Design Debate

I have always loved Art Nouveau. The perfect art movement for a lover of blossoms, blooms, pattern and natural form. Growing up in our family home we had a few of Mucha's posters displayed so his work was familiar to me. He was a graphic designer who really knew how to create an impression that went beyond the product.  So last week when I visited a friend in Prague I was really excited to see the Mucha gallery . There were so many works of art that I had never seen before, and they were so beautiful in the flesh.  Prague itself is a captivating city - the buildings are tall and embellished with ornate swirls and elegant faces. Every street surprises with ice cream colours and intricate mouldings.  We spent so much time in restaurants and cafes, soaking up a proudly independent culture. It was really lovely having our friend and Czech guide Bara as we weaved our way through streets avoiding the crowds. Rich creamy foods were consumed at regular intervals i...

  Coffee is an overcrowded area of product - there are just so many small-time boutique roasters all with their own values and individual stories to tell. The tricky thing  is always going to be  standing out in that market.  I came across Amaya Roasting today and I love the traditional feel of the branding but with a kind of happy quirkiness that feels right up to date. A royal blue mixed with crisp white or a beige cream keeps the palette concise. I like how the logo sets the scene - simple stars, a beautiful boat and stylised tea leaves. The business card has a lovely cloth finish and I like the use of scale on the packaging and stationery. It is great how you can really get a feel for a product, purely through design, even before you get to smell the aroma!  Find out more at the Die Line . 

Have you heard of Esther Patterson and her brand Curiousa & Curiousa ? She is taking the design world by storm with her delicate and sultry hand-blown glass lights. I love her work, the colours are mesmerising, all made traditionally in Derbyshire, England. She has won many awards and her work exhibits in Libertys, London. You can see these glowing works of art in Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Cafe and Jamie Oliver restaurants.  Her passion is working with UK crafts people and her designs are have great scope - each shade is free-blown (no moulds used) which means pretty much any shape, colour and size can be achieved. Lovely.  Originally found at Heart The Home blog .