Designspiration : communication of objects

Traditional architecture taken to a whole new level by New York City design firm Roman & Williams. With a mixture of textures, found objects and collaborative pieces with local artists, they create experiences in their spaces in a vignette of how everything interacts with each other. The design duo Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch are the 'creatives' behind the company and have a style best described as modern with intrigue, vintage charm, industrial, earthy, a little masculine, and very dramatic. It's people like them who make me excited as a designer because they produce conversation spaces; without being pretentious or stuffy. Places you can actually imagine being in. With friends, having a drink, sharing stories and creating new ones. The last few images are of the R&W offices. Must be easier to think of intriguing designs when you're surrounded with such amazing objects and textiles. I don't know about you, but this is on a whole new level of cool.







images found via google & Roman & Williams / video found via vimeo by The Scout

Fun fact : After the couple worked on the set of the 'impressive' movie Duplex, Ben Stiller was so impressed with their work that he commissioned them to work on his Hollywood Hills home. Oh, to be rich and famous.

maybe more than 1/2 true

"Good design is all about making other designers feel like idiots because that idea wasn't theirs."

miniatures. (sort of)

These are reminiscent of little miniature displays really really loved when I was a kid.
Tonight I'm going to a AIGA disc slam (different artists have a few minutes each to show their work on a CD to a group) with Dominic and his dad. I am totally pumped to see how this is going to work. And the best part is that it's being held at Canyon Creative; I got a chance to go there for a field trip and their offices were so cool. K I'm off to get ready right now :)

So, it is summer break and Dom and I are on a wonderful staycations at the Palms Place. This place is... okay. Haha, I don't really know what to say, this place isn't really my scene. Maybe I'm being harsh because I hates the bed. Try sleeping on a tempurpedic bed every night then switching over to a spring mattress. My back is suffering I tell you! Anyway, I just acquired these pretties:


Don't you love the summer?

ps- My childhood hero Michael Jackson is DUNZO

Currently working on...

Natalie Portman, watercolor gouache
This is my second try with her portrait, and I am pretty happy with myself with being so patient and really taking the time to keep checking my reference.

And an update on my last drawing:


I was planning for that one to be good enough for the display case at school but... eh. Not so sure any more. In any case. I have been officially DUNZO with Spring quarter for the past half an hour. I am so relieved. Now me and Dommie have more time for screen printing stufff. Yay excited!

edit; This video totally expresses how I feel. And I am totally digging the totally profesh backdrop they have going on. :)

EXCITING NEWS!

I made a CafePress store! The only design I have up right now is a "On The Reg" shirt with one of my personal heroes, Kenny Powers.

Check it out! I will probably make more designs over the weekend for my CafePress store Clever Comforts (I came up with the name on a whim), so I can gradually make up so money for me and D's homemade screenprinting goodies. (Which will be so much more exciting when that happens!)

Wow, I don't know how but I was typing in Hindi and I was ridiculously confused. I feel like Towelie in that one episode where he tries to get a book published but instead gets high and forgets about all ongoing priorites. You know, instead of getting a book published I'm just trying to... get shit done. I have some cool ideas for teeshirts, but now I need a way to afford the actual merchandise to print on. I have around 2 hours until my afternoon class :(

On the other hand, Star Trek was really good.

Me and D are at the new M hotel for spring break! Totally was not expecting this, such a nice surprise from Papa Caldara haha. Not much to update but I am wearing one of my new diy shredded tee's and I painted my nails a really pretty purple colour! It reminds me of my elementary school days, I loved every and and shad of purple. Do I Lilac It by OPI. Luuuvs it :) But I do not loves Dancing with the Stars hmph

shredz

In the process of making a shred tank top from a medium men's Hane's ribbed tank.

Oh! and I double frenched my nails for the first time ever! I am still gazing at my handywork. Actually, I just used those french manicure tape guides and they worked very well. I really effed up the last two fingers on my left hand because I didn't let the polish dry long enough before pulling off the tape but oh wells! That's why they say practice makes perfect.

Yayy spring break! Also in the process of working on a website :) Feeling pretty inspired lately.

PIE. My most guilty and gluttonous vice as of late. Ever since Christmas, it's been getting out of control. I don't even know the disgusting amount of pie I've been eating these past couple of months. I know I've gained some [ok ok 10 lbs!!! ;( ] weight and I've been blaming the winter for my hibernation fat that has accumulated around my torso and hips area. But I've been doing some thinking and some real self-inspection and I now realize--sadly-- that the real culprit is PIE.
I guess it all started Christmas Eve dinner. I decided to make my very first pie, so I used a frozen crust and blueberries and it turned out okay, but it was no Marie Callendar's. ONE pie doesn't sound too bad, but it drastically took a turn for the worst the next when Dom and I were made to take home four-- I kid you not-- FOUR Marie Callendar pies upon leaving his dad's house from Christmas day. Razzleberry pie, pumpkin, and 2 french apple pies...
So, as not to be rude, and especially because a pie is a terrible terrible thing to waste, we [meaning mostly me] ate all four pies including the pie I made the day before. ALL OF THEM!
In less than two weeks.
I know.
I know.
I am disgusting. That's not all though. Since then, I have made a couple more pies at home as well as having Dom pick me up some from Marie Callendar's. Lemon meringue, banana cream, ahdsnvkl'wseih .......
Sheesh louise! I never ever excercise, but I have a feeling that if you dangled a fresh pie in front of me I'd keep running like those gerbils you see on TV. That's how bad this is. I LOVE PIE !!!

O M G. Funniest thing I have come acrosssss while interweb shopping. A MATERNITY Juicy Couture velour tracksuit. Ok, ok I'm not laughing as hard because of the maternity factor, mainly because you can tell they shoved some tissue paper or something into that poor girl's sweater and she is CLEARLY not preggers, or anything close. I don't know what they were thinking trying to fool consumers into thinking all pregnant women look as if they are 90-lb. models. Anywayyys, velour tracksuits are gross and should not be worn on ANYONE let alone a birthing mama. Haha this was random.

Peas!

It's really almost 12:30 in NY

Today was all about sleeping in, breakfast via room service, strong strong strong coffee, below freezing temperatures, and drivers name Muhummad. Going to SoHo to find warmer clothes, function over fashion, lots and lots of layers, and even more people on the sidewalks. Making it just in time for the Christmas Spectacular in Radio City Music Hall, glitter, lights, the smell of popcorn, and soft velvet seats. Glitzy Rockettes and cheesy scripts, jolly Santas and sky-high kicks. Streams of shiny string popping overhead, and the sight of snowflakes flashing on the walls. Coming back to the warm warm warm hotel to watch Cat in the Hat and Charlie Brown's Christmas. Lots of laughs and giggles due to the JibJab websites, with our faces pasted on dico-dancing elves. Helping D's little sister Libby with her multiplication tables and how to make a doggy face out of the number '8'. Chicken consomme for dinner and warm salty french fries.
The best part was Dominic getting out of the middle of his shower (not even 25 minutes ago) to go "Woohoo" and do his first birthday jig. Lots of huggies and kissies and snuggles and cuddles.
Tomorrow we will ((hopefully)) wake up early enough to make it to the Continental Breakfast downstairs. Trying to make the most out of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed in. At night we will endure the Giants game at 8 at night, but it will be worth it because Dominic likes football, so in a sense, I like football.
Goodnight!

-A

Peas and love straight from my most faaavorite city of all: New York !!! I just flew in last night with Dominic and his family for his 21st birthday. We left Vegas while it was still in the middle of snow storms only to face winter in New York! The snow in Las Vegas was so surreal but at the same time it was comforting because that's the winters i'm used to. The weather last night wasn't too bad but as you can tell, straightening my hair was totally useless today because the snow fucked it all up :( wah.
We're staying at The London hotel in Manhattan, and let me tell ya, this is one schmaaancy way to start winter break! Even the lobby smells good. If the hotel lobby made a perfume, I would wear it. I am sooo thankful and lucky to have been invited on this trip! Sunday is Dommie's birthday and it will be so funsies. Except I'm not really looking forward to the Giants game we have planned. We're gonna have to withstand below freezing temperatures at the 8 o'clock game. But our hotel room is so nice! Dommie just got out of the shower looking over my shoulder right now haha. He is so cute :)
I'm upset we forgot a camera to take quick snapshots of the city, but being back here makes up for it. I'll update when I have something more worthwhile to say haha. I hope everyone is keeping warm!

-A