• One of my favorite albums of the year so far is Playing Robots into Heaven from James Blake because of his decision to steer back toward the more odd, experimental side of music yet again. Fittingly, he sat down with ambient music pioneer Brian Eno and listened to the album together, with Eno sharing his thoughts on the record and Blake giving some insights into the making.

    It’s really interesting to be somewhat of a fly on a wall between these artists. I’m sure they’ve been friends for years but I think personally I would be very intimidated sitting their have Brian Eno listen to your new baby. I also loved the way they filmed this, it’s so lo-fi in the best way, filled with character and charm.

  • Sydney-based creative studio Christopher Doyle & Co. has been such a roll lately. Every time I see something new from them I’m so impressed. I’m going to do my best to focus on one of their latest projects, working with Troye Sivan on Tsu Lange Yor, his new brand of scents for your body and your home.

    Christopher Doyle & Co. for Troye Sivan's Tsu Lange Yor


    “Comprised of a constantly shifting set of elements, the visual language was born from free-form image-making and experimentation. Incorporating graphic and hand-drawn illustrated elements, as well as video and portrait photography, the brand presents a subtle yet crafted visual landscape that celebrates intimacy, texture, and feel.”

    For me what works so well about the branding is how authentic everything feels. There’s so many small details, like hand-drawn elements, tooth and texture on the typography, paper and print elements that give a sense of tactility. It’s all very quirky and charming with a bit of refinement, and that duality definitely works to catch my eye.

    Christopher Doyle & Co. for Troye Sivan's Tsu Lange Yor
    Christopher Doyle & Co. for Troye Sivan's Tsu Lange Yor
    Christopher Doyle & Co. for Troye Sivan's Tsu Lange Yor
  • As part of this year’s London Design Festival, Japanese designer and architect Daisuke Motogi partnered with Vitra on an exhibition titled Hackability of the Stool, which showcases 100 ideas for altering Alvar Aalto’s Stool 60. Motogi is known for exploring the relationship between objects and users, and creating functional and playful designs that incorporate surprise and whimsy. So you know this project was collaboration was right up his alley.

    Daisuke Motogi - Hackability of the Stool - Artek and Alvar Aalto

    “Developing numerous ideas on how to modify the humble design icon, Motogi first presented the results in 2020 as an online exhibition on his Instagram account, where it caught Artek’s attention. Originally over 400 ideas were boiled down to 100 modifications, which Motogi and his team developed by manually altering, or hacking, the Stool 60. In the beginning, they focused on functionality and form, adding the functions of household items onto the stool, or transforming existing tools into stools. Later ideas were centered around the user, transforming Stool 60 into sports equipment or pet homes.”

    He’s obviously created dozens of very smart ideas though I want to focus in one concept: this brilliant record player sound system. When I saw this I was in awe—how has no one thought of something like this? It’s portable, it’s out of the way, it’s charming as hell. I feel like design nerds would totally buy this for real, it’s so ingenious.

    Daisuke Motogi - Hackability of the Stool - Artek and Alvar Aalto
  • Rainer Schneider, a contemporary restaurant reinventing German cuisine, recently received a fresh looking brand identity from the folks at Hyperfocus. They decided on an analogue aesthetic for the photos, sprinkled in some fun copywriting, and embraced a lo-fi design approach, emphasizing the values of sharing and new culinary adventures. The visual identity they created is raw, sincere, and straightforward, evoking a sense of familiarity and timelessness. I’m such a fan of type-driven branding and this hits the mark for me. A bold type pairing, pared back color palette, it never goes wrong.

    Rainer Schneider branding by Hyperfocus
    Rainer Schneider branding by Hyperfocus
    Rainer Schneider branding by Hyperfocus
    Rainer Schneider branding by Hyperfocus
  • A couple of weeks ago I was on a long walk with the family, and as we wandered near the Arc de Triomf (yes, Barcelona has it’s own version lol) we came across a beautiful shop called SATTA. The multi-hyphenate brand offers a thoughtful proposition for individuals seeking a deeper connection with nature, self, and others, through a holistic design philosophy that embraces the tension between urban living and the innate human desire for biophilic experiences. Their study encompasses garments, spaces, botanicals, and ceramics, inviting individuals to slow down and find harmony within a sustainable and balanced lifestyle. As you can see in the photos below it’s evident why this place grabbed my attention. It’s serenity and calmness draws you in.

    SATTA - Concept Store in Barcelona
    SATTA - Concept Store in Barcelona
    SATTA - Concept Store in Barcelona
  • Living in Barcelona, it’s incredibly easy to not need to own a car. Walking is my usual way of getting around. Everything is really no more than 20 minutes away by foot, and if you want to go further or get places faster, the bike share program makes it so simple. Still, what if there was an even easier way to get around? This seems to be what Honda is thinking with the upcoming release of the Motocompacto, due to be released in November.

    Honda - Motocompacto Scooter

    The Motocompacto is a new electric scooter is inspired by the Motocompo scooters Honda released in the 1980s. It is designed to be used “for the last leg of commutes” (which is carmaker jargon, you do not need a car to own this) and has a range of 12 miles on a full charge and a top speed of 15 miles per hour. For someone like me, 12 miles would be plenty, as it’s about 6 miles to get to the sea from my apartment in the center of the city, Eixample. It weighs less than 50 pounds, imagine carrying a heavy pice of luggage around, and has zero emissions.

    I would love to see one of these in-person to understand the scale, as well as try riding it around to see how smooth or bumpy the ride feels. As for the design, I love the suitcase look and feel, it’s giving 80s anime vibes. I’ve seen a lot of “you’ll like a dork riding this around” commentary, but like, who cares what other people think if it works for your life? Hopefully we see more out-of-the-box mobility solutions on the horizon.

    Honda - Motocompacto Scooter
  • The Mount Kimbie guys, Kai Campos and Dom Maker, are always doing interesting work, and post-lockdown, it seems like they’ve been really on a roll. Their classic album, Cold Spring Fault Less Youth, was released a decade ago now, and featured an iconic pairing with then 21 year old Archie Marshall, aka King Krule. The two tracks he guested on were two of my personal favorites, raw with emotion and unparalleled in sound.

    Now, the guys have reunited on a new track titled “Boxing” which sees their explorations in sound continue to develop and grow. It feels a bit more like the King Krule universe, ending in a field of sound that’s more akin to Mount Kimbie. The track is only on sale through Bandcamp until this Thursday, 21 September, so grab it while you can.

    Mount Kimbie & King Krule - "Boxing"
  • There’s something old and familiar in the paintings of Lausanne-born artist Nicolas Party. His new show at Hauser & Wirth New York, simply titled Swamp, feels like wandering through a dream, with tinges of arcane wisdom and occult-esque imagery. His use of pastels, employed at incredibly large scales, and his oil-on-copper paintings, are evocative of pieces you may see in a museum. He’s exploring familiar ground, building off the primal elements of life, and bringing them to life in such a contemporary way.

    For me, there’s something so magical about his jewel toned palette that’s extremely alluring, especially the contrast of colors. And of course, playing with scale is always an effective tool for making things feel grandiose and beyond the norm. If you’re in New York, please go see this show for me, it runs until 21 October.

    Nicolas Party
    Swamp
    Hauser & Wirth, 22nd Street

    Nicolas Party - Swamp - Hauser & Wirth, New York
    Nicolas Party - Swamp - Hauser & Wirth, New York
    Nicolas Party - Swamp - Hauser & Wirth, New York
    Nicolas Party - Swamp - Hauser & Wirth, New York
    Nicolas Party - Swamp - Hauser & Wirth, New York
  • I was talking with a friend yesterday about the art and creative surrounding 90s and early 2000s skateboarding, and he reminded me of someone I hadn’t thought of in a while — Thomas Campbell. A key figure in the “Beautiful Losers” movement, I was always so impressed with Campbell’s ability to dabble in so many mediums. Paintings and ephemera sewn together in abstract quilts (literally), charming hand painted lettering, and pattern-painted ceramics all were part of his creative worldview. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, I’d highly recommend this interview with Campbell by Chloe Roth who goes deep on the artist. He has such a unique POV.

    The Patchwork Brilliance of Artist Thomas Campbell
    The Patchwork Brilliance of Artist Thomas Campbell
    The Patchwork Brilliance of Artist Thomas Campbell
    The Patchwork Brilliance of Artist Thomas Campbell
    The Patchwork Brilliance of Artist Thomas Campbell
  • How does one design a brand to emphasize it as a perfect summer retreat? Greek design firm k2 design has employed their vision for a new hotel simply called HOM, highlighting its one-of-a-kind charm which sets it apart from the typical honeymoon hotel vibe that saturates Santorini.

    With a nod to the simplistic beauty of Greek design, they’ve incorporated elements like handmade pottery and vibrant colors that evoke the carefree spirit of summer living. The tones they’ve chosen are gorgeous, they feel so rich and lively, and the hand-drawn illustrations bring such a familiar, human touch to the overall brand. Overall, there’s this really nice interplay between the simplicity of the typography and the character of the textures and colors used throughout.

    HOM Hotel Branding by k2 design
    HOM Hotel Branding by k2 design
    HOM Hotel Branding by k2 design
  • There are few design studios who’s work can touch the sheer scale and boundless creativity of M/M (Paris). Founded in 1992 by Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag, they’ve continuously pushed the boundaries of creativity, not settling for any trends, and who look at the written word as a playground for innovation.

    Their newest book, Letters from M/M (Paris), is a comprehensive study of the studios typefaces, cataloguing ninety typefaces in three volumes, showcasing their development, specimens, and project illustrations. Written by Paul McNeil, a typography expert, and with a foreword by Björk, this encyclopedic publication explores the role of type in M/M’s work across art, fashion, music, and theater. If you need some inspiration this book is sure to spark something in your mind.

    'Letters from M/M (Paris)' Explores the Type Projects of The Infamous Design Studio
    'Letters from M/M (Paris)' Explores the Type Projects of The Infamous Design Studio
  • Japanese artist Yasuo-range considers herself a “graphical illustrator” which is a pretty apt description. Her work, which seamlessly blends digital and physical mediums, has influences that wander between abstraction, influences of the Bauhaus, and Japanese minimalism. There’s something so lovely about how she abstracts objects into these colorful still-life scenes. She gives our brains just enough information to start to pick out particular items, but in some cases, not quite enough, giving you time to look over the pieces trying to discern what is what.

    Abstract Illustrations by Yasuo-range
    Abstract Illustrations by Yasuo-range
    Abstract Illustrations by Yasuo-range
    Abstract Illustrations by Yasuo-range