Looking Delicious

Since the first time I saw an episode of Ace of Cakes on the Food Network, I'd been amazed with the creativity that fondant made p0ssible. Before the use of fondant in cake design, there was the constraint of what would be able to hold up in what size and for how long. This new sturdier material allowed for a new way of thinking, to create a new kind of cake.

The people who work at Charm City Cakes, who are the stars of the television show, are masters of creating art using edible food materials. Their cakes have such intricate detail and realness that I almost don't want to cut it up to eat because it would be like destroying someone's art. I feel like the greatest appeal to these cakes, such as the ones listed under "shaped" on Charm City Cakes gallery on their website, is that if a person wasn't informed that it was a cake, they probably wouldn't make that their first guess. My favorite example, is the crayon box cake because everything from the images on the signature green and yellow box to the shape of the crayons is so accurate in the replication.

Crayon box birthday cake. Photo courtesy of Charm City Cakes.

This idea of creating something that changes the look of the material people expect is really interesting. It's like the food shaped erasers I find in Japanese $1 stores. They look so much like shrunken foods, but at the touch we know it is a bouncy eraser.

Food shaped erasers. Photo courtesy of Vat 19.

We can also see this is in food being transformed into fashion pieces. Sweets, such as sugar and chocolate, were used by Japanese patissier Koutatsu Kanda during the Tokyo Sweets Collection in Tokyo. Models wore extravagant masks, hair pieces, and hats made from sweets. Looking at some of the photos, I wouldn't be able to tell that the material being used to make these pieces were edible. To me, they looked like dramatic costume pieces with no hint that they were food, except for the one cake shaped hat.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo News.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo News.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo News.

I find this to be an interesting new way of designing. It is a new way of thinking, and adds extra interest to the final piece when the audience finds out what it really is that they are looking at. The piece becomes more dynamic as it can be viewed as what it appears to be, and also as the material which is what it really is in essence.

Deep Sea Inspiration

Yesterday, I was on Yahoo News showing my boyfriend a photo of a pink translucent jellyfish that I thought was beautiful when he decided to show me an unusual sea creature called a Nudibranch. They can be most basically described as toxic sea slugs, which doesn't sound very attractive, but many of these creatures boast vibrant color combinations that do make them quite beautiful to look at.

A photo gallery of the Nudibranches on National Geographic's website is very appropriately titled, Living Color.

The Chromodoris annae. Photo taken by David Doubilet for National Geographic.

One of the first thoughts that came to mind when I first saw photos of this nudibranch was that I could immediately imagine a dress done in that pattern, or an entire room with that color palette. I want to emphasize that it's not simply just the color that is inspiring but the texture and pattern as well. The spot pattern of black in tiny dots all over with two large splotches in other areas, accented with a bright yellow is very interesting to the eye. It is almost like a new take on a leopard skin pattern.

The Phyllodesmium iriomotense, a translucent nudibranch. Photo taken by Jennifer Hayes for National Geographic.

This nudibranch, one of the few which are colorless, is still amazing to me for it's star-burst shape. It's a shape that looks very natural, and much more dynamic than something you could find on a rubber stamp. The contrast of it's smooth outer with the spindly insides is also lovely, especially with the blue glow. It reminds me of how people enjoy decorating with branches inside glass vases. They also remind me of how it looks when people use ribbons or lace in flower bouquets.

A smooth man-made glass vase contrasts against the natural curves of the branches, in a look similar to the nudibranch especially because of the translucent quality of the glass. Photo courtesy of Randy McManus Design.

The ribbon used in this bouquet creates a look that I relate to the blue glow of the nudibranch. Photo courtesy of It's All About Weddings.

I was really glad that my boyfriend showed me these sea creatures, as I probably would never have come across them on my own. It goes to show that opening our minds to more than what is involved in our everyday lives and personal interests can bring us great sources of inspiration. I feel that most students tend to explore within their own field of study, including myself, but having friends who study in many different majors telling me about the things they learned and found interesting has kept me open. I believe that the more places a person can find inspiration, the more unique their work will be from others because of the interesting blend of what they have been exposed to.

Make Me Over

I love it when I get to sit down and watch an episode of TLC's show Trading Spaces. For those of you who aren't familiar with the show, it is mostly about renovation. The host, Paige Davis, takes two sets of people who switch homes for 48 hours and a budget of $1000 to improve their home. They're usually friends, family, or some other type of acquaintance who swap places, so the upgrades can be done knowing what the owner's likes and dislikes are. My favorite part is watching the team of designers work with the materials at hand, mindfully using their $1000 budget. The results are almost always amazing, and their creativity does a fine job stretching the dollar to its best.

Watching the different techniques the team uses to transform ordinary furniture into interesting pieces to showcase in a room is what I enjoy most. I feel like it is a more challenging task to change the aesthetic appeal of an already finished product than it is to go buy material to make exactly what it is you want to have. After seeing many different episodes and picking up tips on different techniques, my mind likes to imagine improvements of pieces as well as ways to make something more useful.

Awhile back, I came across an armchair somebody no longer wanted. The seat had very feminine curves to the shape, like the one from Pixar's film Up. The curves continued down to the chair's wooden base, which was really what had caught my eye in the first place. It had a shell motif carved out in the center, and Rococo style legs in the front. The previous owner did not want the chair because the wooden base was loose and unattached to the actual seat, and the fabric was getting old. I decided to take the wooden base to start a DIY-project of transforming it into either a low side table or an ottoman type of seat.

The seat base after being painted and sanded down. Photo taken by me.

The shell motif in the center. Photo taken by me.

The Rococo style legs. Photo taken by me.

As of now, I have only had the time to sand down some areas and paint it over with a white paint. My plans for the next step are to purchase a sheet of plywood to cut down to the correct size, and make a final decision on whether I would like an ottoman or side table. I'm leaning towards making an ottoman, since the base isn't completely parallel with the floor, so if I were to set a drink on it, the possibility of spilling is a bit higher, whereas the tilt doesnt matter quite as much for a seat. To make the cushion I plan to buy some fabric and use the filling from my old pillows, staple punch it neatly to the plywood and attach it to the base. I am also considering adding some accents to the base using some gold acrylic paint and a stippling technique I picked up from Trading Spaces, but I will decide on that later as well.

When I shared my ideas with my friends they thought it was incredibly creative, but I feel that my idea is not very unique at all. Many have been doing these projects for a long time now, and mines was the result of inspiration from these people and their work. I feel that this highlights the wide possibilities of these techniques, and this way of thinking. Much can be done with the materials that others label as "junk" and it is time we look that way for resources. I believe it is a new way of designing that requires more thought, because of the constraints of the original piece provides, but it is a challenge that is resulting in new looks. I especially appreciate the work of those who use old furniture that captures older styles, maintaining that essence of the old in their renovation and giving it a more modern aesthetic.

Color Me

Understanding color theory is vital to achieving a desired emotion from an audience. The color wheel allows for many combinations, and through an understanding of the relationship between the colors, a color palette can be chosen carefully to evoke a certain feeling. I notice this particularly in interior designs, because the colors in a room greatly affect how comfortable I feel immediately as I enter.

Photo courtesy of Action Interior.

First, knowing which colors belong in the warm and cool families makes a big difference. For example, this interior shown above makes use of orange, yellow orange, as well as different tints and shades of brown, which is essentially a shade of orange. The interior makes use of warm colors to create a sense of relaxation and comfort. I can imagine the little cups on the side table to be filled with hot coffee, and for there to be a fireplace on the other side of the room. The choice of colors definitely reflect the leaves of autumn.

Photo courtesy of Top Design Blog.

In this example, the interior consists of many tints and shades of blue, a cool color. From looking at this photo, I feel a sense of tranquility. It reminds me of water, bringing my mind to think of the ocean and going to the beach. This isn't to say that colors always signify a specific season, but that like the seasons, they do have a distinctively different feel.

Color theory also includes understanding color "harmonies", colors that go well together. Designing with these in mind will create visual appeal, instead of looking unmatched. The photo below is of Pure Yogurt Shop, which utilizes the color harmony of split complementaries. On the color wheel, a split complementary is one color, and the two neighboring colors of it's complement, which is the one directly across the wheel. It creates a dynamic look, without having as strong of a visual impact as complementary colors would.

Photo courtesy of East Lake Directory.

The colors used in the dining room below, are complementary. Using these colors creates a bold look, with high contrast similar to using black and white. The mood of this room is certainly different from the other examples before, as it has a much more vibrant feel as the colors enhance the intensity of each other. A calmer mood resonates from the first two examples, as the color scheme is almost monochromatic and the eyes are not as excited.

Photo courtesy of Home Design Photo.

Color theory is not only important for visual appeal, to create harmonious color schemes, but it is also useful as a cue for an audience. In associating colors with emotion, we can also see them as active characters, reacting off one another, and the result of that interaction becomes what the audience sees. It can serve as a cue as to what type of environment it is, and from there what behavior can be expected, as well as what may be appropriate dress. For society, color theory can accomplishes a lot, and a better understanding of the relationship between colors around the wheel can lead to designs that more accurately portray the desired mood.

Have a Seat

I was scrolling through Apartment Therapy's blogs, admiring the lovely photos when my eyes caught the words "Papasan Chair." I've always adored the idea of a giant pillowy chair, and I can't help but plop down in one for a few seconds every time I visit Cost Plus World Market, but I don't actually have one of my own. The only thing I'm not fond of with the papasan chair is the bamboo structure. It is just very unappealing to me as a complement to the soft cushion, because it makes me feel like the chair belongs outdoors in a patio and not in my room for lounging.

On the blog, someone had posted a request from readers for ideas of alternatives to a papasan chair. One of the comments suggested looking at Ligne Roset's "Pumpkin" chair, and through curiosity I decided to look it up.

Photo courtesy of Ligne Roset.

The "Pumpkin" chair reminded me of thumbprint cookies, because it was essentially a large cushion with a rounded dent in the center. Unlike the papasan chair, it was entirely covered in fabric, making it more obvious as indoor furniture, and it also gave it a more luxurious look.

Photo courtesy of Ligne Roset.

Ligne Roset's entire collection of products, which range from furniture for the dining room, living room, office and bedroom, are a harmonious display of sleek meets comfort. The strong lines in this collection paired with simplicity give them a modern feel, and rather than looking stiff and uninviting, they appear comfortable and warm because of the choices in materials and shape.

Photo courtesy of Ligne Roset.

For example, the armchair "Torn" has a structure that looks like it could be folded from paper. These "folds" create lines which are a prominent part of its design. The arms on the chair are two pieces folded forward and these creases are the most noticeable, and also the most unique and attractive part of the design. It highlights the contrast of the soft cushion and the hard base. Looking at the chair as a whole, there are certainly elements that make it look inviting rather than intimidating. With a slight tilt backward and its forward-facing arms, it looks as if it's ready for a hug.

Photo courtesy of Ligne Roset.

Having a similar effect as the arm in the "Torn" armchair is the "Moel" chair. The middle of the back of the chair is noticeably higher, then slopes down on both sides, wrapping around as arms which curve outward. It has a distinctive silhouette like a flower in bloom, and the open arms signify invitation. Similar to "Torn", it also has strong lines as part of the design, but paired with elements that create a warmer feeling.

Both chairs, are examples from the collection I enjoyed most for how well they demonstrate the harmony of rigid structure with comfort. They demonstrate how two seemingly opposite characteristics can be combined beautifully, inspiring combinations that may seem unlikely to work.

Photo courtesy of Ligne Roset.

The search for a papasan alternative, and Ligne Roset's creation of the "Pumpkin chair", is a great example of observing what has already been done, and improving or updating it to fit the needs and desires of modern society. It inspires looking at designs from history or globally to think about its appeal and bringing that idea into a modern design.

Meaningful Objects

Today I watched a documentary film entitled "Objectified", by Gary Hustwit, which featured the voices of various people around the world working with design. It focused on the "complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them," according to the film's website.



It was certainly interesting to be given the opportunity to watch designers at work, to hear the ideas that led up to a concept and to understand an object's purposeful configuration. Seeing all the thought that goes into the conceptual stage really boosts the meaning of an object. It was this aspect of the film that truly caught me, the weight of meaning an object can hold for a person.

One of the featured speakers in the film, made a point that if a natural disaster emergency were to occur, most people would take with them the objects with sentimental value not monetary value. It struck me as interesting human behavior that so much of what people keep is not dear to their hearts, and this led me to think about why certain objects hold their sentimental value while others have value that is forgotten.

I started to think about what items I would take with me if my apartment were to go up in flames, and the first thing that came to mind were my photos and my jewelry. Although jewelry involves much more design than photos do, they both have significant value because of the stories they hold. My photos are obviously important to me because they are moments in my life captured on paper that I can look back on to relive. They show the faces of people I love, so when I look at the photo I am reminded of them. My jewelry is important to me for the stories behind how the piece found its way to me, and also as a memento of a time that I wore it. The experiences are then a part of the jewelry, and it is more than just an accessory to my appearance because they say something about me.

Photo taken by me.

I feel like the same can be said about a child's old teddy bear. The teddy bear is not seen as the fuzzy fabric covered polyester stuffing that it physically is. To that child, it is like a friend with whom adventures were shared with. It comes to represent all the fun of playing.

Photo courtesy of Picture Book.

It is interesting to think about why people adhere strong feelings to certain objects and meaning disappears for other objects. In my opinion, objects designed for gifting or for passing down to further generations are the ones that hold the most meaning. For example, family heirlooms which are passed down have many stories attached. A necklace passed down will carry the story behind how it got to the first owner, stories about where that piece has been worn, stories about what it meant to wear it, and possibly even more.

Photo courtesy of Heirlooms by Ballou.

A piece that can carry meaning for a lot of people is a successful design, in my opinion. It can withstand time, and span across cultures in its importance, and the worth is heightened because it goes beyond the intrinsic value of the material it is made from. I think it could benefit society to look at the idea of meaningful objects, to create things that are versatile and appreciated by more than just one type of individual.

Quilting

Today I went to visit the Nelson Art Gallery, this time to look at their collection of African-American quilts. Whether made from a variety of fabric scraps in different colors or from a chosen palette, all the quilts had a clear pattern throughout the piece. I took photos of two quilts I wanted to share, both featured as the work of African-American slaves, and both incredibly beautiful.


This quilt caught my attention first because it was the only quilt that had a modern feel to me because of the four quandrants. With the other quilts, I didn't feel like there was a clear division of space as everything seemed to flow seamlessly, but with this quilt I certainly could distinguish it.

Even so, the pinwheel-shaped forms repeated in the four sections move the eye through the piece smoothly. There is a sense of movement in their shapes, and the pattern of color in the petals create a rhythm that brings the viewer round and round the quilt in a circular path.


Of all the quilts shown in the gallery, I found myself standing in front of this one the longest. I really enjoyed the array of colors as well as the non-uniform size and shapes of the fabric pieces that make up the background. Alone, the background may seem almost chaotic, but the piece is unified by the repetition of a starburst type of shape done in black. This pattern of a black star shape on top of a colorful background is so playful, as no two stars are the same, yet the similarity of the form is recognized by the eye, creating a smooth flow through the piece.


Aside from being beautiful textiles, and a wonderful example of recycling fabrics, these quilts demonstrate how pattern created through repetition can really unify a piece. Quilts are traditionally made from scraps of fabric, showing how a pile of miscellaneous things can join together into a piece that makes sense as a whole when designed consciously, such as by incorporating a repeated pattern.

It is a technique that can be applied far beyond just fabric scraps. For example, a large collection of old books can be just that, but when arranged strategically by the colors of the binding into a pattern, it can be made into an appealing display on a bookshelf.

With a bit of creativity, you can change the way you see your collections.