Design Talk Archives | Alexandra Adams

February 15, 2016 — No Comments

Design Trends: Handcrafted Artists

Handcrafted goods are having a major moment right now. Ceramicists, weavers, and embroiderers are gaining traction and popularity, and the handmade element is incredibly appealing to consumers who are used to mass marketed, generic products.

It feels like everyone has been taking pottery classes and been learning to make their own ring dishes and vases, and professionals are seeing even more popularity. With the rise of succulents and other small plants, the need for their containers has grown as well.

Some of my favorite ceramicists:

suiteonestudio

tortus_copenhagen

tom_kemp_

Embroidery has also cycled back around to the forefront of the artistry scene. Rather than the more traditional designs, however, 2016 embroiderers are embracing more assertive mantras, brighter colors, and even full scenes.

sarahkbenning

happycactusdesigns

threadhoney

I love the variety in aesthetics that can be achieved through the individual makers and traditional mediums. What other handcrafted trends have you been keeping up with recently? Who are some of your favorite artists to follow?

(featured image artist: elizabethpawle)

Published by Alexandra Adams in Art, Design Talk, Design Trends

November 5, 2015 — No Comments

Design Trends: Brush Lettering

Trends are cyclical, and everyone knows it. Much of the 80s and 90s saw a rebellion against the cleaner mid-century modern design aesthetic, influencing a more punk/grunge look. The early 2000s and 10s brought about a resurgence in precise and controlled digital type–especially sans serifs. So many sans serifs. Now, of course, the trends have cycled around once more and people are finding more appreciation in the forms created by hand-lettering. Calligraphy became incredibly popular last year. Modern calligraphy, with its hairline thin lines coupled with very thick downstrokes and large spaces between letters, has become the go-to style for everything from wedding invitations to personal notes.

But 2015 has since seen the rise of brush lettering, and it's dominating the spotlight right now.

Brush lettering features a heavier hand, and is less precise than standard lettering. Its "messiness" gives it character, and lends itself to a more personal and custom look. When combined with a dry brush or watercolor effect, the type gains even more customization options and the same words can look different in a number of ways.

How do you feel about this trend and its speedy ascension to popularity?

Published by Alexandra Adams in Design, Design Talk, Design Trends

October 8, 2015 — No Comments

Design Trends: Candy Minimalism

This post is the beginning of a new series I'd like to start writing about design trends and movements. Candy minimalism has exploded in the art and design world since Matt Crump began posting his sweet creations on Instagram. He has since created a features account, @candyminimal, where he reposts the standouts of the hundreds of #candyminimal style photos published daily.

Obviously, key elements of this trend are the colors and saturation as well as minimalism (hence the name). To achieve this kind of look in your own photos, try out these tips:

Look up. Cropping out the busy streets or the façades of boring buildings give you more negative sky space and room to play with color.
Play with the composition. Really consider the shapes formed by the negative spaces and what's left in the image to create a truly compelling snapshot.
Choose your colors carefully. Evaluate the subject matter of your photo and think about the colors that would compliment the content well.
Details matter. While the focus is minimalist, interesting textures found in architectural structures or plants can add depth to your compositions.
Edit your photos! There are tons of apps that are helpful in editing your own #candyminimal photos. Check out Diptic, PicTapGo, AfterLight, VSCOcam, Touch Retouch, ArtStudio, Tangent, Mextures, and of course, Instagram.

Apart from Matt Crump, there are dozens of other successful candy minimalists out there. Check out some of my favorites below.

@téber

@runnerkimhall

@littledrill

[special_sub_title title_content= "@littledrill" font_size= "18" title_color= "#f43fac" title_alignment= "center" max_width= "100" margin_bottom= "0" animation_type= "none"][/special_sub_title]

Gotta love all the eye candy! Let me know if you use any of the tips or apps mentioned above to make your own #candyminimal creations on Instagram.

Published by Alexandra Adams in Design, Design Talk, Design Trends

August 3, 2015 — No Comments

Olympic Identity–Tokyo 2020, Host City 2024

The logomark for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games was released at the end of July, marking exactly five years prior to the Opening Ceremonies. Designed by Kenjiro Sano (founder of Tokyo studio MR_DESIGN), the mark is geometric in form and stands representative as part of a larger system (as demonstrated in the video below). The T formed by the mark stands for “Tokyo,” “Tomorrow,” and “Team,” the apparent themes of these Games.

The logo has met mixed reviews across the internet, as any prominent piece of graphic design does—some say it is uninspired and confusing, while others praise its simplicity and cleanliness. I don’t mind the new logo—I actually like it. I think it’s clean and refreshing and a hell of a lot better than the logos we’ve seen for the past few Olympic Games by far.

However, one point of contention lies with the idea brought forth by Olivier Debie that Sano plagiarized his work for Belgium’s Théâtre de Liège. The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee defended Sano’s work, explaining that prior to choosing the design, the group “conducted long, extensive, and international verifications through a transparent process.” While the two do share a striking resemblance, Debie’s mark is not registered or copyrighted, giving his claims to take legal action much less impact. With the rise of social media, everyone’s opinion is heard–whether they know anything about graphic design or not. This can be both helpful and harmful, as it’s become nearly impossible for any awaited design to meet a majority of positive reviews. However, this isn’t the first time an Olympic logo has run into trouble, and it probably won't be the last.

e7aa10c4-e81f-45f2-8b94-6a8cb33693c5-2060x1236

I love the Olympics and I also love branding systems, so the task of forming the identity of the Olympic Games is one that has always interested me. My final semester in school, I completed an independent study project where I created an identity system that was adaptable to whichever city was chosen to host the Olympics in 2024. The system for Host City 2024 is loosely based on the interactions between the Olympic rings, inspired by an old poster for the 1932 LA Olympics. The identity changes and shifts as it is applied over various imagery for the Games, in a way very similar to the Tokyo 2020 system.

I’m eager to see how the system is implemented across various mediums as we get closer to the Games and more materials are released.

Published by Alexandra Adams in Branding, Design, Design Talk