Retail: Plaid Toss

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It’s always fascinating when creative parallels emerge within unrelated markets. Vitra, a leading furniture concept store recently unveiled it’s Vegetal chair by suspending several black and white styles in their Meat Packing District windows. No more than two miles south, Burberry’s signature plaid has taken a similar route, by tossing it’s famous pattern in it’s Soho location window. This youthful touch looks like the work of Christopher Bailey, Burberry’s newish Creative Director. Merging plaid elegance with organic fast food, Sis. Deli + Café, a chain of restaurants in Helsinki, Finland, has proven that consumption and convenience can be effectively translated without bombarding the customer with incessant messaging.

August 19, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Casting Shadows

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Light will always be a source of inspiration. From free hand shadow puppets to mood-induced candle lighting, shadows have a way of revealing an alternate reality. Recently, we’ve been noticing an equal importance between objects and the shadows they cast. Maiko Takeda, an ’09 graduate from Central St Martins, recently applied this concept in her final academic project entitled, Cinematography Collection. Takeda’s jewelry casts an elaborate shadow upon the body, weaving organic movement with man made metals. Using a similar theory, Peter Burning’s ceiling lights project elaborate flower-like patterns on the surrounding wall space. Moving into the world of whimsy, Marc Philbert’s fashion photography is no stranger to light and patterns as he incorporates beautiful women with color and contrast.

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Light boxes can be easily crafted, as demonstrated on Design*Sponge this past December. Using canvas, paint and a creative concept, conversational or decorative art can make it’s way into your home. Taking this idea up a few notches, Jo Meesters, a Pattern Pulp favorite, has thrown a sophisticated spin on a would-be cabinet by converting it into an over sized light box.

Additional Contributions by: Emily Gup

August 19, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Digital Snacking

Digital Snacking

Lately it seems that for Americans, life is delivered “on the go”. This style of living, most famously portrayed in the story, Fight Club, highlights the single serving lifestyle. “(The) Cordon Bleu hobby kit. Shampoo-conditioner combos, sample packaged mouthwash, tiny bars of soap, single serving friends.” While this trend was once attributed to the traveler on the go, it now characterizes consumption trends for a broader base of the population. Beyond the mini servings of cereal and 100-calorie packs of oreos, consumers are now snacking on their information as well. RSS feeds, text messaging, mobile apps, Twitter, and iPods all represent information, products and services that come in bite-sized packages that have been designed for flexible living and even disposable consumption.

This concept of splintered technology is conveyed through color in Bond No. 9’s summer window display. Each bottle of perfume is stacked in a tetris-like manner, reminding us of the infinite possibilities we must choose when devising a singular path. Jennifer Daniel, a graphic designer from the New York area is known for creating art as social commentary on the way we live our lives. This 404 illustration is the result of 36 unloadable images. In keeping with the spirit of the stirring mind, Propeller Modern, a home goods store based in San Francisco, sells this local work of art that reminds us of a topographical landscape compiled of “O’s” from every form of print media.

Additional contributions by: Kelsey-Lee LeGassick

August 17, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Monogram Motifs

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There will always be a market for monogramming. Be it on backpacks, stationary or towels, this customized marker is a sign of true ownership. “Monogramming transforms what’s off the rack into ones own. Even knowing that initials are hidden inside clothing or jewelry makes me feel special. I also like hunting for silver that’s marked with a monogram- either my own letters someone else’s,” says Elizabeth Sigal, a Pattern Pulp friend and Brand Strategist based in Austin, Texas. Elizabeth Bauer, an interior designer and shop owner in Manhattan, endorsed this tradition earlier this year, stocking tiger-striped dishes with more traditional type combinations. Tapping this trend that fuses color, prep and patterns, Pottery Barn Teen has just released their back to school collection, proving that animal prints and initials can transcend age, season and income bracket.

August 11, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Budget Friendly Bears

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Over the past few months, we’ve jumped on the online sample bandwagon. Though many of the wares from Gilt Group, Rue la la and One Kings Lane don’t necessarily bring us to hit the “purchase” button, today’s KUMA collection of teddy bears from Areaware, via One Kings Lane, have us in a buyer’s conundrum. This collection, designed by Ross Menuez, a Pattern Pulp favorite, is chock full of whimsically modern cuddly accessories. Additionally, the collection is comprised of organic cotton and printed with soy-based ink. Aside from the markdown, ease of purchase, and environmentally friendly ethos, we’re certain these bears will put a smile on anyone’s face, young or old.

August 4, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Designing Frequencies

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We seem to be taking our patterns back to the basics lately; finding new and interesting facets to things we see in everyday life — focusing on form rather than utility. Recently, we’ve been noticing an increase in the use of sound waves as a design element. With instant access to fresh new tunes served daily from music influencer sites such as RCRD LBL or Pitchfork, the general population has been able to “see” their music that was once invisible. Illustrating this concept in the most tactile of ways, Lorick’s SS ’09 collection romanticizes the audio file, while this New York Time’s info graphic proves that chaos and structure can be balanced with the simple use of argyle. This cone shell forces us to acknowledge nature’s ongoing influence, making us ask- what came first the ocean wave or the sound wave?

Additional contributions by: Emily Gup

July 31, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik