Follow-up: Diamonds are Forever Changing

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Diamonds in their purest form have remained desirable for centuries. From King Louis XIV of France to today’s modern bride, this gem signifies wealth, status and emotional commitment– three things that drive fashion and marketing teams crazy. Back in June, we covered global diamond patterns, as they were surfacing, and are now adding a few more to the bunch. Phillip Lim uses photo-realism in his bejeweled tank top while Rachel Roy simulates sparkle with cross-hatched slots on a quilted purse. Mimicking this concept with glass, Michael Kors references Hollywood glam with his new fragrance, Very Hollywood.

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Additionally, many designers seem to be moving away from the traditional pyramid silhouette that we’re all accustomed to seeing. From Clé De Peau‘s eye shadow to Marc Jacob’s earrings on the cover of the New York Times’ Style Magazine, to Diane Von Furstenburg and H.Stern’s latest watch collaboration, we’re curious to see where else these minimalist shapes will surface.

September 11, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Print: The Spherical Formula

Circular bursts serve as inspiration for countless campaigns and logo layouts. Be it corporate, luxury, indie or budget, there’s something subconsciously wholesome about a round shape that nearly everyone is drawn to. One of the reasons we’ve chosen to focus on Claudio Riaz’s make up brushes from Barney’s summer catalog and the Viceroy Hotel logo, which was appropriately placed in Ocean Drive, is that these two layouts, while wholly unrelated, make perfect visual sense when placed beside each other. Unintentionally, both images speak to the luxury traveler who considers themselves a minimalist. Add Levi’s Go Forth art to the mix and your younger sister and her camp friends have suddenly joined the graphic vacation. What’s the take away? Essentially, you’re halfway there if you choose the appropriate line quality, color and photography for your spherical identity.

September 1, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Digital Snacking

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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

Fashion: Shake Your Money Maker

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Santigold is one of our favorite pattern and pop culture mavens. Not only did she inspire our first post, we’re always amazed at the concoctions she throws together when going on stage, both lyrically and visually. It just so happens that Santi is the newest member of Nixon’s Women’s Program, a marketing initiative that fuses fashion, culture and music. Interestingly, Santi’s signature pose is cloaked in an 80’s style jumper that’s covered with money. We have to believe there’s a satirical element to this layout, similar to Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s one dollar bill dress. With the economy on the tip of everyone’s tongue, creative reactions to our collective dependence on wealth are only a natural occurrence.

August 12, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Follow-up: Taping Spaces

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A few weeks ago, we found ourselves obsessing over Marc Jacob’s duct tape and bondage window. Not long after, this Dazed and Confused spread landed in our mailbox. While we’re not certain who’s influenced who here, it’s evident that creative teams across the board are embracing fashion friendly confinement this summer. Adding an elegant angle to this trend, Sussanna Petkov’s Viennese window along the Wollzeile, showcases color blocked striping for the less experimental types. Once again, broad concepts have trickled into both market extremes, proving that the ‘wow factor’ is usually the invisible arrow pointing towards the more practical merchandise.

August 7, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Street Finds: Urban Palettes

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There’s no shortage of inspiration when you live in a city that celebrates beauty and revels the grotesque. Today’s highlight captures the natural colors around town that can be used as a source of inspiration. From Vutera’s speakeasy neon lighting in Williamsburg, Brooklyn to this glass mosaic on New York City’s newest elevated park, The Highline, summer’s color combos are just as vibrant in nature as they are in city dwelling.

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This wall in Brooklyn speaks to several months of messaging. Once symbolic of a crumbling part of town, imagery such as this now serves as marketing inspiration for retailers such as Barneys and Urban Outfitters. Veering away from the grunge factor, this doorbell and name plate from San Francisco’s Russian Hill district, is both an amusing display of typography and a beautiful combination of warm muted tones.

Additional contributions by: Emily Gup

July 28, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik