Mondrian Inspired

Bit of a hiatus last week from the blogosphere. But as those of you who know me best are well aware, I like to go MIA from time to time. Just for a little bit. So anyway, back down to business. Busy weeks last couple, and LOTS of new ideas inspired by recent projects. Like today's theme, which is Mondrian. Now, I can't exactly tell you how I got to Piet, as I can't disclose who I was designing for; but when I got there I completely fell in love. Let me disclose, it's been a LONG time since I've looked at Mondrian, or tried to use it in design. But I think that time has come again. I like the big bold geometry going on here. The tension of shifting things just slightly off of symmetry. And then of course, what I'm loving the most is the idea of lineweight. Those black lines at varying thicknesses. The way they are outlining shapes and spaces(nice abstract idea on it's own across all of the design disciplines). In terms of what's out there relative to Mondrian, there isn't exactly as much decor and fashion as you'd think. Particularly on the runway, which I was really shocked by. Turns out you have to go ALL the way back to the 1960's to see Mondrian in Yves Saint Laurent. So I gathered up what I could find, and am generally working on the assumption that we're early to the party on this trend... Hope you enjoy!

Thomas-Michael

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Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Mondrian, Number 2.

So here we go. This is the painting I always think of when I think Mondrian. It's easily my favorite. Relative to the others, I love this one for it's refinement, and extreme size variation in the color fields.

Thomas-Michael DelSordo

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Mondrian Inspired Pattern.

Here's the sketch that I was working with for a recent project that inspired the whole post. You can see that just this variation in lineweight and balancing of spatial field sizes does amazing things in terms of creating spatial/graphic texture as well as 'depth'.

cappellini.it

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Cappellini Cabinet.

Now into some products that we can all use. This and the below are some gorgeous Mondrian inspired cabinets from Cappellini.

cappellini.it

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Cappellini Cabinet.

Another great Mondrian piece from Cappellini. I could see using this in a room that has zero other reference to Mondrian. Where it could just kind of be bold on it's own, and contrast.

polyvore.com

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Ruthie Davis Pumps.

From fashion, you can find these Mondrian inspired Ruthie Davis pumps which are really cute. I love the color variation in these in how she's deviating slightly from the default primary color scheme. I did something slightly different with the color fields, but we'll have to wait a little to see those...

polyvore.com

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Kara Ross Clutch Handbag.

A clutch handbag from Kara Ross. As everything Mondrian, excessively clean, refined, and elegant in design.

ysl.com

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, The Original 1960's Yves Saint Laurent Mondrian Dress.

I was sure I had seen a Mondrian dress before but couldn't come up with it until I found the original. A YSL dress from the 60's. Thinking we're not too far off from seeing this on the runway again...

Thomas-Michael DelSordo

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, An Interior Sketch For A Mondrian Rug.

And lastly as I usually do when I have a new theme in mind, a couple of super quick sketches in 3D in a default interior setting. Thinking I'd like to design a Mondrian rug...

Thomas-Michael DelSordo

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, An Interior Sketch For A Mondrian Rug.

Really loving it, what do you think...? Hope you enjoyed...!

Everything Polka Dots: Part I

The spacing is critical. Just kidding. Well, kind of. Sure you'll be seeing alot of these polka dots around in the short term, so maybe there will have to be an second part to this post soon. In the meanwhile, enjoy and if you're into the all-over theme, be sure to check out the previous stripes post Stripes.

Thomas-Michael




A colored polka dot pattern.

Polka Dots: ...a colored polka dot pattern.

Or a black and white one. Preferable I think.

Polka Dots: ...or a black and white one(preferable I think).

Here's a polka dot building in Bangkok by Architect Kidd.

www.architectkidd.com

Polka Dots: ...here's a polka dot building in Bangkok, by Architect Kidd.

How about a polka dot interior from Vogue Italia.

www.vogue.it . Photography By Tim Walker.

Polka Dots: ...how about a polka dot interior from Vogue Italia.

You could space them closely to make this capiz shell fixture from West Elm. Love the sound they make.

www.westelm.com

Polka Dots: ...you could space them closely to make this capiz shell fixture from West Elm(they sound enchanting when they 'cling').

Or maybe you just want some polka dot plates.

www.lisastickleylondon.com

Polka Dots: ...maybe you just want some polka dot plates.

An environmentally friendly polka dot ceramic coffee cup to go with your plates.

www.paper-source.com

Polka Dots: ...or an environmentally friendly polka dot ceramic coffee cup.

And then of course you would need this polka dot I-Phone cover from Kate Spade.

www.katespade.com

Polka Dots: ...you'd need this polka dot I-Phone cover from Kate Spade of course(with your coffee cup).

To fashion where the inspiration came. Here's the Dolce And Gabbana Fall 2011 Ad Campaign. It's actually polka stars I think.

www.dolcegabbana.com

Polka Dots: ...to fashion where the inspiration came. Here's the Dolce And Gabbana Fall 2011 Ad Campaign(polka stars I think).

And on the runway more polka stars with Dolce. A kind of regal looking polka on the skirt.

www.dolcegabbana.com

Polka Dots: ...and on the runway more polka stars with Dolce(kind of regal polka on the skirt).

Paired naturally with some Sergio Rossi polka dot shoes.

www.sergiorossi.com

Polka Dots: ...paired naturally with some Sergio Rossi polka dot shoes.

And a specialized polka dot collar from La Vie C'est Yeye.

www.laviecestyeye.blogspot.com

Polka Dots: ...and a specialized polka dot collar from La Vie C'est Yeye.

Had to have one period black and white polka dot photograph.

www.weheartit.com

Polka Dots: ...had to have one period black and white polka dot photograph.

Rex Ray: Contemporary Art And Design

Ever since I saw one of the below images, I've kept it on my mind. So today is all about Rex Ray. A San Francisco based artist and designer. The images themselves are extraordinarily powerful. A heightened fusion of art mixed with a decorative attitude. Amazing colors. Exotic patterns. Sometimes even butting up against each other, or overlaid. I really love this confrontational aspect of them. At times they feel modernist, at times totemic. But always contemporary in an unique way. Throw moments of Miro and Matisse influence in there as well. I almost forgot. I think they're amazing. But what I also really love about this artist and designer is that he is in fact both. He's managed to straddle that line between high art and usable design which I think is always a tricky move. His work has been exhibited in major art museums. But he has also done product design work in conjunction with companies like Apple, and album art for David Bowie. And as I'm further showing below an assortment of rugs, placemats, and wall tiles for various manufacturers. It's really quite a diversity of art and design applications.

Thomas-Michael

rexray.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray.

rexray.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray.

rexray.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray.

rexray.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray.

rugsandcarpets.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray. This is an example of one of his rug designs. Really love this.

modern-twist.eu

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray. This one is a placemat design. It could be so many things, couldn't it.

modwalls.com

Contemporary Art And Design, Rex Ray. And finally some subway tiles for the wall. I love information inspired design.

Interior Design: FLOR(Rug/Carpet)

Today is all about FLOR. It's an interior design flooring product I think is really cleaver. In short, they've taken rugs or carpeting and broke them down into repeatable tiles. Thus allowing you to tile your own rug or carpet together. As you like. Not only does this create a seemingly endless array of design possibilities, but it's cost effective. In general the offering is very clean in terms of design and biased towards modern. But not in a cold way. And it's excessively easy to work with. In fact they even have a great little gadget on their website where you can actively design your final product, which I'm showing in the last image. Enjoy!

Thomas-Michael

flor.com

Interior Design, Modular And Modern Carpet Rug Flooring Solutions From FLOR. Checkers here. I should note I think they also merchandise the product really nicely. This is such a clean image.

flor.com

Interior Design, Modular And Modern Carpet Rug Flooring Solutions From FLOR. Love the bright stripes.

flor.com

Interior Design, Modular And Modern Carpet Rug Flooring Solutions From FLOR. For the more laid back of you they also have soft and more neutral options.

flor.com

Interior Design, Modular And Modern Carpet Rug Flooring Solutions From FLOR. Here's a nice natural and textural option.

flor.com

Interior Design, Modular And Modern Carpet Rug Flooring Solutions From FLOR. This one I really love. It's colorful and neutral at once.

flor.com

Interior Design, Modular And Modern Carpet Rug Flooring Solutions From FLOR. Love this one too. Like the randomness a lot.

flor.com

Interior Design, Modular And Modern Carpet Rug Flooring Solutions From FLOR. This is the online design application I was talking about where you can design your rug carpet in real time. It's extremely easy to work with by means of drag and drop. And it automatically calculates the price as you go. Very convenient.

flor.com

Interior Design, Modular And Modern Carpet Rug Flooring Solutions From FLOR. Lastly, a simple layout I designed quickly just mixing options together. There's so much you could do with these. I think they'd look great on the wall as well. There's an idea!

Architecture: Korean Pavilion, 'Complex' Patterns

Lately I've been researching patterns a little. Well, I'll call them patterns. But what I'm really interested in is those things which rest exactly on the line of not exactly being a pattern anymore. That is to say it's clear that there is some kind of organizing principle, a logic which is generating the pattern. But it's on the verge of becoming so complex that we can't immediately decipher what it is. Below is an example that I came across recently which I think is perfect to illustrate the point. And also simply, an amazing building to look at.

While it's clear that there is an organizational idea that creates the facade treatment, you can't immediately decipher how it is working. This is the line or verge which I'm talking about. I suppose the question then becomes, when is a pattern not a pattern anymore? What is the point of complexity within which we don't consider it a pattern? Or regular like a grid?

So this is the Korean Pavilion from the World Exposition in Shanghai, 2010. The facade really rests on this line or verge. And that's why I love looking at it. Generally I think patterns that are crossing this line tend to be exceptionally beautitful.

Thomas-Michael1

e-architect.co.uk

Architecture, Patterns On The Verge And The Korean Pavilion, World Exposition, Shanghai.

korean-inspiration.blogspot.com

Architecture, Patterns On The Verge And The Korean Pavilion, World Exposition, Shanghai.

arqa.com

Architecture, Patterns On The Verge And The Korean Pavilion, World Exposition, Shanghai.

korean-inspiration.blogspot.com

Architecture, Patterns On The Verge And The Korean Pavilion, World Exposition, Shanghai.

Herve Leger: Architectural Summer Into Fall 2011

I'm going to back up for just a minute to Herve Leger. As the image in the post last week seemed to have struck a chord. It's also a nice way to slide into the Fall of 2011. Yes, it's actually coming rather quickly now. So the first two images are from the Spring Summer ad campaign from this year. I love the campaign imagery as well. And the proceeding four images are for the Fall. There's obviously the continuation of a theme at play. Which perhaps in a biased sense I really enjoy. A sense of architectural line and construction. The fall work includes grids, straps which I think of as tensile structures, I suppose you could say armatures being solidified corsets, and lastly platonic shapes. Throughout, the body seems to be treated as an as such condition. The way architects would think of a given site which is then challenged or which challenges a structural solution.

Thomas-Michael

herveleger.com Summer 2011 Campaign Shot By Camilla Akrans And Styled By Laura Ferrara

Fashion, Architectural Lines And Construction In Herve Leger, Summer Into Fall 2011. From the summer, I like the horizontal striation here. But also the literal linear dilineation in parts. The way the neck is outlined for instance. It reminds me of something purely being drawn on the body. Provocative and sexy.

herveleger.com Summer 2011 Campaign Shot By Camilla Akrans And Styled By Laura Ferrara

Fashion, Architectural Lines And Construction In Herve Leger, Summer Into Fall 2011. Also from the summer. This is the image that was posted previously. In itself, I think it's a concept for an architectural structure or facade. A woven one. I love how it seems as a whole made out of an assemblage or weaving together of parts rather than a solid fabric which is then subtracted from, or cut out.

herveleger.com

Fashion, Architectural Lines And Construction In Herve Leger, Summer Into Fall 2011. Into the fall now. You can see how the horizontality and continuation of the straps is coming through. A dominant sense of construction.

herveleger.com

Fashion, Architectural Lines And Construction In Herve Leger, Summer Into Fall 2011. The grid.

herveleger.com

Fashion, Architectural Lines And Construction In Herve Leger, Summer Into Fall 2011. This one is really tensile looking. I love how it seems as though it's pulling itself together from different respective angles on the body.

herveleger.com

Fashion, Architectural Lines And Construction In Herve Leger, Summer Into Fall 2011. Something of a physical armature. The corset is a starting point for a larger structure. And integrated really beautifully with the softer fabric. Then of course, the neck again. I love how it feels as though the whole thing is hanging from that neck strap.

herveleger.com

Fashion, Architectural Lines And Construction In Herve Leger, Summer Into Fall 2011. And lastly the presense of platonic shapes. A really minimal and definitive bounding box type of shape. It's very refined and beautifully proportioned.

Fashion And Architecture: (Woven)

Akin to the post on lace a month or so back Fashion And Architecture, Lace, today is all about woven. It always starts with the fashion. Maybe I should try it the other way around one day.

It's interesting how these two disciplines relate to each other. As in my view, the ultimate goal of architecture to imitate the architecture of the body itself. Thus I always love looking at these similarities between the way the body and the building are being addressed. Or, dressed that is.

Thomas-Michael

herveleger.com

Fashion And Architecture, Woven. Herve Leger Spring Summer 2011.

www.studiobanana.tv

Fashion And Architecture, Woven. Toyo Ito, Barcelona, Sea Wave Facade.

blog.lazerian.co.uk

Fashion And Architecture, Woven. Thomas Heatherwick, London, Guy's Hospital Facade.