Rotating Discs + Isabel Marant

As of late, life’s been a bit hectic, and this site’s been a bit still. Luckily, it’s the good kind of hectic that makes the work day a massive juggle…

Last week, while running between my Chinatown office and a client’s office in Tribeca, I just sort of stopped in my tracks when I hit this window display at Broome and Greene. Isabel Marant has a way with motors and movement, and the geometric grandeur of this rotating disc series translates beautifully. The nuance of the movement steadies the eye and livens the scene. If you’re in New York, swing by the Soho store- hopefully you’ll enjoy the artistic mechanics as much as the inventory.

March 26, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Morag Myerscough for J.Crew

J.Crew recently teamed up with the talented Morag Myerscough to design their London storefront on Marylebone High Street. Here are a few images from their blog, shot by the talented Kasia Bobula, where Myerscough’s creative process is documented. As you can see, the colors bounce around with a vibrant fluidity. This piece is a playful exercise in color theory – one that has beautiful movement. Artistic brand partnerships are quite common these days – and a stellar one plays up to both strengths. We think this one falls under that category, what do you think?

February 12, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Geometry & Spatial Design

I recently stumbled upon two artists with parallels so strong, it seemed appropriate to write a piece about the similarities in their work. Meet Phuong Thuy Nguyen and Esther Stocker. Nguyen is from Budapest and works with woven objects and sculptural textiles, while Stocker is originally from Silandro, and is a master at perspective and spatial ambiguity.

Both work within the confines of a black and white palette and create illusionary geometry that manipulates the context of space. I find both of these bodies of work to be very inspiring- from the cast shadows and collaged lines to the intricate folding and origami-like repeats. It would be fun to see a grand collaboration between these two women, wouldn’t it?

February 11, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Spotting Texture on Instagram

http://instagram.com/p/xgv8nwtu9L/?modal=true

I recently saw this image, screenshot it, and decided to do a quick post about the simplicity and dimension. A few days later, Megan Morton posted this prism-paper-cut-pineapple, citing Australian stylist, Marsha Golemac. As one does with Instagram, I dove into the exploration hole. To be expected, Golemac’s feed was fabulous. The array of work spanned cool styling, crisp photography and varied grids of all shapes and sizes.

http://instagram.com/p/x4udj4vnp4/?modal=true

Like me, I’m sure many of you used to find this kind of imagery in print publications – now, nearly everything is in real time and on Instagram. While I still buy bodega magazines for the editorial spreads, the never-ending stream of visuals has become my most valued source of inspiration.

http://instagram.com/p/nKt_bnAYtO/?modal=true

If you have a photographic memory, it’s almost sport to connect photos from unrelated sources. Scouring for new talent is much simpler as well. The interconnectedness of it all feels like we’re all intertwined, if not approachable – especially within niche communities.

So, back to 3D prisms. I think they’re great, and these creative variations explore a trend we’ve been seeing for a while. Curious to hear your thoughts, what’s the last thing you’ve seen multiples of in your feed? Share away!

January 21, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Retail: Denim & DIY Dip Dye

Anyone who works in retail display design knows there’s an endless amount of tlc that goes into every execution. Whether creativity is being sparked by budget constraints, deadlines, or oddball restrictions, the behind-the-scenes repertoire is intense and hands on.

Interestingly, the two photos I snapped above are a contrast of sorts. The ripped denim chandelier at Warm NY, is beautifully complimented by white brick and directional lighting. The fabric stripes break the height of the space, bringing a softness to an otherwise cavernous nook. The results are effortlessly cool and bohemian.

The indigo dip dye cotton below, in contrast, is used to hide the department store ceiling at Selfridges in London. Not an easy feat. Both simulate a paralleling story, only this version seems 10x more time intensive. The display is beautiful, and busy, and actually reminds me a lot of wedding decor. What are your thoughts? Is this something you’d recreate and incorporate into your space?

August 27, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Retail Installations & Hanger Art

When I saw this at Anthropologie a while back, I was floored at how dry cleaner hangers could live an ethereal life beyond their intended purpose…but that’s what good retail installations do, right? They take ordinary, everyday objects and give them new meaning. These triangular ribbons mimic an avian theme and I love it. What do you think?

August 7, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik