An exerpt from Display
May 25, 2011
March 21, 2011
January 30, 2011
Today I bought: Vintage Miu Miu
Remember this Miu Miu collection from SS 2004? It's one of my many favs from the brand.
I recently came across the super cute pink dress pictured above, but, alas, it was not my size. Liked it so much, I almost bought it anyways to hang on the wall. Luckily, I came across a unworn vintage pair of the matching embellished pumps in pink today and all is redeemed. So excited to get them – it will be like wearing mini gilded birthday cakes on my feet. Yes, I am crazy. ;-)
January 29, 2011
January 04, 2011
Debbie Millman's "Look Both Ways"
Just finished reading Debbie Millman's "Look Both Ways" – a collection of essays that surprised me by their intensely personal connection to the author. A quick read that took me a couple of hours one lazy afternoon, the book covers a series of reflections Debbie has about certain brands or even city landmarks that she has come across in her life. In the book she recounts how profoundly humans connect to stories and ideas that brands represent and how we can create entire worlds around these things, places or concepts. Essentially, this idea, is the cornerstone of all branding and advertising and she punctuates this repeatedly by giving examples of her strong ties to the ideas specific brands embody.
All told the book is engaging because the voice of the author is sincere and authentic and the presentation of the text as handwritten pages is charming.
That said, I was disappointed that after her long successful career, that she felt the need to end the series by saying that anyone that pursues our line of work (commercial art / advertising / branding) has somewhat sold out just because it's a secure living. I think I would have reframed the path she was heading with this idea (because she clearly states she is looking for the next professional chapter/challenge in her life) and simply stated that humans cannot do one thing for their entire lives and expect to be satisfied. Sure, that's how things are structured so you can climb the ladder, build credibility and make more money – granted. But humans, in my humble opinion, are only truly happy when there is a steady and consistent opportunity to grow and learn something new. After 20+ years in any business, a person could get restless – sure. Does this mean one should suddenly discount their career choice and abandon it? Or should they just acknowledge that maybe it's time for a change?
Our industry gets so much flack for not being real, or artistic or worthy of respect. Sure, if you want to judge an entire industry by the lowest common denominator, you can label it crap pretty easily. But given that Debbie chose not only to devote her professional life and career to it, but also create a book with countless stories about the strong connection of her love for various brands – surely there is something of value there to her that transcends merely selling buying and stuff? As I see it, her questioning of her next professional step causes her to undermine the whole point she is making in the book.
Branding and advertising is modern day story telling. Yes, it's littered with bullshit and crap, but there is also work out there that changes not just what people buy – but how they think, act and treat one another. The transformational power of brands is big, real and can be awe inspiring and can change the world. So why call yourself (and the rest of us) a sell-out? Was Tibor a sell-out? I wish people in our industry would stop apologizing for what they do and own it – celebrate it. We work hard and sometimes, we get projects and clients that provide the most marvelous opportunities to change perceptions.
Understanding human desire and motivation is fascinating and it drives and inspires me daily to create new ways of communicating. Whether it's for potato chips, phones, handbags or oatmeal, landmine awareness or protecting freedom of speech – there is value in all of it. No regrets over here.
October 30, 2010
June 27, 2010
And now a thought from Milton Glaser:
I think about this all the time.
April 19, 2010
Raymond Savignac
A dear friend bought me this lovely Tin Tin poster from a stall along the Seine during one of my many visits to Paris when I lived in Strasboug. Sadly, it is still waiting to be framed.
March 10, 2010
Barbie, meet Don Draper
Oh, looks like Joan went on a diet...hmmm.
I realize that Mattel was working off of their stock molds when creating these dolls but perhaps they should have considered one important point before deciding to default to their standard sizes – the allure of Joan in particular to their audience. I'm willing to bet that her character is one of the most beloved on the show not only for her amazingly strong character but also for her beautiful and realistic hourglass shape. She represents me and most women I know the most faithfully and is without a doubt the Barbie I would have been most inclined to buy. But, because the doll so clearly doesn't do her justice – it sort of ruins the whole effort a bit. A shame really considering how fun they are. Slated for release in July. Read more here.
February 15, 2010
December 29, 2009
Where has this great insight gone?
I can't stop looking at these Lego ads from 1981 over and over again – I love them so much. Why? Because I feel like I don't see this type of dialogue anymore. It feels like toys today are so rarely this gender neutral. It feels like feminism and girl power have been been distorted and morphed in to something disingenuous and opportunistic that resembles Paris Hilton and the Pussy Cat Dolls.
Walking in to a Toys R Us recently, I was overwhelmed by the oppressive and dominating themes of girls' toys centered around grooming, shopping, cooking, caring for baby and being a provocative Princess. It made me wonder if the deeply sexist world portrayed in Mad Men that I marvel at weekly on HBO is really that distant.
Yes, I too played with Barbies when I was wee and pink certainly played a large role at that impressionable age too, but there were other choices as well. I played with Lego, Star Wars figures, video games, science kits, board games, art supplies, books and had a bicycle and a skate board. And although I did like the idea of having an invisible jet like Wonder Woman, being a "sexy princess" never factored in to my plans.
This dominating "pinkafication" of all things female feels alarmingly regressive and unapologetically sexual. In addition to little girls like Suri Cruise wearing high-heels, (you can now buy them for your baby too), everything for moms, teens and young girls alike seems geared towards a more mature, sexed-up, celebrity and material obsessed culture. Even Dora, who should be dressed as her name suggests, as an explorer, has recently veered into Bratz territory. Tween Dora is now a sexy version of her former self, with longer hair, slender legs, short dress, jewels and ballet slippers – not exactly all-terrain wear.
November 19, 2009
October 15, 2009
Wonderful Design Resource: Counter-Print
September 12, 2009
Neat old chip ad
Not sure what's better, the awesome squirrel in a jacket or that "noisy" is a selling point. Found on Flickr
September 10, 2009
Fun with food
These clever images are for the Sydney International Food Festival. See more here.
August 01, 2009
Vintage Ads
All images courtesy of Plan59
Material Archive
I'm a Toronto based designer that enjoys blogging about whatever intrigues me
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