Out Here, No One Knows We're Dancing

Three illustrators to put on your radar, hand roll branding, a rad mix from Leon Vynehall, and the most gorgeous shack you've ever seen

Three things to kick things off this week —

📴 — Last week I attended OFFF, a design conference with a great roster of creatives sharing their experiences. I haven’t been to a conference like this in a number of years, and it reminded me that I’m really not a fan ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ There a fair amount of good speakers, but it was overly crowded, lots of uncomfortable chairs, and many talks which felt like ads for massive corporations. That said, it inspired me to start to my own community events here in Barcelona, which I’ll tie into the relaunch of The Fox Is Black. More on that in the next few months.

🍎 — Last week, New York unveiled a new “campaign” for the city with a new slogan “WE ❤️ NYC” and a wordmark to go along with it. My initial reaction was to write about it, though honestly, it’s so banal and joyless, I decided it’s not worth it. Most non-designer folks probably won’t care, and as Kyle rightly pointed out, it’s meant for all the mom and pop tourists who come visit. Why waste our time on something that’s not interesting?

🌳🐻 — Lastly, I’m headed off to Madrid in May for Kyle’s birthday and would love some recommendations. Feel free to email or drop a comment with your tips on places to eat, shops to visit, and galleries to stroll about. And if you’re in Madrid, we’d love to meet up for some cava y croquettes!

Hope your week is lovely 💙

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🍀 — Nicole McLaughlin with Vault by Vans

Nicole McLaughlin has gained a cult following thanks to her passion for upcycling old clothes into beautiful gems. Vans took notice and did this charming collab, creating a pair of slip-ons inspired by gardening tote bags. Such a clever idea, available globally on March 31, 2023.

Nicole McLaughlin bringing organization to the feetsies

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🌼 — Illustrations by Ryo Takemasa

I’ve really been loving the illustrations of Ryo Takemasa, a Japanese artist who has a knack for creating these vivid, ethereal drawings. I found his work thanks to a New Yorker cover, to which there’s also an interview with Ryo where he talks about his peaceful new studio he just finished building.

Ryo Takemasa’s Yellow Flower Field (2016)

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🌸 — Sarula Bao for The New Yorker

Speaking of The New Yorker, whoever is art directing over there is killing it. Today’s issue has a super rad cover by queer, Chinese-American artist Sarula Bao. I’m shocked at how contemporary this cover is! It’s so refreshing. Sarula shared a video of her process over on Twitter, and there’s a pre-order for a risograph print, if you fancy it as much as I do.

My favorite detail is the sheer sleeves 👀

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🍣 — Rūlo identity design by Studio Furious

Studio Furious knocked it out of the park with their identity design for Rūlo, a hand roll restaurant (think sushi, but it’s rolled in a sheet of nori) in Paris. The stark contrast between the orange, black, and white is eye-catching, that condensed typeface punches you in the mouth, and overall you I get the feeling of a place that is both refined and playful at the same time.

This would quite literally, stop me in my tracks

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💿 — Leon Vynehall at The Lab LDN

I’ve been a Leon Vynehall fan for a minute now and his most recent live mix for The Lab LDN was a hit. He played a mix of house and techno tracks, as well as some new material he’s been working on. Highly recommend listening to this with your headphones on. I’m stoked to see him here in Barcelona at SOUNDIT, playing with Mari.te and MALENA.

What a hunk

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🛖 — Marra Marra Shack

There’s something about the simplicity and tactility of a wooden home. The Marra Marra Shack, which in many ways defies the idea of a “shack,” is a small getaway designed by Leopold Banchini Architects. It’s so interesting to me that this space manages to feel timeless, anchored in traditional craftsmanship while also employing some rather contemporary styling. The space is simple though the grain of the wood gives the space such a rich character. Be sure to click the link so you can see the windows opposite of this view, and the incredible view it frames 😍

Don’t be fooled, this is what minimalism should look like

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🌄 — Illustrations by Louise Gouet

I’m highlighting a lot of illustrators this week, which I feel like I haven’t done in a while. I came across Louise Gouet, a French illustrator who works mostly with gouache, layered with colored pencils and wax pastels. This process creates a sublime layered effect, giving her work so much depth and nuance.

Illustration for a story on Martín Fierro

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🎆 — Marta Cerdà Alimbau

As I mentioned, I attended OFFF last week, and one of the standout speakers was Marta Cerdà Alimbau. Her work dabbles in a little bit of everything, and she pulls from the past and interprets it through this contemporary lens which blows my mind. She’s a polymath to the extreme and it’s incredibly enviable. Her new book Type to Image from Counter-Print showcases her work and delves into the processes she takes. Currently obsessed.

Fun fact, this is made from a 3D scan of Marta

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The Trend Report™

by my partner, Kyle Raymond Fitzpatrick, is a sharp and insightful take on culture from around the world. Arrives every Sunday to your inbox. Highly recommended, obviously.