Just.

Found Textures #1

Loving these torn construction wall poster remnants I saw in Soho.

Stunning Simplicity In Monochromatic Painting: Ivan Franco, UK

I just love the simplicity of this painting. My mind is looking for shapes and recognizeable lines in the rough brush stroke. More in his portfolio at ivanfranco.co.uk, but not a lot. Hopefully we’ll see more in the future (Via Creative Review).

Need + Desire = Design

Engaged in a recent conversation about the difference between art and design I decided to try and figure out how I can express this in simple terms.

To me, design is the satisfaction of both a need and a desire, simultaneously. It’s this magical crossing of wires that makes us swoon at the creative solution to a common problem that we never imagined existed. And it’s the “need” in the equation that I think separates design from art, it’s pragmatic, at least in essence.

To implement this “design” thinking, it’s this easy: Identify a need or a desire, and work back form there. Find a need, create a desire. Fine a desire, create a need.

The companies driven by design thinking all do this. Especially highly desirable brands. For example…

Porsche 911 Turbo:
A desire that becomes a need.
Also a need that becomes a desire.
One must get from A to B.

Omega Speedmaster:

A need that becomes a desire.
One must tell time.

Mast Brothers Chocolate:
A desire that becomes a need.
Once you set the bar high it stays there.

French Graffitti Artist Remed’s Morrocan Inspired Paintings

Here’s a Bio from his Flickr site:

“France has long been a breeding ground for unusual yet badass graff styles. It’s no surprise then that the work of French graffiti artist REMED is both unusual and badass in the extreme. REMED is a spin-off alter-ego of the artist Guilo who initially gained fame with his Moroccan-influenced paintings of bearded men. That heavily-patterned style mixed with a yen to create art on any available surface led Guilo to create the REMED persona to distinguish his new characters and symbols from previous work. What sets him apart is the focus on his own evolution and a minimum of deep message. He’s doing his own thing, and it’s nice to come across that particular kind of passion in the graff world, the pure joy of cr eating regardless of outside influences.” Source : Our art site.com(magazineweb US)”

Look at these images, so minimal and so Swedish 60′s meets african tribal. I’m excited to be witness to the evolution of his work:

In a way his work reminds me of Swedish illustrator and designer Olle Eksell, but Remed’s work is so much more serious and contemporary:

Guy Aroch Photography Takes Me Somewhere Else

From the bio on his AFG Management site:

As one of today’s foremost photographers working in fashion, beauty and entertainment, guy aroch has developed an original and iconic style that is uniquely timeless, evocative and modern. In recent years we have seen his creative style evolve with his use of saturated colors and layered exposures, setting a benchmark in contemporary photography.

I’m totally loving Guy’s work. It’s got that special Lomo meets Kodak meets 70′s pulp book cover style that I’m loving these days. Here’s a sampling from his portfolio:

Guy Aroch Photography.