Window Wednesdays: Enjoy the Summer

Happy Fourth of July--week. I'm off to do some traveling without my computer. We both need some separation time away from one another! I'm looking forward to soaking up some design inspiration, writing letters, and will post again in August.

Take some time to enjoy the tastes, smells, and colors of SUMMER.
{American Eagle window decal}

Add this to my wish list...

While browsing Urban Outfitters this weekend I came across this wonderful book Illustration Play. It's a wonderful collection of artists who are pushing the envelope with handmade materials. Many of my favorites are inside with sneak peaks about how they create their style! A MUST-MUST have.

Official PR release
"Getting more boredom from the computer-dominated design world, we always crave for new ways and trends of illustration. Appealing to the curious in all of us, our latest released title Illustration • Play will give you an insight into that! The title reveals the very different signature skills and unique styles of various illustration techniques and experiments, such as paper cutting, stitchery, hand knit, fabric piecing, origami, patchwork, etc. With exclusive interviews, lets’ spread the pages and understand more about diverse yet distinct perspective of each featured artists in a total number of 23 from around the globe!"

New York Times>> Down With Helvetica: Design Your Own Font

Great article in the NYTimes about fonts. Yummy fontness to my Friday. The article itself has some great links, but here's the restaurant logo Woodberry Kitchen that is mentioned. I (of course) had to look it up! {Illustration by James C. Best, Jr. for NYTimes}

Window Wednesdays: Interesting Way to Say 'SALE'

Diesel Store, NYC
L'Occitane, NYC
Love the visual typography.
Victoria's Secret, NYC
Stitch your way to the sale.
Anthropologie, Flatiron District, NYC
What a unique way to use cupcake liners.

Tuesday Inspirational Links

From Debbie Millman's site:
-Embrance your future
-Short film essay about Charles & Ray Eames. Did you pick up your stamps yet? I did!

Some Illustrators i liked from this month's Communication Arts magazine:
-Ann Field
-Fernanda Cohen
-Thomas Broomé

Spotted this Illustrator/Designer in New York Times:
-Oliver Munday

HOW Conference Notes--Finally!

So I am getting ready to give a small presentation at work about what I saw, learned & absorbed at the How Design Conference. I know I blogged earlier about some speakers & sessions, but here are some more in-depth notes & pictures. I'm going to write about my favorite sessions.

HOW CONFERENCE 'A DESIGNED LIFE' Session
My day began with Joe Duffy of Duffy Design presenting about living A Designed Life. The culture & space of this design firm in Minnesota is beautiful. They overlook the Mississippi River and the interior is a place that makes you want to CREATE amazing things.

I learned a lot about their design process and how they present their work to the client. One example of the many he gave was the branding of THE BAHAMAS. Remember this? I do! It took over the Manhattan subway system just when one would say be planning a vacation getaway! However, we just saw the ads and maybe the website. Once the branding was finished they did a limited edition branded book that went to the people of the Bahamas (in the newspaper) to explain how the re-branding was a positive thing and would add to tourism (which is the number one money maker for the islands).Some advice I took away from this presentation-
“WE BELIEVE the greater opportunity is about helping people live a designed life

It’s not about being a designer, or even a creative professional

It’s about discovering what defines you, what inspires you–personally and professionally–to create your best life, as you define it

It’s about a way of looking at things; a way of making decisions to create a life that is more satisfying in all aspects.

A designed life may look entirely different at 25 than it does at 52

It’s about your toothbrush, your music list, what you do for a living, what you do for fun, where you live, how you dress, where you vacation, and how you entertain.”

Have a healthy perspective on your work. There is no such thing as timeless design. What did Joe mean by that? I’ll give you his example. Duffy Design worked hard to design SMART START packaging for Kellogg’s. Remember this packaging? It was clean, different from everything else on shelf & really made an impact.
Now it looks like this!
Same goes for Classico tomato sauce and Minute Maid orange juice.

Charles S. Anderson Design 'DESIGN ENTREPRENEUR' Session
Courtney over at designworklife did a great job of talking about this session. We went to college together & it was great to share some meals & discuss the sessions with her in Boston.

The Handwritten Letter

This weekend I nonchalantly told my younger cousin that I'd be waiting for him to write me a letter from 'Camp'. He told me he would only be emailing, because writing letters is so 18th century. I was saddened to hear this. In camp we didn't have computer stations and mail-call was looked forward to each day. Yes some children received faxes from their parents, but even the fax was handwritten. I haven't written a letter in awhile and long for the days of picking out the perfect piece of laid stationary to scribe my thoughts. Not only do I love writing letters, but receiving them as well. There is nothing like original handwriting. It's a window into a person's soul. I love these thoughts from a Mohawk paper printed piece that I have here in the office.


Thinking of writing a letter or postcard this summer? The Modern Letter Project has some great post, products, and interviews to inspire you.