Design Debate

Love this, such a strong identity and so very simple. The Birmingham interior architectural studio Sculpt wanted their brand to reflect these key principles: reshape, redesign, refine.  I like how the 's' adapts perfectly to each application, illustrating the flexible mindset of the studio.  It is always lovely to see a brand that works across the board so effortlessly, from office shelving to architectural plans. That bold, retro confidence shining through.  Originally found at Identity Designed . 

Basmanny Apartment in Moscow has all the charm of a Parisian flat, smartly done by Blockstudio. The owners who once lived in Paris wanted to recreate that feeling in their new apartment block in the Russian capitol.  The designers have cleverly created a feeling of character by adding in rich textures and typical French features such as parquet floors, marble and these gorgeous brass dividing doors. The real hero of this interior is definitely the art. I love it, each piece quite unique and bringing so much to the space. The furniture too adds texture and a touch of warmth. Lovely, originally found at Leibal . 

This is rather lush, Expensify's office in Portland USA feels like it has slipped into this historic building as one would slide on a glove. The stunning First National Bank building remains uncompromised, a four story atrium filled with light and gorgeous original features. The open plan space is flexible. Metal-framed boxes appear to float at different heights dividing up the building and little wooden huts provide secluded hubs away from the buzz of the open plan work space. The choice of materials too brings warmth elegance but with that modern precision.  I do love seeing old buildings given new life and ZGF Architects have given this 1916 building a fresh story to tell. Originally found at The Cool Hunter .   

Armin Mersmann draws immense pictures, the level of detail is mind-blowing. In particular I am fascinated by his trees. I would be overwhelmed by the visual overload in a composition like this but it seems Mersmann looks for the overly complex, the intricate - it's a visual feast. The German born artist emigrated to America with his parents in 1962. Living in a creative household, his father also an artist, Mersmann feels his journey into art was inevitable. Putting aside his lucrative career as a portrait artist Mersmann prefers the naturalistic subject, enjoying having total control over the image.  His drawings use hundreds of reference photos, he captures more than just what he saw, but what he felt too.   He says "The very act of drawing every branch, twig, highlight and shadow, rendering textures from the extreme winter skins to the silkiness of new-fallen snow, transforms the scene into an intimate journey. This undertaking is considerably diff...

I love the Victorian architecture in the UK, it's so versatile. The beautiful bones can house pretty much any style. Here London-based studio Daytrip have renovated Powerscroft Road, a home in Clapton, East of the city.  Every object feels thoughtfully chosen, collated, but not stale like a museum. There is a sense of calm and relaxation as well as creativity.  Minimal spaces can sometimes feel sterile or too precious to be restful. This home I feel strikes the right balance.    Originally found at Ignant . 

Aren't these just wonderful? I have always loved the intricate and shimmering paintings of Gustav Klimt and it's lovely seeing his influence in these portraits by photographer Tawny Chatmon. She sees photography as her primary medium, then from there she adorns and embellishes her artworks to celebrate an often over looked subject, black childhood. She takes inspiration from various periods of Western Art using multiple media, even luxurious gold leaf.  These beautiful artworks are captivating, filled with celebration and poinience. A lovely find to brighten a Wednesday morning.   Originally found at the Jealous Creator  

Bit random perhaps for a sunny July day, but what about 2020 hasn't been random! I stumbled across this collection of vintage yam labels at Uppercase and thought them worthy of a share. It's not surprising being a graphic designer that I love perusing vintage label designs. We illustrated our own calendar last year full of vintage packaging . There is something about seeing all these labels together that shows a marvellous cohesion .  We have designed some labels at Pickle Design over the years which has been great fun (if you are interested you can check out these for Harbour Treats ). Fancying some sweet potato fries right now...