Retail: Homemade Dummy Dolls

When it comes to retail display design, I’m a huge fan of the homemade variety. After observing numerous stores in different pockets of the world, it’s safe to say I’ve seen a lot of stuffed dolls. Grotesque, pretty, sock-like, they’re everywhere, challenging the perfect beauty of their mannequin counterparts.

Here are three favorites. The blue and white blinking patient is from an indie shop in Shoreditch, on the east end of London. The inside-out doll with suspended guts is from Dagmar Rousset’s shop on Fitzroy Street in Melbourne, Australia.

Using irony and curves to sell perfume, this lumpy lingerie model kills it in Milan.

July 14, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Gift: Tattly Tattoos

So you’re a creative thinker, maker and gift-giver and you’re on the hunt for something smile-inducing. Consider visiting Tina Roth Eisenberg’s latest Studio Mates venture, Tattly to to fill the arms and legs of your friends and family.

Tattly has teamed up with local artists to design colorful and witty fake tattoos. It’s no surprise the reception’s been overwhelmingly positive, as the prices and artwork couldn’t be more fun (or pocketbook friendly). Check out the site today!

July 13, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Color: A Neutral Series

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I took most of these photos a while ago, but as I was paging through iphoto on the hunt for something else last night, this reel popped out again. Though subdued and abstract, the neutral palettes and subtle textures scream summer in a calm minimalist way. Enjoy!

July 12, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Street Finds in Melbourne: The Paris School

Imagine wandering into an environment with wonderful sensory overload. A place to learn French, inspect global and varied patterned products and chat with a sweet and knowledgable owner.

I had this experience on my last trip to Melbourne on Fitzroy Street at Dagmar Rousset’s concept store, The French School. The items are sweet and quirky and the language learning hours, accommodating. The perfect mergence of two worlds cast down under. I’d love to see this idea pop up round New York and all over the world.

July 11, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Friday Quick Links!

1. Fascinating and surreal editorial photo series by Sylwana Zybura via yellowtrace
2. Loving this modern, colorful picnic table via My Adventure is Your Advantage
3. Scott Waters pairs fighter planes with fancy floral wallpaper via The Jealous Curator
4. Charmed by this ABC hanging wall pocket via Poppytalk
5. Fantastical illustrations from Olaf Hajek via Honestly WTF
6. Amazing hand-painted silk dot blouses by Rachel Rose via Fly Girl
7. Enigmatic and mysterious portraits by Greg Hart via Art Hound
8. A crib for the design and pattern savvy family via design milk
9. Jazzed about the result from bStore’s collaboration with Liberty Fabrics via Style Bubble
10. Wowed by Lisa Sanditz intense dreamy abstracted paintings via booooooom
11. Gorgeous silk photo scarves from GOOD&CO via The Design Files
12. Fabulous Amish quilt inspired cover art by Hvass & Hannibal for Canon Blue via designworklife

Coverage by: Emily Gup

July 8, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

London: Plentiful Patterns

Barry McGee’s work has taken over London’s Modern Art Gallery with an explosion of color and pattern. By infusing a strong presence of line, geometry, abstraction and tessellations in addition to street art influences, such as tagging and vandalism, McGee has created a recognizable and unique style.

His pictorial sense touches on the global reach of unsanctioned art that takes place within the fabric of urban architecture. Hundreds of uniquely painted panels and objects are puzzled together, butted against one another in an immersive, site-responsive show that is a direct result from McGee’s openly intuitive working method. For more info, click here.

Modern Art Gallery: 23/25 Eastcastle Street, London W1W 8DF