Creatively Kitsch

What They Don't Teach You in Design School: Part 2

2012-02-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

Process.

In real world (at least the corporate/inHouse world) often there is NO process. Or if there is a design process, is it conducted at warp-speed.

Do you remember those books we created in college? Fully dedicated to documenting and developing your process from research, to concept, rough compositions and final product. Yeah, that doesn't happen anymore.

Here is how the process works outside of the academic walls.

Client Request (you can sometimes go in blind guessing and defining/refining what the client wants and who the audience is) --> Initial Comps (at least 3 solid varying good ideas) --> Client revisions (this can lead to 5.. 8.. or 10 rounds of revisions if there is no charge-back system in place) --> Project Completed (printed/live/DONE)

That's it. There is no intentional research, you just plop it together and serve it on a pretty InDesign platter. Everyone's happy. Except you, because as a designer you basically just regurgitated a project to fulfill a deadline or appease a client.

Without a thorough process in place you can feel disconnected, disenchanted and creatively stagnate.

TOMS: ballet flats

2012-02-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

WHOA. Shoe purveyor TOMS is now selling ballet flats in addition to their classic, botas, wedges, cords and cordone style shoes. The company that donates a pair of shoes for every pair that you purchase is expanding their brand again (this summer they added sunglasses to the lineup) with these stylish and fun flats. The ballets are fancy enough to wear to work, yet can be also worn on Casual Friday. Currently the flats will cost ya $79. Check out the rest of the styles here: TOMS

What They Don't Teach You in Design School

2012-01-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is the first in a series of brief posts about the transition from graphic design student into a professional design employee. I wish they had taught us these important and curious facts about what to expect post-college as graphic designer. These lessons apply to InHouse, Agency, Freelance and any other graphic design careers in between.

Microsoft Office.

Yep, I said it. And I MEAN it. You will be working in Microsoft Office a lot. They really should teach designers how to use this ridiculously clunky program. Your clients will make a project request and you need to be prepared to caress, maneuver and when applicable want to hurl your keyboard at the monitor.

As a Graphic Designer you will be asked to create word templates, headers, footers, letterhead, text boxes, calendars, Powerpoint templates/headers/pages/layout (perhaps you will even experience the joy of laying out over 100 slides). Exporting information from Excel into InDesign. There is a plethora of nonsense that involves using the dreaded "Office".

No one tells you this, but all designers secretly, are just as frustrated as you are.

Here's a tip for importing images (i.e. header + copy or some sort of non-editable layout or background into Word)

1. Create the layout in InDesign
2. Save as an .eps
3. Open in Illustrator
4. Save as a TIFF
5. Place the TIFF in to the Word document
6. Size and place as needed (making sure to adjust layout/size accordingly)

*It took me about an hour of trial and error to get a clear/decent resolution from a Mac (InDesign) to a PC (word document). You cannot skip to just saving as a TIFF from InDesign/Photoshop, for some reason the resolution is not as crisp. So all six time consuming steps are necessary.

Gifts That Give Back

2011-12-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

Who says gifts can't be a good thing? These organizations make spending money during the holiday a VERY good thing. So do a good deed and open your wallet!

This is my very first "gift guide", yay!

the color wheel

2011-12-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

Don't know what to get the creative girl in your life for the holidays, howabout this adorable necklace from Yellow Owl Workshop. It's only $44!

i heart my christmas tree

2011-12-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

My friend is selling these adorable christmas tree ornaments on etsy. Is your tree representing So Cal or is your tree more of a hella Nor Cal douglas fir? For only $5 they are a steal, grab one while they last!

Time to decorate the tree: California <3

I'm a dreamer

2011-12-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

some of us are just dreamers... I love this little shop: Animalia

Lisa Frank!

2011-12-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Just in the nick of time for the holidays, a random discovery. Lisa Frank makes apparel for grown ass women. Wowies.

I so wanna squeeze my boobs in this ridiculous number: Lisa Frank!

It's time.

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

GetUp! released an absolutely beautiful (seriously, it almost made me cry and I have no heart "allegedly") video about marriage equality.

The Hunger Games: New Trailer

2011-11-14T08:44:00.001-08:00

The new trailer for The Hunger Games (11/14/11) premiered on GMA this morning, I literally was clapping in my living room and got CHILLS during the reaping scene! I can't wait till March 23rd! See the entire trailer here: The Hunger Games

Stop the Pity, Unlock the Potential

2011-11-11T10:30:00.000-08:00

Mama Hope is a non profit organization that provides the resources necessary to uplift communities and arm them with the gift of self sustainability. They have helped over 76,000 people and are just getting started! You can donate monetarily, become a Global Advocate or simply donate your Facebook or Twitter status to spread the message! Learn more about Mama Hope here | Stop the Pity, Unlock the Potential

The Hunger Games: Official Posters

2011-10-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Yes! Hunger Games fans rejoice, 8 official character posters have been released today! The movie which debuts on my birthday, is definitely building up the fanfare. See the rest of the posters here: may the odds be ever in your favor

Dear Machine: An Etsy Shop

2011-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Beautiful sherbet-sprinkle-confetti laced photography in this etsy shop: Dear Machine

Cookoo for Coconut Oil

2011-10-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

{image via howart.info}

I recently swapped out EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) in most instances for coconut oil so this article is hilarious and insightful!

10 things you can do with your coconut oil
A sample: gluten free and vegan cooking, to shave your legs, cooking at a high heat and as a personal lubricant (not compatible with condoms though, oil + latex = babies)

Read the rest of the article here: Good Is

Falling in Love with Concrete

2011-10-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Who knew concrete could be so beautiful? The etsy shop Atstuart just blows me away!

Dalmatian Jumper

2011-10-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Even though I'm not 12 years old, I'm super digging this Dalmation Jumper by Oasis. I adore this bird print scarf too!

Etsy: Mojave loving

2011-10-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

An adorable letterpress mojave/little house on the prairie inspired personalized shop: InHaus Press

Is it a dog or a lamp?

2011-10-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

It's a dog lamp! Just crushing on this playful dog lamp

Pigment

2011-10-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

I am slightly obsessed with my new neighborhood store Pigment. It is so sweet and has the best products, from books to plants, stationary, jewelry, and more. I heart it all. I literally can't focus in this store, everything is so perfect. The selection of quality products is vast and highly covetable. Add a little Pigment to your home!

Tattly

2011-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

I love the Tattly temporary tattoos, I've admired them ever since they first came on the scene this summer but this one in particular caught my eye: DIY Dots maybe because I've always had a slight obsession with polka dots, whatever the reason it's (and all the other Tattly designs) pretty rad (the lineup of talented designers contributing to the project is amazing).

Christina Applegate for Tiny Prints

2011-10-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Christina Applegate founded RAW (Right Action for Women) and recently partnered up with Tiny Prints to create adorable limited edition greeting cards and thank you notes with a portion of the proceeds going to RAW. I adore Christina (have you seen her new show "Up All Night", it's hilarious) and Tiny Prints always collaborates with the best designers and causes. Buy yours here: Support the Cause

The Girl Effect: Part II

2011-10-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

I wrote about the inspirational organization The Girl Effect way back in March (here). They are launching a blogging campaign and I thought it would be great to join in the fun. In case you need a reminder of what TGE does they hope to give young girls (and boys) who live in poverty the opportunity to create a better future for themselves through advocacy. You can donate monetarily or mobilize your community. This video is type heavy and gorgeous!

Milk + Bookies

2011-08-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

M+B is a non-profit organization that collects and gifts books to children who don't have access to books. They encourage the donator to inscribe the books and leave a message for the recipient. Milk + Bookies main goal is to "Read, Give, Grow" by promoting learning and literacy. Help them out by hosting your own M+B party or scheduling a book drive at your local school!

Oh yeah, their website/identity is pretty rad because it was created by the talented people over at ALSO Design. Make sure to check out their fun video about giving here: Milk and Bookies

Indian Summer Chair

2011-08-24T19:10:00.000-07:00

I covet you Indian Summer Chair. My latest Etsy furniture obsession. le sigh

Penguin Ink

2011-08-22T20:43:00.000-07:00

Penguin Books is celebrating its 75 year anniversary. They teamed with designers to create 6 classic new "tattoo inspired" covers and the product is fetch (that's right I used a Mean Girls reference to describe a book cover, deal with it).

Enjoy the rest of the covers here: Penguin Ink

My favorite is the Tara McPherson "Bridget Jones Diary" homage, swoon.

(via my twitter peeps: The Heads of State, oh and if you haven't started follow me here CK)

Harry Potter tribute exhibition

2011-08-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

A dreamy Harry Potter exhibition of collected artwork. Featuring over 50 artists and 100 pieces of work the Tribute Exhibition is not to be missed, Potter-novices will dig it!

Mattson Creative for Maroon 5

2011-08-03T19:03:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been designer crushin' on Ty Mattson. So yes this is the second post in 2 days. Get over it. Mattson Creative collaborated with Maroon 5 to create some pretty nifty tees, I would definitely stand in a ridiculously long merch line to pick up one of these! See more of MC's apparel here or shop on the official Maroon 5 site here

Blik Pattern Wall Tiles

2011-08-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

Design decal company Blik has introduced new treatments in the form of patterned wall tiles. They can be cut and manipulated in various ways, are eco-friendly and non-toxic. I kind of think the "bird flurry" would be perfect over my fireplace. | what the blick?

shark week

2011-08-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

It's shark week y'all! Celebrate in style with Ty Mattson's official poster for the discovery channel | shop read more about Ty's project here: Mattson Creative

comic sans, asshole.

2011-07-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm Comic Sans, Asshole from joehollier on Vimeo.

hilarious comic sans video, thanks saya

how about we

2011-06-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

How About We is a different type of dating website. Unlike Match or EHarm it doesn't match you on levels of compatibility (which let's face it people, is just a glorified Myspace quiz) instead it matches you with a person who meets your basic criteria (age, sex, zip code) who want to go on fun dates. What are these alleged fun dates? It can be bike riding at a park or grabbing a snow cone, whatever your in to chances are there is someone else nearby who's game. So how about we...

f: HBW
t: howaboutwe

chalkboard obsession

2011-06-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

So I'm moving and I'm OBSESSED with having a chalkboard in my new place, because nothing says "mature" like tic tac toe on a wall. ha. I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to incorporate it yet, I've seen some really cool examples of framed boards and the whole painting walls with the chalkboard paint scares me (the covering it up afterward sounds horrible). So for now I'll just gawk.

Any tips? Hit comment.

rhino shot glasses

2011-06-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

It's been forever since I've blogged and that is ridiculous. So I thought I'd apologize by offering some friggin awesome wild animal shot glasses. Featured on the Shop Cool Material curated shop these guys get it all right, from beautiful whiskey stone glasses to beer soap. They are the bees knees.

im going to harry potter land!

2011-05-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

So I'm using this post mainly to brag about my upcoming trip to Universal Studios/Harry Potterland but also to share this awesome re-worked book cover by Amy Sly. Potter-heads will get this, everyone else, as you were. :) You can view more of her HP inspired covers here: put a muggle on it

You can see more of Amy's extraordinary work here: portfolio

calypso: elephant escape

2011-05-10T22:07:00.000-07:00

calypso for target! i recently posted about the new designer line that target debuted on may 1st. i allowed myself to buy ONE thing. and when i passed by this ELEPHANT belt i nearly passed out. how friggin adorable is this! i can't wait to rock it ;)

get yourself some summer threads here: calypso

i missy you

2011-05-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

i want to be this girl. i missy you is a LA based illustrator (Missy McCullough) who's work is bright, relevant and fashion forward. her illustrations have been featured in Qlix and Nylon magazines as well as the on Today Show.

i missy you = portfolio | shop

(via aphro chic)

i love you more

2011-05-04T20:40:00.000-07:00

"i love you today more then yesterday, less then tomorrow" an adorable necklace created by betsy & iya | shop

(via design crush)

it gets better

2011-05-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

the "it gets better" commercial that debuted during glee honestly made me ALMOST cry. which is shocking considering the number of times i've been called heartless, i digress. it's such a feel good inspirational tv spot. bravo google, bravo.

*p.s. i promise to stop posting videos soon, ha.

Apache

2011-05-03T20:03:00.000-07:00

Apache from oneedo on Vimeo.

an absolutely gorgeous video, i can't even call it a music video. that title does it a diservice. watch, fall in love with the graphics and get jealous, REAL jealous of the person who created it! if you have time this one (the future is not the future) is pretty swell too

(via local talented designer, josh boston)

Nerdy Anniversary Present

2011-04-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

i have to admit, this is a pretty nerdtastic anniversary gift. as long as he followed it up with a drink and some cake it would remain a happy anniversary.

(via AdWeek)

the neighborhood

2011-04-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

updated my neighborhood page, included some fun new links and re-hauled the graphics. can you say tgif?

my milk toof

2011-04-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

i mean how adorable are these teeth? my milk toof is a blog (and now book) written by Inhae Renee Lee. she documents the musings of her baby toofs, ickle & lardee. Inhae's story:

When I was young, I placed my baby teeth under my pillow and when i woke up I'd find a shiny new quarter. But whatever happened to those little teeth? Where did they go? Would I ever see them again?

Many years later, a little tooth was standing at my door. It looked familiar. Its name was ickle. Welcome home, my milk toof!

I know one dental hygienist who is going to LOVE this post, looking at you MonoWon!

read her blog here | toof | shop | read | tweet

don't forget you can follow me on twitter too @creativekitsch

calypso for target

2011-04-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

i swooned when the new summer calypso for target commercial came on. (if you haven't noticed i have a thing for elephants) everything about the new target designer line says summer. i want it all. unfortunately it's not available until May 1st.

target, be still my heart. | countdown

bungalow 360

2011-04-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

bungalow 360 is an adorable boutique (online and in selected stores) run by susie pusch. i first stumbled on her display booth at san diego state during craft fair week my senior year (by FAR my favorite week at school, hello retail therapy) this elephant travel bag is calling my name: hop on over to the bungalow

so it's bathing suit season...

2011-04-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

already, le sigh. j.crew has some pretty cute ones on sale: shop till ya drop

graphic designer for hire?

2011-04-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

friends and friends of friends are always asking me for parameters/rules of hiring a graphic designer. most people jump to wanting a "logo" or "website" before they have a business plan or any sort of strategy which can lead to spec work. spec work = bad. designers have lots of qualifying questions for perspective clients as well (i.e. letterpress, envelopments, web, print fees, budget, ect)

recently one of my favorite letterpress girls wrote a post called "5 things you should know before hiring a graphic designer" Adrienne boiled it down to 5 key points: 1) portfolio 2) personality 3) scope of a project 4) budget and changes 5) timeline

"I don’t like estimating in the dark just as much as you don’t like giving out a dollar amount. If you have no idea what your budget is, just tell your designer that you have no idea what x & y will cost you but you’d like to see their pricing. If it’s way more than expected then go back and ask the designer how you can shave your costs."

"We all get along with certain type of people. Make sure the designer is someone that you can be honest with (and they won’t cry when you critique their work) as well as someone that is similar to you."

get more advice from dingbat press

bee things

2011-04-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

shay omtez and jeff barfoot are bee things; a couple who make prints, posters and apparel. they live in Texas and their illustrations are fresh and fun. check them out here: bee things

Swanning for You

2011-04-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

i mean, how precious is this cardigan, it has two of my favorite things. birds and stripes. SQUEAL. cuteness brought to you by the great people of ModCloth

Urbio

2011-04-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

Urbio is a San Francisco based company that hopes to bring a little of the outside into your urban dwelling (apartments, lofts, dorms, ect.) They are currently trying to gain funding through kickstarter. The planters are really cool, clean and modular. They stick via magnet to a variety of metal surfaces. | kickstart

(via the dieline)

blogger tshirt

2011-04-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

i need this tshirt in my life, it's only $19. is it friday yet? via raygun

Exergian Posters

2011-04-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

Really digging the simplified poster designs by Exergian (a Vienna based agency). They created a number of posters commemorating American television shows and movies. Purchase a poster here: Print-Process

FEED Japan

2011-04-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

FEED has created a tote for Japan aid, of which $10 of the proceeds will go to the FEED Japan Fund. The fund will aid in disaster relief efforts, providing monetary support for organizations who continue to provide recovery for its citizens.

The tote is made of 100% organic cotton and proudly reflects the Japanese flag on the back. | shop FEED

The Shape Report

2011-03-31T21:05:00.000-07:00

The Triumph Shape Report is a study that surveyed Australian and New Zealand men and women about their views on the female body type. They asked questions such as "Are you happy with your body?" 70% answered "No" while 79% of men responded that they are "happy with their partners bodies". Another question from the Shape Report revealed that 48% of women surveyed are a size 14 or bigger yet 57% of women would like to be no bigger then a size 10.

The Triumph Shape Report encourages women to not think of their body types as "baskets of fruit" (i.e. pear and apple shapes) but instead think of their body as a work of art celebrated throughout the ages by master artists (renaming their physiques "da Vinci", "Rubens", "Matisse" and "Rembrant").

Of course, the whole project is put together by retail shape wear company Triumph which kind of sends a mixed message. Celebrate your body, but don't forget to make sure it's shaped properly. HA

find your "new shape" and check out the rest of the responses to The Shape Report

2011-03-31T20:37:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited for Julia Rothman's new project/book "Drawn In" to be released. It's a self-proclaimed "sneak peek into the inspiring sketchbooks of 44 fine artists, illustrators, graphic designers and cartoonists". This past Christmas I received The Exquisite Book which is gorgeous and inspirational.

Drawn In is available for pre-order now | amazon

Read more about Drawn In on Julia's blog: A Book By Its Cover

Disney + Method

2011-03-31T20:21:00.000-07:00

Disney and Method teamed up to create hand soap packaging that will inspire the dirtiest of little kids to get excited about cleaning their "minnie" (or mickey) hands. The foaming hand wash comes in kid friendly scents (lemonade and strawberry fizz) I can barely contain MY excitement and I'm no where near their target audience.

(via the dieline)

a lil lady and her bonnet

2011-03-31T19:06:00.000-07:00

a little lady and her bonnet. precious baby head accessories and fantastic baby photography are offered on Simply Basic Designs etsy shop. Her items are dreamy, made out of soft yarn and perfect for you lil bundle of joy | shop

the photos are taken my Toni Elmer, absolutely gorgeous!

Mikey Burton for Out of Print

2011-03-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

Out of Print is more then another standard tshirt shop. They feature book jacket artwork on shirts and through their proceeds, donate a book per purchase to "Books for Africa". Recently, OoP collaborated with designer/illustrator/award-winning creative Mikey Burton (the proceeds from Mikey's Out of Print designs donate a book to a community in need).

hop on over to their shop | out of print

It's a shoe heist, Sketchers Bobs

2011-03-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

HOLD the phone. These look eerily familiar, another shoe company has decided to cash in on the success of TOMS but this is a cheap ugly stepsister to the do-good giant. Sketchers BOBS are on sale at your local DSW shoe store. You may remember another post I did recently about Payless' attempt of imitation "the good shoe project" (it's the highest form of flattery). While these are cheaper in cost (and probably in construction) and claim to ALSO donate one for a child in need, I say stick to the real deal and hop on over to TOMS.com or Nordstom and support the original "one for one" startup. This is starting to get out of hand.

see the rest of the shoe heist here | bob's not my uncle

kate spade for japan

2011-03-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

Kate Spade created a tote (for $18) and 100% of the proceeds go to Japan's Red Cross. The tote is available for pre-order now and will arrive in boutiques March 23rd, get excited! Kate Spade New York Supports Japan (via refinery29)

geographic crush

2011-03-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

i've got a crush and it involves a lot of peaks and valleys. These Are Things have the most beautiful maps i have seen in a long time. another set of swell Ohio designers (jen & omar) who graciously donate a portion of their proceeds to a charity (i.e. this months recipient is the capital area humane society) they also use 100% post-consumer recycled paper and recycle 100% of their plastic & paper waste. bravo jen and omar.

Sycamore Street Press

2011-03-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

wandering through etsy and found this card that made me legitimately "laugh out loud". upon further research discovered Sycamore Street Press, a family owned and operated letterpress company.

i dig it, i dig them. Kirk and Eva use environmentally friendly products and their vintage letterpress machine doesn't require electricity, they use 100% recycled paper. seriously cool guys.

visit SSP blog | shop

shout out!

2011-03-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

i was absolutely honored to have HOLSTEE give me (and my blog) a shout! i was even more thrilled that they were moved by my post about the girl effect and are helping spread the message to a wider audience.

so who is HOLSTEE? A creative team made up of rad people who create "kickass products sustainably made with a social impact" I have a crush on them. you may have seen their manifesto before... (p.s. that manifesto is for sale in their shop, grab up one will ya?)

creatively kitsch would love to give holstee a blog hug, seriously, week made.

40 Years of Starbucks

2011-03-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

anyone else under the Starbucks spell? i love their new type heavy commercial spot! the coffee giant is celebrating its 40th year and giving away new petite desserts (which look really yummy and are all under 200 calories) to customers who purchase drinks between 2 - 5 pm March 10 through the 12th. Help celebrate 40 years and get your drink on, don't forget to high-five and tip your barista too :)

Blackbox Case for Macbook

2011-03-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

cue angels singing and harps strumming, i'm in love. the blackbox case for macbook is absolutely stunning. handcrafted and made of solid oak in Colorado, the cases weigh "less then a bottle of beer". Priced at $129 they come in brown and oak tints. best of all 15% of ALL purchase proceeds go to charity. | shop

quick fact: the creator Lance fulfilled his childhood dream and became a pilot, in an airplane the "black box" is the crash proof container where all the most important info is stored = blackbox for you macbook. swoon.

Aino-Maija Metsola: illustrations & prints

2011-03-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, Aino-Maija Metsola's illustration work is pretty amazing. Once I found out she's the same age as me thoughts of inadequacy filled my head. She also does custom prints for clothing, my girl crush is in full effect. See more of her work here: AMM

Ladies & Gentlemen: Superior Servers

2011-03-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late to the game on this, but these are extraordinary. I'm loving clean bright colored cookware lately. | shop

Will & Kate: Hug Mug

2011-03-04T18:29:00.000-08:00

Happy TGIF y'all! Who doesn't have a lil royal wedding fever, here's a fun chotskie to throw in the mix thanks to the fun people over at Pedlers UK | shop

It beats that creepy official royal wedding coin, right? HA

The Girl Effect

2011-03-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

This is the most brilliant and inspirational video I have seen in a long time. GirlEffect.org is an organization that hopes to give young girls (and boys) who live in poverty the opportunity to create a better future for themselves through advocacy. You can donate monetarily or mobilize your community (they offer all the tools you need -- press kits, tshirt designs, posters, buttons, videos, ect.) GO to this site asap | The Girl Effect

the animal print shop

2011-02-24T22:01:00.000-08:00

How did i not know about this website before? it is so adorable I nearly squealed at my computer screen (nerd alert, ha). Sharon Montrose is a photographer who sells her animal series via the animal print shop. The animals/models used are real and often rescued and have loving owners who lend them to Sharon and her camera lens. The animal images captured against a stark white background is breathtakingly crisp and beautiful. See Sharon's work here: shop | portfolio | blog

julia rothman

2011-02-24T21:39:00.000-08:00

Julia Rothman is a Brooklyn illustrator and designer. Her wall applications are dreamy and sweet. Find out more about Julia here: studio | blog (which highlights book covers, so smart) she also works at Also {the website is so fun}, which is a brilliant 3 person design studio. You may recognize their work, I did (i.e. The Exquisite Book, ReForm School, Design*Sponge website and The Animal Print Shop). I adore the things they are creating. Great job guys!

Drew's 5th Birthday

2011-02-23T20:41:00.000-08:00

My co-workers son is turning five. He's adorable (see proof here: drew) and so I agreed to do his monster truck (i.e. Grave Digger) themed invites. It was fun to do something different and to have a 5 year old as a client, that being said, he was oddly the easiest client I've ever worked with. Happy Birthday Drew!

Elephant TOMS

2011-02-22T20:19:00.000-08:00

elephants + TOMS, I'm in love. I just purchased these and can't wait to wear them!!!
be my twin and buy a pair here | shop

I can hear you now!

2011-02-19T23:13:00.000-08:00

I have the best audiologist & surgeon ever! Sara Mattson and Rivik Mehta have given me the gift of sound. As I posted previously (here and here) I am 100% deaf in my right ear and have been ever since birth. Listen to Sara talk about ME at the 20 minute mark!

I am 100% happy with the end result! Aesthetically, wearing the BAHA isn't an issue. In fact most people don't even realize any difference at all. Here is a quick rundown of my experience, cliffs note version:

Post Surgery
the surgery was quick, I was awake during the procedure. It was definitely THE most bizarre thing to hear a drill going into my head but there was no discomfort at all.

I didn't take my pain medication early enough so I experienced some pain, it was searing and felt like a massive amount of pressure in my head.

Day 2
Now that I have my antibiotics and pain pills on schedule I am not having any issues at all. In fact, I'm in better shape then I was after having my wisdom teeth removed!

Week One
Everything is healing up well, check in with Dr. Mehta cleans the implant area and sends me on my way

3 months and a week later
They seriously to make you wait the entire time for your bone to osseointegrate with the abutment, I tried to push up the date to get my BAHA up, but the doc's wouldn't budge. Sara programs my BAHA, shows me how to attach it to my head (I am now the bionic women) and answers every question I throw at her

5 months later
Other then a few software issues with the new BP100 the BAHA is working well

8 months post surgery
... and counting. I am now 100% comfortable with my BAHA. I love it, I am able to distinguish who's speaking immediately without looking or turning my head towards them. When people yell across the room, I hear them (and don't "ignore" them) I heard a glass break two rooms away and knew it was a vase before my co-workers could figure it out. This hearing thing is freaky, but in a good way.

Tips
The cheapest batteries I've found thus far are at walmart (or walmart.com) 24 zinc batteries for $15, not too shabby. My batteries last me about 8-10 days. | shop

View images of me and my BAHA here: BP100

If you have any questions about my experience I would be glad to answer them or direct you to someone who can.

Adele: 21

2011-02-17T19:27:00.000-08:00

absolutely with Adele's new album 21, it is perfection. Check out a live performance below.

under construction...

2011-02-15T18:37:00.000-08:00

messing around with some css/blog design... bare with me! think i may ditch the pink, but here's the new header :)

Diet Pepsi "Skinny Can"

2011-02-10T18:54:00.000-08:00

Pepsi unveiled it's new Diet Pepsi "Skinny Can" during New York's Fashion Week. Now not only are my thighs "too fat" but my soda can is wearing Spanxs. The fact that the new "Skinny Can" debuted during Fashion Week where model-thin is the norm and real healthy bodies are shunned is deplorable. Combine that with a culture that's overloaded with unrealistic body image and the new Diet Pepsi Skinny Can is destined to cause unintentional self esteem and body image issues for its consumers.

Pepsi says, "Diet Pepsi has a long history of celebrating women through iconic fashion imagery seen in our infamous and historical campaigns, and we're proud to continue that tradition as an official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week," said Jill Beraud, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo. "Our slim, attractive new can is the perfect complement to today's most stylish looks, and we're excited to throw its coming-out party during the biggest celebration of innovative design in the world."

The Truth: "The cover of almost every [magazine] depicts a celebrity or model that both defines and is defined by a very narrow and relatively precise paradigm of female beauty. She is tall (maybe 5’10”), slender (about 110 pounds), and her body is meticulously toned. " - The Religion of Thinness

Sound familiar? The new skinny can will be available nationwide in March.

(via the dieline)

Jane Austen on etsy

2011-02-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

Brookish: Handmade Goods is an etsy shop created by Brooke, a Jane Austen affectionado. Her items are inspired by Jane's life and books. Her shop includes tea towels, shirts, mugs and baby onesies... | shop

Judy Kaufmann

2011-02-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

i adore the illustrations by Judy Kaufmann, a Barcelona native "who likes to draw animals, people, houses, cars, trees and everything repeatedly" . The above print is a limited edition and available just in time for Valentine's Day. Her sweet characters and playful circus themes are enchanting. View more of Judy's work here | portfolio | shop

Stop The Water While Using Me

2011-02-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

STWWUM: is a ecologically conscious line of personal care products (shampoo, shower gel and toothpaste) that are made without artificial colors and preservatives, animal testing, non-biodegradable products and wasted energy during the production process. Stop the Water While Using Me urges consumers to become more self aware of being wasteful with water. Will you stop? | StWWUM

(via the dieline)

Designers & Books

2011-02-08T20:32:00.000-08:00

Designers and Books is a site created by Pentagram contributor Brian Wu. D&B publishes lists of books hand picked by esteemed designers that they consider meaningful, poignet, thought provoking and inspirational. Check it out for yourself | Designers & Books

cake batter pancakes

2011-02-07T20:58:00.000-08:00

oh MY-lanta. cake batter pancakes with sprinkle glaze icing, lemme just throw some pepto and i'm there. amazing stroke of genius brought to you by: How Sweet it Is (via oh joy)

Creative Kitsch on Pinterest

2011-02-07T18:04:00.000-08:00

hi kids, i'm finally on Pinterest (you know the virtual pin board social network). i often don't have enough time to blog about EVERYTHING cool i find but you can keep up with me here: pin board

also don't forget to follow me on twitter: creative kitsch and "like me" on facebook

Cosas Minimas

2011-01-24T08:26:00.001-08:00

I recently stumbled upon the work of Blanca Gomez, an illustrator and designer working out of Madrid. Her illustrations are adorable, clean and thoughtful. She has a plethora of work on her portfolio site (trust me, I looked at ALL of her projects one by one) as well as a blog & etsy store

The world she creates is sugar sweet. It’s designers like her that make me want to up my game. Bravo Blanca!

FEED

2011-01-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

FEED believes that everyone has a basic human right to nutritious food. By purchasing one of their bags you help FEED the world. They use environmentally friendly artesian-made materials with fair-labor production. You can give directly to the FEED Foundation (give) or purchase something from their (shop) *Each bag can feed 2 school children for an entire year

FEED partners with the United Nations World Food Program: WFP

ONE

2011-01-21T09:04:00.001-08:00

I had the happiest of accidents the other day, while doing research I stumbled upon ONE.

“ONE is a grassroots advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support smart and effective policies and programs that are saving lives, helping to put kids in school and improving futures. Cofounded by Bono and other campaigners, ONE is nonpartisan and works closely with African activists and policy makers.”

ONE is a movement 2 million members strong, their main hope is “to achieve change through advocacy”. 'we're not asking for your money, we're asking for your voice.'

Currently ONE is promoting their “No child born with HIV in 2015” campaign. They provide quick links and encourage you to write a letter/make a call/plan a visit to congress, engage your local media or mobilize your community.

Products in the ONE shop are designed my EDUN (which creates sustainable trade that promotes local opportunities in Africa, EDUN is dedicated to creating positive change in the world | visit

Join the movement | shop * the shirts are made from 100% African cotton in Lesotho

KK outlet

2011-01-21T09:04:00.000-08:00

Everyone seems to be getting royal wedding fever and for good reason. I remember when I was “in like” with Prince William (age 12-15) his face adorned my bedroom walls thanks to Tigerheat and Teen Beat.

KK outlets is a British run store featuring a very unique array of products. Most notably KKO was featured on Good Morning America with their unconventional and smart royal wedding memorabilia.

Unlike the official traditional chinaware products hocked by the royals (as seen here) these dishes created by KKO are more desirable by the commoners. They feature phrases such as “thanks for the free day off” “It should have been me” and there’s even one with a Facebook “like” button (Mark Zuckerberg should be proud!).

These plates will be in available in the London store on February 3, if you’re no where near “where the bridges are falling down” you can pre-order via email (manchester@kkoutlet.com).

Break out the china already | shop

DODO Case

2011-01-10T19:43:00.000-08:00

DODO case is a San Francisco based book binding company that creates extraordinary cases for iPads and Kindles. Each case is handmade and there are a variety of interior colors to choose from. DODO believes in the importance of preserving the art of book binding while the world becomes digitized. I absolutely love hardcover books and am so excited to deck out my kindle. purchase | the dodo story | blog

Lady Gaga + Polaroid

2011-01-06T20:49:00.000-08:00

Unveiled at the epic CES convention. Lady Gaga and Polaroid have joined together to create products that are futuristic, retro and a lil bit insane. I wouldn't mind getting these crazy glasses, which include a built in camera and dual LCD's. INSANE.

view more images here | shake it like a polaroid picture

(via engadget)

The Good Shoe Project

2011-01-04T15:04:00.000-08:00

As I was strolling through the local mall I found myself in front of the Payless window display something caught my eye, it was oddly familiar and out of place. Payless is promoting a line called "the good shoe project". Echoing (and that's a polite way of saying stealing) the design, mission, vision and values from the more reputable TOMS shoes. (i.e. TOMS says : "one for one" Payless says "buy one, give one") Case, meet point. Nonetheless when you purchase a pair of the Airwalk Hope shoes Payless will send a pair to a child in El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua or Guatemala.

The whole project is overseen and distributed by World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization who spread good will and aid to over 100 countries while "reflecting Christ in very community".

Hmm, what do you think about that? Is heavy handed inspiration acceptable in this case because it's for a good cause?

Cora Heels

2010-12-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

Toast is a UK company that believes in organic production, recycled packaging, reducing carbon output, sustainable design and creating products with a story (i.e."... products will often have a story behing them - whether it is of an individual creative artisan maker, a traditional mill or a women's co-operative in Africa.")

The products are gorgeous and online look-books breathtaking. If you live in the UK please stop by any of their locations otherwise load up your cart virtually | shop

i'm a lily tea pot

2010-12-27T08:09:00.000-08:00

I am loving this teapot from Fred Flare. There's an interior metal steeper and her head becomes a tea cup. Adorable. And I don't even like tea. | (Tiger Lily teapot) shop

Forrest Does Graphic Design

2010-12-21T20:27:00.000-08:00

really digging the design work of Joel Spearsmaker, a Brooklyn New York graphic designer who is a jack of all trades and oozes talent. I initially swooned over Joel's Poketo redesign (you may have clamored over their products at Target a few months ago).

See more of Joel's work here: portfolio | blog | shop

wrap it up

2010-12-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

Sir Richards Condom Company is a TDA Advertising & Design (pretty snazzy agency) "for profit "company in partnership with Kreloff Equity Partners. For every condom sold in the US they donate one condom to a developing country. The design caught my eye, and I would kind of love the collect all of the different colors to display in a mason jar, but i'm pretty sure my house guests would get the wrong idea. oh well ;) The condoms are currently being sold Paul Smith, Fred Segal, Viceroy and Whole Foods with plans of expanding to more distributors in 2011. (via the dieline)

"buy one, give one. doing good never felt better... " - Sir Richards

dreamy photography

2010-12-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

I just fell head over heels in love with these photographs by Irene Suchocki. Irene is based out of Canada and is a self taught freelance photographer. She combines dreamy ethereal style with gorgeous cosmopolitan backdrops.

See more of Irene's extraordinary work here: portfolio | isPhotography Shop | flicker | etsy shop | blog

Apolis: Global Citizen

2010-12-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

Apolis is a social enterprise that empowers people through lending a handup instead of a handout. They co-create products with a "global citizens" and allow opportunities that would otherwise be financially impossible. Apolis combines philanthropy, sustainability and social responsibility. | shop

family holiday xmas card

2010-12-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

whew. finally finished my annual family christmas card. it went through quite the evolution (2 trips to Michaels later, ha thankfully they have a 50% off coupon!) view more images and while you're at it, become a fan on facebook | you like me, you really like me

Jolby

2010-12-10T08:16:00.001-08:00

Jolby is a design studio in Portland Oregon. Josh & Colby met at the Art Institute in San Diego and their design aesthetic combines fun texture, patterns and color palates. They try to achieve two goals with the work they create: "Tell a memorable story " and "make people smile."

They recently released a brilliantly illustrated children's book called "The King's Sixth Finger" about a king who is obsessed with the number 5. The project was sponsored by supporters on the site kickstarter.com (a site that lets you "fund creativity").

I think these guys are the bees knees. shop | portfolio | blog

*they are currently offering 10% at their etsy shop now through December 19th!

Minnie Muse

2010-12-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

i loooooove the new Minnie Muse line at Forever 21. The collection has jewelry, shirts, and tights. Friggin adorable. A special collection for the holiday season, so grab 'em while they last. And since it's Forever 21 the prices are low and the quality, questionable. ha. | shop

Brent Couchman

2010-12-09T08:09:00.001-08:00

I’m a fan of Brent Couchman’s illustrations and design. He’s got an eye for color and has done great work for Fossil. Brent works in San Francisco (hire me?) and finally he has a couple prints for sale at etsy | shop | portfolio | illustrations

San Diego Y Conference

2010-12-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

The SD y conference is slated for March 25-60 2011 and has launched their new site which is looking pretty snazzy! The theme this year is "spark" and that's exactly what these conferences do. Reinvigorate you as a designer and connect you to other creatives. Without periodic design meetups our work would get stagnant and we wouldn't evolve creatively and no one wants that, right? The lineup of speakers isn't too shabby either.. Good work SD AIGA | learn more