Trend: Allover Graphic Chaos

There are four brands in this mix- though it looks like one cohesive story. That folks, is a trend. At the top, we have Petter Pilotto’s fabulous new collection for Target. The prints seem a bit experimental for the Target customer, though, bright always sells, so it should be interesting to see who buys (beyond the city types).

Then we have the most eccentric footwear collaboration by Mary Katrantzou and Gianvito Rossi. Simply amazing- the print collages are loud, and the styles remind me of J.Lo, but in a fresh way. Then, in a quieter, more pared down corner, there are these sophisticated beauties by Loeffler Randall. Crisp flats or boots for monochromatic fans. I might actually buy these, I like them so much.

January 24, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Around the Globe, Visiting Hong Kong

I’m ending this week with the final segment of my Asia series: Hong Kong…a place I’ve always felt I could live abroad (if Sydney or Melbourne were a no-go). The energy and pulse within Hong Kong City is electric. It’s been interesting to observe the transition from British rule back to Chinese leadership…the air quality’s become a bit more stifled, but the pace of globalization and commercialization of products, fashion and commerce have truly ramped up.

Here are a few shots from my stay (and a few tips). If you’re going, I’d recommend dining at the Press Room (if you’re yearning for a western meal), Ding Tai Fung (a Michelin Star causal-but-nice) Chinese restaurant, Rabbit Hole Coffee and Roaster to kick off your day, The Upper Room Bar on the top floor for incredible views of the city, lunch at Life Cafe (a fabulous healthy vegetarian spot in soho), and Star Street, where you’re find The Monocle Shop, Vie, and many other indie gems. If you’re looking for men’s custom tailored shirts at about $50 a pop, Roger Cheung of Roger Concept is your guy. For a more succinct list, feel free to follow my husband’s Foursquare tips.

January 17, 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

Set Design & Creative Retail Displays

Here’s a short round up of a few retail displays in and around New York, enjoy!

Aritzia: I find myself snapping Aritzia’s windows just as much as Anthopologie’s. From a creative perspective, they’re just as interesting, though carefully minimalist. Here the retail team devised 3D cardboard hexagons covered in a lux marbling technique.

Anthropologie: These in-store ornaments resemble mythical suns and the spirograph application of the rubber bands add a fascinating touch. These could easily be a DIY project to do at home.

Hugo Boss: This unisex window represents the gift-giving season in a subtle, stately way: a swing of gift boxes constructed together gets the point across after a sidewalk double-take.

Best Pizza: This Williamsburg Pizza shop has crowd sourced their wall art, using customer drawings to make a fabulous and familiar texture. It’s delightful to get lost in the illustrations while getting a late night slice.

November 20, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Patriotic Merchandising in Soho

When brands open shop in Soho, on Fifth Ave, Madison or Broadway, they’ve arrived (in a financial sense). Whether or not the flagship sales support the rent, the physical presence represents retail grandeur – and advertising in a way. Here, we have Broadway’s Converse store and Fjallraven‘s latest opening on Spring Street, both in Soho.

The wall displays are amusingly similar, it almost seems like one’s riffed the other. There’s patriotism, product placement, mood lighting and serious merchandising going on here and both brands are displaying DIY finesse. What do you think of the dueling flags? Does it bother you?

October 29, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Branding Your Visa Card

Remember the days when you would order checks and consider splurging on the themed ones? The faded pastel beach scenes, Mount Rushmore, adorable kittens and motifs of money all remind us of the 80’s and early 90’s. It was almost a right of passage to page through the options and pick the background you most identified with…regardless of if it was ever ordered.

Fast forward. If I got a kitten check in the mail today, I’d laugh, maybe cringe, and think the whole exchange was a bit ironic. It may be that the check and imagery licensing worlds never evolved (as a side note- how many of you still write checks?) or that there are more exciting places to put art these days- at least in the banking and money worlds.

Last night, while trolling Instagram, I stumbled upon Beci Orpin’s latest collaboration with the Japanese department store, Marui. It’s pretty great, isn’t it? I wish I could switch out my blue and gray card for one of these bad boys. The image seems so cool and so out of reach as an American.

It’s a weird thing, as a whole, we love identifying w brands. We outfit our smartphones, our handbags and our tech accessories in colors and patterns we love. We administer at home DIY projects and scour Pinterest for artistic inspiration. Why is it that Visa’s Japanese distribution is eons ahead of ours? (Rhetorical, I know).

Try googling Epos. You’ll discover a Japanese database full of cards and themes. Everything from nature to food, fashion, ‘cute’, art, travel and ‘Japan.’ It’s an interesting and obvious move. What do you think?

September 19, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik