Lady Gaga Papercut by Lobulo

 

Before I'm off for a weekend in the mountains, here's a nice papercut illustration by Lobulo. I received the link from my cousin, who provides me with links even when I'm too busy or too tired to switch on my laptop and check what's going on in the worl. So thanks for that :)Speaking of papercuts, check out the papergraphics by Yulia Brodskaya, Zim And Zou and Peter Callesen.

Oh, and have fun tonight everyone!

Illustration by Lobulo, via visual therapy.

Clocks To Desire...

I went to visit my family for Xmas. My aunt and uncle, both with artistic professions, are wall-clocks lovers. I was looking at their living room, full of ticking clocks on the walls, and though of expanding my own collection... Let me just pick up my next bonus.
pics from Ikea and czerwona maszyna

Kibako Grass Jewellery

This unique jewelery was sent to me by Anna Sklodowska, who is also the author of these pieces and owner of kibako – internet gallery showcasing unusual jewellery. Her designs are based on the recycling of everyday objects and materials, as she tries to turn them into something beautiful and different to the original use. She likes bold shapes, often playing with assymetry. The „Grass” collection (above) is made of thin rubber threads that Anna bought at a florist, they immitate grass pretty well. Oh, also an intersting fact – Anna is actually and archologist, but she also works at frescos preservation!

Connoisseur Salmon - Premium Salmon Packaging

A couple of weeks ago the studio got  a copy of Connoisseur Salmon packaging we have designed and printed. This packaging for premium salmon is produced by Contimax Selection but sold under the Connoisseur Seafood brand. You can find it in fine foods stores across Poland. The packaging was designed to fit the whole collection, started by the Connoisseur Caviar that I wrote about recently. It is supposed  to be very simple and tasty (I believe it is!). At the back of the packaging we have a list of wines recommended to go with the wine, as the product is addressed to the finest connoisseurs. It also features a photo of two wine glasses we took ourselves. Let me tell you the glasses are handmade, they come from the best glassworks in Poland (Krosno SA) and they cost a fortune. It also took us a day or two just to photograph them and catch their beautiful shape.

Apart from designing the packaging, we have also carried out the printing process. This time with less obstacles than with the caviar packaging. The packaging is matt-foiled (to protect the folds) and then coated with UV varnish. The ornament you see on the sides in reality comes out from the difference between the coated and uncoated surface. Check out the full size design after the break!

Package Design Freak's Desk

Some of you may know, or have already noticed by reading this blog, that I'm a package design freak. I mean, I love design in general but what I do in life is I run a graphic studio specializing in package design and I love it. I used to blog for The Dieline (a while ago, when I actually had some free time to spare) and I think it's one of the best aspects of design, because it affects us all by appearing in our houses. In general the advantage of design over art, in my opinion, is that it has a chance to be a part of our lives on a daily basis. We don't have to go to museums, be educated, understand what the artist wanted to say. Design is with us every single day and package design is simply ubiquitous.

Above then is a photo of my desk. I tend to hijack my laptop and work from the comfortable surface of my sofa most of the time actually, but that would be officially where I'm supposed to work, when I'm at home. It's a simple table from Ikea, with a funny poster by Marcin Maciejowski above and.... well, package design collection on top of it. It so happens that there are three water bottles. Jean Paul Gaultier's special edition of Evian water (that I got from a friend for my birthday), Voda Voda (that my friends brought from their trip to Montenegro) and the famous Ogo Water by Ora Ito.

There is a pack of Marks & Spencer's all butter toffee too and Fortnum & Mason Picadilly buscuits, I think mostly because they're blue, which matches the colour of one of the walls and my sofa. I also keep a set of connoisseur caviar and salmon packaging designed by our studio - but that's a different story.

Grouchy Panda on Sephora Shelves

I was doing some Christmas shopping last week and as I passed perfume shelves at Sephora, this angry little animal looked at me from one of the shelves. It was really funny to see a clearly upset panda in a perfume store, so I took a photo of it to look up the possible genesis of it's presence there. It is called "Grouchy Panda" but not too many things popped out ingoogle for that combination. The name of the artist - Jiji - revealed more clues. This quote is from dazed digital Chinese born artist Jiji has made a name for himself through his cartoon of an annoyed panda. Ten years after creating the character, he is now launching his brand Hi Panda Fashion in France – proving that fashion and naughty art can cohabit, even in the capital of Haute Couture. It still doesn't explain how the panda ended up in Sephora, but it made my shopping much more entertaining.

MOCAK - Museum Of Contemporary Arts In Kraków

Couple of weeks ago my friends and I went to see the opening of our new Museum of Contemporary Arts in Kraków - MOCAK. In fact I work right next to it, which is very exciting. The whole district, called Podgórze, is an old industrial part of town and it looked just like one when I started working in the graphic studio few years ago. Not there's a whole new movement to it, the aforementioned museum and another pretty famous one just next door to it - the Schindler's Factory. Yes, THE one from the movie. It was transformed into a very modern museum lately, presenting history of Kraków under the nazi occupation. Apart from that there are old lofts transformed to new apartments etc. I can say our office is in a rather trendy neighbourhood these days then.

Coming back to MOCAK, the opening took place for political reasons. Yes, you heard it right. We had elections for the mayor of the city and the current mayor wanted to open something big before the election day, get in the spotlight and promote his work for the city. Therefore he decided to open the museum before it can actually be open. He promoted it as opening of the building itself. The actual exhibitions will not take place until spring. As ridiculous as it sounds, the event turned out OK mostly because the building, designed by an Italian architect Claudio Nardi, is very impressive. It explores the shapes of original roofs of the Schindler's factory (it's part of the old factory's complex). You can see that on the bottom right photo, the triangular walls. Oh, and it worked - he got reelected.

My favourite part of the tour was the little cafeteria because it had ...furniture. Show me good furniture and I'm there. I am such a simple girl to please. They had really nice lamps and chairs. You can see me sitting and contemplating in the top left photo (in case you wondered what I looked like). Check out more photos of the building after the break (from Claudio Nardi Architects).

Calendar Design By Kameleon

Last week we sent off to print our calendar for 2011. Our studio makes one every year for the present (and future) clients, as well as clients of the printing house we work with. This year's theme was.... Well, it's actually hard to catch one. My friend just used all the crazy photos we had "in stock" and let her imagination run wild...

Yellow Cat Marine In My Apartment

I have waited a few weeks but here it is - the carpet I designed for the Komfort competition has finally arrived into my apartment. I collected it on Saturday, after it was photographed for the press and toured the country (well, it took forever to get it to Kraków so I imagine it was touring the stores, or something as exciting! It did have the press photoshoot though, that I know). Anyways, you can see now why I chose these particular colours (something had to match the crazy cobalt sofa) or why the cat is in this corner. I also like to look at it and know it's one in a kind...

Get Hang Of It Bag

Where did all the hangers go...? They're never enough and there isn't one around when you need it! Well, that's about to change. The "get hang of it bag" is made of recycled/recycable paper and cardboard. Rip the two cardboard hangers off the paperbag and your new clothes will find their place in your closet at once.Just "get the hang of it"!
From DEDE DextrousDesign via yanko design

Dressed-Up Furniture

What's going on in your side of the world? Becasue I'm dealing with temperatures of -15 Celcius and snow up to the knees. I am dressed up to the maximum and look like a little penguin. These seem to be dressed up too. In felt.

Connoisseur Gold - Premium Caviar Packaging

One of the nicest packaging our studio designed this year, or at least one that I'm most attached to, is finally ready to be sold in stores. Caviar Gold is a promotional set consisting of a plated golden spoon, two kinds of caviar (with obviously beautiful labels!) and a special box holding all of that together. It is realeased under the brand Connoisseur Seafood Selection, which was created to sell premium products by Contimax. I had a lot of fun and satisfaction designing the whole set and it will be soon followed by other products.

We also organised the production of all the pieces and I will show you photos from each phase in a seperate post. There were a loooooot of obstacles on the way so we're all happy it is finally over and looks so good!

Spagetthi Bench by Pablo Reinoso

It's early in the morning and I'm rushing to work, but before I'm going to face the cold and wind outside, I wanted to share this one with you. Argentinian designer Pablo Reinoso designed these benches to look like they were put in a very strong wind and the wind tangled them up. Or perhaps they look like tangled up hair? Or roots growing out of the wood? The interpratation is yours. Mr Reinoso called it the Spagetthi Bench.

Natalia Gruszecka's Porcelain

In ♥ with the ceramics by Natalia Gruszecka...

Stamp Rugs

Couple of days ago I was contacted by Komfort and they let me know my yellow cat carpet was ready and I can choose a date to pick it up. I am definitely looking forward to that and in the meantime my cousin sent me a link to a site with really cool carpets for those in love with Great Britain. Stamp Rugs are a replica of British postage stamps and thus consist simply of the sculpted profile of the Queen and a denomination and are almost always in a single colour. When I was a teenager I used to listen to Chumbawamba and sang Farewell To The Crown. I don't think I would want to have one of these back then, but the rebel inside me is now gone and I easily picture the Queen underneath my feet in my future home...

Kotik - Recycled Packaging Jewellery

I was browsing The Dieline for new package design excellence yesterday and I saw these beautiful jewellery pieces by Kotik, presented as an example of unusual way to use packaging. I especially adore the top left one made of Diet Coke caps, for the beautiful clean lines. I would be seriously honoured if someone made jewellery out of my package design... Check out the full size photos after the break.

My New Carpet - The Making Of Process

Remember my post about the carpet, I had designed for the Komfort competition? The one that won and is going to live in my living room in the closest future? :) Komfort publishes some pics from time to time about the whole "making of" process which is interesting to observe, even if only virtually. It seems like they're doing well and soon the yellow cat will be purring right next to my yellow armchair and the blue waves will flow underneath my cobalt coloured sofa. Check out the full sized pics after the break.

Martino Gamper - Couple More Pics

Looking through The Walking Chair website, I found few more pics of Martino Gamper's chairs. Here they are.

You May Bench

One of the objects presented at the Young Austrian Design presented in Bunkier Sztuki in Krakow. My friend (her gorgeous high heels visually enhance one of the photos) thought it was the best thing at the exhibition. It wasn't my favourite, but it is pretty impressive with the multitude of functions it posseses.

YOU MAY does many tuhings: it is a bar and a bench, conference table and quiet corner at the same time, it functions as a lounge as well as a stage or workspace. YOU MAY works with innovative materials, different seat heights, it plays with niches and corners. It provides communication and privacy for up to 15 persons in the same spot. The furniture itself becomes a vivid meeting point, it invites to work, discuss, eat and relax.

Designed by Walking Chair and LYNfabrikken

Single Pillow For A Single Woman

Today I went to see the World Press Photo 2010 exhibition as well as young Austrian designers showcasing their designs in one of the Krakow's galleries. The thing that made me and my friend smile was a man-shaped pillow for a single woman to hug and hold and to fall asleep on its chest. I am so getting one!
I don't need a boyfriend. I just need a well shaped pillow.

Designed by Karl Emilio Pircher and Fidel Peugeot from Walking Chairs.

My New Carpet Design - Winner of the KOMFORT Competition

I have to say that was a good beginning of the week! I just learned my design won a competition organized by Komfort - the biggest carpet retailer in Poland - and will be produced just for me. I will replace a standard Ikea carpet with my own custom made and custom designed carpet. How coool is that.

I participated in this challenge purely to make a design that would fit my living room, had I won. So the colours of the carpet reflect the colours of my room. I have yellow chairs and a custom made armchair, one navy blue and three light blue walls and some black and white furniture. These colours were incorporated in the design. Initially I wanted to make something with a black cat, because this symbol somehow attracts me. It symbolises bad luck but to me it reads something different. There's a black cat in my neighbourhood and everytime it appears.... Well, call me crazy but I always find out something important later on, after I see it. Anyways, in the process of designing the black cat changed to yellow. I called the design "Yellow Cat Marine".

You can check out the other two attempts of carpet design I did, however they're not as meaningfull. I'm glad this one will actually get produced. Komfort promised to post photos on the production phases, which will be interesting to see. I, on the other hand, promised to publish some photos of the carpet already settled in my living room. Looking forward to that.

Martino Gamper and Łódź Design 2010

This weekend will be a short celebration of design for me and a break for the everyday struggle with demanding package design. First, I'm going to Łódź for Łódź Design, the biggest design fair in Poland. Having visited arenadesign in Poznań earlier on this year, I am really excited to see what's new with Polish design.

Then I'm off to Warsaw (not exactly for design reasons, one needs to have fun from time to time as well) but it coincides with a lecture given by Italian designer Martino Gamper. My favourite project by Martino Gamper is the 100 chairs in 100 days. This project involves systematically collecting discarded chairs from London streets (or more frequently, friends’ homes) over a period of about roughly two years, then spending 100 days to reconfiguring the design of each one in an attempt to transform its character and/or the way it functions.

I am somewhat crazy about chairs and so I ♥ the way Martino brings the discarded chairs back into life, giving them a second chance to serve and impress. His lecture will be part of Warsaw Under Construction festival, carried out by the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw.

Piotr Czachor - Kids Collection

Adorable kids clothing collection by Piotr Czachor.

Jorine Oosterhoff

Cutest collection of ceramics by Jorine Oosterhof. Tea Time is a porcelain set, made by hand. The inside is glazed, the outside is not. This accentuates the form and also the purity of the material. Color comes in with the food, when the set is in use. Tea Time is a high tea set based on characters. Build up to be a family. Each piece has its own identity. With their character-like look they seem to come alive, living their lives on the table like soldiers in a little nation. Creating surrealistic moments like in Alice in Wonderland.

Donna Wilson - Kitchen Trays

A little scary, these trays...? Or is it just me. These pillows were a tad cuter!
By Donna Wilson, from Thorsten Van Elten.

Nina Bruun - Fold Chair

 

Nina Bruun yet again. This time instead of amazing curves (check out her Nest Chair), some hard and distinctive lines in the Nest Chair.

Ben Wiseman

Do you think I made a printscreen of an error that popped out during some google search? Well, these two are actually book covers by designer and illustrator Ben Wiseman. Check out a few more, with a variety of styles.

byGraziela Ceramics

I have already posted byGraziela's mug collection here and here's a new set of ceramics from the ever so great Thorsten Van Elten store.

Patka Smirnow - Jersey Collection

Upon her recent visit to Krakow my friend bought a bag by Patka Smirnow. It is made of used plastic bags, is pretty big and fluffy and I have to admit I was a little jealous, as I was already dreaming of getting one (check the post about Patka's eco bags here). Anyways, what I wanted to say is that I didn't know Patka also made clothes, so it's a nice surprise to see what she's also up to apart from making the unique bags. The jersey collection is funny and a little twisted. The bunny outfit - I'd love to show up dressed in it at a party or two.

Joanna Łyczek's Carpet

Very folky, very trendy. Carpet design by a Polish designer Joanna Łyczek.

Unfold Lamp

The UNFOLD pendant lamp offers a new take on an industrial design classic. Crafted from soft but strong silicone rubber, Unfold projects a modern and warm personality. The soft material also allows the lamp to be folded into a neat package. - Just open and unfold your new lamp. Unfold is created for Danish design brand Muuto, for whom Form Us With Love also has designed the Match tea light holders. by from us with love via we heart

Nina Bruun - Nest Chair

Nest Chair by a Danish designer Nina Bruun. Stunning curves.

Skujenice's Spool Vase

The series, 'Spool' vases arose from my interest and love for textiles. The design was inspired by the forms and structures of industrial yarn bobbins used in the weaving or knitting of fabrics. Varying in size, texture and structure, the family of vases is made of white porcelain. There are currently seven different models available. Handmade in The Netherlands.  

by Skujenice. via dontstopdesign

Tomasz Ogrodowski's Jewellery

Beautiful jewellery by a Polish designer Tomasz Ogrodowski. via designitpoland.

Caviar Packaging by Kameleon Design Studio

Colorful graphics of the caviar packaging  is printed directly onto metallic paper giving it an eye-catching glossy finish.

First batch of the Caviar run. Looking good already.

In the last post I promised to share  a little bit of work by Kameleon Design Studio, where I'm a proud (and humble, at the same time) Art Director. We have been up to a lot lately, which is why I didn't have much time to post regurarily at Say Hi! To Design. Above is one of my favourite designs - premium caviar packaging we did for our main client Contimax and their premium subbrand - Connoissuer Selection.


The label works as a seal on the jar. It was printed on metallic paper and coated with a matt varnish. The red / gold / blue pattern was printed directly on the gold paper, as opposed to the black background that has a white coating underneath. Thanks to that the colourful parts shimmer in the light while the black maintains its depth. Everything was printed in a flexographic printing house that's just underneath our studio, so I could supervise the printing part as well.
Right now we are working on a promotional packaging for the caviar and it already looks promising!

Sidney Polak - promo materials

Since I'm not posting too much about what's going on in the design world, let me tell make a post about the reason why. In other words let me show you what I've been up to lately. Maybe I should post a couple of things from my studio's portfolio as well, since we've designed quite a bit. The few things above are a tour poster and a ticket for Sidney Polak, one of the most sucessful Polish artist, along with the logo and business card for his record studio Chłopcy W Brzmieniu (Boys In Sound). The poster promotes his upcoming tour, I will have to make it to one of his concerts. (here's a link to my favourite song of his - works every time before I'm off to a party. The chorus - check the last minute of the video - is a true mood-setter :))

Goshico

Yet another link / suggestion from my cousin (perhaps she should edit the blog...?). This time some folk inspired beautiful fashion accesories from a Polish dou Goshico.

Nicole Gastonguay

My cousin sent me a link to the Nicole Gastonguay's crocheted objects. My favourite: jar of pickles and the Holy Bible.

Donna Wilson's Pillows (...and some apologies)

OK. I have been gone for quite a while. I neglected my blog-baby. I plead myself guilty.
Life became a little hectic lately as my colleagues went on holidays. In the meantime we had won some open bids and got assigned new jobs, that the Art Director (that would be me) had to deal with. I spent days and nights at work (well, almost), some of the projects were finished and I can't wait to share them here. My favourite is the caviar packaging, but I have to wait till it goes to production, before I can show it to the public. Competition never sleeps :)

To start the week on a positive and light note - lovely pillows from the redesigned site of Thorsten Van Elten, or to be precise his on-line store called Theo. I'd take both. My sofa needs some cushion entertainment.

Justyna Warwas-Kozak

Today I spent the afternoon with my friend from work and her husband. I learned my gmail accound had been hacked again, which was not the pleasant part of the afternoon, but Agnieszka showed me something she thought I might like - drawings and collages by her friend Justyna Wyrwas-Kozak. I am looking for something to hang in my living room and immediately fell in love with these! I hope I can buy a couple, I already have my favourites... Check out few more pieces after the break and I will get back to you with more details on Justyna's work and the techniques she uses soon.

Punctirus Jewelry

When I was a kid I used to love to cut things out and the dotted lines with scissors at the end alkways meant fun and a beginning of a new adventure. This funny jewelry plays on that image. I have to say when I look at the bracelet and the line and scissssors I think - doesn't it look like you're supposed to cut the hand off...?
Well, better not to think about it too much!
Jewelry by Benoit Patoure, via 1designperday.

Jeff Nishinaka

If you like paper work by Peter Callesen (featured here and here) as much as I do, then you must explore amazing paper sculptures by Jeff Nishinaka. Nishinaka is an LA artist who initially began as a painter and started to work with paper by accident. Isn't it great that such accidents in life happen? He says paper to him is a living thing, with its own energy that he only tries to point in a good direction. It's hard to deny his work a living soul indeed and also hard to believe this actually is paper. I have never really worked with it, accept from the kindergarten times when I loved to cut my way into anything, so I'm no expert to judge the potential in this material. Looking at Nishinaka's work you get a feeling that forming paper is the easiest thing, but I think the truth might be slightly different...

Plywood furniture from TABANDA

Today I went through a little internet horror, as my emails got hacked and spammed all the contacts from my adressbooks with a dramatic cry for help from Madrit, were - supposedly - I had been held at gunpoint, robbed and thus asked for financial help. Both my emails were reset and as a result I was also blocked from accessing Blogger, until the whole situation got cleared.

Shortly then I'll just say that the above set of furniture follow the recent trend to rediscover plywood. It was designed and made by a Polish studio TABANDA (created by former architects maugosia malinowska filip ludka i tomek kempa).

Glamstore - IBIZA series

Recently there has been a lot of fuss around folk inspired designs. But I have a feeling that sometimes it's just an easy way to spruce up your design - by adding couple patterns copied from google picture library. I love designs that really rely on culture and take it seriously. I remember posting on The Dieline package design by Monika Ostaszewska, who took time to research the folk culture of Podlasie region in Poland and apply it to her packaging concept, based on a typical pattern of double-warp fabrics from Podlasie Region. Her concept won several awards, proving it is worth to dig deeper.
I don't know much about the design above - furniture pieces sold in Glamstore - but I do appreciate the intricate work put into painting of patterns. Really beautiful.

Marjolaine Poulin's SCRAP Project

Yesterday I was delighted to post something about renovated furniture, and today ...even more delighted to share some more! Couple of days ago I received an email from Marjolaine Poulin, french Canadian carpenter who takes pride and joy in restoring old furniture, calling it a SCRAP project. In words of Marjolaine: SCRAP project's main goal is to pick up unwanted pieces of furniture on the sidewalks/trash, restore them and  and give them a second life. My work is both practical and poetical. I can't argue with that, it really is poetical to me! I love the aspect of collecting totally unwanted pieces and giving them a second chance in life. That's the poetical part. Check out more projects at M Design's blog.

Social Fabric Furniture

Today my cousin (who keeps sending me interesting links in case I miss out) pointed me to Social Fabric - Australian studio renovating furniture by applying custom, handprinted fabrics. Just one look and I was totally blown away by the abundance of prints and colours. I am into renovating furniture myself (not that I actually renovate them myself, but half of my furniture was renovated) as well as collecting chairs and armchairs, so I would go visit Social Fabric premises right away (...had it not been on a different continent).
I have one old armchair that needs renovating at home and I think as soon as I find some interesting fabric, I'm going to have it upholstered and sold. And before that happens, I have to show you a short before & after of my sofa and another armchair I had adopted. For now, hovever, take a look at few more examples of Social Fabrics' work.

MoMa Leaflets Framed

 

Last year, together with my (ex)boyfriend, I went to New York. During our stay there I tried to visit as many museums and design related places as possible. Every time we went somewhere I would come back with a pile of leaflets and posters that somehow inspired me, or I hoped would inspire me in the future. Last nite I went through that pile and decided to do something with a set of MoMA leaflets. They are simple leaflets for visitors but because there were many language versions - and each version is a different colour - together they look like a colour book of some kind. I put some of them in empty frames that were lying around and... well I think it looks pretty good!

Hennessy - Beauté du Siecle Premium Packaging

Right now my studio works on a series of caviar and salmon packaging and we keep discussing what is premium in package design. There can be many types of packaging qualifying for that term, I think, while your clients rarely state what they really want. While browsing through the premium packaging examples, I found this one (from around 2007), created for Hennessy's Beauté du Siecle special edition. This unique bottle of Hennessy Cognac is worth $200,000 and it comes in crystle bottle by Baccarat and a chest, both designed by a French designer Jean-Michel Othoniel. Now, looking at this, I don't think my caviar is all that premium after all... :)

Old Vinyl Records From My Apartment

When I moved in to my apartment, I discovered the previous owners had only left two things - a poster with Lech Wałęsa hanging on the wall and a bunch of old records. As much as I appreciate Wałęsa's role in the overthrowing of the communist system, I did not leave the poster. I did however hold on to the records and actually display the whole lot in my hallway. I used to buy vinyls back in the day, but only because they looked cool. I never owned a record player so none of my purchases were ever used, but they sure look great. The four records on the pictures are from the batch I had found in the apartment and the Gershwin one, in my opinion, is an absolute classic. ♥ it.