Veer's favorite typefaces

See the full selection here

Christmas by Colour

What's your favorite Christmas color? Check out the project here.

Construction

One of the coolest "under construction" landing pages I've seen. Made by Fudge

Box Bottle Bag

I want this book! It's by Andrew Gibbs, founder and editor in chief of The Dieline.com. The book is hardcover with a matte varnish, the letters are diecut, and the barcode has a glossy spot varnish. Too bad it doesn't come out until March. You can pre-order on Amazon.

The Dieline's top 40

The Dieline has named their top 40 package designs of all time! I really like their choices, but I think it would have been awesome if they included designs that weren't pretty much all contemporary. There has to be some really cool vintage packaging out there.

Hara Design Institute Nippon Design Center

Check out this website design by Hara Design Institute in Tokyo. It's clean, fresh, sleek, and professional. I especially like how it loads, and I really like the ample space surrounding the main content.

Turn this room into an outfit

I was reading about Domino's column called "Turn this room into an outfit" on Design*Sponge and decided to try it myself. Here's the outfit I put together using The Stanton Social, a restaurant in the lower east side of Manhattan, as inspiration. Purse, belt, and dress are from Urban Outfitters. Boots, bracelet, and scarf from Anthropologie. Check out other examples of this idea here.

Pantone color report

Subtle contrasts, like those found in a painter’s masterpiece, make up the diverse color palette for fall 2009. Designers play with a broad spectrum of unique color combinations this season, resulting in distinct, yet cohesive color palettes. “The fall 2009 palette is more unique and thoughtful than the typical autumnal hues of years past,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Designers recognize the desire for fundamental basics that speak to current economic conditions, but also understand the need to incorporate vibrant color to grab the consumers’ eyes and entice them to buy.”

VIEW THE FULL REPORT HERE

New web project

I'm designing a promotional website for a sports journalist and I've put together this color palette. In an effort to communicate his feature, in-depth writing style that differs from a play-by-play of what happened in the game, we wanted a color palette that stood clear of the typical red, blue, and black that so many sports teams and sports publications use. We wanted a color palette that communicated athletic, but with more style and personality, something that was a little bolder. What do you think?

Book smart

It's genius. A rubber band bookmark with a small indicator arrow that tells you what line you were on. It's the classic, "why didn't I think of that?"

By Propaganda.

Via Moco Loco

Origami

I love this package design by Nathalia Ponomareva from Russia! How fun. I don't think this product is on the market, but the origami is a cool idea. It would be great for special events.

Via Packaging Uqam

Changing luxury market

While doing some research for an informational meeting at Gensler tomorrow I came across several interesting articles. This one by John Parman gives insight into the way the economy is affecting the luxury market of hotels because of the changing mindset of travelers  into 'frugalists'. Suddenly people, even the incredibly wealthy, are turning away from high-end, luxury, exclusive hotels and opting for places that aren't as extravagant. People still want good quality, of course, but they are gravitating towards quality that is expressed in more subtle ways than glitzy, over-the-top glamour. 

Just as the SUV was traded in when gasoline prices went through the roof, leisure is (relatively speaking) getting back to basics. That doesn’t mean sophistication and service go out the window, but there’s a sense that less is more, the way flat screens have suddenly banished the two-ton armoire. 

Food packaging trends have also paralleled this idea in some ways. Many name brands have redesigned their packages to simplified versions, or even gone back a couple decades to a more retro design, giving the feeling of a better value. Some of these redesigns have been more successful than others.

Read the whole article from Gensler Dialogues here. It's a good one.

 

My library begins

Yesterday was my last official day of my internship and my two bosses, Sharon and Michelle, gave me a book as a parting gift. They said every designer should have a library, so thus my official library begins with Graphic Design: A New History by Stephen Eskilson. Sure, I've had graphic design books before, but this one is special to me. Now that my official library has started, I have an excuse to start buying some of the books on my list. (More to come on my internship experience as a whole.) 

Window shopping

Who doesn't love Anthropologie displays? Although stores are beginning to put out their fall collections, I was lucky enough to snag some photos of Anthropologie's summer displays before they come down.  Love the blue paint used as water.  

Ordinary

I made another color palette from one of my photos.  It's a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge at night from the South Street Seaport.  Instead of calling these "color 1, color 2, etc." I decided to name these color palettes based on songs that I think fit the mood of the colors. This one is called Ordinary... for now at least. 

Fun find

I just bought this book that I found at the gift shop of the Whitney Museum.  I really like the illustration style... fun and whimsical.  

Umbrella ella ella

It has been Niagra Falls this summer in NYC.  I've never been one to use an umbrella.  In fact, I never carry an umbrella unless I'm going somewhere fancy, it's pouring, and I borrow one from a friend.  It was so rainy this summer that I actually purchased my own from Duane Reade, and not so much because I can't stand being rained on, but more so for self-defense. Imagine walking to work on Broadway from 34th street to 14th Street Union Square dodging 17,000 umbrellas.  New Yorkers are 1. always in a hurry and 2. extra grumpy when it's raining. An umbrella was a necessary investment in order to not get my eyes poked out and avoid whiplash from dodging umbrellas.  

I had a good laugh at the man who had such a HUGE umbrella that I swear he stepped outside, realized it was raining, and grabbed his outdoor umbrella from the patio.  He was at least considerate and would politely pop his umbrella over everyone else's head as they neared him. I think everyone needs one of these umbrellas. Check out the fabulous video here. 

(via A Cup of Jo)

Microtrends

I'm thinking about buying "Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes by Marc Penn."  Here's an overview of it from Microtrending.com:  

Penn and his co-author E. Kinney Zalesne argue that the biggest trends in America are the microtrends -- the smaller trends that go unnoticed or even ignored. One percent of the nation, or 3 million people, can create new markets for a business, spark a social movement, or produce political change.

The book covers a variety of topics from politics to leisure and relationships.  I think that although the book isn't directly geared towards designers, it seems like it would have great relevance to developing marketing or advertising strategies.  I think that the old approach of targeting the masses is fading while marketing to smaller niches is more relevant in today's more individualized culture and society.

library inspired

During my second week of my internship my boss took me out for dinner and drinks at a restaurant called Public in SoHo.  The restaurant was designed after an old public library.  All of the small details were amazing and really made the whole atmosphere come together such as the wall of keys behind the hostess kiosk, the card catalogs, menus on slender clipboards, dim lighting, and sectioned shelving.  

Today, while looking at one of my favorite design blogs, Design*Sponge, I saw that they posted a gift that someone had made which was inspired by library catalog cards.  

Grace Light was celebrating her two year anniversary and decided to replace the book numbers with important dates in their relationship, book titles with “chapters” of their life together, and publisher locations with places that are important to them. The best part? Each year they plan to add memories to their library card box. 

Soak up color

Inspiration can come from anywhere.  That is the foundation of my design blog, so what better way to get started than how New York City is inspiring me as a designer.  Every street, every neighborhood, every person here is different. 

My passion for NYC started spring break of my freshman year of college.  The UCM AIGA group took a trip to NYC to tour design studios, see museums, and experience ethnic food at its finest.  I remember during that trip I asked Mr. Babcock, our professor and tour guide who had once been a real New Yorker, what he missed most about the city.  He said the food for one, and two, how different the city is from street to street.  For him, moving to Missouri was a shock because everything is the same for miles and miles.

Here, there is so much variety in architecture, colors, cultures, music, food, bars, smells (good and bad)... When I walk down the street I try and soak up as much of the atmosphere as I can.  I often find my walks to work come to an end too soon.  

I have already taken a gazillion pictures since I've been here, and since I've started my internships I have become a lot more sensitive to color.  Even in the most neutral collections of grays on buildings there is something to be observed in unintentional color palettes that are formed in nature or any of your surroundings.  I put together a color palette from a picture I took.  At the time when I took the photo I didn't think anything would really come of it.  When I looked at it later I realized there was a great start for a color palette. 

So many times as a designer I didn't know where to start when picking a color palette for a project.  Split-complimentary?  Tertiary?  No, put the color wheel rules to rest and just have fun.  Start with your surroundings.  Dig through old photos.  Take more photos.  Keep a file for future reference.  That's my new goal.  

Texture at the tenement

So today I visited the Tenement Museum in the lower east side of Manhattan.  More info and pictures to come, but I love the texture found on the inside walls of the small apartments.

Hello!

Hello all!  My name is Holly Wright and I'm a graphic design student at the University of Central Missouri.  I'm currently in New York City for two summer internships which I'm absolutely loving.  I think I'm a little behind on the blog trend, but it's better late than never.  My plan for this blog is to provide inspiration for designers and artists, and also my thoughts on the design and advertising world.  I believe that design inspiration can come from absolutely everywhere and from anyone, and what better time to start this blog than when I'm in the art capital of the world.  I'm looking forward to the great summer ahead.