NEW WEBSITE!!

I have finally managed to get my stuff together and design a website where I can upload samples of my work and create a general space to keep all of my inspiration on one page. Please pay it a visit to see what I've been up too! http://ladesigns.typepad.com/ladesigns/

Today's Quote...

Never let success get to your head.
Never let failure get to you heart!

www.yanilavigne.net

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moranga/91023118/

Rams' 10 principles of good design

Dieter Rams (born 20 May 1932)  is a German industrial designer who asks the important question... "Is my design good design"? Rams was concerned by the state of the world around him and realised that as a designer, he was contributing to the "confusion of forms, colours and noises".

http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/who-is-dieter-rams/

"As good design cannot be measured in a finite way he set about expressing the 10 most important principles for what he considered was good design" (Vitsoe, 2010).

RAMS' 10 PRINCIPLES OF GOOD DESIGN

Good design...

...is innovative

Innovation can never be exhausted due to technological advancements!

...makes a product useful

We do not purchase products that we do not need, so a product needs to serve a purpose and fulfil a need for the consumer purchase to occur.

...is aesthetic

Beauty is a by-product of usefulness as its aesthetic quality can have a lasting effect on people.

...makes a product understandable

If something is misunderstood, then it cannot be appreciated.

...is unobtrusive

A product and its design should allow for self-expression by the end-user, they should be able to make it part of them not forced to try and fit in with the product.

...is honest

Honest design does not falsify a product by making promises that the end product cannot keep. With today's technological world, a brand that is dishonest will be instantly exposed and the repercussions are lethal!

...is long-lasting

Many designs are trendy and are therefore dated. Good design shies away from such trends. Designers should write their own trends as apposed to being just another follower!

...is thorough down to the last detail

Nothing should be left to chance as one should admire the aspect of intelligent consumers. People are not stupid and are therefore quick to pick up on even the smallest mistakes!

...is environmentally friendly

Good design should adhere to conservation at all times. What we leave behind is almost more important than what we take!

...is as little designed as possible

We all know the infamous phrase "less is more", but Rams suggests "less, but better" should function within good design. He believes that we should consider simplicity and essential purity!

In conclusion I'll leave you with a quote to think about...

“As designers we have a great responsibility. I believe designers should eliminate the unnecessary. That means eliminating everything that is modish because this kind of thing is only short-lived.” Dieter Rams – interview with Icon Magazine

Inspiring business card designs

I love receiving a business card that make you stop and say "WOW, this is brilliant" and I'll hang onto the card regardless if I'm interested in what it's about or not. Below are some inspiring examples of designers who thought outside of the norms and conceptualized some truly clever, quirky cards!
http://www.boredpanda.com/creative-business-cards-part3/

Yuka Suzuki, hair and make-up artist

Quote for the day...

"As consumers of visual art we have become highly sophisticated readers of signs and signals. We decode meaning from images with subconscious ease." - David Crow

http://logosdesignsideas.blog.com/2011/07/13/clever-logos-with-hidden-symbolism/

http://www.boredpanda.com/clever-logos-with-hidden-symbolism/

SUPER COOLNESS!

If you don't agree that this is just super cool then you seriously need a talking to ha ha ha! This is such an awesome way to wrap up some presents - I think I'd wrap up some empty boxes and keep them stacked just so i can keep smiling every time I see it! Click on the link below to find the wrapping paper. Unfortunately for us South African locals it is obviously international!

On their website they have the following to say "About This Project":

We created this project to launch Gift Couture, a creative and innovative wrapping paper company. Gift Couture will offer high-quality wrapping paper sets that feature original photography and design. Our main goal is to produce unique papers that coordinate together into conceptualized themes and sets. This is exemplified in the Cheeseburger set that we chose to use as this initial project. This includes 5 different wrapping paper designs; a bun, hamburger, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes, all of the components of a Cheeseburger!

http://cargocollective.com/giftcouture

On my christmas wish list!

These umbrellas are just oozing AWESOMENESS - seriously santa, bring it on!! Guy de Jean deserves some respect for these. He specializes in designing one of a kind umbrellas! The umbrella on top was done for lingerie brand Chantal Thomass and the one on the bottom, the corset for luxury fashion brand Jean Paul Gaultier. Check out his website: http://www.guydejean.com/

AWESOME advertising

The text on the advert reads:

(Left Brain)

“I am the left brain. I am a scientist. A mathematician. I love the familiar. I categorize. I am accurate. Linear. Analytical. Strategic. I am practical. Always in control. A master of words and language. Realistic. I calculate equations and play with numbers. I am order. I am logic. I know exactly who I am.”

(Right Brain)

“I am the right brain. I am creativity. A free spirit. I am passion. Yearning. Sensuality. I am the sound of roaring laughter. I am taste. The feeling of sand beneath bare feat. I am movement. Vivid colors. I am the urge to paint on an empty canvas. I am boundless imagination. Art. Poetry. I sense. I feel. I am everything I wanted to be.”

http://www.lonocreative.com

33 Ways to stay creative

Not too sure where I found this article but where ever it's from, THANKS!
Ps. I love how number 24 breaks the rules ha ha ha!

Think I might make one of these at home!

image from www.awwwards.com

I SERIOUSLY LOVE this!!! It's super creative and a fun way to get the whole family involved in keeping one another up to date with what's happening. I think I might just paint me one of these over the weekend... watch this space ha ha ha!

For more cool ideas visit the website below!
http://www.awwwards.com/design-products/chalkboard-wall-calendar-with-memo

copyright © 2008-2011 Fair Cake, Ltd.

copyright © 2008-2011 Fair Cake, Ltd.

copyright © 2008-2011 Fair Cake, Ltd.

copyright © 2008-2011 Fair Cake, Ltd.

copyright © 2008-2011 Fair Cake, Ltd.

copyright © 2008-2011 Fair Cake, Ltd.

If there's one thing I can appreciate, it's a beautifully decorated cupcake! You can imagine how impressed I was by these beauties that I found on http://www.faircake.co.uk/

They have some lovely FREE RECIPES on their website and if you're lucky enough to be in London, then you should most definitely sign up for a one of their classes!!!! I so wish I could...

AWESOME photography

Image by Hai Zhen

I stumbled upon photos taken by Hai Zhen, a fashion photographer based in Beijing China. I think her images are AWESOME. I just love the one featured above. The minimalist approach, perfect lighting, brilliant make-up and use of last extensions just make this image something special - I'm sure you'll agree!

To view more of her work, visit her website!
http://www.moko.cc/

Beatiful Sculptures!

Wire sculptures by Gavin Worth

Wire sculptures by Gavin Worth

Wire sculptures by Gavin Worth

 

It always amazes me when stumbling accros something totally different and unique. Artists always find the most interesting mediums and turn what seems to be a general household item into something of worth and value - something special!

This is certainly the case with Gavin Worth's wire sculptures. They are absolutely gorgeous! Do pop past his website to see more of his work - it's worth the visit and may leave you inspired!

Don't forget to pay the site a visit!

http://www.gavinworth.com/

Stylised gradient effects using Photoshop's channels!

Image by Ben Secret

This tutorial is really awesome! It takes something which we often deem to be Kitsch or "Nasty" and turns it into something beautiful! I am so trying this one when i get a chance!!!!! Let me know if anyone else will be doing one too, would love to see it!

Follow the link below to read the tutorial on the Computer Arts Website.

Article provided by Ben Secret.

http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/stylised-gradient-effects-using-photoshops-channels

Has Thinking Small Got You Stalled?

If you're a freelance graphic designer then this article is for you!

Has Thinking Small Got You Stalled? (ARTICLE BY Janis Pettit)

http://www.designtaxi.com/article/101715/Has-Thinking-Small-Got-You-Stalled/

The article looks at how you think and how it affects your business.
It challenges you to answer the following questions...

• What do I truly believe I can achieve?


• What would my ideal business and income look like?


• Where am I keeping myself small?


• What do I believe that keeps me stuck?


• Who do I admire that has achieved what I want to achieve and do I believe I can do the same?

I hope this article makes you stand still and just think for a few minutes!

Awesome site to learn something!

Really awesome site so if you're interested in graphic design, photography or web design and marketing then CHECK IT OUT!!!
http://leabotha.wordpress.com/