DANA LEE SS12 film from Dana Lee on Vimeo.

www.danaleenewyork.com

-CF

Meet Josh Holinaty, an Edmonton-based editorial illustrator, graphic designer and all around talented guy. His affinity for the “silly, gross, drippy, grungey and clean”  is exactly what sets him apart and why we so admire his work. Holinaty’s illustrations have appeared everywhere, from the Globe & Mail to WIRED, Transworld Snow to Runner’s World, all the while crossing boundaries with his unique illustrative style. So get up-close and personal with this creative dynamo in our March designer highlight.

1. Where did you spend your childhood? And do you think that may have influenced your creativity?

I grew up in Grande Prairie, AB, pre-internet style. Because you’re somewhat isolated from the world living in Grande Prairie, creativity was something that I mostly discovered on my own through fun times hanging out  drawing funnies with my friends, watching television shows such as Rocko’s Modern Life or Ren & Stimpy, and playing a good share of video games.

I think the grungey-grotesqueness of my drawings is a direct result of Grande Prairie itself. It’s a muddy, dusty, windy city. But now that I think of it, so is Edmonton at times. I’m in a permanent state of Grande Prairie.

2. Any tell tale signs as a child that you were going to be a designer? 

I received my first business card commission from my uncle Claude when I was in fifth grade for his company Flying Frog Welding. Maybe my best work – it all went down from there. I was always drawing before then, but it was at that young age that I discovered that drawing (and later designing) can actually be a service that you can provide to people, and sometimes you can even make a buck off of it. I thought that was neat!

3. When did you realize that you wanted to pursue a career in illustration and design? What was your catalyst?

It sort of happened by happenstance. I was in my last term at the Alberta College of Art & Design, about to get my degree in Fine Arts, looking ahead to making, I don’t know, big drawings or paintings. Two of my school pals moved on to be art directors at Transworld Snowboarding magazine at the same time and they quickly asked me to whip up some drawings for the magazine. This went on for about three volumes. Being from the Fine Art side of things at school, I never really even considered pursuing the commercial illustration thing at the time

Time went on and I just found myself getting more and more work, mostly due to the fact that Genevieve had pushed me promote myself more to clients that I’d like to work with.

4. Why do you think your work speaks to so many different types of people? From clients like Transworld to Cottage Life to Runner’s World its seems as though your unique style your style seems to cross the gamut.

Long answer: That’s something I’ve wondered, too. Making illustrations at Transworld Snowboarding I thought I’d be pigeon-holing myself to a 14 year old skater boi club, but drawings constantly evolve. My drawing process became more minimal in style as time went on, and at the same time I think it became a bit more endearing / suitable for safer crowds. As a result of that, I’ve developed a bit of a range of styles I can sort of pull off, depending on the job request.

Short answer: I’m not really sure, but I think it’s funny doing safe illustrations of families eating dinner together (which I’ve done about four of now).

5. What has been your top three projects to date?

1. Transition mural on 100 Ave and 105 Street here in Edmonton with Luke Ramsey and ESPA.
2. Painfully slowly working on We Hate This Place Here; It’s Our Home with David Berry. It’s been, like, 3 years of trying to finish that thing.
3. Drumming in my band Camembert. It’s a nice having multiple outlets.

6. In a few words, how would you describe your creative process?

Quick and dirty. Flat colours. Black and white.

7. What initially drew you to the style you’ve developed today? How has it grown and progressed?

I’ve always been into drawing gross, wobbly, sweaty things. My drawing hasn’t grown so much as shrunk lately, I feel. I really get a kick of drawing the least amount to illustrate an idea lately. I find quick, simply drawn illustrations are usually the funnest and funniest. Linework and brushstroke charm can really increases with speed.

Design wise, I’m sort of the opposite lately. I want to see something nice and simple, almost sterile, where the content does the speaking. Yeah, the old less is more.

8. We are highlighting Canadian creatives (from designers to photographers to illustrators to writers). Who do you think we should interview next?

Of course, my partner Genevieve Simms. I always think I suck compared to her.
One of my favourite illustrators / visual creators in all of Canada is Patrick Kyle based out of Toronto. Talk about gross and simple and hilarious. So good.
One of my favourite writers: Matt Prins. He’s been making instant books for years and they are visceral, hilarious, sad and every other emotion all at once.

- Photos courtesy of Josh Holinaty

On view at the Design Exchange Toronto from March 7 to April 23.

New York- based industrial designer Stephen Burks and his studio, Readymade Projects, have been showing their work Stephen Burks: Man Made Toronto since the new year at the exhibition hall of the Toronto Design Exchange. Collaborating with artisans in the developing world he transforms raw and recycled materials into clever, usable products. Man Made Toronto brings social, cultural and economic benefit to people in many remote locations by linking their products with the distribution and marketing of design brands like Artecnica, Cappellini and Moroso. In doing so, he also introduces new forms and aesthetics to contemporary design in the industrialized world.

Through his project, Burks asks the public to consider these unique Senegalese basket lamps, shelving, tables and other interior products as true hybrids of two cultures.

Man Made Toronto is presented by Wedge Curatorial Projects and the Design Exchange. In collaboration with Chevalier Edition.

- JK

Photos courtesy of the Design Exchange

Toronto-based digital video agency, Biz Media and digital creative agency, Playground recently asked mural and graffiti artist Alex Currie, aka Runt, to give their office “the Lee’s Palace treatment.” By painting a stark white pillar situated in the middle of their shared office space, Runt gave the space a beautiful facelift fit for the many bands who have played in the building since 1985.

-JK

If you haven’t heard of Modallion yet you need to check them out. I found them by fluke one afternoon while lurking around on Facebook and have been obsessed since. A modern rug design studio in the heart of the Castlefield Design District in Toronto, Modallion was established in February 2011, as a division of Reznick Carpets. Working as a custom, hand-knotted rug design service, each piece is a gorgeous one-of-a-kind work of art.

Furthermore, creative director & designer Robyn Waffle, has promised to curate three rug-art exhibitions per year, while expanding up on The Rug Gallery. Which will showcase a vast collection of design perspectives. Currently one of the top must-buy rugs on my list is Cape Fear, created with designer John Kennedy, represented by Angell Gallery.

This 100% wool and silk rug is a 2012 Limited Edition and is available in all sizes and colours.

-JK

I want to go to there!

This small building sitting atop a large landscape, is the beautiful Koehler House in the Bay of Fundy, designed by the talented Julie Snow Architects. It boasts expansive views of the rocky peaks surrounded by a blue ocean all while offering protection from the occasionally harsh climate. Two sections of living space cantilever from the rocky site, anchored by a stone wall. The home was built relying heavily on glass walls to provide the thinnest possible layer between the warmth of the interior and the majestic seascape. To resist the sometimes harsh marine environment, the exterior is composed of glass, stone, stainless steel, and wood, all of which stand up to the elements while creating a soft and welcoming space.

“Designed to remove the owners from their hectic schedules, the house intentionally slows the rituals of everyday life, allowing the presence of landscape to permeate every activity. We did not design for efficiency, but for varied ways of connecting activity to place.”

- Photos by Steven Dunwell and Brian Vanden Brink

Alright Display fans, we have BIG NEWS and a BIG GIVE AWAY. Tell us what you’d like to see display feature and share this post on your Facebook or Twitter page to automatically be entered in a draw for one ticket to this weekends Refinery – Sewing in the Heartland party at the AGA.

If you think these stunning lamps are reminiscent of a moonscape or the hills and valley’s of some far off landscape thats because the Seltanica Lamps were designed within modeling software normally used to create animal membranes for animation. Made from Gypsum these lights were built to express formalism unique to the contemporary world, the Seltanica’s interiors are as much a product of technological experiment as they are guided by classic compositional rules for the creation of desirous adornment. The interior is created by a wet machine controlled and skillfully manipulated by hand and the exterior maintains clean, industrial characteristics that allow it to be replicated with precision.

The nerd in me has been looking forward to this since my mom called to tell me about it last November. Now the designer in me is just as excited thanks to the beautiful work of Montreal’s Bleublancrouge. Their work on the Star Wars Identities exhibit poster that has recently begun popping up across the country. Opening in Montreal, on April 19 the exhibit then makes it’s way to Edmonton on October 27. According to the smarty-pants at Blueblancrouge the posters and the exhibit are meant to explore the theme of personal identity both in ourselves and in the characters that inhabit the Star Wars universe. They achieve this by building six portraits that represent extremely different Star Wars personas, ones that in some ways we can all identify with. The poster series includes: Yoda, Darth Vader, Amidala, C-3PO, Boba Fett and a Stormtrooper.

Bleublancrouge created the exhibit’s stunning marquee inkblot Vader video as well. It’s definitely worth a watch once you’re done nerding out over the posters.

-JK

Displadies, this instalment of Fashion Friday is all for you! The adorable, Vancouver-based, Allison Smith of Allison Wonderland has just released her 2012 spring / summer line with some perfect pieces to help you prepare for the best season of all. A BC girl at heart, Allison’s new line is perfect for all our summer favourites; from patio parties to picnics in the grass, bike rides to outdoor music festivals every item works. As always Allison’s line is filled with clothes that are fun and easy to wear while drawing inspiration from her favourite decade – the 70s!

“This season is all about those lovely walks in the park – picture flowing dresses, really feminine skirt lengths, colour blocking, and of course, floral prints,” says Allison Smith, the label’s designer. “It all reminds me of wishful afternoons, drinking lemonade in the botanical gardens and dipping my toes in the lily pond”.

So, shimmy off those winter layers and step right into spring with Allison Wonderland’s 2012 collection.

- JK