KDU x MWM x Bread & Butter
Posted on July 4, 2008
Filed Under USA, Spain | Leave a Comment
Tons of updates on Bread and Butter over at Matt’s blog. He talks of all things KDU as well as the events current happenings.
[ link ]
KDU / Bread and Butter / SVSV
Posted on July 2, 2008
Filed Under USA, Spain | 1 Comment
Hello Friends - Please join us at Bread and Butter to celebrate a gathering of KDU brands and the launch of the new SVSV collection.
I hope to see you in Barcelona!!
Highest Regards.
David Gensler
Partner - The Keystone Design Union
KDU Member Feature: Son interviews Steven David Muller / Seven Even from California
Posted on July 2, 2008
Filed Under USA | 1 Comment
[SON] Steven, please let the people know who Seven Even is and what Gold Rush Studio is.
[SEVENEVEN] I am a fine-artist, designer, and consultant currently working for the Lifted Research Group. Gold Rush is my personal multidisciplinary studio officially established in 1998 after my work was first published internationally.
[S] You’ve got a hefty catalog of work, how do you go about seeking work and how do companies find you?
[SE] Phones don’t ring if you merely expect them to. I’ve taken a guerrilla approach to attaining very specific clients and seek out situations that will expand upon my body of work and with which styles I’m comfortable. Many companies are often oblivious to what they need to be doing until you show them, in living detail.
[S] Seeing so many different variations of the same style (portrait/vector/brush graphic) what keeps you pushing original content?
[SE] The contrast and frequency of visual stimulus in my personal illustrations reflects the tone and climate of our times. I am currently exploring how the content and density of kitsch in a culture is manifested in the ethereal experiences of its inhabitants.
[S] Do you travel? How do you cleanse your palette?
[SE] Travel can be an amazing experience as geographical boundaries influence our intrapersonal development and create language. Specific points in my life and niches within our culture inspire much of my work. Cleansing often comes with change and I cannot stop creating. Eventually, something happens, either an off-topic idea or a mistake, which in turn, can provide a glimpse of opportunity.
[S] What is in the future for you & Gold Rush Studio?
[SE] Studying and adding artistic value to life, in this day and age, has become more relevant to me than adorning walls with artful gestures and bantering about validity. My production has become an extension of immediate effect and a dissemination of energy. I intend to entertain clients, on the more conceptual and creative of interests, for as long as I live.
Trust the KDU, and thanks to you Son, for the interview.
interview by: son
The KDU & David Gensler X RYZ Footwear
Posted on July 2, 2008
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David Gensler and the KDU join to help the RYZ footwear brand launch. [ link ]
KDU x URB Girls of Summer
Posted on July 2, 2008
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Creative Direction by The KDU. New artwork by, Ryan Katrina of NeuArmy, Nigel Dennis of ElectricHeat, Chuck Anderson of Nopattern, Reggie Techvector and Dechazier of Black-Marmalade.
Proof7 x Rival
Posted on July 2, 2008
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Proof7 Summer Release Sale at Rival Skate shop starting Tuesday July 8th - Monday July 14th
New KDU member Peter Nowacki // Velendil from Warsaw, Poland
Posted on July 1, 2008
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Peter designs original artwork for the KDU
PART OF THE KDU CORE INVASION OF BREAD AND BUTTER.
Posted on June 30, 2008
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Chris Bevans debuts his much anticipated new collection.
You have to be there to see the goods. more to come.
KDU Member Feature: Son interviews Ravi Vasavan from Australia
Posted on June 29, 2008
Filed Under Australia | 1 Comment
[SON] Ravi! Please, introduce yourself to everyone and let them know what you do and how you got here.
[RAVI] I’m Ravi, obviously. I’m nothing more than just another ordinary eighteen year old boy who is currently residing in the City of Melbourne in Australia, working as a multidisciplinary freelance designer and a language assistant at a school for final year students.
I started out with a set of steel airplane toys, carving our lounge room walls - getting into trouble for that, every day but seemingly that didn’t stop my parents to get me a set of Crayola’s colored crayons and some papers without thinking twice (which reminds me, I gotta thank them for that), but that didn’t stop me vandalizing our household soon as I’ve used up all the papers, which I’ve resorted to draw n doodle under dining and coffee tables and on a few more walls.
Soon as I started attending school, acquiring proper sense of drawing and doodling - and skip some years until I received my first copy of Photoshop, the rest is history, literally. Add some more years to that, and here I am - collaborating and working with great dude and dudettes and working with a number of amazing companies, colleagues/friends and collaborators.
Here’s something that always manage to marvel people, even though it is a subliminal thing - I were born profound deaf, to two loving deaf parents. I’ve been using sign language as my native tongue (hands, to be precise). But here’s a catch, I can also lip read very well and I can answer back easily by writing the text on my mobile and hand it over to the person, or if there is a set of pen and papers nearby - I’d use it to communicate, or laptops/computers. Thank god for modern technology, otherwise I’d be handwriting all day long with my hearing friends who I haven’t had the chance to teach sign language!
[S] What are the largest obstacles that challenge you in your craft?
[R] First thing first, the largest obstacle that challenges me in my craft is that I am deaf, but to me it is not even a hindrance but to others it may seems to be this way and I’d have to convince them that I can jump over this obstacle naturally, I’ve been doing it since I was a toddler so it is never an obstacle to me, it is an ordinary day-to-day thing, but to others it is not. That’s one of my biggest obstacle.
Some may have asked me how I accumulate my inspiration, because in the majority out there, they rely on music to inspire them. I’ve managed well without music, I find everything inspiring - from the smallest to the biggest details. Life is outrageously beautiful, and inspiring. It’s absolutely overwhelming.
In short, there is no such thing as obstacle that challenges me indefinitely, to a point where I can’t find a way through it. I’ve gotta thank my family and friends for that, for believing in me and constantly telling me that I can do it.
[S] What are the disciplines you are working in?
[R] Considering my experience, I work in various disciplines which probably defines me as a multidisciplinary designer, but as of late I’ve been working on a lot of print-based media and screen-based media so I’d occasionally drop in and out in between both of them.
My heart is large enough to share love for each disciplines I’ve dived into in my life, much as I’d like to believe, I will never ever stop venturing beyond my comfort zone to delve myself into new disciplines such as textile design and pattern making, just naming few of disciplines that I’d very much like to get acquainted with.
[S] How do you get away from it all?
[R] To get away from it all, I’d get up and jump onto a bean bag in our lounge room and watch a DVD we hired or bought recently. But in majority, and my most favored method of ‘get away from it all’ is to head out into the city during the day, catch a latte with a friend and then have a dinner with other friend and end up sitting at a bar having some drinks with even more friends - it spares me from all the technical and graphical babbles, into a huge conversation about something so pointless, but so relaxing. Or clubbing, even. And I’d buy a plane ticket, out of Melbourne- into Sydney, or somewhere new and treat myself to an entirely lazy escapade from work, the epitome of being a freelance is that soon as you’re done with projects you can always drop it and head out for while (bring a laptop with you, and work on it occasionally… haha, defeats the purpose of the escapade, but, you know!)
[S] I see your activity is heavy in online communities, tell me the secret to getting people to participate.
[R] There is no secret in this one, it’s a matter of discovering the right thing to say and bond with others - form a friendship with them, there is always something that will make others feel that it is worth it to register themselves to a new community, these days it’s getting crazy - new community/portal coming after the new one, constantly. So you have to also show them that it doesn’t only benefit you nor the community, that it does benefit them too - to get into a network seamlessly and communicate-interact with like-minded people.
interview by: son
Sruli Recht Polar Bear Rug
Posted on June 27, 2008
Filed Under Iceland | Leave a Comment
The next product from the studio - Ísbjörn/ Icebear
Sruli Recht and Birkiland present an limited edition - for the year 2008
SR108
is
ÍSBJÖRN / ICE BEAR
is a full size 3m Polar bear rug, made from 15 Icelandic sheep skins.
in an edition of 10
[ link ]
SVSV look
Posted on June 27, 2008
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Hello Friends - A super SVSV, sneak preview! Pure Qiviuk (musk ox), heavy-hand knit sweater. The bottom jacket pure cashmere, qiviuk blend and Pure silk lining. The line will not even be complete until fashion week in September, debuting at the private shops at the plaza hotel. We are showing at Bread and Butter next week in Barcelona just to tease and wet appetites! If you are in town - stop by and say hello.
More to come.
New KDU Japan fashion book
Posted on June 24, 2008
Filed Under USA, Japan | 1 Comment
Hello - I wanted to personally share a new KDU project with you.
This is for a new NYC fashion designer Michael Venker… launching in Japan next month.
The book is constructed out of 70 year old linen paper and uses real platinum and 24k gold as details.
Hand stitched binding. 18 x 22 inches big.
The KDU brand Bread and Butter Sport and Street
Posted on June 24, 2008
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The Keystone Design Union teams with Bread and Butter to create the new Sport and Street branding. The event will take place on July 2nd through the 4th in Barcelona Spain. 5 KDU brands will be attending - stay tuned for more information.
KDU Member Feature: Son interviews Emeric Trahand / TKSH from France
Posted on June 23, 2008
Filed Under France | 3 Comments
[SON] Hello Emeric, please explain your handle’s [tksh / stillontherun] and your daily grind.
[TKSH] Well, first of all, I just wanna thank u Son for the interest you and David showed in my works. Tksh stands for Takeshi, I’m 26, French, my name is partly inspired by the great kitano, but other things too. I’ve always been an enthusiast about japan and asian cultures. Why “still on the run”? Well, I loved the sound of the words, I always did and thought one could easily see similarities between the life of an escaped prisoner and a freelancer routine. The daily stress, the pressure, agencies trying to catch you.
My daily grind starts at 11 am. Spend an hour waking up between blogs and cups of coffee. Then start the working day, spending most of my time stuck on photoshop, but also dealing with tons of emails, administrative paperwork, until like 8-9 pm. Sometimes later when clients are pushing, sometimes all the weekend. Still after that I usually go out to get a cigarette, a guinness or a chat with friends, trying to share things about creation, about what we do, should do, could try, having a good time and then back home to get my daily after midnight hours of tv and start the next day.
[S] What is the design culture like in France?
[T] I’m not sure about how to answer that. I’ve quickly been acquainted to designers from other countries thanks to the internet… so I don’t really see frontiers in the design cultures.
Still, I think there are great talents in France, quite often coming from the 90’s street culture, graffiti and street art. Guys like 123 Klan, Super Deux, guys from Toulouse and many others. Pushing creation in really nice directions. The thing in France, is not about the designers, we got some and they are good, (I’m thinking about Gennitsakis and Sattler/Lysergid too) but I feel that the clients are really not that open minded, or willing to take risks in projects. I can feel the difference when I got clients from overseas. Moreover, I must admit that there is a particular “snob” attitude in some restricted circles in France, I’m not much into that. The design scene sometimes feels more like an expression than a reality to me.
[S] What do you do to clear your mind?
[T] I go back home real late at night, but it doesn’t work that much. To be honest, I havent had my mind clear for the last few months, I’ve just been working and working. I wish I could have a genuine break sometime, just to think about what I would really like to work on, find my style, expermient new directions and sleep too.
[S] I see lots of real elements displaced to create a surreal setting. Do you practice in different disciplines in order to give this mixed media look?
[T] I’ve been practicing different techniques over the past year. This was mostly due to my inspirations, the projects / graphic designers I discovered, etc. Right now, I guess it makes my creations stronger in a way. It allows me nice combinations and I can adapt myself pretty easily to clients demands. This is also tricky though, since every time I start a new artwork, I really don’t have a clue in which direction I should go.
[S] What are the advantages of networking online?
[T] Networking online makes contact easier for people like me.
[S] Whats next for TKSH?
[T] I’ve just updated and got a lot of nice feedbacks, this makes me feel lighter. I got a couple of big commercial things I gotta deal with now, but asap, I wanna get with a few collabs hopefully… and push creation… !
interview by: son
KDU welcomes Argentine member NASA
Posted on June 20, 2008
Filed Under Argentina | 1 Comment
One of our top Argentine members, Buenos Aires O.G Designer NASA* creates a limited series of artworks exclusively for The KDU. He’s been an influential figure head in the world of design in BA for years and has recently joined our camp. Check out his site and samples of his wide scope of work. Also, NASA* owns and operates a Select-Shop and Clothing Line which we think many of you will appreciate. Take a look.
Aerosyn-Lex in TOKYO : A Selected Vision
Posted on June 20, 2008
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TOKYO! : a city that was once my home.I stay Focused in them streets & keep an ever vigilant lens.Take a look at my Selected Vision of the Faces + Places of TOKYO.I honestly love Tokyo. Revisiting this city I once called home has left me with a greater connection to the people and places which make up the fabric of this metropolis. I want to give thanks and praise to the many friends I reconnected with, or made during my stay : To DENSE (Yoshitaka Kogure), Yasuhiro Yamashita (Roger Yamaha at Moonwalk Records), REZEON Scum (Takashi Iimura), CLEVER (Formerly of LUZ), Lyntaro (Frank Japan - and all around Boss), REO and crew (68 and Bros.), Kiki Kudo (YoungandRobot), Yuki (Tokyo Gei Den), Mamechiyo (Kimono Designer), Mai (Nike’s sassy girl) and I can’t forget Yonehara San (Yonehara Yasumasa, Cute Girl Photographer Extraordinaire and all around Genius). To those, and the many many others whom I met: My sincerest thanks and an honest wish that We All Meet Again Soon!.
Here for your vicarious enjoyment are the images which best express all that is to be had in TOKYO. Here’s a finely styled presentation of my experience.+ Please View : TOKYO SELECT for more fotos.
KDU Chile: Diego Quintana updates
Posted on June 20, 2008
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All the way down from Chile, fellow KDU member Diego Quintana just dropped a brand new update to his portfolio with 6 new works including a free font for download.
Go check it out!.
KDU & DAVID GENSLER / Adobe Design Achievement Awards
Posted on June 19, 2008
Filed Under Global, USA | Leave a Comment
I was a judge and the KDU is a media sponsor.
It was an honor to be a part of this… great judges and amazing work. [ rsvp ]
MWM. KDU Boston. 6 New Posters.
Posted on June 18, 2008
Filed Under USA | 1 Comment
Matt W. Moore has released 6 new posters from his ongoing Vectorfunk Series.
Available now at: MWM Online Store. More info/zooms at: MWM News Blog.
HUMANBRAND FUR IMMER!!!
Posted on June 18, 2008
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I was just sent some old images of the HUMANBRAND office in Philadelphia. Good memories. We made the mistake of offering clients holistic design and strategy services about 8 to 9 years before they were ready. Sometimes I miss Philly - Long Live the Keystone State!!
