I’ve been doing research for two projects today and have been drawn to all sorts of projects with handlettering: from magazine covers to packaging to menus and signage. You’ll definitely want to click the source links to see the full images and other works by the artists- I’m totally in awe of their talent. There’s something about creating type by hand that can completely transform the aesthetics of a design, and of course, it makes the text one-of-a-kind.

Sources:
Starbucks Guide // Life is Pretty Good // Full Moon Party //
100% Orange Juice // OC Weekly Summer //

Here in CA, we’ve had some wonderfully warm and sunny weather to remind us that spring is finally here. To remind those of you being pelted with awful weather this week about what spring really looks like, and share a little of our Cali loveliness, I’ve created a feminine and springy color palette. Use it with playful script fonts or subtle floral patterns to create fun seasonal graphics!

Images (clockwise from top left): Behance // Designspiration // Dribbble

While I was waiting at the optometrist’s this morning (whee, new glasses time!), I browsed through Ikea’s interactive catalogue for their new Spring 2013 offerings. You know I love Ikea, but this was a slice of heavenly goodness- so much fun with colors, patterns, and textiles, all wrapped up in a really creative interactive experience. It’s so fun when companies put together rooms with their new products and offer tips on how to bring your place into the upcoming season, instead of just sending out a boring old catalogue– though I confess, Ikea’s catalogues are still my one the best to thumb through for inspiration and wishlists! Check out some of the images from Ikea’s Spring collection that are inspiring me to be bright and bold today-

As any fellow bibliophine can attest to, there’s something wonderfully sentimental about library catalogues and the cards that filled them. Maybe it’s because libraries and books have gone digital, maybe it was the challenge of trying to look up that one particular book you wanted, but card catalogues and the individual book cards (is there a different name for them? Call tags?) invoke this feeling of nostalgia that I, personally, adore. They’re also so neat and grid-like that they just lend themselves to all sorts of design, like the projects I’ve been inspired by this week!

1// Pinegate Road: business cards
2// Up Up Creative invitations via Brooklyn Bride: elopement announcements
3// Stitch via Lovely Stationery: Library branding
4// Babel Design: Morgan Dillard business cards
5// Jonathan Ogden via Dribbble: misc collateral design
6// Simplesong Design via All Things New: baby announcements

Like it? Share it!

Confession: I have a bit of an Indiana Jones-like fear of snakes. Despite that, there’s still something fascinating about the patterns on their scales and the way they move so gracefully. Since it’s now the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac, I’ve been seeing a lot of images of snakes (and snakeskin) floating around the interwebs, and decided to gather up some beautiful snake artwork and logos. Plus, snakes are far less intimidating when they’re designed and illustrated so well, right?

1// Small Talk Studio via Oh So Beautiful Paper
2// Dante Terzigni
3// Matthew Tapia
4// Forefathers via Dribbble
5// Katie Scott
6// Tyler Anthony via Dribbble

 
Ps- did you know you can follow me on Bloglovin now? Go for it!
 

Like it? Share it!

For the second time in the last few months, Oreo’s designers (working alongside their social media team) have come up with images that have brought their brand into the forefront of conversation. The images have gone viral on social media both times, and the most amazing part about it is that both graphics were bold yet simple, devoid of celebrity endorsements, and lacked those annoying calls to action that always make you want to #headdesk. Nope, their images have been product-centric, simple, eye-catching, and with witty/relevant copy. I think they’ve got this viral image thing down…

Case #1- supporting marriage equality

Oreo caught a lot of flack for this image, but even more to the point, thousands of comments and shares in support of their message. While I don’t know if this image was a spur-of-the-moment decision, it certainly was a brilliant one. By recreating the highly recognizable rainbow flag that’s become synonymous with marriage equality and gay rights in the form of a (delicious looking) stacked Oreo, they conveyed a simple but uber-powerful message, while still remaining on-brand. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a rush of sales that week as well… I know I picked up a box in support!

Case #2- Superbowl blackout

Once again, Oreo came out with a minimalist — even more so this time, in all black and white– yet hugely impactful image. Unlike the pride cookie, this image was spur of the moment. No one could have predicted the Superbowl blackout, but while everyone else seemed to be scrambling to figure out what happened (or blaming Beyonce’s fierceness for the blackout), Oreo hopped on social media and took over with this clever graphic that has since been liked over 25,000 times and shared over 6,000… and at a mere fraction of the cost of a Superbowl ad. Boom.

Also, if you’re interested in the social media side of Oreo’s success, check out this post by my friend Elisabeth over on Ubervu’s blog. Great read on real-time monitoring with tips on how to be prepared to act/react like Oreo did.

Like it? Share it!

Last night, I was scrolling through Behance and I came across this fabulous branding for Provisions, a “mom & pop deli/grocery/sundries store,” designed by Singapore-based Foreign Policy. I was instantly drawn to the clean look of the logo, and the way they were able to recreate the mom & pop feeling through simple packaging, handwritten labels, and sweet 1950′s-inspired styling. From there, it wasn’t hard to imagine a kitchen or breakfast nook inspired by their branding…

1. SMEG Refrigerator, West Elm
2. Red Gingham Lunchbox Napkins, Etsy
3. TV Dinner Plate, CB2
4. Berry Basket, Fishs Eddy
5. Gatsby Bar Tools & Ice Bucket, Crate and Barrel
6. Canon 3 Piece Canister Set, Apt2B

Geometry sounds like a strange thing to be inspired by, doesn’t it? Well, lately, I’ve been working on a branding project for a tech startup that’s inspired in part by geometric figures and things like patterns on motherboards. Sounds geeky, but it’s going to be very awesome. Anyways, I find when I have projects like this going on, they’re always in the back of my mind so I’m always unconsciously looking for images and inspiration to help make the branding as kickass as possible– and that’s where the geometry has come into play lately.

Top- Summerhill Pyramid Winery Rebrand by Kristin Scharf // Bottom L-R- Geome3 by Applove // Isotope Branding by Panio Ventza

It’s been a while since I had any fun in-progress work to share with you, but this project is just too great to keep quiet until it’s finished. I’ve been working with a client who I’ve done other work for in the past on this identity project for a new venture. We’re going for a retro-inspired “mad scientist” look incorporated into part of her identity, and while the illustrative and custom type aspects are definitely out of my everyday comfort zone, I’m having a blast putting this together. Plus, while I was in Boston for ~20 hours for my Saba’s funeral this weekend (he was a professor of electrical engineering, more on that later this week), I got to peek at some of his patents and old textbooks for even more old school scientific inspiration.

With New Year’s Eve almost here, I’ve been thinking about sparkles and sequins and wanting to surround myself with luxurious, shiny, sparkly things. Since diamonds and gold aren’t exactly in the budget this year, I thought a roundup of sparkle and shiny inspiration might be a fitting substitute.

Sources, clockwise from top left:
Mowielicious // Gatsby Posters via Glamour (sidenote: can.not.wait for this movie to come out!) //
Lagoon Hill Wine via The Dieline // Danielle Davis via Grainedit // Absolut via Beautiful Life