Pattern Pulp

The Business of Creativity




Last week, I had the good fortune of speaking with Gwen Moran of Fast Company on the business of creativity and the art of finding inspiration from your surroundings. Moran asked how observing the world and sketching patterns can help you become a better problem solver.

In my experience, creating patterns has always been a balance of art and science – where I’ve been forced to use both the left and right sides of my brain to solve a problem. Where one side is whimsical and exploratory, the other is technical and mathematic. When you give yourself space to focus on particular details beyond your regular routine, solutions often present themselves in unexpected forms. It’s all an overlapping web of connectivity.

I’m really proud to be a part of the piece – give it a go if you have a moment!

 

November 1, 2016 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Draw It with Your Eyes Closed




For those of us who’ve been out of (art and/or design) school for a while, living and working in our modern world where we’re confronted with constant image and info overload, it’s not hard to miss the days when we were encouraged to step away from our best judgement and stretch our creativity to the limit. Draw It with Your Eyes Closed: The Art of the Art Assignment presents 100+ art assignments, anti-assignments and artworks from both teachers and students from a broad range of institutions. The book is sure to get your creative juices flowing, inspiring original thought processes and work, as well as serve as an archive and record of the evolving oral tradition of the art assignment. Not just for artists and designers, this is a great book to give any and everyone’s brain a little creative push.

Get going with this excerpt from the book! 

Color Walk

Take a color walk. Give yourself at least one hour of uninterrupted time. Do not plan your walk in advance or combine it with other activities (commuting, shopping, etc.). Try not to talk or interact with other people during this time. You will not need to bring a cell phone, journal, camera, or iPod. You will not be graded or evaluated on your color walk.

You can begin your color walk anywhere. Let color be your guide. Allow yourself to become sensitized to the color in your surroundings. As you walk try to construct a color story or a narrative based on color you observe. What are the colors that you become aware of first? What are the colors that reveal themselves more slowly? What colors do you observe that you did not expect? What color relationships do you notice? Do colors appear to change over time? We will discuss the color walks in our next class.

—Munro Galloway

 

March 15, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Precursor & Tatyana




On my most recent trip to Japan I made my way out to Daikanyama, an indie pocket within Tokyo where a new bookshop recently opened. The visit was pretty memorable, as the establishment known as Tatyana was an interesting spin on the brick and mortar institution of literary commerce. With impecable curation, decor and ambiance, people are already saying this institution sets a new industry benchmark. One of the books I lost an hour to was Precursor.

The compilation showcases a vast array of young designers moving fluidly between established creative titles. From graphic designer and advertiser to street artist, video director, typographer, illustrator, product designer, and musician. Despite or because of the way they work, they are profoundly innovative and remarkably determined at realizing their creative visions and personal style.

Precursor introduces outstanding young design talent from around the world. Although regional creative differences and design traits still exist, the examples collected truly speak to the Patten Pulp aesthetic.

Imagery via edhv

 


January 5, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Graphic Design Thinking




A good part of creativity may be an inborn talent, but it’s also a hard-earned skill that improves with time and practice. Graphic Design Thinking: Beyond Brainstorming centers on how to define problems, get ideas and create form.

These concepts are explored through a variety of informal techniques ranging from quick, seat-of-the-pants approaches to more formal research methods for stimulating fresh thinking, and ultimately arriving at compelling and viable solutions. As a designer, writer, curator, and educator, author Ellen Lupton is well suited for the task of extolling the virtues and vices of creative research that includs focus groups, interviewing, brand mapping, and co-design.

Cover image via Anny Mary Liu

 

September 7, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Event: Show & Tell at the PSFK Conference




matt-moore

Tomorrow marks the 3rd annual PSFK Conference in New York City hosted by my good friend and colleague, Piers Fawkes and his team at PSFK.com.  I have been fortunate enough to attend every year and can soundly say that the event never fails to exceed expectations.  I’m particularly excited to hear Matt Moore of MWM Graphics speak about his working style and inspirations.  Moore has a portfolio of patterns that would make make any art director smile.  His seamless transition from crafty to commercial has pleased clients ranging from Nike and BMW to Burton and Oilily.  If you’re in tomorrow’s Battery Park crowd, swing by for a hello, I’ll be the one with the polka dot name tag.

April 1, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

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