Back from Asia!

Back in business after a nice sabbatical away from my laptop. For the past two weeks I’ve been in Asia- Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo, traveling with friends and family at various points along the way. After taking what feels like 500 photos, I’ve started combing through with an editor’s eye. I figured I’d kick off the new year with some shots from Hong Kong.

The juxtaposition between new and old is incredible. There’ll be a woman deboning a fish in a dilapidated doorway beside an investment banker in a mirrored sky scraper. The scaffolding is made of bamboo throughout the city and the branded exteriors are statements of growth and prosperity. The last building is a condo on Hollywood Road and I was obsessed with it. If Pattern Pulp ever gets a storefront, it might just take a page out of this playbook…

January 3, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Retail Windows: Technically Speaking

One of these looks a lot like the other…I was rather surprised to see Coach‘s windows last month, as it seemed like they had run out of ideas. When making product and sending ideas to the factory, you nearly always create a technical CAD drawing and send it off with high hopes of returning as beautiful merchandise. They’re essentially the blueprints for the fashion world. Interestingly, while I was in London, I crossed paths the retail chain, Warehouse and spotted a similar display. Hopefully this doesn’t become a trend. Some things should stay behind closed doors. The clutter doesn’t quite translate when selling the dream. That said, when comparing the two, Coach’s life-sized handbags are a nice compliment to the drawings.

November 14, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Pattern People x Ace Hotel

Our friends Claudia Brown and Jessie Whipple Vickery at Pattern People have some cool projects up their sleeves. Today I present you with their latest and greatest – a collaboration with the Ace Hotel in Portland.

On October 1st, Pattern People was tasked with designing their dream room for a day. Their idea resulted in all-over patterns (obviously) from wallpaper to bedding to pillows. Instead of working at full-scale, they recreated a miniature room complete with tiny furniture, plants, lights and of course, surface designs. As the finishing touch, the diorama featured a fish eye peep-hole, adding to the miniature magic.

November 9, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Everyone's a Window Designer thanks to Irene

This past weekend brought a unified preparedness throughout the east coast. While taping your windows was a practical approach (depending on the type of tape used), it also offered an artistic opportunity to showcase your message. While most people stayed geometric with their execution, it was refreshing to see who strayed from the norm, i.e this bookshop’s literary design (posted via Bookavore’s twitter feed).

Just as smile-inducing was Bloomberg’s alter ego, El Blumbito that surfaced as a result of his multiple press conferences. Kudos to comedian, Rachel FigueroaLevin for ceasing social media gold and entertaining thousands of cabin-fever crazed New Yorkers.

August 29, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Retail: Displaying Terracotta

When everyday items turn up in unexpected places, the results can be really fun. Even a terracotta pot can tell a story when displayed as a pattern on a wall. Taking a page out of Anthropologie’s playbook of presenting small things in mass, Pylos, a Greek restaurant in the east village of Manhattan has had their ceiling covered with curvy jugs since the day they opened.

On the other side of town in the meatpacking district, L’occitane‘s latest retail venture utilizes a similar concept. Terracotta pots line the entrance and ceiling. The impact is strong, the concept creative and budget, most definitely affordable.

August 18, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Fashion: The Denim Cycle

I stumbled across a simple yet intriguing retail display at Liberty London a few months ago and snapped a photo, not sure what it would connect to. Lo and behold, this month’s denim issue from Nylon features an interesting spread with a similar pose. Do you think it sells the product, how engaged are you by this leggy ying yang?

August 16, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik