You are currently browsing the archive for the Inspiration category.
The PPC Cement Bag’s beginning was similar to this. The design was more a result of playing with materials and allowing myself to be open to new experiences than an idea alone… I had been experimenting with fabric fusing and wondered if it would bond to paper. Some time later I was driving behind a PPC Cement truck laden with packaging, saw the elephant branding and thought it was pretty cool. What happened next was the creation – the PPC Cement Laptop Bag.
Words by Scott Witt that say it all.
Along our walk on Saturday I collected small snippets of flowers from the veld. To avoid carrying them I pushed them into my pony-tail. Bruce took a picture whilst I was unaware and although the others said I had plants in my head, seeing it now I disagree. I think it is quite a lovely bouquet. These flowers now fill a tiny vase on my desk.
Citrusdal Hot Springs was full of signs of spring.
The orchids will bursting with orange, the tree’s blooming in pink and yellow and the mountain side full of Heather, Erica’s and all sorts of other wonderful plants in flower.
…and this picture (below) was too wonderful not to capture: grey walls, corrugated red roof and a little girl standing in the doorway wearing pink pants.
Gorgeous pictures spotted on various blogs showing how yellow and all natural earthy tones from blue-grey to sand stone come together.
Dusty pipes from Colour-stripes, Mushrooms from Skinnylaminx, breaded okra lunch from Smoothpebble and yellow shoes from Sakurasnow – all lovely yellow sunshine highlights to brighten up your day.
This last weekend Jeremy and I decided, spontaneously, to go to Beaverlac for a break. On our way up a friend phoned to let us know that there had just been a huge fire there and he wasn’t sure if the camp site was open. Determined to go on a weekend away Jeremy and I decided to take a chance.
There had been a huge fire two days before (on the Tuesday) and it had striped the mountains of any green and everything was black and ash. However, I think that the silhouettes of burnt proteas are almost as beautiful as when they are full of colour.
I have no idea what type of protea bush these burnt flower heads are from but this was my favourite silhouette. It is like a star covered in cotton wool surrounded by blackened petals and stems. The contrast of texture is wonderful.
In and around Switzerland there were loads of little things that you would only notice walking around. I loved these door hinges and plan to use them as inspiration for a new Coffee Clutch Set design.
Walking over one of the bridges (on one of the few half sunny days) the railing cast a gorgeous shadow. Coming from a textile design background I could not just walk over this pattern.
I love how the pattern (as the shadow) is distorted and how the geometric lines meet and divide the flowing shapes.
Hesere Gildenhuys ‘Gauze Poetry’ was the highlight of the CPUT exhibition for me. She is a B.TEch Surface Design student that I feel produced something truly beautiful, interesting, engaging and strong with meaning.
To give you some insight into the art pieces I will drop few key words: phenomenology
embodiment
perception and representation
self reflection
They are inspired by traditional body adornment of African women in tribes such as the Kaleri, Ga’anda, Nuba, Maro, Mbaye and Zaire. Geisha’s from the Japanese culture with their blank white faces and painted red lips were also very inspirational. Overall, I think Hesere has produced something very special.
The Surface Design Department really pulled out all stops. Every surface imaginable had been reflected upon. It was a visual and tactile wonderland.
Photographs taken at the CPUT Design Exhibition 2009.
The Graphic Design floor always makes one smile, laugh and reflect on some very serious issues. I smiled and laughed at the poster above about Lorieres and Boeries (for those of you who are not familiar with the Lourie Awards click here and for those of you who do not know what a Boerie is, click here).
The third year students presented themselves and their work in the form of one large poster. Some of my favourites are below.
On a more serious note, this poster and carry bag (see below) really made an impact on me.
The illustration work always bowls me over. I wish I create characters and draw stories.
Photographs taken at the CPUT Design Exhibition 2009.
The CPUT Design Exhibition was a huge success. There was, as always is, so much to absorb you never really can take it all in at once. I snapped away with my camera hoping to take inspiration home to reflect on it. This collage is of work on the Industrial Design floor. I adore the lime green dog light.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to take a year’s break? Or even just two months a year where you devote everyday to developing, learning and creating without any purpose other than growing. Wouldn’t it be wonderful…
It’s spring time and finally the sun has decided to show and the wind has decided to blow (as it does in summer). But undoubtedly my favourite thing about spring is how nature erupts into colour. To see some select Wren items paired with spring inspiration photographs visit Sibling Mine’s Spring Fling.
And I have updated my shop with some new ’springy’ products such as the gorgeous lime Hibiscus Big Town Bag above (paired with a close up photo of a white lily).
Recently I discovered a wonderful flickr group called ‘Organised Collections‘. Inspired to put my own collection together I combined my linens (which are now filled with pattern piece markings) and my pebble and twig collection.
Each pebble and twig is special to me. To remember them, I have written where and when I picked it up on each one. The first twig I collected was on my first day of high school. Somehow I did not have a hair elastic and whilst sitting in register I reached for a stick, rolled my hair into a bun and carefully slid it through holding my hair in place for the rest of the day. I still have this stick and I love running my fingers over its now smooth surface.