It’s been a while since I posted some sketches, or anything for that matter. Things are busy around here, but I thought I would take some time out to post a sketch I did about a year ago. I was working on some characters for a presentation to a client. These were some initial sketches to get a feel for the style and overall feel we were going for.
Sketchy Monday’s (3rd edition)
Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment
VSTR + Partners & Spade = Dream Luggage
What an amazing piece of luggage… amazing computer bag, beautiful design, great details and it even includes a hammock! Check out VSTR and Partners & Spade this June 2012 when it goes on sale.
Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment
Sketchy Mondays (week two!)
A bit late in the day, but better than never! Here is a very early sketch/illustration I did when I was developing a logo for a flower company in Toronto called Curly Girl Flowers. We decided to go a different direction with the logo, but I had a great time sketching characters for this project. Something I love but don’t always have the opportunity to do!
Posted in Inspiration, Sketch Leave a comment
Sketchy Mondays
From the day I began this blog, I have been constantly on the look-out for things to write about. Things that I love and that can be conveyed to you the reader in a lovingly smart, and sometimes witty manner (I said sometimes!). In that quest, I decided that in order to keep things interesting and fun, I would start Sketchy Mondays.
For one thing Monday’s are, at best, sketchy, and I wanted to lessen the sketchiness by showing some sketches! Makes sense right?
Anyway, I want everyone to participate. Wouldn’t that be cool? You don’t have to be an illustrator or designer or artist, you just have to be sketchy!
Email sketches to [email protected]
Or twitter to @wedodesign!
I’ll post the artist, website and twitter of anyone who contributes!
Let me see those sketches!
Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment
Beautiful Packaging from Monocle
I was recently given a sweet little green canvas bag with leather details by Porter from the online Monocle store. It holds my BlackBerry Playbook in comfort and style, and I love it.
I was impressed by the actual Porter case, but I was also quite taken with the care and detail in which Monocle shipped and packaged this simple little canvas bag. What could have easily have been stuffed into a UPS box and shipped off, simply wasn’t.
The picture you see above this post was the gorgeous black + white paper envelope that fit the Porter bag perfectly. Beautifully textured with classic design and an understated Monocle logo.
Now, the actual product is beautifully designed and well-made, but having the experience of “unboxing” it from luxurious packaging increases the value (and perceived value) of the product. Would I love my Porter bag if it had been unceremoniously placed in a plastic grocery bag and duct taped shut? Yes, of course. But maybe it wouldn’t be as special to me, as valuable and as treasured as I think of it now.
Posted in Packaging 2 Comments
Josh Ritter – Love Is Making Its Way Back Home – video by Prominent Figures
I saw this video last night and just had to share it. Amazing, beautiful and inspirational. A lot of great work and dedication went into this. A great piece of work by Prominent Figures.
Posted in Inspiration, Video 1 Comment
Is Design returning to nature?
I’ve often been drawn to “natural” elements when it comes to design, whether it is in graphic, web or industrial design. I like the idea of objects getting better as they are used. The idea of a wooden toothbrush handle that looks better as your hand gives it a dark patina (watch the film Objectified: A Documentary Film by Gary Hustwit, and you’ll see where that idea comes from, great movie), or an old leather messenger bag that gets more sophisticated as you knock it around.
It’s no secret that some recent trends include a lot of natural textures and colours. Web designs with wood elements, cotton, brown paper bags and linen textures are common in today’s design. But why? Is it so common because these elements are beautiful and easy to make repeating page backgrounds from? Yes, in a way, but I think that it’s more of a reaction to all the tech that invades our lives. Don’t get me wrong, I am a tech junkie, I have a million different screens that I carry around with me: BlackBerry, laptop, PlayBook, iPad. They are pretty much within an arms length most times during the day. And yet I need a break from that most days. I tell people I run for the exercise, but really I run because it takes me away from the screens and the emails. It’s just the trail and me.
Maybe integrating natural design elements into my design is my way of attempting to even out the tech with the nature. Not sure.
Anyway, it’s a theory… ; )
Posted in Uncategorized Leave a comment
We Do Design on Engadget!
CES is a great time in Las Vegas. It rings in the new year with super-nerdiness and crazy new tech! Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to go this year but I did have the opportunity to do some work for BlackBerry who always has a big presence at the show.
I created a cool little invite for an influencer event where RIM showed off OS 2.0 for the BlackBerry PlayBook, BlackBerry 7 smartphones and had Execs on hand to speak with Developers. So when I saw it pop up on one of my favorite tech blogs, Engadget, I just had to gloat… just a tiny bit.
Check out the link! http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/05/rim-blackberry-playbook-os-2-ces-2012-event/
Posted in Engadget, Press Leave a comment
Hellloooo Allll!
Hi, my name is Paul Harrington and I am the founder of We Do Design. I’m a designer, a photographer, and a blogger (I hesitate to say writer). I work out of Waterloo, ON (the Silicon Valley of the North). This site is a blog, a portfolio, and a place where I hope you can get inspired. You will see my thinking and process, and witness the growth of a business and a designer. Tell me your thoughts and what you think about my site, my portfolio, and my blog posts. I hope you enjoy…
Posted in Uncategorized 2 Comments