Type Trends from New York & London

The weekend before last, Deborah Needleman and her editorial team unveiled their first issue of T Magazine. While it got some flack for it’s lack of diversity, I was mostly stuck on the logo and type treatments. Yes, they’re glossy, sharp and modern. Yes, they look like every other fashion brand marketing their goods on Fifth Ave or Columbus Circle, so why, when you’re pushing the needle forward under the umbrella of the New York Times, don’t you go a bit more unexpected? The execution seemed uncharacteristically safe. Nonetheless, it’s clean, elegant and on trend for what we’re seeing both locally and abroad.

Then there’s Jessica Hische, who I’ve forever been a fan and have been following since her early Daily Drop Cap days. Her abilities with type are far-reaching and her originality is addictive to follow. I may be bias here, but it seems like she’s responsible for the evolution of this 3D block technique over the past few years. This type treatment makes a timeless statement and the enlarged real estate allows for color, shading and pattern blocking.

Revealing the playful direction one can take, here’s London’s Carnaby Street Shopping Guide from 2012. Fun, bright and noncontroversial.

February 27, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Conversations in Cross-stitching

It’s an interesting phenomenon when DIY techniques are applied to luxury homegoods. You peruse the store thinking, my goodness, I could make that, then probably never do. The technical finesse and process behind what looked like a simple execution is rarely realized in the moment. Case in point: These clever burlap needlepoint pillows from ABC Carpet and this cross stitched living room set from Furniture Row on Greene Street.

This highly exaggerated design works well in other scenarios as well- particularly in retail display. I snapped this typographic lace signage during a trend trip to London last year while at the Converse store on Carnaby Street. Simple and ingenious, wouldn’t you say?

February 19, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Design & Divide

The room, that is. Who else is in the process of reinventing their home? I recently moved and am in turbo furnishing mode. Now that my office is also a home office, I’m attempting to section areas off in elegant artistic ways.

Which leads me to Custhom’s newest product collaboration, the modular room divider. They’ve taken their Offset Collection, a beautifully mismatched pattern and applied it to birch-faced ply to create one of the most elegant screens I’ve ever come across. What do you think? How do you compartmentalize your home environment?

September 28, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

The Art of Illustrative Journalism

Illustrative journalism is a pretty big deal in my playbook. When I was a kid, my grandfather would subscribe to a different magazine every year and I’d fall in love again every January.

Art directing a story isn’t a simple task and the creative minds in charge of hiring talent always amaze me. Much like the power of a good book cover, a great illustration tells multiple narratives.

Above are a few selected images from last week’s New York Times. We have I Love Dust, Adam Hayes and Josh Cochran. These artists have created texture and depth using an assigned storyline. Personally I love the busyness of it all- do these work for you?

July 30, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: London Design Guide

Life’s serendipitously connected, we all know that. As soon as you start noticing something interesting, it pops up two or three times in a row. So it goes with today’s book review. Not long after admiring Peter Crawley’s portfolio, we stumbled upon this book cover. When the content matches it’s packaging, the design world rejoices. Such is the case of the LONDON DESIGN GUIDE 2012-2013.

Following the success of the first edition, London’s only comprehensive design guide returns with a totally updated and rewritten second edition, offering up fresh insight into the city’s contemporary and vintage retailers, design galleries, museums and bookshops.

Shops are categorized by neighborhood and accompanied by detailed maps – plus walking tours written by local tastemakers including Sheridan Coakley, Tom Dixon and Kit Kemp – to help navigate the best that the city has to offer. You’ll find restaurant, bar and café recommendations, selected as much for their design credentials as for the quality of food and service. The book also includes 10 short essays by local experts including Naomi Cleaver, Hugh Pearman and Libby Sellers, each discussing an aspect of the industry. Additional imagery via London Design Guide.

May 31, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Mens Fashion: Folk Spring Prints

We all have those stores we look forward to visiting when we go to a familiar place. For me, that’s Lambs Conduit Street in London and more specifically, Folk Clothing.

The vibe reminds me of Steven Alan for the British set. Masculine, with hints of color and stylish yet not overdone. The detailing’s always unique and the footwear’s a staple in my husband’s closet. I’m a huge fan of their prints, knits and leather goods. It also looks like they’ll be getting a nice cameo in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, looking forward to seeing the product collaboration.

What are some of your favorite repeat locals?

March 27, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik