You Can't Miss: Multicolr Search Lab

How cool is this? I came across a web site that allows you to search the "most interesting" photos on Flickr by color. The Multicolr Search Lab allows you to find photographs based on your color choices. And you can choose multiple colors and it will find photos that match them too! Check it out for yourself (I found the three photos above by choosing the color combination in my bedroom).

You Can't Miss: Best and Worst Fashion Spreads

Today The Cut put together what they believe to be the Best and Worst Fashion Spreads from the April issues. They have some interesting categories including Best Hot Mess, Least Progressive Accessory, Best Male Model Wearing No Pants and Best Example of Why Lindsay Lohan Needs a Day Job.

There are also some legit categories too and some really interesting photography. So check it out, even if fashion journalism isn't your thing.

You Can't Miss: Me on Twitter!

I'm on Twitter. My sister peer pressured me.

Except, I kinda love it!

Okay, I was really protesting this whole Twitter phenomenon, but then my family got on. For any of you who know how insanely close my family is, you understand how FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) can get the best of us. We've been through a lot in the last few years and now we just can't seem to get enough of each other (and we are scattered throughout the country so we have to rely on technology to keep in touch).

So my name is Kristin_Noe and I am currently looking for interesting designers to follow. Anybody follow anyone cool?

You Can't Miss: Society of Illustrators

I came across this interesting post on The Cut today. It highlighted the Society of Illustrators new exhibition "In the Line of Fashion."

"The exhibit features fashion illustrations when they were at their peak in the forties and fifties — as well as notable sketches from as recently as this year — all focusing on illustration as a means to communicate fashion."

I think it is interesting to see the evolution of illustration in these sketches, as well as the different trends and styles that have floated in and out of the fashion world. Illustration is not my strongest design skill, but definitely my most improved this year. I have found that it can often be the best way to illustrate EXACTLY what you want, especially when there often isn't a photo to capture our wildest imaginations. Enjoy!

You Can't Miss: What has Vogue done to Adele's figure?

Women's magazines, why do you do this to us?

The Cut brought to my attention this photo of singer-songwriter Adele from Vogue.



Adele is a great singer who happens to be beautifully curvaceous, which you wouldn't know from this photo. Her positioning, clothing, the lighting and the undeniable use of photo shop have transformed Adele's body. What I'm still unsure about is where to place the blame? The stylists, art directors, photographers?

What makes matters worse is the dek featured under the photo: "At 20, the voluptuous, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Adele translates her passion for soulful sixties divas into a captivating style. Hamish Bowles delights in her unvarnished truth."

Really, Vogue? Read their article here.

And for those of you who have never heard Adele, check out the song that made me fall in love with her:

You Can't Miss: Rhymes with Twee Cards

I think it is helpful for me to see all the places that my design education might take me (especially when jobs are so sparse). Here's an example of something that all of us are clever, and talented, enough to do with our design skills post graduation (even if its just for fun).

I saw this on Daily Candy, so thanks to Sarah for drawing my attention to this fun web site! I subscribe to both the "Everywhere" articles and the "Chicago" articles, but check out the other cities that they have for one to suit your fancy.

This morning, they featured the handmade cards of Rhymes with Twee. The designer is so funny and does things like put guitar picks on the front with a message that says "I'm glad I picked you."



If any of you send someecards, these are kind of the flesh and blood (or paper and glue) version of those snarky messages. Check out the full article here!

You Can't Miss: Quick Sprouts

This design inspiration comes from my sister (not a designer), which just goes to show you that even the untrained eye can identify cool and creative design.

Quick Sprouts featured this post on business cards: 51 Business Cards That Will Make You Look Twice. For all of us budding designers, an outrageous business card might just be the ticket to catching a future employer's eye. So check it out and be inspired!

You Can't Miss: Congress Twittering

Although this is not exactly design related, it is worthy of note.

The Washington Post had this to say: "President Obama spoke of economic calamity and war last night in that solemn rite of democracy, the address to the joint session of Congress. And lawmakers watched him with the dignity Americans have come to expect of their leaders: They whipped out their BlackBerrys and began sending text messages like high school kids bored in math class."

Most of the Congress members were reported to be "twittering" as the President addressed the nation. I thought Twitter was a bit ridiculous before, and now I think the craze has just gotten way out of hand. I mean, I know there are people with poor cell phone etiquette, but when the President is speaking, put your phone away.

You Can't Miss: Zac Posen's Optimism

Not a day goes by without hearing about the miserable economy, especially as a college senior looking for a job. However, I have decided to make a sincere effort to take note of those who can think positively during this difficult time. I think we could all use a little encouragement that all the hard work we are doing in our last (or one of our last) semesters as college students is not in vain. I give you fashion designer Zac Posen.
When asked how the economic downturn was affecting his business he said: “It’s helped me to become more pure and determined in my vision. “It’s a more creative time.”

Posen started his line right after 9/11, another difficult time for the US economy. “Everyone was saying ‘don’t go into business, there’s no place, there’s no retail world out there.’ Nobody wanted to hear about a new brand. But you create your own excitement, and you create the industry, and you create the customer, and that’s what is going to get this country out of this difficult time.”

So chin up fellow designers (especially those of us looking for jobs)! Let's create our own excitement. If Zac can do it, we can too!

Special thanks to The Cut for alerting me to this.

You Can't Miss: Michelle Obama in Vogue

Thanks to my daily emails from New York Magazine's fashion section, The Cut, I got a heads up about the First Lady appearing on the cover of the March issue of Vogue.

A lot has been said about Michelle's (Don't you love that you feel like you are on a first name basis with the Obamas? I do.) style over the past year. On the campaign trail, she wore affordable clothing from brands like J.Crew and H & M. However, here she is gracing the cover of Vogue (only the second First Lady, after Hillary Clinton) and these bloggers seem to think she looks awkward and out of place.

I think she looks as beautiful as always and can't wait to read what is supposedly a lovely story inside, but what do others think?

You Can't Miss: Contributing Editor

The fashion enthusiast that I am subscribes to many websites, newsletters and blogs on the topic. This morning Who What Wear sent me an email about "Fashionable Fellows." Now I don't really follow men's fashion the way I do women's, but I find it interesting none the less to see what the fellas are wearing.

This entry was written by Matthew Edelstein, of the men's online fashion magazine The Contributing Editor. I decided to it out and found a really cool blog. Each of the entries are images with the actual story available only via a link underneath the art, which is a pretty cool concept that I haven't seen before.

I found one entry that I thought was particularly stunning. Typography is my greatest weakness in designing, and I am always looking for inspiration/ideas in that area, which is probably why I was so drawn to this:
So, if you are interested in men's fashion, design or typography, this site has a lot of offer. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself The Contributing Editor.

You Can't Miss: The Winger

This week, The Winger had an interest post from the co-founder of SYREN Modern Dance Company about the group's program "Dance on Canvas." Basically they hold rehearsals rehearsals at The Art Students League in Manhattan, and students are invited to draw, paint, sketch and photograph while they dance.

I think this is awesome because it combines two of my great loves (dance and art/design), but I think it is also relevant to our discussions about inspiration and ways to get ideas for our own designs. So, check it out: Rehearsing in an Art Gallery.

( The Winger is a favorite blog of mine. I could try to explain it, but they do a much better job themselves: The Winger is a collaborative website where professionals, students, experts and pioneers in the dance world share their experiences and insights. The Winger was created in an effort to help promote and popularize dance by connecting audiences to artists in a personal and meaningful way, while giving artists a voice of their own.)