Twitter Infuencer: Nate Williams

Nate Williams is a designer who specializes in silkscreen illustration, hand lettering and art licensing. Working with wide variety of clients, his hand drawn lettering and illustration has touched a diverse spectrum of audiences throughout the globe. While presenting work as both himself and Alexander Blue, Nate also runs Illustration Mundo and Letter Playground, two popular illustration community portals. The award winning illustrator also works with the charity organization, Art With Heart and has contributed to the Truth Anti-Tobacco campaign. This far reaching and kindhearted illustrator maintains the same nature of sharing and community with his twitter feed. Eager to repost notable works and valuable tidbits, it’s no wonder he’s a popular follow.

August 6, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Yarn Bombing

It’s always interesting when you stumble across a material out of context. It’s particularly striking when it happens three times in a week. Recently, yarn afgan patterns seem to be staging impromptu cameos all around town. This Commes Des Garcons summer knit from Barneys is adorable and proves it’s commercial worth. Playing off the concept of the flower bomb, this image of Magda Sayeg‘s yarn graffiti in Austin, TX found its way to my inbox from friend and fellow blogger, Nick Ducoff. A day later, I stumbled upon this bike on the lower east side. While it may be coincidence, it’s interesting to see seasonal material mash-ups, particularly when they cause a creative stir.

August 5, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Digital: Info Media Clouds

Nearly every designer is tasked with making a media cloud at least once their career. Today, as I was walking to Chelsea Market, I passed by this Blackberry bbm advert in the Meat Packing District. Using overlapping bubbles to simulate chatter and create a typographic headline, the casual language seemed to be the true draw. Everyone wants to feel like they’re peering into something secretive and this ad does a good job reminding us that only our bff’s deserve bbm. This ad draws a strong parallel to this music window in the Ginza district of Tokyo. While neither design is overly refined, it’s interesting to see the eastern and western approach is (unpredictably) in sync.

August 5, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Budget Buys: Spirographs for Summer

Many of us played with spirographs as children, creating intricate designs out of plastic templates and colored pens. While most have outgrown these science-friendly toys, the shapes are still fascinating, particularly when rendered as jewelry. Parisian designer, Miette, creates eye-catching pieces that are as memory-inducing as they are modern. There are a bevy wonderful styles and variations in the collection, check them out to add a unique spin to your wardrobe.

August 4, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Textures & Tiling

It’s always interesting to see how brands interpret seemingly simple trends. Boxed grids, for example, keep surfacing throughout fashion and retail displays this summer. From store windows to dress prints to retail structures, grids are an intrinsic part of this season’s design. This Gregory Parkinson dress marries a 2D print with 3D patchwork, mirroring the front and backside of ceramic tiling. Proving this style can easily become a wearable print, Dries Van Norton adds texture and shading. Using color blocking and grout, this boutique in the Daikanyama district, just outside of Tokyo proves that the intersecting lines are just as interesting as the tiles, something Louis Vuitton’s made evident with their hand-drawn window display on Fifth Avenue this month.

August 2, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Friday Quick Links!

1. An interview with illustrator and silkscreen printer Kate Banazi via Yellowtrace
2. A stunning piece of guerilla crochet work from “I Knit Brisbane” via Kitsune Noir
3. Beautiful artwork from Dennis Hayes via Hard Feelings
4. A sneak peak at Oh Joy’s wallpaper line via Oh Joy!
5. 3D printing, fashion and architecture combine via Today and Tomorrow
6. Great DIY tutorial on making your own bound book via Poppytalk
7. Fantastic Charlie Harper mosaic in the Cincinnati Federal Building via Style/SWOON
8. Jealous of Nina Nolte’s pool lounging ladies during this hot summer via The Jealous Curator
9. Excellent soft geometric necklace via The Shiny Squirrel
10. Some beautiful objects from Partners & Spade via Mint
11. Wow, wallpaper woven from countless bit of individual newsprint via Design-Milk
12. Heike Weber draws on vinyl floors with permanent markers to beautiful results via Design For Mankind

Compiled by: Emily Gup

July 30, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik