Wallpaper - Snowflakes

We realize that we live in Oakland, CA and that snow is now very common in the month of December, but we did get a bit of snow here in the East Bay on Mt. Diablo. While we rarely get to enjoy snow here in the Bay Area the natural beauty and and intricacy of a snowflake is universal.


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Wallpaper - Autumn's Final Cry

As the season of Autumn gets set aside with preparation for Christmas (even though Winter does not start until December 21), we wanted to give you one last parting image of Autumn. We just love the look of the trees at this time of year and the lovely patterns their leaves make on the ground.


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Standards of Professional Practice

A professional designer adheres to principles of integrity that demonstrate respect for the profession, for colleagues, for clients, for audiences or consumers, and for society as a whole.

These standards define the expectations of a professional designer and represent the distinction of an AIGA member in the practice of design.

-AIGA

Read the whole Standards of Professional Practice
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/standards-professional-practice

Photos - New York

Around this time a few years ago we took a trip to New York City. New York is full of strong imagery and it was an inspiring trip. From the museums and galleries to the subway, ethnic cuisine and towering structures our eyes were busy taking it all in.

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Wallpaper - Foggy New York Night

New York truly is a wonderful place. This week's wallpaper comes from a shot in Manhattan on a foggy November night not long after Thanksgiving in 2007. I love the way cities look at night in the fog. Probably since I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and we know about fog. Still, there is something mysterious and haunting about it, but you can't pull your eyes away from the light reflecting in the water droplets of the night sky. I just love how the city skyline is transformed.


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Wallpaper - Squash in November

Squash are wonderful for food, decoration and photography. Their vivid colors and unique shapes are so interesting, I only wish I could enjoy them all year long.

We picked up these beauties from our local farmers market. Apparently you can eat the outside if you roast it right.

Wallpaper - Love Paris

Paris is a city to fall in love with. So many people from all over the world come to this city and are struck by its beauty. When the time comes to leave, a part of their heart forever remains strolling along the Seine, receiving inspiration from the Louvre and sitting and sipping at a cafe. A piece of my heart is in Paris with dear friends and the rest of my heart longs to return.

This week I put up one of my drawings of the Eiffel Tower (on 2 wallpapers to please both Mazzarellos), that plays like a film strip in my mind. Whenever I desire to relax in a garden or walk through the city, I play this film in my head...and quickly check out plane flight prices. Oh Paris, I will come back soon, I promise.

Impact of Designers

This video of Steven Heller, Author of "Iron Fists", is from the Gel Conference in October 2009 in New York. Heller addresses the impact of design, looking at totalitarian states and how they use their graphic design as a mode of influence and direction.

Steven Heller at Gel 2009 from Gel Conference on Vimeo.

Power of Art Film Series: Rothko

Well this Monday (11/9/09) night will be the final night of our 8 part series on the Power of Art.

We will be taking a look into the powerful paintings of Russian-American, abstract expressionist, Marcus Rothkowitz, better known as Mark Rothko. He is best known for his large abstract 'colour-field' paintings.

Here is a great site on Rothko at National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.

And of course you can learn more of what Simon Schama thinks on the BBC site.

Doors open at 8:00pm, film starts at 8:30pm.
Email us if you would like to come!

Wallpaper - London Edifice

This week's wallpaper comes from an inspiring building in the finance district on London, not far from St. Paul's Cathedral. I just loved the edifice. It seemed so futuristic. I could not wrap my mind around the texture of the building. On closer inspection of the image I am even more intrigued. There are grids and grids inside of grids. Even the windows have grids within.

You never know when inspiration will strike, so it is good to keep a camera with you and always be looking.

Click for the full size image.