I didn’t realize how much I wanted a chair made of neon until I saw these photos! Via a commission from Wallpaper* Magazine, London based Kiwi & Pom designed an illuminated furniture concept using 200 linear metres of Electroluminescent wire. The chair captures the very best of modern, futuristic design but also feels like it has a traditional woven soul. The piece has a pulse setting that allows the light to flash on and off creating what Kiwi & Pom call “an instant disco installation”. Fingers crossed a version of this incredible chair is available for purchase one day…

(images via kiwi & pom)

British talent Rob Ryan is one of my very favourite artists. What he creates out of paper, meticulously cutting intricate shapes, is truly phenomenal. On top of all that creativity, Rob has an amazing gift for beautifully poetic words. I plan to feature Rob Ryan in a future post devoted to his work but I couldn’t resist sharing his Royal Wedding commemorative plate design for William and Kate’s big day. What a welcome change from the wedding-cliche riddled commemorative designs I have seen around. I love how the traditional British lion and unicorn fuse seamlessly with Rob’s whimsical design and trademark birds/flowers. The gorgeous blue, white and gold accents are elegant, modern and so very British. As always, I particularly love Rob’s words as they are a perfect reminder of what all the hoopla should really boil down to at the end of the day:

“The Crown and the Throne and the lions and the unicorns & the bowing & scraping and all the Palaces and the privileges are worth nothing if you will not spend every day of your life with me until I die. April 29th 2011″

(black version available at Rob Ryan’s etsy store)

I seem to have a thing for punchy pastels this week. Perhaps because of all the spring colours floating around? The shots above by photographer Elle Moss are the definition of strong but ethereal hues. Elle has a fantastic colour sensibility and style that makes all of her photos feel dreamy. There is also this amazing vintage feeling to her work. It’s as if you suddenly discovered a colourful photo album from decades ago.

(See more work on Elle’s Flickr and buy prints in the Elle Moss Etsy shop.

Paris-based Japanese patissier Sadaharu Aoki creates the most gorgeous confections that perfectly merge French tradition with Japanese design. From cakes to macaroons, his Paris and Tokyo shops are full of striking and edible pieces of art. I am particularly in love with Sadaharu Aoki’s “bonbon maquillage” or make-up candy. The rectangular, brightly-hued chocolates looks like pots of colour from an eyeshadow palette but are actually one of Aoki’s signature creations. The bonbons are filled with fondant that is infused with diverse range flavours including wasabi, caramel, matcha, coconut and raspberry. Forget reaching for the wrong chocolate or fumbling for the info sheet. Aoki streaks each bonbon with a strip of colour that not only creates a modern and handsome look but effectively “colour codes” each chocolate so you always end up with the confection you were hoping for. Visiting Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki in Tokyo or Paris is definitely on my to do list as I imagine the works of art are as delicious as they are exquisitely beautiful and colourful!

(images via chocolat only, aaron lum, purple cloud, chaxiu bao, yuichi sakuraba, anglofille, gsanjose, jemie, chaxiu bao, purple cloud, dig a cherry, yuichi sakuraba, peter repetti & yocca)

This has got to be the tiniest piece of street art ever. Artist Slinkachu, who is known for his small scale art, created this piece in a narrow alley of Grottaglie, Italy as part of the FAME Festival. From the details of the shutters and human forms to the perfectly aged balconies, the detail and intricacy of Slinkachu’s colourful clothesline is just plain unbelievable. One of the most magical and joyful pieces of street art I’ve ever come across.

(via unurth)

It’s hard not to love these images styled by London-based stylist Rebecca Newport and photographed by Ania Wawrzkowicz. I love the idea of painted spoons and the matte finish showcases their craftmanship and intricate lines. The colour palette is also particularly dreamy. There is nothing insipid or faint about these pastels. In fact, if there is such a thing as strong pastels, these are it! Now if only they sold silverware like this somewhere…

(images via rebecca newport)

There is something magical about sea glass and the journey required to turn sharp chunks of clear glass into smooth, matte works of art. American artist Jennifer Booher combs the beaches of Maine for beautiful cool-toned glass and arranges her collection into gorgeous spectrums of colour. I love how these photographs highlight the beauty and endless hues of sea glass. I am more than inspired to go on a beach walk as soon as possible!

(images via jennifer booher)

Nope, these electric blue trees aren’t photoshopped! They are part of the Vancouver Biennale, a bi-annual public art exhibition. Three blue forests have popped up in areas of Metro Vancouver – Garden City Park in Richmond, Port Moody Arts and Civic Centres, and Grosvenor Ambleside in West Vancouver. Created by artist Konstantin Dimopoulos, the vibrant trees are painted to bring attention to global deforestation and the importance of trees as our world’s lungs. Dimopoulos used biologically-safe pigmented water that is completely biodegradable. The paint will slowly fade away, creating an evolving piece of art as the trees return to their natural forms. I love this project because it really does highlight the value of trees in our urban areas as well as underscoring the need for nations to address deforestation. Visually, it is also a gorgeous project. I can’t wait to see the forests as cherry blossoms start to burst open. The angular blue branches and fluffy pink flowers will look incredible together!

(images via clayton perry, the vancouver sun, grant mattice & art threat)

I’ve always thought make-up was a fascinating photography topic. Sure, flawless application on a supermodel is eye-catching but I love when make-up is used like art supplies – lipsticks are squished into piles of glossy colour, eyeshadow pots are ground into vibrant powders and blush becomes flakes of luminous pink. I recently came across the work of photographer Geoffrey Sokol and while he has a wonderful portfolio covering a wide range of colourful subjects, it was his make-up shots that caught my eye. I just love the styling, dramatic texture and gorgeous colour palettes. I would love to see a make-up company embrace this type of styling rather than the stagnant product shots that dominate the industry. Geoffrey proves cosmetics really can become art!

(images via geoffrey soko)

I am fascinated by this re-imagining of a Louis XVI period console by Australian designer Adam Goodrum. Rather than classic mahogany and traditional details, Goodrum used lacquered steel rods in different colours as table legs and allowed them to pop through the sleek white console top. The resulting dots are meant to reflect a carousel of childhood but I can’t help thinking of a whimsical colour wheel. A fantastic modern interpretation that perfectly marries sleek with playful design. I am in love with those table legs and resulting colour dot details!

(thanks mélanie for the inspiration!)

(images via design milk)

The Kingdom Animalia are a creation by Brooklyn-based Enormous Champion. Crafted in the USA and made with sustainably harvested maple and non-toxic paint, the wooden animals are a perfect combination of brilliant design and environmental consciousness. The packaging design is fabulous. Fantastic typography, design and colour. I think my favourite part is the box edges and tiny animal icons that appear. I just love these modern wood animals and their brightly coloured edges. From product to box to the perfect packing material, The Kingdom Animalia represent simply outstanding design.

(via lovely package)

To say I am a Douglas Coupland fan would be a rather large understatement. He is one of my true design heros and I plan to do a special post on Douglas under my colour hero feature in the next bit. Although his Digital Orca sculpture outside of the Vancouver Convention Centre has been in place for 10 months or so, it still continues to dazzle and inspire me. For a city where marine life plays at the foot of our urban core while technology, innovation and video games grow as vital industries, it is simply poetic to create an orca out of pixels. We are, after all, a city where nature and urban life overlap but fuse together in harmony. Digital Orca has quickly become one of my favourite pieces of art. If I win the lottery tomorrow, I will see to it that Douglas Coupland designs many more sculptures in Vancouver!

I like the words written on the plaque beside the sculpture: “The digital orca sculpture breaks down a 3D Orca whale into cubic pixels – making a familiar symbol of the West Coast become something unexpected and new. This use of natural imagery modified by technology bridges the past to the future. It speaks to the people and activities that created Vancouver’s thriving harbour culture, while addressing the massive changes reshaping the BC economy. The sculpture’s metal construction and lighting components evoke the daily moods of the harbour and the diversity of those who work here.”

(images via douglas coupland & claire fossey)

Using single stripes of colour to represent each ingredient, artist Dan Kenneally creates abstract paintings as part of his Lunchbox collection. Dan also makes custom pieces so if you have a loved one with a favourite sandwich, you may have found the perfect gift! I would love to see a modern café or sandwich-focused restaurant line their walls with these light-hearted, colourful pieces!

(sandwiches from top: BLT, peanut butter & jam, grilled cheese & tomato, reuben, bacon/egg/cheese breakfast sandwich, cheeseburger, ice cream sandwich, s’more)

(via note to self)

I think I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw these illustrated and hand-embriodered Penguin Classic book covers by Jillian Tamaki. They are a stunning piece of craftmanship. Not only beautiful illustrations but incredible embroidery detail and colour. After a commission from Penguin, Jillian took two months to create the wraparound covers with French flaps. What a mesmerizing update to the covers of classic literature and yet another fantastic Penguin book cover. Wow Jillian. That is all I can say! (p.s. the books will be available in Fall 2011)

(via sampaints)

These aerial photographs by Alex MacLean are extraordinary. Flower fields, abandoned military planes, motorcycle racing on black ice, algae growing on floating logs, beach dwellers and even the Disney World parking lot are just a few subjects Alex investigates using his commercial pilot license and camera. The photos expose not only how humans and nature interact but the incredible patterns and colour palettes created from those interactions.

(to see more of Alex’s amazing work, go to his portfolio here.)

I just love this Athens street art by Greg Papagrigoriou. How often do you see graffiti with such a calligraphy soul? Beautiful.

(via unurth)