Seeing as how flower patterns are timeless, designers are constantly reinventing the wheel. One season they can be big, bright and cartoony while the next will have them dark, scratchy and mysterious. Here we have two paralleling prints from fashion and home that push the DIY expressionist look. The black, pink and orange outfit is from Flair Magazine and the muted pillows are part of Kenzo’s Fall/Winter collection. Which palette do you gravitate towards?
Coverage by: Emily Gup
San Diego based artist, Susie Ghahremani’s illustrations are both whimsical and witty, two descriptors often used to describe the artist, herself. Her career path’s been an organic one, evolving from music to illustration, proving that creativity’s a never-ending road when you’re a creative soul. Today, Ghahremani is best know for her nature-inspired drawings filled with animal inhabitants. Much of her inspiration draws from a deep passion of encouraging artists to be themselves and to stretch their creativity; “Artists hurt each other and their community by failing to be creative, original and personal. Art is all about offering a piece of yourself to the world, not what you think could make you successful.” Her twitter feed is an extension of her philosophy, and is both conversational and filled with snippets of daily musings.
Optics, contrasts and color are always on the tip of our tongue and today we’re focusing on black, white and yellow. Weaving in movement and fluid lines, this floor cushion from Expose aux arts Decoratifs reminds us how French designers are often playful with their details, blurring the line between youth and adult. Keeping with the bold palettes he’s known for, Angelo Marani‘s fluid textiles use cut and material to simulate movement. Rounding out the grouping, this Vera scarf has timeless appeal and parallels quite closely to L’Oréal’s latest covergirl campaign starring Drew Barrymore.
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Pattern guru, Marie Perkins (aka Bowie Style) is surface designer who started a blog on the subject in 2006. Her site, Print & Pattern documents the riot of color and shape that has flourished over minimalism in the past few years. With a dedication that eclipses so many in the blogging world, Bowie’s blog has evolved into a cult favorite among design and pattern enthusiasts. In 2008, she put a call out for submissions from pattern designers to compile a book based off her blog. The results are a stunning compilation that mirrors today’s creators. Whether used as a means of gleaning inspiration, appreciating design or giving creative novices a look at the people behind the work, Print & Pattern belongs on every designer’s shelf.
Here are some snapshots of what I can share from my scouting trip to London & Paris. Met a few characters, took sneaky photos and returned home inspired + recharged. Hope you enjoy!