retro me fancy!

WOW! Who said responsibilities could take up your whole life?! Ha! Work work work, no play? Well, to be honest my play is looking into blogs, pics and books about art, fashion, design and food! J'ADORE searching for sources of inspiration that always end up coming handy. So here I am sitting on my bed with the computer in my lap (replacing my boyfriend that's in a spectacular trip in India {insert jealous face here}!), coming from store-hopping through various furniture stores and thinking about decoration :) So here ya go, my favorite results from today!!!

n8w

Nate Williams is a fantastic illustrator I recently discovered, who's illustrations looked very familiar to me. As I researched a bit into him, I noticed that he had some artwork done for United Airlines, and it clicked! Those beautiful illustrations I had seen on the airline's magazine where his! He has also done work for Urban Outfitters, Coca Cola, Cartoon Network, etc.
What caught my attention at first (before seeing his work) was a poster done for Mr. Walter Ferguson (also known as Gavitt or Dr. Bombodee), an excellent Costa Rican calypso singer, a fellow citizen and a great artist! Williams has also done posters for about Costa Rican Bribris, a local indigenous tribe...only making me like his work even more! Sit, relax, and enjoy...(as I imagine Mr. Williams would say)!

moomah

Moomah is a creative arts cafe located in Tribeca NYC, targeted for children and parents. The project was developed by Apartment One Design based in Brooklyn, NY. Their approach was to create a visual language based on conceptual illustrations, to create a memorable brand that has no need of a logo.
It's hard to create a concept for a commercial store such as a cafe for kids that encompasses the everyday lives of children, such as playing, crafting, learning, eating (healthy) and, most importantly, imagining. Apartment One managed to incorporate all of those, in a logo-less brand!

love, jenna

Talented calligrapher Jenna Hein is gaining fame in the design world with her beautiful designs. Her clients include president Barack Obama amongst others that have requested her work in invitations, wedding props and restaurants. If you're an avid typography fan or just love fancy swirls and beautiful invitations, be sure to check her out!

it's necklace season!

Beatriz Camacho

Oscar de la Renta

Elie Tahari

Jose & Maria Barrera

Antonio Marras

Summer days, deep cleavages, sandals, tshirts,...I'm thinking accessories! There's no better accessory than the one that shouts style, glam, or whichever statement you're in the mood for! Now, we all know what's in style: BIG! I'm blogging some of my fav in-season necklaces from top designers. They might be a bit (or a whole-lot to be realistic) out of our range, but looking at them will bring nothing but a feast for the sight! Enjoy!

mouse graphics

A company that started in 1984 and grew to be a large creative design company. I took interest on Mouse Graphics because of it's packaging project on Sugarillos sugar sticks, but as I searched the company I found many more interesting projects. Have a look :)

Hello, Wilson!

Some beautiful illustrations by HELLOWILSON!

A Yorkshire girl in Rome, via Oxford. Eating pasta, drinking coffee and doing some graphic designing in between. Here is a sample of some new stuff I'm working on.

Another Big Fish-ilicious!

I bumped into this beautifully designed package of Mr. Bunbury's cakes and brownies, while searching for some inspirations for coffee packaging.
Oh my! It looks absolutely tasty!
UK's Packaging News says:
Big Fish has designed the packaging for a range of biscuits by ex-Gü commercial director Nick Fox, called Mr Bunbury.
Big Fish creative director Perry Haydn Taylor said: We liked the Vaudevillian theatrical language. We wanted to create a theatre on which the cakes can play. Each cartonboard box, made by Qualvis in Leicester, has a die-cut open window. Five biscuits are individually flow-wrapped inside each box. The London-based design agency, which also designed the packaging for Gü Chocolate Puds, has taken a stake in Mr Bunbury.

Sometimes I get so angry that I don't get to come across with beautiful designs in the supermarket. You see, Costa Rica isn't that design-savvy, so most of the things I do see I have to search them over the internet! Of course, I'm over a year late with this one, but the good news is that I found it after all!

Lauren Moshi

Based on their love of the finer things in life, brother and sister team, Michael and Lauren have created their own standout clothing company, Lauren Moshi. Michael and Lauren are inspired by high fashion and fine art. Lauren Moshi creates unique pieces that are meticulously crafted in limited quantities. Every mark, every line on every piece is hand drawn by Lauren. Each garment is an original piece of artwork. The clothing is targeted towards customers who appreciate the finer details and intricate designs. They only use the finest fabrics for maximum comfort. Lauren Moshi’s current collection consists of fabulous tanks, tee’s, hoodies, sweat pants and open cardigans, which are adorned with art of everything from camellia’s, rock, helmets, alligators, seahorses, sword hearts, bows, dream, diamond lips, diamonds, peacocks, dream catchers, octopus’s, biker gloves, love potions, netting, fleur de lis, diamond skulls, choppers, and rockers…

Babees Honey

Although most bloggers have post this product because of their lovely packaging design, I'm blogging it because of the absolutely beautiful and rich logo!
I believe the most successful logo is the one who manages to communicate almost perfectly what the product is selling, and in this case of Babees Honey by Polish Ah&Oh Studio, I simply want to eat it! Not only does the logo looks delicious, but it also flows like honey. Sticky. In fact, I might just go grab a spoonful of honey from my cupboard. Enjoy!
Ah&Oh says: "A simple and little idea of packing for honey. We tried to treat jar as a playground for a character design. Dark cap and stripes made the idea quite clear. Through this project we tried to encourage kids to reach for honey instead of refined sugar. Especially for them we create logo which smiles bee’s face. It’s hand calligraphed, custom made, and it softens the overall simple, geometric look of the packaging."

Back on the map with Jamie Oliver!

Well...now that graduation is over and there's no more running around for last minute errands, I can focus on what I LOVE: design!
I've been meaning to blog about some of Jamie Oliver's packaging products done by non-other than Pearlfisher. The design firm describes the project in its website as:

Task: New brand creation, developing a new lifestyle concept that elevates the Jamie Oliver experience from the kitchen to the home.

Scope: Strategy, logo, brand identity, corporate identity, structural design, secondary packaging, tone of voice, naming, pack and web copy. Over 170 SKUs.

I adore the feeling that it has been hand-made, and its creativeness that I think focuses on variety. Everything looks different as a single piece, but they all look like they belong to the same brand. Ingeniousness!

Korres

I've been recently applying to jobs/internships since I'm graduating in May, and Pearlfisher's question brought me back to my blog. It asked to write about a specific brand I've been passionate about, and it hit me: why hadn't I blogged about Korres before?
I have always been a big fan of Korres products, especially because of they’re sassy way of playing with hierarchy using type and color. Also, the use of imagery is a perfect example of making open compositions to attract attention to detail, and a way of activating the design.
They describe themselves in their website (which, by the way, is a MUST SEE!): "Korres Natural Products is a Greek company with roots in Athens' first ever Homeopathic Pharmacy. Set up in 1996 with the aim to utilise its extensive scientific resources for the creation of beneficial and safe products, the company today offers a complete skin and hair care range, make-up, sun care products and herbal preparations. A team of experienced scientists worked closely to make this happen, sharing common goals and values."
If I'm not mistaken, the whole line and interior designed was developed by K2 Design in Greece.