Local-born London-based graphic designer and illustrator Justin Poulter gives us the inside scoop on what he believes is good design, how he steers clear of industry trends and how to get out of a creative block.

Tell us how you got into design.

At school, my plan was to be an artist but I decided to take Graphic Design because it seemed like an art adjacent career I could tolerate if I couldn’t crack it as an artist. But, soon after starting the course, I realised that Graphic Design was a very broad discipline that actually included a lot of the art I loved, like skateboard graphics, album art and street art. More specifically, I discovered what seemed like a sweet spot between art and graphic design and this was illustration. I owe a lot to my lecturers at Cape Tech for encouraging me to take this direction. 

What do you think constitutes a “good” design?

Function and clear communication of the concept is most important but to make something truly memorable it also needs to be original. This is the challenge but it’s also what keeps it exciting. 

How do you steer clear of fabs and trends in the industry?

This can be tough especially when you’re responding to briefs that are often written with current trends in mind. But, focusing on your own creative intuitions and what inspires you personally is a way to be more authentic in your approach.

What is your favourite type of project or brief?

I frequently get commissioned to create sticker illustrations for advertising campaigns. I find the challenge of distilling often complex ideas into a single image very creatively stimulating.  These projects usually cover a variety of subject matter, so I’m often learning about new things as I research and find inspiration.  The stickers also mostly require a combination of type and illustration has become a central part of what I do. 

Do you have tips for overcoming a creative block?

I find ideas come when I’m not specifically looking for them. So, I prefer to get away from the screen and go for a walk or something. It’s hard to say where ideas come from and how to get them, but I do personally find that just using the internet for inspiration doesn’t always help. 

Where do you think graphic design will go in the next few years?

With things becoming increasingly digital, I think there will be a pushback in graphic design where people will be drawn to handmade graphics. It’s definitely the case in illustration with the popularity of printing processes like screen printing. AI will be a challenge in the industry. We are already seeing its capabilities with the recent launch of generators like Mid Journey and Dall-E.

What does a regular day look like for you?

Most days I cycle to studio space in North London to get in around 9. Usually, my projects have a fully planned schedule, so depending on what phase the project is in I could start my day with client feedback that’s come in overnight via email. This is often the case when I’m working with US-based clients. Sometimes I’ll go out for lunch to meet other illustrators, potential clients or my agents. I’ll often work long hours when I’m on a project, but then because I’m freelance I make sure to take down time between projects. 

Are there any designers you admire or who inspire you?

I’m very inspired by people who have had a mixed experience or have made an interesting career change. I think this kind of fluidity keeps the creative industry moving forward.

Any exciting plans or projects in the pipeline?

I’ve been working on a new project with Anomaly LA which I can’t say any more about yet, but I’m very excited about its launch later this year. I’m currently in Amsterdam meeting with various studios and agencies to create connections and new business opportunities. I’ve met some great people out here and I’m hoping to work with some of them in the near future. 

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At Klein the Grocer, innovative South African restauranteur, retailer and cookbook author Neil Roake is livening up one of Amsterdam’s trendiest streets with plant-based food and fresh design.

“Modern Provisions For Modern Hippies” proclaims the glass frontage across this diminutive grocery store in Amsterdam’s trendy Haarlemmerdijk. Klein the Grocer sells only plant-based food, and there are few mainstream brands on the shelves. Instead, shoppers can expect products in beautiful packaging that also don’t contain any artificial additives, are mostly organic and are mainly from smallscale makers. Think Dutch seaweed “bacon”, Portuguese almond butter, fermented soft drinks and a large selection of fresh plant-based cheeses – oh, and don’t forget the Swedish-style cinnamon rolls, or the organic olive oil.

If the aesthetic at Klein the Grocer rings a few bells – the bold and bright colours, the fearless use of typography, the smart puns – don’t be surprised. This supercute new store is the latest brainchild of one of South Africa’s most innovative brand builders, Neil Roake. In his home town of Durbs-by-the-sea, Neil has run restaurants and coffee bars; a small (and perfect) hotel; and a retail store, The Space, which now has outlets countrywide and helped change the way South Africans shop.

Neil’s also a bestselling cookbook author (his Life’s a Beach Cottage series is into its third volume) and a branding expert who has been part of the team at marketing and advertising studio Modern Museum for 20 years. No surprise then, that when Neil does something new, it’s worth noting. Now based in Amsterdam and taking on a fresh challenge in a brand-new environment, he’s come up with a wonderful store in which to find a special culinary gift while also supplementing your own pantry with guilt-free goodies. The next time we’re in town, we’ll definitely be stopping by…

Klein the Grocer is situated at Haarlemmerdijk 26, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

For more information, visit kleinthegrocer.co.

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These limited-edition sneakers, created by sustainable brand Gum-Tec in collaboration with sneaker brand Explicit and I amsterdam, are made from recycled chewing gum.

Gumshoes are the first shoes ever to be made from chewing gum (specifically the outsoles of the sneakers), which is collected straight off the streets of Amsterdam. In The Netherlands alone, there is an estimated 1.5 million kilograms of chewing gum littering the streets.

“By looking at waste differently we can find innovative solutions that will bring change to help keep our planet clean,” says Gum-Tec designer Anna Bullus.

Bonus: the shoes, available in two colourways (pink and black) even smell like bubblegum!

Gumshoes will be released in June 2018 and are available to pre-order now. They will retail for approximately R2 850 per pair.

For more information, visit gumshoe.amsterdam.

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Adrian & Gidi is an Amsterdam-based photography and design duo, made up of Adrian Woods and Gidi van Maarseveen.

They met at The Royal Academy of Arts in the Hague, where they graduated in 2010, and began working together in 2012.

Their tactile and creative approach sees them working with mediums ranging from paper and wood to styrofoam and plexiglass, all captured through photography.

These bold and brightly coloured creations evoke a strong sense of playfulness and fun, and the team have had some high profile clients, including Clinique, Oreo, Vogue Italia, Fanta, Converse, Adobe, Ray-Ban, Fisher-Price and Footlocker.

See more of their work at adrian-gidi.com.

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Architecture firms RAMSA and Rijnboutt are behind an exciting redevelopment project in Amsterdam called Nowadays.

As part of this project, they collaborated with artists Arno Coenen, Iris Roskam and Hans van Bentem to transform Damrak’s Beurspassage into a striking work of art, entitled Amsterdam Oersoep.

The 450 m² ceiling, which depicts symbolic scenes that reference Amsterdam’s famed canals, are made up of more than one million glass mosaic tiles.

Seven gilded chandeliers, made from recycled bicycle parts, referencing another Amsterdam tradition, line the ceiling. Covered in handmade tiles, large mirrors and 14 stained glass lamps, inspired by traditional portal lamps, the walls are a further celebration of water, together with the Italian Terrazzo flooring.

Browse the gallery above and watch the video below to get a closer look at this magical space.

(h/t) archdaily.com

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Jacu Strauss, South African architect and creative director of Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam, has been taking Europe by storm with his fresh take on interior design and architecture.

Jacu is the former senior designer at Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio and creative director of Mondrian London and Barbecoa for Jamie Oliver. Jacu’s latest project – The Pulitzer Hotel in Amsterdam – took over three years to complete. The hotel is situated in Amsterdam’s renowned Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) district over twenty-five historic canal houses that date back to the Golden Age in Dutch history. Each of the 230 rooms have been uniquely designed and boast an eclectic balance between historical Dutch charm and contemporary European spirit. We caught up with Jacu to find out what inspires him and how he transformed 400-year-old canal houses into one of the most stylish hotels in Amsterdam.

You’ve lived in many places since your immigration to London at 18. Do you have a favourite city in terms of its architectural aesthetics?
It may seem biased, but I love the diversity of architectural styles from the different time periods in London. London has been through some good and bad times and the architecture reflects that. From the remains from the Roman Empire, through to the Golden Age of the Victorian era and the brutalist ’60s, the city is rich in architectural heritage. There is also a very forward-thinking attitude to new architecture and this is evident in the architecture schools and practices here, as well as with what the city councils approve and encourage.

Do you have a transformative/defining moment in your career?
That moment came as soon as I took on a position at Tom Dixon’s interior design department. I had just graduated in 2008 when the recession hit the globe and finding the ideal architectural job was not easy, but it gave me an opportunity to branch out into other disciplines I was interested in and people I wanted to work with. Tom Dixon was top of my list and through the years our projects got bigger and bigger. It was great to have been part of that growth and to be able to be a part of all aspects of design (furniture, lighting, interior, architecture, styling) as well as to be part of the entire process from conception to completion.

The Pulitzer was a challenging design feat. What challenged you the most and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge with the Pulitzer was that we had a property that needed a refurbishment that no one had really done before. The complexity of working with 25 monumental Amsterdam canal houses meant that we had to give individual attention to each building, yet still be able to keep an eye on the overall project to ensure it all fitted together both practically and authentically. I spent a lot of time researching the property in order to make sense of how to approach the design. I had to stay in every one of the 230 rooms; all of them being different. It required a very hands-on approach and that meant that I lived in Amsterdam four days a week for three years.

Your research alone lasted a year and a half. How did you encompass the histories of the various former residents?
It was an interesting journey discovering the known histories of all the buildings – some as old as 400 years. Some historic residents include wealthy merchants, musicians, artists and a coppersmith. What was more fascinating was some of the mysteries and we played on that to add to the narrative of the building. This encourages a visitor to use their imagination and make up their own tale about who may have lived there at some stage.

The Pulitzer has a very unique garden space. Have you ever designed a garden space before? What did you enjoy about this aspect of the process?
I had to expand my knowledge and expertise in this project. I have never been involved with landscaping and garden design as much as this before, but that is the beauty of being able to learn new things. The garden was such an important part of the hotel that I wanted to make sure it fitted in well with the rest of the concept, yet still be its own beautiful thing. This particular garden space is like no other in Amsterdam and it needed to be executed well.

Which designers, if any, do you draw inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from many places, things and people. Not only designers but artists, craftsmen, collectors and anyone with a passion for what they do. At the moment I am particularly interested in the work by set designer Tony Duquette.

What’s next for you?
I hope to do more unique and unconventional hotel projects and that is what we are looking for right now. I would like to do another project in the States (I am a big fan of New York).

The Pulitzer Amsterdam is located at Prinsengracht 315 – 331, 1016 GZ Amsterdam. For more information, visit pulitzeramsterdam.com.

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Dutch interior designer Robert Kolenik is behind the look of this modern apartment in Amsterdam.

While the apartment takes up three floors, as with many buildings in Amsterdam, the space is actually quite narrow. “Homes in the city centre are limited in terms of size,” says Robert, “so the challenge is to create functional space that retains a luxurious, homely feel.” With the aim of maximising space, Robert created a central wall unit to link different areas of the apartment together in an organic way, while at the same time making use of sizeable furniture items. “By putting in larger pieces, I emphasise a sense of spaciousness in the home,” he says. “The floating block in dark oak creates a line in the apartment that visually enlarges the space.”

Both the living area and dining area make use of modern designer pieces, from a bronze and marble coffee table to a solid walnut dining room table. Minotti armchairs, a four-metre Minotti Hamilton sofa and felt Vitra dining chairs also feature in the space. “The side table and the coffee table are closely matched. Their luxury materials link up to the finishes on the wall cabinet,” explains Robert.

The dining area is lit with LED lighting and includes a Boley gas fireplace, both of which add a sense of warmth to the room.

View more of Robert Kolenik’s projects at kolenik.com.

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Albeit an oldie, this little gem of an animation is just too good not to share.

This short paper animation by Mandy Smith and her talented team takes you on a surreal journey inspired by moving house in Amsterdam. Complete with quirky and appropriate sound effects, the care taken in the construction of each paper detail is a marvel.

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The tropical Bar Botanique, designed by Studio Modijefsky in the Netherlands, is located in the Dapperbuurt district of Amsterdam.

This double-height rainforest-inspired space boasts textured green walls and floors dotted with various plant-patterned tiles, living palm trees, assorted philodendron and other jungle-borne gems.

By day, the mobiles and reflective discs hanging from above create dancing patterns on the walls and plants creating a forest-like atmosphere. It is almost as if the very canopy of the forest itself is letting soft rays of light spill through it. By night, the space is dramatised by the elongated jungle-by-night shadows created by strategically placed lights and reflectors.

The narrow, elongated space gives you the feeling that you’re in a greenhouse, as two of its sides are bordered by double-height glazing. The bar hugs the back wall of the room and boasts a complementary mix of sleek marble, metal and glass with ceiling-high, arched bottle racks. All of this is against a fitting background of hexagonal palm-print tiles designed by Swedish design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune.

The lower level offers a more intimate space for dining, with orange-wash walls and low ceilings, while the upper level opts for comfortable, leather booth seating. The lounge area on the mezzanine level defines the two-level restaurant area with a section floored in oak and featuring Topform Holland sofas and armchairs from the 1950s.

(h/t) dezeen.com

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From the cutest vegetable peeler ever and Bauhaus-inspired sneakers to a VW children’s bed and DIY colouring-in postcards, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 141.

1. Tweet Folding Peeler

Studio Dor Carmon has designed this adorable, yet functional folding peeler for online store OTOTO. “I’m always the one who has to peel the vegetables at home, so this design would definitely make it a little more fun,” says Online Editor Lindi Brownell Meiring.

Image credit: OTOTO / designboom.com

2. Lost Ocean Postcards

“You’ll need some super-sharp pencil crayons to do these babies justice but for advocates of grown up colouring in this collection of 50 loose postcards that you can colour and send are the holy grail,” says Features Editor Tracy Greenwood. The Lost Ocean Postcard Collection by illustrator Johanna Basford comes in a luxe gift box and retails for around R320. 

Image credit: joannabasford.com

3. THEY New York

“I can’t get enough of these sleek, minimalist shoes,” says Deputy Editor Annemarie Meintjes. “They are the ultimate in trainer sophistication.”

Image credit: theynewyork.com

4. Danielle Clough for Gucci’s #24HourAce

“This video of Cape Town’s fibre artist Danielle Clough is made for Gucci’s #24HourAce Collection, a range of incredibly stylish tennis shoes,” says Content Producer Michaela Stehr.

 

Danielle Clough (@fiance_knowles) for #24HourAce The Cape Town-based artist Danielle Clough turns craft into art with her embroidery and felting. She can turn multicolored thread and fabric into anything, from a human portrait to dynamic animal imagery. This is fiber art, and Clough spreads it over tennis rackets as easily as shoes or clothing. The handmade results are delicate and colorful, splashes of inspiration in the city landscape. For #GucciAce, Danielle adapts Alessandro Michele’s sneaker embroidery, echoing his bees and flowers with her own renderings of birds and fruit, plus felt baubles swinging from the laces. Sneakers, after all, are a reflection of the self, and they should be as customizable and as individual as the wearer. #24HourAce -@kchayka See more #24HourAce videos T hrough link in bio.

A video posted by Gucci (@gucci) on Jul 24, 2016 at 4:03am PDT

Image credit: @gucci on Instagram

5. Maarten Baas Clock

This amazing clock in Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport shows a real-time 12-hour video of Maarten Baas painting each and every minute,” explains Art Director Anton Pietersen. “Dedication!”

Image credit: dezeen.com

6. Circu’s Bun Van Bed

“My son would have absolutely LOVED one of these in his room when he was younger,” says Assistant Managing Editor Samantha Charles.

Image credit: design-milk.com

Browse more like VISI picks of the week series – week 141 on picks of the week 124.

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