Jennifer Daniel isn’t sure whether she should be considered an illustrator or a designer; but, regardless of the label, the Brooklyn based creator has a bevy of wit and sass that only matches her creativity. Her work has appeared regularly in many publications including The New York Times, Print, Seed, and Heeb Magazine. She was highlighted in Print Magazine’s “20 Under 30 New Visual Artists” issue in 2009 and was named an Art Director’s Club Young Guns 8 winner. As a talented designer as she is, she mostly considers herself to be funny person who loves to express her subversive wit in her work, which is probably what makes her work stand out so fabulously.
Leslie Friedman
Leslie Friedman was born in Providence, and while she currently lives in Philly, she still considers RI her home. During the summer of 2002, Leslie learned how to silk-screen at the basement printmaking workshop of the lauded arts non-profit, AS220. She received a BA in Political Science from Brown University in 2005 where she concentrated her studies in political theory and civil liberties. From 2005 to 2007, Friedman lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and built a printmaking studio in the historic neighborhood of San Telmo. She describes these years as fundamental to her maturation from poster maker to print artist. In the Fall of 2009, she began an MFA program in printmaking at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia.
Friedman’s alter-ego, LesliePVD, embodies the values embedded in Providence’s printmaking culture: the appreciation of industrial craft, the belief in DIY/punk ethos and the acknowledgment of the political and social historical significance of prints in promoting civil liberties. By blurring the line between rock n’ roll posters and fine art, LesliePVD aims to inspire spontaneous discussion and debate over complex contemporary environmental and social issues. Through humor, bold colors and collage, her serigraphs are funny, awkward, honest, expressive combinations of texture that awaken the democratic spirit.
Famille Summerbelle
The work of Famille Summerbelle first caught our eye with their whimsical and meticulously detailed paper cut city maps, landing them in the top of our pattern designers list. Created by Anglo/French duo Simon Summerscales and Julie Marabelle, the inspiration for Famille Summerbelle came from the combination of family life experiences and a love of design and interior decoration. Together, they sought create the things that they wanted for their own home. La Famille Summerbelle’s design aesthetic is grounded in creating a mix between France and the UK. Famille Summerbelle may be a growing global brand, but they are still clearly very much a family business, reflected in their family friendly designs and sustainably focused mindset.
All products are imagined and designed by Julie, whose background is a mix of Fine Art (which she studied in Paris), and Theatre Set Design (which she studied at St Martin’s in London). This provides a balance of both artisanal skill and an understanding of dramatic backdrop in her work. Simon is managing director, and comes from a background in advertising where he worked for the world’s largest independent advertising agency, Wieden + Kennedy. He has worked internationally with brands such as Nike, Honda, Nokia and the Guardian Media Group.
Book Review: Cutting Edge of Wallpaper
If you’re into design, you’ve likely noticed the world of wallpaper has been steadily catapulting itself out from under the stuffy florals and wacky geometrics of our past.
Today, wallpaper can be traditional or modern, stretching boundaries of what once defined it. The Cutting Edge of Wallpaper pays tribute to this exciting trend, looking at the techniques, products and designers at the forefront of contemporary wallpaper design.
The book is beautifully comprehensive with sections covering the background and history of wallpaper, an exploration on how technology changes have affected the field presently and in the future, and a look at some exciting collaborations and intersections with architecture and art. Of course, there are an abundance of examples from some of today’s top and emerging talents in print and wallpaper design, all filtered into the categories of figurative, abstract, decorative, architectural, technical and Interactive.
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Book Review: Pattern Design & Beyond
Fellow pattern lovers Claudia Brown and Jessie Whipple Vickery started their careers working on freelance graphic design projects. In 2007, the two decided to forgo the limitations of a strictly graphic design career and start Pattern People, their own surface design studio. The process of growing their now flourishing business has been exhilarating, though not always easy. The two recently pooled their insider secrets for their new e-book, Pattern Design & Beyond: An Insider’s Guide to Creating and Managing Your Own Surface Design Career.
With how-to pattern design guides, a thorough break-down of how the print industry operates and loads of helpful resources, their e-book provides a wealth of information for the burgeoning surface designer. The book also showcases over 80 international artists whose work illustrates the many print styles found in the market. Pattern Design & Beyond is an inspirational guide for students, professionals or anyone else with an appreciation for pattern design.
Book Review: Letterpress Love
Letterpress printing has been a comeback king in recent years. More and more stationary companies, design companies and designers have appropriated the old school technique and given it new life. In Reinventing Letterpress, or its American counterpart, The Little Book of Letterpress, Charlotte Rivers pays tribute to the designers of this resurgence by showcasing their lovely creations and telling the story behind each piece. The book also dishes the history of the craft and a background on different types of presses and techniques. A truly great find, brimming with color, crisp design and beautiful letterpress. Whether you’re a letterpress aficionado, curious about the art, or looking for some inspiration, it’s worth checking out this book.