has been broken down into minutes which have been listed below each month name. The jumbled title text at the top of the poster continues the theme from last years calendar and has been influenced by old analogue flip clocks.

Only 100 of these beauties were printed, so if you’re interested, you better act fast! Buy it now here.

Posted in Graphic design, Innovation, Print design, Products | Leave a Comment »

January 27, 2011

A must-have from MadeByGirl

Image courtesy of MadeByGirl

 

I recently discovered a spunky little design studio called MadeByGirl, and I absolutely LOVE the “HELLO Language” print pictured above. Printed on gallery-wrapped canvas, the finished piece is 16″x20″ in size. I completely adore the stark contrast between its charcoal grey background and the crisp white lettering, and I think this canvas would look really exceptional hanging in an colorful entryway or above a wooden staircase. And it even comes coated to protect against UV rays!

It’s safe to say this baby is a must have in my future home, and it’s definitely made my wish-list!

If you’re as excited about this canvas print as I am, be sure to check out the wide variety of other unique pieces available from MadeByGirl here.

Posted in Products, Typography | Leave a Comment »

January 24, 2011

1200 Posters: Marrying collaboration and artistic inspiration

I recently stumbled upon an innovative poster project that I just can’t help but share:

Founded on the values of community, collaboration and conversation, 1200 Posters is a creative initiative committed to encouraging inspired artistry and reinforcing a widespread sense of camaraderie. On the twelfth calendar day of each month, 1200 Posters releases a new poster designed by an up-and-coming artist in a limited quantity of 100.

My favorite poster is the very first piece in the collection, which was launched in November 2010. Created by 21-year-old artist Mando Veve, the poster illustrates the following quote: ”There is no power greater than community discovering what it cares about.” Veve shares a bit of his personal creed in his artist statement, explaining:

I believe artists should seek other artists because we are in constant dialogue with each other, whether we are conscious of it or not. By creating artistic communities, environments are made that are conducive to enriching this dialogue for the exchange of ideas. These communities are where some of the greatest ideas are born and exchanged.

Check out his finished piece, produced through a combination of collage and digital composition techniques, below:

 

Image courtesy of 1200 Posters

 

Review the rest of the posters and read more about the project here. Visit the site periodically to catch a glimpse of each new poster as the collection grows throughout the remainder of the year.

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On a different note, be sure to check out this collection of film-inspired posters created for a project called “37 Posters.” Published by Jerod Gibson on Typography Served, the selection is creatively concepted and beautifully designed, intensely reminding me of these posters from Hexagonall.

Posted in Fine art, Graphic design, Print design, Products | Leave a Comment »

January 5, 2011

Kicking off 2011 with a punch of pink

Image courtesy of PANTONE

 

It’s that time of year again—PANTONE has released it’s much anticipated Color of the Year! 2011′s gorgeous new color is a punchy shade of pink, ever-so-approporiately named Honeysuckle. I’m not a huge fan of pink-centric designs, but even the quickest glimpse of the new Color of the Year has my mind flooding with possibilities. Check out PANTONE’s official announcement article to gain all kinds of design inspiration, along with a selection of Honeysuckle-colored products and a wide variety of tips and tricks on how to best use the color. I am LOVING it.

Posted in Products, Resources | Leave a Comment »

January 3, 2011

Three: Books in my shopping cart

While Saturday marked the beginning of a new year, today marks the start of a new term here at the University of Oregon. And with a new academic term comes a new course load, a vast variety of fresh expectations and of course, new books. In an attempt to stay on top of my reading throughout the next 10 weeks, I hopped on Amazon.com this afternoon to purchase a few quality reads that will help keep me focused, eager and enthusiastic, both inside and outside the classroom. Check them out for yourself below:

 

Image courtesy of Amazon.com

1. Advertising Campaign Planning

Recommended by Professor Dave Koranda to all Oregon students taking part in the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition, Advertising Campaign Planning covers a vast amount of valuable information pertinent to marketing and brand planning. Offering a comprehensive guide to creating a solid and effective advertising campaign, this book is meant to give students a thorough look into the real world of advertising. Though parts of it may be a bit antiquated (it was published in 2000, long before many recent advances and transformations in the industry were made), I’m confident that I’ll have much to learn from author Jim Avery.

 

Image courtesy of Amazon.com

2. Graphic: Inside the Sketchbooks of the World’s Great Graphic Designers

I’ve had my eye on this book for quite awhile; if you’ve been following my blog for some time now, you may remember that I introduced this sketchbook collection as one of the Three: Books on my reading list in early November. I’m proud (and thoroughly excited!) to admit that this puppy is currently making its way from my reading list to my doorstep, and I’ve got a spot on my bookshelf reserved especially for this wonderful assemblage of images and ideas. I’ve attempted my own idea book many times throughout the three and a half years I’ve spent as an advertising student at the UO, but I’ve never been truly pleased with the outcome. I’m anxious to take another stab at creating an organized and eccentric home for my sketches and thoughts, and I think authors Steven Heller and Lita Talarico will provide exactly the kind of inspiration I need.

 

Image courtesy of Amazon.com

3. The Idea Writers

A suggested read from Professor Deb Morrison, Teressa Iezzi’s The Idea Writers aims to help students and industry professionals alike best understand the many ways in which traditional advertising and brand creativity have transformed. Though the book focuses mainly on copywriting and storytelling, it’s holds important truths and opportunities for advertisers and brand managers of all kinds. I’m incredibly anxious to dive into Iezzi’s advertising world, especially as I begin working to understand and collaborate with a wide variety of talented writers in the UO advertising program. The more I can interpret and appreciate about their talents and responsibilities, the better our projects and campaigns will be as a result.

Posted in Creative strategy, NSAC Ad Team, Products, Resources, UO | 1 Comment »

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