wlwl created by welikewelove.com
{ a magazine about sharing the things you like & love }
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BEHIND THE SCENES
FRONT & BACK COVER shot on Elyse’s Hasselblad with Ilford PanF 50 (b&w) and Fujifilm Provia 100 (slide/E6) film. INSET: on set at the Circle of Influence shoot (PG 8).
WHAT’S INSIDE
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clockwise from top left:
6 FLUX
fashion
54 58 33 40 17 BRAND NEW
FILM STUDIES
conference
photography
+ we love our contributors
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FEATURED BLOGGER(S)
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CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE fashion
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MAISON interior design
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WELCOME
SAMANTHA SAVAGE SMITH music
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FALL FLUX fashion
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ROLLOUT
MES DAMES fashion
interior design
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ROLLOUT custom wallpaper
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BEN chapter nine
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MES DAMES fashion
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HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN
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BRAND NEW CONFERENCE
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FILM STUDIES photography
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PUMPKIN PIE recipes
MAISON
interior design
welikewelove
a magazine about sharing the things you like & love
issue 9 * our BASIC issue!
ALYSSA YUHAS Creative Director ********
alyssa@welikewelove.com
LIZ FIELD Managing Editor ********
liz@welikewelove.com
SHANE YUHAS Staff Photographer ********
shane@shaneyuhas.com
JOSH NAUD Copy Editor ********
FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ********
THE BASICS: Life can get so busy. Our work and social commitments can litter our calendars before we even get a chance to blink or breathe. I know I’m not the only one sitting down on a Sunday night, looking out over the upcoming week and thinking: how is that all going to fit? And then squeezing something else in. Despite the fact that most of these calendar items are things I enjoy and get fulfilment from, there can still be a certain amount of soul sinking that occurs when I am hardpressed to find any unplanned vacancies in next week’s schedule. Sorry Mom, I can’t meet you for coffee on Monday – what does next Thursday night between six and eight look like for you? Am I the only one that’s ever had to say that to her own mother? (Bless her heart, she still met me for coffee at 630pm on Thursday.) Is this crazy? And if it is, would I make time to deal with it?
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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: ISSUE 10 DEADLINE IS MARCH 31st Send all photo/art submissions to alyssa@welikewelove.com Send all writing submissions to liz@welikewelove.com FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Elyse Bouvier MAKE-UP Dalyce Chomick MODEL Fen
THIS IS OUR NINTH ISSUE! wlwl is published quarterly & is available to purchase via
All exaggerations aside, when my calendar loads up and my sleep grows thin, I can only sustain time management madness for a short period of time before I have to completely cancel or bail on plans so I can spend a few hours trying to pick up the pieces of my mental health, and work on that puzzle for a night. When the buzzing of busy-ness takes over mental processing, it can become frighteningly easy to disconnect from the reasons we are so busy to begin with. What is refreshing for me about our winter issue, is that our contributors and their submissions seem to make a connection between purpose and schedule; the two seem to really align naturally. Preparing for WLWL9, the content seemed to beg the same of me – or at the very least, it seemed to point out where the connection had been broken in my life. Never before has an issue’s contents challenged me to so deeply examine and alter how and why I’m spending my time the way I am. I’m not asking you to do anything drastic with your time, but rather to peel back the layers and get in touch with the fundamentals: the visceral elements that connect you to the building-blocks of desire, and dreams, and motivation and inspiration. Remember those? We hope your calendars over the holidays and into the new year allow a connection between your time and your purpose to resurface. We’re always thankful for you, because you help us to align our calendars with our hearts.
www.welikewelove.magcloud.com Read the blog, send us an email, submit to the magazine & support us by visiting > www.welikewelove.com. Thank you for your ongoing support of welikewelove! xoxo
Happy Holidays from the WLWL girls
WE HEART OUR CONTRIBUTORS! FIND OUT WHAT THE LIKE & LOVE: 1
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1 Lowell Smith, technological artist, Calgary, A.B., lowellsmith.ca, loves his mom, a perfectly prepared rare steak & creating a beautiful object. 2 Alexandra Evjen, fashion stylist, Phoenix, A.Z., avestyles.com, likes fall, soy lattes & Pinterest. 3 Evita Weed, photographer, Granada, Spain, evitaweed.carbonmade.com, loves old cameras, Polaroids, animals & the life. 4 Claudine O’Sullivan, illustration student, London, U.K., claudineosullivan.com, likes toasted sandwiches, odd earrings & prime numbers. 5 Elyse Bouvier, photographer/barista, Calgary, A.B., elysebouvier.com, likes prairie horizons, fresh notebooks & Twitter crushes. 7 Kendra Robinson, music instructor & aspiring interior designer, Medicine Hat, A.B.,
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loves polka-dots, egg-nog lattes, gold sparkly things & Bing Crosby on vinyl. 7 Nick DuPlessis, photographer, Phoenix, A.Z., nickduplessis.com, likes Polaroids, winter & folk music. 8 Leah Van Loon, stylist, Calgary, A.B., leahvanloon.com, likes my Kitchenaid stand mixer, Miu Miu Resort 2012 & OPI “Designer De Better” nailpolish (photo by Jared Sych) 9 Dalyce Chomick, artist, Calgary, A.B., beautybydalyce.com, loves creating jewelry, singing Christmas carols & watching Criminal Minds. 10 Lucy Engelman, freelance illustrator , Northfield, I.L., lucyengelman.com, likes Diet Coke, listening to podcasts & sleeping in. 11 Anna Malmberg, photographer & blogger (ELLE.se), Paris, France, annamalmbergphoto. com, loves photography, vintage, roadtrips, her
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fiancé, her sisters & old abandoned buildings. 12 Kait Kucy, freelance lifestyle writer & blogger, Calgary, A.B., yuppielove.org, loves her home, her husband, poodles, twinkle lights & riding bikes. 13 Jason Eng, photographer, Calgary, A.B., loves instant film, black coffee, grey T-shirts, delicious tacos, Dr. Bronner’s magic soap. 14 Kate Schutz, painter/illustrator/interior designer, Calgary, A.B., kateschutz.com, likes vintage shopping, the perfect latte, travel, cooking & working with children. 15 Matthew Hamel, risk management, Calgary, A.B., about.me/Matthew.Hamel, loves back-country camping & a good meal. 16 Angela Reimer, graphic designer/painter, Calgary, A.B., angelareimer.com, loves thrift stores, CBCradio1, typography, abstract impressionism & radiolab.
FEATURED BLOGGER sacramentostreet.com CAITLIN FLEMMING, interior designer & blogger, San Francisco, CA
On a day-to-day basis she shares what inspires her in interiors, fashion, travel, photography and anything that comes her way. Today, when she’s not writing her lifestyle blog, she’s traveling the world and streets of San Francisco for the latest design finds. She loves any new challenge she comes across and is an entrepreneur at heart. WHEN I BECAME INTERESTED IN DESIGN: As young as four years old my mom would take me to flea markets all around the world. My mom loved that I would find pieces at my eye level while she looked at everything above me. We were the perfect duo and we still are. Wherever we travel we manage to find a hidden antique store or market. DESIGN TIP: Wherever you go, find something that represents what you loved about that city and bring it home. There is nothing I love more than a home that has treasures and pieces that actually mean something, and more importantly have a story behind them.
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THREE QUESTIONS Why did you start blogging, and what do you love about it? I started Sacramento Street out of the blue. It was a week before my birthday two and a half years ago. I was desperately looking for a creative outlet. Part of my former day job was working with bloggers and I thought a blog would be the perfect place for me to start storing all of the images I had saved in my inspiration folder. It’s been an incredible journey ever since! What do you love most about living on Sacramento Street? It’s my oasis in a big city. We’ve lived here for almost six years. A big reason why we’ve never left our neighbourhood is it feels like a small town – our local grocery store employees know us by name. What is your most treasured design-find? This is a hard question because I love every piece I’ve bought in Morroco, but if I had to name a few it would be the $20 Moroccan shoes (I’ll never find anything like them again), a $15 wrought iron side-table, and my dining room chairs. Everything I’ve bought I love, so that was a tough question!
5 LIKES & LOVES Likes 1 Flower markets 2 Taking photos via Instagram 3 My earl gray soy misto 4 Erica Tanov bedding 5 Weekends at Calistoga Indian Springs (my haven)
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Loves 1 Traveling near and far 2 The art of mixing old and new furniture 3 Finding that perfect treasure at flea markets 4 The unbelievable friendships I’ve made through blogging 5 Lazy Sunday’s at home with Eric (my high school sweetheart)
{ MICHELLE DREWES } michelledrewes.com
FEATURED BLOGGER designismine.blogspot.com SUMMER ALLEN, blogger & shopgirl, Portland, OR
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5 LIKES & LOVES I was born and raised in Los Angeles by a Hollywood promoter/journalist and a hairmetal bass player. I lived in a beach house during my teen years, where I started doing art and blogging about my daily life. I had a baby and packed up my life and moved to Portland, where I plan to stay a long time. I spend my days blogging, baking, mothering two small children, photobooth-hopping, drinking fine beers, watching old movies, and working in the prettiest little antique and treasure shop in this fair city.
1 The style and whimsy of the 1920s 2 Collecting old treasures 3 Using my film cameras around town 4 Big fluffy cats 5 Getting my hands dirty in the kitchen
TWO QUESTIONS Why did you start blogging, and what do you love about it? I started blogging because I wanted to connect with others over the internet and express my thoughts. I started with a personal blog, that evolved into a photography, art, and journal-type site called Indierocket, which I ran for years. Finally, I
began Design is Mine as a wishlist, which I now run and love. Blogging has allowed me to share art and lovely finds with people all over the world, as well as brought so many talented and inspiring friends into my life. What are your top experiences that have come from blogging? Becoming an Elle Italia contributer (because the editor reads my blog), speaking at Alt Summit Design Conference, and meeting a large number of my favorite artists.
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{ AMY NIETO } amynieto.com
C I R C L E
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I N F L U E N C E
PHOTOGRAPHY Jason Eng ART DIRECTION & STYLING Leah Van Loon, leahvanloon.com STYLIST ASSISTANT Tanya Peck MAKE-UP Teslin Ward, teslinward.com HAIR Jay Hibbard (Hedkandi Salon), hedkandisalon.com MODEL Marie C. (Numa Models), numamodels.com Shot at Calgary Freemason’s Hall
PREVIOUS PAGE: Skirt and Dress (under skirt) both by Paul Hardy, Belt from Holt Renfrew, Earrings by Dean Davidson, Cuff by Alexis Bittar from Rubaiyat | THIS PAGE: Dress by Alexander Wang from Primitive, Shoes by Camilla Skovgaard from Gravity Pope, Earrings by Roberta Chiarelli, Necklace by Aga and Tamar from Rubaiyat |
Dress by Hoss from Primitive, Shoes by Christian Louboutin from Holt Renfrew, Fox stole by Holt Renfrew furs, Earrings by Roberta Chiarella from Rubaiyat |
PREVIOUS PAGE: Fur coat by Oscar de la Renta from Holt Renfrew Furs, Necklace by Paul Hardy, Bracelet by Roberta Chiarella from Rubaiyat, Boots by Marc by Marc Jacobs from Gravity Pope | THIS PAGE: Top by Paul Hardy, Skirt by Pink Tartan, Belt from Holt Renfrew, Necklace by Roberta Chiarella from Rubaiyat, Chinchilla jacket from Holt Renfrew Furs |
PREVIOUS PAGE: Dress by Gucci, Earrings by Michael Kors from Holt Renfrew, Necklace by Alexis Bittar from Rubaiyat, Shoes by Dries Van Noten from Gravity Pope | THIS PAGE: Dress by Anagram from Primitive, Necklace and ring by Michael Kors, Shoes by YSL from Holt Renfrew, Sable jacket (on floor) from Holt Renfrew furs |
Dress by St. John from Holt Renfrew, Earrings by Roberta Chiarella from Rubaiyat |
MAISON the redhead’s handbook to French interior design
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{ Kendra Robinson } likes gold sparkly things & Bing Crosby on vinyl, therufflehouse.com As her heels click down endless halls of worn-out hardwood and through the chateau corridors of bronzed bodies + gold leafed mirrors, this redhead is reminded why France always does it best. In PART II of her journey she discovers that gilded wood-work, four-tiered chandeliers, & royal velvet wall coverings are staple items for a true French-maison. Wall to wall and city to city, here is her piece of cake on the insides of France.
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SA M A N T H A S AVA G E SMITH { Josh Naud } likes talking over coffee and taking it easy. { Claudine O’Sullivan } likes drawing and massive cups of tea. myspace.com/samanthasavage
Of course she cares about fashion, she says, pointing out that she is as she appears to be - a girl. But she says it with an indifferent shrug, and glances down at what she wears tonight to meet me at a Calgary coffee shop. She fiddles with her black scarf, and confesses that it might be hiding a mustard stain on her beige, knit sweater – the one she wears “for weeks on end.” The thing about Samantha Savage Smith, with a recent distribution deal inked with the Canadian indie hit-factory record label Arts and Crafts, is that she could have mustard right there on her chin and I swear you wouldn’t notice. From her music to her conversation, it is at once alarmingly honest, and just right. Her debut recording Tough Cookie has been released so far with no shortage of acclaim. So much so that a Calgary newspaper music writer asked her back in February 2011 if she was ready for the apparently inevitable “backlash.” At the time, she laughed - which she does a lot of in our two hours together and doesn’t seem too bothered at the thought of it now. It hasn’t come yet. It’s foreseeable that with a commanding Jenn Grant kind of charm onstage and a voice that has earned some respectable comparisons to Feist and St.Vincent, the future is bright. While her first single, “The Score”, has been getting much of the love in blogs and radio play, listening to Tough Cookie is an experience best
photo by Lindsey Baker
enjoyed from start to finish. Lyrically poignant and sonically enchanting, this is a record that understands you, if that’s possible. It’s like a good whiskey, in that it will punch you in the face and shake your hand afterward, and then tuck you into bed. Listening to this record, you can’t help but think that Savage Smith knows what you’re going through. Lyrically, she reminds us that we’re probably all as messed up and lost as each other, and that “having the same illness as everybody else truly is the definition of health,” as Douglas Coupland writes. Here, it’s the communal experience of it all that transcends the immediate. The album is honest and vulnerable, but whether it’s something in the lyrics or a hint of it in her voice, there is an overarching theme that all is not lost; there is something worth reaching for.
study to sit around the Roasterie in Kensington, drinking coffee and doing the odd bit of panhandling to scrounge up some dollars for that night’s all ages show. Our conversation teeters off course getting around to old Calgary hardcore bands and our undying love for the Get Up Kids, and The Anniversary, and pretty much the whole Vagrant Records roster.
Her voice somehow sails along a line between surreal and imperfectly human. Depending on the day or mood, she’ll slip to one side or the other.
She laughs when asked what it might feel like for her band to sing backup to lyrics like, “Come on, let’s break a sweat,” and says she hadn’t thought about it. And anyway, “they probably do it too. It’s not a gender specific song,” she laughs.
She’s been quoted admiring female soul singers of past and present, and the company makes sense considering her music is nothing if not soulful. But like most of us, there’s more to it than first impressions. Musically, the rock influence is obvious. “I didn’t want cellos and strings and things like that,” she says, opting instead for a “guitar heavy album… We wanted it to have a lot of ass, so really bass heavy.” After seeing her live, this seems fair enough: whiskey shots onstage don’t exactly scream ‘string section.’ That said, she admits the vision for the album wasn’t entirely laid out. “It was kind of a whirlwind for me, to tell you the truth. I think now I have a better idea, and it’s a little more clear to me when I write, how I really want them to sound with the band.” As to why the classical comparisons, it’s simple, she says. “When people hear or see something, your mind immediately wants to register something that’s familiar.” True, but like any good love, Savage Smith’s appeal is anything but scientific; it’s only natural. And it’s only natural to grow up from the teenager who spent her days neglecting
Now, at 24, her taste has shifted somewhat – though, Anita O’Day, Saves the Day, and Justin Townes Earle are mentioned with near equal esteem – to folk music, and, naturally, boys. She’s not shy to share it, either. Much of her lyrics are undeniably around this side of things, but she claims she didn’t realize it until it was pointed out to her.
Maybe, but - and no offense to her band here (Chris Dadge on drums and Henry Hsieh on bass) - it just doesn’t make for quite the same sing-a-long. But there has been some lyrical confusion among the bandmates. She doesn’t write her lyrics down (ever), so it’s anybody’s guess, including her backing boys, what she’s really saying. “There’s that breakdown in Tough Cookie that says ‘To you, to me, to us,’ but Chris thought it was ‘two eyes’ and then Henry thought it was ‘two guys’... so it was pretty funny,” she says. “They are personal (the songs), but I don’t know. Everyone else goes through the same thing. I’m just melodramatic about it.” In “The Fight” she sings: I wonder if my heart will beat like thunder, a touch of one finger, and I will spend the night. Will I start to crumble, when we start to rumble, in your bed tonight? I know we know this is not right, but why put up the fight, when we’re going down together? “It’s where I get all my crazy out (the music),”
she says laughing (again), “so I can be normal every day.” Predictably, in hindsight, going down together doesn’t always feel good. The mood in our conversation takes a step down here, as she talks about reliving the stories in the songs. For the next few minutes she smiles but doesn’t laugh, slowly working out her thoughts. Generally, she says, it’s not too bad during shows, “because you’re in that head space.” But, of course, there are times. “I played a show in Vancouver and my ex was there, and he hasn’t seen me play ever... and you know, he’s not an idiot – he knows (he’s had some influence on the songs), and that was the first time since I wrote them that once again you revisit that terrible feeling (laughs). It was still a fun show, but you know, sometimes you feel a little exposed.” The conversation turns to money and time, something aspiring songwriters almost always have too little of. Between working at a shoe store and serving at a pub to pay the bills, Savage Smith is left with little time and energy to focus on music. She manages, though, writing constantly and even working on material for a new project she hopes to get off the ground in the new year. She’s tightlipped about what to expect, other than that it will be different from what you might expect. “Maybe I’ll start a metal band,” she says, before launching into how she came to tentatively title her next album, “Moms Love this Shit.” Because, she says, people tell her this often. Moms always know best. In the end, after all the long nights of drinking and cussing and scandalous songs about married men (Why do I still kiss you, when the rings tell us not to? in “You Always Come to Mind”), she comes out innocent. If you were tempted to drop your guard and gush a little, you’d be forgiven, because everybody (and their moms) is doing it. After all, as Lorrie Matheson, her producer and guy-who-startedeverything-for-her said at one of her shows this summer to correct me, she’s not only good, “she’s the best.”
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PHOTOGRAPHY Nick Duplessis, nickduplessis.com STYLING Alexandra Evjen, avestyles.com HAIR & MAKE-UP Arthur Federico MODEL Cristina Irimiciuc (Ford/Robert Black Agency & Nous Models/Nu Talent)
{ Alexandra Evjen } likes Project Runway & J.Crew catalogs. The crisp fall air has arrived, which means we have reached under our beds and opened boxes to unpack fall clothes. Most of us are pulling out our trusty black cardigans, gray pea coats and bright red scarves, and have said good-bye to chiffon blouses and neon bandeaux tops.
Well, keep those on the hangers too! The fashion gods and goddesses have kept floral prints and bright colors as part of the palette this season! Plus, the average woman doesn’t have the budget to revamp her whole fall wardrobe, so why not use summer clothing to transform fall staples and create new outfits - carrying on the trends of stripes, color and maxi dresses.
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// EVERY GAL KNOWS ABOUT THE LBD (LITTLE BLACK DRESS), AND MOST OF US HAVE ONE FOR EACH SEASON. BUT YOU CAN HAVE MORE THAN ONE FOR ALL BY ADDING A CHIFFON SKIRT TO AN ABOVE-THE-KNEE DRESS, CREATING A HIGH-FASHION-FORWARD LOOK!
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MAXI DRESSES ARE A STAPLE FOR SUMMER BECAUSE THEY ARE EASY TO WEAR. WELL, WHY SHOULDN’T FALL BE JUST AS EASY? ADD SOME COMBAT BOOTS, A LEATHER BOMBER JACKET AND A SCARF TO CREATE A GO-TO FALL LOOK.
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COTTON RUFFLE TOPS HAVE BECOME A STAPLE OF SPRING AND SUMMER, AND PAIRED WITH SOME COLOURED SKINNY JEANS, BOOTS, SCARF AND JACKET THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE FOR ALL SEASONS.
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CHANCES ARE YOU HAVE A COUPLE MILITARY INSPIRED PIECES OR SOME SHIRT DRESSES AROUND. ADD A GLAMOROUS FAUX FUR VEST OR JACKET ALONG WITH SOME LACE-UP BOOTS, AND VOILA! FALL HAS ARRIVED!
SPRING AND SUMMER ARE THE SEASONS OF WEDDINGS WHERE BEAUTIFUL COCKTAIL AND GARDEN DRESSES ARE PLENTIFUL, BUT WHY SHOULD FALL BE ANY DIFFERENT? ADD A CLASSIC BLACK CARDIGAN, SOMETHING EVERY WOMAN SHOULD OWN, AND MAKE IT WORK FOR ALL SEASONS.
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NEON BANDEAUX TOPS WERE UNDER EVERY TANK TOP THIS YEAR. SO FOR FALL, PUT THEM UNDER A LONG-SLEEVED LACE TOP WITH SOME TIGHT LEATHER PANTS FOR A NIGHT OUT OR ADD A PUFFER VEST TO CREATE A TOMBOY EDGE.
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// OFFICE ATTIRE SHOULD NEVER BE BORING, BUT IN THE FALL IT’S EASY TO LET IT BE. INSTEAD, TAKE YOUR FAVOURITE TOP OR DRESS, PUT YOUR HAIR UP, AND ADD A CHUNKY, COLOURFUL SCARF. IT’S A PROFESSIONAL LOOK THAT’S EASY AND STYLISH IN ONE.
P U M P K I N P I E S F O R T H E S W E E T AT H E A R T:
T W O H E A LT H Y TA K E S O N A CLASSIC DESSERT
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Writer { Kait Kucy } likes seafood, tennis and ice cream. Illustrator { Kate Schutz } likes Boris & Chester (her two cats) and her painting studio.
A chill in the air. Crunchy leaves flocking into piles meant for jumping in. A boiling pot of hot apple cider on the stove. Everything, everywhere, signaling the change of seasons and each one of us preparing to warm up for the wintertime. It’s a time of year when friends and family congregate in the kitchen and partake in the ritual of cooking and baking together. We start feeling a sense of warmth and a need for those homecooked flavours. Is it hibernation, or is it the romance of the approaching holidays? Whatever it is, it’s goodand great and moving in the direction of a warm oven and a full tummy.
My (health) foodie pal Kate and I began swapping holiday recipes when we realized we both had completely different spins on the epitome of autumn desserts: the classic pumpkin pie. We dusted our noses with flour ala Lucille Ball and got to work on our gourded magnum opus for Canadian Thanksgiving. We both cook for others, and ourselves, who need to eat gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and more, so it’s important to have something at the table that everyone can eat. Use our yummy gluten-free pie crust for both fillings-flaky deliciousness! Pull out your favourite vintage pie plate and get that pie server out from the back of your cutlery drawer.
RECIPES GLUTEN-FREE SWEET PIE CRUST 1 ½ cups of gluten-free rice flour 1 tbsp of sugar ¼ tsp xantham gum ½ cold butter, chopped into tiny pieces ½ cup cold water 1 tsp vanilla extract
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KAIT’S GLUTEN-FREE PUMPKIN PIE 1 kg butternut pumpkin, peeled, seeded and chopped 1 cup maple syrup 2 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp nutmeg 1 cup milk 4 eggs 1 egg white, lightly beaten, for brushing A sprinkle of sugar Preheat your oven to 350 degrees farenheit. Place the pumpkin in a saucepan full of boiling water for 15 minutes or until tender to the touch. Drain and place in a food processor and blend until the pumpkin is smooth. Set aside to cool. Once cooled, whisk together maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs and milk. Pour mixture into blind baked crust. Re-roll any excess pasty and cut out tear drop shapes to place along edge of pie crust, overlapping slightly. Brush the edges with eggwhites and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 45 minutes or until centre is set. Place in the fridge once cooled. Slice chilled pie and serve up with a nice dollop of whipped cream!
KATE’S DAIRY-FREE VEGAN PUMPKIN PIE For the Yummy Cashew Cream (replaces eggs): 2 cups organic raw cashews Fresh water Rinse the cashews and place them in a ceramic bowl. Cover them with filtered cold water and place a clean tea towel over bowl. Let sit for two hours. Drain the cashews and place in blender with a pinch of sea salt and 2 tbsp coconut milk. Pulse the cashews until they form a paste; add a little more coconut milk to make the paste rich and creamy. Store in the fridge until you are ready to make the pie. For the Pie Filling: 2 14-oz. cans organic pumpkin puree 1 ¼ cups thick cashew cream 1 ¼ cups organic light brown sugar ½ cup coconut milk 3 tbsp molasses 1 tbsp pure maple syrup 1 tbsp fresh lime juice or orange juice 2 tbsp bourbon vanilla 2 tbsp tapioca starch 2 tsp xanthan gum ½ tsp sea salt 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger ¼ tsp nutmeg This is the fun part! Combine ALL of your ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Using a whisk or electric beaters for a bit of added power, mix until you have a smooth creamy texture. Pour the pumpkin custard into your blind baked pie crust. Place the pan into the center of the oven, preheated to 350 F. Bake for about one hour or until it is set. Cool the pie until it is cool enough to touch. Chill in the fridge overnight or for at least six hours. Slice & serve!
ROLL OUT { Liz Field } likes ginger-haired boys, gingerbeer and ginger hot chocolate. THIS PAGE Jessica Loraas – Map of Paris (PHOTOGRAPHY Jess Loraas) | NEXT PAGE Holt Renfrew – Toronto, Ontario (PHOTOGRAPHY Deryck Lewis) | Fruitridge – Wayfinder Series
Never before have we been able to design so much of our own lives. From how we watch television to how we model our careers, technology and our burgeoning ability to interact with it have allowed us to customize more aspects of our lives than ever before. Even when it comes to wallpaper. Gone are the days when businesses and home owners are forced to head into home design centres, or even hire an interior designer, to pick out mass produced stock selections for wallpaper to clad commercial and residential interiors. Enter in RollOut, a Vancouver and Toronto based creative studio that specializes in custom wallpaper design and digital prints. RollOut has also curated an artist series of original artwork clients can choose from consisting of industry-leading illustrators, photographers and cutting-edge graphic artists.
“Because the work is so large scale I think you’re creating an effect that you can’t create with a smaller piece of art work. It’s more of an interactive experience. Scale really changes someone’s experience with art,” says Anita Modha, RollOut CEO and Marketing Director. Modha believes that the wall is the medium for interior design, as opposed to the functional display space for a canvas or photograph. Since 2005, she’s grounded her business on creating an encompassing, immersive experience with floor to ceiling designs. “We want individuals to be able to create a customized design aesthetic for their homes and businesses. This is an era of complete customization – we can almost design all of the elements of our lives in ways that we never have before,” says Modha. “People are very tied to their spaces. Theres a lot of thought put into the type of feel that they want to create.”
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Though the creative studio is self described as existing to fill the gaping hole of modernism, Modha is quick to clarify before it seems she’s critiquing modernism’s influence on interior design.
and we new that we wanted it to be a completely customized product: colour, scale all of that can change. Its really exciting that even years later the fact that how we want to treat a space and intervene have stayed pretty true.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love white cubes. I love the dark clean lines of gallery spaces. But I really like colour and warmth and texture and splashes of character. We just really set out to do something that was really bold and powerful in terms of imagery.”
She describes their collaborations with clients as art projects. RollOut will ask clients to give them three key words they want to describe the space with. Mood boards for each of the three words are created.
We always knew we wanted to really cool bold patterns and create really immersive experiences and environments for people
“We really try to get into the essence of the word and build loose concepts around them,” says Modha.
After receiving client feedback, selections are refined after a couple of iterations. Then loose sketches and mock ups of the space are signed off by the client before production begins. “There’s an academic component and there’s a branding component: deliverables need to be in place, but it’s a really fun process to experience with our clients,” says Modha. While the aesthetic created is at the core of RollOut’s finalized product, Modha insists it’s not just about making a space look pretty. “We still have to do our research. If we’re working with a restaurant or nightclub
ROLLOUT STAFF: Anita Modha CEO + Marketing Director | Jonathan Nodrick President and Creative Director | Ehren Seeland Communications | Erica Crossfield Design and Production | Emily Paris Design and Admin | Khalil Jamal Special Projects |
5 LIKES & LOVES Likes 1 Pantone Pastels and Neon as well 2 The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation 3 Katsuyo Aoki Porcelain Skulls 4 Old maps (preferably of the treasure variety), coins and stamps 5 J Brand Jeans
we definitely want to get a sense of the demographic: what they wear, what they buy, what like they, what kind of music they listen to. But we also have to think about the food in an authentic way and come up with a visual flavor profile.” By allowing something as simple as ingredients in menu items influence and shape the design for a restaurant, the difference between a space that’s well decorated and a space that transports individuals to a completely different environment is created. And it’s in this transportation that Modha feels the most important thing happens for someone experiencing the space: the opportunity for individuals to make an emotional connection to the medium. Which is what at all art aspires to do; to create a reaction, a response or a connection. Modha draws inspiration from traveling and seeks to translate the emotional connection she feels to places that fill her creative reserve to the emotional connection her clients experience with their interior spaces. “New York, Barcelona and London are three cities that have blown me away the most. I think they’re more mental states of mind: how you feel while you’re there and how you’re interacting with your environment.” She describes her semester of grad school
Loves 1 Anything Apple related (technology kind, allergic to the eating kind) 2 Fall and Layers – scarves, mittens, blankets 3 Fat-free Frozen Yougurt (preferably chocolate with bananas) + Mexican Food 4 Making up new ideas 5 Reading
in Barcelona with spirited sentimentality, especially when talking about Antoni Gaudi’s architectural fingerprint throughout the city, almost woven into the culture’s fabric. She explains a different approach to design and product consumption and how beauty can bring out other positive qualities in day to day life and in culture. “There’s a different lifestyle in Spain, so you’re exposed to a completely different way of thinking - about art, family, even the way you spend your evenings. Barcelona puts such a huge emphasis on intelligent design. You couldn’t just go to corner store and pick up a dish rack. Every rack that you had to choose from was actually beautiful. It wasn’t just some plastic little thing on the shelf.” New York connected Modha to excitement and discovery, as she experiences the city in a different way every time she visits, whereas her experiences in London, her hometown, are more closely linked to nostalgia. Even at home, she is constantly aware of how environments and interior space can inspire. “Opening up the second studio in Toronto, every day is so different. Our workspace is this beautiful building called the Toronto Carpet Factory. It’s in this old carpet manufacturing building with huge wood beam ceilings.”
As for what’s next for RollOut, Modha, along with her team, allow past successes to inform what’s ahead. Having opened a second studio in the last year in Toronto, they’ve learned to handle project management, communications, and art direction more efficiently. They’ll also begin to tackle the manufacturing process and utilizing the technology available to enable creative solutions, rather than limit what they’re capable of. “The printing process is pretty involved. For example, we use water-base ink, so we aren’t able to print a true metallic. But we’ve found ways around that to fake the appearance of a metallic so we don’t let the technology available hinder us or what we’re able to create.” In addition to applying the creative use of technology to continue push their boundaries and discover solutions for design limitations, Modha and her team are considering rolling out more than just paper in the future. “We want to apply it all to a new product – we’re talking about immersive environments, so fabrics are something we might consider.” For more information about RollOut, visit www.rollout.ca to see projects, scroll through the artist series wallpaper gallery, and meet designers.
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Storyteller { Dalyce Chomick } likes taking Ben on wild adventures. Illustrator { Lucy Engelman } likes to collect sea glass.
To find out where we left Ben last, grab a copy of
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misunderstood.”
“So, you what? You kidnapped me to add to your erratic conquest, or to help you bury your mistakes?” “No, Ben, can’t you see? I, I didn’t kidnap you, I rescued you too.” It’s hard to fully explain in print the things that were and are happening in my head right now. This would be the perfect time in this story for a slow-motion birds-eye view spin with an emotional song from Temper Trap. “Sweet Disposition,” or something.
I turned to look at Berlin, then over to Donnie, and back at Berlin. She looked up at me, then to her knees. This is when every Bourne trilogy* or Spy Kids** movie started running through my head. I whip out the gun and point it at her head. “What? What the dill does that mean? You rescued me? I was taking out trash at work!” I felt angry. I could feel the blood rush throughout my body. I could feel the intricate makings of it at work: my nervous system, in all its glory, was in overdrive today. “You weren’t just taking out trash, Ben. You were trapped, underappreciated,
WLWL. You can find them at welikewelove.com.
“Hold the s#&@ up!” (Yeah, I know that doesn’t make sense, but the blood that is usually rushing to my head was now pumping to my lungs, groin and hands. I felt like maybe I was having a stress-induced heart attack. What a way to go at 17.) “My life isn’t The Breakfast Club***. You didn’t know me. You DON’T know me Berlin. I was fine where I was. I didn’t need saving.” “But, were you happy? Were you whole?”
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“What? What does that have to do with anything?” (P.S. I’m still pointing a gun at Berlin’s head. Let’s not lose sight of the moment, even though we’re having a deep conversation about my lot or meaning in life. I’m still a maniac with a pistol!) “Ben, I saw you and the look in your eyes looked the same as the one in Archie’s.” “Archie? Who the h#&@ is Archie?!” “The penguin.”
(This made me really angry. I don’t know why though. In hindsight, Archie is a great name for a penguin. But it really bothered me in the moment that she named him. It bothered me that she’s crazy, wild, free, and beautiful all at the same time.) “AHHH! SO WHAT? You, YOU get to run around saving everyone from unhappiness? You’re the superhero that kidnaps people and forces them into the woods to be happy, to be whole? That sounds totally messed up Berlin, but I guess that’s normal for you, right? What makes you feel like you are so happy, so perfect, Berlin? ‘Cause ever since I got forced into your psychotic little car-ride
I’ve thought of a few things: one, you are crazy; two, you’re severely bi-polar; and three, you’re deeply disturbed – which, for the record, is similar but still different than being crazy, I do assure you!” (OK, I know, maybe a little over the top, a little hurtful, but I was holding a gun to her head, I was at my breaking point. So everything after these facts seemed like a walk in the park, so to say.) “I’m sorry Ben,” she said in a whisper, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Were you going to kill me? Were you going
{ 38 } to kill Archie? What the h#&@ Berlin? You don’t get to decide who lives or dies. Why do you think this is ok? What happened to you to make you SO MESSED UP?”
you are.” I paused and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I wish I could just start over. You should have shot me when you had the chance.” I then let out a giant “AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!”
She was crying again, shuddering. “I’m sorry, I just wanted to help, to do something good. Things just got way out of hand. I guess the look I saw in you and Archie’s eyes was the same look, the same feeling I see every day. I’m not happy. I’m trapped in a situation that I wish someone would save me from. If I could I would just start over. I wish I could just start over. I know I’ve made a huge mistake here, Ben, I know. I’m sorry. I’m so, so, so sorry.” (Wow, I never saw that coming!) I started to cry (just a little bit). “You don’t know me Berlin. NO ONE does. I hate this life. You know what happens to me every day? People look at me and look right through me. My friends, my teachers, even my parents. I’m a geek. I’m a loser. I’m awkward looking. I have bad body-odour and I don’t shave what I should (which isn’t much!). I gave up on myself a long time ago ‘cause I realized that no one would care if I were here, or if I wasn’t. So what does it matter? That’s why I play role-playing games or go on gaming chatrooms - I can be someone stronger, braver, cooler. I can be someone other than me for a while.” Silence. So I continued. “So yeah, maybe I’m not happy. And I have no idea what feeling whole means, but you can’t be someone else. You can’t change who
My hands were shaking. The loudness of my voice scared even me. I saw Berlin shudder. She looked up at me again. I think we all thought (even Archie) that I was going to shoot her then, but I didn’t. She reached out her hand and placed it on the barrel of the gun. I thought for a moment, like, who does she think she is? I was totally going to shoot you! We had a moment of tension as I held on firm to the gun, but her fingers touched mine and I just couldn’t hold on anymore and let go. I’m no killer. I’m no lover either (at least not yet). But killer isn’t even something I think I’m willing to try. I looked at her, holding the gun again. She had all the power once more. But in a way, it felt right; I‘m not a leader I guess. I guess I’m nothing, really. Then I looked over to Donnie, his face had started turning purple, and his neck was dissolving into his flannel shirt. “It’s ok, Donnie, you can breathe now.” I smiled at him and he smiled back at me. He took a deep breath and his face regained its proper colour. I went over to the trunk of the car, the penguin – Archie, rather – looked at me. I patted him on the head – it’s maybe the only sign of comfort he’s used to. He does, after all, come from a petting zoo. The name kind of speaks for itself. This is when it got a bit weird; he nuzzled right into me and started to purr.
SHORT STORY
{ 39 } Donnie started giggling****, “Dis der pen-goon thinkin’ itself a cat. Look’it der purr all pretty.” He pointed and then shook his head with a rather goofy smile. He loved the fact that this was a domesticated penguin. I picked him up, and I guess, cradled him like a baby. He looked up at me and squawked, then he tilted his head to the side and squawked again, maybe to apologize for the misunderstanding of thinking my nipple or the button on my uniform was actually a sardine or corn pellet. He has also been saying he was still hungry, or hung over from being roofied, or maybe he was telling me that everything was going to be ok. I know he’s just a penguin, but he looked like he cared and damn it, I swear he would have been smiling if he didn’t have a beak, or wasn’t a penguin. He purred a little more, which was actually kind of creepy. But still comforting, somehow. I whispered back to him, “I’m sorry too, you know, for punching you in the face and then pointing a gun at everyone and making a scene.” He squawked again. I pushed him down and he started to waddle around. Probably looking for fish, or maybe he’s now addicted to cold meds and he’s trying to find a fix. Donnie called to him and he waddled over. He picked up Archie and started to giggle even more while he tickled his belly. “I never thought der, I’d see myself a pen-goon! Dis is a wild’der day.” I looked over to Berlin, she stood up, raised the gun at me. With tears rolled down her face she said, “Bang, Bang… you’re dead.” And pulled the trigger.
FOOTNOTES (*) Bourne Trilogy – – Seriously, who doesn’t love Jason Bourne? And who doesn’t (man, women or child) wish they were Matt Damon circa 2002-2004? I like girls, but he is a very attractive man. Sorry he was. Now he looks like a 45-year-old dad. He even has a dad haircut. (**) Spy Kids –I’m embarrassed, but I did think to myself, what would Antonio Banderas do or that little redhead boy? We’ve got Spy Kids in a Kellogg’s Corn Flakes box. I’m ashamed to say I’ve watched it more than four times. (***) The Breakfast Club – When I got my wisdom teeth removed last year, my mom rented me a few DVDs. I asked specifically for Fight Club, but she was going through a political stance against violence in the home. So she decided to go with The Breakfast Club. She knew I liked being a part of clubs and thought it probably had a similar story line. She was wrong about a lot of things. Not to mention I hate being a part of clubs. (****) Question: Is it manly to point out the fact that another man is, in fact, giggling? Should I have used the word chuckle? Snickering? Hooting?
MES DAMES PHOTOGRAPHY Anna Malmberg, annamalmbergphoto.com STYLING & DESIGN Lisa Wikander / Mes Dames, mesdames.se MAKE-UPÂ Mie Nakazato MODELS Marie-Clotilde Ramos-Ibanez & Nadine Clayton
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GENTLEMEN 101 { Lowell Smith } likes the taste of peat smoke and subtle sweetness of oak in a well aged Scotch whiskey.
I’m not really sure where to start or how to go about this, but being a gentleman takes time and effort. You don’ t just wake up one morning and notice you have hair on your chest, and become a gentleman.
A FEW RULES TO LIVE BY, IN BEING A GENTLEMAN. - Ladies are first, always. Age has priority here, so grandma gets the first slice of pie. - Respect your fellow man. A solid handshake can go a long way. - Say “please” and “thank you.” - Hold the door for her, and anyone who is there. - Don’t call or text pass 10pm. 10pm is the gentleman hour – a gentleman never calls past 10. - Buy her dinner. If you can’t because you’re broke, cook her dinner. - She made dinner? Do the dishes. - You made dinner? Do the dishes.
- Carry a handkerchief, cleaned and pressed. - Offer your seat. - Get her a drink. - Give her your coat when she’s cold. - Do respect another one’s beliefs in faith, politics or sports team. - Learn to wait in line, for her or for yourself. - Admit when you are wrong. - Always try to look good. Iron that shirt, polish those boots, comb your hair and clean your fingernails. - Smell good, but do not over-do it. Two sprits, one on the chest, another on the wrist, then rub your wrists and rub your neck and arms.
MY MAN WORLD (starting from top left): Mucros driving cap // Saddle Back leather briefcase // Old Spice cologne // Bleu de Chanel // Clubman moustache wax // Merkur Safety razor // Old polish brush // Leather belt with buckle // Red Wing Boots, Engineer 2971 // Moleskin notebook // Solani pipe tobacco // Pipe from Florence // Dubbin // Cowboy boots from Alberta Boot Co.
HOW TO SHINE
{ 53 } { Matthew Hamel } likes classic cocktails, Rockie’s Burger Bus & London, UK.
Put simply, a gentleman has polished shoes. Polishing protects your shoes against rain and scuffs. It is often said that shoes are the first thing a woman notices about a man. With that in mind, take a few minutes to polish your shoes. It will not go unnoticed. SHOPPING LIST - Two brushes, one dauber and one polishing brush (or clean white cotton cloths, socks, old shirts, etc.) - Shoe polish (paste or cream) in colours similar to your shoes. - Shoetrees – not needed, but important. - A glass of your favourite spirit Place the shoetrees in your shoes to prevent creases. First give your shoes a quick cleaning: Take a toothbrush to the part of the shoe that meets the sole and remove any dirt (this area is known as the welt). If there is dirt on your shoes, use a wet cloth to remove it. For salt stains, rub the area with a white vinegar-soaked cloth. Moving on, dip your dauber brush in your polish and coat the brush with a dime-sized amount. Apply the polish in a circular fashion. Aim to apply the thinnest, most even coat possible. Too much paste will both take forever to remove and dry out the leather, leading to cracks. As Jesse Thorn emphasizes, you then need to “let the polish dry.”
This is where your whiskey comes in handy. You can also move onto the other shoe while the first dries. Now, to develop the shine. If you are using brushes, take your polishing brush and brush in a sweeping arc. This evenly distributes the polish and brings out the shine. If you are using cloths, use a clean piece of cloth and wrap it around tightly around two fingers. Proceed to move your wrapped fingers in a circular motion until no polish is transmitted to the cloth, and you have a deep shine (you will likely need to use many clean sections of the cloth). Lastly, you have likely seen or heard of buffing a shoe to bring out the shine. Buffing cloths are not common, but pantyhose works just as well. Slide it on your hand after polishing and give your shoes a brisk once-over. If you have leather soles, some edge dressing can be applied for restoration. In winter, galoshes such as Swims are highly recommended.
SOME NOTES: if you have shoetrees, make sure you put them in your shoes after every wearing. Not only will this help with odours but also drying and shape maintenance. Do not use wax polishes as they will likely dry out the leather.
BrAND • NEw
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{ Angela Reimer } likes 1960’s French pop, dark comedies, bell bottoms, avacados & bangles.
Venturing alone into a city unknown, was something I had never experienced before. When I arrived in San Francisco I religiously followed the instructions from the couple I was to stay with: “Take the blue shuttle,” they told me. So, as I exited the airport I took a moment to be warmed by the bright sunlight, put on my sunglasses, and headed out in search for the blue shuttle. The driver turned out to be a painter, a videographer and a dabbler in CG animation. He didn’t hesitate to share his work with me, passing me his smartphone. He talked passionately about his work. Later, I was told that this isn’t uncommon in San Francisco; grocery clerks who are talented photographers, or taxi drivers who teach sculpture. Almost everyone seemed to be connected to the world of art or design, the world of visual communication. Settling into
my room I gathered my courage, my camera, and some less than comfortable footwear and headed out in search of some San Fran style-sights. Hills, beware of the hills. Sure they are stunning, the way the angles of the streets juxtapose the tall, 90-degree homes adorned with architectural details and bright paint. Yes, it’s a pretty sight, and it might be that very sight, the one that kept me with my head tilted up to see as much of them as I could, that kept me from realizing just how steep the streets were. After walking about an hour, my head in the sky, I was stung by the burn of sore muscles and the rumble of a neglected appetite. My walk lead me to the corner of Filmore and California Street where I found Delfina Pizzeria. The interior had a beautiful blend of graffiti, contemporary art, and classic diner aesthetics. I passed families, first dates, high chairs, designer bags and hipsters on my way to the empty seat at the kitchen bar. Had I known eating
alone meant getting settled right away, I may have adopted lone outings sooner. I had the pleasure of observing the open kitchen as young chefs hustled toppings on pizzas, then pizzas into ovens. Each of them wore a Giants baseball hat, which my server informed me was not the dress code, just a reflection of their love for the city in which they live. They served up a lovely meal. Half a pizza, two glasses of wine and a scoop of fresh mint gelato later, I was more than satisfied. It was dark as I left Delfina, and the walk was quiet, calm, and uneventful – a lovely evening to precede a busy day at the Brand New Conference (BNC). The BNC is a one-day event organized by UnderConsideration, a graphic design enterprise that runs a network of blogs, publishes books, and organizes live events for clients. The conference theme was corporate and brand identity in practice, much of which has stemmed from their blog, Brand New.
The conference is a platform for the best of the best in branding to share their work, experiences, accumulated knowledge and to subsequently help shape and inspire the future of branding. This year the conference featured ten speakers from around the world, working in different branding-related disciplines. The morning of the conference I was excited to get out the door and head to the Marines Memorial Theater. I thought if I left early enough I could probably walk there. Clearly I had not fully understood the conversion of kilometres to miles and soon found myself hailing a cab. But, I arrived, nonetheless. The theater was lively and buzzing with an array of graphic designers, brand specialists, marketers and writers. Pastry and coffee lines provided great opportunities for awkward small talk and the exchange of smiles. Though this all was fine and enjoyable, I didn’t linger, wasting no time entering the low-lit theater to find my seat. I sat myself next to a shy and friendly young man, and proceeded to nervously talk at him. He kindly let me do so, but I’m sure we both felt a sense of relief when convention hosts UnderConsideration cofounders Bryony Gomez-Palacio and Armin Vit walked onto the stage and the house lights dimmed. The first speaker, Vince Frost of FROST* design, outlined how crucial it is to care about what you are doing, and why. One of the things I admire most about his work is his sensitivity to problem solving. He described the brief as a gift in which you will eventually find the answer; all you have to do is look for the clues. Vince presented examples of this in action with his work with Sydney Dance Company and Sydney Opera House. By seeing branding projects as an opportunity to play, contribute and share stories, Vince is able to communicate sophisticated branding techniques with an effortless simplicity. He creates work where the branding doesn’t appear added but instead found. The first reaction I had to seeing his work was, “well it just couldn’t be any other way.” This is the result of finding clues that are already there, the subtleties that lay waiting to be discovered; you know the things that once you see, you can’t imagine you hadn’t seen before. Research was a big theme during the conference and Christopher Mine spoke almost solely on that. “We go with the 80/20 rule where 80 per cent is research and analytical, and the 20 per cent is whatever you think might work.” Christopher of Mine design took a slightly different approach to his talk and stuck solely to one project and one client from start to finish. The branding project he discussed was for a San Francisco Vietnamese sub shop called BUN-MEE. He did extensive research and sampled every Vietnamese sub in the city, taking note of the paper they were wrapped in, the ingredients inside, the menus and decor, and most importantly what worked and what didn’t. He gained an understanding of the context in which the business would reside so he could better address the real functions of the brand. Christopher also demonstrated the importance of connecting with the client and the client’s vision. From hand painted typography on the shop’s windows, to his handmade menu board, Christopher allowed himself to become invested into the brand and his client to successfully deliver a sincere and effective design solution.
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Mariam Willer of Wolff Olins was one of the speakers I most easily connected with. Her humility and charm drew me in as she eloquently shared her branding experience with the audience. She started her slideshow by sharing a photo of her beautiful twin boys, not because she was a bragging mother, but because it was important to take a moment to understand where she is coming from, who she is, and how that shapes the way she approaches branding and design. We are all given a unique perspective and it is important to connect with that, because all “ideas are pulled from the rest of your life.” Mariam is responsible for the timeless and ever-evolving identity for TATE in the UK, and encourages designers to see things differently. “When creating the TATE brand there was a hope to democratize art and make it more of a space for experience rather than a gallery.” To Miriam successful branding is about asking, “What does the world need? What’s special about you?” And how you can communicate that while having a clear understanding of the big picture. Paddy Harrison of Bruce Mau design started his talk with a bright slide reading, “Branding is for cows. Stories are for people.” Needless
WHAT I LIKED The people. No walk, bus ride, dinner or painting would have been the same without the company of others. Like-minded or otherwise, it certainly spiced up my trip.
to say he had the theater’s attention and I was thrilled to hear him share his perspective. Paddy shared his research on what branding means and his beliefs on how that differs from what it should be. Stories are what make us human; it’s how we connect and understand ourselves as well as the world around us. Paddy, through sharing examples of his extraordinary design work, stressed the importance of combining the brand with the product and using that relationship to foster creative thinking beyond conventional ideas of design. By telling a story and tapping into what makes us human, you have the opportunity to influence change, and most importantly, share a common denominator. Having never been to a conference of this caliber before, I was surprised and elated by how generously the speakers shared both their successes and failures. In the design world, we so often see the end result and miss out on seeing the research, brainstorming, and development that make the design solution what it is. Each speaker revealed this process, unique to each of them, but they all had one underlying theme in common: stories. All of the speakers had the theater captivated. Just as there are movements in art, fashion, and science, there appears to be a movement in branding
Swag Getting a goody bag of paper samples, buttons, notebooks and a poster, was I nice conference souvenir. The coffee It goes without saying that this city is known
and design. Each speaker supported the notion of being invested in the design you create, caring about what you do, allowing what makes you human to facilitate your design solutions, and that we aren’t all as different as we might think. Telling stories, understanding context and finding clues – these are the qualities designers need in order to execute effective and integral branding solutions. And all of these things sit atop the strong and tirelessly developed foundation of research (not Googling, real experience research). Walking into spaces, talking to people, feeling textures, reading signs, tasting food and experiencing information on a personal level. Because after all, that’s how we all experience life and the brands within it. I left the conference that evening feeling truly inspired. The next morning, a part of me wanted jump on a plane, find a client and start branding my little heart out. Thankfully I didn’t yield to this urge and instead explored the city that lay before me. I walked down busy streets filled with beautiful boutiques and chic bistros. I even passed the BUN-MEE shop Christopher Mine spoke of. Unfortunately it was early and not open for lunch. A painter at heart, I headed to SFMOA. My
for its food, but the coffee is something to write about. I would suggest Four Barrel Coffee. Signage There are tons of old and refurbished shop signs with hand painted typography and authentic patinas.
head still swirling from conference wisdom, the 30-minute bus ride gave me time to reflect while watching the city whiz by my window. I found myself observing my fellow bus riders with curious fascination, and when locking eyes with a few of them, realized that perhaps my innocent curiosity appeared creepy to most. This was a trip of firsts. I had never navigated a city alone, and my inexperience did lead to a few scenic detours. When I arrived to the museum I was in awe. These were the paintings printed in my art history text books, but instead of cropped and flattened, they were alive and in true form. By far one of the highlights of my trip was standing in front of the massive abstract expressionist canvases. I was truly in awe, and I wasn’t alone. The large untitled piece by Rothko dominated the space. I found myself sharing in that human experience alongside strangers that felt more like friends. Unlike our daily spaces, in front of the Rothko we weren’t afraid to touch shoulders, lean next to and emote in front of our fellow viewers. The painting connected us, told a story and changed our behavior. I spent hours wandering the museum, captivated both by the art on the walls and the people who viewed them. It was if we
were transported to our early childhood, a time when everything felt new. After satisfying the painter in me, I had a few more stops in mind: thrift-stores. I can’t resist the musty smell of a garment with history and the treasure hunt that leads me to it. Turns out that the transit was less treasure hunt and more pin the tail on the donkey, but after an hour or so I did manage to find a few shops. Thrift Town is located in the Mission district, a lively community with a wonderful microcosm of cultures. From one block to the next, you hear and smell several different cultures. Bright market stands packed with fresh produce attract boisterous shop keepers and vivacious elderly women who, I assume, are haggling for better deals in their native language. Thrift Town was a large warehouse-like space filled with used clothing. I found myself sifting excitedly through racks next to trendy young men and women who didn’t seem shy about unbuttoning their blouses to eagerly try on their most recent find. My next stop was Idol Vintage. The handsome young employee with his blonde surf shag and pastel bellbottoms was like a neon sign telling me I was certainly in the right place.
WHAT I LOVED Conference This might go without saying; it truly was an incredible experience. SFMOMA I could spend days in there, and would if security wasn’t so tight. Geesh.
The racks were filled with the best of the best. Most of them required more courage than I could muster, but I did find some more subtle items. With a small bag of goodies and the sun fading, I ventured the bus system one last time. It turned out to be equally as eventful as my day. I watched the man next to me consume four cheese and onion bagels and an entire carton of mint chocolate ice cream in nine stops, a shirtless young man swinging from the bus holds, and what appeared to be a stray Chihuahua, vocalizing his discomfort with the entire thing. The following day, my last day in San Francisco, I decided I had to see the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. After all, it is the most internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco. Three failed bus attempts and one cab ride later, I joined in with the buses of tourists in snapping pictures of one of the modern wonders of the world. That was my last experience in San Francisco, holding my camera above the heads of people in front of me as they did the same. All of us sharing the classic cliché tourist shot, and enjoying every moment of it.
Food Almost every restaurant/bistro you walk into has something great. Not to mention some wonderful branding. The Arts Everywhere you turn, from taxi drivers to restaurant walls, art is everywhere in this city. You can’t help but be inspired.
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FILM STUDIES { Evita Reed } loves nature & her home in Granada, Spain.
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Our mantra this issue is: { BACK TO BASICS } It is simple. Write it on your hand. Put it on your fridge. Don’t forget it.