Balance, Design
May 8, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
The narrative-driven work of artist, illustrator and designer Andy J. Miller combines bold, figurative imagery with abstract details and patterns like stars, spots, icons, and more. Though modern in influence, the work has a handcrafted feel to it, at once introspective and emotive. In addition to client for work the likes of Sony and Smart Car, Andy created the Indie Rock Coloring Book, a charity collaboration with the Yellow Bird Project. His site Art Directions offers online pep talks to artists and creatives. In this week’s Playlist, we asked Andy take a moment to pep us up with a sampling of his music tastes. Lend your ears.
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Balance, Design
April 17, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
In the heart of Detroit’s creative and cultural midtown lies Nora Modern, a treasure trove of modern housewares, gifts, and accessories. The store was created by four friends looking for a way to change the tone of retail in Detroit. Together, owners Liz Boone, Toby Barlow and Joe Posch, and manager Michele Unverzagt offer Detroiters a unique source of thoughtful design — everything from stone and glassware, to timepieces, bags, and artwork. The Nora team has a saying: “We honestly don’t know what you want, but we have a store filled with things that we love, and maybe you will, too.” Sounds good to us. And speaking of sounding good, check out Nora Modern’s musical soundtrack in this week’s Playlist.
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Balance, Design
February 13, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
If designer Colleen Hill isn’t art directing for Goodby Silverstein & Partners, you might find her teaching interaction design and visual communications at her alma mater, the College for Creative Studies. Of course, if she’s not there, she might be leading the Detroit chapter of the AIGA as its president. Yep, Colleen is pretty busy. So if she hasn’t turned up in one of those locales, try turning up her atmospheric audio selections in this week’s Playlist.
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Design, Products
November 12, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Imagination, collaboration, and innovation characterize the work of internationally recognized designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. From furniture and home accessories to distinctive organic forms and structures, the brothers’ designs are at once intriguing and effective, while uniquely accenting the environments they inhabit. Take an exploration of their work with these six eclectic creations.
If you will be in the Midwest before the end of January, don’t miss the brothers’ exhibit “Bivouac” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. The exhibit is open now and continues through January 20, 2013.
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Balance, Design
November 7, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Designers Katharina Mischer and Thomas Traxler unite conceptual thinking with experimentation to design award-winning design products, furniture, installations, and more. Within Studio mischer’traxler, their design process strikes a balance between craft and technology, and encompasses modern themes like sustainability and human interaction. In this week’s Playlist, Katharina and Thomas offer a distinctive mix of songs for us from their Vienna-based studio.
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Design, Products, Technology
September 17, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
In this week’s “Why Design” series from Herman Miller, Don Chadwick discusses the camera and how it’s helped guide his eye, allowing him to see things differently. Chadwick’s unique view of the world has allowed him to redefine it with design.
His Aeron Chair is the perfect example. It introduced a completely new kind of task seating, eschewing traditional upholstery for form-fitting Pellicle suspension, which cools and focuses while offering unmatched ergonomic comfort and support.
Lifework draws inspiration from Chadwick’s words and work in this week’s Six Ways to Photography and Design.
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Design, Products, Technology
September 10, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Yves Béhar has thoughtfully envisioned and realized the future of design through countless products, from shoes to mobile apps to task seating. Celebrating the first featured designer in Herman Miller’s new “Why Design” series (launching today), Lifework presents six items that represent Béhar’s innovative portfolio of design solutions.
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Balance, Design
September 5, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Growing up in Japan, designer Akira Yoshimura developed a keen tactile sense and early appreciation of distinctive forms and objects. His passion for aesthetics and keen ability to express beauty through the manipulation of dimension laid the foundation for ShyShadow. Formed in 2007, ShyShadow produces an array of products from paper to furniture to home goods, seeking to promote a unique interaction between people and the products they use. Akira shares the unique interaction between himself, his work and his musical tastes in this week’s Playlist.
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Balance, Design
August 15, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Whether experimenting with air, space, light, or form, the work of designer J. Kyle Daevel inhabits the dimensional world with equal parts precision and imagination. After receiving his BFA from the University of Memphis, Kyle moved on to an MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art. Since then his studio has output everything from furniture to graphic design to public art. His eclectic work is complemented by his equally eclectic taste in music. This week’s Playlist explores the musical dimension he inhabits.
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Balance
June 20, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Full of great style and wit, Fuzzco is a comprehensive branding, design, and marketing agency in Charleston, South Carolina. While making design and marketing music of their own, the music that fills their ears and offices is often times an integral partner. Along with noting their fondness for the Eames Aluminum Group Executive Chair and their longing for an Eames Lounge Chair, they share with us some fantastic music variety in this week’s Playlist.
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