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WATCH | abstract: the art of design season 2

Monica Nadine No Comments

Abstract: The Art of Design season 2 has dropped on Netflix late last month and we have been eager to find out just who is featured in the new season.

Season 1, which was released in 2017, was made up of visionaries ranging from graphic designer Paula Scher to illustrator Christoph Niemann, stage designer Es Devlin and legendary portrait photographer Platon.

ABSTRACT TELLS STORIES FROM THE DESIGN INDUSTRY

The 8-part series explores a variety of disciplines. Contrary to the title, the art terminology is not used in the artistic sense, but rather literally as it defines short and sharp summaries of its subjects. Each episode examines leading designer’s who disrupt the norm in their industry, and offers insight to how they first conceive and then execute their visions.

As illustrator Christopher Niemann puts it:

“the abstraction to me is getting rid of everything that’s not essential to making a point”.

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IT’S NOT ONLY ABOUT THE DESIGNER’S ARTISTIC MERITS

The series does a beautiful job of spotlighting that it’s the human touch that drives and innovates the design industry. The production conveys a feeling of authenticity as the designer’s share their stories and personal experiences. From moments when Christoph Niemann breaks the fourth-wall as he hesitates to clean his teeth in front of the camera, or Platon’s heart-wrenching story of the day he came to truly understand pain, these poignant insights offer a better understanding of what makes a great artist than the subjects could hope to provide solely by talking about their work.

As Scott Dadich, executive producer for the project said:

“If we’ve done it right, ‘Abstract’ will help you understand the future by seeing the intent behind the objects that surround us—and the beauty in the decisions that led to them”

 

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SEASON 1 & 2 AVAILABLE TO STREAM

Every instalment strikes a similar tone and mood that truly appreciates the difference in aesthetics and disciplines on display. Just like season 1, we predict Abstract season 2 will be one to take your time to watch, and avoid binge-watching to fully soak up each episode in it’s entirety.

ABSTRACT SEASON 2 TRAILER

EVENT STYLING | coachella 2019: fave brand activations

Monica Nadine No Comments

Over 20 years, Coachella Music and Arts Festival has grown to be one of the most famous festival worldwide, as each year sees massive headlining artists, celebrities, big brands, influencers and punters flock to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Coachella isn’t really Coachella without the host of swanky, off-site pool parties and late-night soirees that take over the desert each year.
Here are a few of the eye-catching brand activations that caught our attention over the two sold out weekends!

INSTAGRAM


The social media platform partnered with artist D’ana Nunez of COVL and experiential agency, Manifold, for an invite-only house called Instagram Desert Chill. Top creators were invited to come chill, create content and enjoy the sunshine.

YSL


Designed and produced by AKJOHNSTON Group, the space replicated a gas station with vintage convertibles, tour bus, towering neon lipstick sign, and bright pink gas pumps. Next to it was a field of black balloons with the YSL Beauty logo, creating a unique photo op in the desert environment.

PACSUN x McDONALDS

CONTENT AND IMAGE SOURCES BizBash, LA Guest List, Event Marketer
HEADER IMAGE The SF Egotist

INFO NIGHT | mid-year intake 2019

Monica Nadine No Comments

FORGE YOUR OWN PATH

“The question isn’t who is going to let me;

it’s who is going to stop me” – Ayn Rand

The design industry is continually expanding, and the range of career paths is diverse.
As our environment and technology changes around us, design is a constant.

Design is more than aesthetics.
It is the unseen bond between the elements that make sense of the world.
It is what makes a room feel right, or a website easy to navigate.

Design is humanistic.
It solves problems with critical thinking and creative solutions.
It uses technology as a tool rather than a driver.

Design is curious.
It questions, explores and plays.
It allows continual learning and discovery.

 

Join us for an awesome night.
Ask any questions you have about curriculum, dates, prices, career opportunities etc.

Monday 6th May
5.30pm – 6:30pm

Make sure you reserve your place by completing the RSVP form below.

2020 Info Night | Thursday 28 NOV 2019
Sending

EVENT | HDS x The Design Kids

Monica Nadine No Comments

HDS is thrilled to be hosting April’s edition of #tdktuesdays! Join us next Tuesday at to kick off the sixth edition of 36 Days of Type!  There will be plenty of cheap drinks and a few drawing materials if you can’t source your own.  Digital and analogue tools welcome – there’s plenty of space for all kinds of experimentin’.

Come flex your type skills!

36 Days of Type (@36daysoftype) is a project that invites designers, illustrators and visual artists to express their interpretation of the letters and numbers of our alphabet. The challenge is to design a letter or number for each day of the 36 days. Participants share their artworks via Instagram by uploading their entries with the project hashtag #36daysoftype and daily hashtag #36days_[Letter/Number]. From all daily entries, a curated selection will be published on the 36 Days of Type Instagram account (169k followers!).

This is a chance to get a head start on your first few letters if you think you’re up for the challenge!  If you want to participate for a few days or even just a single letter you can too.  If you don’t want to draw but feel like some quality banter on your Tuesday night, that’s good too.

 

Not sure what #TDKtuesdays is all about? It’s a no-pressure, beginners welcome, hi-fives encouraged anti-networking event on the first Tuesday of every month.

We’ve decided here at The Design Kids HQ that there is waaaay too much emailing and not enough socialising. So roll on #TDKtuesdays, where every month our fabulous TDK City hosts across the globe organise everything from free workshops to panel discussions, to design pub trivia, to studio tours with some of our fave industry peeps, and heaps more.

It’s a great place for design students, graduates and professionals to meet other design students, graduates and professionals, have a chat, swap notes, get involved and just generally build a bigger and better design community in their cities. If you are shy and “networking” (dirty word) is hard, this is an easy place to start. Grab a friend and come say hi!

RSVP to the Facebook event HERE

Feature Image Wallphabet by @otto_baum and @copenhagensigns
Images X by @linuslohoff K by @mariasern.art

LA ISLA | t – magazines best product of the year 2018

Monica Nadine No Comments

SANCAL, a leading manufacturing company of contemporary design, have taken out  T-Magazines Best Product of the Year for 2018 with La Isla. 

T Magazine’s debut Design Awards ceremony sought out to recognise designers who demonstrate out-of-the-box thinking, originality, talent, impact and creative vision, and products that are innovative and progressive, can integrate with the environment, and have honesty, simplicity and versatility as well as being sustainable. The awards also recognised the use of valuable resources, such as traditional craft techniques and new materials for economic efficiency. 

The Spanish company approached NOTE, Swedish design firm, for a design solution to make transit areas friendlier.
Crafted to accomodate relief for weary travellers, La Isla provides comfortable seating spaces into transit areas.

An enticing destination in a sea of nothingness…….As we travel more, we continually find ourselves in transit areas – vast seas of inhospitable and unwelcoming space that Marc Augué has dubbed “non-places”.

As the jury commented: “Finding rest in the increasingly frequent places of transit, such as lobbies or waiting rooms, is not an easy task. The conjunction between the Swedish studio and the Spanish company has led to a multiple seat that stands out for the comfort of its upholstery, the softness of its shapes and its sinuous curves.”

Images NOTE
Source KE-ZU

MINIMALISM STYLE | Kate Batten

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I’ll say it, I love Minimalism. It’s a design style that encourages a lifestyle. It’s not for everyone, but it works it’s magic on people feeling a little weighed down by All. The. Stuff. Fear not cushion lover. Minimalism is a style that can be adapted to suit your current lifestyle, including your plush pillows.

 

THE INITIAL CULL 

To get started on your new minimalist interior (and life!), there is an essential step: the clean out. Getting started is the hardest part. Set some guidelines for what you will and won’t keep. The two most important rules most minimalists adopt are: does this item bring me joy or is this item useful? If the item can satisfy one or more of those criteria, it stays and, on the flipside, if it doesn’t satisfy the criteria, it’s got to go! There’s so much satisfaction in knowing that your home is a carefully curated sanctuary, perfectly reflecting your needs and interests.

 

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY 

Minimalism isn’t about throwing away all your earthly possessions and feeling deprived. You absolutely should keep the items you love but ensure that items you don’t cherish anymore (or didn’t even to begin with) aren’t sticking around and weighing you down. Invest in quality pieces that you can see yourself keeping for 20 years. Sure, the initial outlay of money is greater, however choosing a style that is simple (and most importantly, that you love!) will ensure longevity and work out more economical in the long run. 

SIMPLE COLOUR PALETTE 

To get the most out of your newly refreshed space, keep the colour palette simple and cohesive. Note: this doesn’t rule out colour. Greys, blues and greens work a treat in minimalist interiors as they are calming, but still somewhat visually stimulating. Keep your furniture quite neutral in colour, adding colour by using art and soft furnishings. 

  

WARM UP WITH TEXTURE 

Minimalist interiors can be interpreted as cold or harsh without the addition of the right soft furnishings. Adding colour and texture using soft furnishings will create an inviting and comfortable atmosphere. The right balance of textiles is essential as if you use too many in the space, it’s not really minimalist anymore. Carefully edit the space but keep in mind the need for texture and warmth.

THINGS YOU LOVE 

I love to read so I love my books and the way they look. I find comfort in having them in my home.

Minimalism isn’t about owning nothing, its about valuing all your possessions and knowing they add to your life rather than burden it. Keep your spoon collection or your Superhero Figurines. These items tell a story of who you are and what you love, so feature them in your home.

Ultimately, minimalism is a choice to live life with less to enjoy more time with the things (and people!) you love. 

 

Research and written text by Kate Batten

Celebrating 60 years of the Fritz Hansen Series 7 Chair

Jessica No Comments

Originally designed by legendary Arne Jacobsen in 1955, the Series 7 chair has been the single most poplar design piece in the history of Republic of Fritz Hansen. Through decades the strong, minimalist shape has stood the test of time. In fact, Republic of Fritz Hansen feels so strongly about the translatable nature of the original model, they have changed nothing about the design.
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Contrasts are the keyword in the 60th Anniversary Edition – it is all about contrast, both in materials, surfaces and colours. The two chairs has been created with a masculine or feminine perspective – as a deep dark blue shell with powder coated legs in a burnished look and a pale pink shell with gold-plated legs (24 kt). While the deep dark blue and the pale pink may contrast each other, they are also two colours that when combined, both display a calming and elegant look.

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Find out more at Cult Designs 

 

 

 

Nicole’s Journey

Jessica No Comments

After working in Real Estate for many year I developed a strong interest in property and homes.  

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Always passionate about beautiful things for the home, I would scour through magazines reading every fine detail.  Falling in love with the homewares on each page of the magazine, I often wondered why I couldn’t find these locally and always dreamed of opening my own homewares shop.

After having my two boys and building my own home, I met Donna who told me all about the Hunter Design School.  I was immediately interested and decided to follow my dream and enrol in the Certificate of Colour and Design back in 2009.  I then continued on to complete Colour Planning and Consulting and Interior Design. During my 3rd year, as part of the Interior Design course, I set out my business plan and vision and established my business, Chrysalis Interiors.

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After a few years of consulting and styling, Chrysalis Interiors became Chrysalis Interiors and Homewares and I opened my first lifestyle retail shop in my home town of Redhead in March 2014. I was quite particular about what I wanted… no shopping centre or strip, just a cute little building I could transform.  Its funny actually,  as part of the Colour Planning course one of the projects was to draft a colour scheme for our own shop and if I look back at the picture now it is almost exact to what Chrysalis looks like.

nic nicole redhead

I currently stock a varied array of furniture, homewares including cushions, throws, artwork and home decor.  I have a small clothing range and also stock jewellery and accessories.  I strongly promote local designers, artists and craftspeople and have a number of unique products in my shop from local creatives.  I love the feedback that I get from my customers who are now coming from far and wide and spreading the word that Chrysalis is a great one stop shop for gifts and homewares.

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We also offer an interior design and styling service from the shopfront.  This, for me, is the most exciting part of the business as I am able to now source some amazing  products from large furniture pieces to cushions and lighting and help peoples vision for their home come alive.  The knowledge I gained  from my studies now assist me on a daily basis from colour placement and presentation in the shop to my interior design and consultancy business.


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Chrysalis Interiors and Homewares is located at 1/18 Steel Street, Redhead and is open daily from 10am.  

You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

New Collection from South Pacific Fabrics

Jessica No Comments

 

South Pacific Fabrics are excited to announce, the arrival of the 2014 collection from SAHCO

 

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Future Folklore is a collection inspired by traditional folk elements and futuristic design.

Detailed pattern and sophisticated form can be seen everywhere, from the geometric upholstery to the cross-stitch seen in the elegant draperies.

FutureFolklore_Bahia_detail FutureFolklore_Mayu_1

LaTraviata_Alfredo Wallcovering_Belfiore_2

 

 

 

 

Contact South Pacific Fabrics to arrange a showing of this contemporary collection or view the collection online 

 

DESIGNER PROFILE Luke Burrell

Jessica No Comments

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Luke Burrell is a director of Mezzanine, a very talented conceptualiser and designer, he started his creative career at a very early age inventing, building and taking things apart. For over 14 years Luke has been running this successful strategic-creative studio in the heart of Newcastle working on creative strategies for local, national and international small business, large corporation and government.

Luke is a perfectionist with an unconventional mindset. Over the past decade he has inspired and implemented many initiatives within the creative industry, including co-founding Final Post, helping form the Hunter Design School, and recently building Innx: Innovation Exchange. He has an unusual ability to know the way forward without a compass, and he sees potential in everything, which is what makes him so good at what he does. As he would say, “To be an innovator you have to be a dreamer, and to be a dreamer you have to think differently”.

Luke is not only passionate about graphic design but also for architecture and interiors design. He has plans and a dream to one day build a sustainable home that’s both practical and beautiful.  He has an amazing little family with his wife Carla, son Milo (3 years old) and daughter Lotte (1 year old), who are continually dreaming about the perfect eco home….and some sheep.

luke and carla

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