Here are some snapshots of what I can share from my scouting trip to London & Paris. Met a few characters, took sneaky photos and returned home inspired + recharged. Hope you enjoy!
Budget Friendly Window Trends
No matter where your brand falls on the luxury scale, if innovation trails creative costs, it’s impossible to keep moving forward. Design teams are constantly on the hunt to balance budgets while keeping things fresh, and today’s example of threaded typography is a simple execution of a job done well. Using laces to spell the tag line, Poorman Weapon, Converse’s limited edition display at London’s sneaker store, Size, gives a fresh budget-friendly take on the brand. Simulating gold threaded stitching to spell out their logo, Louis Vuitton stays on brand with their message of handmade luxury, proving the idea is king, so long as the execution is seamless.
Trend: Beastly Art
You’ve been hiding under a rock if you haven’t noticed the animal influence that’s infiltrated all things visual lately. From graffiti tagging to fashion campaigns to high-end art, animal influenced portraiture is everywhere. Simon Schama recently wrote a piece for The Financial Times, proclaiming that beastly themes have always been a part of the modern art world in British society, making note of the highly religious themes that often come hand in hand with each piece.
The above illustration is from Flair magazine and portrays the best of both worlds: curious creatures with beautifully collaged textures. To the right, the graffiti leopard can be found on the streets of East London. The sexualized Hello Kitty illustration is part of Surface to Air‘s Parisian retail display, while this tailoring sign sits comfortably in a Hamstead window in London. Rounding out the retail theme, this canine portrait painting is currently part of the window display for Printemps Mens in Paris.
Trend: Mixed Media Contrasts
Neon contrasts are the farthest thing from soothing. They are appealing though. Whether they’re engaging, provoking, playing or responding, their extreme nature forces the viewer to make an opinion.
This surveillance display from the Louis Vuitton window is an artful response to our collective obsession with big brother society. Using a cluster of angular metallic cameras, the layout is harsh and directional, lighthearted and pop-arty. Using mixed media cut outs to plaster their walls, Santos Party House in downtown Manhattan, has a similar and psychedelic appeal. Be it day or night, high or low, this style can manipulate any environment.
Where Beauty Meets Nature
Inspiration comes from every pocket of life- from the worn path on your weekend hike to the makeup counter on your lunch hour errand run. Sometimes the parallels are crystal clear, though oftentimes it’s easy to miss the touch points. Today’s post highlights how close natural and manufactured patterns can be and how taking note of your surroundings can expand your creative palette. This geometric print at the Sephora counter is timeless, popular and a staple for many designers. While it’s common to see this pattern in concrete and urban architecture, it’s refreshing to see a man-made path. What natural paths have you found to be inspiring?
Trend: Textures & Tiling
It’s always interesting to see how brands interpret seemingly simple trends. Boxed grids, for example, keep surfacing throughout fashion and retail displays this summer. From store windows to dress prints to retail structures, grids are an intrinsic part of this season’s design. This Gregory Parkinson dress marries a 2D print with 3D patchwork, mirroring the front and backside of ceramic tiling. Proving this style can easily become a wearable print, Dries Van Norton adds texture and shading. Using color blocking and grout, this boutique in the Daikanyama district, just outside of Tokyo proves that the intersecting lines are just as interesting as the tiles, something Louis Vuitton’s made evident with their hand-drawn window display on Fifth Avenue this month.