Speaking of textiles

My last post get me thinking about what makes a textile special, what makes it important to people. Marimekko is a Finnish company that has been around since the 50's. I was introduced to the company as a child from my mom and their products have held a special place in my heart since then.

Though much of the clothes and textiles flabbergast most of my generation and send silent chills of horror through my parents some of the patterns hold up. Although the they might not be  the height of sexy sophistication the bright colors and bold treatment of subject matter are more important that ever in today's world.

With fashion and interiors reflecting the harsh edge of the current mental state theses happy prints seem like a ray of sunshine. They act like like a placebo for interiors brightening and lightening. The above patterns are great examples of bold prints. The bold shapes that act as focal points seem simple at first but are balanced out by small details, like the detailing on the lily pad and the tree like rings radiating out the center of the circles. The red print also has a great sense of visual texture appearing almost hand made contrasting the with the texture of the flat abstract veining on the lily pads.

Both of these floral prints take the cake over stuffy Victorian styles. They have a deeply Scandinavian sensibility, a mix European detail with Japanese simplicity. The rich texture of the blooms on the purple grounded work balances out the alternating symmetrical pattern of the blossoms. This is quite opposite the more delicate balance of the other work is more asymmetrical, giving the whole a more organic feel. The naturalistic movement of the red blossomed piece is a direct counterpoint to the almost frozen feel of its neighbor.

Bold textiles can be risky but done correctly can work as there own works of art. The sky plays a big part in both of these textiles, a great option for a window treatment. The abstract red white and blue shapes mimic the clouds behind them in the first fabric. Its movement stems from the general repetition of shape over the whole. It stands in contrast to the flat abstraction of the birch trees  in the second, both using asymmetrical balance to create a more unified swath of fabric. The firsts movement contrasts greatly to the seconds flatness, paralleling the differences with focal point. In the first the blue object is a more ambiguous focal point to the bold statement of the birch tree, the predominant focal point in the second work.

This is just a sample of some of the textile designs from Marimekko more available at their website. They are hard to get a hold of but the spirit is what should be noted. The ability of art and design to shape our world on a day to day basis is amazing. In unsure economic times, and a confused political climate it is important to keep ourselves happy, and whats an easier way than a cheery print on the slipcover, or some bright curtains? So, take some time to design some happy into your life.

P.S. For more wallet friendly Scandinavian designed textiles try Ikea, you can cut to length and they have great curtain systems at good prices.

All photos copyright of Marimekko

Stiching up a broken heart

Photo: Cody Torgersrud 

People deal with grief in their own ways, it can be destructive or productive. Avis Collins Robinson quilt "My Mamma is Dead" was a memorial piece completed in memory of her mother. The full sized quilt is constructed in a linear and geometric form in the colors red black and white. Though she is African-American Robinson's piece immediately strikes one as having a distinct Native American sensibility about it. Lifting both the color pallet and some of the form from work typical of certain Native American groups.

The background of the piece is a black grid laid out upon a white background. The choppy, less horizontally elongated, areas of the upper and lower regions are divided by the field of horizontal forms found in the middle, giving the whole work asymmetrical balance without making the form seem to stiff or trite. The long stripes even work to frame the more intricate geometric patterns located in the far ends of the quilt and while stabilizing the work with the heavy horizontal bars found towards  the top and bottom. The red shapes preform many jobs across the work. They provide not only a sense of unity, tying the inner shapes to the outer thin border via color, but also a way to break up the pattern giving the work a sense of punctuated uneven staccato rhythm. The red also leads the eye around the work  making it move up and down the framework of the black in a meandering path.

The work must really be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Not only does Robinson play with the visual texture via the bold color and shape choices but the physical texture is, of course, a whole additional layer of the work. It taken out of context the visual elements could be perceived to be of an almost Malevich-ian flatness but in person the full depth of texture becomes apparent. The work who appears so bold and harsh in still a quilt and is structured out of fabrics like corduroy conveying a sense of softness that was not apparent at first look. From across the gallery this work instantly hits the eye with the basic color pattern and aggressive form structure but on closer inspection draws the viewer into a visually tactile experience quite contrary from its original impression. The ridged layers of corduroy are contrasted against flatter rougher textiles giving even the areas the same in color a sense of depth and movement.

This work is a beautiful work of craftsmanship and a fitting tribute to a lost mother. The complex series of emotions that are grief play out across this work. The numb pain overlaid with the cruel structure that must be maintained to keep going is interspersed with the violent residual longing pain and anger. Truly, a touching work meticulously executed with layers of meaning and visual interest. This piece along with many others are currently on display in UC Davis' Nelson Gallery.

Viral for Profits

With major publications like Conde Naste cutting staff and budges left and right, TiVo reducing millions of dollars worth of advertising campaigns to mere blurs and the hottest and newest sties online all user generated content what is an advertising agent to do? The answers seems to be to take the subversive route.

In a world that does not want to watch advertisements the way to sell products seems to be more like trying to get a kid to eat their vegetables than anything. Making people want to watch ads is the only way for the advertising companies to survive. Yes there are of course the hidden add opportunities, dry-cleaner bags, shopping cart handles and eggs, yes eggs, but for an add campaign to be successful it seems that the advertiser must now challenge and engage the consumer. Gone are the days when Madison Avenue could just put out any print add in a magazine and expect to see revenues.

The gradual change in the way that successful advertising was designed goes hand in had with the change in the design of the modern media. Gone are the days of three network television streaming the same programs into homes from coast to coast.   Now each person is their own media empire. Not only do people receive their media now online but with Blackberrys and iPhones in most people pockets, making media available around the clock with the flick of the fingers. This allows the averages person to meticulously edit the media that he or she is exposed to on a minute to minute basis, directly affecting the advertising attached to it.

Large scale advertising is failing. The niche media consumer demands a niche advertisement experience or they will edit it out of their lives. This means small scale add blitzes aimed at regional or socioeconomic groups, even targeting minority groups. The design must shift from one add for all to all adds for one, in essence marketing on a personal basis. This combined with creating a product, and when I say product I mean advertisement, that people will actually enjoy. The advertisers must design a product that makes an impression, that gets people talking.

Cadburry not so long ago realized the benefit of appealing to what would be considered a less main stream. An ad blitz by the candy maker featured multiple short TV spots consisting of disconnected subjects that has no connection to the existing branding of the company. No sight of the iconic "Cadburry bunny" or any reference to candy at all, the spots ranged from a gorilla playing a drum set, two children distorting their faces to the beat of a song, to a drag race of vehicles most commonly found on a tarmac. Watching the video the only common thread that can be found is the presence of music as a important element. The first of these, the gorilla, went viral and was featured in multiple countries, garnered a large online audience, spawned many satires and spoofs and is credited to a 9% increases in sales for the lagging company.

Seeing the success of this advert campaign and ones like it will hopefully spur the industry into action driving ad design in a new direction to respond to the new perceptions and handling of media in society. Advertisements are really the ultimate feedback loop for any given society, advertising selling a product in a way that reflects the ideology of the market, in turn that market chooses the best representation of itself with its buying power which guides the advertisers future plans. The problem is that advertising has not kept in step with the world around it and therefore looses its effectiveness. Really applying smart design into not only the concept but the application of new advertising is the only way to keep it relevant as we continue our journey into the information age.

The original Cadburry adds:

The "Gorilla" Advert

The "Eyebrows" Advert

A link to the spoof of the "Eyebrow" advert from an English TV show featuring Lilly Allen

The Drag Race Advert

Quite the Beautiful Game

There is a Foosball table in my living room. It never gets used, never, and just sits there. It catches my sweaters when I walk past it to the porch, also, so not fun to play, and looks like it belongs is at best a Dave and Busters. In essence I hate the damn thing. It is something, along with a Lay-Z-Boy recliner, and oak cabinetry, that I refuse to have in any of my future homes, defiantly on my design "s!*tlist". That being said while perusing the internet the other day I came across what can only be referred to as work of art. Truly a work of sculpture, that happens to be a Foosball table.

"Sweeping curves reflect the beauty and grandeur of today’s modern stadiums, while its atmospheric lighting and chromed metal players capture the excitement and drama of a classic sporting encounter. " A pretty accurate description of what the 11 looks like, pulled directly from their websites. It is, seriously, not just the Lexus but the Koenigsegg of miniaturized sporting....facilities? The design is really something, dropping the standard four leg dining table format most favored by the Foosball industry the 11's shape looks more like something you would be served drinks out of at a Phillip Stark designed boutique hotel, than something that would more than likely be found in a Midwest bowling alley. The smooth curve from the round base to the lip of the miniature stadium echo's the organic sensuality of a calla lily, the proportions of the top and bottom naturally balanced. Reminiscent of some of the beautiful stadiums being built of late like this and this it takes ques from some of the best of modern architecture.

A smooth black shell opens up to reveal a stark white playing field crossed with a small regiment of silver "footballers" that, if I am going to be perfectly honest, look like something that you would find at a high end sex shop. The designers really though of everything. Stadium lighting is even included to even further the focal point of this beautiful piece.  The whole piece matches up gorgeously, the whole unit so completely designed, that nothing looks out of place, even the awkward handles of sweater grabbing fame. It really exudes a sort of sexy/modern/sporty vibe that really bring to mind David Beckham's steamy Armani underwear ads. A piece so well designed that I would not hesitate to put in, yes(gasp), my own home, or more importantly, and more realistically, a clients space.

So, it may seem like I am loosing my marbles over what is, yes, a very nice Foosball table, but just a Foosball table all the same, but dearies that is exactly what is so exciting! This is in reality a mundane object that has for the most part been relegated to frat housed and rumpus rooms. It is something that does not need to be beautiful, but is. That is what we need more of. We live in a consumer society, a society that has lost touch with aesthetics. A world where more is better, instead of better being better. Why shouldn't our generic every day objects be objets d'art? Why should we not demand beautiful things? It seems that our society has this theory that well designed things are somehow elitist. That for something to be beautiful it has to be pricey, something that "snobby" people would buy. I believe that Americans have accepted ugly things because they somehow believe that they are not needed. This is incorrect, design is such a basic thing. It does not require Italian cabinets or German engineering to be well designed. Design can be integrated into the normally mundane objects that make up our day to day. Things like can openers, car keys, and vacuum cleaners. The 11 gives me hope, this movement towards applying design principles, however small and overpriced, gives me hope. Hope that someday American will toss aside our obsession with poorly designed mass marketed garbage, not that good design cannot be mass marketed, and embrace design in their day to day lives.

PHOTOS! Well I am having some unexpected technical difficulties with photo uploads so I am just going to re-rout you to the manufactures website HERE. The images are better anyway. Go check it out, its well worth your time.

a graphic god

I love looking at thing, especially things on the internet. Once and a while I wander across something truly awsome. I found Olly Moss through threadless.com while shopping for t-shirts and was blown away by the simplistic beauty of his work. To focus on one piece in particular I would like to show this one.

www.ollymoss.com

Nothing but a simple little, well simple in style, doodle. I thing its really that simplicity that appeals to me. That and a sort of dated retro quality about all his work. Besides the fact that this is not only an on point social commentary on fashion, it is a work of clean balance. The half and half of black and blue is highlighted with the touches of white. The open space of the black is broken by the white text while the black and white of the simple shapes tie into the top half giving it a sense of balance. Clean lines and simple sans-serif text provide unity throughout the work and the block of the blue functions as the general focal point having most of the "action" happening there. I am a stickler for clean design, probably because I can not do it to save my own life and therefore makes me hugely envious of those that can. Olly Moss works for a multitude of different outlets including the aforementioned clothing shops, and many different types of print and e-media. What really inspires me is his drive. He just seems to constantly create, having seemingly grasped at least the craft and form aspects of the design process. Its and inspiration and should be something we strive for as a people, the creation of beautiful things through good design. And going out on that note, follow the artists advice,

 

www.ollymoss.com

Check it out! 

His site

His Twitter

His Flickr

Well, well worth the visit.

PS Please don't sue me I love you! :)

mycket omodernt

A nice calm atmosphere, simple with light colors, preferably shades of white with small touches of deep color. Simple, clean, elegant, these are all things I look for in a bathroom. This bathroom is none of these things.

Photo: www.omodern.com

Somewhere between an explosion at a Spanish tile factory and an avocado harvesting tragedy is this bathroom, a room where matching has gone way to far. At first glance the eye does not know where to settle. The first thing on the list of what makes this room bad is the tile. Its impossible not to become drawn into the intricate pattern that covers the walls from floor the ceiling. This tile might be ok on its own but the problem is the scale. If the pattern repeat was much larger or if the tiles itself was bigger might work better, but that would take tiles the size of pavers. The small almost lattice pattern is too overwhelming for completely covering the walls. The unified assault that is the tiled walls is only broken by the plumbing fixtures, fixtures that are a color that should never be committed to anything as permanent as porcelain. 

The balance of the chunky fixtures with the small intricate tiles is so off kilter. The colors are completely wrong. Though the tones match, terracotta and that green should never share company outside of a hors d'oeuvre platter at Mexican restaurant. Once you get over the horrible walls and unsavory sinks the realization of what the floor is. Shag carpet, so inexcusably wrong and gross that it should be illegal.

Even the layout of the room is weird. Given that this is probably a display space and not a real bathroom the floor plan is going to be unrealistic. Despite that the layout of the bathtub is just weird. Step up stairs to a step in tub, a tub that is shoved back in the corner behind a wall. Not the open floor plan favored of late. Also what is with the tiny sink next to the toilet? There is no point for it being there considering that there is a full sized sink not even across the room, plus its awkward to get at.

It is easy to condemn this room to the pages of bad design history, to damn it for its flaws but I feel that we should treat if differently, this room should be celebrated, it is a statement. It is an attempt at something new. This room screams “look at me, I am the future!” It was made in a sprit of pioneering, in the mind of making something new. This is what taking chances in design are about. We have become, for the most part, people who don’t take design risks, cookie cutter houses with matching kitchens and bathrooms. Sometimes taking risks pay off; sometimes it ends up being a room that matches Lady Gagas Kermit coat.  Ether way its time to take some risks, make some drastic choices. Don’t be afraid, its only a design. 

Check out more rooms from the 70's at Omodern

layout to payout

I don't think anyone who has been paying attention to the news, and especially the news of the news, can deny the flailing death of print media. It is, in my opinion, a terrible shame. Having participated in all four years of my higschool newspaper, "The Bluffer" I have a certain fondness for print journalism. There is something special about the art of laying out a page, of mixing words and graphics, an art that has existed and grown from the time of the printing press. It has brought both good new and bad to the people of the world. But now it is a dying media. The printed word is being replaced by pixels.
Design is a huge part of what makes media marketable. Not just in the sense of flashy graphics or glossy editorials but even the lack of perceived design. Would the "Wall Street Journal" be taken seriously if they splattered some large graphics in neon colors.
Design is what determines a publication, it determines the style the vibe and the readership that will be paying for this media. When media is so readily assessable for free online that is the most important part. Who will pay for the same thing that they can get for free? That is where the impact of design really comes into play.
For print media to stay viable in the 21st century it must find a niche market, and pander shamelessly to this group. They must harness design to work for them, to sell their product. This is not a new concept by any means but is becoming more and more relevant as the power of the internet steadily grows. Not that this should be at the loss of content because I believe that both content and design need to exist cohesively to be considered good design.