alkemi

IKEA: PJÄTTERYD

2008-05-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

Looks like our new canvas art finally made it to USA!
please check out IKEA site for details. The art is sold only through stores, and you can check the availability at your local store on the site!

All my art is pretty small, so I'm excited to have the canvas print option that's as large as 46.5"x30.75"!
I'm taking a field trip to Seattle IKEA to check it out... besides, we need to get more frames for the spring re-decorating. :)

tokyo

2008-04-20T06:19:00.000-07:00

Some say that the blog needs to be updated daily.
if so, this is not a blog- I've failed!
I'm in Tokyo right now and having a definite Lost In Translation moment- i.e. jet lag.
I kind of like this dreamstate when days just melt into each other, and all I'm going by is my own heart beat.

I've been working on a lot of exciting projects- a little too exciting maybe, since I seem to be spending every single awaken seconds working on them. I look forward to sharing them with you!

Bohemia Gallery in Ashland is carrying some of my collages in a show with amazing Janet Fagan-Smith. It was fun to join beautiful Nikki, Inger, Cindy and Peet for the opening. Ashland is so cute and so quirky- a lot of interesting stories are hidden in that place, as well as some ex-New Yorker artists and Pioneer inventors. Someone has to write a book about this cute town full of amazing people.
The show is up til the end of the month-

also IKEA has a canvas print of my work in some of their stores. check it out if you come across one, and let me know where- it hasn't made it to the US IKEA yet.

More GNU snowboard designs to come, and i.d. for skincare salons, illos etc!
Life is exciting and right now- I'm about to drop serious doe at the cute shops in Harajuku.
*f

iPOP magnets

2007-11-16T00:48:00.000-08:00

iPOP is a line of cute and high quality magnets. I met the art director Jessie in a French class, and when she wanted to collaborate to create a line of magnets for them, I was thrilled!

You can buy 2 of the design from here and here.
Otherwise I heard that some of them made it to the gift shop at the Seattle Art Museum store!

Madison Park Greetings

2007-11-16T00:39:00.000-08:00

Check out some floral notecards from Madison Park Greetings!
Available at select stores around the country, but some of them are available online at here and here.

Big Dipper Wax Works Identity

2007-11-16T00:33:00.000-08:00

Back in June, I worked on an identity for a local, all natural beeswax candle company called Big Dipper Wax Works.
They have great products, and it was a pleasure to work for them!

They are carried by PCC, Wholefoods and some boutiques around town.

Gnu Snowboard

2007-11-15T23:09:00.000-08:00

Snowboards from Gnu is out!
It's B-Nice series, an awesome board that is manufactured (and designed!) by snowboarders.
Barrett and Pinski was awesome to work with!

I just received an email that the board is outselling all the big competitors at Zumiez.
Go Gnu! I will be riding it this winter, for sure.

http://gnu.com/snowboards/bNice.html

ps. I got an awesome review from Snowflakes+cupcake (thank you!) and Evo, possibly the best place to get some cute gears for girls. (look up gnu!)

art show: supple

2006-12-01T19:55:00.000-08:00

Supple in Berkeley, CA has some of my artwork on their walls...
Stop by at the salon if you are in the area!

Supple
1543 hopkins street
berkeley, ca 94707

starbucks

2006-09-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

oh yeah, and check out the autumn instore campaign poster for some smiley traffic face. :) I don't look like that in a bad traffic, by the way.
I noticed that they tend to hang in mens bathrooms.

autumn

2006-09-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

can't believe it's been a month since the last post!

Here is the link to the OFFICE PDX works.
There are 10 works of original ink drawings on collage, which will come down their wall tomorrow. I love their store- it's been an honor to have my works in their beautiful space!

Next show is coming up in Barkley, CA during October. I won't be able to make it for the opening (or can I?), but it's been super fun to make new, larger format art for this show!
I have been working on many projects under the current as well. Can't share it quite yet, so stay tuned...

ps. Just got my own copy of HIFANA CD! it's AWESOME!!
www.hifana.com

salon launch

2006-08-26T00:23:00.000-07:00

Starbucks Salon, the project that I've been working night and day, just launched its website. (I wish I worked on the awesome website, but I didn't)
It's a 10-day event in NYC that opens on September 8th.
There will be free music and spoken word shows, fabulous gallery full of drawings, nice space to relax and hang out.
my lil sister and I'll be there until September 10th...

if you are in NYC from September 8-17th, come see it at 76 Greene street.
it'll be fun!

ps. show off your skill at the portrait project on their site

can't go home

2006-08-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

I'll be working laaaaaate tonite...

making art

2006-08-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

I made a lot of art last night. I love the process of printing... I drape a sheet of fragile silk tissue sheet on top of the freshly rolled wood cut, then smooth the wrinkles out with my palm, and when I peel it off, every time it's a different impression. there's a sense of surprise and satisfaction as I multiply unique prints out of one wood cut. Working hands-on is somehow meditating.

tonight I'll be composing them on wood panels.

art show at OFFICE PDX

2006-08-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited to be part of OFFICE PDX art show with APAK. It opens on August 31! It's part of OFFICE PDX's tokyo group show. Their store will be loaded with all things from Tokyo... can't wait!
I'm showing part of the Imaginary Girl series. I will update as I have more info!

finally updated

2006-08-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Finally I'm online again! I've been having problems updating with blogger account forever.

now it's fixed and I'm ready to post!

Fresh Flours art show

2006-08-13T22:34:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I had 30 minutes after work on Friday, so we stopped by at Fresh Flours on Phinney. I met two cutest artists there, and ended up buying a piece of chicken art on the spot! that's what happenes when you leave me alone for 30 minutes with an awesome art and a checkbook. BUT it'll be perfect on our new kitchen!

I will update the artists' info when I find them...

working hard

2006-08-13T22:22:00.000-07:00

I've been working like a mad woman for the past month or so. flying to NYC every month is not helping either! but I found out that I feel most excited and alive when I'm super busy... so I guess it works out.

Magnets from iPOP is launching at the Gift show in NYC this weekend. Super excited! I hope they do well.
I'm currently working on a line of cards, snowboard graphic, and 2 upcoming art shows. stay tuned...

bgm of the day: Kahimi Karie. her voice is perfect for when I'm making art...

as promised

2006-02-20T11:26:00.000-08:00

here is my pic as the resident of south park....

and Jj.

returning to Milan

2006-02-20T11:18:00.000-08:00

so this year I'm going to Milano Salone! yes!!
can't wait to see all the inspirational works. I'm flying out of CDG also, so that bit of April Paris at the end of the trip will be nice.

i'm off to Italy on a next day of my birthday, touring through Bologna book fair and hopefully little bit of Venice and Siena. I'm counting the day now!

please let me know if any of you are heading to Salone...

Milano Salone

2005-04-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

Since I couldn't hit Milano this year, I'll try to collect links to the online reviews...
Sounds like it was pretty diverse event. Also there were a lot more Japanese companies and designers attending the show this year. (all the Japanese only links contain great photo libraries... worth checking!)

JDN has a nice review with many images. (Japanese only)
page2
page3

review by designboom.

review by designnews.

info on zona tortona.

info on pol oxygen.

review by designtope. (Japanese only)

review by hhstyle. (Japanese only)

driade has their new line for Milano online under "new proposals 2005."

review by architurismo. (Japanese only)

report by Car Design News

Marce Wanders site has new works for Salone 2005.

NYC

2005-04-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

Heidi and I were in NYC for he Environ Design conference. saw some great design around town as well...
stay tuned for the recap!

word of the wise

2005-03-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

yesterday during a meeting, Darryl contrasted the work of over-artdirected designer with the work of unhappy cook at a breakfast joint.
"no love in the pancake."

create your own work

2005-03-28T14:14:00.000-08:00

make your work is a very inspring collection of interviews by a Japanese author Mr Nishimoto. It's a study of creating one's lifepath through uniquely creative working style. I wish it was translated in English, so I can share it with many of my friends...

It's so easy to lose myself in daily act of designing and problemsolving, and lose the perspective in what I'm trying to create in this lifetime. When I was in School, I believed that designing is the act of problem solving: that one shouldn't put too much of self into the solution. Now I think otherwise- design does not exist only in the concept, but has to manifest itself in the world as an object. That is way more tactile and physical than a concept can ever be. And to create an object, the designer can't avoid processing it through his/her body, which as a result leave a mark of themselves in the solution.

This book reminded me to stay aware of what I create as I chop away in the forest of design problems... so when I look back there will not be a pile of disposable and clever design solutions, but something I will be proud to call my own work.

new site!

2005-03-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

alkemidesign's new website has launched as of Tuesday!
yey!!

photography show in Paris

2005-03-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

Last November, when I was in Paris, I met an awesome photographer Guillaume Grasset and his assistant at Les Halles. They asked if they can take a picture of me, and knowing how hard it is to ask someone to participate in a project, I said yes.
Now it'll be exhibited at the Typikkhalles until March 21. (if you jump to the link you'll see my little name at the bottom of the article) :)
Check it out if you're in town!

cool site a day (02.24.2005)

2005-02-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

Hello,

This is a mini-cool site a day!

Metropolis Magazine has part of their contents up online.
Article on Retail is interesting... (if you normally don't get this email
from me, this is why you're cc'd this time!)
http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/magazine.php

Andrew Zolli is featured in ID magazine, as well as Eames Demetrios.
Contents are pre-viewable online.
http://www.idonline.com/currentissue.asp

Enjoy!
*fumi