Design Debate

Looking at Richard McVetis ' work is engrossing. The London based artist uses needles and thread to make marks and 'draw' his ideas. In his artworks he is preoccupied with process, looking at concepts like time (Units of Time, the cubes above) and considering how it feels. We are drawn to art initially from a purely aesthetic point of view, but as we delve a little deeper individual lines, brush strokes or stitches are given context and reveal new meaning.  The work of Richard's that most engaged me was a series of artworks entitled Light Abstractions. From afar the tiny black stitches on the fleecy wool resemble a colony of ants, but what Richard is representing here is cities at night. He worked from aerial photos so when abstracted each stitch represents an individual light. The piece focuses on the pattern created at a macro scale by humans and their interaction with the landscape.    What patience must be needed! Needle work ha...

Still so much to learn. It is both exciting when i stumble across new things and also overwhelming that there is so much good design - past and present - that I have not met yet. This morning I have learned about one of Australia's most celebrated furniture designers, Grant Featherston. Mid-century design is a bit of a love of mine, when we compiled our 2014 iconic chair design calendar that was a particular period we were drawn to. A combination of new materials and processes, clean, sleek and inviting design and a real nod to comfort that I just love.  So today I saw the classic and beautiful chairs of Grant Featherston re-invented for a new generation. His wife, Mary, and design partner has collaborated with Gordan Mather Industries and Grazia & Co to bring these perfected shapes back into production. Grant's first chair was the R152, created in 1951. Elegant tapered legs, curved plywood and a firm seat curved to reflect a perso...

I came across these beautiful pictures at Miss Moss , a South African blogger I like. The photographs are taken from a 1966 issue of Life magazine and she makes reference to how well this ethos fits the current design craze. It is inevitable really, when the creative world starts leaning in a particular direction there is always a counter response.  When you think 1960s, especially in swinging London, you think disposable fashion, new plastics, new technology, the space age and futuristic living. This article, with gorgeous photographs from Nina Leen, focusses on the craft movement and its ethos of looking backwards, slowing down and taking time. When I was at university studying Graphic Design the mood was very computer driven. Adobe Illustrator was the program of choice. I use it a lot in my work and I think it is a great tool, but at the time quite a few of my classmate's work had a similar flat feel that didn't really appea...

I lament the passing of summer. The only thing that encourages me out of the sadness of the passing warmth is the excitement of Autumn and its colour and its wardrobe opportunities. When my latest Vogue magazine would arrive in the post as a youth, I would love pouring over the sumptuous fabrics and glowing colours of this season. Today whilst indulging in my daily fix of Pinterest I came across the Fall 2016 collection of Ulla Johnson . She is obviously a woman after my own heart. Heavily Seventies inspired with ochre rich velvets, rose coloured flares and generous lace dresses. A beautiful collection that I thought I would share with you.