Check out this week's Top-Notch Typeface!
Spaces // Emily Isabella
Monday, September 24, 2012
Happy Monday everyone! I'm always excited to kick off the week with another Spaces feature. This week I have the honor of sharing textile designer and illustrator, Emily Isabella's workspace. Her work is perfectly playful and beautiful. Emily also has a great eye for color! Be sure to check out her amazing work after you take a peak into her studio...
Tell us about yourself as a creative.
I specialize in design for the young at heart. The goal of my personal brand is to bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood. Right now, I sell my art in the form of note cards, tea towels, and art prints but there is always more coming around the corner.
The second aspect of my brand is designing for other companies. I have a wallpaper collection out right now with Hygge & West (and a new one coming soon!) and I have just finished my first quilting fabric collection with Birch Fabric. I jump at the chance to draw on anything…
I also do design work on a freelance basis. Right now I am doing a lot of textile design and illustration for clothing but I look forward to one day illustrating toys and children’s books!
Describe your creative journey.
I remember having my first epiphany after reading an Eric Carle book (The Very Quiet Cricket to be exact) in first grade. I remember being in the school hallway and thinking, “I could do that! I am going to be an author/illustrator!”
My parents are both artists and in high school I felt the need to do something “different” than them. I was really into dyeing fabric in high school so I went to school for Fibers at the Savannah College of Art and Design. At the time, that seemed a different enough art form than my dad, who is a graphic designer, and my mom, a fine artist.
I couldn’t stop drawing though! All my repeat patterns told a story, I wove illustrated tapestries and I drew with my sewing machine. It wasn’t until my last few months of school that I came full circle to realize that I probably should be an illustrator. And here I am!
Share a little bit about your space.
I share my space with my husband, Paul Isabella, who is a furniture designer/maker. Most of the time it is just me in the studio, as he is often in his wood shop. The studio is located in the main space of the converted train depot we rent in Minneapolis. 90% of the time we are either working, thinking about our work or talking about our work so it seems appropriate to have the studio so centrally located in our living space.
What's your favorite thing about your space?
I love having a spot to put all the weirdness I find and make. I have drawers of doll heads, fabric, old art from school I can’t part with. We like to keep our home minimally decorated but I love having a little space for my treasures.
What's one thing you think every creative needs in their space?
Books! When I am in need of reference or inspiration, I head to my bookshelves. I love pretending to be a librarian in my own home. I don’t collect much, but I never hesitate to buy an amazing vintage children’s book or a really great art book.
Thank you Emily!
Golden Pines Paper Shop
Friday, September 21, 2012
I'm excited to share the launch of Golden Pines Paper Shop with you! Alex Choura and Erin Vaughan started Golden Pines when they merged their talents together. Alex, her hand drawn type and Erin with her whimsical illustrations. I went to school with Alex and Erin and helped create their first line just in time for Halloween! Be sure to hop over and get some of these limited quantity cards before they're gone!
Society6
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
I uploaded some of the patterns ( and more ) I shared this past weekend, on Society6. I've got a few more possible patterns to share and am always up for creating more. I specifically made these patterns for iPhone cases, but they're also available in prints.
I enjoy hearing your guys' opinons, keep 'em coming and I'll keep making more!
Enjoy!
Now, to pick which pattern I want!
Inspiration Board : Brand Update
Monday, September 17, 2012
Sometimes we decide, as a client and designer, that it's a good time for a little brand update when already designing a new website ( or anytime really! ) ! It's a fun way to update a brand you might already have, just tweaking it a little, using, new type, illustrations or color, but sticking to your original brand so your clients recognize it easily. That's what this inspiration board is for. Be on the lookout for a new website for the client as well.
Your Opinion...
Saturday, September 15, 2012
I'm in the process of designing some prints for Society6, specifically for iPhones cases. I've been searching for a new case myself and can't decide which to pick, so I thought it'd be fun to design some.
SO, I'm looking for YOUR opinion, specifically when it comes to colors: When you're looking for a new case, are you drawn to more neutral colored ones or bright colors? How do you pick a case? Based on color or based on pattern / artwork? Do you ever feel that if you have a bright colored case you'll get sick of it faster? ( Maybe I just have a bit of a fear when it comes to a commitment to color because my current case is white! )
Recent Brand : Hannah White
Friday, September 14, 2012
Here's a little peek into another recent brand brief. This one is for Hanna White Photography. My favorite little bit from Hannah's research about her brand was little little blurb: "My brand is an adventurer, because discovering new things and running in a field of flowers wrapped in light is the only way to live."
Check out the inspiration board that goes along with our initial research (the second one in the post)!
Summer / Fall Outfit
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
While most of the country seems to be transitioning into at least some what cooler temps, we're still going strong with the weather forecast to be 100* this weekend. But I'm so desperate for fall! It is my favorite time of year, which is kind of non-existent here... so I thought I'd put together a perfect warm fall outfit. Hopefully sweater weather is around the corner?? (probably not).
one / two / three / four / five
Spaces // Amanda Wright of Wit & Wistle
Monday, September 10, 2012
Let's kick off another week with a peek into designer and shop owner, Amanda Wright's workspace. Amanda runs the illustrative paper shop, Wit & Whistle. Wit & Whistle is full of beautiful designed and illustrated cards and goods, some with a perfectly quirky saying or illustration -- my favorite? The Uterus Birthday Card! You have to check it out!
Tell us about yourself as a creative.
I design and illustrate stationery and paper products, but my creative interests are so spread out that it was difficult for me to pick one thing to focus on. Luckily I can use my blog as an outlet for any excess creative energy. As long as I'm making something, whatever it is, I'm happy.
Describe your creative journey.
In first grade I made pretend business cards for myself that said "artist". I took art classes all through school, and then I majored in Graphic Design at the North Carolina State College of Design. I chose graphic design because, according to my high school self, I wanted a practical creative job so that I wouldn't have to be a starving artist. After graduating I spent several years working at a firm designing logos, annual reports, websites, and such. Most clients didn't allow me much creative freedom, and I had a feeling that I couldn't keep working like that for long without doing permanent damage to my creative spirit. With my husband's support and encouragement I quit my job and started Wit & Whistle.
Share a little bit about your space.
I set up my studio in our finished basement. It's quite nice for a basement. Two sets of french doors provide more natural light than most basements have, and there's even a fireplace down here!
What's your favorite thing about your space?
I love that my studio is separate from the rest of the house. I can make a huge mess if I need to, and I don't have to worry about cleaning it up right away. I also love that my dogs think my work space is their own personal dog park. They often hurtle around the room chasing each other while I work.
What's one thing you think every creative needs in their space?
I think every creative space needs at least one potted plant. My studio doesn't get tons of light, but I've managed to keep my snake plant alive. I think a little leafy green stimulates the creative juices.
Thanks Amanda!
Crossover Festival
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
You also can't go wrong with neutrals and neons.
Recent Brand : Dreyma Studio
Spaces // Vanessa Gonzales
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
As you can tell, I've been absent from the blog for the past week. I took some personal time last week and blogging kind of took a little rest. Sometimes life throws you a few things and you just have to tackle them. BUT I'm back and sharing the workspace of Pasty Chief turned Graphic Designer, Vanessa Gonzales. Vanessa is the creative mind behind HelloVanny and is about to take the dive into fulltime freelance. Check her out!
Tell us about yourself as a creative.
I'm a freelance graphic designer with a passion for web. I occasionally blog over at HelloVanny about my life, work and design. My boyfriend, Aaron and I have been together for nearly 5 years and frequently collaborate on websites together (I design while he develops.) We'll soon be opening up our own digital crafted goods shop called, Neue Reform. I like to stay busy!
Describe your creative journey.
Growing up my family was always encouraging me to draw and take art classes. I took everything from ceramics, drawing and photography in school and at one point became obsessed with painting on canvas. I eventually went away to art school for college. While I obtained a degree in baking + pastry arts (I love designing cakes!) half way through my program I found myself putting off my homework to teach myself graphic design. I enjoyed it so much! After graduating, I worked as a pastry chef at The Wynn in Las Vegas and while I worked there started to build up my design portfolio. Though I still love pastry, working at The Wynn only solidified my decision to pursue graphic design as a career. I'm currently working on my portfolio and plan to make the transition to freelancing full time in just a few short months (!!!)
Share a little bit about your space.
My style is very minimal. I don't like having too much stuff on my desk at one point and definitely like to try to keep things clean. You can always tell what kind of week I'm having by how messy my desk is. When Aaron and I made the move from Las Vegas to San Diego last March it was a major downsize in regards to space. We moved from a 2 bedroom house into a TINY 1 bedroom apartment. We had to completely flee from the norm and turned what should be the living room into a bedroom and our bedroom into an office. Though I know this current space isn't permanent I do love that we have a designated room for us to work in. Also, our American Bulldog Molli equally loves our space just as much as I do. You can constantly find her sitting in my computer chair sleeping or observing, ha!
What's your favorite thing about your space?
My favorite thing about my space is definitely my desk. I love how big it is and love that it allows me to spread out. Really making it easy for me to sketch, scan and move to my iMac without having to move much.
What's one thing you think every creative needs in their space?
A sketchbook! No matter how creative you can be on the computer I always think it's great to go back to your roots and sketch your ideas out. Last year I purchased a dot grid book and love that it works as a guide when sketching out websites. It's also very beneficial when lettering!
Thanks Vanessa!