Design*Sponge » interviews

What’s in Your Toolbox: Lotta Jansdotter

Ginny — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:00:40 +0000

When I was a student at SCAD, I haunted a beloved local shop for new delights from one of my favorite textile designers, Lotta Anderson of Lotta Jansdotter. It began with an obsession for her sticky notes and continued with collecting every tea towel and sewing kit I could get my enthusiastic hands on. I am so thrilled to see her brand continuing to flourish and expanding to new arenas of design. Lotta Jansdotter washi tape? Sign me up. To be interviewing her now is an honor, and it lets me high-five my inner, bright-eyed art-student self. Her images are so joyful, aren’t they? Continue reading for a delightful visual smorgasbord of creativity.

1. Design*Sponge: What is in your toolbox?

Lotta Anderson: My tool box is rather simple: pen (my favorite pen is a Pentel Sign Pen in black), paper, rubber cement and a pair of scissors.

I create my print designs, motifs and patterns by hand: I sketch and draw in my custom-made sketch books or on plain copy paper. I cut out shapes and motifs out of black construction paper. I do this for a while, and I might find something I want to develop further. Then I will play with scale and layout by using my copy machine. Then I am back to cutting and pasting again. A very hands-on process! I like the tactile process of how I create my designs.

2. Design*Sponge: Fill in the blank, “When I am in my studio, I feel _____________.”

Lotta Anderson: When I am in my studio I feel exhilarated, enthusiastic, chaotic, unorganized, happy and crazy!

Read the full post after the jump!

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portlandia season 2: q&a with carrie brownstein

Grace Bonney — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:45:08 +0000

It’s hard to know where to start a post that involves someone you’ve admired for longer than you can really remember. I was first introduced to Carrie Brownstein’s music at an all-girl’s summer camp in West Virginia, and I’m pretty sure that mixtape is still kicking around my parent’s house back in Virginia. Being able to hear bands like Sleater-Kinney (and other favorites of that era like Bikini Kill and L7) at that age was something that seemed almost necessary, like a lifeline to a world that made more sense and felt more relatable than everything else in my hometown.

Since Sleater-Kinney’s hiatus, Brownstein has written for NPR, started writing a book about her life and music, volunteered with the Oregon Humane Society, acted in independent films and created yet another amazing band, Wild Flag. Her relentless pursuit of creative outlets is endlessly inspiring to me, and I’m so honored to share an interview with her today on D*S.

Earlier this week I got to ask her some questions about one of her current projects, IFC’s Portlandia. Ever since the words “Put a Bird on It” were uttered, the entire design community has been talking about (if not instant fans of) the show. I’ve anxiously awaited Season 2, and today the wait is over. The first episode of the new season airs on IFC tonight, so if you haven’t seen the show before, be sure to tune in and get ready to laugh. Also be ready to recognize yourself in at least a few sketches. What I love so much about Portlandia is that the show both mocks (in a friendly way) and celebrates these artistic and cultural sub-groups that we’re all a part of. Whether you’re a slow-food devotee or find yourself drawn to turn-of-the-century design, it’s pretty hard not to see a quirk of your own onscreen (and laugh at yourself).

For this interview we focused on the design of the show and talking about Carrie’s (and Fred’s) personal style. Bonus point? Carrie likes gray paint. As if I needed another reason to think she’s the greatest. Thanks again to IFC and to Carrie for taking the time to talk. xo, grace

*All photos courtesy of IFC unless otherwise noted

The full interview and photos from Season 2 of Portlandia continue after the jump . . .

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portlandia season 2: q&a with production designer tyler b. robinson

Grace Bonney — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:00:25 +0000

*Poster design by DKNG Studios

IFC’s Portlandia has been a favorite of mine since the moment it first aired. It combines two of my favorite people (Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen) with one of my favorite cities (Portland, Oregon) to create a hilarious sketch comedy series that lovingly pokes fun at some of the groups, movements and trends driving the culture in some of the country’s more liberal/progressive/hipster-heavy cities. Though Portlandia could easily be about Brooklyn, Austin or parts of San Francisco, there is something uniquely — and wonderfully — Portland about the show. And that is thanks in no small part to the show’s amazing art & production team that works with local artists and companies to create the scenes we see on TV every week.

I’ve always loved getting to hear more about the way a show’s look and feel comes together (we got to peek behind the scenes of Mad Men back in 2010), so I was thrilled to chat with Portlandia’s production designer, Tyler B. Robinson earlier this week. Along with the show’s art and costume departments, Tyler works to design and build sets, props and environments that will be used to both inspire and bring to life the sketches created by the show’s actors and writers.

Tyler has an amazing story that involves time spent serving in the United States Army as a weapons specialist (be sure to check out the amazing Cupcake Cannon he created), hitchhiking through Europe and eventually landing in Portland where he’s been creating some of the most creative props and set designs I’ve seen. It was such a treat to talk with him about Portlandia, and I hope you’ll enjoy the interview. xo, grace

*Stay tuned tomorrow afternoon for an interview with Portlandia’s Carrie Brownstein.

The full interview (as well as photos, videos and clips from Season 2 of Portlandia) continue after the jump . . .

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24 hours in brooklyn with: melaena cadiz

Grace Bonney — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:00:25 +0000

New York City is one of my favorite places to be in the winter. The holiday lights line streets in all five boroughs, the glow inside restaurants looks inviting and each shop is lit up like a little gem waiting to be discovered. So many of you have mentioned that you’re heading to the New York area for the holidays, so I’m thrilled to share a special interview and mini-city guide that is sure to come in handy during your trip. Musician Melaena Cadiz has been a staple on my iTunes since earlier this summer when writer Lisa Przystup introduced me to her work. Melaena is based in Brooklyn so we thought it would be fun to get a little insider’s guide to not only her music and inspirations, but her favorite spots around town and suggestions for an ideal 24 hours in Brooklyn, NY. If you’re in town for just a quick shopping trip, I hope you’ll hop on the train and come check out some of these fantastic spots that Melaena loves- they’d make up a fantastic Brooklyn afternoon or just some great tips for taking a break with a hot chocolate. Thanks so much to Melaena for taking the time to share her thoughts and favorite places and to Lisa Przystup for conducting and writing the interview. xo, grace *

Click here to check out our last 24 hour city guide with Pokey Lafarge

Full interview and photos continue after the jump…

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he said/she said: designing together

Amy Azzarito — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:00:23 +0000

For the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with a number of designing duos about their creative work lives: filmmakers Mark and Angela Walley, super-creative photographer and styling duo William and Susan Brinson and Jesse James and Kostas Anagnopoulos of Aesthetic Movement. We’re wrapping up our series with Eight Hour Day, a design boutique run by husband-and-wife team Nathan Strandberg and Katie Kirk. They do everything from creating complete graphic identities for restaurants to writing a children’s book. The couple is based in Minneapolis, but just last year, they decided to shake things up a bit. They sold their Minneapolis condo, rented out their studio and set off on a tour around the US in search of design and inspiration. The plan was to travel to 10 cities across the US and spend a month in each city with a couple additional months in New York and San Francisco. They just wrapped their yearlong US journey and are celebrating with an overseas adventure. They graciously answered these questions from Europe. — Amy A.

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What’s been your favorite project to work on together?

She said: I would have to say our previous identity. The one before the one we have right now. We created and worked on it together during our very first remote working trip in San Francisco in 2008. It was a conscious new shift for us in the business, both in terms of work and the way we saw ourselves. It was a more mature approach, and although it was challenging, I think we both brought some of our best work to that ID. I would say it was one of our most collaborative projects to date.

He said: I would say our current blog. Being that it’s our first blog ever, it’s been a new challenge for us to record our experiences and keep track of the things that inspire us the most. It has really given us a purpose and a mission while we’re on this one-year trip.

The full interview continues after the jump . . .

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what’s in your toolbox: liane tyrrel

Ginny — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:00:20 +0000

I first fell in love with Liane Tyrrel’s work at the sight of her gorgeous handmade pillows and collection of vintage wares in her beloved Etsy shop, enhabiten. Her textile experiments and daily inspirations are documented in her personal blog, an Internet haunt of mine. My fangirldom was officially launched into orbit after seeing her home featured in a Design*Sponge sneak peek. Liane is a truly lovely soul, and I have been dying to feature her from the very beginning! Enjoy this tour of the creative world of Liane Tyrrel! — Ginny

1. Design*Sponge: What’s in your toolbox?

Liane Tyrrel: Old white sewing machine to be replaced this week with a used commercial machine. Finally! Also, iron and ironing board, dye pots, ginghers, thread, pins and pincushions, vintage fabric and new hemp materials. Ultra important: MY THIMBLE! I couldn’t live without it.

2. Design*Sponge: Fill in the blank, “When I’m in my studio, I feel _________.”

Read the rest of the interview after the jump!

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