Pinkergreen Blog

Cut Out

2011-12-22T14:40:00.004-05:00

Designer and artist Olly Moss created these amazing cut paper silhouettes of his favorite pop culture icons and individually framed them each. These beautiful silhouettes are incredibly detailed in the representation of each person, animal or alien (in the case of E.T). Check out a video from opening night at Gallery 1988 where the silhouettes were exhibited here.

Her Morning Elegance

2011-11-16T10:43:00.007-05:00

Her Morning Elegance is an amazingly beautiful stop motion music video created by Oren Lavie and Eyal Landesman. This video is made up of 2096 still photographs and took 48 hours to complete. Incredible! Check out the video and the making of here.

Branding 10,000 Lakes

2011-11-08T14:26:00.004-05:00

Nicole Meyer is currently woking on an amazing logo project that will continue for many years to come. Earlier this year she began designing one logo for one Minnesota lake every day. Sounds simple right? Not quite. Consider the nickname of Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Lakes. In a little over 27 years, Meyer plans on having designed one logo for each and every lake. Talk about ambitious! Follow her daily progress on her blog.

Remake

2011-10-25T14:21:00.008-04:00

Just recently Booooooom and Adobe teamed together to create Remake. Remake is a photo project that challenges participants to recreate a famous work of art (painting, photo, etc.) using only photography. The competition just ended a few days ago and the submissions are pretty amazing! Here's a couple of my favorites...

Unevolved Brands

2011-10-13T15:59:00.002-04:00

I came across this study not to long ago and definitely think it's worth sharing. Unevolved Brands is a deconstruction project of brands and logos. Graham Smith selected a series of logos and simplified them into only circles. It's pretty amazing how many we can recognize without the name of the brand or an iconic image. Have a look...see how many you can guess correctly!

Think Different.

2011-10-06T20:46:00.020-04:00

Here's to Steve Jobs. Thank you for pushing the human race forward. You are truly an inspiration.

Jonathan Mak

Wildwood

2011-09-29T13:53:00.012-04:00

Yesterday evening I made my way over to Brookline to the reading and signing of Wildwood. Written by Colin Meloy and illustrated by his wife Carson Ellis, Wildwood takes place in a re-imagined Portland Oregon, chronicling the adventures of a young boy and his sister. Being a fan of both Colin's band, The Decemberists and Carson's illustrations I was excited to hear them talk about Wildwood. And of course I was ecstatic to meet them! Before the signing Colin and Carson were at Coolidge Corner Theater to read an excerpt from their book and to talk about their collaboration and the concept behind Wildwood. After the talk they headed over to Brookline Booksmith for the signing. It was so wonderful to meet and talk to them even if only for a minute or two. Both Colin and Carson are incredibly talented and inspiring people, Wildwood is sure to be an excellent read. If you haven't already entered the mysterious, mystical, and beautifully illustrated world of Wildwood be sure to check out their website and download the first four chapters for free!

Aching for some new art…

2011-07-22T10:30:00.002-04:00

Aside from needing some major renovations, our office could definitely benefit from a few new pieces to add to our pink and green gallery wall. Couldn't help but waste a few moments on 20x200 window shopping for a few new gems…

In PINK…
Pink Vintage Erasers by Lisa Congdon, artist and collector extraordinaire…

SWEET!

Some vector drawn "5"s

or…
in GREEN

FORE!
Diamonds, Clubs, Hearts or Spades.

Cinemagraphs

2011-07-21T16:44:00.000-04:00

Cinemagraphs were created by Kevin Burg and Jamie Beck and we think they're pretty amazing. These photos/works of art utilize the somewhat antiquated technology of animated gifs to create something completely new and totally beautiful.

In-House Design at the MoMA

2011-06-22T14:37:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite parts about visiting museums is taking a look at the way the space is designed and set up. Because the walls must be used to both display a large amount of information and catch the attention of the viewer, I'm always interested to see how the typography is treated for each exhibit. The MoMA has recently put up a showcase of the in-house gallery work done at the museum including information about the projects and their contributors. Check it out for a look at some fantastic typography and fun interactions with space.

Hot town summer in the city…

2011-06-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

Finally! It's going to be hot in Boston! Feels like our summer is almost over, and my heat turned on in my house yesterday morning. What?! Looks like it's tipping into the 90s tomorrow, so of course I'm in the market for new beach gear. I stumbled across Maptote.com and these charming Massachusetts grocery/beach bags featuring location appropriate typography. I particularly love the rope-type for Nantucket. I could probably find a reason to use one for every day of the week, plus they're green!!

Ted's In Our 'Hood

2011-06-07T11:40:00.000-04:00

We're always excited to see movies filmed locally, especially very locally. It's been around town for a little while now, but today, just one block away, we caught sight of Seth MacFarlane's new movie being filmed. Ted is about a man who, as a child, wishes his teddy bear would come to life and the havoc the bear wreaks on his adult relationships. It stars Mila Kunis, Mark Wahlberg, Joel McHale, and Giovanni Ribisi, to name just a few. The premise is surely crazy, but we hope in a good way. Being huge Family Guy fans, we're excited to see what he does on the large screen. And we'll keep an eye out for our favorite locals making appearances.

Project Neon

2011-06-03T15:34:00.000-04:00

Check out a very cool project by designer and photographer Kirsten Hively who is currently documenting neon signs all over New York City. Her collection, Project Neon, includes over 400 photos of fantastic signs all over the city and information about the businesses to which they belong. In the works is an app that will map out the locations of these signs so others can check out the work for themselves and support the businesses. Take a look at her project and enjoy some nice photography as well as some awesome neon typography. We're loving the pink and green ones ourselves.

Pink Typography

2011-06-01T15:23:00.005-04:00

Today I'm enjoying the bright pop of pink typography against white walls done by Cla-se for the Sita Murt store in Barcelona. I like the combination of cool and colorful hand drawn type with the racks of clothing. The Sita Murt store looks like a giant closet with funky personalized touches. Nice choice with the pink, Cla-se!

Is it summer yet?

2011-04-06T12:34:00.010-04:00

I don't know about all of you, but I'm definitely ready for some warm weather. It's gorgeous out in Boston today, which could mean Spring is finally here or we could have another snowstorm tomorrow. You never know with the weather here. Either way, these photographs of the Mediterranean coast by Spanish photographer and graphic designer Salva López seem to fit the winter to spring transition perfectly.

In his project that lasts all winter called La Costa Gris, López captures the beaches during their off season and the noticeable absence of tourists. I like the loneliness of the images and of the objects left behind by people that still signify a human impression on the landscape despite the lack of actual human presence. It makes me think maybe the beaches miss us as much as we do, and even though it's not warm enough for a swim yet, I'm definitely ready to throw on a light jacket and start dipping my toes in the ocean. Now, who's going to give me a ride to the beach?

Earthquake relief efforts…

2011-03-28T18:00:00.005-04:00

When the world is rocked by a natural disaster… I'm always touched by the companies who offer a portion of their sales profits to assist in recovery and aid efforts. Paper Source is giving 10% of the sales of their Japanese papers to Red Cross Japan Relief Fund through April 30. Here are a few pink and green beauties we'd gladly use to wrap or frame to help the cause.

Top to bottom, left to right…

1. Yuzen Red White Pink Petals
2. Yuzen Pool Gold Waves
3. Yuzen Cherry Blossom Clusters
4. Yuzen Pink Gold Waves

Underground Art

2011-01-27T16:26:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago I made a trip to MoMa with my Mom, and, after a few weeks of steady holiday eating and watching more reality TV than is probably healthy, I was happy to finally get out of the house and give my brain some visual stimulation. I had the opportunity to see some special exhibitions, including an Andy Warhol Motion Pictures show, and was even lucky enough to catch the last day of the Underground Gallery: London Transport Posters 1920s-1940s exhibit. The exhibit had about twenty modern posters that were influential in turning the London's underground railway stations into public art galleries. The beautifully designed pieces were the result of a campaign for an efficient public transportation system.

I see plenty of advertisements while waiting underground for the T, but not all of them are as beautifully and stylishly designed as these. I really enjoyed the artists' choices of color and typography and how the finished pieces fit nicely together as a set.

Unfortunately the show is no longer up, but you can check out more information about the posters and their artists at MoMa's site. As for me, I'll be wishing I was looking at these posters instead of Chipotle's burrito advertisements the next time I'm waiting for a B train.

Subways and Snapshots

2010-11-08T16:16:00.007-05:00

I use Boston public transportation just about every day of the week. Armed with my monthly T passes, I spend a lot of time shouldering my way onto overcrowded B trains, running to catch a ride just as the car doors are closing, and occasionally resting my eyes for a a few moments only to realize I've missed my stop and I have somehow ended up at Park Street when I should have exited at Copley. Most of my T trips involve being shoved against too many strangers or standing just a little too close to that guy who smells a bit...off. I look forward to those rare days when the car is relatively empty and I can find a seat. This photo collection put together by the New York Times is a survey of such moments from 1910 to present day. They capture the hustle and bustle of commuters, the quiet moments of waiting, and the comings and goings of various strangers who are together for a short period of time before scattering in all directions. If you've ever been on a subway, you might enjoy these snapshots of moments that are unique to the wonderful ride that is public transportation.

Bad, Bad, but Busy Bloggers…

2010-11-05T09:31:00.003-04:00

It is safe to say this is the longest we have gone without blogging. Almost a month and a half. Along with our favorite client roster, Pinkergreen has picked up a handful of great new clients this fall, that have been keeping us busy and we are grateful to have them. Wm. J. Mills & Co., a Long Island-based bag and canvas company whose products we covet, hired us to help transition their vintage brand into the modern age. This week they sent us a link of photos taken by an Italian customer on his visit their this summer. Truly stunning.
For their nautical nostalgia and Americana, these bags aren't going anywhere. And hopefully one will end up under my Christmas tree next month (hint! hint!)

SOWA This Weekend!

2010-09-22T17:02:00.005-04:00

We are so excited here at Pinkergreen to be hosting Jetsam, an exhibition of photography by Lindsay Shaw Lehmann, this weekend! Come join us at our studio for the SOWA Art Walk this Saturday and Sunday from 11am-6pm and check out the Open Studios, enjoy some fantastic art, and soak up some great local creativity. What better way to start your Fall? We'll see you there!

Trompe-L'Oeil

2010-09-03T15:51:00.001-04:00

Take a look at these amazing installations by artist Alexa Meade who has developed a Trompe-L'Oeil painting technique that involves painting on top of found objects and models. Her painting takes a 3-d model and gives them a flattened 2-D appearance. I especially like the walking painting sort of effect the man in the third image has and the reactions of the people riding the subway with him. He looks like he just stepped off of a canvas. Such a cool concept!

Watermelon Art?

2010-08-26T10:11:00.001-04:00

To me, summer and watermelon go together like peanut butter and jelly. Although summer feels like it's starting to wind down, don't fret. Here is some nice pink and green watermelon art from whatthecool to brighten up your day.

We Heart Typography

2010-08-25T15:55:00.004-04:00

Stumbled upon this collection of typography tees by t-shirt and hoodie blog Hide Your Arms. The second one actually made me laugh out loud (sorry, Helvetica fans). Check out the collection and pick up a few for your fellow design nerds.

Also, as much as we all love Comic Sans and all of our other digital typefaces, we can't forget about hand-drawn type. Calligrapher Luca Barcellona reminds us how beautiful letters can be made without the use of a computer in this video.

Legacy of Letters from Luca Barcellona on Vimeo.

iPhone & iPad Coolness

2010-07-29T15:06:00.005-04:00

Stumbled upon this prototype for an iPhone DSLR by Jeremy Salvador. With this model, a set of lens mounted to a housing compartment for the ipod, the user can take great photos and videos and instantly share them on the internet, like this:

Pretty cool.

And while we're on the subject of Apple technology, check out artist David Kassan painting a live model using an iPad.

Isn't it crazy what you can do with technology these days?

Hipstamatic: Since when were the 80s considered "vintage"?

2010-07-28T14:33:00.006-04:00

This issue of Martha features an article on antique bikes. I couldn't help but notice the "vintage," and very different photo technique used for the images. While the photography (by Lucas Allen) screams of Martha Stewart styling with assymetric symmetry and lush coloring, the exposures and focus just didn't quite fit among it's pristine neighboring pages.
Turns out the photographer used his iPhone and the app, Hipstamatic, to generate these gritty and deliciously gorgeous images. The app turns your ordinary iPhone pictures into the nostalgic pics reminiscent of the '80s toy camera. For $1.99, you too can be a cool photographer, or at least pretend you are (that's my plan.)

Hebert Matter Teaser

2010-07-20T16:52:00.006-04:00

Matter Teaser from Herbert Matter on Vimeo.

Just came across this teaser for a new documentary by Reto Caduff on the life of Swiss Designer Herbert Matter. The Visual Language of Herbert Matter is to be released later this summer and features an overview of his body of work, interviews, historical footage, photographs, and even never-before-seen film excerpts. Take a look at the video and find more information on the film here. Hope you're as excited as we are to check it out!

Not Everyone Has a Green Thumb

2010-07-16T16:19:00.005-04:00

If you fall into this category like I do, you might want to take a look at these lovely handmade flowers by Maria at St. Jude’s Creations. Using various kinds of material such as paper, clay, and buttons, Maria’s creations are vibrant and beautiful. Many of her bouquets are so detailed and lifelike it’s difficult to tell the flowers aren’t real. Perfect for summer and those of us who enjoy low-maintenance flowers that don’t require any watering.

A Quick Brown Fox...

2010-07-15T23:49:00.001-04:00

We’ve all seen this phrase repeated again and again in various typefaces, but perhaps not in quite the way illustrator Allie Armstrong depicts it with her hand-drawn type. We’ve been playing around with some hand-crafted type ourselves here at Pinkergreen, and these fun and varied letters definitely brightened up our day.

Papercut

2010-07-14T14:46:00.001-04:00

Sometimes beautiful art can be created out of something as simple as paper. And just paper. Take a look at these lovely paper installations created by Nikki Salk and Amy Flurry for their paper-cut-project. Detailed and textured, these ladies have taken an everyday material and transformed it into some truly fantastic pieces. The artists find inspiration in their “love of fashion and an appreciation of the grace and nuance of this humble material.” Have you ever seen such an awesome paper afro before? Me neither.

Rooftop Ads to God and Other Sign Painting

2010-07-12T13:30:00.004-04:00

“Dear God, forgive us for the whole hammerpants thing and we’ll put on a killer show,” reads an enormous rooftop sign in Minneapolis for the Basilica Church’s Block Party. Have you ever wondered about the art of sign painting and the people who create these hand-crafted messages all over windows, boats, cars, billboards, and roofs (just to name a few)? Fear not! As of March this year, a documentary about American sign painters has begun production. You can follow the progress of their interesting tale here at their blog. Also, check out a cool video of sign being created by painters Forrest Wozniak and Phil Vandervaart. Does it make you feel like painting today?

Pixar Love

2010-07-09T14:15:00.003-04:00

Have you seen Toy Story 3 yet? If not, you should definitely check out Pixar’s latest animated gem and revisit your old friends Woody and Buzz (and meet some new friends as well). While you’re on a Pixar roll, take a look at some great posters by Eric Tan designed for a few of Pixar’s other films WALL-E, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille. Inspired by old Disneyland attraction posters and A.M. Cassandre’s French Dubonnet posters, Eric has created a fantastic set of his own fun and creative designs. Being a huge Pixar nerd myself, I’d love that Ratatouille poster on my wall!

Typography for Kids

2010-07-08T12:44:00.001-04:00

It seems like everyone we know is having babies lately. Why not start the kids young with this adorable typography book? alphabeasties: and other Amazing Types is a wonderfully-designed book containing animals created with typefaces and letters. It describes various shapes and appearances of the letters of the alphabet through a whimsical typography safari. I’d like an elephant made of e’s for my own library.

Bright Lights, Big City

2010-07-06T15:32:00.004-04:00

Hope everyone had a fun and relaxing Fourth of July weekend! Did anyone get a bit of traveling in? If not, let these great city posters by Heads of State Studio take you away. We love the illustrations and how each typeface works for its respective city. Great colors, too. Each poster is unique, but they all work nicely as a series as well. Isn't that beach from the Miami poster looking pretty enticing right now?

Visual Inspiration

2010-06-29T10:20:00.004-04:00

Came across this promotional poster done by Studio on Fire for the College of Visual Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota. What fantastic print material for an art school. Loving the color, texture, and typography of the piece as well as the slightly messy aesthetic. It makes me want to pick up a brush and do a little painting today.

Tasty tech…

2010-06-16T10:30:00.002-04:00

Came across these graphic laptop skins via It's (K)Not Wood from Etsy Seller, Beepart. Trying to decide which one would look cuter on my new lappy, pink or green?

Rathke Rocks…

2010-06-15T10:30:00.001-04:00

Came across illustrator, Kathryn Rathke last night and am just loving her portrait series. They feel like a combination of a quick gesture drawing and a carefully calligraphed invitation. So refreshing… Love to see what she'd do with this frizzy mess of hair!

All Hail the Cheeseburger

2010-06-09T16:21:00.005-04:00

Currently working on a a new restaurant branding project for a client, and my preliminary research consists of staring at incredible photographs of mouthwatering burgers. Check out this fun site for the Cheese & Burger Society, which celebrates "the greatest cheeseburgers ever made" with great food photography. The site even includes a quirky voice over that reads aloud a description of the delectable cheeseburger so make sure your volume is turned up! Not only can you flip through this fun collection of burgers, but you can also find the accompanying recipe and make them yourself (though I'm not sure mine will look as delicious as the ones in the photos). Love the nifty site design and the photography. Cheeseburgers are definitely on tonight's dinner menu.

Color Collective Blog - An Inspiring Designer's Tool

2010-06-08T16:16:00.004-04:00

Need a little inspiration? A friend of Pinkergreen's just sent us this amazing blog called Color Collective. Created by Graphic Designer Lauren Willhite, the blog is a collection of color palettes inspired by various designers, photographers, and artists. The photographs are fantastic and packed with great color combinations that I am already itching to begin playing around with.

I've been scrolling through the images and accompanying palettes for a few minutes now, and I'm already hooked. The fashion, interior design, and art featured in the blog make great jumping off points for new creative projects. I personally love the way the colors are not simply eye dropped from the images. The combination of the specific colors really reflect the mood and atmosphere of each photograph. I love this girl's attitude here and the great red orange and that punchy purple inspired by the photo.

How about you? Brainstorming any ideas yet?

Mass MoCA: Part One/Material World

2010-05-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

I finally crossed it off my to do list– Road trip to Mass MoCA. On our warmest day of Spring so far, my husband and I set off to North Adams, Mass. After an accidental detour to Northampton and a brief pitstop to snag a downed white birch tree for the fireplace we arrived at the museum. North Adams is an old mill town and they've done an excellent job converting this space into an amazing oversized curated collection.

Material World was the first exhibit we walked through. It featured work from 7 young artists in their 30s and 40s. In Orly Genger's "Big Boss", the artist "introduces a traditionally female-identified craft process into an artistic idiom associated with a certain muscular bravado." Our pictures don't even come close to capturing the heaviness of this installation. It's just wild to see such a typically soft stitch (which resembled a stockinette, but says its an adapted crochet stitch. Maybe she's discovered a new workout method– Orly's arms must be jacked!

I failed to get a good shot of Dan Steinhilber's Breathing Room, but that, to me, was breathtaking–literally. You felt like you were in a giant lung, of a very slow-moving whale. I was most excited to see Wade Kavanaugh and Steven B. Nguyen's White Stag made of paper and wood spanning two floors and countless rooms of the museum. These piece which resembles tree roots and "a fantastical, old growth forest…" is a really powerful statement on trees and paper. (The art critic who wrote the brochure does a much better job describing this work than I ever could. )

Lastly, Alyson Shotz installation was truly remarkable. I'm not sure if it was the sheer labor that astounded me or the visuals themselves, but it reminded us of a massive cobweb covered in dew. (I know that's not what we were supposed to get from it, but hey– we're creative too, right?)

As if you need any more reasons to go, I'm going to write about You Are What You Eat! next time.

Going Postal

2010-05-12T10:00:00.003-04:00

It's Brimfield Fair week!! We try and make our way out there at least once a year, and I'm hoping to get out there this weekend. I'm usually totally overwhelmed by collections, but every year like a magnet, I'm drawn to the vintage postcard booths. I've always been a sucker for these and love rifling through the bins looking for familiar places and reading the endearing notes scrawled on the back.
More than the love notes, its the color palettes that keep me coming back. The hand tinted illustrations that barely change from Egypt to Vermont. The same sunset in every part of the world. Best part, my obsession rarely costs me more than $4 a pop–way more budget friendly than the Eames chairs I usually find a Brimfield.

Spring '10 color trends...

2010-05-06T12:50:00.004-04:00

Spring has sprung and it’s time to break out the sandals and sun dresses. For those updating their Spring/Summer wardrobe have you noticed the mix between vibrant brights and neutral tones ?

Last November Pantone released their Spring 2010 color report just in time for New York fashion week, as seen above. After admiring some spring fashions we must say the colors are pretty much on par with Pantone predicted.

A mid-week laugh..

2010-04-28T12:00:00.001-04:00

Stevie Wonder as a hamster?

We can't quit laughing at these witty images, we saw on Dog Milk created by Takkoda.

Blue means trouble ?

2010-04-27T12:25:00.005-04:00

Like opening a box of crayons when you were little, colors can always cheer us up. Especially on gloomy day like today.

Fast Company just featured What Colors Mean across 10 Cultures a infographic designed by David McCandless. When designing for international clients what an important tool. Interesting to know happiness is represented by red in Eastern culture but yellow in Western culture. Or the standard color for mystery is purple ?

Maybe Pinkergreen should reconsider opening our Asian branch since green represents evil. Hmmm....

Who says it's not easy being "green"...

2010-04-22T11:22:00.003-04:00

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. In honor of this very 'green' day, Pinkergreen would like to salute some of our favorite eco-chic products that we use to help reduce our carbon footprint.

Bite Bags - founded by a local Bostonian, these are reusable and machine washable produce bags created to make grocery shopping more eco-frienldy. According to Bite, the average shopper uses an estimated 260 produce bags each year.

"I am not a paper cup..." - To cut back on paper and $$$ bring your coffee from home! Decor Craft Inc. created a eco-friendly and resuable thermal porcelain cup to look like it came straight out of the coffee shop.

Nalgene Bottle - 8 out of 10 plastice bottles used in the U.S. become garbage or end up in a landfill (Container Recycling Insitute). BPA free, trusty and durable, I think I still have the same one from college.

MBTA - While we all love a good Sunday cruise in the car, despite all the hassles, the T is still our favorite mode of travel for commuting.

Neenah Paper - We make an effort to use an FSC certified paper for all of our print projects. Lately, we're in love the luxurious feel of Neenah Classic Crest.

Envio-Sak - Again, to make shopping more eco-friendly, and add some pizazz, Envio-Sak is a great alternative to a plastic bag. Plus they won't rip on your way home. We always keep them tucked in our bags for a quick trip to CVS.

Murphy's Oil Soap - While doing some Pinkergreen spring cleaning we noticed one of our long-time favorite cleaning products, Murphy's Oil Soap, is actually almost 100% biodegradable.

Zipcar - Urban dwellers rejoice! Some of us are signing up for Zipcar this summer, and when you enter code "orange" as a new customer you get $50 in free driving. Now that's an incentive.

What are you doing green today?

Pom Wonderful ?

2010-04-21T12:58:00.003-04:00

The other day while driving on I-93 I spotted a new billboard ad titled "Cheat Death" from POM Wonderful (As shown above). While I think the POM Wonderful's new campaign is a clever solution for promoting the health benefits of drinking the juice, the shock value of a noose trying to draw attention made me a little uneasy. Maybe it's the recent media attention with the suicide of a Massachusetts teen in reaction to being bullied, but the overall tone left a bad taste in my mouth. The recent billboard ads have been featured in major metropolitan areas including: Boston, Chicago, DC, LA, Miami, and Toronto.

I guess it wasn't just me who was turned off by the ad, turns out POM has already received a fair amount of complaints throughout the various markets concerned that it was not a appropriate subject matter. On a more positive note POM has decided to pull the "Cheat Death" ad and replace it with other ads used in the campaign. Really surprised that one made it through testing at all…

A more serious look for Exdepia.

2010-04-14T14:31:00.006-04:00

Last night I was booking a plan ticket for a weekend trip to Chicago. After searching the best offers, I decided to book my ticket through Expedia.com. Ticket prices aside the one thing that completely caught me by surprise was that Expedia re-designed their logo ! Turns out I am a little late to notice but the updated look was launched in January 2010.

As one of the pioneers sites for on-line booking, Expedia has positioned itself over the years as playful and quirky ( think of the jingle Expedia dot coooooom). I see no problem in adjusting your logo to become better defined, just don’t give up the equity that has been built around it. In the case of Expedia’s redesign I feel they lost their originality for something with a more corporate, less travel friendly feel.

Print isn't dead…

2010-04-13T13:00:00.002-04:00

It's alive and kicking! And singing, and walking, and swimming– even flying in these new commercials from Go RVing and ATT. I love seeing how designers are incorporating print back into their animated TV spots, funny how something as "old-fashioned" as flat illustrations feel fresh and modern when they're intertwined with video and music. Even though I saw these collage-style TV spots during consecutive commercial breaks during the Master's this weekend, I didn't even mind the trend. As long as I'm concerned, anything is better than another Tiger commercial…

Beautiful Angle

2010-04-12T18:03:00.007-04:00

I came across Tacoma-based print shop, Beautiful Angle, after Googling "vintage nautical" for inspiration for a client project. They have a bold aesthetic and really lovely sense of color that does feel, well a little "vintage"– go figure. Tacoma Screw even reminds me a little of a Lester Beall poster.

It's all Black & White...

2010-04-09T16:48:00.002-04:00

KAPITAAL from STUDIO SMACK on Vimeo.

Featured on Fastcompany.com “Kapitaal” is a short animation that literally puts it in black and white, how much branding and advertising we see everyday. All we have to say is WOW !

New work from Lindsay Lehmann…

2010-03-24T09:39:00.009-04:00

I'm loving the images from CT-based photographer, Lindsay Lehmann's, recent missionary trip to Nicaragua. Her black and white's have captured a soft spirit that is uncanny. Hope she'll have a show soon so we can see the rest of the work.

Oh, Canada…

2010-03-23T09:30:00.000-04:00

Getting excited for a little jaunt to Quebec City this weekend. Crepes, Poutine and La Fin du Monde, here we come. Hopefully, after I come out of that food coma, I'll be able to wrangle some of my family over to see the Quebec in Design. 75years of Works from the Collection of the MNBAQ exhibit at the Musée National des Beaux-Arts.
Most excited to see one of the original versions of the "Solair" chair, a 1970s gem we've seen every summer on motel balconies lining route 1A up in York, Maine, designed by Fabio Fabiano and Michelange Panzini for IPL Plastics in Canada. Wonder if they have any for sale in the gift shop?

Pacific

2010-03-15T10:49:00.004-04:00

Last night I caught the first of 10 episodes of Pacific, the sister mini-series to Band of Brothers. While I thought the episode was a huge success, the introduction made an even bigger impact. Charcoal drawings crumble into Japanese Ink paintings, which melt into stunning black and white photography and then seamlessly morph into video. There is a clear connection between the charcoal breaking and exploding bombs and the red-ink in the Japanese ink-drawings and bloodshed. It's captivating, smart, relevant and moving.
I realize this is sort of a dreary topic for a Monday morning, but if you're in the Northeast today, you'll understand.
Anyone know which studio is responsible?

Soiled.

2010-03-11T10:30:00.000-05:00

Frito Lay was a staple of my youth, literally. I spent my summers on Alexander's Lake in Connecticut just a few miles away from the Frito Lay plant. Every afternoon around 3:00, just after Mr. Frosty made his daily route, we would get the waft of frying potatoes, and our local AM radio station gave away Frito Lay snack packs when you won a contest. You loved the chips, but we hated the smell… and the smoke stacks.
I was glad to see that for all the pollution they've emitted over the years in CT's Quiet Corner, Frito Lay is taking some major green initiatives with their new packaging for Sun Chips due out Earth Day. The new bag is made of plant-based ingredients that when thrown in my compost heap will turn into dirt in as little as 14 weeks.
Maybe it will make me feel a little less guilty about eating SunChips when by the end of summer, it will be feeding my sweet potatoes in my garden! My only question… when are they going to do it for the Ruffles, Doritos and Lays?

I hear you… loud and clear…

2010-03-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

One too many parties without a dishwasher, can make a girl (and her husband) go crazy, or at least start scouring Craigslist for a dishwasher. So when I came across this print from Kelly Lassere via Grand in Somerville, I could completely empathize. I love the artist's honest and quirky sense of humor combined with her gutsy and deliberate style. And well, I'm a sucker for hand-written typography. Kelly's prints are available at Grand and online at Little Paper Planes.
I'm dying to get this print for my husband, and maybe after we install a dishwasher, he actually would kindly agree to do the dishes for the rest of our lives–that is if I kindly agree to cook.

Tea time

2010-03-09T10:30:00.002-05:00

We've been bad bloggers, over two weeks without a new post. Needless to say, we've been a little busy. But after a wave of warmth this weekend, and it's inspired us to get back on the blogwagon.
So to ease back into blogging, we put together a little color inspiration. These Chinese tea tins from Pearl River have a vintage vibe, with a saturated color palette that is so Spring. Punchy hues combined with brass, black and white – we're aching to apply these colors to our next project… any takers?

Luckily Charmed…

2010-02-24T09:03:00.005-05:00

For the most part, I'm a pretty healthy eater. Aside from the occasional pat of butter, cream and bacon fat, I eat loads of greens and avoid the nasty additives… That said, I have a weakness for sugar cereals, and could eat them for breakfast lunch and dinner, and have. But as the metabolism starts slowing down, I've been trying to avoid unnecessary sugars, and especially the fake ones.
But last week, I broke down and did it. It was late, I was hungry and I was at Whole Foods, when I saw this charming bag of cereal on an end-cap and couldn't resist. Junk cereal at Whole Foods? Marshmallows and all…Well if it's at whole foods, it must be good for me, right?
With packaging this sweet, I didn't even care. Three Sister's version of Lucky Charms called Marshmallow Oaties has gone green in many ways. While they're still using plastic (and I don't see a recycle symbol on their "freshness saver bag") they're manufacturing their cereal using 100% wind-generated electricly and their marshmallows are made with natural colors from pumpkin, blueberry and carrot! Vegetables in my cereal!? Yes!!!
Overall, this was one smart design I couldn't pass up, no box, no dies, no HFCS and some damn cute illustrations to boot. Each bag features a half-zip closure, and a different pasture scene complete with windmills and different breeds of cows. Leave it to sisters…

Let the games begin...

2010-02-17T14:53:00.003-05:00

Besides watching the phenomenal athletes, another thing we anticipate when it comes time for the winter Olympics are the logos. It’s always interesting to see how the design of the logo incorporates with the culture of the host city. According to CBC Canada, the 2010 logo is a “unique design of an inukshuk, a traditional stone sculpture used by Canada's Inuit people”. The official logo is called Ilanaaq.

You're a Peach, Valentine !

2010-02-12T15:45:00.015-05:00

It’s Valentine’s Day which means trying to control ourselves from indulging in all things sugar. But who can turn down cookies and chocolate?! To add to the fun here are some vintage Valentine’s Day cards courtesy of Flickr.

We love the charming sayings, and the bright, bold and comical characters. What a treat it would be to receive one in your Valentines box.

Union Jack Attack

2010-02-11T09:30:00.001-05:00

We have a little crush on this pink and green felt Union Jack pillow from Karen Hilton Designs. It's always fun to see such a recognizable symbol in a new hue, especially when it's two of our favorites. She has a little series and the others are pretty glam too, take a peek inside her shop on Etsy.

And the winner is...

2010-02-08T13:20:00.004-05:00

While there was much anticipation on who’s it going to be the Colts or Saints, many of us were also anticipating this year’s batch of Super Bowl commercials. While we felt there was no runaway hit (think Apple’s 1984 or Coke's Mean Joe Green), the simplicity of Google’s “Parisian Love” certainty stood out from the rest.

a classic, with a twist.

2010-02-01T13:56:00.004-05:00

These classic tote bags, in two of our favorite hues, definitely put us in the mood for spring travel or a trip to the beach (sigggh). We stopped a stranger last week sporting a pumpkin version, and got the goods. Turns out the company, Wm. J Mills & Co., originated as an awning manufacturer. They turned their awning fabrics into very functional bags, allowing them to reach an entirely different consumer market….smart.

Definitely adding these to my Christmas list…

Airplain posters

2010-01-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

Last week, we flew Delta Airlines to Florida and had a brief layover in Atlanta. It seems like as the glamour of air travel has declined so have the novelty of travel posters. Don't get me wrong the new Delta series, was nice… clean and and modern type over a polished picture of a faraway place, but honestly… nothing like this series from 1957 by Burke Dowling Adams of Atlanta.

These brush-y illustrations from illustrator, William “Bill” G. Slattery, feature friendly faces all wearing the appropriate hat filled with iconic images of the respective cities. And I gotta say, as sleek and sophisticated as Delta's current campaign may be, there's something about these posters that makes me actually want to take off my winter boots, fill my one quart ziploc with my 3 oz. bottles, and jump on a plane to anywhere but Boston.

Just another reason to love IKEA.

2010-01-26T16:00:00.002-05:00

I found these portraits via Behance designed by Swedish agency, Forsman & Bodenfors. The images were created for an IKEA campaign celebrating diversity this past summer and are comprised of hundreds of IKEA products.The mosaic treatment on a grid reminds me a little of Chuck Close's portraits.

Not only are the portraits gorgeous but you find yourself getting sucked into looking at all the products and of course, planning your next trip to IKEA…

Those dang Swedes… so freakin' cool, all the time!

Dancing in the Aisles...

2010-01-26T09:17:00.004-05:00

After visiting NYC this past weekend it reminded me of new exhibit Daily Candy featured last week (thanks Melissa!). Although, I wish my schedule would have allowed me more time to go check it out. The exhibit, Hyperbeing presented at the Laurence Miller Gallery (January 10 through March 27 2010) features French photographer Denis Darzacq. In his work Darzacq photographs various street dancers doing crazy acrobatic moves in various Paris supermarkets. We love the contrast captured between the static colorful backgrounds and the street dancers' movement. You just want to see what happens next…

Definitely going to make me think twice next time I break out into a dance routine while grocery shopping.

To see the methods Darzacq uses take a look at this clip.

Social Media Infographs

2010-01-15T15:14:00.008-05:00

Move over chartwizard! Infographics are a favortie here at Pinkergreen, which is why this series of social media infographics featured on webdoctus caught our eye. We particularly love Conversation Prism which features hundreds of logo, (although you'd never know it) as well athe Journey of a Tweet, where a limited color palette allows the info to pop.

Some of the data will blow you away such as: Monday’s are a peek day for RTs, in 1995 classmates.com was the only social networking site, or that 13.9 BILLION minutes were spent on Facebook’s site in April 2009. Amazing how technology can transform over just a few short years. Remember passing paper notes in middle school? My how social media has changed.

Aartsy.

2010-01-13T10:00:00.002-05:00

Locust with Chainsaw

Man and Pug

Bad Hair Day
Came across Netherland-based illustrator, Esther Aarts, via one of our favorite blogs, GrainEdit.com. In an age of slick, gradientastic photoshopfabulous graphics, her style is reminscent of a different time a different place, and a completely long gone pace. Aarts employs soft, fuzzy textures that certainly aren't found in the photoshop filter library. And while her color palettes are gorgeous, I particularly love her collection of black and white marker doodles (shown above).
Best of all, this girl's sense of humor.

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock…

2010-01-12T17:10:00.005-05:00

Red Flower Clock ($65) Stripe Clock ($65)

Patchwork Clock ($65) Red Red Blue Blue Clock ($65)
Is it 6:00, yet?

I'd imagine if we had one of these beauties from Boston-based Chromalab hanging on the office wall, we'd be watching the clock every day–because we can't take our eyes off it! Each graphic illusion is hand-painted on birch/or maple veneer, and can be yours in just a week. Might have to found out if they'd do a commissioned Pink Pink Green Green clock.
The duo also refurbishes furniture-finds with with their own spin.

Color inspiration: School maps

2010-01-12T10:00:00.001-05:00

Maybe it's the travel bug I caught in the New Year, or all the design projects we've been doing in the education arena, but I can't get enough of classroom vintage wall maps. The once vibrant color palettes, that over time have taken on a tinge of yellow, keep appearing throughout our work. Apparently, I'm not the only one who is into these either. These things are selling like hotcakes on eBay!

Constructed Construction

2010-01-07T16:56:00.004-05:00

Totally inspired by the sculptures artist Jen Stark, makes from construction paper. To be honest, I'm so blown away by the way she's managed to go from 2D to 3D, I'm sort of at a loss for words.

Sarah Fairchild loves Pink too!

2010-01-04T10:00:00.002-05:00

Found this artist, Sarah Fairchild, via FlyGirl and there is no denying this woman loves pink, and doesn't fear treading on gaudy with her 2009 collection of work. She combines flocking, pink florescent and metallic acrylic paint, even grommets to create these vibrant works featuring all things garden from corn to savoy cabbage. Who knew cabbage could feel so psychedlic?
Definitely a fan…
Thanks, Mel!

2010 Calendars…

2009-12-31T13:00:00.001-05:00

I feel like every year I do a post on the cutest, I mean "best-designed," calendars for the new year. Let 2010 be no exception. Here are a couple of cuties for your wall/desk/office–wherever!

In order from Top to Bottom
SusyJack
JHill Design
Gallardo Works
Egg Press
Snow and Graham

Badass Bauhaus

2009-12-30T11:03:00.007-05:00

14-Volume Set of Bauhausbücher (1925-30) Lázló Moholy-Nagy
Study in color intensity (1922-23) Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack
Poster for 1923 Bauhaus Exhibition (1922-23) Joost Schmidt
Set of stacking tables (1927) Josef Albers

The MoMA is giving us just one more reason we need to open a New York office… Bauhaus,
Workshops for Modernity. Defined by MoMA, as "the most infuential school of avant-garde art, design, and architecture of the twentieth century, the Bauhaus was a vibrant laboratory for redefining artistic practice in the modern age," as designers we often refer to works produced then for inspiration today.
Their exhibit features over 400 works, ranging from furniture design to texture exploration produced during the workshop's 14-year existence, but honestly the website developed for the exhibit is just as amazing. If you can't make it to New York before Jan. 25th at least check out the site's timeline for a little history lesson and some amazing inspiration to get the design juices flowing in 2010.

Boston AIGA members: Take advantage of the Road Trip sponsored by AIGA on Jan. 23rd!

Note: All images from MoMA.org

Type T's

2009-12-16T10:12:00.006-05:00

Only a few days left until Christmas… if anyone has any designer in their life, here are few "designer" T's to turn them from geek to chic.
(top to bottom)
1. TypographyShop
2. Etcetera Media
3. I Love Typography
4. Veer

For everyone else in your life who is already cool, check out TypoTees blog for an awesome selection of typographic t-shirts, that are cool for well… anyone.

Oh… Anthropologie…

2009-12-04T10:08:00.004-05:00

Why can't everything you carry live in our closets, on our coffee tables and in our kitchens?
I'm crazy about this rich green spread, that combines photos of products, photos of photos of products,with lollipops, Twizzlers, tsotchkes and lawn tools. It's robust, and intimate… I could live on this spread.
They're just so cool…

Sticky Sweet Explosions

2009-12-01T10:16:00.007-05:00

My sister has always had a sweet tooth and gummies were her favorite. I mean, really, she's not alone… who can turn down a Haribo Gummy Frog or Worm? No one. Until maybe you see them like this?

Chandra Bocci, a Portland, OR, artist, has created a huge installation for Mass MOCA's exhibit entitled "You Art What You Eat" created entirely of gummies. "The piece expresses the sticky nature of the Big Bang theory and at the same time, comments on consumerism." Apparently she did a Cheetoes and Fruit Loops installation as well. I think they're sort of amazing.

On the road again…

2009-11-24T14:23:00.005-05:00

We are as far from cartographers as it gets, but for some reason, we're always designing maps. Street maps, state maps, you name it–Pinkergreen has done it. Therefore, we're always looking for new inspiration for how to design them and I just fell in love the quilted maps from Haptic Lab via Apartment Therapy. When will someone pay for us to sew!!?

Pixeltastic

2009-11-20T10:04:00.006-05:00

Last night we went to a launch party for a new company called Rock Art, at Artaic on Drydock Ave. Their team, a collaboration of engineers and creatives, have developed some pretty amazing technology to build photographic quality mosaics out of teeny, tiny tiles. The result looks like tiny pixels in a photograph. Here are a few of my favorites.

Keep an eye out for Rock Art too, the brainchild of Artaic and Liquid Landscape Designs, where mosaics and rocks merge to make some pretty rockin' (get it?) sculptural installations.

art gone GREEN

2009-11-18T10:05:00.003-05:00

We're definitely going to try and make a field trip to Charlestown to check out this exhibit that combines two things we love: art and green. The exhibit is at BHCC and goes on until December 4th. Gallery hours are MWF 10-5, TTh 10-7 and Sat 10-2.

November Rain(coats)

2009-11-12T14:42:00.008-05:00

We got to work with a new photographer this week, Allie Cottrill, from Allison Cottrill Photography, for a website we're working on for Sophia D, a girl's raincoat company. Above is a sneak peek of some of her images. The raincoats, designed by founder, Jill Coppedge, are precious and preppy, and the girls were such good models, especially once they had a few smarties. It's funny to think we refer to this as "work."
Keep an eye out for the Sophia D site launching in a few weeks.
Overall, a winning collaboration.

Rock, Paper, Scissors: Our BU Workshop

2009-10-29T18:06:00.003-04:00

This week, we spent a couple of mornings at Boston University's College of Fine Arts (Pinkergreen's Alma Mater) administering a workshop on collage for the Junior Class. At BU, the graphic design students begin with a 2-year fine arts program, investing hours and hours into painting, drawing and sculpture. Come Junior year, they switch gears, toss the paint brushes and gesso and dive onto laptops. Having had a tough a go at this transition, I thought this would be a good time in the semester to have the students get back to using their hands to create their imagery, rather than clicking a mouse.
On Monday, we announced the workshop assignment, each team of roughly 4-6 students had to generate a poster of a selected green-line accessible neighborhood and create it using found items, Project Runway style. They set off to their respective neighborhoods to gather whatever materials they could find, under the watchful eye of their team Art Director.
What happened on Wednesday was kind of awesome. When we arrived fashionably late, the tables were COVERED with all kinds of crazy finds, from straws, paper bags, caution tape and magazines to coffee sleeves and cigarette butts. For the next 2 1/2 hours they worked feverishly to design and create a poster reflective of the character of Copley Square, Coolidge Corner, Kenmore Square, Allston, and Downtown Crossing. The resulting designs, teamwork and presentation skills we're pretty awesome. This is one class of designers to watch out for.

Thanks, guys, for being willing and eager participants. We left feeling inspired and tired.

Pastry Friday.

2009-10-23T11:40:00.009-04:00

A few months ago we were selected to rebrand Greenhills Bakery & Cafe, a staple to Dorchester's Adam's Circle. This Irish hot-spot is a neighborhood favorite and Pinkergreen took the challenge very seriously. We knew how important the bakery was to the owners and locals, but wanted to provide them with a sweet and hip logo and storefront that would appeal to potential newcomers.
Melissa delved deep into her Irish roots and designed a claddagh ring inspired logo, that translated to a storefront loaded with chalkboard-esque vinyl graphics to be started in the next few months. It's sweet and charming, cozy and warm and totally reflective of the owners who supplied us with weekends worth of fresh scones, soda bread and bagels as well as a hot cup of joe every time we visited.

Honestly, even if you're not a Dot-local, you still have to make your way out to this bakery.

Note: Architectural elevations courtesy of Forte Architecture

Love Your Logo?

2009-10-22T10:03:00.003-04:00

Enter it in the newest competition from HOW Magazine.
Deadline's coming up on December 1st!

matches making a comeback

2009-10-21T14:00:00.001-04:00

There seems to be a resurgence of matchbook marketing going on right now. According to an article in today's New York Times, part of the charm of matches is that they "have the edge as ambassadors that convey distinction in their very physicality." Regardless of the Smoking Ban, we still need matches. Recently, I've noticed a large amount of local boutiques giving away matches. They sell candles, so why not? There are some interesting box shapes,and you can even choose from like 17 match tip colors. You keep your brand on the customer's mind, they get a free memento of their experience. Win-win, don't you think?

spell with Flickr

2009-10-20T09:00:00.002-04:00

Type any word into Spell with Flickr, and voilá!
via coochicoos

Sacred Monsters

2009-10-16T09:06:00.005-04:00

Looking for something to do this weekend? In the spirit of Halloween in a few weeks, head to Medfa to check out Sacred Monsters: Everyday Animism in Contemporary Japanese Art and Anime at Tufts University at the Tisch Gallery.
"This exhibition examines representations of mythical spirits, gods, monsters, and other mutant, sentient beings in contemporary Japanese art and film as expressions of animist belief through the work of eight emerging and mid-career artists. The theme is also explored through a complementary program of continuous anime screenings presented in the Gallery."

I'll let you know how it is…

Lovely Lára

2009-10-14T15:35:00.007-04:00

Here's a sneak peek of some of the photographs from this year's Epiphany School Annual Report. We worked with one of our favorite Boston photographers, Lára Vukson on this year's book–where we took the AR to an entirely new place. Look for the AR on our site soon.

mexican color

2009-10-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Good Morning! Here's some color to brighten your day: Folklorico , G60Pulse

Print Magazine announces new competition

2009-10-12T15:12:00.002-04:00

Print gets moving with a new competition dedicated to motion graphics, check it out!

pops of glee

2009-10-08T08:00:00.001-04:00

These Glee character headshots are just a fun use of color. It's so hard to find saturated hues that compliment the complexion. (Colored backdrops can sometimes cast a glow on the subjects in the picture.) Good stuff.

man shops globe

2009-10-07T16:19:00.004-04:00

A little end of day inspiration... Great use of collage in this promo for Man Shops Globe. The show follows Anthropologie's buyer-at-large Keith Johnson as he lives our dream life.

One of my very own…

2009-10-07T09:00:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I posted about Catstudio, who have designed a collection of state, city even country pillows. I've dreamed about owning one for years, and thanks to my observant Mom, who is a diligent Pinkergreen Insidesign reader, I HAVE ONE OF MY VERY OWN!

Just call me Miss Massachusetts.

Thanks M&D!

Vers iPod Speakers

2009-10-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

Last month I celebrated a BIG birthday, with a very big birthday gift– a Vers iPod speaker system. I've had a crush on this beauty ever since I laid eyes on her a year or so ago. The molded wood is reminiscent of danish mid-century furniture, but has modern features like a booming system that makes my house rock.
I think their iPhone cases are stunning too, but can't imagine it would be that easy to get it in and out of the wooden sleeve. That design might need a little upgrade before I'm willing to invest.
Sprout Creative the mastermind behind Vers is out of Wayland, MA too, a local company taking major green intiatives. Might want to put it on your Christmas list.

The Hunt for Pink October.

2009-09-30T18:50:00.001-04:00

Back in the day, October used to be associated with the color of the turning leaves. Since AstraZeneca founded October as National Breast Cancer Awareness month in 1985, it has become become synonymous with the color pink. While some may criticize manufacturers and retailers for their pink products, if it helps to raise awareness while raising funds to find a cure, all while giving us more pink to shop from, then we're all about it.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has a collection of pink products whose sale benefits their organization. Above are a few office favorites, from Andy Boy broccoli rabe to a sugary sweet pink Tory Burch puff vest, all available throughout the month. What better excuse to get shopping?

illustrated "missed connections"

2009-09-30T12:00:00.004-04:00

Sophie Blackall's been creating illustrations inspired by Craigslist's Missed Connections section. I think it's a guilty pleasure for a lot of us. Lord knows it's closer to PG than the "Casual Encounters" section!

Some of my favorite picks:
You had a guitar. I had a blue hat. "You were lovely."
Scrabble Tattoo on Roof "Asked myself why the letter 'n' all night long, then you were gone before I got a chance to ask."
Hipster Chick Who Passed Gas "I'd like to see you again. The flatulence wasn't a turn-off. "

Find Sophie's work on her Missed Connections blog, or at her Etsy shop. Goes to show you: inspiration is everywhere.

a W makeover

2009-09-25T23:04:00.006-04:00

A whimsical interpretation of the W Hotel's logo installed on our building's entrance for a Boston Fashion Week event.

Print meets Prada

2009-09-18T09:26:00.004-04:00

We know newsprint, and have become very intimate with it over the years. Designing for it, isn't always easy, but designing with it proved to be an entirely different challenge for the talents of Project Runway last night. Every season they give a similar challenge where they've used everything from Hershey Candy Store paraphernalia to flower shop supplies, but I have to say, this one blew me away.

See all of the designs here.

pebble tabletop

2009-09-16T13:18:00.006-04:00

Meg spotted Little Factory's great line of pebble placemats and coasters on Design Milk. We love their organic shape, and simple design. How cool would they be set on a long table even as trivets? Zen man, Zen.

good night

2009-09-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

Christoff Niemann's latest series is called "Good Night and Tough Luck". I love the illustrations and I just wish they used his handwriting for the notes. They're hilarious and so spot on: The chivalry of warming the bed for his wife; the spooner's dillemma. Good stuff.

street sweets

2009-09-14T09:51:00.004-04:00

Street Sweets is hands down the coolest mobile bakery I've ever seen. Even if I didn't have a sweet tooth, the truck's graphic typography would reel me in. You can find their location via Twitter updates. All around great branding. Food carts are huge in NY, and I wish some of the snackeries here in Boston would take their show on the road. Hello, Anna's Taqueria cart?! Mike and Patty's mobile brunch?! Blue Ribbon BBQ truck?! I'm just saying... we need it.

Surf's up on the North Shore…

2009-09-14T09:24:00.005-04:00

Finally got to visit the Peabody Essex Museum over labor day weekend. My husband and I spent our Sunday morning there, taking in the entire collection which was rather impressive and way more robust than I had expected. Their Native American collection alone, is definitely worth the trip, but if you can get there in the next 3 weeks, then you'll be able to view Joni Sternbach's: Surfland exhibit.
From the postcards on display in the vestibule, we were sure these were vintage, but come to find out, all of the photos taken on Long Island or California were taken with the past few years. The photographer uses a 19th century process called Tintype, and then applies them to aluminum. The images are rich, contrasty, telling and sexier than Chris Isaak's Wicked Games video from the 80s.
If you're so inclined, Joni Sternbach is offering a class on Tintypes on October 3rd, the day before the show closes. Come on, that'd be cool.