After a full day of shouting “Watch your eyes!” as the strobes went off, we found the results well worth our efforts. The shoot took place on a Monday in the IMA’s new Design Center (store) for easy access to product. Our challenge was to include items from the Museum Store, Design Center, Greenhouse Shop and the newly opened Nourish Café. Keeping a consistent look and feel between these entities took some extensive product planning, and having holiday products in early September also posed some limits. Luckily, we had Tascha as our pro photo editor, Matt the daring designer, and Tad and Mike, two amazing photographers on the team.

A little humor you won’t spot in the published pages of the magazine — We included a pair of cat salt and pepper shakers in the shoot full of bird decorative items. A porcelain origami crane ornament took the hungry kitties’ place in the final shot. We also all fell in love with the Charles and Ray Eames House Bird available in the Design Center for $210. You might call that funny too…

Look for the “Shop & Celebrate” photo spread in the new issue of the magazine this October, and have your holiday shopping list handy.

The campaign includes Russian Communist inspired artwork on limited-edition bags, window displays, catalogs and an in-store presentation, all hitting stores on March 12.

Saks' Spring campaign

The campaign is inspired by the bold graphic designs and propaganda tone of Constructivist art. Though a controversial move, Saks sure could use the attention. The luxury retailer has felt the recession’s sting, recently announcing a $98.8 million loss.

Smart move, Saks. After all, Fairey has developed into one of the most influential street artists of our time. Despite the cloud of controversy surrounding him, his work can now be seen in museums and galleries, graphic design, signature apparel, and now: your favorite upscale department store.

Shepard Fairey

Terron E. Schaefer, the senior vice president of marketing at Saks recently said, “What we do every day, really, is propaganda.” Read the whole article at NYTimes.com. Pretty fierce stuff, but this could definitely be seen by Fairey’s fans as a major sell-out move. What do you think?

Obsessed with well-designed packaging and everyday objects? Check out some related links I found:

• The Dieline is chock full of fresh ideas in package design. From the latest soda bottle concept, to clever music packaging- critique a design or suggest your own.
  

  Wine bottles by Let it Grow

• Looking for a chic fly swatter or watering can with as much form as it has function? Check out the new Design Center online or here at the IMA.

Dr. Skud Flyswatter- $20

• On May 14^th, you can meet film director Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) and see his latest documentary, Objectified,  about the creative process of product design. The film features designers who shape our manufactured environment and our interfaces with mass-produced objects including the people behind IKEA furniture and the iPod.

Objectified movie poster

For me though, the new year and ensuing opportunity for a fresh start occurs about this time every year. I always look forward to the end of August, because that is when the onslaught begins.

That is when super size fashion magazines featuring the latest trends for fall begin to flood my mailbox. I remain giddy for about a week, knowing that at least one brand new, beefy, fall fashion issue will be waiting for me when I get home.

I truly look forward to studying each page (even the ads) for inspiration on ways to update my wardrobe. As I open every cover, I begin to formulate a plan for ways to revamp my current clothing and identify key pieces to purchase- – all in an effort to start fresh.
Yes, these pages will undoubtedly feature the same basic pieces (shirts, sweaters, slacks, skirts, and shoes) that were featured last year, and the year before, and the year before, etc. But every year, they are presented in a different way. The current fall fashion issues look different than their predecessors because the designers behind every highlighted outfit saw things in a different light. They let their creativity and self-expression guide their designs. Design is often the result of seeing things in a different way- an end product of self expression and creativity.

Evidence of such self expression will abound at the IMA Design Center, opening October 11th.

For example, Alessandro Mendini certainly saw the corkscrew in a different light when he designed the now iconic ‘Anna G’ version in 1993. Who knew a corkscrew could look so feminine? Similarly, there was certainly nothing new about a baroque style armchair in the early 2000s. That is until 2002 when Philippe Starck envisioned a version made entirely of polycarbonate. Voila- the Louis Ghost chair.

Finally, in what is perhaps my favorite example- Fiskars. You know, they make the orange handle scissors that we have all seen a million times. What you may not know however, is that Fiskars is actually a town in Finland. A beautiful town that is primarily inhabited by tremendously talented artists and craftsman. One such craftsman is Olavi Linden. Olavi began his career making violins, carving each one by hand. One day however, he too must have seen the value of crafting something in a new way. He had a vision of how hand tools could be designed and manufactured in a way that would make each one easier to use, and more aesthetically pleasing than the others in existence at the time. The results have been pretty amazing.

Now, I know absolutely nothing about gardening, but I do know that the aluminum PowerGear Bypass Pruner (designed by Mr. Linden) is just about the coolest looking tool of any kind that I have ever seen. This too, will be available at the Design Center.

People continue to ask me if the Design Center will sell art. Art in the traditional sense, i.e. paintings? No.
But art- – yes. Because design is art. And these objects of design are pieces of art that you can take home –pieces that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional. In other words, each object is a piece of art that you can use.

In speaking about this very topic, Max Anderson (The Melvin and Bren Simon Director & CEO) said ‘Why separate examples of creativity based on whether they have a gold frame around them?’ in a recent issue Indianapolis Monthly.

I couldn’t agree more.

Maybe because my great grandmother was French, maybe because I studied French for seven years, or maybe because of my admiration for French women’s uncanny ability to make any outfit look stylish simply by adding a scarf. Whatever the reason- I’ve been fascinated by all things French for as long as I can remember.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that one of my favorite designers is Philippe Starck, a Frenchman. To me, he is the master of style, and for certain, the king of cool.

His product designs exude imagination and originality, and his interior designs ooze style & sex appeal.

Speaking of his ingeniously creative interiors, I always feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland each time I stay at the Hudson in New York City- a hotel designed by Starck and Ian Schrager. Instead of falling down a rabbit hole however, upon arrival, I ascend an escalator bordered by illuminated, chartreuse walls. I know that when I reach the top, I will be in a different world- a world much hipper, sexier, and much more stylish than the one I just left.

You see, The Hudson, is not just a hotel- it’s a mecca of style, where ultra hipsters from around the world seem to flock. Case in point- during recent visits I had the pleasure of meeting an impeccably tailored reporter from Paris, a curly-top, blue-eyed, ‘street preppy’ vacationer from Germany, and a casually stylish, devilishly handsome, Sting look- alike, grad student from Rotterdam.

Starck and Schrager have left no stone unturned – their attention to detail is impeccable. From the white, lightweight, semi opaque drape that serves as a portal to every room, to the stark (no pun intended) white bathrooms, beds with headboards capable of being backlit via an elegant, tassel pull cord, and dimly lit lobby where (once your eyes adjust) you discover ultra vogue chairs of varying style and material, tucked away in every corner- each one cooler than the last. Every inch of this lodging masterpiece contains an unexpected and completely pleasing style treasure. Simply put, this design collaboration has yielded a space with off the chart cool.

I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture here a month or so ago by GQ columnist, Scott Schuman, a.k.a. ‘The Sartorialist.’ In speaking about the photos he takes (and posts on his blog), he stated ‘I shoot what inspires me and helps me dream.’ He went on to explain that there is an element in every photo that represents how he wants his life to be.

That is exactly how I feel when I stay at the Hudson. Its uber-stylish décor, equally stylish guests, and blatantly cool, sexy vibe inspire me.

I’m not saying that I feel compelled to paint some of my walls chartreuse, cover others with ivy, or infuse every room in my house with polycarbonate and brushed aluminum furniture. And I certainly don’t have the financial means to feature an Eames ‘La Chaise’ in my front room. I am saying however, that I want to dwell in a world marked by creativity, imagination, and personal style– with many unexpected, pleasurable visual encounters thrown in for good measure.

Ok, now for the shameless plug- – many Philippe Starck products can be purchased right here at the IMA. Their home will eventually be in the Design Center, which opens in October, but for now, you can find such items as: the Mademoiselle chair (including a stunning version upholstered in leopard print fabric designed by Dolce & Gabbana), the Ghost chair (both Louis and Victoria), the Hudson counter stool, the Juicy Salif lemon juicer, and more at the IMA store.

A few other Starck / Schrager temples of style are on my radar. If all goes well, upcoming travels include stays at The Delano in Miami, The Clift in San Francisco, and the Sanderson in London. I will keep you posted.

I couldn’t be happier to be part of the team working on the Design Center, because I have been obsessed with style, fashion, and design for as long as I can remember.

I think it must have started in second grade when I got my white bean bag chair. Some of my friends and family members had them too- – but nobody had one in white. I remember feeling so lucky to have one in what was surely the coolest color for this staple of 70’s interior.

Despite the fact that my bean bag chair was riddled with pen and marker spots within the first week of landing in my room, I loved looking at it, I loved sitting in it- – in short, it made me happy.

Fast forward a couple of years to fourth grade. I had hoped for months that I would be in Mrs. Fortner’s class. Her room looked absolutely amazing- I was mesmerized by its unique appearance. In an effort to foster creative thinking through unique environments, her husband had built 3-dimensional, wooden, octagonal cubes for every student to use as auxiliary workspaces. They were all equipped with carpet (each one had a different color), a pull-down work surface, and a back cushion. I was thrilled beyond belief to see my name on her posted class list the first day of school.

We got to pick our cubes about a week or so later. They were arranged in clusters, and built two high. I quickly chose a ‘downstairs’ cube with textured, light blue carpet. ‘Cube time’ was my favorite part of the day. Even more interesting than its look, was the ‘feel’ of my cube. I loved sitting in it, reading a book in it, even taking a quiz in it. And just like my bean bag chair- – it made me happy.

The excitement I felt upon learning that I would be in such a uniquely-designed, cool room was equaled only once that year, when I was one of the first kids in my school to own a cropped, sporty, satin jacket – the kind made popular by Shaun Cassidy and Cheryl Ladd (a.k.a. Chris Monroe on Charlie’s Angels).

Fast forward once again to today. My age now starts with a 4 instead of a 1, it’s not a bean bag chair that makes me happy when I come home- it’s my Eames Lounge & Ottoman, and my excitement about fashion now stems mainly from shoe and handbag purchases rather than satin jackets. But that’s just it- – although my taste and fashion preferences have evolved over the years, my fascination with design and style has remained steadfast- and I think that is fantastic. I hope I always look forward to the arrival of the Fall Fashion issue of Vogue, where I spend hours looking through its pages for style inspiration and formulating ideas for my own wardrobe. I hope I always get excited about wearing a new pair of beautiful black pumps, and I hope I continue to be awestruck by the sheer beauty and ‘cool factor’ of well-designed furniture and interiors.