The December issue of Monocle just arrived, packed with editorial to satisfy a long holiday commute. One of the stand out features covers Menicon’s latest Magic Flat Pack- the first flat daily disposable contact lens.

The logo and packaging is beautifully designed by Yoshihiro Yagi and mimics the daily cycle of the sun, a perfect parallel for the brand.

While exploring the flea markets on my last trip to Paris, I crossed paths with color pigments of nearly every variety. As you can imagine, it was pretty cool to see a tactile old world approach to mixing color, particuarly coming from an industry where RGB & CMYK affect daily decision making. It’s also interesting to see which pigments are the most popular.

Much like mixing hues at the paint and hardware store, or even mixing hair dye to get the perfect highlight, these Dungay viles are a reminder of a manmade craft long forgotten by younger generations of graphic designers. I was at a friend’s dinner party last night where there were viles of bitters, this collection reminds me of mixology culture, wouldn’t you say?

Makes you wonder what a package redesign for some of our favorite art supplies would look like.

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L’Occitane’s recently released a limited edition line of beautifully marked shea butters inspired by the scents of Africa. The markings are reminiscent of Aboriginal design, though specifically reference West African traditional Bogolan fabric. I snapped this shot in the Marais yesterday. The collection’s vibrant and a beautiful interpretation of these mud markings.

If you’re familiar with the east village of Manhattan, you’re no stranger to the optimistic and wit-filled graffiti of  James De La Vega. Words of advice and encouragement translated through adorable fish are painted on mattresses, walls and garbage cans throughout the city. In one of my favorite collaborations this year, Tory Burch and De La Vega have teamed up to design an exclusive collection featuring positive messages and original artwork.

The laptop case is my favorite (probably because my powerbook’s been covered in his stickers for years now), but check out the entire collection for yourself. All profits from the purchase of this collection benefit the Tory Burch Foundation, committed to providing economic opportunities to women and their families in the United States.

There’s both a timelessness and modernity to brocade patterns. Just as camoflauge has evolved into a seasonly staple, so has the brocade for numerous industries, including stationary, lingerie, fashion and home decor.

There’s a bit of irony in today’s comparison, as the styled setting from this month’s Anthropologie catalogue juxtapose to the  faded and taped Delta terminal reveals the do’s and don’ts when applying a large graphic repeat. When applied appropriately and in context, the design can sell the story and emit the appropriate mood. When applied carelessly, any notion of luxury is lost, making a mockery of the entire execution.

Chocolate packaging always seems to go the extra mile and Raaka’s latest collection of handmade virgin chocolate at Lafayette Espresso Bar is no different. Using a colorless palette, the textures are asymmetrical, delicate and quite appealing!

Whenever I’m traversing a new city, it’s always interesting to see what’s been left behind on the street and what’s coveted indoors. While in London a few months ago, I wandered into the Pure Evil Gallery in Shoreditch. The space is well curated and reeks of urban art. The surrendering robot is the work of Presto and reveals layers of loose splatters aside thick color strokes. Mimicking this use of delicate color splashes, the packaging on this Pacifica triple milled soap from New Zealand evokes similar environmentalist sentiments. Reminding us that the discarded items in our lives can inspire new creation, this burnt foam mattress in Darlinghurst was so captivating, it distracted me from my bedbug phobia long enough to snap a quick shot.

It’s hard not to appreciate other sites, services and artists that embrace repetition. Pattern People, a surface design studio founded by designers, Claudia Brown and Jessie Whipple Vickery does just that. Based in Portland, Oregon and London, the creative duo make designs using paint, ink, graphite, and pixels for a range of projects and products – from wrap-around residential murals to perfume and chocolate packaging. The patterns on their site are refreshing, vivid and youthful and range from commercial to experimental.

We’re excited to announce that they’ve just introduced a feature geared towards the DIY design crowd that lets users download free prints. These patterns can be recolored, customized, and rescaled for personal use. The prints include a range of styles from ikat interpretations to florals, conversationals and more. Check out their