philly, by design

midterms, an internship interview, and compiling my long-overdue portfolio had me a bit nutty this past week. but i survived, if just a little worse for wear. i think it's time for a drink. ;)

for those who want to update their own portfolio i suggest

Service Point USA
1321 Arch Street
215-567-0777

such nice guys, very helpful, and even a quick turnaround with my work. i had quite a few 32"x40" presentation pieces that they were able to scan and compress onto cd for me.

just one note, however- they ain't cheap! but then again, my portfolio (and the decent job it may one day grant me) means enough for that not to matter...

a lengthy court battle of almost 7 years culminated in the razing of rindelaub's row this past weekend...

much more detailed info & pictures about the past, present, and future of the site to be found here.

just a quick couple photos for fun.

i've always liked this stretch of the amtrak (i think?) bridge near chestnut and 32nd. great materiality, repetition, shape, scale... worth noting too are the levels of contrast: heavy, massive pylons/thinner vetical supports, rectangular shapes/unfolding triangles, rusted metal/lush grass. even figuratively, if you want to go that far: in the summer students play touch football, soccer, or lacrosse on what i imagine was once a barren industrial site.

one of my favorite parts is the low stretcher marked "6-4 CLEAR." i'm not sure why, but maybe it somehow humanizes the structure? that for all of its weight and command it still addresses the person, something every type of design should consider...

i'm of the school that believes in celebrating birthdays to the fullest: you get a full week of partying, drinks bought on your particular night out, AND a thoughtful present too. (it's good to be my friend, no?)

so it's no suprise then that with three special b-days this week, i'm a bit out of sorts. not only aching for water (tequila shots, what?) but also time and ideas, i'm setting out tomorrow to hunt for those perfect gifts. below are a few stops on my list:

Foster's Urban Homeware
124 N 3rd St
- offers a variety of functional and simply aesthetic items, from kitchen stuffs to lamps to books to singing mechanical birds (remember Clash of the Titans' Boobo the Owl??) They also manage Foster's Gourmet Cookware @ Reading Terminal Market, which i may check out as well.

Open House
107 S 13th St
-another dual enterprise (Lolita's across the street is a *fantastic* mexican byo), Open House specializes in home furnishings and accesories, with items for baby, bath, and body as well. i'm especially fond of their wallbands and simple candle holders.

The PHAG Shop
252 S 12th St
-Philadelphia Home Art Garden presents a more-playful approach to gifting. a self-described "kitsch-ass" place to shop, novelty items abound in their space. magnet sets like Grow Up to be Gay, Mix n Match Virgin Mary, and their x-rated Mood Chart are just some of the highlights. more serious undertakings such as mirrors, frames, and garden accessories are also available.

Joseph Fox Book Shop
1724 Sansom St
- last, but certainly not least, Joseph Fox is a haven for dedicated designers, artists, and architects. here you'll find everything you could want for the creative individual and support your local bookstore at the same time. (eat that borders!) Out-of-print books and a well-read, helpful staff make the store a gem in the city.

that's all for now, wish me luck!

i am a designer. or, at least, soon will be. i suppose it's fairly similar to calling oneself an artist or musician... but, more on that later. what i mean to say is that i'm in school right now, but my eyes have already geared themselves to design, art, architecture, aesthetics, and the like.

here you'll find a random grab bag of pictures, thoughts, and observations about those subjects, specifically, in and around philadelphia.

why just philly?

my plan once was to get my degree, move far away, and in an incredibly short amount of time, amass obscene amounts of money (along with the requisite notoriety, fanbase, etc).

instead, i've decided to stay here. the national geographic endorsement and the new york time's "6th borough" article notwithstanding, i've been in philadelphia long enough to see some major changes occur: new skyscrapers, better neighborhoods, rising property values, building renovations, new businesses, fresh new people, new feel, the list goes on and on... so, it's worth hanging around to see what happens. what's more, i love this city, and i'd like very much to be a part of its future.

of course, i still expect the fame and fortune. ;)

enjoy the show
-k