We’ve all been watching photorealism evolve over the past few years. From cat humor to 80′s wolves to political commentary, if it’s on tumblr, it’ll soon be on a one piece bathing suit, a McQueen dress or a Threadless tshirt. Lately we’ve been noticing the celebration of jewelry on other accessories. From Dannijo’s iphone case to Lanvin’s satin scarf, the Man Repeller-coined term, arm party has leaped past the wrist and onto product. Are you a fan?

Book cover designer Coralie Bickford-Smith and art director, designer and illustrator Kelly Blair joined forces last night for a special Type Directors Club sponsored event. The talented pair spoke about books as their first love in addition to the other inspirational projects filling their dance cards.

These ladies are as “bookish” as it gets and you’ve likely caught sight of some of their work. Coralie’s stunning and award-winning cloth-bound series harken back to the world of Victorian bindings and Kelly’s designs are on countless books and printed materials throughout the market.

It’s always a treat to meet the talent behind the art and today I present you with Lina Moysis. Her illustrations and paintings pepper the print, marketing and clothing at Urban Outfitters and Free People. I asked her to share her inspiration and working style and was incredibly impressed with her response. She’s one smart cookie.

*            *            *

I’m inspired by history, by how it morphs our environments and how it is woven into our experiences. These layers are evident in every environment, from clamoring cities to quiet countrysides. I find those histories to be most inspiring. As a designer, this finds its way into my process, from the subject matter of my art to the significance it has in my own life…from the colors I see to the people that I meet.  As a textile design, [...]

We’ve all been there. You hit the return button 5x in a row, trying to get the ball to stop spinning and all of the sudden the screen pixelates, then goes blank. Well, several fashion brands have found inspiration in this state of chaos and still frustration. Mr. Hare of the UK and McQ, the contemporary line by Alexander McQueen have both slashed and repeated several images, infusing a playful reminder that our reliance on digital technology can be as vibrant as it is paralyzing.

Relaying this concept through animated gifs, Mauro De Donatis’s Glitched Helvetica breathes life and motion into this concept.

I love stumbling across up and comers. Meet Moon Hussain, a second year textile student at Central Saint Martins. Hussain’s repeats involve intricate line work, shading, organic and angular detailing and above all, imaginative sequences. Inspired by the ebb and flow of life, Hussain has a promising future ahead be it in woven, print, or knit. For the entire reel of amazing, check out Moon’s tumblr.

Back in March of 2010 we highlighted an emerging angular trend. Today we’re following up, as it doesn’t appear to be dissipating- it fact it’s continuing to evolve into other markets. We’ve seen the classic diamond shape shift to a crystal-like gem in the fashion, home and marketing industries and interesting, the color and “vectorfunk” style has been adapted to a new campaign. Bombay Sapphire’s latest creative initiative looks like an extension of Chase Bank’s design roll out in 2010. We wonder if it’s a coincidence, a collaboration or a copycat. Either way, the visuals are crisp, and somewhat interchangeable.

What does a baking experiment have to do with Phillip Lim‘s latest Spring collection? Organic starbursts and lots of em. As designers, we’re inspired by the most obscure elements- gum spots on the sidewalk, condensation on a shower door, an imperfect hem. Here’s a nice parallel of two worlds intersecting for a beautiful before and after.

Baking photo courtesy of Jamie Kramer

We’ve seen woodgrain vectors populating lampshades and cushions for a while now. Interestingly, Celine’s hopped on board, applyng a photo realistic pattern in her Fall collection. Mimicking this elongated directional pattern, this Hlaska wallet is a textural take and marketed towards men. Keeping it unisex, the gray version of this pattern, realized on a rug is the Finnish handiwork of Elina Helenius.

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about how we’ve reverted back to basics when it comes to digital design in the 2D vs 3D realm. When we could first work with depth, we took the bait, went crazy, shadowed everything and added a bevel and emboss. As styles have evolved and we move towards simplification of data overload, basic geometrics have gained prominence in design navigation and it seems like we’re in an age of geometric simplification.

Which brings me to today’s feature on piecemeal geometrics. Using line to texturize, this skirt from Al & Alicia is busy, yet beautifully restricted by palette & structure.

Using vector and paint to illustrate the same point, Chris Benz‘s latest runway collection magnifies the circle, forcing us to ebb and flow within his patterns.

If you’re an east coaster, there’s a good chance you’re mourning the passing of Summer. With the blink of an eye, Fall has descended upon us, with misty, crisp evenings and a transition to hot coffee over colder orders. With that, I bring you one last burst of warmth- Christine Huang and Dwight Armstrong’s latest passion and culture project, Summerzine. The idea arrived in my inbox in early August entitled, “friends with skills: please contribute to my summer zine” – I’ve been hooked ever since and eagerly awaiting tonight’s release! Check out today’s Q&A with Christine and Dwight to see how they’ve channeled sweat and memories into a beautiful publication.

1. PP: First off, congrats on the completion of your first zine! What inspired you and Dwight in the editorial mission and does any of it reflect what you do in [...]

Premiere Vision is in full swing today and tomorrow at Nord Villepinte  in Paris. Textiles from near and far are on display, revealing a hint of what’s to come. Today we’re featuring the work of Piece of Chic, a youthful Belgium brand with a wide range of styles.

The latest collection incorporates digital themes, abstract geometrics,  asymmetrical photorealism and floral overlaps. Their mood is fun and worth checking out if you’re local.