Twitter Influencer: Damien Correll

Damien Correll is a great designer/illustrator/art director with a sense of color that matches his sense of humor. Residing and working in Brooklyn as a freelancer artist and creative partner of the design studio, Part & Parcel, his work has been featured in a variety of publications including, New York Magazine, XLR8R, Juxtapoz, IdN, STEP, NOVUM, The New York Times Magazine and Faesthetic. Correll doesn’t limit himself to printed pages; he’s always looking for new pots to dip his creative hands into, from type and product development to magazine illustrations to random art projects. His “little bit of everything” approach is evident in his twitter feed, where his witticisms on the creative process shine through, along with his eagerness to share music, pictures and interesting finds.

June 11, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Luxury Branding: La Amada, Mexico

Whenever I tackle a new branding project, the client always asks how prints and patterns can be incorporated into the design without being too obvious. Today I’m presenting one of my favorite examples that I encountered back in February. La Amada, a hotel in Playa Mujeres, Mexico truly presents a 360 rollout. Their bubble motif touches everything from their online and print materials to their sculptural landscaping, dinnerware and bottle packaging. Without being ostentatious, repetitive or logo-centric, this hotel successfully emits a serene, artful, luxurious mood, all by scaling back and allowing their customers to interact with their motif throughout the day. Less is more, particularly if it’s custom, creative and varied.

June 10, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Body Augmentations

Our society is collectively obsessed with augmentation- from tattoos to plastic surgery to just about anything that individualizes us or makes us a “better version” of the status quo. It’s only natural that creative types would react to this phenomena, and today we present two paralleling projects that provide social commentary on the trend. Lucy McRae and Bart Hess of LucyandBart have been taking ordinary objects and manipulating their bodies for years now. The photographs are stunning and a reminder that the human body’s been a canvas for the human mind since the beginning of time. Translating this concept into wearable fashion, Sandra Backlund, of Sweden also uses the body as a starting point. Her knitwear is surreal, polished and a realistic interpretation of this fascination.

June 9, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Budget Buys: Alexander Olch for Father's Day

Father’s Day is quickly approaching and Gilt Groupe’s pulling out all the stops. While most of the fathers wearing Alexander Olch are likely younger than the baby boomer set, it’s great to see Olch, a Pattern Pulp favorite, on sale today. Check out the Men’s sale for a wide selection of neckwear in gingham, seersucker and plaid.

June 8, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Interview: Flavio Melchiorre

“All that I see stays in my mind waiting to be unearthed during the creative process,” explains Italian artist, Flavio Melchiorre. When you get lost in Melchiorre’s mesmerizing patterns you certainly see what he means. His colorful designs draw from all elements of everyday life, particularly street art. Seeing his bold designs, you can easily imagine him walking by a splash of graffiti and filing it in his mind for years before it manifests into works such as Tips’ n Trips, Wild Things, or his recent iPhone skin for Grove. Check out our Q & A with this colorful Italian.

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PP: How does your culture influence your design aesthetic?

FM: I would say naturally, everything that I live can influence my work. I have a great photographic memory and all that I see stays in my mind waiting to be unearthed during the creative process.

PP: What recent project are you most proud of?

FM: A new project that I can’t show now, made for a Spanish company, which has chosen some of my patterns to characterize some of their products. The work is still in progress, but there are good developments.

PP: What are some of your biggest influences? Any particular artists or websites that inspire you lately?

FM: Mainly, Street Art and Pop Art. These two cultures have influenced my style, even if the abstract expressionism has been the key element in my personal research. I love the work of Keith Haring and Jackson Pollock. I also appreciate the work of some contemporary artists like Gary Fernandez, Alex Trochut and Si Scott.

PP: What is your typical design process like?

FM: When I make my pattern, first I try to get carried instinctively drawing randomly, then I take a long time to create modular and color combinations. When I make figurative illustrations instead usually I know what I want to express, so I try to follow an idea even if I go very often to improve it during its development.

PP: How do color and pattern affect your work?

FM: I’ve always been attracted by patterns; they give me a sense of balance. I like to create a visual harmony using many colors together; each element develops in something more complex. When I draw I find my balance!

PP: What kinds of projects are you hoping to do in the future?

FM: I have many projects, from art to fashion. I’d like to draw an entire fabrics collection for haute couture, and then see my patterns on wonderful women covered in silk on a catwalk. I would also like to make a solo exhibition with huge artworks, and to watch people get lost in them!

Coverage by: Rebecca Silver

June 8, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Budget Buys: Summer in Sound

The visualization of sound is always a mesmerizing sight, as is the blur of buzzing static that can inhabit your tv screen. What we love so much about these bags from Industry is that while they’re named for their sound-like patterns, they’re also reminiscent of a modern ikat print. With both stylistic ideas being on trend these bags have high appeal whether you’re looking to reference a tribal, ethnic vibe or a more offbeat sound-influenced pattern, making them a versatile and fun addition to your wardrobe.

June 7, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik