Trend: Interior Design Goes for a Spin

It has always been a personal fantasy of mine to be able to change the color of things at whim. It’s fairly easy when it comes to personal adornment, however interiors present a few laborious challenges. You can imagine the delight and surprise I felt when I saw Amirkhan Abdurakhmanov’s Change It wall. The wall uses triangular pieces, with each side representing a different color. The pieces can be rearranged to create a variety of looks, emitting a pixelated vibe. The mechanism this uses is reminiscent of the changing billboards we used to drive past on the South Florida highways. My delight at Abdurakhmanov’s concept isn’t unique, as this particular piece has been sweeping the web.

The designs immediately remind me of the Swedish design team, Front, and their Changing Cabinet, which we mentioned in a weekly round-up not too long ago. The team won the title “Designer of the Year 2010” from the German magazine, A&W at the Imm Cologne Furniture Fair 2010. Their Changing Cabinet uses a similar mechanism, and so, we are left to wonder: do we smell a trend coming on?

Coverage by: Emily Gup

February 18, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Magasin Totale City Color Palettes

This particular feature is a bit of a double whammy. Not only are these Magasin Totale photos for sale One Kings Lane today, the graphic layouts are so beautiful and geometric that I thought adding color palettes were a creative must. If you ask any artist, inspiration lies in every corner and crevice of society. Something so simple as an abandoned stairwell or a broken wire can provide the missing piece to a creative puzzle. The Swing Set, Rusty Outlet and Bouncy Balls are by Joe Delano and The Stairwell is by Jeremy Harris. Both masters of mystifying the mundane.

February 17, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

San Francisco: The Art of Selling Innovation

SheSays is one organization we give our unwavering support to. Originating in London, and now operating across the pond in the US, this .org serves as a global resource for women working in and around the field of advertising. The San Francisco division will be holding a round table discussion this evening, focusing on how to sell your ideas to clients when it comes to innovation and technology. One topic of particular interest will be augmented reality. If you’re in the San Francisco area, come participate in this FREE event and listen as business professionals give detailed experiences of what’s worked for them when combining business, branding and creativity. For more details and to RSVP, click here.

Speakers will include:

Nicole Califano, UX/IxD Designer from The Barbarian Group

Leslie Ziegler, Interactive Art Director from McCann Worldgroup

Victoria Graham, Management Supervisor at AKQA

Summer Oram, Group Director of Integrated Production at McCann Worldgroup

Haley Brockmeier, Media Manager at Gap, Inc.

Publicis San Francisco: 2001 Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133

7:00pm – 9:00pm

February 17, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Literary Intelligence: Information is Beautiful

It’s quite a treat having friends that double as industry experts. Not only do I have reliable sources to bounce ideas off of, whenever a email recommendation ends up in my inbox, I know it’s from a trusted source. This morning, my good friend and colleague, Alexandra Machinist, a Manhattan based literary agent, sent a heads up about The Visual Miscellaneum: A Colorful Guide to the World’s Most Consequential Trivia, by David McCadless. McCadless’ new book is a collection of his most recent info graphics, knowledge maps and data visualizations. For any designer handed the task of simplifying data, then this is the book for you.

A few sneak peaks of what you’ll find in McCadless’ book. Enjoy and support!

February 16, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Fashion Meets Football, Cupcake Style

Cupcakes. Who would’ve thought that with one transient shot on a Sex and the City episode, these delectable delights would still be trendy four years later. Before, there was only Magnolia. But now, there’s Billy’s, Crumbs, Georgetown, Buttercup Bake Shop, Cupcake Stop and Sprinkles. Even still, something’s been missing. When it comes to the slightly tougher, slightly rougher cupcakes, where could one turn? Butch Bakery.

As the site says: These ain’t your grandmas cupcakes. Butch Bakery sells manly treats in patterns such as Woodland Camo, Houndstooth and Wood Grain. To boot, there’s a flavor for every type of guy in your life. Frat boy turned banker? Beer Run (chocolate and beer-infused cake with beer butter cream frosting), Dreamy Don Draper? Try the Sidecar (Brandy-soaked lemon cake with orange-infused white chocolate ganache). Finally, for my D.R. born and raised valentine there’s the Big Papi (Cinnamon spice cake with a dulce de leche filling).

The tiny treats are currently available for delivery in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn, but email or call to inquire about shipping nationwide.

Coverage By: Nikki Ogunnaike

February 16, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Barneys Warehouse Sale

It’s hard not to love Barneys. From Simon Doonan’s infamous Madison Ave. windows to the snarky advertising and retail displays, this department store is one step ahead when it comes to forward fashion business practices. Once again, their warehouse sale has descended upon us and if you live in NY or LA, it’s not a bad idea to check it out. Everything from Thakoon dresses to Marni shorts to Vena Cava shirts are considerably discounted from Feb 11th – Feb 28th. Click here to find out more!

February 15, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik