Design, Where Are You?

That is probably the question you have been asking based on the last few posts and my bold statement earlier that I wouldn’t share much along the line of thoughts and my life. Obviously, that changed. I have found that those parts of life make me the designer I am, and also explain why I am drawn to certain trends and concepts. However, I think I need to reign it in and create a balance. The blog is called randomdesigninspration for a reason. I need to kick that side of my life into gear. I’ll still post about my life, musings, obsessions, etc, but I’m bringing design back a bit more. Let’s see if I can keep this going, shall we : )

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What you probably have noticed if you have been following this blog or have looked back at old posts, I look at the dieline for inspration, a lot. I just love packaging, and the more modern, colorful, and streamlined it can get, the better. It seems to be a graphic designer trait, you are either obsessed with posters or packaging…or both. Thus, I thought it would be nice to do a brief roundup of some of my favorite designs featured on that site recently. There have been A LOT so keeping it to 5 was tough, but here is what has been inspiring my work a of late.

1. Pizzicato Pizza Box

The organic quality of the text on these pizza boxes, their bright colors, and the somewhat edgy style all come together to a great system created by Pizzicato Pizza themselves! (In short, because pizza!)

2. Maria Marmalade

The flower motif goes surprisingly well with this design, and the spread of the stationary set is especially stunning. I enjoy the simplicity that is broken up by the complex flower pattern, all created by Habla Estudio Mexico.

3. Los Italianos

The simplicity and the use of the abstracted shapes of pasta on everything, including vehicles makes Hauman’s design especially appealing.

4. Quinn Popcorn

Umm, why is a trade-show booth made out of cardboard so stunning. Perhaps it is the cleanliness and the simplicity all focused on the product. Perhaps it is the Quinn Popcorn Team’s genius with design. Or perhaps it is the mounted deer head made out of cardboard…hmmmm.

5. Woodland Series by Bookjig

Nature themed stationary, simple and toned down patterning, and elegance all utilized in one branding scheme…I think that Russ Gray nailed it. The gold leaf, the illustrated foliage, and the clean texture all come together to create a truly stunning line.

Well, that’s it for now. A little to look at, something to inspire, and some goals.

& Stay Inspired

Taking the Future

What’s next? That big question that I keep asking myself, but that I am truthfully afraid to answer. It is so easy to be stuck in a rut, wanting to stay in your comfort zone, ride the waves, and ignore change. But what if that isn’t what needs to happen? I have been battling these ideas as of late, especially when my college diploma arrived in the mail. That small piece of paper brought closure that I wasn’t ready for, and I didn’t realize that until I held it in my hand and thought of my future. Now, I have a lot to do and quite a bit planned for the coming months, don’t get me wrong. I’ve got a design internship that is pretty awesome, a local part-time job, a few freelance design jobs, and on the back-burner, the development of an Etsy shop. Besides all of that, I want to build my portfolio with more photography, redesign my personal portfolio site, and improve my spinning and fiber art. I have a lot that I want to accomplish.

Some Etsy shop tests.

Yet it seems that the main step in accomplishing things is just starting. Maybe it’s just me, but more often than not, I catch myself thinking of something that I should do or want to do, but start considering all of the details, down to the success or failure. I get stuck in this mindset, and just think, and think, and think, and think, and think…but I never start. Paralyzed, I stay there, and I repeat this process until I’m utterly frustrated. It’s not a good cycle.

Perhaps you don’t have this, but I know that this is a key reason that my future is so foggy. Clear goals are hard to set when logic overrides even the thought of dreaming big, and possibilities fade away faster than those stupid settings on PowerPoint. I don’t know about you, but summer goals are always good. You have a grip on the year, and all of those rosy new years resolutions (if you even bothered to set any, which I never do) are long forgotten. Now is a good time to start a set of goals that can be reached, and that you can stick to.

Summer is all about the positive, fresh, fun journeys that you can take. It is about sun, friends, family, and rediscovering the world and your place in it. Perhaps I should just consider this as a goal: start the day with a positive attitude and the drive to get things done. Maybe, just maybe this will be the season of doing; after all, it is the first season that is truly free and open, with no college or schooling to follow up in the fall.

& Stay Inspired

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all. This is a time of new beginnings, of reflecting on what has been and preparing for what is to come. I hope that what comes is full of joy and many blessings.