Designer Bootcamp

Fabulous, darlings. Last week I got the chance to design some perfume packaging. What could be more glamorous? Here's one of the mood boards which I developed as part of one of the concepts. The mentoring I've been receiving from people here has been truly invaluable. It's been really great throwing ideas around with other designers and being given feedback and guidance on my work. It's intense, I'm learning something new every day and it's been just what I've needed. Unfortunately I won't be able to show much of what I've done until (or unless) it's approved and launched. Not to worry!

And you may ask yourself

Here are a few shopping tips which have been passed on to me from my faithful friends and family. Without them, I would be holed up in my apartment, cradling my credit card, rocking myself in a corner being too afraid and overwhelmed to embrace the joys of shopping which New York giveth. Please post a comment below if you have further wisdom to add. But here's a start:

1. If it's on sale, it's because other people don't want it. It is too big, too small, last season, or not right in some other way. Consider this carefully before you purchase. (thanks Aaron)

2. Ask yourself: "Do I work?" (thanks Mum, and yes, I do.... really hard actually!)

3. The memories are worth the dint in the credit card. (thanks Bec)

4. Don't be overwhelmed; just take each day at a time. (thanks Kass)

5. Ask yourself: "How can I leave this here?" (that's mine. This especially applies alongside its partnering question, "When, if ever, will I return?")

I laugh. I applaud. I love.

I am a new being. The old has gone, the new has come. I have seen the king of television, and have seen the light. As soon as I was inside those doors, I was filled with CBS Joy. As soon as David was on stage, all I wanted to to was laugh out loud and clap. I did not want to "Whooo hooo": those days are in my past now. I did not want to use the bathroom after 3pm. Every time David finished a sentence, even when I didn't quite follow, I felt compelled to laugh. And applaud. 

Please do not pee here

Just when you think you've found a quiet corner, and a spot where there are no signs saying "bathrooms are for cafe customers only"...

Rodrigo Corral

"Being a famous designer is like being a famous dentist."
Noreen Morioka - Principal,  AdamsMorioka

This is to say, the name "Rodrigo Corral" may not mean much to you, but it's a household name in the New York design scene. And today, I got half an hour to ask him all about creation and the meaning of design. His work is smart and simple, and it was encouraging to hear that it really has taken him some time to get to a point where he can unclutter his thoughts in order to arrive at one clever solution. Being American, he didn't quite know what I meant when I asked him about 'turfing' the less successful ideas, lucky I had Aaron with me to interpret! A real pleasure to meet him, and we chatted about his range of work and the work we do at Boheem. He even gave me two of his books as a parting gift. Oh, and hot typeface news: it seems a few studios here are using Gothic. Actually, word is that it's been popular for a year or two (where have I been?) and now they're trying to 'move on'. Hm. Anyway, I like it. find it at: www.typography.com/fonts/font_overview.php?productLineID=100008 . See more of Rodrigo's work here: www.bookcoverarchive.com/Rodrigo_Corral

Times Square

And here it is, in its blaze of glory: Times Square. Since we currently live quite close to the centre of the centre of the universe, the other night we decided to take a stroll uptown towards Times Square. It's a pretty crazy place. I have tickets to see Wicked with Dad when he gets here; should be fun! And there's a new show starting every week it feels like – we are planning to see Waiting for Godot in the next week or two, and Exit The King if we're lucky...

Church

We've found a church and have gone for the past two weekends. I'm loving it. It's only a few blocks from here and we go to the 11:30am service where they serve coffee and bagels. It's held at at the Blender Theatre and the people there seem really great. The pastor is really clued on and gives relevant, smart messages. I especially like the visitor's welcome card, where you can tick one of 3 boxes under 'occupation': student, professional or artist. Aaron and I are heading over to Alphabet City next weekend to help out with a ministry they partner with there, to hand out hot breakfasts and groceries to people in the community there. www.forefrontchurch.com