pornographic pink

The Chinese Government have made it mandatory for all computer manufacturers in china to now install "Green Dam" software, which filters for violence and pornography. One of the methods by which it filters images is colour, particular tones and patterns of pinks and flesh tones. Strangely, both Garfield and Hello Kitty have also been caught in this filter. Does this mean that some colours may be proscribed? purely for being 'immoral' or 'dangerous'? i reckon i might need to keep certain sections of my pantone book in a dark corner.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/chinas-internet-porn-filter--no-garfield-please-1725411.html

solve sundsbo's birds

jess found these beautiful pictures by solve sundsbo.

the ivy league dandy

menswear is taking over from womenswear as the colourful, the playful, and the period-referencing.

while basic fabrics such as chambray and khaki are reviving, mens brands such as Band of Outsiders are recreating the Ivy League preppy look and men's traditional dressing drawn from American vintage inspirations.

the boldness of the colours (apricot trousers anyone?) is inspired by the last time men were this confident - the 1950's.

Source: A Continuous Lean

l'esprit d'hermes

Tim Walker shoots the Hermes SS2009 catalogue, and I have a dream of Aaafrica. Pretty amazing.
Wonder if it's a bit pre-post-colonialism?

rough blues

fondant kitties

I have been resisting posting cat pictures of any sort, no matter how artfully directed, as it's a slippery slope to me just constantly posting pictures of my cats. But. I've been looking for some pictures of Tim Walker's scrapbooks to illustrate summer blues, and I found this picture again which is, embarrassingly, my dream piece of artwork to own, along with David Hockney's painting of Mr and Mrs Clarke and Percy. (Ha, I think I have a secret idea that if i post what I want, I will magically receive!).

Anyway, cat pictures ahoy. My excuse is the colour. SS2010 anyone?

http://www.thomastreuhaft.com/Tim_Walker/tw.html

nice

just nice colour on these shades from Oxfam,
especially the coral tips

google roofs

Seduced by google earth, (and prompted by "Kath & Kim")
i got to looking at different places, with different climates, to see if there is much variation in suburban housing from the air.
surprisingly, not a lot.
though i did notice in Anchorage that there is some white roofing,
which lead me to
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/000587.html

showing that white/reflective roofing has an environmental benefit.
so perhaps, there will be even less colour in the next century.

stapler of the week

clearly the interest in heavy-duty stationery is catching. these staplers don't exactly match the varieties of tape below, but the reduced colour palette and finish, based on necessity as much as choice, are a shared protestant aesthetic. practical, use what's to hand, beauty out of circumstances. very timely.






Source: Stapler of the Week

needs must

A bit of a fetish for tapes,
they necessarily have a sense of utility, but a wide range of textures, transparency and tone.
Just combining them in different ways, building palettes and the makings of a grammar for product and interior concepts.