Wishing you much love and peace this Thanksgiving.
Along with cooking yummy recipes and spending time with family, I plan to take some time to nurture my inner artist by making more collages this weekend. I have a boxes of vintage ephemera I’ve collected over the years — waiting to be repurposed into new art. The above “Acorns” is one I created last Fall. ♥
I’d like to curl up and hibernate in the Strand’s Rare Book Room for a while this winter.
I visited for the first time Tuesday evening for a cozy design talk with Ellen Lupton & Paula Scher — two inpiring women in design. It was a heartwarming and intimate chat about both of their recent books, Design is Storytelling by Ellen Lupton, and Paula Scher: Works – Unit Editions’ new book on the designer’s phenomenal career so far.
Ellen and Paula are wonderful role models — insightful, witty, warm and ever so humble — with (what it seems like ) an ongoing desire to keep doing good work.
Viva la Graphic Design! ♥
Late this summer, we visited wonderful Newport, Rhode Island. I woke up early that Sunday and walked the great Cliff Walk. Being surrounded by all of the blue water, sunshine, and history.. was SO good for my soul.
Below are a few photos from that magical morning. ♥
I joined the “Love ALL Project” in early February, when the project began.
The Love ALL Project was founded as a response to a hateful act.
From Love ALL Project founder, Sharon Baanante:
“On February 6, 2017, white supremacist fliers were circulated throughout Norwalk, CT and a few surrounding towns in Connecticut. Covered in plastic sheets and filled with small pebbles to weigh them down, these were left in driveways and mailboxes. The fliers stated ‘We must secure the existence of our race and future for white children. Make America White Again’.”
“Just two days after reading about the hate fliers, I started a community movement in Norwalk called ‘Love ALL Project.’ Love ALL Project is a non-partisan volunteer organization whose mission is to support diversity and unite our community by fostering understanding and relationships between different cultures through inspiring sustainable collaborations.”
“Love ALL Project will provide ways for our community to link arms and work together to better support and understand one another. With the right resources and support, we can spread the love by sharing our community model with other towns and cities.”
I was immediately drawn to this project, and RSVP’d for the first meeting. I had been craving the goodness of something like this. I really didn’t know what I would do, but I was super eager to help. At the first meeting, Sharon outlined the needs and goals for Love ALL Project. One of the immediate needs was… a logo(!). Well, that was something I COULD do! So I jumped right in began my design process.
Regarding the name, I thought the word “Project” was equally as important as “Love ALL”. “Project” means “Progress” — Every small action can make a difference. Through my sketching & incubating, the idea of origami came into play. With just a square piece of paper — anyone, anywhere could make a paper heart to show their support. I envisioned people of all ages, congregating around tables, making hearts in support of the movement.
The logo shape mimicks a completed orgami heart. The squared edges also give it a badge-like appearance. When the heart is used in a repeat pattern — it represents strength in numbers.
The typography is confident and clean, and works with the shape of the heart. The color palette is made up red (awareness) and warm browns/beiges which represent the beautiful skin tones that make up our community. The stripes combined with heart shape provide versatility for many brand applications.
Its been only a couple of months since the project started and the Love ALL Project is growing… Meetings have been held to brainstorm on event topics — Car magnets were produced and distributed. In April, we hosted a booth at the “Growing Unity” event in Pikney Park. Local Mosques and churches are getting involved. Money is being raised to help fund this project. We are getting ready to distribute “business kits” to local Norwalk business to help promote/support this movement. We are going to develop a program for schools. We co-hosted a family event at the Norwalk Public Library on June 20th. Progress is happening.
My best work is done for companies and causes that inspire me. Love ALL Project has inspired me from day one. It’s been fun, enlightening and I’ve made some new friends along the way.
Let love rule!
#LoveALLProject #unitedagainsthate #designforgood
Select photos courtesy of Lauren Henry Photography (Thank you!)
I am feeling inspired on this 2016 Election Day by Hillary Clinton, and the notion of the USA electing its first female President.
To celebrate the spirit of new beginnings, I am kicking off my 100 day project (created by the incredible Elle Luna) today! I will create one collage per day for the next 100 days. This is something I’ve been wanted to do for awhile, and I think today is a most excellent day to begin. Follow along with me on instagram if you’d like! 01/100
“Make Space” has been my mantra this summer: To take breaks. To work more efficiently. To turn down the noise of social media and the interweb. To get out in nature. To go for walks. To stare at the sky, stars, water, trees… To study anything that eminates from this earth. ♥
I just scored a new work table — found roadside with a big, cardboard “FREE” sign on it. It’s a perfect addition to my home office.
I just found out that one of my card designs from the Martha Stewart / Crane and Company holiday collection has been recognized in the 2009 HOW international design annual. A very nice and welcomed surprise!
From one of my MOST favorite specimens of typography (ever); an antique French printed road map. I melt every time I look at this thing of beauty. These scans are from a promotional insert within the map folder. I will include images of the map in a future posting. Slurp it up, typography lovers.
I accidentally caused a smallish (harmless) flood in our basement last week. While mopping up, I noticed a handful of little packaging treasures on the shelf. Old items left behind by the different generations that have inhabited our house since it was built in 1940. Simple type + graphics + illustration. Pre-computer, pre-photoshop. Stuff like this makes me happy.