Tag Archives: design

Mast Brothers Chocolate

Posted on 10.15.12 by karla

Mast Brothers Chocolate is a family-owned confectionery based out of Brooklyn. They make organic, artisanal chocolate made with imported cacao beans. Initially they only purchased the paper they used to wrap the chocolate with, but now, according to to a New York Times article I found on their blog, the “owners, their crew, family or friends” are responsible for these beautiful designs, and although they have been approached by outside artists with other packaging design proposals, they want to keep this in-house for now. This design for their Serrano Pepper chocolate is my favorite.

Graphic Nostalgia in {Cielito Querido}

Posted on 5.22.12 by karla

The story of how I ended up working on this post is pretty peculiar.

I was paying the bill after having lunch with a friend, emptying my wallet of useless receipts I usually just dump in there. I saw one that grabbed my attention because it wasn’t mine. How it ended up there, I have absolutely no idea, but I took my phone and Googled the name of the place just in case I was somehow confused. No, in fact, I had never been to that “Cielito Querido Café”, but I thought the design of the website and how it portrayed the place were so cool that I told my friend, “We’re going for coffee there – now.”

Cielito Querido Café has several locations, including one I had actually already seen but hadn’t really paid much attention to, in Parque Duraznos. We went to one with a lot more character -definitely because of its location – in the Colonia Condesa, a popular hipster/bohemian area in Mexico City, home to great bars and restaurants.

Cielito Querido Café is inspired in Mexican “history and the symbolism and the graphic design of the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20^th” in a playful, colorful, poetic way. The creators of Cielito Querido Café, Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena considered every single element in the Cafe – tiled floors, decals on the glass walls, graphic material including cups, menus, packaging and the products sold such as notebooks, cups and bags – to generate a retro modern space with a warm Latin feel. The beautiful typography and graphics in a brown-white-pink-baby blue color palette create a timeless, somewhat nostalgic space.

You can find a wide variety of references to pop culture at the Cielito Querido Cafe. The place itself is a reference to the traditional, popular Mexican song “Cielito Lindo.” Hot beverages are sold in cups reading (these are translations): “here we say small, not tall”, “it’s not grande, it’s medium” and “you don’t call it venti, you call it large” mocking their competitor, Starbucks. Plates are sold with phrases such as {pan nuestro de cada dia}, “our daily bread” and {pan comido}, a Mexican expression used to say something is “very easy”.

The place offers a wide variety of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fruit smoothies and {aguas frescas} with a strong Mexican influence. Among the favorites are the {horchata} and the hot chocolate with {chile}. You will also find {pan dulce} and a variety of sweets and pastries – all of them with a Latin flavor.

Milk Goes {Simple}

Posted on 8.5.11 by karla

Less is more. These are designed by a student from Spain, Pau Puig Vazquez. “In a market as saturated as the milk, comes Onlymilk, a new brand with the intention communicate the purity of milk. An all white package with only the necessary information highlighting the various types of milk.”

{Bits of} Mayi Carles

Posted on 4.25.11 by karla

Connections matter and Mayi Carles knows that well. I would like to introduce you to her – you’ll love her! – or maybe you already know her, and in that case, read on and get to know her a little better.

Mayi is a super sweet and extremely talented artist | blogger | creative coach from Panama. Read on and find out how she has made her online and offline connections boost her biz (plus other interesting bits from her creative life).

1. Describe Mayi
I’m a super passionate artist + designer + coach + writer with big dreams + messy ideas + a TV gig + a severe cupcake addiction + a funny Panamanian accent.

2. Were you always an artistic girl?
I was 2 years old in 1984, the year my parents framed my very first crayon doodle, which still hangs in my mom + dad’s bedroom in its shiny gold painted frame. At the age of 4, I took up my version of “mural painting”, applied Mattel plaster and splattered tempera paint to wall surfaces. When I turned 7, apparently inspired by the otherworldly works of Salvador Dali, I drew on my little brother Coco the first of many permanent mustaches. To say the least, I’ve been a little too curious + hyperactive for my own good, always testing the limits of those around me with all the tutu dancing + drawing on the walls + singing in the shower + playing with my mom’s make up + “borrowing” my grandma’s sewing kit + baking cupcakes + all the other out-of-the-ordinary things I love to do.

3. When did you start blogging and why?
I began blogging in June of 2010 as a way to spill open all my hopes + fears + epiphanies + worries + questions + more. I wanted (and most certainly needed) a space to vent + a platform to thrown all instruction manuals in the trash bin + take a leap to give my heart something worth beating about! Plus I wanted a job that involved me working in my pajamas, so blogging seems the perfect fit.

4. Where do you get your inspiration?
Oh boy! I’m inspired by so many things – a crafty blog + traveling the world + a freshly squeezed juice + dancing in the shower + jogging in the beach + post-it notes + supplies + hot tea + dreaming + music + my grandma’s food + cupcakes + my dad’s spaguettis + surprises + Halloween + bubble wrap paper, just to name a few.

5. What is your typical weekday like? How about a Saturday?
Total schizophrenia! I even have to color coordinate my calendar by task to help ease the madness, lol. Every day is filled with new challenges + adventures + I love that. Nothing is routinely. Well maybe except the answering tons of e-mails part, which reminds me it’s probably time to hire an assistant. My solo-factory needs some umpa lumpas.

6. What is your biggest and greatest accomplishment?
Falling in love.

7. What is your advice to designers/photographers/creatives who are trying to establish an online presence?
To build genuine relationships. The people + connections I’ve made on this journey are definitively the pillars of my success. I would be monologuing + so bored + so alone without the community around me. So I make a conscious effort to respond to my comments + e-mails + to go out of my way to let someone know they are special to me. That, not only makes me happy, but as it turns out it’s extremely lucrative too.

8. Favorite color?
Right now, ginger. Who knows, tomorrow it might be canary or tangerine.

9. Dogs or cats?
Dogs of course + proud mamma of 3 Siberian Huskies!

10. You’re a TV star! Do you want to tell us a bit about it and how you landed that awesome job?
Sure! I’d love to. Well I should start by confessing that I’ve been preparing my whole life for this gig. I used to watch Art Attack + Martha Steward + all the Food Network shows when I was little, studying every move so one day I could have that too! Sounds so embarrassing saying it outloud, but it’s totally true, lol.

In a nutshell, the TV gig happened because of a contact I had on the channel. This person (who wasn’t like my best friend or anything + who didn’t even know my big dream) invited me over to do one DIY project on the show from taking a glimpse throughout my blog + the work I was doing. This, in the blink of an eye, turned into a permanent TV contract. Which goes to show:

- Connections matter. You never know when someone can open up a door for you + the opportunity for your dream job! So always embrace the power of connections + seek out genuine friendships.

- Playing your best works. You never know when that perfect somebody will be looking at your work, so make an effort to give your 100% always.

Thank you, Mayi! You always share something we can learn from. Guys please visit her blog, it’s one of my favorites. You can also Mayi in her:

Personal Website
Blog
Boutique
Twitter
Facebook

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Posted in Uncagetorized | Tagged art, artist, design, designer, interview, small business, Talented Creatives, tips for etsy shop, useful etsy tips | 5 Comments

Tips on Creating Your Own Newsletter

Posted on 3.15.11 by karla

This is the first post of my new DIY Tidbits section! I’m looking forward to sharing some of my tips, tricks + how to’s in design, marketing, photography + other fun stuff with you all.

Today was a special day because I sent out my first Tiklari Newsletter after thinking, re-thinking and thinking again about how to create it and what to include in it for quite a while. Therefore, I will honor this and will dedicate this post to useful tips on How to Create Your Own Newsletter (although I still have lots to learn, of course).

Newsletters are a very useful way to connect to your clients and fans. They help you stay in touch and keep them informed with your latest and greatest news. However, you must keep a newsletter interesting so your readers actually read the thing instead of tossing it into the trash without a second glance!

Here go my tips on how to create an easy to make yet very successful newsletter:

1. Only Email Suscribed Users | People hate unwanted email. Stick to the people who have in some way, shape or form given you their email, and therefore their permission, to add them to your mailing list.

2. Select a beautiful color palette | Stick to your logo and/or website colors. Be consistent. Create an attractive combination of colors that will not only make your graphic material visually interesting but will make your brand memorable. Check out this site or my beloved pantone website if you need help selecting your colors.

3. Create a great, eye-catching banner | The first thing your readers are going to see is your banner, so make it a great one. *Time Saving Tip: use your Etsy banner.

4. KISS | No, no kissing anyone! I mean keep it simple, stupid. Really, people don’t like reading a whole lot when they are going through their emails. So only include important and concise information to make your newsletter more effective.

5. Keep Your Audience in Mind | What do your readers want to know? What are they interested in? Write about this and not some random thing.

6. Have a Lead | Select your strongest and most relevant subject and place it at the beginning. If the first thing readers see is an something really interesting, they will most likely continue reading and clicking through your newsletter.

7. Try Mad Mimi. If you haven’t done so, check it out. You can create wonderful newsletters and its super easy to use. It lets you schedule your messages, track your emails and manage different mailing lists. I ♥ Mad Mimi, and I can bet you will too.

I hope these tips help you create a wonderful newsletter. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or need any help with your new newsletter. I’ll be happy to help out!

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