What could be more ordinary than chewing gum? Possibly the most accessible material on the planet, gum never fails to be graphically inspirational, whether you’re dodging spots on the sidewalk or observing them in a highly curated gallery. Interestingly, these two-toned glass sculptures from Vogue Living breathe life into this sculptural concept, merging high and low culture with a complex medium. Interestingly, this New York, New York Gum on Canvas piece by Adam McEwen, along with Dan Colen’s 2006 technicolor Untitled compilation, remind us of the infamous Rorschach Ink Blot test. Regardless of the imagery one sees in these random arrangements, one thing’s for sure, these blots are highly adaptable with timeless appeal.

Oh, the proverbial question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The debate can go around and around. Much like the debates of who inspired whom, what inspired what, and where on earth do ideas come from. And of course, how do they become adopted by society and wind up as trends.

Because, we think we called it via our Interior Design Takes a Spin feature: people, they like change. They also like pixels. And in this case, web cams. We recently spotted Pepsi’s Refresh Project, One People tv spot, where a variety of people on their web cams interact with one another. Each paper conveys a pixelated vibe, and as objects are “magically” passed between squares, the concept is unified as global sharing. Naturally, we delighted at the synchronicity to our fun interior finds. Of [...]

It has always been a personal fantasy of mine to be able to change the color of things at whim. It’s fairly easy when it comes to personal adornment, however interiors present a few laborious challenges. You can imagine the delight and surprise I felt when I saw Amirkhan Abdurakhmanov’s Change It wall. The wall uses triangular pieces, with each side representing a different color. The pieces can be rearranged to create a variety of looks, emitting a pixelated vibe. The mechanism this uses is reminiscent of the changing billboards we used to drive past on the South Florida highways. My delight at Abdurakhmanov’s concept isn’t unique, as this particular piece has been sweeping the web.

The designs immediately remind me of the Swedish design team, Front, and their Changing Cabinet, which we mentioned in [...]

This particular feature is a bit of a double whammy. Not only are these Magasin Totale photos for sale One Kings Lane today, the graphic layouts are so beautiful and geometric that I thought adding color palettes were a creative must. If you ask any artist, inspiration lies in every corner and crevice of society. Something so simple as an abandoned stairwell or a broken wire can provide the missing piece to a creative puzzle. The Swing Set, Rusty Outlet and Bouncy Balls are by Joe Delano and The Stairwell is by Jeremy Harris. Both masters of mystifying the mundane.

It’s quite a treat having friends that double as industry experts. Not only do I have reliable sources to bounce ideas off of, whenever a email recommendation ends up in my inbox, I know it’s from a trusted source. This morning, my good friend and colleague, Alexandra Machinist, a Manhattan based literary agent, sent a heads up about The Visual Miscellaneum: A Colorful Guide to the World’s Most Consequential Trivia, by David McCadless. McCadless’ new book is a collection of his most recent info graphics, knowledge maps and data visualizations. For any designer handed the task of simplifying data, then this is the book for you.

A few sneak peaks of what you’ll find in McCadless’ book. Enjoy and support!

It’s time for winter sales and Creatures of Comfort, one of Pattern Pulp’s favorite LA based boutiques (with a killer web shop), is no exception. There are so many low priced patterned deals to check out, we thought we’d highlight these two ethnic geometric finds to get you perusing. Henrik Vibskov’s Bolivia blanket caught our eye in a cozy, vibrant kind of way. Osei Duro’s Duro Stair tunic, which was inspired by West African textiles, shares a similar layout and palette. You can use the blanket as a poncho and pair together for a modern day twin set or just use it as a fancy snuggie during these cold winter days.

Today I’m thrilled to feature a graphic jack of all trades. Carrie Ruby, a native Houstonian and current Manhattanite, has been a part of the creative team at Future Brand for the past four years. For anyone who’s familiar with the world of branding, they’ll understand that a brand must represent quality, consistency and a good degree of uniqueness. All of these qualities are evident in Ruby’s pattern work. Be it sharp vector repeats or organic negative space, each and every layout is distinctively fresh. Check out our Q+A for a glimpse into Ruby’s daily routine!

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PP:  What websites and news sources do you generally start your day with-do you have a daily routine for news/blog/information consumption?

CR: Keeping up with current information is an essential part of my daily routine.  I usually get to my [...]

Spherical designs are so common they probably deserve their own “feature” button on Pattern Pulp. That being said, it’s important to identify with designs that speak to you, as having a discriminating eye can help sift through the clutter.  Both of these layouts share a similar palette and emit a playfulness that’s easily transferrable for commercial use. In the latest issue of Theme Magazine, Peter Sutherland curates a stunning layout inspired by the spirit of freedom. This photo, shot by Hannah Whitaker, is a true embodiment of this concept. Paralleling this theme, Valentino’s recently released book, A Grand Italian Epic, converts a typographic pinwheel into an iconic status, the perfect symbol for a timeless brand.

Every once in a while I’ll re-post relevant sample sales to Pattern Pulp. Today’s Britto offering from One Kings Lane is particularly fun, as I remember putting this pattern on a mood board this past summer. Keith Haring inspired pop art has infiltrated fashion campaigns across the globe, from Coach to Comme des Garcon to Marc Jacobs. For a bit of art in an indestructible roller bag, check out the sale before they’re all gone!

As you can see, there are lots of creative knickknacks out there- from monogrammed tennis briefs to color coded tooth brushes. Hopefully these guides prove useful for those of you last minute shoppers who’ve let your lists slide to the very end of the month.  Stay tuned though, as we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming soon…

1. Men’s First Layer Polo AK Select Shirt, $90

2. Mara Hoffman’s Knit Stirrups, $110

3. Nile Perch Whalet by Sruli Recht, $248

4. Papa Bubble Personalized Candy, Price upon request

5. SixScents Cosmic Wonder Fragrance, $85

6. Lissie Trullie Album, Self Taught Learner, $9.99

7. Stubbs and Wootton Hicks Blue Needlepoint Shoes, $375

8. Acrylic Paintings by Nicolas Chevallier, Price upon request

9. Louis Quartorze Pixel Bag, $765

10. Paul [...]