The Experts Agree

Flickr Mondays — Vintage Matchboxes

January 31st, 2011 by samanthatroy

For the upcoming issue of Uppercase, Janine Vangool asked readers to reinterpret vintage matchbox labels inspired by her own collection. You’ll have to wait to see the submissions, but Janine has posted a huge number of her vintage collection on Flickr. Here are a few of our favorites, head to flickr to see hundreds more.

As an added bonus, subscribers to Uppercase will each receive one of the matchbox covers from Janine’s collection in issue 8.

via Uppercase

Etsy Schmetsy: Valentine’s Day, Schmalentine’s Day

January 26th, 2011 by tiniestj

It may seem a wee bit premature, but it’s that time of year again. That simultaneously adored and dreaded day is just around the corner. That’s right: Valentine’s Day. We hope you’ll enjoy this smattering of treats for your sweetheart or yourself. And for those of you without a main squeeze, we Experts would just love to be your collective valentine.

Row 1: Felt Arrow Cake Flags by hankandhunt; Star Map Embroidered Print by selflesh; “ac is cupid” Greeting Card by katefunk

Row 2: “I Heart Your Guts” Hand-Printed Card by desTroy; Belle and Sebastian Limited-Edition Silkscreen Poster by strawberryluna; “Do You Like Me Circle Yes or No” Sweetheart Cuff Bracelet by vsc83

Row 3: Bee’s Knees Pillow by SewEnglish; Handcut Hearts Garland by PaperPolaroid; “You & Me Are In Love” Print by virginiakraljevic

Row 4: Cat and Dog Greeting Card by Juliapott; Hand-Embroidered Smitten Handkerchief by bobetsy; Foxy Love Bowl by SongandBranch

Just in Time, or A Short History of Production

January 24th, 2011 by owentroy

I am a sucker for off-register process color, but a limited edition book printed one color at a time on this chain of obsolete printing technologies? Full of pictures of the changing technologies of mass printing? Oh yes please. From London-based designer Xavier Antin.

A book printed through a printing chain made of four desktop printers using four different colors and technologies dated from 1880 to 1976. A production process that brings together small scale and large scale production, two sides of the same history.

• MAGENTA (Stencil duplicator, 1880)
• CYAN (Spirit duplicator, 1923)
• BLACK (Laser printer, 1969)
• YELLOW (Inkjet printer, 1976)

Also available from Antin: Printing at Home, a book of recipes for hacking old inkjets to make, for instance, the brushjet printer, acid printer and potato wheel printer (shown)

via Beautiful/Decay

Spoonful of Sugar

January 20th, 2011 by samanthatroy

Check out this beautiful hand-lettered umbrella! It is from Spoonful of Sugar, Leen Sadder’s project for Stefan Sagmeister’s class “Can design touch someone’s heart?” at SVA.

According to the Spoonful of Sugar facebook page, “Mary Poppins is on a mission to cheer people up on a rainy day. With a hand-lettered, spoonful-of-sugar-blasting umbrella and 100 chocolate-dipped spoons, she will be escorting unhappy, umbrella-less people across the streets of NYC.” Sounds pretty awesome.

via Design Work Life

Black Swan

January 20th, 2011 by samanthatroy

I haven’t gotten a chance to see Black Swan yet, but I really want to. These international teaser posters for the movie are making me want to see it even more. The posters are available as iPhone and desktop wallpapers from the Black Swan site. I haven’t yet been able to find them for purchase, but there is a mix of real and fake ones on ebay. Does anyone know who designed these posters?

UPDATE: The posters were designed buy La Boca. Also, in addition to finding the posters on ebay, Fox Seachlight has launched a shop where you can purchase the posters along with other merchandise with La Boca’s designs.

TypograFriday: The Alphabet

January 14th, 2011 by samanthatroy

For the first TypograFriday of 2011, here is a lovely little font-filled film, The Alphabet from Alessandro Novelli.

The Alphabet from n9ve on Vimeo.

via Public School

Belated flickr Mondays

January 12th, 2011 by kirstenfinkas

It’s been way too long since I’ve last posted…before the holidays! Please enjoy these belated photos from a coworker by the name of Eric LaFleur (also goes by the name of sonicflwr on flickr). Beautiful shots of my favorite subjects…nature! Enjoy.

More photos here.

Etsy Schmetsy: Counting the Days, 2011

January 12th, 2011 by samanthatroy

Happy new year! 1/1/11 has passed and so has 1/11/11; have you found a great calendar yet? There’s a lot of really swell 2011 calendars on Etsy: typography, illustration, gocco, miniature and more!

Row 1: woma; strawberryluna; PAWLING
Row 2: desTroy; sarahparrott825; spreadthelove
Row 3: Cabin; ALittleHut; dutchdoor
Row 4: dekanimal; dirtybandits

Elva Fields, again

January 6th, 2011 by samanthatroy

I have posted about my love of Elva Fields jewelry in the past, but since she is having a huge sale right now, I felt it warranted a second mention. Visit Elva Fields on facebook or twitter for a 30% discount code. Man I love that black and yellow one.

To Resolve Project

January 6th, 2011 by samanthatroy

Have you been following the To Resolve Project over at Motherland? I think it is a pretty genius idea. Here is a little bit about the project from Chris:

TO RESOLVE PROJECT is something that came about when I started talking new years resolutions with my girlfriend. You create a list, stuff it away in a drawer and it never sees the light of day till the year has passed. I decide to ask as many talented designers I know (or don’t know) to create a resolution for the new year as an iPhone wallpaper. It’s the one thing I do look at every day. This way you not only get a daily reminder, but you get a very stylish daily reminder at that. From now up until the new year I will be posting them as they come in, so check back often. Can’t find one to fit your needs, then just download the template HERE and add to the project. No restrictions, so lets have some fun with it.

I’m not sure if he is still accepting submissions, but even if you just made one for yourself, it could be pretty great. Here’s a small sampling of some of my favorites. Check them all out on Motherland.