Using Instagram to Spot Trends

For better or worse, Instagram keeps me in the loop. Anyone else feel this way?

From observing work-in-progress from inspiring creatives to following design shows I can’t attend, the influx of imagery is really useful and pretty inspiring. Oftentimes, it helps confirm theories that have been floating around in my head- in regard to trends popping up in various design communities around the world, (say in Australia, Helsinki and L.A), and also leads me to new ideas and talent. It’s a pretty useful tool beyond selfies and party pics.

Yesterday, I took a screenshot of the Phillips Auction House invite. It seems fairly standard at first, but I loved the combination of camo and metallic in an upscale layout. This artistic commerce pays homage to Andy Warhol, presenting part of a timeless series. This lead me along the path of neon camo and got me thinking about where it’s popping up this season. You can always expect reinterpretations, so it’s worth following the art world to stay abreast, if not ahead of curb. Art always leads fashion (in my humble opinion).

Here we have sneakers, (bags and wallets) from Valentino. The kicks straddle a unisex vibe, but are sold in the men’s department. This chambray/camo/drawstring pullover by General Idea is another commercial, yet creative direction for guys that feels fresh this season. If you’re looking to simply add elements of the concept to your wall or iPhone, check out Joe Van Wetering’s work. His prints speak to the camo-loving monochromatist.

April 10, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tuesday's Gallery Picks

Exploring landscapes and ourselves with a mix of figurative & abstract art in today’s gallery picks.

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1. Marco Casentini’s signature geometric abstractions composed of overlapping shapes in vibrant, contrasting colors at Brian Gross Fine Art
2. America Martin’s favorite landscape is that of the human form, her work is distinguished by a command of line and color, making playful references to both classic and indigenous art forms at Mark Gallery
3. Sometimes purely formal, other times historical, philosophical, or metaphysical, Howard Fonda’s paintings freely alternate between abstraction and figuration at Mixed Greens
4. Janaina Tschäpe explores, through multiple mediums, amorphous landscapes and their abundant luscious properties at Edourd Malingue Gallery
5. For Ali Banisadr, painting is a means to reflect visually on his thoughts, memories, and imagination. The artist thinks of his pictures as “encyclopedic worlds” where all elements come together and can be seen instantaneously at Sperone Westwater
6. Amalgamating an array of iconic imagery that exists across Romanian and American culture, Marius Bercea has created a diverse series of vibrant landscapes that fluctuate between the utopian and dystopian, between flux and stasis, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination at Blain|Southern

April 8, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Around the Globe in San Francisco

I’m finally back in New York after a two week stint on the west coast. The weather was a welcome change, as was catching up with family, friends and colleagues I don’t get to see that often.

My hand’s been on the mend for the past few weeks as well, from a somewhat ridiculous kitchen accident involving a wine bottle opener…(I know…) which has been fairly frustrating (particularly in the work dept). I will say that Sherpaa, Mt. Sinai, NYU Langone and Beth Israel and I have all become my good friends this month. Sherpaa, in particular. On a more positive and serious note though, on week three, while on the road, I was able to start designing again, which was a long awaited relief (for both me, and my clients).

To balance my new-found free time during this unworkable, yet medicated period, I went on more inspiration hunts, photographing, absorbing, meeting new people and mentally sketching new ideas out in my head. I also watched two full seasons of Nashville and signed up for a Hulu Plus account. It was a forced break in a sense, and terrible timing, as several deadlines had been looming, but so is life. Sometimes accidents happen, and you just have to be grateful that you have a good support system and healthcare.

Today, I thought I’d share some pictures from my last pitstop in San Francisco, before heading to the airport. Justin (my husband) and I met up with a few friends at Heath Ceramics in the Mission, off of many solid recommendations. It’s a superb space filled with beautiful objects.

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In another world where I didn’t have a kitchen set I was using and already attached to, I’d fill my home with their ceramics and textiles. The vibe throughout is modern, but simple and very color and texture focused. If you like Fort Standard, Anthology Mag, Purl, and Steven Alan, these products are for you.

For over a half a century, Heath Ceramics has produced handcrafted tableware and architectural tile in it’s Sausalito, CA factory. They also carry the Alabama Chanin line– which is prominently featured today.

Their placemats combine organic cotton and intricate stitching- reminiscent of Japanese decorative techniques. They’re as simple as they are busy, and if you’re looking to make your own, they sell DIY kits.

The ceramic plates follow a similar stitch story, only the application is obviously different. It’s all delicate and a nice balance of folk meets modern. If you’re in the area, don’t skip this gem, there are so many interesting stories throughout and small gifts to purchase, if you’re in the market for that kind of thing.

April 8, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Friday Quick Links!

1. Perfectly pretty planters for spring via Poppytalk
2. Crafting a faux-stained glass window via Design Crush
3. Neat new knitting technique via design-milk
4. Craving these citrusy kicks via Miss Moss
5.DIY wall-hanging for your jewelry via design*sponge
6. Photographic mandalas via Patternbank
7.Inventive infographics via Trendland
8. Unraveling fashion via booooooom
9. Playful wallpaper and surface designs by Ashley le Quere via The Design Files
10. Kaleidoscope Portraits by Norg Nodis via Swissmiss
11. Pictures pieced together like a puzzle via The Jealous Curator
12. Swooning over these scarves via Honestly WTF

Contributed by Emily Gup

April 4, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tracking Color & Creating Pattern

I first learned about stream of continuousness in grade school- probably a week or two after writing my first haiku. I remember the idea being a bit foreign at the time – as a kid learning how to craft a plot and a storyline in relation to form and flow was hard enough. The concept that you could free yourself from those boundaries to write something loose and unstructured seemed a bit counter intuitive. I remember thinking that it felt very journal-like, and that I was surprised by my thought process- at surface value, things didn’t connect, but as the greater picture came to light, the steps along the way made more sense.

Over the years, it’s become increasingly apparent that this method of writing – and thinking – and making, was a lens in which to the view the world- one that many creative thinkers embrace.

So how does this link up to today’s imagery? The color story above is a snapshot of inspiration that led to a pattern I designed. While the imagery as a whole seems a bit disjointed, there’s overlap between two of the three photos at all times. The Karen Kimmel Shape Shifters are from Ten Over Six in Los Angeles. They’re a fantastic combination of color and shape- for art loving kids and adults alike. The macrame shares a similar color story in terms of balance and accents, and is a part of The Platform Experiment– another creative (but unrelated) creative endeavor from Los Angeles. The bottom pattern is a design I recently painted for a Fall/Winter project and incorporates bits and bobs from the above imagery. It’s similar in some ways, yet extremely different, as the floral inspiration and linking paths came from my own head.

Oftentimes we only share the work in it’s final state- I thought it might be interesting to track and share the flow- which is often a combination of experience, serendipity, inspiration and style. We can’t control the visuals we consume or the color combinations we absorb, but the resulting products usually reflect aspects of these processes.

April 3, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trends in Mens Swimwear

Mens swimwear rarely rocks the boat. The fabrics are usually covered in hibiscus tropics, stripes, solids or plaid. If you’re going the Rip Curl route, the shorts will be lower and longer, Tommy Bahama will have you in all-over Hawaiian prints, and Vilebrequin a more mellow and sophisticated brand, will be covered in illustrated turtles, sailboats and lilies.

Here are a few patterns that are a refreshing addition to the category from Fred Segal on Melrose. Venroy, an Australian brand, has overtaken a portion of the mens department, as the patterns double as merchandising in the dressing room area. While I didn’t catch the brand on the leather/bungee cord/rope belt, it’s interesting and cool, and wanted to add it to the round up. Same goes for these neon cartoon truncks. Fun stuff, right?

April 2, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik