Post Office Inspiration

I went a little crazy at the post office yesterday! I couldn't resist. Check out these new stamps. The LOVE ones would be perfect for wedding invitations!

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!

Delta Sky Magazine

Took a flight last night, really enjoyed the design of the Delta Sky Magazine. Here is also a link to the website.

SPD: Behind the Design... Rihanna

Behind the Design... Rihanna. This short video of how many thumbnails went into one opening spread for W Magazine--threw me back to my days in art school.

Design Process: Rihanna from SPD Videos on Vimeo.

Olympic Stamps

I can't wait for the Olympics! Two of my loves, the Olympics & Stamps included in this post.

From USA - USPS Illustrator: Steve McCrackenFrom EstoniaCanada's stamps: Since it's the host country they have some fabulous designs!

An article from HOW about designing the Olympic games.

Happy New Year!

This week I was having drinks with some design-y friends over at Jen's. I happened to notice this great card sitting on the table. You know when you have one of those moments in which you know you surround yourself with such talented people?

BECAUSE...Ellen chimes in to admit that she designed the card for the Robin Hood Foundation. (no Ellen did not send Jen the card!) Such gorgeously designed cards, and the funds go to a great cause. Happy 2010 everyone and wishing you all an amazingly creative year.

Winter Song

After the snowy weekend I found this song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson and can't help but love the graphically driven video. The song is from this Hotel Cafe album. Looks like cut paper, so creative. Enjoy.

Lonny Magazine: Holiday Issue

Just flipped through the new Lonny Magazine and I am loving so many of the articles and photography. They showcased a few stores and we know how much I love visual merchandising! I also clicked through to a few objects that I thought I may want to purchase. What a great feature in an online magazine. (Especially now = holiday gift time) Check out the new issue. It keeps getting better & better. I am wondering though, where the old issue went? Do I need to start screen capturing my favorite 'looks'?

Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog

Gorgeous Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog cover & interiors. Design by Yulia Brodskaya.

Seen via NOTCOT

To Life, To Life: L'Chaim

SO lately I've been seeing L'Chaim (which means To Life' in Hebrew) used as a design element. (1) Built By Wendy Tee Shirt (2) Cheers Glasses at CB2 (3) Jay-Z L'Chaim Foil Star Logo T-Shirt & let's not forget the summer song of '09 (4) Black Eyed Peas - Mazal Tov (L’chaim)

Food Inc.

Last night I saw Food Inc. Which was a great movie. The graphics and opening sequence done by BIGSTAR impressed me. Chipotle is having some free screenings of the movie around the US next week.

Wedding design advice

{image by adesignaffair}

When I returned home from traveling last week I noticed one of my fellow alumns Courtney of designworklife started a new wedding blog called Head vs. Heart (amazing name!). I was like 'no she didn't' 'she did!' 'yay'. Courtney is getting married soon & its a way for her to muse about wedding design like no other wedding blog I have come across yet.

I have a few weddings coming up in 2009/2010 and seem to be the go to for creative wedding advice, especially when choosing a Ketubah. I did some extensive research for my cousin this week and here are a few of my favorites.

1) the ketubah by Stephanie Caplan (by far my favorite)
2) Danny Azoulay Papercuts
3) Ketubah Graphia
4) Aqua Studio
5) New Ketubah
6) Dena Levie's amazing papercut designs

I went to sleepaway camp when I was younger and this time of year always reminds me of my camp days. The Mrs. over at Jewish Wedding Network has been highlighting couples this week who chose to have their big day at a summer camp site. Loving the pictures and stories.

Also stumbled upon Laura Hooper Calligraphy in my searches. Love her style & event maps.

Edible Good Luck Charm!

Thank you Tatyana who sent me over this posting. Seems there is a new product/marketing concept which I can see becoming popular. I enjoy anything these days that is tangible and can arrive in my mailbox. Check out the Kit Kat Mail: A New Edible Good Luck Charm over at psfk.

(also seen via trendcentral)

King and Queen of Hearts!

Here I was whining that the postage went up to $.44 yesterday (yes I still mail letters), but after seeing these stamps I am running out to the post office TODAY to purchase the King & Queen of Hearts stamps designed by Derry Noyes (Art Dirctor at USPS) and Jeanne Greco. Hello 'in love' with the latest 'love' stamp...

Designer Baby Gifts

A graphic designer friend of mine just had a baby girl. I have been brainstorming what to get her that is both design saavy and unique. Below are some of my first thoughts. Any more ideas to share with me?(1)Kernie Plush Pal. (2)Alphabet Zoo Onesie. (3)Robin Rosenthal Numbers Poster. (4)Matching Shades Puzzle. (5)Alphazeds, by Shirley & Milton Glaser (6)Roobez Shoes (kinda like the LOVE sculpture) (7)Bowling Set, Nurit Amdur, 2008 (8)Photo Mobile, Will van den Bos, 2003 (9)Yiddish Bibs (10)Little Tykes Easel.

Schiller's Liquor Bar Design Notes

I recently went to brunch with friends at Schiller's and was loving all the graphics, the menu and the interior design. Every detail was thought about - from the wine bottle to the tile floors! Ellen reminded me Mucca Design is behind the great look. For more images and design take a look at Schiller's Liquor Bar website.{Images from Mucca Design}

Tropicana Reverts back to Classic Logo

I don't know about you, but my fellow designers and I have had much debate lately over the new Tropicana packaging/logo designed by Peter Arnell. This week I heard they are reverting back to the old classic packaging. Wow, I haven't lived through any re-verts instead of re-designs and I am happy to see the old logo reinstated. Why mess with what works? (We do however like the rounded cap!)

"The new design confused our core consumers and that's why we went back," said Massimo d'Amore, CEO of PepsiCo Americas Beverages, but "people do not buy design. They buy products. We have not changed the product." See whole article from the NYPost.

From trendcentral
"And by the way: Think your opinion matters? Well, Tropicana sure does. Overwhelmingly negative consumer feedback in regards to their new juice packaging drove the orange juice giant to return to the former design. Talk about power to the people!"

ps. trendcentral's daily newsletter is GREAT!

Drawing Board to the Desktop: A Designer’s Path

Michael Bierut recalls his early career and its trajectory from drawing board to desktop computer in the NYTimes.

"If you worked in a design studio in 1980, you were surrounded by colored paper, rubber cement, X-Acto knives and cans of aerosol spray glue. Our work, whether an annual report or a poster, was done by hand." -MB

"I wish I worked in design in the 80s." -adesignaffair

Paula Scher: Now & Then @ FIT

PAULA SCHER: Now & Then
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Katie Murphy Amphitheatre, F.I.T.
27th Street & Seventh Avenue, NYC
7:00 - 8:30 PM, doors open at 6:30

"As a child of the sixties I was always rebellious. It came with the decade. I found that a form of rebelliousness is always present in my best work, and my work suffers when it is widely accepted and it becomes a part of the establishment.

This talk will show how I have rebelled against Helvetica, expectations of others, and mostly rebelled against myself." -Paula Scher

Click here for more info & to order tickets.

Women of Design

I want this Women of Design book!
"The women in this book have been divided into three groups, representative of the time in which their influence was most heartily felt: Groundbreakers, Pathfinders and Trailblazers. These three generations have helped shape the modern landscape of design. Explore the work, ideals and ventures that have helped define the last fifty years of the graphic design profession. Learn about the women who helped establish design’s relevance, importance and impact — and the ones who carry their tradition into new territory."