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If you’re from Vancouver or if you’ve visited Vancouver, i’m sure you’ve noticed the art installations all around the city from  Vancouver Biennale.

I wanted to share one of the latest additions that i’ve noticed. It’s right here near the Cowie and Fox offices in Yaletown. Just down on Nelson street there’s a “concrete park” where this giant sculptural head rests.

It’s called Eros Bendato Scrippolato and is created by Igor Mitoraj from Poland/Italy.

On February 27th I checked out a sweet art show on Granville street. You walk in, purchase a $5 pack of mystery cards created by various artists, then you open them up and start trading with people in the gallery. It’s the most socially fun art show i’ve ever been too. I’m totally looking forward to checking out their other event Hot One Inch Action.

If you want to submit art or just check it out sometime, go here: http://www.hotartcard.com

$15 bucks later and some awesome trading, this is what I settled with:
(Top right corner: designed by awesome CF creative director David Manzl)

Cheeky Durex ads designed by Andrej Krahne

Although I think the type choice could be better (Hobo definitely isn’t one of my favorites) and the copy writing tweaked, I think the overall concept is pretty great.

Valentine’s Day is almost here, even if you haven’t got that special someone, i’ve got something special just for you!

I’ve discovered some brilliant vintage Valentine’s cards, some may be slightly offensive so cover your eyes if you can’t bare with it.

Helvetica is like a celebrity, (no really it is, it’s in a movie). It’s so highly regarded among designers and never hated on like Comic Sans or Arial.

I’ve discovered a brilliant crafty exploration, showing Arial vs. Helvetica side-by-side. You’ll notice that in most cases Helvetica is the simpler, more elegant of the two. (see the angles of the r, t and c).

You might also noticed that there’s only 10 characters listed here, is it because all the others are identical? Some investigation needs to take place! Anyone up for the challenge?

(image via: google.com)

It’s still in the works, but the new Semperviva location on West 4th Ave at Yew Street in Kitsilano is nearing completion! For now I thought i’d share a photo of the signage, but look forward to photos of the completed exterior soon. Learn more about Semperviva today.

Turquoise, the 2010 Color of the Year, is PANTONE 104-2-3 C in Goe and PANTONE 3258 C in PMS.

“Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while restoring our sense of welllbeing.” (via Pantone.com)

I’m loving it, it’s probably one of my most favourite colours, especially for home decor.

I’ve worked on Semperviva newsletters for a while, pretty much since the initial few, and it has gone through a few design refinements. The first change was inspired by a new Semperviva website and the other times is was just a push for bigger imagery and massaging in the top banner area. After doing so many, it’s interesting to go back and look at some of them. Semperviva is a great client and they allow great creative freedom.

Check out the newsletter archive

They’re here! The official team outfits for Canada’s 2010 Winter Olympics team were revealed, Thursday morning by the Hudson’s Bay Company, the official supplier for the team. They sure are classically Canadian, what are your thoughts on them? It scares me that they’ve already been called “Hoser Chic” but, they’re definitely much better than Beijing, right?

Vancouver 2010

Beijing

Pantone® released it’s Spring 2010 Fashion Colour Report the other week, just thought i’d share a review of all the hottest colours.

Designers bring splashes of sunshine to the runway for spring 2010. Vibrant brights add a sense of excitement to the color palette, while practical neutrals provide a safety net for cautious consumers.

“Now more than ever, women are vigilant when it comes to spending,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Instead of reinventing their wardrobe at the start of each season, consumers want pieces to complement what they already own. Pairing a bold color with a basic piece or freshening up their look with bright accents addresses the need for practicality, as well as fun.”

Spring and summer naturally evoke feelings of calm ocean waters and tranquil beach vacations in cool, vibrant, tropical Turquoise. This soothing hue from the blue-green family conjures feelings of escape, especially when paired with Amparo Blue. With more warmth than the typical spring navy, this particular shade of blue is extremely appealing because of its brighter, more energetic attitude. Like the scent of a blossoming flower, Violet lends a romantic air to the warm-weather palette. This intriguing purplish hue is a distinctive addition to any wardrobe.

Yellow has made its mark on fashion and spring will further this trend with gleaming Aurora. Reminiscent of the first glimpse of yellow as the sun begins to rise over the horizon, this shimmering, slightly greenish yellow adds a bold infusion. Energy continues to surge throughout the warmer hues of spring, leading to provocative Fusion Coral. This inviting orange connects directly to tangy Tomato Purée, this season’s classic red. Pair it with Turquoise for a retro look.

Thoughtful, cautious neutrals provide a dependable backbone to the brights of spring. Kick back and enjoy the bubbly luxury of Pink Champagne. This delicate, wispy tint is the season’s newest neutral. The melding of Pink Champagne, Tomato Purée and Amparo Blue is a refreshing take on the classic springtime combination of red, white and blue.Three additional neutrals round out the palette. Tuscany, a warm beige hue, provides the perfect backdrop and works well as a solid base color with dynamic accents like Fusion Coral or Violet.

Dried Herb is the ultimate green neutral, pairing well with all other colors. Ideal for bigger ticket items, cool Eucalyptus is the eternal, practical gray. Choose this nuanced neutral and add brightly colored exclamation points in shoes, jewelry and handbags.

(Taken from Pantone’s forecast)