October 02, 2010
Art + Design = Life
When it comes to design, we forget that it is handmade, just in a different way.
Certainly this had some labor involved in its making.
(NYT Logo - made of chairs)
But design can be fun and lite (or light).
Design can be inspired from anywhere and anything.
Ikea has put out a visually stunning cookbook (notcot.org) titled: Homemade is Best
Is this the future? Will everything be broken down into a global visual language?
Which begs the question:
Design + life = unexpected delights in everyday life
(blend of hand-made, mass-produced, creative applications)
(blend of hand-made, mass-produced, creative applications)
Remember:
That goes for everyone. (below: Kumi Yamashita)
And anyone.
After all, this is our world.
After all, this is our world.
(above: Richard Galpin, "Noosphere", 2006)
September 29, 2010
pattern - orla kiely
Pattern looks to be a lovely coffee table book from London-based designer Orla Kiely. The 304 pages include her bold, colorful graphics and her own personal account and inspirational images that have shaped her style. The book explores the use of pattern in design and how they have shaped her collections that range from her womenswear line, housewares, furnishings, luggage, accessories, as well the coveted handbags.
2010 European Capital of Culture
As the 2010 European Capital of Culture- Istanbul a global city that spreads between the two continents, offers lots of cultural, historical and social activities and alternatives. I find Istanbul intriguing, chaotic and enigmatic; a true special blend of the east and the west. The last time I was in the city, I visited three popular spots : Kanyon, Beşiktaş fish market and Istanbul Museum of Modern Art.
Designed by the Los Angeles-based Jerde Partnership, a shopping mall in the middle of an industrial neighborhood, Levent, Istanbul, Kanyon does have a 21st century vibe. Its splashing water at the base of the "canyon", its swooping curvilinear architecture and the greenery within the gray stones do attract not only many kind of shoppers for its brand name stores but also people like me just to get a close feel of its futuristic architecture.
Another diverse neighborhood in istanbul, Beşiktaş has a new fish market which is built on a triangular site. This contemporary concrete shell and steel structure is designed to preserve the fish market's original presence and its welcoming feeling. Being a preservation and revitalizing project within the bustling community, the structure respects the sense of community among the merchants and also considers the demands of the growing urban setting.
Another busy district of Istanbul, Karaköy along the Bosphorus is the home for the city's first of its kind modern museum, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. It is located on a dock in a converted warehouse with a splendid view of the Marmara sea from its restaurant. The permanent collection includes modern and contemporary arts produced in Turkey.
