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Random design thought 💭: ornamental metal gates are basically analog pixels.
I’ve been noticing ornamental metal gates and the patterns in them. The repetition and structure started to feel really similar to how we design digitally - grids, modules, pixels.
So for this project I translated traditional metal gate motifs into cross-stitch-style patterns. Basically taking something forged and ornamental and rebuilding it inside a grid.
The final piece is a one-page yearly calendar (with a few color variations), where both the patterns and the type are use cross-stitch forms.
Just a small exploration of how repetition, craft, and constraints show up across mediums - from metalwork to digital design.
What other analog systems feel like “pixels” to you?
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how often do we actually look outside of our design bubble for inspiration?
it’s so easy to reach for the obvious references. we’re all guilty of typing ‘landing page’ into Pinterest when we’re designing a landing page, but i always find that the best sources of inspiration come from elsewhere. lately i’ve been feeling very inspired by spring and all the lovely things that come with it!
what’s inspiring you at the moment? 🌸
Love this! lately, I’ve been finding inspiration in cooking , looking for recipes to actually trying them out. also watching culinary shows is super fun too; it’s cool seeing how much art goes into it, and how passionate people are. Definitely makes me think about looking beyond the usual design bubble!
Hi Contra friends,
I’ve noticed something funny about my creative process.
Some of my best ideas don’t come when I’m sitting there trying to solve a design problem. They usually show up when I’m playing with something completely unrelated.
A weird interaction.
A random experiment.
An idea that probably doesn’t make sense yet.
So I started building a little playground website where I can test these ideas:
https://myaplayground.com/
Lately I’ve been doing a lot of vibe coding. It’s been a fun way to turn half-baked ideas into small interactive things and see where they go.
Ironically, a lot of those playful experiments end up helping me solve real design problems later in my work.
If you're curious, wander around and have fun!
Creative playgrounds are where the best ideas start!
Working on a fun little post, and I need your help deciding which design to use 👀
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