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 [...]

Printed 3D optics are a tricky feat for any designer to master. Add color, texture, type and a degree of unpredictability and you’ve arrived at the blogosphere’s latest darling, Michiel Schuurman. Schuurman’s ability to weave mathematical precision into beautiful, maze-like graphics sets him apart from his peers, as each design looks like a modern day M.C. Escher illustration. Aside from his obvious creative merits, it’s a trendy time to be a kaleidoscopic connoisseur, as evident from the geometric work of Alexander McQueen and Simon Page. We’re eager to see what’s next for Schuurman, as his recent marketing experience will certainly prove useful once his Grafimediatechnologie internship ends.

There will always be a market for monogramming.  Be it on backpacks, stationary or towels, this customized marker is a sign of true ownership. “Monogramming transforms what’s off the rack into ones own. Even knowing that initials are hidden inside clothing or jewelry makes me feel special. I also like hunting for silver that’s marked with a monogram- either my own letters someone else’s,” says Elizabeth Sigal, a Pattern Pulp friend and Brand Strategist based in Austin, Texas. Elizabeth Bauer, an interior designer and shop owner in Manhattan, endorsed this tradition earlier this year, stocking tiger-striped dishes with more traditional type combinations. Tapping this trend that fuses color, prep and patterns, Pottery Barn Teen has just released their back to school collection, proving that animal prints and initials can transcend age, season and income bracket.

There’s no shortage of inspiration when you live in a city that celebrates beauty and revels the grotesque. Today’s highlight captures the natural colors around town that can be used as a source of inspiration.  From Vutera’s speakeasy neon lighting in Williamsburg, Brooklyn to this glass mosaic on New York City’s newest elevated park, The Highline, summer’s color combos are just as vibrant in nature as they are in city dwelling.

This wall in Brooklyn speaks  to several months of messaging.  Once symbolic of a crumbling part of town, imagery such as this now serves as marketing inspiration for retailers such as Barneys and Urban Outfitters.  Veering away from the grunge factor, this doorbell and name plate from San Francisco’s Russian Hill district, is both an amusing display of typography and a beautiful [...]

1.  Laura Hoyer of Open Face Sandwich gives her “blah” rental kitchen a DIY makeover, applying plexi-glass to one of her own prints, via Design*Sponge.

2.  Trends in logo design for 2009, via Design Boom.

3.  Great pictures from “Beneath the Surface: Flora, Fantasy & Fable” a show curated by Pattern People in Portland, Oregon.

4.  Edina Tokodi’s moss graffiti, via Inhabitat.

5.  Lovely intro to Woot ‘n Wright’s: One-of-a-kind handmade printed textiles, cushions, bags and leather satchels, Woot ‘n Wright.

6.  Chris Jordan creates beautiful photographs made entirely out of trash, via Abduzeedo.

7.  Contemplating the colors of Jorma Hautala’s paintings and and Spanish graphic design studio La Mosca’s graphics, via Colourlovers.

8.  Barbro Andersson conceived a sequence divided into four acts that retraces the champagne-making process for [...]

Visa’s most recent advertising campaign is the company’s first stab at going global. Who would have though it would’ve taken this long to send a singular message under one corporate umbrella?  Merging lifestyle concepts with playful typography, each go spot taps a local audience, incorporating pattern-appropriate themes. Interestingly, the international commercial, Gofesto weaves several adventurous concepts throughout a one minute reel, taking their viewer on a Visa inspired journey.  The thirty second American spot, entitled Aquarium, simplifies this journey with the use of emotion and special effects.  Though the reel has a beautiful kaleidoscope theme throughout, we wonder if the Disney formula was applied, as this spot seems much like a summer tralier.

All of these concepts (in addition to a few others) were executed by Chiat Day and can be found on Visa’s corporate website.