Archive for June, 2009

CUSTOMER-MADE: The customer is always right!

Innovative businesses are now buying into the phenomenon known as “CUSTOMER-MADE” a trend whereby the product or service is developed in close cooperation with its customers. In these difficult trading times, businesses are seeking to provide the consumer with the services that suit their needs and the best way to do this is to draw on the collective experience of the end user. Until now, disillusioned consumers have held back their thoughts and insights as they have had no one to listen to them. Now businesses are beginning to tap into the increasingly intelligent and creative Global Brain.

In the past inward looking brands have tried to dictate their will on the consumer but forward looking companies, such as Mudpie, are beginning to co-create by listening to valid product response and responding to the market feedback. Thus giving the consumer an ear to listen to and offering them some form of interaction with the product and a sense of involvement. This it, is believed, will lead to brand loyalty in the long term and of course the development of products customized exactly to the needs of the customer.

A continuing source of inspiration for artists and a much discussed theme by today’s society, nature and the way that it is used by mankind is being explored in the Museum of contemporary art and design in an exhibition entitled ‘Nature in a kit.’ Running for three months between June 24 and September 27, the exhibition examines the position of nature at a time where the call for collective responsibility to safeguard it and the multiplication of urban substitutes has rendered it omnipresent.

Divided into themed areas including Matter/Materials, Imitation/Evocation, Nature re-composed and Nature constrained, the exhibit successfully creates a dialogue between the natural and the artificial. Artists will showcase a variety of works that revolve around the idea of designed, synthetic and fantasy nature, juxtaposing natural themes such as minerals, plant life, clouds and landscapes, with never before seen hybridisations and biting visual comments.  A focus on the home as the new Eden will enable visitors to discover the new designs that experiment with artificial materials that imitate those found in nature,  urban interior spaces that act as eco-systems and ‘primitive ‘elements that are subverted to create modern furniture design.

This is a must see exhibition and fits in perfectly with a possible future trend that considers a new sense of enlightenment linked to the regeneration of urban environments, the idea of prêt a porter nature and the re-interpretation of the authentic to fit in with our modern, urban lives.

(Image source: MUDAC)

Talenthouse, the only purpose-built online platform for all artists and creatives, launched today at www.talenthouse.com . A global community for creative talent, initially in music, fashion, art, film and photography, Talenthouse empowers artists to create original content while also providing a forum for new artists to receive inspiration from established industry leaders.   Committed to helping seasoned as well as up-and-coming artists secure recognition from a global audience, the website encourages collaboration between luminaries across an array of disciplines and offers mentoring from acclaimed international artists.

The world renowned Vienna Symphony Orchestra; international curator Dan Cameron; fashion icon Naomi Campbell; film director and Oscar nominee Fernando Meirelles; actor Stephen Dorff; and songwriter, recording artist and fashion designer Dallas Austin are among the industry leaders who have committed support for Talenthouse. They along with many other acclaimed artists are actively involved in Talenthouse by hosting “Creative Invitations.” Exclusive to Talenthouse, a “Creative Invitation” acts as a stimulus for collaboration on an original project. The projects can be commissioned by any artist in the community or proposed by an established artist looking to work in tandem with another. The goal is to inspire multiple collaborations, which the community can evaluate and vote upon, leading to recognition for the artists and projects that rise to the top.

Talenthouse is the brainchild of Amos Pizzey, British recording artist and advertising executive.   “Coming up first as an artist then as a producer in the music industry, I saw so many talented young people that had no way of being seen and heard. For us the Internet is the ultimate tool for them to create, collaborate and liberate their art for all time”, says Pizzey. “This is why we built Talenthouse.”

 “With Talenthouse we eliminate the age-old artistic struggle for recognition and instead focus on creative excellence,” said Roman Scharf, CEO of Talenthouse.   “We are filling a tremendous void felt by the artistic community, which is why we see so much support from such a wide range of celebrated artists around the world.   Talenthouse is designed to become the global hub of the creative community.” Scharf is a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur who earned his reputation as co-founder and President of JAJAH, one of the world’s most innovative communications companies.

Artists can log onto www.talenthouse.com and create a profile that showcases their talent, including a brief description of history and past work experience, a profile picture as well as links to personal Web sites and other social networking pages. Most importantly, Talenthouse provides easy access to samples of an artist’s work, which are uploaded and presented in a unique 3D timeline. The artist’s profile will also highlight ‘supporters’ and other artists ‘supported’ as well as any “Creative Invitations” and sponsored challenges in which the member has participated. Talenthouse acts as a one-stop-shop for artists allowing them to embed their profile and work into popular online properties such as Facebook and Myspace.

Talenthouse has already recruited more than 25,000 members in a closed Alpha release, with the goal of signing up more than 1 million before the first anniversary of the site in June 2010.

About Talenthouse

Talenthouse is the world’s first all creative community. Talenthouse empowers all artists to create original content, collaborate with each other and become recognized by a global audience. As a hub for artists and creatives worldwide Talenthouse funnels their efforts and provides them a stage and platform to present their creative work everywhere in the web. Talenthouse is committed to fostering seasoned as well as up-and-coming talent and pro-actively facilitating interaction between them and established icons and industry players. It’s the mission of Talenthouse to liberate all artists.

For more information please visit www.talenthouse.com

The Moore building seems to be the hot spot nowadays in Miami. The 4-story building stands right in the heart of the art district, hosting and bringing together upcoming talent, fresh faces and desirable fashion.

Friday, June 19, was no exception. The Moore building opened it doors to GenArt- Shop Miami, a shopping event that offers emerging design talent along with the hottest names in Miami. Products for all ages and styles were present, mainly in accessories, but also for women’s and men’s wear brands.

GenArt attracts the more smart, savvy and trendsetting shopper –  quality that makes this event different from the rest. GenArt provides a great networking atmosphere, attracting the local press, fashion students, and different personalities in the art and fashion industry. GenArt is the platform to discover, interchange ideas and admire new emerging artists.

The most common products seen were eco conscious, making use of natural materials and offering the consumer a smart product that holds good design and a fashion aesthetic. The following were our pick of the show:

Ecoist
The local brand has established itself in the market providing a product that is made of wrapping paper; a disposable material that due to misprinting is given to the brand to re-use. Ecoist use a method adopted from Mexico’s indigenous culture; folding the paper and using for the walls of their colorful bags and purses. As a result, they offer accessories with applied futuristic appeal and originality. Click here for more

Hello Fabulous
Hello Fabulous go by the ethos ‘reuse, recycle, renew’. Using all used garments, instead of fabric, they trim, modify, and juxtapose different materials, and textures into hand size, fabric flowers. Hello Fabulous specialize in attractive, vintage-looking accessory pins. Click here for more

Art of Shade
Art of Shade have a European, aggressive appeal. Their gowns and street wear line looking like a band of future warriors. “Recycle/redesign” is their motto. Custom couture and ready-to- wear garments hold details and energy that only fashion’s most extravagant will dare to wear. Click here for more

Krelwear
Passing by through Krelwear’s booth was more like visiting showroom. Tones of knit fabric covered the floor, Polaroid pictures flew around the walls and her trusty sewing machine was by her side. The collection on offer was named “Krell 2 go” by Karelle Levy from Krelwear. Her own invention of fast fashion, or fashion to go, she customizes the customer’s garments in minutes. Swatches of knit fabric, of your selection, are pinned to an old garment, then given to her assistant to sew, and in seconds, you have a one of a kind, Krell 2 go garment. Click here for more

This is a moment that film fanatics everywhere have been waiting for:  Tim Burton has provided a sneak peek into the upcoming Alice in Wonderland with some awe-inspiring, concept art.  The much anticipated, innovative retelling of Lewis Carroll’s 19th-century classic fairytale is due for release on March 5th 2010.  It hosts a star-studded cast including Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter, Mia Wasikowska from Amelia as Alice, Bride Wars Anne Hathaway as The White Queen, Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen, Little Britain’s Matt Lucas as both Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and Stephen Fry as The Cheshire Cat.

Movie maverick, Tim Burton, whose film portfolio includes Batman, Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas, signed on to put his fantastical director’s stamp on the tale, transforming it into what looks set to be a 3D visual delight.

To be kept up to date on the progress of the film see the official site.

Image source: wired.com

Once again Mpdclick turns to our creative team to tap in to emerging trends. This week we chatted to the graphic design team to find out what’s going on in their world. Here they pick their top graphic themes for June 2009.

Figure 1 (main image): The splashed ink/smoke effect here is very visually striking, and can work to embellish typography, or as a stand-alone piece using colour to contrast with a black background. The effect is very energetic and dynamic, and is something we are sure to see more of.

See images below

Figure 2: These designs use geometric lines, repeating patterns and a linear, Modernist aesthetic to revitalise typography. Creating letterforms from shapes and patterns is very effective and reduces the need for extra design elements.

Figure 3: These designs contain a distinct retro, 1980’s inspiration that harks back to the earliest days of electronic graphic design. The use of sporadic ambient text contextualises the visual direction, while vivid, clashing colours create loud, visually intense imagery that is very effective.

Figure 4: A scrapbooked, cut ‘n’ paste direction is prevalent at the moment, as shown with these designs. Reminiscent of British punk rock and incorporating anti-art principles of Dadaism and Deconstruction, the DIY aesthetic of this style is very visceral and raw, and works well with typographical designs.

Figure 5: Graffiti-inspired designs appear to making something of a comeback. Often containing an edge of political satire or anti-establishment rhetoric, stencil graffiti in particular is a strong reference point for graphics at the moment.

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

On Wednesday 24th June 2009 Mpdclick had the great pleasure of attending Central Saint Martins Textile Design graduate show at the Southampton Row building. As guests of dedicated course leader Anne Marr, we caught up with a few of the graduates who eagerly answered our questions and told us a little more about their final collections.

Mpdclick came to view the student’s self-directed graduation project, which aims to demonstrate their individual approach and ambitions as a textile designer. The main subject of our questions was the future, and whether the economic climate had affected their final year. Generally the graduates were excited yet apprehensive about their futures. Luckily, due to generous sponsors from across the globe, and government funding, the recession had not really affected them so far, with the creativity and innovation that Saint Martins is so renowned for remaining intact.

For more information and full interviews with the class of 2009 click here.

Music fanatics are in mourning today after learning that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson has passed away at the age of 50.  Jackson was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital yesterday June 25th after a reported cardiac arrest.  Sadly, Jackson never regained consciousness and was later pronounced dead.  The music legend is survived by his three children, brothers, sisters and parents.

Jackson began his music career at the tender age of eleven with his brothers, in the world-renown group, Jackson 5, of which he was the lead singer.  He went on to become a solo act and to produce cutting edge videos such as the epic ‘Thriller’ and bestselling albums including Off the Wall, Dangerous and HIStory.   His musical genius and ground-breaking dance moves have influenced subsequent generations of musical artists from pop to hip-hop.  Today Mpdclick takes a moment to remember and honour this music and fashion visionary.

Not only was Michael Jackson known for his music and controversial antics but for his amazing style.  The 1980s saw Jackson trendsetting in a red leather jacket for his ‘Thriller’ music video.  During this time Jacko also sparked a trend for varsity-style or letterman’s jackets as casual outerwear.  This was later followed up by incredibly smart, dapper looks including a wet-look tuxedo, smart white shirt and red bowtie during the ‘Billie Jean’ era, followed by a white suit, fedora and spats sported in his ‘Smooth Criminal’ video.  Jackson’s fondness for military detailing and elaborate sparkle resulted in a myriad of dazzling, sequinned, military-style jackets – complete with epaulets, sashes and gold trims – which he wore both on and off stage during the 1980s. However, his signature style will forever be the famous white tee, peg-leg, cropped trousers, white socks and black loafers; a style which he sported during the late 1980s to the late 1990s.  And no one can forget the accompanying fedora and single rhinestone glove!

A trendsetter to the very end, Jackson’s most recent was fashion obsession was the innovative style of designer label Balmain; he invested in a number of pieces including leopard print cropped jeans from the autumn/winter 2008 ready-to-wear and a studded blazer with exaggerated shoulders and a graphic  t-shirt from the spring/summer 2009 womenswear collection.  It is safe to say that Michael Jackson will never be forgotten as his music, dance and fashions will continue to inspire for generations to come.

Image source: michael jackson.com 

Image source: myfashionlife.com

Image source: drapersonline.com

Image source: gabriellelucretia.com

Image source: drapersonline.com

Topshop have designed and created three unique stage outfits for Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine.

These will be showcased on Friday 26th June when Florence and The Machine support Blur at Manchester and Saturday 27th June on the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury.

A black bespoke tailored bodice is worn with all three outfits. The first piece features black floor-length fringing along the contour of the arms and the back. Black and gold hand-made roses adorn the length of the arms (below).

The second, a delicate black tulle cape has been perfectly fitted to the arms and features gold and black sculptured shoulders (main image).

For the third outfit black antique lace caped sleeves are worn with hand painted roses in a crown and about the neck (below).

Gravity defying shoes have been created in black python, a cage surrounds the foot and the ankle is bejewelled with black and gold roses.

The ‘cut out’ dress is emerging as the statement garment of the season, with the most popular styles offering a simple sheath shape  and featuring strategically placed cut away panels and geometric designs. Mpdclick first spotted the burgeoning new ‘it dress’ on the a/w 09/10 runways, a troop of progressive designers opted to include at least one cut out dress within their fall collections. Alexander Wang utilized the technique with edgy street effect, offering asymmetric double layer dresses with a luxury sports aesthetic. Benhaz Sarafpour pushed a more classic look showing structured black numbers brought to life with intricate cut away necklines.

Far from shrink away from the fashion scene the first glimmer of the s/s 10 season indicates a fully fledged love affair with the striking dress style.  Australian fashion week, designer Jade Sarita Arnott showcased the new collection from her brand Arnsdof which included an array of elaborate ‘cut out’ dresses with asymmetric panels  revealing tantalising slivers of skin.

The usual host of fashion savvy celebrities have picked up on the hot runway look early and have been ensuring all attention is on them by donning the latest statement dresses. Leighton Meester was seen at the MTV Movie Awards wearing a sleeveless, knee-length black dress with cut-outs creating drama around the neck line and shoulder. This stunning rework of the long-established LBD (little black dress), is bound to have shoppers scouring the stores for a replica garments. Other celebrities snapped showcasing cut-out dresses on the red carpet, are Ashley Olsen and Rhianna, both donning different versions of the daring look with enviable panache.

Designers and buyers take note if you haven’t already be sure to offer a small range of clever ‘cut out’ dresses within your womenswear ranges now. Merchandise the look just right by keeping accessories to a minimum allowing cut-outs to make a maximum statement, pair with opeep toe shoe boots for a ‘Generation Y’ perfect look.  

Image: Arnsdof s/s 10