Street Finds: Opposites Attract?

babeland-aidsposter

After taking a quick glance at the above imagery, one would assume these designs came from the same origin. Not the case. On the contrary, the symbols used in the downtown sex shop logo, Babeland, are the same markings used to promote AIDS awareness at the 14th St. subway station. Positive and negative signs have always implied a balance of contrasts, and while it makes sense that both categories would seek inspiration on the same avenue, the final message is somewhat lost. Then again, perhaps there’s brilliance in the fact that these signs are interchangeable.

mcdonalds-anniesorganic

Highlighting another world of opposites, fast food giant, McDonalds has recently released the campaign, Give it Love, using a mcnugget and fry combo to connote a kiss and a hug. In a breakfast aisle on an alternate universe, Annie’s organic bunny love cereal can be found on the shelves at Whole Foods Markets. Again, we see opposing brands attracted to the same symbols, perhaps these patterns prove reality is the circumference of opposing forces.

March 26, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Event: Patternpalooza

housingworks

Though Pattern Pulp typically veers away from gimmicky marketing, the creative efforts made by New York’s Housing Works, shouldn’t go unnoticed. Housing Works raises millions in yearly aid through their high-end thrift stores, selling discounted local merchandise in an effort to combat AIDS and community homelessness. The next time your couch or sweater needs a home, consider calling this wonderful organization, as weekend sales events like Patternpalooza help keep the organizational wheels oiled. Stop by the west village location this weekend for more info…and a cheetah sweater.

March 25, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Food: Perishable Marketing

mandm-raspberry

In another lifetime I’d be designing window displays. Not the corporate-sheik windows that come in a box over from China, but the ad hock masterpieces that merge high-end concepts with low budget materials. One of the cheapest tools designers can use to showcase their ideas is perishable foods. A mass market example of this can be found in M&M Premiums latest advertising efforts, where monochromatic sculptures reveal the latest flavors. Combining everyday materials for a more permanent display, Anthropologie sews bread loaves together with red shoe string to convey fashionable kitchenware in their Fifth Ave location.

anthropologie-bread-display1

Continuing with the bread theme, Anthropologie creates a splash of texture contrasts, spiraling doughy slices against the back wall. The resulting sun motifs are as clever as they are creative. Even Simon Doonan, Barney’s famed Window Dresser agrees to using perishable foods, vowing that this trick of the trade is as crucial as it is humorous in his book entitled, Confessions of a Window Dresser.

March 25, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Follow-up: Graffiti Snapshots from LA

belvedere-monsieura3

Back in February, Pattern Pulp cited Andre Saraiva’s Monsieura graffiti on the streets of Silverlake. Ever since our highlight, the commercialization of this toothy character has upped the ante. Belvedere Vodka’s latest marketing campaign, entitled One-X, tiles edgy party pics from Belvedere influencer nights with hot pink graffiti faces. The campaign is currently papering walls on Prince street as well as trendsetting magazines such as Interview and Anthem.

March 24, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Fashion: Text Heavy Threads

venacava-salvorprojects

Is a picture still worth a thousand words if it’s a literal reproduction of organized type? While perusing the spring collections at Barneys and Blue and Cream last week, Vena Cava‘s heiroglyphics dress made a few notable uptown and downtown appearances. For well established brands, this feat is a walk in the park, though it’s notable to highlight the versatility of this young American label, particularly when company buyers have clamped down on their retail collections. Applying similar typographic methods, Ross Menuez, the founder of Salvor Projects, incorporates digitized text to create a vertical ticker of information. This gray on gray stream of characters is a subtle reminder of the communication chaos that’s circling us on a 24 hour basis.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkyw4JTh19U]

This vintage m ss ngp eces video highlights Menuez’s creative process, an interesting watch with timeless appeal- one of many captivating shorts produced by Cool Hunting.

March 24, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Packaging: Eau De Patterns

sula-wvillagewall

We’re all guilty of the duty-free pit stop. It’s nearly impossible to resist spritzing yourself before boarding an international flight, particularly when you’ve got twenty minutes to kill. Today Pattern Pulp is exploring perfumes that are slightly under the radar. Scents that take a bit of exploring to find, yet are true favorites among their fan base. Each of these brands has taken a similar stab at adorning their packaging with intricate florals, a common theme throughout the beauty industry. Sula, a side project of Susanne Lang, a Canadian parfumerie, is an affordable scent that intertwines theme-specific patterns with asymmetrical negative space. In an attempt to trace organic steps to this endpoint, real life inspiration can be found on this Jane Street apartment building as branches span the cement in upward growth.

harris-tocca-tsila

Miller Harris’s signature floral etchings are equal parts raw and luxurious. Following suit, Tocca, known for their understated elegance, has feminized tattoo illustrations for their latest line of fragrances. Tsi-la Organics, a new player to the team, combines delicate florals with darker tones, enclosing their bottles in a signature black lotus box covered with spot varnish monochromatic detailing.

fresh2

Fresh has been producing beautifully intricate packaging for as long as I can remember. Incorporating delicate details such as wire, metallic thread and jade colored pebbles, the outer mementos are are as appealing (if not more) than the actual product- a successful marketing move when alluring first time buyers and gift recipients.

March 23, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik