I spent some time walking round the meat packing district today while waiting for my laptop to be maintenanced at the 14th St. Apple Store. Though I’ve seen D*Face’s mural close to a thousand times, it’s relevancy was elevated after noticing Generra’s storefront. Black and white blocks stacked together comprised of Flora and Fauna were a complete parallel to D*Face’s baseline concept.  Both compositions are beautifully designed, interesting to dissect and provide social and political commentary of our current global climate. Whichever brand of culture you choose to identify with- be it historical, branded or generic, these geometric “quilts” are a thoughtful reflection of current creative styles, not to mention an interesting window into a now popularized counter-culture.

While shopping in London last week, I couldn’t help but notice all of the string installations that kept popping up throughout the big department stores. From elaborate window displays to intricate floor designs, immense and artistic webs seemed to be woven throughout the merchandise in an effort to spice things up.

Selfridges, one of London’s main department stores, always dedicates a portion of it’s windows to art and is currently displaying a truly complex and over sized replica of a twisted loom. The design is very abstract with a constructivist style. Not only is it impressive, but wholly inspirational; I love it when I see good modern art that can inspire my own work.

Over at Liberty, there’s a beautiful geometric crystal chandelier installation that spans at least 4 floors in the Women’s section. It’s gorgeous and truly [...]

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 [...]

This particular feature is a bit of a double whammy. Not only are these Magasin Totale photos for sale One Kings Lane today, the graphic layouts are so beautiful and geometric that I thought adding color palettes were a creative must. If you ask any artist, inspiration lies in every corner and crevice of society. Something so simple as an abandoned stairwell or a broken wire can provide the missing piece to a creative puzzle. The Swing Set, Rusty Outlet and Bouncy Balls are by Joe Delano and The Stairwell is by Jeremy Harris. Both masters of mystifying the mundane.

This morning’s snow storm inspired me to get my camera and start snapping. The natural patterns that emerge after a blizzard are spontaneous, still and extremely short-lived. Be it iron gating, paw prints, tire tracks or sidewalk salt, every neighborhood has elements that define it’s personality. The West Village happens to have cobblestone, intricate fencing and crisscrossing bike paths. Enjoy!

West Village Snow Series:

1. Window bars on Jane St.

2. Street salt on Hudson St.

3. Glistening snowy tire tracks on Greenwich St.

4. Geometric car garage on Jane St.

5. Window bars on Bank St.

6. Snowy window sill from inside my apartment.

7. Ford mustang on 12th St.

8. Motorcycle tire pattern

9. Stairway on Bank St. (turned sideways)

10. Sidewalk fencing on Hudson St.

11. Paw prints on 11th St.

12. The most regal dog of the day, patiently seated in front of Hudson Bagels.

Today we’re featuring a walking tour of Greenpoint by Sam Fleischner, a Brooklyn based artist and filmmaker. Having grown accustomed to life on the road, Fleischner’s gotten dependably good at documenting his daily travails. From his monthly photo logs to his site specific video installations to his most recent feature film, Wah Do Dem, a coming of age narrative shot and directed in Jamaica with his childhood friend, Ben Chance, all of Fleischner’s work explores the independent spirit and value of personal adventure. Fleischner’s not alone in this northern Brooklyn borough, as over the past decade, artists have been migrating in droves, setting up shop alongside their Polish neighbors. Follow along, take the tour and let us know what you think!

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1. 1. The concrete floor of the Lorimer L stop
2. 2. The commercial [...]

Herringbone is about as popular as plaid. That being said, the variations in execution keep it fresh from season to season. Designers are continually reinventing the wheel, breathing life into this timeless classic. Ari Heckman, a development consultant and interior designer based in New York City, uses a wide array of materials, such as carrera marble, glass and metal when tiling this pattern for various clients. “I enjoy using textured patterns that reference men’s suiting for interior settings.  There’s something about the translation from fabric to a more durable material, like marble or stone, that’s very exciting to me.” The examples above showcase glass work from Noho Star, a restaurant in New York, a piece of graffiti on 23rd Street in Chelsea, Nero Marquina marble, a leather woven Cole Haan [...]

Today, we’re featuring a walking tour of Echo Park by the talented J. Nordberg. Nordberg is a Creative Director, photographer, musician and designer, not to mention, a recent transplant to the area. It’s no secret that artists from around the globe have been migrating to Echo Park for years, making it one of the most appealing neighborhoods of Los Angeles. When he’s not directing a team, Nordberg is out and about observing his surroundings, be it graphic, green or architectural. Follow along, take the tour and let us know what you think!

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1. Curran St. Stairs
2. Vista Gordo
3. Elysian Park
4. Elysian Park
5. Elysian Park
6. Elysian Park
7. Echo Park Ave.
8. Echo Park Ave.
9. Cerro Gordo, Echo Park
10. Top Curran
11. Scott Ave.

The full set of photos can be viewed here.

A few weeks ago we went to Paris on a trending trip for one of our clients. Along the way, we shot imagery, left and right, as everything caught our eye! Few places are more inspirational during holiday season and we wanted to share a few of our favorite and most relevant window shots with you.

Creative Sleighs

The idea of the sleigh will never go away and Printemps has reinvented the idea this season with a few clever solutions. Lucky cats double as carousels, blending eastern and western themes with the use of color and costume. Contrasting the slick porcelain sleigh, needle point horse and chariots sit a few windows away, giving the concept of decoupage new meaning.

Pretty in Pink

Be it evil chucky babies or over sized matryoshka dolls, Parisians are pulling at [...]