Rather than starting with a blank page to create their "combo" show posters, the designers at Quinta Feira begin with something resembling a form letter. The bottom right corner of each poster has a standard three blank lines to handwrite the artists appearing and the date of the show, with the address of the venue and sometimes promoters printed below. Using that framework, the designers opt for bold colors like neon greens and blues, and simple line drawings with details that suggest watercolor.
Take note, Japanophiles. Jonathan, the blogger and Japan textile enthusiast behind the blog Bandanna Almanac will be at Independence hosting an event showcasing exclusive items only available in Japan.
Jonathan lives in Osaka, where he’s extensively covered the craft, integrity and provenance behind Japan’s traditional textile culture. He’s schooled us on the topic and shown us how to hand-darn; he’s interviewed the father-son-duo behind the cult denim label Kapital and even collaborated with custom jeans makers extraordinaire Ooe Yofukuften to release the Albuquerque Project. In short, Jonathan knows what he’s talking about.
Shibui, which like many Japanese words has no direct English translation, is the concept of simple, subtle and unobtrusive beauty. It’s a kind of aesthetic beauty that needs time to reveal. So expect some gnarly, beat-up, one-of-a-kind stuff.
Shibui in Chicago takes place Saturday, July 20th at Independence Chicago, 47 E. Oak St.
Some are surely dealing current heatwave across the States by getting wet and staying wet as long as possible. Pools, lakes, rivers, oceans, anything watery will do. With our old trust swimsuit fraying, the new swim trunks from Choctaw Ridge have arrived just in time. Cut and sewn in the USA, the vintage-looking trunks remind us of our big brother's old Birdwell's or maybe something Don Draper would wear in Hawaii, but have a techy advantage in their Japanese fabric, a 60/40 cotton-lyrca blend. The piping gives them some extra panache. And there's a coin pocket, too, in case you need to grab something at the snack bar.
Available in Navy or Sky Blue at ChoctawRidgeNYC.com
Even the most well-stocked first-aid kits aren't exactly user friendly. When tensions are high during an emergency, a box of 15 different bandages, possibly expired creams and lotions, and a glow stick might not make much sense. Gabriele Meldaikyte calls her redesign of the essential kit, the Home First-Aid Kit. By separating the supplies into sections for specific injuries like cuts, burns, and bites, Meldaikyte alleviates clutter and confusion, while also showing which components need to be replaced. Each section has clear instructions (visual and written) about how to treat each injury, and each piece can be reached with just one hand. [via Core77]
Inspired by Danish woodworking from the island of Amager, Chiaozza (pronounced "CHOW-zah") cuts its shelves by hand. Made with traditional Japanese wood saws, the company offers about ten different variations, with details like overlapping wood joints, subtle colors, and light wood that keep the designs modern. Each piece is produced in small runs of 10, and some can be ordered as mirrors.
The shelves are availabe directly from the artist.
The second issue of Works that Work, a publication that dissects the impact of design advances, has an impressive list of practical design topics. In the space of a single book the editors manage to cover handmade soccer balls all over the world, the rise of the Boeing 747, globalization in the context of the shipping container, and a study of sometimes poorly concealed cell phone towers.
Issue 2 is available digitally and in print directly from Works that Work.
The Japan Philharmonic's music is therapeutic. To drive that point home, they've adopted a new pharmaceutical branding to distribute promotional mini-SD cards containing playable digital files of their recordings. The branding, designed by I/S BBDO Tokyo, has the punny title of "Japan Pill-Harmonic" and prescribes specific recordings for ailments from trouble sleeping to tasks like making a decision.
Check out a trailer for the Pill-Harmonic below, featuring some musical pharmacists performing in lab coats.
When it comes to jewelry, finding a uniquely simple yet adventurously original necklace is a mission and a half. But it's an important one, as the right necklace can make our daytime outfit ready for a nightlife rendezvous. So when we found Puerto Rican artist Nora Maité Nieves and her jewelry line My nOma, we quickly embraced her pieces. Neon woven closures, chunky hardware pendants, and bound chains are well suited for quick day-to-night turnarounds. Her upbringing in the Caribbean, where the island life is translated in mix-and-match looks, informs her choice in colors and textures.
The designers at Berger & Föhr are proud of their home state Colorado, particularly its Amendment 64, the recreational marijuana legislation recently passed there. For Icon Magazine's prophetic Future Issue, the editors commissioned Berger & Föhr to brand a fictional line of marijuana. The result is Delta-9, a pseudo-scientific identity "geared towards an informed and aesthetically conscious consumer – a consumer we understand." [via Collate]
Unfortunately the dialogue concerning unpaid internships is usually limited to either high-profile lawsuits against massive publishers and studios, or hushed private conversations about bad bosses. Interns in creative industries have it especially tough as many studios are strapped for cash. To showcase undersung intern work and help start a conversation about the uncomfortable role of unpaid creative workers, former intern Alec Dudson is launching a new publication titled simply intern.
As a way to introduce the concept, Dudson has already completed issue 0, and is looking for funding to publish a proper first issue.
Rewards for Kickstarter backers include issues of the magazine, massive screen prints, an Intern tote, and special advertising packages.