gracefultaylor

A treasure chest of historical Australian graphic design

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:33:00 +0000

This is fantastic! Re:collection is a showcase of Australian graphic design from 1960–1980, but a warning before you click on the link – we haven’t been able to stop marveling at the talent of these great Aussie designers and get back to our own work!

Chapeau to Dominic Hofstede, whose labour of love has created a site that we predict graphic designers will turn to for years to come, for inspiration and for sheer pleasure! You’ll be amazed at how contemporary many of the designs feel. Just goes to show that good design is timeless. Enjoy.

Above: Arts Victoria Poster / Cato Hibberd / 1975

Above: Pioneer Sugar Mills 1968 Annual Report / Alistair Morrison / 1968

Above: Folklore of the Australian Railwaymen / Andreas Schmid / 1971

Above: 2 x linear logos / Emery & Cato / 1980

Above: AILA 83 Poster / Emery Vincent Associates / 1983
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Above: Epicurean 56 / Les Mason / 1975

Above: Disposable Eating Sets / Cato Hibberd Hawksby / 1980s

Above: McPherson’s catalogue / Frank Eidlitz / 1960s

Above: Philanthropic Trusts cover / Alison Forbes / 1972

Above: Ducats Milk / Heinz Grunwald / 1980s

Above: The Split cover / unknown designer / 1972

Above: OZ Issue 1 / Martin Sharp / 1967
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Above: Transperth bus ticket / Les Mason / 1980s

Chiharu Shiota: Sculptured Emotion

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:07:00 +0000

Welcome to our current obsession – Japanese-born, Berlin-based artist Chiharu Shiota. As you know we love being inspired by artists who take something ordinary and transform it into something extraordinary. Using simple objects – string, shoes, beds, chairs, fabric – Chiharu Shiota creates sculptural installations that are the physical embodiments of emotion. This is her latest work. Wonderful and full of wonder.

Discovered via YellowTrace Images via the Chiharu Shiota website

The power of good

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:56:00 +0000

Another election nearly over. And the arts barely rated a mention yet again. So here’s an inspiring reminder of how important the work of artists is, not just to create beauty and to express ideas, but to transform communities. How we wish that the pollies got it!

The artists Haas&Hahn had a dream to paint a hillside favela in Rio de Janiero. That’s a slum area, usually rife with young people who have few options beyond drugs and crime. Using an ingenious concept of expanding rays,

they were able to fill this normally depressing area with fabulous colour.

Best of all, they got the young people of the community involved, teaching them new skills, paying them a wage and providing hope of a better pathway through life.

Above: Before

It’s a huge project, with about 7000 m2 of hillside to cover, but these guys won’t stop until they’re finished. Right now they’re asking for donations to help them make it all the way up the hill. If you’ve been inspired, like us, even by a project so far away, here’s the details.

Discovered via OhJoy Images via the Favela Painting website

A post about farting

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:58:00 +0000

That got your attention. This week, a lesson in how great design can successfully elevate even difficult products to something fun and serious at the same time. And most importantly, they’re memorable. The Graceful Taylor is partial to the Indian gourd player, but the opera singer does feel closer to home!

discovered via OK Great - campaign by Siddhi Yadav and Denzil Machado

Colour me clever

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:58:00 +0000

When workers in a blue office complained that it was always cold, the walls were repainted a warm peach. Guess what? Without changing the ambient temperature everyone was suddenly warmer. True story.

At Taylor & Grace we’re big fans of colour and it’s for a good reason. As well as changing our perception of the temperature, colours can excite us, tranquilise us, stimulate our appetites (that’s why Maccas uses oranges and reds) and lots more – it’s called chromo dynamics. If you want to know more check out this great article on the Pantone website.
We pay a lot of attention to colour in the design development process because of the big role it plays in the way consumers perceive and react to your brand. Notwithstanding cultural differences, some reactions to colour are universal. For example, the human eye sees warm colours before cool ones.

Look at these examples from the Jamie Oliver range “Jme” and think about this:
—Red, yellow and orange generally stimulate; blue, green and violet generally calm
—We associate certain colours with certain experiences, eg. orange with fire, turquoise with the sea.
—Red makes us take more risks; blue helps us to be more considered in our choices (not for nothing is Las Vegas the city of red neon!)
Being clever with colour is an essential contributor to design success.
Thanks to Lovely package and Pearlfisher for the images.

Architecture Envy #2

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:46:00 +0000

More inspiration from the world of architecture this week. And a warning: you may feel the urge to book your next holiday soon!

First, the Treehotel in Sweden; how amazing is this? And eco-friendly!

We can’t decide whether we want to stay in the nest, the spaceship or the cone, but the Graceful Taylor has made her choice – the mirror cube!

Via Black Eiffel & A cup of Jo

Then there’s the Inntel Hotel in the Netherlands.

Photos credit: Roel Backaert

Responsive to its environment, iconic, and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Seriously though, we’re just blown away by the creativity and passion behind the design and construction of these buildings. For an example of the impact of quality, resolved design, look no further.

It’s all about paper, Upon-A-Fold does Tokyo

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:46:00 +0000

“To find unique things made of paper and to make them available to everyone.”

That’s the mission of Justine Fahd, the creator of the splendiferous online all-things-paper store Upon-A-Fold. So you know already that when you visit the store you’re going to find the best quality, and the most extraordinary range of paper products, most only previously available by hopping on a plane and taking yourself off to Tokyo, or beyond. But lovely Justine does that for all of us, and the Graceful Taylor caught up with her for a chinwag after her latest visit to Tokyo, to find out what’s new in the world of artisanal paper.

While in Tokyo, Justine did the detective work and caught up with loads of paper designers, some running their own small boutique shops located in out-of-the-way places. And the best news for us is that she’s brought back lots of goodies not normally available outside of Japan. If you’re still thinking that it’s all about gift-wrapping and cards and notebooks, consider the term paper engineering and take a peek at the extraordinary creations by both overseas and local artists on the site.

So how does a girl become obsessed by paper? “I always sought out stationery shops as a kid; I loved wrapping gifts and presenting them well, I learnt more about Japanese paper after working in an art supplies store that specialised in all sorts of hand crafted Japanese papers and it was then that I discovered the versatility of paper as a medium in itself. It’s often the first art material we are given as children, so I guess for me I got hooked from the very beginning! Nowadays paper is used in the most unusual ways, from designer paper handbags, wallets and shoes to emergency housing designed by architects as a form of affordable shelter to third world countries. Paper offers so many possibilities."

And watch this space: there’ll be heaps of new products for that gift-giving and gift-wrapping nirvana known as Christmas, plus Justine and Matt will be launching their own range of paper products sometime next year. We can’t wait!

Images Above: "Expect to find an amazing display of envelopes in most paper shops in Tokyo. These above are a few of my absolute favourites. - I love their colours and they feel so nice too. There are just so many beautiful papers in Japan. Paper is serious business over there and you can certainly tell!" Justine Fahd. To view the Upon-A-Fold Tokyo blog posts and follow Justine's journey click here and here and here

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ABOVE: 1/100 ARCHITECTURAL MODEL CARD Strike a pose and send your message of love in a truly special way. Use the two tiny die-cut paper people to express what you are feeling – whether it is a loving hug or kiss, or a marriage proposal down on one knee! So get your fingers folding. Available at Upon-A-Fold here

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ABOVE: The designers at Drop Around studio in Japan have created a beauty! We love this trio so much. The set includes 3 envelopes, each with their own graphic card inside. The peek through windows are perfect for personalising each card with a cute photograph or written note inside. The envelope colours are so intense and the paper stock is superb! Available at Upon-A-Fold here

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ABOVE: Point yourself in the right direction with these very cool and colourful post-it notes. This set of two includes a semi-circle and two triangles. Each block comes with 50 sheets and the packs measure 5.5cm x 9cm. They’re so handy, we bet you find as many uses for them as we do. Fusen are designed and made in Japan by Drop Around Design. Available at Upon-A-Fold here

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ABOVE: This letter set is like no other letter set we have ever seen! The craftsmanship is unbelievable – you’ll spend hours looking at the finer details. A unique printing and assembling method from Japan has been used to create a framed border using a series of torn paper chips that look like they have been delicately attached, piece by piece. Each set comes with one piece of paper and an envelope, both reversible so you can choose which way you want them to go. The designer, Ryosuke Uehara for Japanese design studio D-Bros, aimed to make each paper set individual, with a weathered and discoloured look. Available at Upon-A-Fold here

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ABOVE: Watch a city grow before your eyes! Popville is a pop-up book where each page corresponds to a moment of urban development – from an isolated church amongst the trees to a bustling metropolis packed with streets, factories and stations. Just like any city, some landscape references stay the same while others disappear to make way for new developments. The unpredictability of what will be there when you turn the page is part of the fun, just like the spontaneity that exists when living in a fast-paced city. Available at Upon-A-Fold here

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ABOVE: Remember the barbershops in the 1960s? Every town had one. The big swivel chairs, cut-throat shaves, men hanging out playing cards… this iconic shop is the inspiration behind Aussie creative Lisa Loxley’s latest Barbershop collection. These paper pockets by Lox + Savvy are generous in size, so super perfect for storing all those bits and bobs – receipts, buttons, ribbons, photographs, loose notes and more. Available at Upon-A-Fold here

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ABOVE: Create your own little paper wonderland with these perfectly cut paper pieces. There are people large and small, dogs, cats, birds, flowers, chairs, sofas, tables, lamps, bikes, grass and more! Made completely with paper (of course!), you simply pop out the pieces and fold them into place. 1/100 is an architectural model set that represents the home and family life. This is the design of Naoki Terada from Terada Design in Japan. Scale is 1-100. Available at Upon-A-Fold here

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Taylor & Grace Refreshed!

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:21:00 +0000

As our clients know, we’re fans of the great refresh – a periodic update of your branding to ensure that it remains lively and responsive to the current marketplace. So we’ve done just that for both the Taylor & Grace brand (check out our new website ) and for the Graceful Taylor. We feel younger already!

There’s also nothing like a new home to lift the spirits…and here it is!

We love it – the beautiful old 19thC brickwork, the fabulous sense of space (it’s an old warehouse), and the location - 3/255 Wellington Street Collingwood. Feel free to drop in and say g’day.

Here’s a peek too at some of our recent projects, some of which have also involved a bit of refreshing (or was that refreshment!)

Above: Australian Shoe Fair

Refresh of trade show branding and application to advertising and print collateral. Click here for more.

(Above) Fashion Exposed 2010

Refresh of trade show branding and application to advertising and print collateral. Click here for more.

(Above) School of Botany Annual Report 2009 - Click here for more.

So if you’re feeling all mid-winter blues-y, think about a refresh – for your brand, or just for you!

Le Creative Sweatshop – magnifique!

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:53:00 +0000

Ah, the French. With their joie de vivre and their undeniable claim to the most beautiful city in the world, it’s not surprising that a couple of French men have combined to produce some of the most stunning visual communication we’ve seen in a while.

Feast your eyes on these incredible images. All made with paper, each one evocative, tempting and an example of consummate sculpture and styling.

More inspiring images and the story of their coming together can be found here.

Once upon a time a man knitted a dress out of newspaper

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:52:00 +0000

The Graceful Taylor has been inspired this week by Italian sculptor, ecologist and performance artist Ivano Vitali, who creates colour-coded balls of yarn from the daily newspapers and, using hand-made knitting needles, weaves extraordinary full-size creations worthy of a Parisian catwalk.

His creations tell beautiful and thought-provoking stories of simplicity, of the power of art, of the potential in the humblest of materials. His giant knitting needles speak of having the right tools for the job; his preparation of the paper reminds us that anything can be transformed, re-used and re-imagined.

Make ‘em laugh!

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:37:00 +0000

Humour is one of the most powerful marketing tools at your disposal, especially in this era of great interconnection. It helps your brand stand out from the crowd and, via social networking, quickly and effectively extends your brand’s reach. Get one person laughing, and they’ll want to share their experience with their friends and family. Just think of the last time you forwarded a link to your networks because you wanted to brighten their day.

Used sensitively, humour can even be used to counter that unwanted byproduct of social networking: the viral complaint. According to the Harvard Business Review the Net Promoter Score (NPS), a measure of customer satisfaction, is “the one number you need to grow”. So if there are a few detractors out there, humour them, literally, with a smart and sassy bit of fun. You can’t grumble and laugh at the same time!

At Taylor and Grace we’re fascinated by the physiology behind branding and consumerism. Brands need to connect on both an emotional and a rational level and humour is a great way to facilitate this. Think about using humour instead of regular incentives like giveaways to create a seamless experience for the customer as they interact with your brand. They won’t even know they’re being coaxed to particular areas of your site!

To get your funny bone jiggling, check out these gorgeous print ads from Turkish hosiery company VOG. They’re clever, to the point … and fun.

Follow the yellow trace blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 10:34:00 +0000

As you would expect from such a class act, the Graceful Taylor is discerning about her friendships, so when she introduces you to someone you know that it’ll be worth it.

Meet yellowtrace, fabuloso Australian design blog, friend of the Graceful Taylor and brainchild of Dana Hughes, a Sydney-based interior designer.

Blogging is all about sharing, and Dana updates yellowtrace daily with inspirational design-focused content drawn from around the world: spreading the word about established and emerging creatives in interiors, architecture, fashion, design, photography and more. Well connected too, yellowtrace is featured on the design files and design sponge amongst a host of other great design sites.

And we’re delighted to let you know that yellowtrace has recently featured the Graceful Taylor and Potier – check out the post and follow the yellowtrace blog!

9 Ways Australian Brands Are Leveraging Twitter In Different Ways - Written by our online guru Teresa Sperti

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 09:02:00 +0000

Twitter, within a few short years, has grown to be one of the leading social sites in Australia and the world. In Australia alone, Twitter receives more than 1.2 million unique visitors a month, providing a solid avenue for organisations to connect, engage and build relationships with new and existing consumers. However having a presence on Twitter is harder than just creating a profile and tweeting about how great your product is. Inspired by Brian Solis, 21 Twitter Tips , this article reviews how Australian organisations are adopting some of the different strategies he covers in his article.
If your brand is yet to have a Twitter profile hopefully this article provides you with some useful food for thought. Or if you have a profile but need to refine the strategy this article may provide clarity on the techniques that you could adopt to create a very useful and engaging Twitter experience in 140 characters. To read the full article click here

Tweet themed image by talented illustrator Laura Mckellar

Poster Advertising 50s Style

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:53:00 +0000

These fab vintage advertising from the London Tube have just been uncovered during renovations. Dating from the late 50s, they’re cute, colourful, and an unexpected insight into the world of poster advertising at the time of Mad Men. Check out the whole collection here

You can leave a comment, like the person who’s noticed they got the apostrophes wrong even in those days!

Discovered via the fabulous Grainedit, a blog dedicated to vintage and vintage inspired graphic design. (photos curtsy of the London Underground)

Online addiction #5 – absolutely fabulous affordable art

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:02:00 +0000

Ah winter! The perfect excuse to snuggle indoors in the warmth and indulge in one of our favourite pastimes – trawling leisurely through the internet searching for hidden treasure!

And look what we found: two completely different but equally fabulous sites for affordable art that we just had to share.

Illustrator Peggy Wolf creates gorgeous mixed media pieces that reference her beginnings in fashion design as well as her passion for colour and shape. We love her compositions – quirky takes on fashion portraits that are now available as prints and cards. View her online store here

And you thought handlebar moustaches were a bit out there? Check out these portraits by artist Dave Mead of contestants from the 2009 World Beard and Mustache Championship. Seriously, who knew that men with this much hair could be this interesting?

Inspiration (or assassination!) from a master

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:04:00 +0000

I just had to share this inspirational micro-site showing the work of Joan Miro. So much happens in the now that sometimes you forget the old masters who are no longer here. But they have lots to teach us, and Miro is someone I’m really tapping into at the moment.

I’ve always loved Miro for his simplicity, the boldness of colour, his textual compositions & defiantly strong lines. I especially adore the dynamic he creates through his cut paper collages and fine line work. He was forever experimenting – a great reminder to me to challenge myself on a regular basis.

This exhibition, from MOMA, showcases his work from 1927-37, a period encompassing the end of the Roaring Twenties and a darkening of the mood in Europe as World War II became first a possibility, then inevitable. In 1927 he said he wanted to “assassinate painting”. As the intro to this old exhibition says, such aesthetic “murder” is one of the profound achievements of his art.