Jordan Nassar is a Palestinian artist who creates embroidered landscapes which are framed by, and built up through, repeating patterns adapted from traditional Palestinian motifs. I love the way he utilizes such a classic medium to tell these stories of places through such delicate, colorful means. I would highly recommend reading his interview in BOMB Magazine which explains the duality of identity he experiences and how the manifests in his work, which is extremely interesting, especially with everything happening in the world right now.
Design comes in many forms. I think one unexpected way of designing comes in the form of landscape design, a field that seems to have really bloomed over the last 20 years. In the documentary below, Piet Oudolf describes what he does best within the first 5 minutes, saying, “This is what you’d like to see in the wild.”
He is well-known around the world for his work, such as projects like The High Line in New York, the gardens at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, or the Vitra campus in Weil am Rhein. Instead of creating traditional, structured gardens, he focuses on making literally wild organizations of plants which create an idealized atmosphere for people to enjoy. It’s like the ultimate user-experience design, as you can’t really control the outcome, and that inherently is part of the beauty. I love this documentary as it speaks to the rich depth of design, and I think it’s incredibly important to find inspiration from fields that are so different from my own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcAiJt0Y3vY
“In this captivating five-season documentary, we delve into the world of Piet Oudolf, a renowned Dutch garden designer known for his breathtaking naturalistic landscapes. From his iconic works like the High Line in New York City to his private garden in the Netherlands, we witness the creation of stunning gardens that evolve with the changing seasons. Join us on this visual journey through the eyes of Piet Oudolf, as we explore his unique design philosophy and see how his gardens come to life. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, this documentary is a must-watch for anyone looking to be inspired by the natural world.”
