The smartest idea of the summer !

A creative think tank of design ideas based in Geneva, run by a Belgian, has launched a new project which interlinks fashion with practicality which is required on a urban journey.
The product is called Crumpled City which is a soft map manufactured by Palomar. The idea is based on empirical observation of tourists struggling with city maps, being unable to fold them back along the original creases. Haven't it maybe happened to you ? An added value of this project is that people using Crumpled City maps may discover how fun it is to use a map and not rely on digital navigation tools :-) This is indeed very smart ! Crumpled City maps were singled out by the Canadian En Route magazine together with other geographic items not to miss!
Besides the practical side of this product, the map is beautifully designed, you must admit. The author is currently working on the extension of the project and is planning to launch a set of scarves with different city maps patterns - how cool is that !?

Being away for a while..

Being away from blogging for almost a year..I must have had some very serious reasons. Yet I admit that I have not abandoned searching for new ideas and inspirations.
Being busy it's not a state of mind with which you can justify your absence from an activity, such as writing your blog for instance.
After all, this year I was so busy, and this intensive period has not completely ended yet, that I have not had opportunity to recover properly. Nor have I been on holidays. Thus watching any holiday reminiscence or memories is reminding me of it. I see pictures of friends travelling places, I receive guests who travel to see the city where I currently live, and they stay at our place, so somehow I can live this wonderful feeling of having a break from regular life. I miss it so much.

Recently, I found these amazing illustrators. Whenever I look at these pictures I am happier.

These pictures belong to a young Belgian illustrator living in Gent. You can watch more of her works at her website Trui Chielens. She illustrates books and makes business, birth and greeting cards on order. Her ideas can also serve to create a business identity such as a company logo.

This one below is not so positive, depending on how you look at it though, but still very funny.

The second set of pictures is more dark or 'sombre' sometimes, however I enjoy it very much, especially because it touches upon the topic of foxes! It comes from Lorna Scobie who is London based illustrator graduated this year from the Kingston University, awarded with various prizes for her talent. I am mostly fond of these pictures.

And this is her Fox ! And some more cheerful characters..