Don't you think this is a great idea for a save the date or game for your guests to play while they're waiting for dinner to be served? Customized for your event, of course. I really don't think I'll ever tire of this design style. Thanks to Steven Heller for constantly finding the best in design history, both remembered and forgotten. Here's the full post.
It was a pleasure to work with so many creative wedding professionals (many from the IWA) on this inspiration shoot for which I did the stationery. Though not the central focus, vendors were encouraged to be as eco-friendly as possible. With this in mind I created a stationery suite that minimizes paper use and maximizes smart design. This is most evident in the invitation which is printed on both sides and is divided in the middle by a perforation. The top of the invitation has all of the pertinent information for the wedding, the bottom has a reply post card. For the back of the stationery, the top of the invitation (the piece that the guest keeps) has directions to the event, the bottom (on the back of the reply) has a return address with postage affixed. This piece does minimize paper which makes the design of the piece that much more important. Great attention was paid to the design of the invitation as a whole keeping in mind what the pieces will look like when separated.
Other paper minimizing features include signs that replace individual place cards and a sweets menu sign. Another minimalistic consideration would be a menu sign. For this shoot, however, individual menus worked better for highlighting place settings.
It was also wonderful working with the following talented wedding vendors:
I can't get over these colors. Unique beyond words, so luscious. Not at all "cookie cutter". The girls over at 100 Layer Cake are color geniuses, that has been clear to me for a long time, but this color board is just... Oh. My. God. So inspiring.
This may be a little type-nerdy but you shouldn't trust a designer if he or she isn't a type nerd. That's just a little advice from me to you.Typeface focuses on a rural Midwestern museum and print shop where international artists meet retired craftsmen and together navigate the convergence of modern design and traditional technique.
It is on my graphic design "bucket list" to visit the Hamilton. Until then I have a good feeling that this film will inspire me.
Just like whenever summer rolls around I wonder why I never entertained the idea of teaching as a career, when I see photos like these I wonder why I never entertained the idea of moving to New York City. This satellite exhibition of the National Folk Art Museum at the Park Avenue Armory is positively inspired in both its subject and it's presentation. It's a wonderland of red and white quilts called “Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts". Thanks to Steven Heller's blog The Daily Heller for covering it.
Today I'm designing and designing new wedding invitations for ADP's customizable wedding invitations line called Wedding Papers. Part of my process is seeing what else is out there from the big names in weddings, but also the smaller names who may not have as loud a voice but still have lots to say. I guarantee that you're more likely to see true innovation from the small guys. Anyway, I've been very inspired by three e-magazines: Nonpareil, Utterly Engaged and Style Me Pretty's E-Glossy. The cover story on Nonpareil for this issue was designed by a few Independent Wedding Association members: Red Ribbon Studio, Just Bloomed, Cocoa & Fig and Paperista. Nice work girls.
BHLDN is all over the wedding blogosphere so I know I'm not being too unique in my excitement over it. But dig this dress! Not only does it challenge convention while at the same time referencing tradition, but what inspiration for invitations: the pattern, the palette, the style. Must design now...
I just ran across this gorgeous and oh so inspirational wedding at Etsy. This is truly a handmade work of heart and it speaks to this entire week's Wedding-Phile posts of branding your wedding. This couple's brand is easy to spot: everything has a handmade touch from the brides dress to the centerpieces to the lovely food. They spent the majority of their wedding budget on photography. And why not? If I made everything for my wedding I'd want some beautiful proof of the wonderful day that was shared by all AND proof that everything was made by a loved one's {or my own} hand.
This post was originally inspired by a post I saw iDiY and I thought it was a perfect subject for my week of mini session reposts. Granted, I made up the story but it just serves to remind you of the little things in your life that may give you inspiration for your stationery. Loving pattern as much as I do, the entire post made me swoon. That's right, a security envelope made me swoon. MANY security envelopes made me swoon. Oh, the things we take for granted.
Who knew there would ever be a call for a graphic design archeologist? And yet here is a great find for said archeologist. These mid-century posters were unearthed at a Notting Hill gate tube station during recent renovations.
Go to Grain Edit to see the entire post as well as the Flickr page.
I have always wanted to try my hand at hand lettering and Margaret Kilgallen's work is perfect inspiration. So off to take yet another look at the REDCAT Gallery's exhibition catalog of their 2005 exhibit In the Sweet Bye & Bye. From the REDCAT web site : “Margaret Kilgallen: In the Sweet Bye & Bye presents works by the influential Bay Area painter. Kilgallen’s unique re-sourcing of sweetly familiar and non-hierarchical everyday places, markings and people was in large part inspired by the wandering culture of immigrants, railway workers and dreamers. She was especially interested in evidence of a maker’s hand—in seeing traces of the maker in her work.”
That, in a nut shell, is why I love, love, love her work – the importance of both the everyday and the hand! If you want to see more images from the exhibit go to Flickr where sketchypad.annex has a great photo set from the exhibition itself. It will give you a taste of her work and make you order the book as quickly as I did.
Margaret Kilgallen: In the Sweet Bye & Bye at The Curiosity Shoppe.
Love this for a fall wedding. Great for your bouquet, boutineers, centerpieces, favors, your hair. There are really so many uses for something like this. Find the directions at iDIY.
Another 100 Layer Cake color board. Not only are the colors fabulous together but check out the dress, the eyes and especially the hand written stationery. Lovely.
Though this wasn't meant as a wedding dessert idea, I have always thought a dessert buffet would be just perfect for a wedding whether it's ice cream, cakes, cookies...heck, all of the above. Add to that the endless stationery inspirations that could come from it. Find more details here. Just lovely.
The Textile Blog is a great place to go if you're looking for design inspiration for you wedding, for your home or just for procrastination.
