Brand New

I am always interested in seeing and reading critiques when companies come out with either new logos or a refresh of their old branding. Brand New is a site that follows the redesigns and offers insights into the process, comparing type faces, colors and general feel. It makes for interesting reading, especially when you didn't even know that a redesign was in the works for a particular company, like this one for AOL's instant messenger which brings back fond memories of late night chats with friends all over the world. :)

Minted Design Challenge

I have entered the Minted design challenge for wedding invitations. You can view (and vote for!) my submission here.

In the Studio: Poster design

I have been working on a 30th Anniversary poster for a non-profit that I work with. Unfortunately, they decided to go in a different direction and abandon the poster all together, but I thought I would share what I had worked on for them, because I love the way it turned out.

Etsy Find: Rings to make you smile

How much fun are these rings? I especially love the mustache. And coffee lovers get their own ring as well. Check out SmilingSilverSmith's etsy shop for more.

Sol LeWitt: Structures

The Public Art Fund has put up an exhibit by Sol LeWitt in downtown Manhattan at City Hall Park called "Structures."
From the exhibit website:
Sol LeWitt, an artist whose profound and radical innovations allowed us to rethink the very nature of art, first found his mature artistic voice in the three-dimensional works he called structures. Sol LeWitt: Structures, 1965-2006, featuring 27 works made over more than 40 years, is the first outdoor career survey of this extraordinary and influential body of work.
Looks like something interesting to check out, although I sadly doubt I will actually make it in person.
Extra bonus - I love the way the exhibit site displays photos of the exhibit. As you scroll through, the photo which was half hidden on the screen in black and white bursts into full color.

MoMA Modern Playhouse

I have fond memories of playing with both my Fisher-Price playhouse and also with paper dolls. Never the two did meet. Now, meet the MoMA Modern Playhouse, which combines the two, incorporating the kind of design you would expect from something out of MoMA. The house can be arranged in any number of configurations, and there is a family to inhabit it as well. Read an excellent review here.

House of Shelves

I recently saw read about an amazing house in Osaka, Japan. It was designed by Japanese architect Kazuya Morita for a scholar of Islam with a very large book collection. He created a house which is covered floor to ceiling with built-in bookcases in just about every room, including the bathroom. Just looking at it made me gasp in amazement. You can read about it here and see more pictures here.

Blue Chameleon

I was recently given a copy of the beautiful children's book Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett by a friend who works in publishing. The book tells the tale of a lonely chameleon trying to find a friend by changing to look like them, but in the end finding that he really fits best being himself and friends with another chameleon. The illustrations were done in colored pencil on rough watercolor paper and give them great texture.

One extra bonus is the opening copyright information page!

Way Back Machine

Do you remember how Google looked when it was first launched? I thought it was the same as it is now. Well, using the Way Back Machine I discovered that while it was pretty similar, it had a definite 90's feel.


This site has a archive of screen shots from websites, preserving the history of the web. It's fun to play around and see how sites have changed.

Designer Barcodes

Now coming to a package near you, designer bar codes. Apparently as long as a certain amount of it is readable, the barcaode can be made into a work of art. Read more about it here and see the accompanying slideshow for more images.

In the Studio: Jaclyn's Bridal Shower

I hope to start a new series here, sharing some of the design work that I am doing, besides for the cards on my etsy shop.

Here is a bridal shower invitation for Jaclyn and David. It was going to be a Victorian-style elegant affair and we wanted to capture that feeling in the invitation. It a fun theme to work with and we were pleased with how it turned out!

Havaianas Welcome Mat

I found an ingenious welcome mat, designed by Anchalee Chambundabongse for Havaiana, a flip flop store (which seems pretty awesome in it's own rite - you can design your own flip flops!). It combines a friendly doormat with pop-out flip flops.

Don't you wish this was waiting outside your door?


I have changed the header of the blog to be simpler and easier to read. What do you think?

Caribou Coffee bus stops

Caribou Coffee is promoting their new line of warm sandwiches with the most amazing ad campaign in Minneapolis. The bus shelters even have real heaters inside! Sigh - I wish my bus stop had one of those...
(HT: http://foodbeast.com)

Last holiday card

Here it is - direct from Lithuania! From http://www.dreisena.blogspot.com
I love how she dealt with the inside of the card - totally unexpected!

Outside:

Inside: