Advice to Writers (and designers)
Here’s a quick follow-up to my earlier post “Overcoming Creative Block”
American poet Billy Collins gives his advice on finding inspiration… and I think this is something I find very true, and I do a pretty good job of sticking to it. Either that, or I swing to the other end of the spectrum. I encourage you to try both, find out what works for you.
wash down the walls and scrub the floor
of your study before composing a syllable.
Clean the place as if the Pope were on his way.
Spotlessness is the niece of inspiration.
The more you clean, the more brilliant
your writing will be, so do not hesitate to take
to the open fields to scour the undersides
of rocks or swab in the dark forest
upper branches, nests full of eggs.
When you fiind your way back home
and stow the sponges and brushes under the sink,
you will behold in the light of dawn
the immaculate altar of your desk,
a clean surface in the middle of a clean world.
From a small vase, sparkling blue, lift
a yellow pencil, the sharpest of the bouquet,
and cover pages with tiny sentences
like long rows of devoted ants
that followed you in from the woods.
(Quote via Swissmiss)
Illustration by Jen Collins (also good advice)
Posted by: Josh Abe on March 4, 2010
Filed under: Design, Miscellaneous | No Comments
Fashionary
Fashionary is a sketchbook with templates on each page of models to alleviate the time-consuming process of drawing a proportionate model to design clothes on. It’s a pretty simple idea, but I’m sure it’s hugely helpful to those of you fashion students out there.
You can get it on Etsy right now. $16 isn’t bad for a really nice notebook.
Posted by: Josh Abe on March 3, 2010
Kishu Binchotan & Bottle
I came across this item over at Nvelt. I really love the simplicity of the packaging; and the way this product transforms your next glass of tap water into something elegant.
According to Sort of Coal: “Kishu Binchotan soaks up chlorine from tap water while releasing natural minerals into it. Kishu Binchotan softens the water and improves the overall taste.”
Bottle is mouth blown and is designed by Fragile, Denmark. €68.00
Posted by: Judson Kovaskitz on March 1, 2010
Filed under: Design | No Comments
Parliament Design Headquarters
These are some absolutely delicious of Portland-based design studio, Parliament Design. Every desk was made from reclaimed fir from an early century church and the walls are made from wood from a 1904 barn. The entire inside is impeccably designed, and would make any designer drool to work in an environment like that.
Check out more photos on their website and their blog.
Posted by: Josh Abe on March 1, 2010
Filed under: Architecture, Design | No Comments
Merchant House by Søren Rose Studio
I love these images I found over on WeHeart of Søren Rose Studio’s renovated 1770 Danish House. It has a good mixed of subdued tones combined with one or two bold elements that really stand out against the monotone backgrounds. It also has a great mix of modern and classic furniture which make it a place where work wouldn’t really seem like work at all. I think the bookshelf is my favorite piece.
Go check out more images on Søren Rose Studio’s website.
Posted by: Josh Abe on February 24, 2010
Filed under: Architecture, Design | No Comments
Alphaposter
I love the illustration style of this poster by a design team in Verona, Italy called Happycentro. It’s elaborate, yet minimalist and elegant. It’s part of a series of typographic illustration posters.
Go check out the rest of the set on Happycentro’s website.
Posted by: Josh Abe on February 23, 2010
Filed under: Design | No Comments
Aspiral Clock
I just saw these really cool clocks over on NOTCOT and wanted to share them. I love a well designed clock, and I think there’s something even cooler about a clock that involves a physical representation of the time. I bought a flip clock a little while ago, which I love, but this takes that a step further with really great execution.
£350 over on the Aspiral Clocks website. A little steep, maybe, but I guarantee you won’t see a piece like this anywhere else.
Posted by: Josh Abe on February 23, 2010
Filed under: Design | No Comments
