designers and their favourite things

A COLLECTION OF OBJECTS THAT INFLUENCE & INSPIRE DESIGNERS

DESIGNERSFAVOURITE THINGS

andtheir

DESIGNERS AND THEIR FAVOURITE THINGS

All content copyright © 2012 Dac TranExcept Allessandro Gottardo's planter photos, copyright © 2011 Nicola Boccaccini.

Photography by Kelli Anderson (8–9), Jordan Natyshen (14–15), Sacha Prood (22–23), Gavin Potenza (28–29), Kyle Metcalf (42–43), Britny Samuelson (46–47), with portrait photography by Stefanie Villeneuve (13, 16, 18, 25, 30, 36, 41, 44), and still life photography by Dac Tran.

This book is typeset in Mr Eaves and Mrs Eaves by Zuzana Licko.

All Rights Reserved. No Part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means—electronic, mechancial, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

DESIGNERS AND THEIR FAVOURITE THINGS

Dac Tran

A Collection of Objects That Influence &

Inspire Designers

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Introduction

This book aims to document the favourite objects of designers and illustrators, showing the wide variety of forms in which these exists, from books to clothes to knick knacks to the tools of their craft. As individuals within the field of visual communications, our favorite objects can reveal a great deal regarding our aesthetics, interests, and personalities. These objects can also provide us with a source of inspiration. But perhaps on a more profound level, the objects that we possess can be understood to represent our own identities and sense of self, a projection to others how we wish to be understood. At a larger macro-level, these objects can be regarded as cultural artifacts, representing components within our Western culture at a particular moment in history, from the popularity of a particular pop cultural phenomenon to accepted ideologies.

The process of writing this book has been both challenging and rewarding, leaving me a greater appreciation for the tremendous amount of effort, energy and creativity that goes into the research, writing, design, and production of a book. For me, the most enjoyable aspect of this project was getting to know all of my friends, colleagues, and designers I admire who took the time to participate in my project. Without their contributions, this book would not exist.

8 DESIGNERS & THEIR FAVOURITE THINGS

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“Every object tells a story.”

-Henry Ford

“Every object tells a story.”

-Henry Ford

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“The visible mechanics of movement (embodied in the spinning cogs and rotating plates of

my Pearl New-Style letterpress). It has been a workhorse

since 1919, and it is spending its dotage with me churning

out lots of little printed business cards and such. It weighs

in at a clunking 500 pounds, but hits with these delicate

little details with knife-edge precision. I sit and watch the

gears turn and am awestruck by the escalating complexity

in which human beings have harnessed physics.”

HITS WITH THESE DELICATE

LITTLE DETAILS WITH

KNIFE-EDGE PRECISION

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kelli anderson

PEARL NEW- STYLE LETTER-PRESS

“The visible mechanics of movement (embodied in the spinning cogs and rotating plates of

my Pearl New-Style letterpress). It has been a workhorse

since 1919, and it is spending its dotage with me churning

out lots of little printed business cards and such. It weighs

in at a clunking 500 pounds, but hits with these delicate

little details with knife-edge precision. I sit and watch the

gears turn and am awestruck by the escalating complexity

in which human beings have harnessed physics.”

Kelli Anderson is a designer based in Brooklyn, New York, with

a penchant for the printed letterform. Along with client work,

she teaches at the Pratt Institute every summer. You can view her

works at kellianderson.com


Mariana AngeliBallet Flats

“Back in Venezuela, a couple of years after graduating from high

school, I felt quite frustrated with college and with the situation in my

country. I felt that even though I was going to college and studying

what I wanted to study, my life was had come to a complete stop and I

was waiting for something to happen.

One day walking downtown I saw these shoes in a store window, but they

were a bit expensive, so I wasn’t sure if I should buy them then. As I

was standing there looking at the seller, who happened to be a girl no

older than ten, she came to talk to me and one of the things she said

was �beautiful shoes will take you to beautiful places.’ I would like to

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Mariana Angeli is a graphic design student with a remarkable

sense of colour and type. She regularly posts her latest finds and

inspirations on her tumblelog, Bululu In My Head. Her online

web portfolio is marianadesigns.com.

think it was something she truly believed in, but she probably was just

trying to sell me the shoes. Regardless of that it was the perfect thing

to say at the perfect time, so I bought them.

These were the shoes I wore when I finally came to Canada after waiting

four years or so for residency status, and when I finally went to New

York this summer —I had been wanting to go there since I was eleven —

and for sure these will be the shoes I’ll wear when I move to the next

place that my life will takes me to, even if the place is not as beautiful

as my shoes.”


Jordan NatyshenMondo Posters

Inspiration is an easy commodity to find on the web today. What’s harder to find is inspiration you can feel, touch, and even smell. That’s what I get out of these Mondo posters. Each are created by fantastic illustrators and artists, beautifully screen printed, and awesome to look at. They are all based on popular culture, with a retro twist. What makes them even more special to me is the rarity; they are printed only once and never sold again.”

The pine-cones remind me of my family and temporary homes around the world

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MAHMOUD BACHIRPine Cones

“When I was growing up my family moved frequently, between cities, between countries, between cultures. It took me a long time to learn how to identify where I belong, and to understand how a relationship was made. The pinecones remind me of my family and temporary homes around the world, each infused with it’s own story, each a little different. They are concrete symbols for intangible experiences I shared with my friends and family; anchors in a reality I have adapted to be my own. Like a tattoo, they remind me of where I came from and where I’m going.”

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Mahmoud Bachir is a fourth year graphic design student, with interests in almost every

aspect of design, from illustration to print design to typography. He recently won a 2011 Applied Arts Students Award for an editorial design project.

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The turtle camper was the first major designer toy I bought, and to me it was one of the objects that really brought me back into possibly doing something creative with my time. I was basically fresh out of high school, and in terms of exploring things artistically, the majority of my time was dead in the water after I graduated. It was the first time I had ever any idea that creative individuals were doing something that I really wanted to be a part of in some way. Prior to that, I thought that if I wanted to draw and illustrate for a living I’d have to do fine art and gallery work, which just didn’t resonate with me at all.

For me getting into the designer toy world was through this object, and ultimately towards illustrators who were exploring this new medium, so in a lot of ways it was pivotal to where I am at right now as an illustration student.”

Christer Guillergan Turtle Camper


“There are always those things that have an incredible influence on our work and perceptions.”


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-Steven Heller, I Heart Design


-Steven Heller, I Heart Design


“My favorite objects are my plants because they are both beautiful and inspirational. They make my home a more comfortable place to live while also being a key element in much of my work. My typography and illustrations have clear influences from the world of the organic, natural and scientific, particularly flora.”

Sasha ProodHer Plants

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Sasha Prood is a designer with a flourish for organic and nature-inspired typography. Her designs and illustrations have been featured in numerous books on typography, as well as appearing in magazines such as Food & Wine, Wired UK, and Maxim.

DESIGNERS & THEIR FAVOURITE THINGS26

I think it must have been the bright colors, and the geometric shapes put together into a character that caught my eye when I was a kid. Or maybe it’s that when they move, and some of them spark and make sounds as well. I haven’t lost my fascination with these metal toys and I take them to every workspace I have as inspiration.”

“EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER I’VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH TIN ROBOTS.

Bailey Copithorne Tin Robots

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Bailey Copithorne is an illustration

student with a passion for both

her studies in illustration as well as

graphic design. Over the summer

of 2011 she won a competitive

design internship and scholarship

from Shaw Communications.

“EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER I’VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH TIN ROBOTS.


Gavin Potenza Hand -Made Bench


I really like the idea of a bench because it’s so simple and basic in form and purpose, but yet such a versatile utilitarian object. It just works, without trying to do too much. So over the summer, my friend Jon Han and I found some reclaimed wood, and built ourselves a couple of these small benches. It’s also great to have something that you spent time building yourself, as both the object and the experience building it are equally as valuable.”

31 31 31

Gavin Potenza is an illustrator and designer based in Brooklyn,

NYC. His works have appeared in many publications, including

the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Wired.

In the past, he was a winner of the Art Directors Club Young Guns 8, and was recognized by HOW Magazine as a “Young &

Hungry Creative” emerging talent.


The soul and passion the Tarahumara tribe have to running is something I apply to my designs.

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Arman Aituar Born to Run Book

“What inspires me a lot about his book is how the Tarahumara tribe of Mexico approach the sport of running. No fancy sneakers, just barefeet or sandals. I’m a big fan of running and try to go for a run everyday. I see running as freedom and endless possibilities. My other takeaway from this book is the soul and passion the Tarahumara have to running, something I try to apply to my design work.”

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A L L E S S A N D R O G O T TA R D O

PA R K P L A N T E R

“I lived in San Francisco between 2008–2010, and had a great time there. My girl-friend and I lived in the Hayes Valley neighbourhood, a charming area, and just a few steps from our house was a great design store, Propeller. They have a great collection of smart/fun objects by young designers who are part of a collective like Areaware or Future Perfect.

That is where I found the planter I fell in love with. I decided to buy it (online) back in Italy to remind me of the amazing time in SF.

I’m also a fan of artists who have a subtle connection with Science & Sons, like Slinkachu, Amy Bennett, and Water Martin & Paloma Munoz. I feel my work has something in common with these artists/designers: wide spaces, sense of loneliness, irony, routine, alienation.

That’s why I love having the planter on my desk.�

Alessandro Gottardo (aka SHOUT) is an illustrator based in

Milan. His illustrations have appeared in numerous publications

(the New York Times, Fortune, The Economist), commercial

advertisements, and illustration annuals.


Michael Glaser h o u r g l a s s

“This hourglass was given to me by my dad. It was originally intended to clock fifteen minute workout sessions, but over time it has evolved to mean more as I grew as a designer. First, my appreciation of its form and simplistic beauty has come more into view. Second, I always work in black and white so the visual feel sits well with me. Lastly, its a great way to get things done that I don’t want to drag on—one or two fifteen minute sessions can accomplish quite a bit. Having it sit on my desk in my bedroom in a spot where I can always see it, most importantly, reminds me that time is fleeting, so enjoy life.”

Michael Glaser is an advertising/graphic design student. He’s

passionate about the outdoors and lives to the spend the weekend

hiking, mountain climbing, or snowboarding. This summer he

interned as a designer at Sajak&Farki.


“The objects we see as special point to differences in time, revealing aspects of oursleves that are important at that moment.”

-Mihaly Cslkszentmilahyl, “Why We Need Things”

“The objects we see as special point to differences in time, revealing aspects of ourselves that are important at that moment.”

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“The objects we see as special point to differences in time, revealing aspects of oursleves that are important at that moment.”

“The objects we see as special point to differences in time, revealing aspects of ourselves that are important at that moment.”


Danielle Bazinet C U P & S A U C E R

“i Don’t work well unDer stress. I feel most creative when I’m relaxed and just letting ideas happen, and work through me. When I start to feel too agitated and the work becomes too difficult, I like to sit down and relax with a cup of tea. And I like to do it in style with my antique tea cup and saucer.” ¶ Danielle Bazinet is an illustration student interested in narrative, told through drawings, or through words and pictures.

44 DESIGNERS & THEIR FAVOURITE THINGSDESIGNERS & THEIR FAVOURITE THINGS44

I BOUGHT THESE JEANS at the start of my first year of the design program at the Alberta College of Art + Design. I wore them regularly over the three years of the program.

When I first bought them they were a deep dark indigo. Over the years they creased, faded and ripped as a result of my daily routine. These jeans have seen it all, a lot of late nights and early mornings, a lot of coffee runs and trips to the printers, but most importantly a lot of great times.

As the jeans evolved, I also evolved as an Artist and a person. I can’t even begin to tell how much I’ve learned, how much my influences have changed, and how much I have progressed over those three years. These jeans serve as a physical reminder of that.”

Kyle MetcalfJeans

Kyle Metcalf is a recently graduated

illustrator and a winner of the 2011 Applied Arts Student Awards. His

latest project is a series of illustrated

utility boxes for the City of Calgary.

“

THESE JEANSHAVE SEEN

IT ALLlate nights

countlesscoffee runsprinters & most of allLOTS OF

GOOD TIMES

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Leo PerezH E A D S C R AT C H E R

“i useD to ask my older brother to draw on my head with a pencil. Weird I know, but try it, it’s very relaxing. My brother went travelling for a while, and I realized I wasn’t being as productive with work as I once was. It was the lack of drawings on my head! I called to tell him I didn’t miss him much, only the drawing on my head. He hung up. When he got back, he brought me a Head Scratcher. I haven’t been so productive in my entire life. Now, I keep it on my desk and every time I take a break I use it. It feels like an optical effect on my head! I love it!”

Leo Perez is a fourth year advertising student.

Over the summer she worked as an intern at

the Royal Tyrrell Museum producing designs

for exhibitions and marketing initiatives.

It feels like an optical effect on my head!

Leo Perez is a fourth year advertising student.

Over the summer she worked as an intern at

the Royal Tyrrell Museum producing designs

for exhibitions and marketing initiatives.

It feels like an optical effect on my head!

DESIGNERS & THEIR FAVOURITE THINGS48 DESIGNERS & THEIR FAVOURITE THINGS

Britny SamuelsonTOMS Shoes

I first heard of TOMS shoes about a year ago and immediately fell in love with the TOMS motto: One for One. What this means is that for every pair of shoes you buy, TOMS will give a new pair to a child in need. Although I loved the whole purpose behind the com-pany and respected everything they stood for, I couldn’t help but feel that the shoes themselves were a little plain, if not ugly. People I knew who owned the homely canvas shoes would rave about how comfortable they were, often buying several pairs. So I settled for a nice size 6½ pair of classic gold glitters. I must admit, these sparkly little shoes are probably the only pair of shoes I own that go with me nearly everywhere. They’ve been on airplanes, dates, and walks, in cars, boats and bicycles, to work and even church. Now, needless to say, I’m the one that's raving.”

Britny Samuelson is a designer at Critical Mass. In her last semester of school, she won an Applied Arts Award for a magazine she designed with Jacqui Lee.

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Britny SamuelsonTOMS Shoes

designers and their favourite things

Documents

favourite objects of

favorite objects

favourite things9

pearl newstyle letterpress

delicate little details

rotating plates

portrait photography

spinning cogs