Pattern Pulp

Twitter Influencer: Simon Page




We’ve been a fan of Simon Page for a while now. The self-taught graphic designer has a background in mathematics, giving his work a stunning cleanliness and sense of proportion. Also prominent in his work is his retro sense of minimalism that serves as an interesting contrast to his vibrant abstracted graphics. As an artist, he’s always looking to stretch and evolve his skill-set and it’s his love of learning that makes page a great twitter read. Sharing words and links on a variety of topics that span the arts to technology, Simon’s twitter feed is a great find for others interested in the intersection of art and science.

Trend: Tribal Narratives




Tribal narratives, wood cutouts and sumi-ink drawings have been around since the beginning of time. While geometric interpretations have been surfacing in art and fashion for over a year now, it’s refreshing to see a more fluid technique taking hold across several mediums.  A major influencer in this space is the Sumi Ink Club. Based in Los Angeles, this creative community is producing work at a rapid pace. From this Keith Haring-like blazer to this Lucky Dragon’s Open Power Record, it’s pretty clear that this topsy turvy style is gaining traction in several branding markets. Contrasting the soft shapes of the sumi brush, Dennis McNett reminds us that black and white texture can be sharp, surly and folk-like. Barneys Department store recently commissioned him to design their summer windows, bringing this underground skater-style art to the mainstream.

Budget Buys: Sweet Shoes with Soul




I’m always on the lookout for a chic flat perfect for pounding the city pavement. Extraseed’s line of flats comes in a classic shape and a variety of subtle, wearable patterns that will add to, not distract from your outfit. As an added bonus, the shoes have a rich sustainable side: the soles are crafted from used car tires and the fabrics are the scrap remnants from garment factories – not that you could tell. At $38 a pop, you can feel good about doing something healthy for the environment, your closest, and of course, your wallet.

Ray Ban: Never Hide Campaign




What’s the first thing that comes to mind when viewing the latest rare prints collection from Ray Ban? My gut response channels a modern day Garbage Pail Kid set, only PG and without the creative titling. That being said, Ray Ban’s Never Hide campaign is an amazing example of how patterns can be incorporated into a high visibility ad campaign. Matt W. Moore, a Pattern Pulp favorite was tapped to design the limited edition shades and joins a talented roster of artists for the bold and colorful round up.

Pie Charts & Patterns for the Future




When graphics are bold and balanced, they’re downright compelling. Everyone from the programmers at Adobe Illustrator to the designers at Wired Magazine to the marketers at the Gyre Department store in Omotosando Hills, Tokyo can agree here. Why else would squares, circles and lines be preloaded in Illustrator 3’s Creative Suite? Jumping to the pages of this month’s Wired, the Will Ferrell feature uses a patterned-blocked pie chart to communicate futuristic topics ranging from designer babies to clean coal. Adding color and textural layering, the Gyre store booklet applies circles for a neutral airy layout. Adding Japanese characters to the video and web component, the simple shading and spiraling technique reminds us that black and white rarely fails, so long as there’s movement, balance and dynamism.

Friday Quick Links




  1. 1. Spectacular color and detail in these Costa Rican Ox carts via Creative Roots
  2. 2. Sarah Schofield’s awesome collection of Mondrian Swimwear via TrendLand
  3. 3. Interview with poster designer Jason Munn via Grain Edit
  4. 4. What fun! Porcelain plate printed wallpaper from Studio Ditte via Poppytalk
  5. 5. The Insect Hotel via Design Boom
  6. 6. Amazing installations by Spencer Finch via Yellowtrace
  7. 7. Beautiful new works from Dan-ah Kim via My Love For You
  8. 8. Cut diamonds inspired the sparkling Stellar mirror by Jake Phipps via MocoLoco
  9. 9. Gorgeous embellishments on this “Heritage Revisited” chair from Munna Design via Design-Milk
  10. 10. Sean Smith’s lovely creatures rendered in wooden pixels via The Jealous Curator
  11. 11. Vibrantly colored explosion Puzzles by Kelsey Brookes via Picidt
  12. 12. Great blue gradient stool via Oh Joy!

Coverage by: Emily Gup

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
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