Today we’re featuring San Francisco through the eyes of Courtney Cummins. Cummins has the delightful job of running the bookstore at The Art Institute of California in San Francisco. In her spare time, Cummins is an aspiring stylist and scours her city for daily doses of creative inspiration. If you’re in the Bay Area, come experience San Francisco through Cummins’ eyes, as anyone in the fashion or art business knows you must live and breathe your environment in order to create tangible designs. Have a look, take the walking tour and let us know what you think!

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1. Murals, Clarion Alley: The Misson.

2. San Francisco Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Ave.

3. Vesuvio Cafe, 255 Columbus Ave.

4. De Young Museum: Hagiwara Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park 50 Hagiwara [...]

Whether you’re a fan of Santogold, Santigold or La Lucha Libre, knowing who any of these characters are means you’re clued into the Mexican wrestling scene (or you’re just a fan of good music). Variety acts such as these are joining the nightlife ranks, proving America’s fascination with Mexican culture is moving well beyond the menu.  Hola Mexico, a Mexican film festival, made the rounds this past summer, gaining support from corporate sponsors such as American Airlines, Chipotle, Dos Equis and Taco Bell.  Proving this trend is beginning to penetrate more traditional female markets, home good stores, such as Propeller Modern in San Francisco, are filling their shelves with Mexican inspired knickknacks. This glitter-lined tiger-striped piggy bank is just one creative take on this trend, proving the commercial fascination [...]

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 [...]

Nearly everyone can remember their first trip to the Science Museum.  Between interactive displays and ecological wonders, it’s easy to understand why these educational centers have always drawn endless crowds.  Interestingly, many of the natural formations that have educated the masses are now being tapped for inspiration.  Rock patterns, as noted in late February, are continuing to subtly nudge their way into the the commercial marketplace, both figuratively and literally, adorning home accessory lines and commercial advertisements.  This Nature Exploration Agate greeting card, designed by Joy Deangdeelert Cho is one of many nature inspired prints on her website, Nantaka Joy.  In an effort to imply timeless beauty, Clinique ’s latest product push embraces the tortoise, nature’s slow and steady (not to mention, reliable) winner.  Taking this theme to the most literal level, this rock-covered [...]

May has arrived and flowers are in full bloom this spring season.  In an effort to mix things up a bit, we’ve decided to collect floral imagery representative of spring and create ad hock color palettes with the pixels provided.  As designers, we’re inspired by nearly everything we consume, so it’s quite natural to repurpose when given direction.   Here are four palettes that could easily translate to summer prints, inspired by wall stencils in Allston, weeds in Brooklyn, flowerpots in Gramercy and a home garden in San Francisco.

For additional palettes that are strikingly beautiful and paired up with interesting photography, check out Kris’s Color Stripes.