designers and artists Archives

Posted on October 30, 2016November 1, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

TheMART, an Inspirational Design Center

We recently wrote about innovative co-working and maker spaces, and the impact they can make not only to boost creativity but with added benefits to health and wellbeing.

Today we expand on the theme, with focus on theMart, the world’s largest commercial building and design center, a truly inspiring center for design professionals and customers alike.

The Merchandise Mart on the Chicago River photo@Mike Boehmer, Flickr

This art deco building has been an icon in Chicago’s history since the 1930s. It still remains a landmark hub for design, innovation and business, and the impact it has made on the surrounding area, with resulting buzz and connectivity for the community around the Chicago river, can not be underestimated.

TheMART building Chicago Photo credi:pixabay — TheMART building Chicago Photo credit:Pixabay

Developed by Marshall Field & Co to create a central marketplace where retailers could come to buy their wares all under one roof.

Sitting across two city blocks, and with twenty-five storeys of innovation and culture, it is visited by an incredible 25,000 people each day.

Its Design Center, across four floors, is home to hundreds of tenants and offers a space for leading manufacturers with over 115 showrooms, showcasing over 2,500 products.

TheMART also serves as a business hub for interior designers, architects, contractors, business owners and buyers, as well as hosting several trade and consumer conferences and events each year.

Vornado Reality Trust and New York-based A+I unveil transformative renovations. Photo source: Huffington Post/Building Design — Vornado Reality Trust and New York-based A+I worked recently on some stunning architecture renovations for the building. Photo source: Huffington Post

With such an amazing choice of luxury and contemporary design on offer, we’ve space today to highlight just one of the amazing showrooms within theMART.

Cia Mooney at theMART photo:ciamooney.com — Brayton showroom, Cia Mooney (designed with Robert Leonetti) at theMART photo:ciamooney.com

We particularly like this approach of industrial designer, Cia Mooney, who worked with the design team at Brayton to create this showroom. Using a limited budget, it still creates a huge impact with the space allowing the craftmanship of Brayton’s upholstered and wood framed furniture to take central stage.

Which designer wouldn’t love the opportunity to be included in such an innovative and creative design center?

Sources

TheMart.com

Designcenter.com

Huffington Post.com/amanda schneider

Business of Furniture

Ciamooney.com

Posted on March 10, 2016March 10, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

10 Inspirational Design Quotes you should know

Quotes make us think. You nod in agreement when we read one that strikes a chord, don’t you?

Hearing someone else say something is all you need to reinforce the beliefs you already have. Many creatives have said a lot about design and creativity. So for a bit of wisdom sharing today, we collated some of our favourite inspirational design quotes. Be inspired.

“Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future.” Robert L. Peters

“Color does not add a pleasant quality to design – it reinforces it.” Pierre Bonnard

“Simplicity, carried to an extreme, becomes elegance.” Jon Franklin

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.” Walt Disney

“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” Mark Twain

“Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible.” M.C. Escher

“The details are not the details. They make the design.” Charles Eames

“Design is everything. Everything!” Paul Rand

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” Pablo Picasso

“Design is where science and art break even.” Robin Matthew

Do you have some favourite design quotes you’d like us to include? Why not let us know and we’ll be happy to add them in.

Posted on March 3, 2016March 3, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

Design Influence of the week: The Raimond Lamp

Our design influence for today is the Raimond lamp. Think starry skies and constellations and you have the embodiment of the Raimond lamp. This is our tribute to the award winning designer, Raimond Puts who passed away in 2012. He combined his love for simplicity, mathematical prowess and metalwork expertise to create timeless design.

Hidden beauty of starry nights

Designed as part of a collection for Moooi, this stylish creation is perfect for a contemporary interior setting. The Raymond Lamp has been described by Moooi as “a perfect sphere of mathematical ingredients punctuated by tiny LED lights. Looking at the lamp feels like staring into the soft glow of a starry night.”

Closer to home with our Stellar Collection

We nod our heads in complete agreement here at Moody Monday. Our new collection, STELLAR is inspired by the boundless beauty of the sky and space. No wonder we have a heightened love for all things celestial. You’ll hear more about the launch of the new collection over the next few weeks.

It is not difficult to understand why designers pay attention to beautiful lighting. The variety available in the industry is astounding. Be it over-sized pendant lamps or geometric shaped lamps, the options are limitless.

Share your design influence this week with us.

All images were sourced from www.moooi.com

Related Articles

Influence of the Week – Bauhaus Inspired Ceramics

Inspiring Designer – Marcel Wanders of Moooi

Design in Focus – Lighting Installations

Posted on February 24, 2016February 23, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

5 Swoon Worthy Designer Chairs

Looking for a new chair to breathe life into your home? We’ve found a handful of designer chairs you’ll be rushing to buy. With spring on the way, these finds are on the colourful side.

Maxime Lounge Chair

Meet the luxurious lounge chair designed by Jonathan Adler. The stylish crisscross back and signature sabots on the legs have timelessly chic appeal. Upholstered in rich velvet fabric, it is the perfect chair for the minimalist home.

Image source: Jonathan Adler

Drop chair

Renowned designer, Arne Jacobsen designed this beauty in 1958. Produced alongside the Swan and the Egg, it was part of the collection he designed for the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. It is available in six different colours. Add a dose of colour in your home office with this stand out chair.

Image source: Fritzhansen

Bardi bowl chair

Another favourite of ours is the Bardi bowl chair. It was designed by Italian-Brazilian architect, Lina Bo Bardi in 1951. Created with function and aesthetics in mind, this chair can be accessorised with seating cushions for maximum comfort.

Image source: Bardisbowlchair

Knotted chair

Through his ode to handcrafting, Marcel Wanders gained popularity in the design industry with his Knotted chair in 1996. Although it looks like it can’t support much, this lightweight chair has been skilfully designed to have a solid supporting structure. It’s a work of art on its own. We recently featured his interior design at Kameha Grand Zurich.

Image source: Marcel Wanders

Brigitte lounge chair

Another Jonathan Adler creation, the Brigitte lounge chair is a beauty to behold. The vertical tufting gives it a beautiful scriptural form. The brass legs add a polished look. Go bold and beautiful with this cheerful orange statement piece.

Image source: Jonathan Adler

Designer chairs can provide more than extra seating, they add that special touch to your home. Which one of our picks is your favourite?

Posted on January 26, 2016January 26, 2016 by Moody Monday Media

See Different: Discovering the Power of Pattern

Today, we introduce you to Patternity. For something a little bit different, we’re looking at patterns. This is one of the first things you learn as a textile designer. A constant source of inspiration is key for your creations. You’re taught to look at things differently and develop a knack for looking beyond the obvious.

Musical instruments with tremendous detail. Sea creatures in sublime splendour. The galaxy with its hypnotic qualities. Look long enough and distinct patterns start to emerge, colours take a different turn and beauty awakens. The unexpected has a way of fuelling our inspiration.

Stumbling on Patternity was like a child finding a treasure box of sweets. Their photo archive is a fantastic source of inspiration. From water, hair to soap bubbles, they show you just how ubiquitous patterns are.

Patternity was founded on the belief that “a shared awareness of pattern has the power to positively shape our world”. Originally known for their extensive online pattern archive, they’ve expanded into research and consultancy and also have a creative studio.

At Moody Monday, one of our core values is seeing hidden beauty and expressing it. We seek out hidden beauty and take out inspiration from unlikely places. So Patternity is a company after our own heart, they align well with our thinking.

Our Secret Music collection was inspired by the internal parts of an abandoned organ. A trip to the beach birthed our ‘Gems on the beach’ silk cushion. Wait till you see our next collection.

Take some time over the next couple of days to look around you for inspiration. You might not want to become a designer but you’ll appreciate your environment just a little better.

All images were sourced from Patternity

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Moody Monday Media

Remarkable 17th Century Colour manual

Only someone with an astonishing love of colour will go about creating a massive 800-page manual on how to mix watercolours. That’s exactly what a Dutch artist only known by the name “A. Boogert” did in 1692. The manual which was never published provides readers with an unusual glimpse into the world of 17th century painters and illustrators.

In it, A. Boogert carefully details step by step instructions on how to create as many different hues and tones of colours as are imaginable. The entire book is entirely written and painted by hand and is probably deemed to be the most comprehensive guide to paint and colour ever.

Long before the renowned, more recent Pantone Colour Guide which was only first published in 1963, this Dutch artist had such an enviable grasp of colour. Thought to have been used as an educational guide in its time, he painstakingly documented his process, creating an awesome index of colours.

This delightful masterpiece is currently housed at the Bibliothèque Méjanes in Aix-en-Provence, France but is available for online viewing here.

Story via CreativeBoom

Tag: designers and artists