Magnificent Baby

Heading to the National Gift Show on Sunday. It's been forever since I've gone & I'm excited to see all the booths and wonderful new products. Will definitley blog about it here next week.

Especially looking forward to seeing Lauren & Larry of Magnificent Baby! I branded their company awhile back & they are the hottest new item among baby clothing. Magnetic! You can also read about them at Daily Candy Kids. They are at booth 5612 if you want to check them out! I took some images at the Magnificent Baby offices last week.

I am LOVING the new patterns and how the little details I suggested during the branding/production add to the product!

Goodbye to More Friends...

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goodbye to Gourmet & Cookie magazine (which was designed so well!)

Ax Falls on Four Condé Nast Titles...

Conde Nast's closure of Gourmet shakes up magazine industry...

Lonny magazine launched last week just as these four made their way out...

Foodzie

I learned about Foodzie on a wonderful design/trend call yesterday called: THE SIMPLE – Visual trends that cut through the clutter, given by Pam Grossman (Lead Americas Creative Researcher at Getty Images)! When this livecast is available to watch online I will blog more about it! She was phenomenal & I learned a lot about how Getty images jumps on trends. Reminded me why I am a designer. I love those moments. Thanks to HOW for sponsoring it!

Anyway enjoying browsing through all these homemade foods that you can buy! It's like etsy for food. Yum.

Say it isn't so, DOMINO!

I don't even know what to say. Domino magazine is no more. Every month I await its arrival. Last January Blueprint & House and Home bit the dust as well. I'm going to have to pick up Domino: The Book of Decorating ASAP. I hope they leave the domino website up---I know many who use the gallery section for inspiration. I'm going to have to start importing my magazines from other countries. Elle Decoration from the UK to start! Any other suggestions?

Notes from the 2008 HOW Conference

I'm here at the HOW Conference & my head is spinning with all the amazing advice, inspiration, and design sessions I've attended. More to come later this week. For now here's what some of the other conference attendees are saying!

Designers: GIMME the SCOOP, John S. Howard, The Search's Kiss, The How Design Blog, UnderConsideration Day 1, and UnderConsideration Day 2.

JCPenney and Manhattan?

This image stopped me in my tracks. JCPenney, Welcome to NYC, Manhattan Mall, Summer 2009.

Penny for Your Thoughts

Literally! As postage is now going to increase one cent on May 12th. On Sunday night I watched this segment on 60 minutes about the controversy of keeping the penny or getting rid of it --- completely! I don't remember any mention about U.S. postage, and I can't imagine all U.S. postage rounding up to the nearest 5 cent.

Already people have cut back on sending out letters and cards, which breaks my heart as to me nothing can replace a handwritten note. Sometimes I think the act of writing letters will soon be a rarity; I'm happy to be amongst the rare.

Goodbye to Old Friends

The New Year is off to a great start, but alas I must say goodbye to two old friends. House & Garden and Blueprint Magazines are done, finite, final...sad.
Blueprint you were only a baby. Only 8 issues, but such wonderful issues at that. The powers that be at Martha Stewart are taking the Blueprint brand and blogging over at Bluelines. It hasn't captivated my design eye yet. I'll miss the beautiful creative photography & design of Blueprint. Nothing can replace the feeling of holding and flipping through a magazine.

And House & Garden (which is now being directed to Domino magazine) I haven't forgotten you. Thank you for the inspiring British decor in your last issue & for going out with a bang. You deserve it! The times we spend together during college -- I will never forget. Those late nights finding inspiration for my fashion projects. Sigh:: Days like today remind me that it is ok to save old issues & tearsheets.

Uncover Your Inner Brand

In domino magazine this month there is an article on Carrie and Danielle, who for a fee can help you find your inner brand. With our over branded-logo redesigned-find yourself-identity crisis-culture one can only wonder if these two are on to something.
*Check out their inspiring Friday focus emails.