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h+k design is a New York based full-service design agency. We specialize in the design and print marketing needs of the real estate industry. hk-ny.com | @hyder_krasnoff

[hkdesignloves]

DESIGNER’S NIGHT IN

Happy New Year! It’s now 100% winter on the east coast and, in the spirit of the season, may we suggest staying home nonstop? Even if you live in a warmer climate, staying home just makes sense in January. We’re all trying to spend less, eat less and get inspired for the year ahead. For the artistically inclined, watching one of the many excellent art and design documentaries available online is an elegant way of doing all three. Read about some of our favorites below and fill up your queue with the help of these other helpful lists. 

DESIGN IS ONE: LELLA & MASSIMO VIGNELLI A look at two geniuses who happened to be married. Even if you don’t know their name, you almost certainly know their work which ranges from product and branding design to the signage of the New York City subway system.

BILL CUNNINGHAM NEW YORK A profile of the amazing New York City fashion photographer Bill Cunningham, who very sadly passed away in 2016, but not before showing us what it looks like to apply loving, cheerful dedication to your craft. 

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS A history of the 90s DIY underground scene and the people who influenced a generation by rejecting the “establishment” art world.

honorable mention: THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE While it doesn’t focus very narrowly on craft, this film is a fascinating look at the process of putting together Vogue’s September issue and is known for the ultra rare access granted to the filmmaker R. J. Cutler by Vogue US editor Anna Wintour. As far inspirational design thinking is concerned, it doesn’t get any better than the mind of Grace Coddington, Vogue’s Creative Director at Large and the film’s beating heart, whose friendship with the filmmaker develops bit by bumpy bit in front of the camera. 

[hkdesignloves]

GARTEN’S GARDENS

Like all sentient beings, we’re huge fans of Ina Garten here at h+k. When we found out that our fellow office mate, the mega-talented John M. Hall, had photographed Ina’s gardens for her latest book "Cooking for Jeffery", we were bursting with pride and couldn’t wait to grab a copy. There’s so much else to love about the book: famously excellent recipes for all skill levels, adorable photos of Ina and Jeffery as a young couple, and clean, charming layouts. (*Note to self: find out what font they’re using*) We’re pretty sure one or two (or all) of the recipes will find their way onto our holiday menus...

Check out John’s gorgeous photos of Ina’s gardens in Elle Decor and don’t forget to add the book to your wishlist.

[hkdesignloves]

Our founder, Cheryl, has been riding since she was 5 years old. She may not be able to spend every day with her beautiful horse Louie, but when she does find the time, this is her happy place....Bergen Equestrian Center is located just a short 15 minute drive from Manhattan. With 22 acres of land and more than 100 horses, who wouldn’t be in heaven?!!

[hkdesignloves]

TYPOGRAPHY IN THE WILD

As print and web designers, we form our strongest bonds with typography on screens -- selecting, coloring, manipulating and sizing it in a contained, mostly 2D environment. Poor us! But getting over this limitation is as easy as going outside and looking around. Street signage dominates the urban visual environment of places like New York City where layers of history accumulate into a rich and messy buffet of typography in the wild. One of our favorites is the Superior Sewing Machine and Supply sign at 48 West 25th Street. The contrast between the blue tiled wall and white, generously spaced script logotype is a fresh and cheerful mid-block surprise, more than half a century on.

There are several projects out there doing amazing work on documenting street signage. Vernacular Typography is active all over the world while NYC Type is holding it down in the 5 boroughs. Also check out Louise Fili’s beautiful photo books documenting the street signs of Italy and Paris, France.

Image via @contractmag

[hkdesignloves]

CASE STUDY HOUSES

The Case Study Houses are a set of 36 architectural design exercises commissioned by Arts & Architecture magazine between 1945 and 1966. The program explored techniques for building modern, efficient, and inexpensive model homes during the post-WW II American housing boom.

Architects commissioned for the project include some of the brightest starts of mid-century design including Richard Neutra, Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig, and Eero Saarinen. Not all of the houses were built, and some that were have since been demolished or significantly altered.

Those that still exist are clustered mainly in the Los Angeles area, including Case Study House #22 (left), aka Pierre Koenig’s Stahl House, which entered the American imagination thanks in large part to the stunningly serene photography of Julius Shulman.

You can learn more about the Case Study Houses, including the unbuilt and demolished, from Taschen’s pretty volume on the subject.