Design Debate

It has only been a recent thing that I can get involved in the culture of tea. I had always considered tea and coffee to be grown-up drinks but when I became an adult I still preferred a hot chocolate or a glass of fizz. However I love the culture of tea, its visual language and its companions of cake, fine china and conversation. Finally I discovered my tipple - peppermint tea. Not only refreshing but good for digestion, so I too can get on board with a British institution. All these musings on tea come about as I come across this ingenious calendar. We at Pickle Design create a calendar every year to send out to our clients so I am always on the look out for fresh ideas. This brilliant Tea Calendar was just sent to the business partners of Hälssen & Lyon - lucky people! Each day is made from finely flavored, wafer-thin pressed tea leaves. The tea wafer can be detached, brewed, and enjoyed. Quite brilliant! The design was developed by Kolle Rebbe of Hamburg. Th...

Everywhere you look there seems to be promotion for  Baz Luhrmann's new film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire,  The Great Gatsby. Originally a book by  American  author  F. Scott Fitzgerald .  I completely love the style of the 1920s and thought this would be an ideal opportunity to take a look at some fashion, design and style of this influential decade. The book focusses in on the excess of the Jazz age, and Fitzgerald said he wanted it to be   "something new — something extraordinary and beautiful and simple and intricately patterned."   In America there was  unprecedented economic prosperity, a new young culture was emerging with music and fashion that was very different to its buttoned-up predecessor. Women had more freedom, clothes relaxed as did morals. Here are some examples of the style, which caught my eye. Josephine Baker, 1928 Smoking suit 1920's underwear Ste. Croix et Les Rasses, trav...