inspiring the inspiration: lines: black, white and gray

A big part of this blog is about inspiration.  I add elements as I come across them to the sparks section several times a day. While  these works, designs, buildings etc are definitely inspirational in their own right, I realized something last week.  A group of the work that I added to the sparks collection share a common feel.  Light, airy, linear, black, white, gray.

I didn't select these pieces all at once and definitley not purposefully to work together as a unit but in looking back at them as a group it is clear to me, that perhaps something else insprired me to be drawn to these pieces. Inspiring the inspiration.  

Anyway, I liked them so much as a group I decided to do this quick post.  I really love to see similar asesthetics spring up across different mediums.  

So here you have it.....lines: black, white and gray. Click on images to enlarge and for full information.

 

the details: a few essentials for beautiful minimalist interiors

Design is in the details.  I believe this.  In modern design, the best details are the ones that appear simple. 

I say appear, because usually much more precision and attention to craft needs occur in order for them to be executed properly.

To achieve the minimalist, clean aesthetic often demands veering from the path of standard construction methods.  Items that must be left behind: trim, filler panels, coverplates and other ways of hiding less than perfect construction.  

Here are a few products I've stumbled upon throughout the years. Some of which I am lucky to be using on a current project.  

I just love minimalist solutions.  I hope you do too!

1. Bocci Collection 22: wall accessories | trimless outlets for power, data, phone and switching

2. i-LeD: technical series, :  trimless, recessed LED ceiling lights | energy efficient, minimal with a variety of sizes and applications

3. Lutron: lighting controls and systems (you can even control your lights remotely with your iphone!)

4. Architectural Devices:  Modern Smoke Detector | beautiful trimless flush-mounted smoke-detector

5. Quick Drain: Lineal Drains | 1 1/2" wide linear drains with a variety of cover grills (so much better than the typical center drain!)

6. Mecho-shade: manual and motorized shading systems | these are beautiful recessed + motorized!

 7. Amina: invisible wall/ceiling speakers | totally concealed in-wall audio speakers

 

design to solve

As any good designer will tell you, "good" design is not purely defined by something looking nice, it must be a good solution to the problem or task it addresses.  A well-known quote by Charles Eames reiterates this definition:

Design is the appropriate combination of materials in order to solve a problem

Some of us look at the immediate design problems while others go further.  How can design solve larger problems such as global social and environmental problems?  Here is a small and growing list of groups, projects and networks *(and books) that use the creativity of design to empower change for the greater good.  Feel free to add any others you may know of in the comments section or via the contact form, I would love to keep this list growing.

Seeing design as a solution to large scale issues is inspiring to me.  It fuels a life-long goal/mission of mine, as a designer, to work in and bring awareness to the importance of socially and environmentally conscious design. Wanna help?  Check out links to what I have so far. (pages link to sites)

1. architecture for humanity:

2. open architecture network [by architecture for humanity]

3. Design 21

4. design incubator [pratt institute for sustainable innovation]

5. rural studio [auburn univerisity]

 6. design ignites change

7. social designer: goods for the greater good

 8. project h design

9. book: do good design by david b. berman

10. book: a design revolution:100 products that empower people by emily pilloton [via GOOD]

it's about time

For those of you familiar with my earlier blog modbird, you'll know I've been rambling about creating a new, more inclusive art+design based blog for a while...I know, what can I say? It's been a busy year.

Modbird has always been a personal blog, an assortment of things I enjoy, places I visit and silly things to amuse my creative spirit. It will continue to exist but primarily as just that.

This new blog serves as more appropriate and organized place for my art+design related reflections, sightings and inspiration.  It will also integrate items I may have previously posted to my tumblr blog: innerlight under the "sparks" section.  

I cant tell you how many hours I've spent this past six months in starbucks, brainstorming on how I would organize and share these things that inspire me with you all.  Well, today I decided to throw caution to the wind, stop my typical overthinking and just go for it.

So without further adieu, I give you redspark.  Inspired by the energy generated by creative ideas that I am lucky to see and be apart of as I stumble through this life with a last name that means red.

Check out redspark "blog" for written posts and "sparks" for inspiration.

I have also included a page for redspark studio (the new name of my metalsmithing | jewelry studio). Within the next couple of weeks (fingers-crossed), I will have a site set up to purchase my metalwork on a made-to-order basis. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Chris