Pattern Pulp

Packaging: Flat Contact Lenses from Japan




The December issue of Monocle just arrived, packed with editorial to satisfy a long holiday commute. One of the stand out features covers Menicon’s latest Magic Flat Pack– the first flat daily disposable contact lens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOTdv3KN9gs

The logo and packaging is beautifully designed by Yoshihiro Yagi and mimics the daily cycle of the sun, a perfect parallel for the brand.

 

Global Pattern Trends with Lala's Pequenos




When’s the last time you dug a little deeper and thought twice about the purchases you make? Do you buy punchy colorful products or prefer soft, muted shades? Do you make impulse decisions online or in the store?

It’s a lot to think about when juggling a busy schedule, but we have to say we’re intrigued by various markets, both locally and abroad and today we’ll be sharing some fun facts that Alessandra, the creative force behind the children’s line, Lala’s Pequenos, has graciously shared with us about her global customers.

For example, Americans love gray, brown, pink, blue, and greens combined in any which way so long as there are animals for boys and flowers for girls.

Add a modern parent to the mix and there’s a good chance he or she will be buying geometric prints. If you’re wondering if organic’s an issue, Alessandra’s customers buy at a 50/50 rate in the US.

In the Canadian and Australian markets, parents prefer organic fabrics that are gray, brown, soft yellow and soft blue. Geometrics and aviary prints dominate (particularly owls)!

In the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern territories, kid-like designs in bold primary colors are at the top and buying organic isn’t necessarily a priority.

The French and Germans enjoy bolder browns, pinks, blues and orange. Geometric prints nearly always dominate and buying organic is at a 50/50 split.

Rounding out the global territories, Lala Pequenos’ Asian customers prefer soft colors and organic if possible. A nice refreshing fact that we’ll admit is a joy to hear.

 

Street Shots: Jay Shelowitz's Mural




As promised, here’s the latest and greatest on the progress from the west village mural. I was running to the train yesterday and passed the artist at work, Jay Shells, and he was kind enough to share his info. Great projects in his portfolio, check em out.

 

Artist Profile: Joachim Castaneda




Every once in a while I get an email from a designer that’s not on my radar and it makes my day. Not long ago, Joachim Castaneda reached out, sending along a vibrant portfolio filled with cartoon whimsy. Originally from San Diego, Castaneda grew up in San Francisco and is now living in Barcelona. This is his first collection of paintings and drawings and it’s currently on display at La Petita Galeria. It’s mighty impressive for a first exhibition.

The mission behind Castaneda’s work reveals the conflict between desire and materialism in relation to our value system. The goal aims to provoke and provide awareness.

 

Friday (ahem, Sunday) Quick Links!




  1. 1. Great interview with the super talented Gabriel Schama via In the Make
  2. 2. Nice look at the process of quilter Heather Hingst’s via Poppytalk
  3. 3. What do you think about using a stamp as a business card? via The Fox is Black
  4. 4. Fabulous installations by Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto via The Jealous Curator
  5. 5. Artist Jim Denevan created the world’s largest work of art on Lake Baikal in Siberia via design for mankind
  6. 6. Seletti’s new Hybrid Collection of porcelain dishware is a fantastic conversation starter via Trendland
  7. 7. “Blinking City” is a visualization traditional maps versus the change over time via Plenty of Colour
  8. 8. These blankets are not only pretty; they also spell out “Love” in Morse Code via design-milk
  9. 9. Adoring these beautiful woven samples by American textile designer Dorothy Liebes via My Love For You
  10. 10. Digging this modern wrapping paper from Kamal via My Adventure is Your Advantage
  11. 11. Loving the extra vibrant color in Tim Jarosz’s photography via This is Colossal
  12. 12. Stunning photography from Paulina Surys via Miss Moss

Coverage by: Emily Gup

 

Book Review: Pulp Fashion




All it took was one look for us to fall in love with Isabelle de Borchgrave’s immaculate construction of period paper costumes. Her exhibition earlier in the year at the Fine Arts Museum in San Francisco was a huge success and subsequently flew throughout the blogosphere. If you weren’t able to attend in person, you can take a gander at the incredible catalogue, Pulp Fashion, as it too is a gem.

In the book, author Jill D’Alessandro contextualizes de Borchgrave’s work against the rich tapestry of art and couture history, examining how the artist brings long-lost designs to life through intricate tailoring, crumpling, braiding, pleating and painting paper. Full-color illustrations of her historically inspired works reveal the painstaking detail that goes into each piece and the whimsical magic that transforms a simple material into the most luxurious of garments. Broad in its appeal, this lovely volume will fascinate anyone interested in fashion, costume history, paper, and design.

 

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
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