Design Debate

Scrolling through Pinterest, as I love to do, I came across a beautiful cover for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice . It got me thinking about just how many different interpretations there must have been over the years, so I went looking for some of my favourites. I only have one copy at home, although I have two copies of Emma , my namesake, and I would happily own more. I love book design. A beautiful cover can turn a book into a little work of art in its own right. I tend to prefer the more illustrative covers, particularly those that use pattern, print or typography. Photographic or very literal illustrations can steal some of the opportunity to imagine the characters for myself. I like a cover to suggest a world without defining it completely. Jane Austen first drafted the novel in 1796, when she was 20, under the title First Impressions . She returned to it years later, revising it extensively from 1811 to 1812 before Pride and Prejudice was published in Ja...

Simply delicious packaging. I love the colours, the packet as apposed to a wrap and especially love the irregular triangles.  La Naya chocolate really strikes the right balance. The monochrome illustration speaks of tradition and heritage. The neon bright colours communicate the lively and vibrant culture of Guatemala and the geometric pattern of the chocolate makes this brand feel current. I just want to snap a piece off! Although we have decided in the studio that this lovely chocolate wouldn't last long - wants you snap I just wouldn't be able to stop! Designed by  Gabija Platukyte and found on Behance .  

Pickle Design, the design studio where I work in Cornwall, has been running now for about 9 years, crazy! One of earliest clients we worked with was John O'Carroll. This artist is the real deal and we are always so excited to work with him. John initially approached us to create a book cataloguing his beautiful artworks. He divides his time between Cornwall, Egypt and Holland and is inspired by the natural environment surrounding him, as well as having a deep curiosity about the history and the stories embedded in the landscape. His processes always intrigue me, mixing pigments from the earth and creating large dramatic and abstract piece of layered wax. His makes installations leave me pondering and sculptures with such depth of colour I am left wondering how on earth it was achieved. We are currently designing John's new website, which will be awesome! Really his work speaks for itself so the design I have done is very minimal with gorgeous large images....

Garden furniture can be so uninventive, these concrete chairs though are another matter. Reminiscent of 1950s style and with quite a nod in to the iconic Eames, this chair is from concrete company Lyon Beton.  Apparently beautifully smooth and comfortable, the company say "We aim to offer an alternative to all those who are looking for unusual objects. Combining creativity, aesthetics and practicality, our collections offer a discreet and strong presence." They would work quite happily in the context of a dining room and I like the idea of a few in the garden around a formal dining table softened by leafy trees and flickering light.  Originally found at Ignant .  

I love this! Japanese company Nissan to mark the 5 year anniversary of their car Juke have commissioned British artist Owen Gildersleeve to create a full scale paper version.  The sculpture used 2,000 peices of paper and took over 200 hours to make. Quite a feet!  "as a celebration piece it draws on so many influences, such as the origami focus inspired by Nissan’s Japanese roots,’ Gildersleeve says. ‘using so many individual pieces of paper to create the overall structure also represents the thousands of people who helped bring the Nissan juke into reality and the thousands who continue to do so right here in the UK." I have no paper folding skills - no patience! My sister though is quite adept and recently made some origami creations including a mushroom, a spoon, and an acorn. See more at Design Boom .

Do you know Photowall ? A Swedish company that are making an impression. They have a variety of murals and wallpapers available, you can even create your own. In particular I am enjoying their Scandinavian Surface collection, full of atmosphere and depth. The collection is inspired by nature, with glimpses of moose and eagles through silhouetted branches. A great way to add interest to a room. There is something about inviting nature into a space that transforms a mood.  Looking outside our studio today it resembles this kind of scene, layers of autumn hues with rain drops poised on the end of fur tree branches. Quite beautiful, but if we stared at soulless scapes of concrete then I recon some mural making might be needed!   

Have you seen ' I Have This Thing With Floors ' ? An Instagram account that I love. I have my own shot here I took in Morocco which would fit in rather well! I think I especially like this concept as it is not really a picture of me but I am still part of it. I have done a little bit of travelling, India, Morocco, Barcelona, Ukraine, and often what I have found about different cultures is that we do love to adorn, decorate and embellish (I think that was a project title I did at GSCE Art!). I have always had an eye for pattern, surface design is so engaging. I recon it would be good to add to the floor-selfie mix some foot-worn-concrete, insane Seventies carpet and why not some astroturf?   Oh and have you seen our Instagram page? From the mundane to the sublime, glimpses into the life of Pickle Design.