Somehow, we’re almost in February. Not sure how that happened. I’ve been thinking about January and some of the things that I really enjoyed in January, in no particular order.

1. Le Puzz, the best jigsaw puzzle makers, has been keeping Kyle and myself busy. We’re currently trying to finish up Match Made in Heaven. Fun realization I had, Le Puzz is just Puzz-Le mixed around. How cute is that?

2. Last night I made Crispy Smashed Chicken Breasts With Gin and Sage, a recipe by Amy Thielen that was adapted by Eric Kim. The results were delectable. 10/10, highly recommended. Next time I would fry up more sage for more crispy bits on the top, and pair with a fresh Gimlet.

3. I started taking a pilates class and I’m so in love with it. My teacher is an Australian woman who’s been teaching for 20+ years She’s supportive while still pushing me to work harder.

4. Spring 2023 runway shows have been going down in Paris, and the one collection that really got me excited was Lemaire’s Spring-Summer 2023 runway. The casual confidence this collection exudes is remarkable. The fits, the colors, the detailing. So stunning.

5. I would love your thoughts on a larger item I’ve been thinking about. I feel somewhat stuck with Substack and this newsletter format. I’m also not a huge fan of relying on someone else’s platform. And Substack, as a company, seems to only help folks who have large paid audiences. So my thinking is, should I start up The Fox Is Black as a blog again? I like the idea of writing my little posts again. Being able to create projects, wallpapers, guest mixes, etc. Could 2023 be the renaissance of the blog?

📌 — A funny challenge graphic designers face is when a client needs an update to a logo… without really changing the logo 🫠 This is increasingly common in our frenetic paced world, that demand for constant newness. In some cases, you’ll have a storied brand who’s logo has emotional weight.

Take, for instance, Squier, a company who’s been making string instruments (originally violins) and are some of the best selling guitars in the U.S. In 2018, the team at Squier reached out to designer/letterer/polymath Jessica Hische in the hopes of refreshing the Squier logo, interested in keeping, as she says, “the general vibe of the existing brand alive as we gently massage out kinks.”

As with many of the projects that Jessica works on the end result is like, the optimal version of what the logo could be, while still keeping the essence intact. The "q" is updated, but still retains it's quirkiness. The "E" went to a chiropractor and is feeling much better now. Overall, the flow of the letters has a much better flow and the legibility improved dramatically, especially when you think of all the use-cases (printing the logo in small and large formats). I’d recommend checking out Jessica’s logo redesign page where you can see more great examples of her work.

📌 — If you’ve ever seen the photos from Toiletpaper Magazine chances are you know the work of Pierpaolo Ferrari. Bold colors, high contrast, imagery, and a sense of zany chaos dominates his work. For whatever reason, I never thought to dig in and see who was behind the distinctive look of Toiletpaper. In fact, Pierpaolo has made an entire career out of this vibrant and lively photo style, working with clients such as New York Times Magazine, Kenzo, Vogue, Zeit Magazin, Alitalia, and more.

📌 — Yinka Ilori is a multi-discipline designer who has an array of work inspired by his British/Nigerian culture as seen through a contemporary lens. There’s an unending energy and optimism to his work, a fantastic translation of his heritage being brought to life through his studios projects.

Myself being food-obsessed, I was really impressed with the work he did with the Bulgari Hotel in London, reinventing the stodgy afternoon tea. Or the above, his first permanent installation in Germany, titled ‘Filtered Rays’, which would be a magical treat to accidentally come across.

📌 — Thoughtful interventions in existing spaces have a soft spot in my heart. Paul Westwood, design director of design firm RIOS, has been slowly remodeling his 1890s London home since 2018. What was a formerly neglected garage has been transformed into a stunning studio and workshop that has become a cozy and comfortable slice of heaven. His goal was to make his garden feel more spacious, have a practical work-from-home space, as well as room for his tools and a way to harvest rainwater.

What I love about the space is this choice of materials and color palette. I don’t care if it’s trendy, plastered walls are timeless. Then you have this very nature inspired palette, sage and turquoise and warm creams, with that absolutely perfect red step ladder from Metaphys. Totally stealing this whole thing as a mood board for my future Mediterranean country home.

🍃 — If your passions are skateboarding and coffee, make your way to Seoul for a stop in Dorrell, a coffee shop with skate park inspired interiors. A gorgeous combination of cast concrete with pops of wood for contrast.

🍃 — Most gaming PCs tend to err on the side of gaudy, LED bedazzled monstrosities. The folks at Fractal have gone the other direction with North, a nordic inspired case featuring natural wood and accents.

🍃 — Ever wondered why your dog yawns? well, there’s a number of reasons. My favorite though, is because they love you — “a good ole yawn is a great way for them to release that pent-up anticipation.”

🍃 — Can a public toilet be sexy? It can be if it’s part of Japan’s THE TOKYO TOILET project and it’s designed by Marc Newson. A traditionally inspired exterior is paired with a luminescent interior reminiscent of a spaceship.

🍃 — For those in the L.A., this is the last week of a fantastic exhibit on Scandinavian design called Scandinavian Design and the United States, 1890–1980 over at LACMA. The exhibit closes on 5 February, be sure not to miss it.

🍃 — Rick Rubin and his interview were all over the feeds last week, and then I found out he had a new book out, which I’m very curious to read, titled The Creative Act: A Way of Being.

🍃 — I have been craving a very particular pasta dish lately. Did some digging and found this rose pasta sauce with sun-dried tomatoes. Heavy cream ✅ sun- dried tomatoes ✅ mushrooms ✅ cracked black pepper ✅ The photos alone make my mouth water.

🍃 — Super cute branding from Lit for a brand called Bloom. The product itself sounds like a science scheme though I’m a fan of the playful logo, funky shapes, and that eclectic color palette.