Blackberry & Banner Art

This banner isn’t fresh, per say, but when I took a screen shot of it, I thought the design progression was quite clever and worth sharing. So, here we go. Blackberry for Sprint shares their message with an onslaught of mail. It’s highly effective and a nice reminder that one letter may seem like no big deal, but when you’re overwhelmed, it can be suffocating. Much like the hanger display for Anthropologie, small things in mass make a big impact. Bravo on what could have been a banal banner design.

August 11, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Work From My Latest Redesign

About a month ago, I refreshed my online portfolio with a quick and dirty redesign. I had a speaking engagement with the kind folks at Percolate, and realized about two weeks prior, that my personal domain hadn’t been touched in three years (crazy, but maybe some of you can relate)! It was time to replace it with something current and representative of my current aesthetic…not to mention the work I’ve done in-between.

While it’s still very much a work-in-progress (these things always are), I thought I’d share some imagery with you. I have an active pattern library now with roughly 150 prints, for clients who’d like to purchase or license (beyond custom pattern design) and am continuing to do creative brand development and marketing strategy (my bread and butter).

Hopefully soon, I’ll get to share a few collaborations that I’ve been working on over the past few months. When it comes to fashion and product development, the timelines are loooong, it’s always a test of patience! Particularly now that so much of my work is in the digital space.

In the meantime, check out what’s up and feel free to share your thoughts- I’d love to hear your feedback. Over time, I’ll be adding more in-depth imagery and explanations to compliment… Thanks!

June 5, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Skin Color, Marketing & Media

I’m gonna keep this short today, as I injured my hand late last week and am still on the one-handed mend. I recently came across this creative project by Angelica Dass and was really drawn to it. It’s a gem of an exhibition, and when I first saw it, I thought it was from Pantone’s marketing team and was quite pleased to see an effort beyond branded merchandise.

Then, I realized it was an outside project. In the world of mug, makeup and fashion collaborations, this initiative speaks to the soul, touching the entire human race. Everyone’s skin color fits within Pantone’s classification system and the neutral portraiture is quite striking. If I worked at there, I’d get on the phone with Dass immediately and try to broker a collaboration.

March 17, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

A Kleenex & Mizrahi Collaboration

When’s the last time you were sick, and at the drugstore buying tissues? Did you opt for design over softness…or both? Whenever I’m restocking, I’m always annoyed at how loud the patterns are and entirely unsuited for my apartment. Then, I realize I’ve been standing in the aisle for an embarrassingly long time and just choose whatever’s softest and cheapest and dash for the cashier. I have to believe I’m not alone.

Here’s where Kleenex has amped up their visibility. They’ve partnered with Isaac Mizrahi in the hopes of adding a fashion touch to a clinical product. I’ll admit it’s a valiant attempt. While the patterns are still rather loud, (I’d love to see a subtler textured collection), the marketing video’s fun- a street Q&A, asking regular people if the patterns are from fashion or tissues. Have a watch– what do you think?

February 27, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Circular Styles

circular spaces2

Circular motifs never get old. When history, science and creativity are hinged upon these forces, you realize why cyclical flow is a part of our daily vernacular. Much of the branding and styling I’m attracted to incorporates this concept, and you realize, over time, that it’s actually easy to reinvision a brand, packaging or any design for that matter, if the underlying direction has a timelessness to it.

From the mechanical curves of the Sonos logo to Dan Funderburgh’s recent illustration collaboration in the Manual for Speed, to ABC Carpet’s spiritual and nature-inspired retail merchandising to the graphic styling techniques in this Dazed and Confused spread, all overlap in relatable, defined ways.

December 18, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Color, Conversation & Hanes Underwear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRJ9ko0nZmI

Have you seen the latest Hanes spot? Chances are, maybe not, as the YouTube page has only 118 views. Parts of it are pretty cool, we’d recommend giving it a go. The concept reminds us a bit of Gap’s Be Bright campaign from a while back, but has clever synchronization and pattern mash-ups that transition human puzzles into cotton graphics.

Complimenting the TV spot, the social media component plays off of color, hoping to create chatter about an otherwise taboo topic. Would you tweet the color of your underwear? Hanes is hoping you will, by utilizing a Pinterest-like layout and pre-populated tweetable content, with a campaign entitled, What’s Your #undercovercolor? Have a look, play with the wheel, and let us know what you think…

September 6, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik