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Always a proponent of repetition, I thought I’d share two examples where patterns steal the show online. The above banners on The Sydney Morning Herald illustrate the power of color and graphic detailing when paired alongside text. Your eye is immediately drawn to the advertising, even before the duck.
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J.Crew illustrates a similar technique in their online holiday sale. When paired with text, large shapes with relevant or abstract meaning can be a wonderful compliment.
We’ve all been watching photorealism evolve over the past few years. From cat humor to 80’s wolves to political commentary, if it’s on tumblr, it’ll soon be on a one piece bathing suit, a McQueen dress or a Threadless tshirt. Lately we’ve been noticing the celebration of jewelry on other accessories. From Dannijo’s iphone case to Lanvin’s satin scarf, the Man Repeller-coined term, arm party has leaped past the wrist and onto product. Are you a fan?
We’ve all been there. You hit the return button 5x in a row, trying to get the ball to stop spinning and all of the sudden the screen pixelates, then goes blank. Well, several fashion brands have found inspiration in this state of chaos and still frustration. Mr. Hare of the UK and McQ, the contemporary line by Alexander McQueen have both slashed and repeated several images, infusing a playful reminder that our reliance on digital technology can be as vibrant as it is paralyzing.
Relaying this concept through animated gifs, Mauro De Donatis’s Glitched Helvetica breathes life and motion into this concept.
Digital Textile Design is a practical and inspiring book written for fabric designers and those looking to learn more about the burgeoning world of digital printing. Filled with more than 300 photographs and screen-grabs, this book offers 23 tutorials presented in an easy to follow, step-by-step format that guides the reader through the process of creating designs suitable for traditional and digital textile production.
Against the backdrop of the development of digital print, the book discusses how designers can access this new technique, looks at the work of those currently exploring it’s possibilities and has profiles of designers currently excelling in this form of design.
The book also features the growing movement of combining digital textile design skills with those of surface design to bring hand-rendered touches that offset the apparent flatness of print. Digital Textile Design is an excellent resource for anyone looking for the skills to translate their ideas into digital textile art.
If you’re familiar with the east village of Manhattan, you’re no stranger to the optimistic and wit-filled graffiti of James De La Vega. Words of advice and encouragement translated through adorable fish are painted on mattresses, walls and garbage cans throughout the city. In one of my favorite collaborations this year, Tory Burch and De La Vega have teamed up to design an exclusive collection featuring positive messages and original artwork.
The laptop case is my favorite (probably because my powerbook’s been covered in his stickers for years now), but check out the entire collection for yourself. All profits from the purchase of this collection benefit the Tory Burch Foundation, committed to providing economic opportunities to women and their families in the United States.
Doug Smithenry’s paintings are based on seemingly inconsequential events that occur on the web. Plucking scenes straight out of youtube videos they tell the collective sad story of how lessons go unlearned and heartfelt desires remain unfulfilled. Micro-celebrities and viral videos make frequent appearances, demanding our attention. Smithenry’s artwork tends to reflect on social media and its implications, recording in paint that which we never necessarily intended to be permanent, making us look at it closely and examine the lines between art reflecting life and vice versa. Click here for more info.
Packer Schopf: 942 W. Lake St. Chicago, IL 60607