Notemaker / Moleskine design competition

Customised Moleskine diaries (this image from Oh Joy)

Hey a friend just tipped me off about a little design competiton for Australian designers and/or design students...

NoteMaker’s Annual Design Competition gives you the opportunity to design your own embossed cover for an original Moleskine Diary!

Australian online stationary store Notemaker is looking for budding designers to come up with a design based on the theme “Your Notebook Your Life”. Your design doesn't have to be a pretty illustration... there are so many possibilities! Imagine a diary covered in architectural sketches, complex mathematical equations or even beautiful poetry?!

The winning design will be produced and sold as a limited edition Moleskine release! (The winner will also receive an iPod Nano and a Notemaker gift voucher).

It's not everyday you get the opportunity to customize your own classic Moleskine.... and it's an especially great opportunity for design students to build your design folio!

Entries close 1 June 2009. More info here.

Ps) Actually Notemaker has some quite cute things for sale on their website... definitely worth a little browse. Look what I found -

CUTE! 3D hot air balloon card - AU$11.95

Penguin boxed set of 6 pencils - AU$14.95 and Penguin cover notebook - AU$19.95 (Aggh both currently sold out I now realise... sorry!)

Valentines Day (sorry!)

These gorgeous letterpressed designs are by Brooklyn based creative team Bread + Butter. Snap them up at the Bread + Butter's Etsy shop. US$4.00 each (OR $9.00 for a selection of three!)

More letterpress goodness from Bread + Butter... Love these! how cute.

Uhhhh oh. This week The Design Files seems to be sinking into schmoopi romance land... first that gorgeous Dior poster, and now a little round up of Valentine's Day cards. Uh oohhhh.

Ahhh I can't help it... anyone who knows me will tell you I am a sucker for romance. Anyway, hopefully these gorgeous hand-crafted cards will strike a chord even if you're a Valentine's non-believer.

ps) I may have purchased a collection of Bread + Butter's gorgeous cards online yesterday... one to give to my very anti-romantic fella on the 14th. He'll be horrified. I can say that because he doesn't actually read this blog. I know, shocking.

You've seen these before - don't ya just love the little arrow peg? - from Susy*Jack

A little less schmoopi, and little more kooky... these from Able and Game - why do these remind me of Napoleon Dynamite for some reason? Many more to browse through in the Able and Game etsy shop.

New blog discoveries

Photography by Gemma Comas - via the SusyJack* blog

I've made a couple of new blog discoveries recently... don't cha just love discovering a new blog? Just to add another 5 minutes to your morning net-surfing? YES you know you do!

Gorgeous product finds from the Hey Susy* blog

Currently I am LOVING Hey Susy* - the blog of NY artist and designer Susan Connor. She just seems to pull together the most beautiful images... great product finds too - and how about those colours? Ahhh.

Also be sure to visit Susan's online store SusyJack* for a small-ish but truly gorgeous collection of papergoods... including my favourites below...

2009 Deluxe wall calender by SusyJack* - you can separate all 12 pages and hang in a row for colourful wall coverage! US$34.00

Demi Notebooks by SusyJack* - only US$9 each!

Valentine's day card by SusyJack*

Second new discovery this month was A Cup of Jo (YES I know, I can hear you saying "you didn't know about a Cup of Jo?" - what can I say....? Too busy blog-writing, not enough blog-reading). Joanna Goddard's hugely popular blog was another 'instant bookmark' for me. (She also writes a very entertaining relationships blog called Smitten for US publication Glamour)

Recent favourite a Cup of Jo musings etc include -

-her new years resolution to dress more like a French Woman (here and here)
-her gorgeous engagement photos (she already looks like a French woman to me...)

Jo's engagement photos by Max Wanger.

Christmas in Melbourne - crafty decorating ideas and a bit of window shopping

Japanese homewares store Zakkaya in Fitzroy showcases a very 'kawaii' Christmas

Somehow it has apparently become December! Where does the time go?

I spent the last week or so researching and photographing some of the best Christmassy decorating and wrapping ideas around town... I hope it might help condense some of your holiday season 'to do' lists, or at the very least inspire a few creative ideas for your tree / table / presents this year :) I'm sure I'll spot many more fun bits and pieces between now and the big day... I'll keep ya posted!

Zakkaya
52 Johnston st, Fitzroy
9419 1882

Zakkaya has a beautiful selection of timber toys, ceramic homewares and kooky Japanese accessories, as well as some gorgeous and distinctly Japanese Christmas decorations and stocking-fillers... It's so worth a browse - you won't find these pieces anywhere else in Melbourne.

top - Zakkaya's tiny wooden 'balance game' toys make perfect stocking-fillers. bottom - super-cute printed sticky tape for gift-wrapping.

Gorgeous decorating garlands from Zakkaya

More Christmas gorgeousness from Zakkaya

Specklefarm
111 Bridport Street, Albert Park
ph. 9696 2477

Specklefarm specialises in grosgrain ribbon of all different styles, and also sells a small but gorgeous range of stationary and paper wrapping etc. You can buy the ribbon by the metre, and they also wholesale if you have a business.

How about wrapping your presents in cheap brown paper or recycled magazine/newspaper pages, then dressing up the parcels with any one of these fancy ribbons? The ribbon is sure to be stashed away for re-use - which makes this a very eco-friendly wrapping option.

A stunning selection of grosgrain ribbons starting at around $3.00 a metre .

More ribbons and gift tags from Specklefarm

Cote Provence
290 Rathdowne st, Carlton North

9347 6656

For more classic Christmas styling, check out Cote Provence in North Carlton... beautiful French linens with cream / red detailing make for traditional festive decoration with a European feel. They also have some gorgeous rustic Christmas wreathes that you can either hang as is or embellish... I couldn't resist and bought the largest one they had last week! Beautiful stuff and may I say extremely friendly, helpful staff! (unlike similar stores you might encounter on the other side of the river!).

You can't go wrong with french linen in beige / red / white.

I loved this table display and centrepiece at Cote Provence! It's an antique spindle holder I think? Here it's holding reels of silk thread... but of course could be used to display any kind of decorations and/or cards - a unique alternative to the traditional Christmas tree.

slightly shorter spinder-holder st Cote Provence

Ikea
Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre
Cnr. Victoria St and Burnley St
Richmond

8416 5000

I know many people (my boyfriend, mainly) who won't go near Ikea on a weekend, let alone in the lead-up to Christmas. Trouble is, you won't find better value Christmas decorations or wrapping anywhere else in Melbourne. Seriously. The range and the prices are quite unbelievable. The trick for a semi-enjoyable visit to Ikea during the festive season is to follow my fail-safe tips -

1) Ikea is open until 9.00pm on Thursday and Friday night. Avoid the crowds and go after work.

2) Almost all the Christmas gear is right at the end near the registers. (Except the candles, candlesticks and plants, which are still very close by, just before the 'marketplace' area). With this in mind, DON'T walk through the entire store - take a sharp right at the lifts in the entrance area, and walk in to the store through the checkouts. Don't worry everyone does it. The friendly Ikea information lady even recommends it.

3) - bring CASH - the queues are always shorter for the 'cash only' registers

4) Buy a blue bag at the checkout - come on, they're only $1.00. Don't be trying one of those crazy juggling acts so many people seem to attempt as they're leaving the store... you'll break something :)

Good luck!

See how much Christmas stuff they've got at Ikea!? Aggh. Love the oversized heart-shaped baubles in either silver or gold - $9.95 for a 2-pack. (they're as big as a grapefruit!)

Baubles in every possible colour, every possible style. Top - 48-pack of blue baubles for only $7.95! bottom 59-pack of gold baubles - $12.95. Yes this is CHEAPER THAN GIFT TAGS! Why not tie a bauble on each present instead of a tag, and write the recipients name with permanent marker, gold or silver pen or white-out pen?

Wrapping wrapping wrapping... I bought the gorgeous hearts / stripes pack in blues / reds including all ribbon and rosettes for I think $12.95? They also have a great selection of gift-wrap ribbons.

Christmas wreath - $25.00. Tiny mini succulents for only $1.75 each! Too cute! Imagine clusters of these in tiny pots strewn up and down your Christmas table as a centrepiece? Or one with each guests' name tied on, to mark their place at the table? (They can take it home after!).

Top - gorgeous metallic candlesticks in various heights / designs - sorry I seem to have misplaced my notes on these but from memory they were all around the $10.00 mark. Ikea also has the absolute best selection of candles at the best prices. Bottom - packs of column candles in varying heights, only $9.95.

Industria
202 Gertrude st
Fitzroy

9417 1117

Spotted these absolutely tiny little glass bottles in Industria for only $1.00 each (actually they also have even smaller ones at 75c). Of course my mind started racing with ideas... filling them with water and popping in a single flower stem in each one - or for a longer-lasting display how about tiny succulent stems instead? (either from Ikea, your garden or your neglected nature strip - shhhhh!) Wrap some fine wire around the neck of each tiny bottle and hang each one on your Christmas tree, on a clothes line across the room, or wired securely to your wreath on the front door. Otherwise cluster them on your dining table for unique floral display... endless possibilities...!

I bought 20 of these... have a few crafty plans in mind... will let you know how I go!

Tiny glass bottles from Industria

Dumbo Feather handmade envelopes

Famed Australian independent 'mook' (magazine + book = mook) Dumbo Feather have come up with a fabulous idea for damaged / unsaleable copies of their gorgeous publication. These mini envelopes are part of an ongoing project whereby the pages of these unread backissues are recycled and turned into something new… apparently it is their goal to ensure that no page of Dumbo Feather is wasted!

Available from the Dumbo Feather online shop - $15.00 for a colour-themed pack of 3 handmade envelopes, 3 plain cards, 3 labels and 3 sticker seals.

The envelopes were handmade by Dumbo Feather reader Kate Mason, who also creates other envelopes and paper goods from all kinds of recycled papers which she sells on Etsy. (Kate is currently overseas but check back in the new year for more handmade papery goodness)

Interview - Michaela Webb

Round Paper Models, 2006

Assorted work for the National Gallery of Victoria

above - books and pamplets for the NGV

A 'beautiful poster that people would not throw away' for the Faculty of Architecture and Planning, University of Melbourne (notice the architectural 'crease folds', allowing the poster to be folded into any number of 3D shapes).


Michaela Webb is co-director of the fantastic Studio Round, an award-winning graphic design studio based in Melbourne. Between running her own studio, and acting as co-president of AGDA Victoria, it seems she's one very busy designer! I'm also convinced that she's extremely efficient, because she responded to my interview in record-time and with no reminder emails at all... You know what they say about busy people! :)

I heard Michaela speak at the fantastic Design Capital conference back in July, and I was truly inspired by her unique approach to her work. I furiously scribbled notes as she spoke passionately about her work for Wolff-Olins and Spin in the UK. She emphasised the human aspects of design - thinking about people, and the individual outside of the 'brand'. She talked about design as 'creating an experience', and lamented the common marketing approach of 'shouting' at consumers.

Michaela Webb seems to me to champion a fresh approach to graphic design... an approach which recognises that the future of design isn't about branding and homogenising. Instead, Michaela's design aesthetic is generous and not controlling... it's about risk-taking, provoking a reaction, and ultimately creating work with depth and integrity.

A big thankyou to Michaela for her time and efficiency!

Tell me a little about your background – what path led you to what you’re doing now?

My father would always encourage me to draw and build things with him from a very early age. I started a fine arts degree but kept looking at what was happening in graphic design. After two years of fine arts I joined some of the design students and visited Melbourne to attend AGIdeas. I then decided to swap over to graphic design.

I worked for a few years and then lectured full time in an undergraduate design degree. This was an amazing experience, almost like postgraduate study, writing briefs, analysing and reassessing the process of design.

Then I travelled to London where I started working at Wolff-Olins, a large branding company with 80 designers on one floor and a staff of 200. I then moved to Spin, where I worked for nearly 4 years. My time at Spin was brilliant. I managed to travel nonstop, working throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. For me, the highlight was probably the wide variety of cultural accounts I worked on. These included Whitechapel Art Gallery, Christie’s Contemporary, Deutsche Bank Kunst, Anthony D’Offay Gallery and Haunch of Venison.

You have a worked with some incredible companies overseas, and have collaborated on many exciting projects including identity for the much-publicised Tate Modern museum in the UK… how has your international experience influenced your creative style and your approach to doing business in Melbourne?

Business in Melbourne is different to design in the UK. Here the market is less mature and you are often required to educate people about the value of design. In the UK, people already know the process and understand the value design contributes to business and culture.

Studio Round has come a long way since you first started in 2002. What goals did you initially have for your design studio and how has the company evolved over the last few years?

I work with my partner, so our first goal was to stay married. Our second goal was to stay afloat.

We didn’t really have a plan when we moved to Melbourne. We just loved the place and decided it was where we wanted to be. We now work in a studio space in Flinders Lane and have 7 people working with us. The studio now has more structure, which funnily enough allows us to be more creative. We also have a lot more people we can work and collaborate with.

Harper Lane broadsheet

Harper Lane stationary

In addition to running your own studio, you are also co-president of AGDA Victoria. This seems like a lot of work! What does your role at AGDA entail, and what initially appealed to you about being part of the Association?

It is a lot of work! My role varies from sitting on the Design Victoria Advisory Board to helping organise events, newsletters, workshops, etc. Organizations like AGDA are an extremely important part of raising the profile of Graphic Design as an industry in Australia. But I have done it for 3 years and it’s now time to step back and let someone else take the reins.

I LOVE THIS STATIONARY for the Anna Schwartz Gallery in Melbourne... so so simple but so strikingly beautiful. I am assuming printing right to the edge of the paper like this is veeeery pricey.

More stunning black and white minimalism for Anna Schwartz

When you approach a brief initially, where do you turn for inspiration – books, magazines or the web? Do you pay attention to trends in the broader design world like fashion, film, architecture etc?

Usually all of the above, it depends on the brief. I sometimes just start drawing very rough sketches.

I take a lot of inspiration from art. But also architecture, books and film. The web is an encyclopaedia of information and opens many new windows. They are all great tools and sources of inspiration.

Which designers, artists or creative people are you inspired by?

There are lots of people creating great work. Probably Graphic Thought Facility and Kenya Hara stand out the most. They have a beautiful way of thinking, a simplicity about their approach, and a love of tactile objects. The artist I love most at the moment is Christine Hill.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

6.00 walking along the Yarra river near the Fairfield boathouse, breakfast at home around 7.00 and (hopefully!) in the studio by 8.00am. It is so good to get there before everyone else so I can catch up on emails!

I usually stay till about 7.00pm. It is non-stop most days, in meetings, discussing ideas with the team, and designing too of course!

...love the variety of these catalogues and invitations for City of Melbourne and City Gallery

What are you most proud of professionally?

Being able to work with my partner and keep the studio producing great work. There is no one job that is a favourite.

What's the best thing about your job?

The freedom of being my boss.

And the worst?

Having to commoditise design with a value.

What would be your dream project?

A client with an unlimited budget that loved the design process and wants to take risks and continually push solutions. They also want to produce a book about the process. I do love designing books.

What are you looking forward to?

That dream client turning up…

Melbourne Questions –

Where do you shop in Melbourne for the tools and materials of your trade – ie sketching materials, computer equipment, reference publications?

Metropolis, Brunswick Street Bookstore, NGV Bookshop Fed Square

The Melbourne Design Guide - lovely 'scrapbook' aesthetic complete with rubber bands and bulldog clips.

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

Cumulus Inc., Flinders Lane. The food and environment are exceptional.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Julio, great cafe down by the school yard in North Fitzroy… or in my garden.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

The Narrows Gallery and our rooftop.

The Melbourne Design Guide on show at the State of Design festival 2006

Design:Made:Trade

Design:Made:Trade was a welcome addition to the State of Design line-up this year... the 4-day trade event took place last Thursday 17th - Sunday 20th at the Exhibition Building in Carlton, and was also open to the public on the Sunday. The idea for this new event is to showcase Australia's small manufacturers, product designers, and design makers. The event was specifically created for designers seeking collaboration with manufacturers, retail and export buyers. Lots of great independent design was on show, some I'd seen before, but also some really interesting new companies I wasn't aware of.

The best thing about Design:Made:Trade is that it separates these smaller design firms from the sprawling Furnitex/Decoration + Design event, giving them a more specialised environment in which to show their work.

Also I loved the design of the exhibition itself - cardboard fold-out booths gave it a low-fi, sustainable feel (although... I'm not sure what happened to all that cardboard afterwards!... I hope it got recycled.)

*update - Just heard from Melbourne-based design house Buro North, who are responsible for the excellent exhibition design at D:M:T. They have confirmed that all materials used in the project were recycled after the event, in collaboration with VISY. (see comments below) Wicked.

Highlights below:

Samantha Parsons of Studio Sam chats to visitors

Studio Sam products - above, Siena the book block table (available from Format Furniture) below, custom-embellished plates created by Samantha for the Eat Green Design event

Stunning textured wallpapers by Ilias, inspired by braille. I love the colours and the flocking - also he's branching into rugs and showed the first rug in his range.

New typography/graphic design company The Foundry showed some beautiful simple printed products, with as much emphasis on well-researched content as aesthetic appeal. In particular I loved the 'produce in season' wall chart... I'll write more about The Foundry next week - I think they deserve a post of their own!

The Foundry

The Foundry's 'produce in season' wallchart

Yellow Diva's striking pieces

Marc Pascal's colourful hand-made lights

It was lovely to meet Volker Haug in person after interviewing him a while ago for this site! He was so nice and friendly... wish I had more time to chat! (I was frantic as usual getting all my photos...) He showed a small selection of his fantastic lighting range...

Tractor Home had a gorgeous stand full of hand-made treasures from South Africa... including some of superstar South African designer Heath Nash's work. Nash makes his pieces from discarded plastics, combining different colours to create the most fantastic homewares and lights... I must visit the Tractor Home retail store! Stunning stuff.