Fashion: Particle Pieces

We’ve all been there. You hit the return button 5x in a row, trying to get the ball to stop spinning and all of the sudden the screen pixelates, then goes blank. Well, several fashion brands have found inspiration in this state of chaos and still frustration. Mr. Hare of the UK and McQ, the contemporary line by Alexander McQueen have both slashed and repeated several images, infusing a playful reminder that our reliance on digital technology can be as vibrant as it is paralyzing.

Relaying this concept through animated gifs, Mauro De Donatis’s Glitched Helvetica breathes life and motion into this concept.

November 3, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Follow-up: Angular & Sapphire Marketing

Back in March of 2010 we highlighted an emerging angular trend. Today we’re following up, as it doesn’t appear to be dissipating- it fact it’s continuing to evolve into other markets. We’ve seen the classic diamond shape shift to a crystal-like gem in the fashion, home and marketing industries and interesting, the color and “vectorfunk” style has been adapted to a new campaign. Bombay Sapphire’s latest creative initiative looks like an extension of Chase Bank’s design roll out in 2010. We wonder if it’s a coincidence, a collaboration or a copycat. Either way, the visuals are crisp, and somewhat interchangeable.

October 4, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tory Burch & James De La Vega

If you’re familiar with the east village of Manhattan, you’re no stranger to the optimistic and wit-filled graffiti of James De La Vega. Words of advice and encouragement translated through adorable fish are painted on mattresses, walls and garbage cans throughout the city. In one of my favorite collaborations this year, Tory Burch and De La Vega have teamed up to design an exclusive collection featuring positive messages and original artwork.

The laptop case is my favorite (probably because my powerbook’s been covered in his stickers for years now), but check out the entire collection for yourself. All profits from the purchase of this collection benefit the Tory Burch Foundation, committed to providing economic opportunities to women and their families in the United States.

September 28, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Marketing: Vitamin Water's Life of a Man

This animation entitled, Life of a Man, recently landed in my inbox and I must say it’s oddly mesmerizing. Perhaps it’s the piano, the voice or the overdone patterns, but all of the components merge beautifully for an eerily calm storyline. The creative endevour’s a marketing initiative for Vitamin Water and it’s not until the final frame that this becomes apparent. Bravo to Pedro Henrique and his team for an enjoyable (and might I say visually arresting) watch.

August 3, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Retail: Homemade Dummy Dolls

When it comes to retail display design, I’m a huge fan of the homemade variety. After observing numerous stores in different pockets of the world, it’s safe to say I’ve seen a lot of stuffed dolls. Grotesque, pretty, sock-like, they’re everywhere, challenging the perfect beauty of their mannequin counterparts.

Here are three favorites. The blue and white blinking patient is from an indie shop in Shoreditch, on the east end of London. The inside-out doll with suspended guts is from Dagmar Rousset’s shop on Fitzroy Street in Melbourne, Australia.

Using irony and curves to sell perfume, this lumpy lingerie model kills it in Milan.

July 14, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Finding Faces

Every once in a while we cover a campaign or personal project with pareidolia ties. Today’s feature reveals recognizable faces in print, fashion and product design. While some of the images aren’t as current as others, when lined up side by side, there’s a playful timelessness throughout. Eyes, no eyes, MC Escher nose, wingtoed-shoes or a banana mouth, it’s exciting to see the latest reinvention of the wheel. Which one’s your favorite?

1. Face 2. Solange Azagury-Partidge, 3. Theme Mag illustration (artist unknown) 4. Fazer Vilpuri Loaf 5. Michael Zavros painting 6. Steven Harrington for Dazed and Confused

June 21, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik