Design Muse Blog - Graphic Design Blog, Packaging Design Blog and Home Design Blog

Designer Gifts for Kids

House Industries has designed the cutest graphic blocks and a nativity scene made out of wood. These blocks are so fun and well designed that you won't mind when they are strewn all around your living room and you may find yourself playing with them too. If only all my kids toys were this well designed!

 

Decorate Workshop Book: Blog Tour

I am excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Holly Becker's new book Decorate Workshop published by Chronicle Books. Holly Becker is the author of Decor 8 a popular decorating and design blog. Her new book Decorate Workshop is a how-to-guide on decorating your own space. The book walks you through 8 creative steps and is full of worksheets, how to tips and other resources to assist you with your design process. One of my favorite sections is "Organize Your Ideas" where Holly talks about how to create mood boards. I love creating mood boards and use them daily in my own graphic design process. They are a great tool for decorating and any other creative project.

To see more of Holly's book Decorate Workshop check out the next stops on the Blog Tour on Monday at Simple Grove and In Honor of Design.

(photographs by Debi Treloar)

 

Holiday Wrapping Ideas

The holidays are upon us and as a packaging designer myself I am always looking for cute, affordable ways to embelish my gifts. Here are some fun ideas I found while surfing the web.

Crate and Barrel Arzberg Teapots

To celebrate Crate and Barrels 50^th anniversary they asked twelve artists to interpret their signature Bauhaus-inspired Arzberg teapot. Beginning this December each month for a year they will release one of the limited edition teapots for online sale. Such a fun idea! And all of the designs are so unique.

Sign Painters Book

We got the opportunity to review this wonderful book Sign Painters published by Princeton Architectural Press. I am always amazed at artists who can do hand lettering. It is a true art form and sign painting requires even more technical skills. I loved looking through all these wonderful examples and working styles of different sign painters. I am so glad this artform has not been lost.

Artwork by: Roderick Laine Treece, Ira Coyne, Josh Luke and Sean Barton

Mucca Design for Shinsegae

Brooklyn based design firm Mucca is always turning out fabulous design. Their latest design for South Korean market Shinsegae is really wonderful and we are so happy they shared it with us. The new design for SSG Market is focused on creating "an innovative retail experience by engaging and entertaining customers through authentic culinary culture." From the brand identity to the in-store graphics each piece is well thought out and feels authentic and wholesome.

Olive Oil Packaging

Adorable and playful olive oil decantur and packaging by Australian based Mozi.

Public Works - Bicycle and Our Public World at Flos

I attended the opening party for Public Works exhibit International Designers Interpret the Bicycle and Our Public World on Thursday night. 27 international desingers and illustrators were invited to design posters interpretting the concept of "public biking" with a vision to reclaim urban areas.

The list of designers reads like the "who's who" of design and illustration including; Dana Arnett, John Bielenberg, Roz Chast, Frank Chimero, Milton Glaser, Kit Hinrichs, Maira Kalman,  Michael Mabry, Geoff McFetridge, Jeremy Mende, Jennifer Morla, Jason Munn, Stefan Sagmeister,  Paul Sahre, Paula Scher, Ralph Schraivogel, Jason Schulte, Michael Schwab, Skolos-Wedell, Erik Spiekermann, Jennifer Sterling, Niklaus Troxler,  Rick Valicenti, Michael Vanderbyl,  Frank Viva, Volume Inc., Jessica Walsh, and Henning Wagenbret.

The 40" x 60" prints were beautifully printed by ArtBrokers Inc. and lit by the amazing designer lighting from Flos. The exhibition will be on view at Flos thru October 25th. Limited edition prints on canvas can be purchased online. A few of my favorites below.

Posters shown: by Michael Mabry, Kit Hinrich and Jennifer Morla.

Wine Label Sleeves

Stranger & Stranger recently designed these cool prohibition era decorative paper wine label sleeves in collaboration with Truett Hurst and retailer Safeway. The sleeves not only look cool they add real estate to communicate with the buyer beyond the tiny front and back labels.

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The Fabric Workshop and Museum Philadelphia

I was in Philadelphia last weekend and had the pleasure of attending the latest show at the Fabric Workshop and Museum "An Odyssey: A Narrative of The Fabric Workshop and Museum". Founded in 1977 The Fabric Workshop and Museum originally invited artists to experiment with fabric, and later with a wide range of innovative materials and media. There were some incredibly creative pieces using fabrics and other materials at the latest show. Two of my favorite pieces were by Yinka Shonibare and Mika Tajima.