When’s the last time you had the guts to play with iconic imagery? Brands do it all the time, hoping to strike the perfect balance of clever, familiar and innovative. Very rarely do we pause when flipping through print and online campaigns, as commercial often wins over creative. In the case of Rue La La’s rollercoaster type and Chase Bank‘s blue ribbon Eiffel Tower, my gut reaction was positive! Both brands utilize photoshop to bend the rules and retrofit their brand with familiar imagery. Which brings me to the question, which campaigns pull at your typographic strings?

Last October, we found global lightscapes were beginning to make their mark. Artist communities from around the globe were experimenting with energetic lines in the form of video, art installations and still photography. Nearly a year later, the marketing and branding worlds have picked up on this trend, assimilating their clients with this fresh medium. Both Lacoste and Amstel Live have incorporated this lively style into layouts with disaffected 20 somethings. Interestingly, and rather surprisingly, the bottom photos from the Mirrorball produced, Amstel Live party are more interesting than the carefully curated Lacoste campaign. It doesn’t take much to engage at a party, and adding DIY design, alcohol and a creative new profile pic are three easy ways to get consumers excited.

Nearly every designer is tasked with making a media cloud at least once their career. Today, as I was walking to Chelsea Market, I passed by this Blackberry bbm advert in the Meat Packing District. Using overlapping bubbles to simulate chatter and create a typographic headline, the casual language seemed to be the true draw. Everyone wants to feel like they’re peering into something secretive and this ad does a good job reminding us that only our bff’s deserve bbm. This ad draws a strong parallel to this music window in the Ginza district of Tokyo. While neither design is overly refined, it’s interesting to see the eastern and western approach is (unpredictably) in sync.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when viewing the latest rare prints collection from Ray Ban? My gut response channels a modern day Garbage Pail Kid set, only PG and without the creative titling. That being said, Ray Ban’s Never Hide campaign is an amazing example of how patterns can be incorporated into a high visibility ad campaign. Matt W. Moore, a Pattern Pulp favorite was tapped to design the limited edition shades and joins a talented roster of artists for the bold and colorful round up.

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.

Whenever I tackle a new branding project, the client always asks how prints and patterns can be incorporated into the design without being too obvious. Today I’m presenting one of my favorite examples that I encountered back in February. La Amada, a hotel in Playa Mujeres, Mexico truly presents a 360 rollout. Their bubble motif touches everything from their online and print materials to their sculptural landscaping, dinnerware and bottle packaging. Without being ostentatious, repetitive or logo-centric, this hotel successfully emits a serene, artful, luxurious mood, all by scaling back and allowing their customers to interact with their motif throughout the day. Less is more, particularly if it’s custom, creative and varied.

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 no secret that Matt W. Moore’s vectorfunk graphics are single-handedly influencing an entire generation of artists. His fusion of graffiti, graphic design and watercolor are upbeat, intricate and extremely brand friendly. His work has appeared in countless magazines and print campaigns, from Nike and Burton to Wired and Mountain Dew. Moore’s Design and Illustration studio, MWM Graphics, is based in Portland, Maine and exhibits in galleries throughout the world, collaborating with clients from all sectors. Moore is also Co-Founder & Designer for Glyph Cue Clothing. Check out our Q+A for a glimpse into MWM’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?

MWM: I get at least an hour a day of Cyber Surfing in [...]

When it comes to social thought, the number 3 holds mystical powers. Be it positive or negative symbolism, it’s nothing new to watch humans get worked up over this symmetrical digit. Over the past year, many people have been forced to reevaluate their priorities. In doing so, basic principles have been challenged, causing many to revisit their decision making process, not two but three or more times. Unsurprisingly, the creative community has reacted with stark and compelling imagery, representative of this repetitive and sometimes obsessive nature.

From this autumn ’09 spread in Theme Magazine, highlighting the Perks and Mini cultural movement of the ’80s and ’90s to this retro German ice cream ad conjuring up Playboy imagery, to this illusionary sunglass shot from Justin Blyth’s photo blog, Them Thangs, all of these archival images have [...]