The title of today’s feature couldn’t be more appropriate given the current state of the Gulf Coast. This week’s New Yorker cover by Bob Staake tips its hat to the oil slick that’s been glistening like a mirage for the past two months. Interestingly, and somewhat oddly, the nod to M.C. Escher’s graphic puzzle was eerily foreshadowed and beautifully executed by Alexander McQueen at this time last year. The print is timeless, adaptable and a seamless reflection of the times.

Back in March we noticed water graphics popping up across multiple mediums. From tactile materials to type, to glossy palettes, hints of aquatic influences were showing up before it felt seasonally appropriate. Today we can say the trend has finally arrived, particularly since it’s been making the global rounds. Rob Gonzalez and Jonathan Quainton of the UK firm, Sawdust, recently designed this vector-heavy tote, Beat, for Carry Hope. The analogy, graphics and flow all compliment the message, reminding us that water circulation mirrors the heart’s blood flow. Using a hand painted wave to create an all-over pattern, Shanghai Tang, a luxury brand from China, achieves a similar goal. The romantic shape offsets the woodblock effect, proving harsh or soft, it’s possible to interpret movement, so long as it’s brand-consistent.

Every few months a new circular pattern makes it’s debut on our site. It’s impossible to ignore the force that is the target and the power it has to draw you in. Back in October, circles appeared throughout multiple product categories, popping up in the most unexpected of places. This season however, color, transparency and the all-important bulls eye are being used to engage, entertain and educate. Lexus has gotten technical with info graphics in their portrayal of hybrid horsepower. Combining circular motion with photography, the creative team at Dazed and Confused has chosen an alternate route for their Gucci spread. Regardless of subject, medium or message, the pinwheel can bring focus to any layout.

Eight months ago, white moulding was everywhere- from fragrance packaging to window displays to music cover art. It appears as though this trend is continuing to evolve, as Rudolf Stingel’s latest ceramic collaboration with Bernardaud and Art Production Fund’s, WOW, proves 3D can become 2D when translated appropriately. Sandra Ballentine of the The New York Times Style section recently wrote a piece about this magnificent collaboration, saying, “The plates, which come in an edition of 2,500 in both black and white, are based on photographs of a wall relief that Stingel began in 2008. Fittingly, that project was inspired by the wallpaper in the dining room of his childhood home.” The plates are available for purchase at Works on Whatever.

A little over a year ago, windows graphics were popping up all over the place. Everything from bird feeders to typographic letter treatments to literary picture books where revealing hints of city living. Thirteen months and several trade shows later, the urban landscape continues to flourish. These matchboxes which were reviewed on the popular packaging blog, The Dieline, exemplify the 2D version of the exceedingly popular 3D city in a bag, sold at Muji. Whether we’re celebrating landmarks or brownstone charm, the unique character of city architecture continues to play an inspirational role in product and pattern design.

Bubbles just aren’t going away. Nor is the concept of natural deterioration. Last August, the most notable patterns that incorporated bubbles appeared in fashion, typography and product design. This season’s no different, as this printed dress from Japanese Fashion Week showcases a combined effort of all of these concepts. This dress was presented in late Feb, and truly looks like a Japanese take on Balmain. Be it the cut, color, or intricate printing process, all of the elements provide a striking statement that rejects prim and proper and embraces distressed minimalism.

Back in October, lightscape patterns were popping up left and right. These unruly markings were appearing in everything from media and textiles to graffiti and print. Today, Alexander McQueen’s sample sale on Gilt Groupe features fashion photography with light, shadow, and graffitied negative space. Refreshingly the technique has been slightly adapted and is quite playful. Adding chaos to the horizontal layout forces the model and her leather bustier to pop and as a result, the viewer settles on the warm tones, pondering if they should click to see more. For an ecommerce site looking to lure consumers, we give this image a high score, as it’s got all the ingredients for the all important impulse click.

At first glance, last week’s New Yorker cover by Kathy Osborn seems like a cute parody on rabbits, Easter and Grant Wood’s infamous 1930 farmer portrait. The idea of a family tree composed entirely of bunnies, captured in stylistic unison is humorous, charming and rather surreal. A year ago, Bergdorf Goodman’s window display revealed a wall of hand painted bunnies framed against a green backdrop. Fast forward and we now have framed imagery from Hunt Slonem’s Manhattan oasis showcasing his own homage to the bunny world. Joe Zee, Elle’s Creative Director, always says, two times a coincidence, 3 times a trend, so we ask, are other adorable cuddlies going to continue adorning walls around the world or will these visual stories alternate as whims change and moods shift?

On the heels of last week’s tanagram post, it’s only appropriate to highlight Elana Giavaldi’s new vector art. Giavaldi is a master at geometric patterns and truly sweeps the house when it comes to new artistic content for her blog, One Day One Pattern. Not only is it refreshing to see tertiary colors being used in such a primal way, but the palette mimics the season’s transition, welcoming spring with open arms. Check out Giavaldi’s tumblr site for the full reel of her brilliant repeats.

Celebrity collaborations are nothing new. When a product gets a nod from a famous face, we all know that sales will likely soar. A year ago, I featured Proper Attire, Planned Parenthood’s latest campaign, addressing the issue of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among 18-25 year olds. The program has been a success and a phenomenal example of how decorative rebranding can reinvent the message of an everyday product. Most recently, Jeremy Scott and Brian Reyes have joined the cause to share their creative visions. Scott’s Flintstone-esque brights are electric, graphic and Gaga-approved, while Reyes’ designs tap an ethereal nature-inspired look and feel. Two designs for two different girls, all for betterment and health of society, it doesn’t get much better than this.

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’s hard to believe it’s been nine months since posting Ritwik Dey‘s Harmonogram series of Lissajous figures. Each delicate marking was representative of the hypotrochoid illustrations we had been seeing so much of last May. Fast forward and today’s imagery draws similar parallels, though the materials are tangible and the movement unruly. Be it high-end hardware from Peguerin or a male model in Dazed and Confused, the the still chaos of continuous wiring leads our eyes throughout the page, proving yet again, the materials can be simple, so long as the energy is electric.