Kylie's Back!

As in Kylie IS back! And she brought her skirt too.

At first, I didn't know how to feel about her signing with Roc Nation. But she has this magical way of making things work in the best possible way. Remember when people were initially intimidated by the approach she took with 2008's X? I was too but it all somehow made absolute sense. Then she pulled off Aphrodite, and then she released "Timebomb" (my favorite of the last few years, plus: the video is exactly how  a pop music video should be) and then she slapped everyone in the face with "The Abbey Road Sessions". And you know what? It all felt right!

So "Skirt" feels exactly the same way too: right! Of course, the design-hypochondriac in me is gravely disturbed by the stretched typography in the lyric video, and I wish someone would've averted this crime from occurring...

By the way, have I mentioned that I have a soft spot for Miss Minogue also because we share our birthday?

Bates Motel: Yes Please!

Despite the recent workload, I did manage to (simultaneously) catch-up with some of the TV shows I had put on ice, while I did make new some "new friends".

One of the awesomest shows this season was "Bates Motel"  (and yes; it got renewed for a second season!). It's basically a prequel to "Psycho" in a contemporary setting, which was a bullseye move on behalf of the production. But the fact that hit it out of the park was the casting of Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates.

I'm not going to go into any further analysis of the show, but I can and will say that it's a very, very deftly and eloquently woven series, both visually and in terms of writing. Moreover, along the way I had discovered that Alex Moulton, who I have mentioned numerous times on Memrants, (and from whom I am eagerly awaiting a new release), was responsible for the music creative direction and sound design of the equally brilliant series promos. (below) 

Overview Post One

Well, I do realize that posts have become quite scarce lately. Do bear with me as I, myself, am trying to figure certain things out these days. 

So, in order to catch up a bit with what's been happening, and before I proceed with rolling out more posts I'll do something I don't usually do and if this seems to work, I might actually introduce this to the blog.

These two weeks were packed with editorial design and illustrations for the upcoming issue of Legacy. Though I really want to, I can't post anything just yet, but I can state that I am really excited and proud about all the editorial and visual material that went into it, respectively. 

In search of inspiration, I (oddly enough) turned to reality TV. I delved into the last season of Project Runway, and though in every episode I found more than enough stuff to cringe at (well, "reality" TV kinda does that to you, but then again, I am über susceptible to "cheesy"), I was pleasantly surprised to find bits and pieces that triggered some sparks of inspiration. If we're going to talk about the winner of this season; Michelle Lesniak Franklin, I can say that she, only, was enough compensation for all the cringing. Now, I'd love to see Michelle's brand (Au Clothing) rebranded and "curated" to the absolute sharpness level that defines her work.

Of course my infatuation with TV shows doesn't end with Project Runway, but that's a whole other post to come soon.  

Then, I started drafting my next project. The one that I aim to create under Public Bureau (when it relaunches in the fall) . This time I took (preliminary) matters into my own hands a bit more, and though the research and development period is not over, I feel that the result will be very close to my initial vision.

And of course, our duties with Oly & Myri at the "Avant Garde" front (no puns intended) continued with the preparations for the AG's third birthday military-style, street party, which was a blast by the way. 

Now it's back to planning, drafting, and keeping inspired. Fingers crossed.

Draw Collective

If anyone is in Nicosia today, pop by Draw Collective for its opening. Lots of talented people will be showcased at the shop. Draw is a shared creative studio offering services spanning from graphic design to product and interior design, consisting of Omiros Panayides (MROMPA) and ODD.

I love that at these times (when most people rush to spiral down a negativity path before even considering their options) creativity flourishes in the best possible way! All the best to the Draw squad. 

...and Way to Go Avant Garde

In other, very related, news; mychart's (Myria, Christina, and I) work got awarded by the Creative Club Cyprus with the Silver Pygmalion Award in Editorial Design and we, too, are moving forward to represent Cyprus at the ADCE 2013 European Awards. 

We are so very happy to be an active part of the Avant Garde team and I am more than thankful to be a part of mychart with two people I dearly love and admire! 

Way To Go... Mr. President

In the last few days good news started coming our way and though I am itching to share it all now. This one will do for now though, since it was the first piece of good news that found me.

The brilliant illustration Mr Philippos Vassiliades made for the last issue of LEGACY was selected (along with some other samples of his amazing work) to represent Cyprus at the European Design Awards to be held in Spain this year. 

Kudos and best wishes to Philippos, with whom -I'm repeating myself- I feel very honored to be working with. 

In With the Old Too...

Sometimes "Out with the old, In with the new" is the best thing to go by. At times I, too, opt to go by what it suggests. However, I generally think that old, new, bad, good always have something to give, something to add to the math of whatever each and everyone of us might be striving for; and whether we like it or not, it all shapes us into *who* we eventually end up becoming. 

No, I didn't have some sort of epiphany, but the combination of thoughts, ideas, places, images, things I've heard, things and details I've been told of and the inevitable and  incessant need of my brain to over-process things have reminded me of the infinite possibilities one can find out there and in their own little head-space. Of course, all this might just be in my head. So, that is where I choose to be for the next few days. 

Memo Randoms

Okay, the name of this project sounds a lot like my home. This thing here; my Memrants. So I was a bit startled at first. 

Anyway, this is a very clever project by Jason Franzen who puts together these great typographical notes describing certain truths about/in the working space and/or office world. 

Some of them are so so true, while others seem to be a tad anal(ly retentive) to me. But hey, I was never able to conform with the rules and work in a regular (or conventional, if you like) office space, so the ones pertaining to a more strict corporate etiquette -although true- still scare me. But, yes. Please. Do make meetings the option of last resort if the only thing you want is to share something or brief someone.

Click on images to view larger. More here.

Legacy Continues

With all the socio-politico-economical turbulence here on the island, I forgot that I never posted about the third issue of Legacy. Maybe it's because it came out right when things went south and people were just too busy watching the news (and retransmitting it on social media with their own -at times gravely invalid- two cents).

Again, it was a great pleasure and honor to work with perhaps the most efficient team of editors, amazing contributing designers/illustrators; Christina and Philippos, and Antonis who never ceases to stun me with his portraiture photography.

For the cover, Maria Louvari, who wrote the eye-opening cover story, had the idea of playing with Fernando Botero's depiction of "The Kidnapping of Europe". And that's what I ended up doing, with a "eurocratic" twist that is...

Click on the cover image above to go to the full project on the IPWT website and there you will be directed to read the full issue if you wish.

Mrs. Carter Here, Mrs. Carter There (& Sia Too)

Okay, this Mrs. Carter thing has reeled a bit out of control. I mean, she's everywhere! But hey, a girl's gotta work! 

If I said that I didn't like the H&M campaign, I'd be lying. If I said that I didn't like the accompanying video (below), I'd be lying again. Actually, I kinda love them. But what I totally fell for is the soundtrack, written by the lately omnipresent Sia.

I guess everything just beckons for the Summer these days.