Vera Neumann believed that fine art should be accessible to everyone – a radical idea for her time. The legendary artist and designer launched her scarf company in 1946 using excess parachute silk from World War II, setting into motion a lifetime career. Her bright and whimsical prints covered not just scarves but a litany of objects including slipcovers and plates. Up until her death in 1993, Vera did it all, never compromising her career for motherhood, family, or her art for business. While today’s Vera lovers have been forced to comb the internet and rummage through bins at thrift shops, Vera’s work has recently been given new life.

After having been rediscovered by Anthropologie, Vera’s patterns and art have been incorporated into a variety of wares for a handful of seasons. A book entitled, “Vera: The [...]

Back in September we interviewed Juanita Cardenas on her Polychromatico! line of clothing. This time around, we’re taking note of her chameleon-like sketchbook. Brought to our attention by Lauren Epstein, a good friend and avid PP supporter, it’s hard not to be glued to every page once you start scrolling through. The vibrant textures and raw experiments are evidence of a creative deep dive and prove our point that mood boards are the way to go when you’re in the concept-phase of a project. Take a look and tell us how you concept. What’s your favorite way to tackle a brief?

Black and white is as timeless as it gets. Regardless of the medium, message or style, it’s hard not to be attracted to this colorless pairing. It appears as though designers of every variety are letting loose and using expressionistic strokes to achieve textured results. Be it accidental or on purpose, the patterns are both stark and stunning. This water induced photograph by Luke Gilford was recently featured in Another Magazine and reveals the beauty that can come from unexpected chemical reactions. These splattered shorts styled for Marie Claire prove this trend is tapping the 80′s in addition to modern times, as these polished plates from Dinosaur Designs, are as modern as they are green.

There’s a freshness to gouache that Adobe Illustrator just can’t compete with. Whether it’s the unique spontaneity in the color transitions or the subtleties in each expressive stroke, watercolor designs are unmatched – and quite popular these days. Be it Hugo Guinness, Robin Cameron or The Selby, each of these New York artists continue to interpret the medium in fun, playful, inspiring ways. Guinness recently released a new series of works that are currently selling at the John Derian store, expanding his collection beyond black and white prints. Cameron’s mixed media explores materials, color and layout with an energy that compliments her other drawings. The Selby’s recent update to his banner image provides a creative and commercial solution for self branding, proving that watercolor can be chaotic, corporate or custom, so long [...]

I had the pleasure of tuning into Stylesight‘s Fall/Winter 2010 trend webinar earlier this week, presented by industry insiders, Sharon Graubard and Nina Stotler. Unsurprisingly, Graubard and Stotler labeled Marni’s overlapping color fields a print to watch for Fall. Some other mid century style setters to note are Felipe Oliveira Baptista, Erotokristos and Balenciaga.

Tapping other creative print and pattern worlds, Anna Bondoc‘s recent paper cut masterpieces are a reminder that paper continues to be a material of choice for designers and artists alike. Using just a knife and steady handwork, Bondoc combines color, shape and asymmetry to execute her wall friendly pieces. Her inspiration ranges from coffee beans to Scandinavian pitchers and the results are both organized and abstract.

As temperatures rise in Manhattan, it truly feels like summer’s around the corner. Fashion editors, publishers and retailers are simultaneously feeling a collective green thumb, as saturated florals flood the marketplace. Deep, vibrant blossoms are appearing on everything from home goods to branded merchandise. This Velvet Due chair slipcover, which was recently highlighted in the design issue of the New York Times Style Magazine, was created by Ken Scott, and  is the epitome of psychedelic wonderment.

Merging Americana themes with Japanese style, Barbie‘s most recent collaboration with Comme des Garcons presents a gridded floral pattern entitled, Jingle Flowers. Whether you’re pairing magenta with turq, yellow or black, you won’t go wrong with any of these combos, as this all-star color palette is ushering in summer with broad strokes and intricate details.

Just as camo’s a seasonal staple, so are dots. Regardless of color, technique or shape, dots are continually getting a facelift. The above prints range from patchwork to watercolor to pictorial overlays and are easily translatable, regardless of whether you work in fashion. Here’s a quick visual round up of some of our favorites:

1. 1. Chris Benz, Spring 2010
2. 2. Forever 21, Polka Dot Panels, $11.99
3. 3. Eley Kishimoto, Picnic Polka Dot, Spring 2010
4. 4. Rachey Comey, Navigator’s Dress, $1208.00
5. 5. Elle Tahari, Claire Dot Dress, $398.00
6. 6. Tracey Reese, Blue Shadow Dots Draped, $330.00

Every designer knows that the right color palette can make or break a collection. If you’re off  by even the slightest shade of teal, the commercial appeal of your line can waver. So when starting a new collection, it’s important to take current events into consideration. Everything from art, politics, technology and generational attitudes can affect your palette beyond seasonal assumptions. Additionally, trusting your creative gut sometimes holds the same weight as consulting the experts (if your budget allows). This Spring/Summer 2011 palette is inspired by the boundless nature of aquatic living. Contrasting sheens, crustacean reds and cool blues dominate throughout.

The above images are from Bloom Magazine, a bi-annual staple in the trend forecasting industry. Pearls, silk and watery sheens have already trickled into graphic applications and will continue to influence embellishments and fabrics in the year [...]

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 [...]