Balance, Design
August 8, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Portland, Maine-based artist and wanna-be astronaut Christopher David Ryan suffers from the creative’s curse: too many thoughts and too little sleep. But like many an under-slept, hyper-inspired artist, there is a prolific pay-off. Whether working under his own name, or as Atmostheory, or as creative partner at Portland studio More & Company, Christopher finds inspiration throughout the natural world and cosmos, weaving together everything from vintage and retro inspirations to distinctive icons of the modern world. He also dabbles in music production at Monolathe Recordings and spins records, which is the perfect segue for his contribution of this week’s Playlist. Take a listen.
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Balance, Design
August 1, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Along with partner Brendan Young, designer Vanessa Battaglia founded UK design consultancy Studiomold in 2003 to provide product development and interior design to local and international clients like Aeon, Touchtile, and John Lewis. In 2010, the pair founded Mineheart and produced a “lovable collection” of lighting, accessories, wallpaper and more. Vanessa shares the melodies behind her design in this week’s Playlist.
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Balance
July 18, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Just across the pond in West London resides the creative design studio Logical Art and its founders, Yoo-kyung Shin and Hanhsi Chen. In 2011, after graduating from the Royal College of Art, Yoo-kyung and Hanhsi wanted to explore the intersection of technology and craftsmanship. Bringing together their talents in art, design, and illustration, they started to create everything from lighting and clocks to accessories and experimental design. Today they bring their music together for this week’s Playlist.
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Balance, Design
June 6, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Graphic designer Bryan Patrick Todd finds inspiration a plenty in Louisville, Kentucky, where he specializes in branding and design. A mere glance at his bold yet clean work — which includes everything from posters, to murals, to logos and more — demonstrates his affinity for typography and color. With such a passion for vibrant, well-crafted forms and shapes, we wondered what kind of musical inspiration was at work behind the scenes. Our wonderment is answered in this week’s wondrous Playlist.
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Balance
May 9, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Born and raised Detroiter Antonio “Shades” Agee has been know to hit a wall or two. In fact, as a graffiti artist he’s hit pretty much every kind of surface you can imagine, and then some you might not imagine. Now a 15-year arts veteran, his career has taken him everywhere from the streets to galleries to corporations, internationally. The infusion of his surroundings, influences, and personality into his artwork has drawn the attention of clients like Fiat, Chrysler, and Quicken Loans just to name a few. So what does Antonio listen to while he’s painting? The answers to that question reside within this week’s Playlist. Read more
Balance
May 2, 2012
By Amy Feezor
There’s something satisfying about creating a great music mix for a friend (or for, say, Herman Miller’s Lifework blog). But sometimes after you’ve delivered your playlist, you think of that single perfect tune that really should have made the final cut. That said, we gave a few former Playlisters the chance to add one extra song to the lists they previously compiled for our weekly column. Take a look at what they selected. All together, it makes for an inspiring workday playlist in itself. Here’s hoping it helps your day hum along. Read more
Balance
April 18, 2012
By Jamie Latendresse
Today’s Playlist comes from designer and illustrator Katie Kirk. Together with her husband Nathan Standberg, Katie runs Eight Hour Day, a multidisciplinary design boutique. You’ve probably seen Katie’s work already, like the beautifully illustrated children’s book “Eli, No!” or perhaps EHD’s work for Target and Old Navy. When she’s not at the studio, where they recently added a couple Eames Molded Plastic Chairs, she and Nate are hitting up the dog parks and antique shoppes in their new home of San Francisco. Katie aspires to live a designed life(style) where work, play, and inspiration are all equal and integrated organically. Here’s the music she’s integrated into her lifestyle. Read more
Balance
March 21, 2012
By Amy Feezor
Spring is the season known for new beginnings — which is why we’re offering this fresh compilation made from selections from some our latest Playlisters. Load up your favorite music gadget, place your headphones on, and take a listen as an excuse to take a break from the workday. (After all, doesn’t someone have to go outside to make sure that warmer weather is on its way?)
2012 SPRING PLAYLIST
The Seed (2.0) by The Roots from Playlist: WORKtoDATE Design Director Greg Bennett
Colours by Grouplove from Playlist: Resource Specialist and Musician Royce Epstein
Welcome to the Working Week by Elvis Costello from Playlist: Architect & Designer Emily Fischer of Haptic Lab
Everything Is Moving So Fast by Great Lake Swimmers from Playlist: Janine Vangool of UPPERCASE
My Oldest Memory by Bowerbirds from Playlist: Erin Jang of The Indigo Bunting
Gold Dust by DJ Fresh from Playlist: Stanley Wilson & Sophie Gollop of Urban Cottage Industries
Moonshake by CAN from Playlist: Leonardo Bravo
Seed by Afro Celt Sound System from Playlist: BeBop Garden’s Ricki Grady
Photos: Janine Vangool, Leonardo Bravo, Greg Bennett, and Erin Jang
Balance, Design, Products
January 25, 2012
By Amy Feezor
Ever since architect Emily Fischer founded Haptic Lab in 2009, she’s been wowing the design world with her unique “Soft-Maps” quilts (a great gift for new parents, the newly married, or dear old friends). Hear a little of what’s playing in her Brooklyn studio—also responsible for creative collaborations in architecture, art, furniture, and even kites—in our latest Playlist. Read more
Balance, Design, Products
January 18, 2012
By Amy Feezor
What sounds fill the workspace shared by Stanley Wilson and Sophie Gollop of Urban Cottage Industries? Find out what these designers, manufacturers, and suppliers of vintage industrial lighting have playing on repeat in their headquarters in Mytholmroyd, England.
What do you listen to while you work? We fight between Radio 4 (Stan) and music (Sophie). Sophie is proletarian. It’s class war—all day, every day.
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