Tuesday, April 5, 2011

russell+hazel

Starting to research a project can always be a difficult step to start for me. I find myself researching on websites and flipping through books for hours trying to get inspired and just maybe have a breakthrough. That is exactly what happened to me when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to write about. But instead of finding my inspiration on the computer or in a book, it came from my Three-ring Binder, Calendar Pad, and Tri-Fold Folio sitting on my desk. russell+hazel is a company that sells home, work and school stationary. The company’s philosophy is good design is not over design or design for design’s sake, rather, pleasing design with loads of functionality. From their logo to the catalog/website to the actual products embodies this philosophy.

I find more than ever we are bombarded with over-design. Too much information on an advertisement or the message is over the top and obnoxious. I am inspired by the simplicity of russell+hazels designs. It’s refreshing to see something that is simple, but has so much more behind the brand. Looking through the website and the catalog there is a nice balance of imagery and typography. You are never overwhelmed with the information presented to you. The website allows the products to speak for themselves.The product design has a unique style and pattern that is energetic; russell+hazel takes the average Five Star binder and turns it into design.

russell+hazel takes the ordinary and makes it inspirational to me.

http://www.russellandhazel.com/category/binders-files

http://www.russellandhazel.com/category/accessories

20 comments:

  1. Amanda, you make a good observation. Over design definitely does not make up for bad design; in fact it just makes it more obvious that it is bad design. When something is done well, it doesn't have to prove itself. Unfortunately, people who don't know good design don't understand that sometimes less is more. I checked out this website and I liked some of their products. They seem very simple, streamlined, and organized, just like one would expect from binders and folders. Their design reflects their function. Tools for organizing and keeping things together should look like they will. I would not trust something that looks hectic and cluttered to keep my school files and papers neat and ordered.

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  2. I totally agree with you both. I personally can have a tough time simplifying things down to their bare basics. Nice observation.
    Also, I think all of us can identify with the notion of searching for inspiration to spark our creativity!

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  3. I also work to distill my designs down without losing intent. And like you, the more I see over design, the more I want to edit down my own work.

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  4. I LOVE SIMPLICITY. And organization. And cleanness. Okay, I'm a bit OCD. Actually, the first thing I noticed on their site was Helvetica, quite the fitting typeface for a company with simple style.

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  5. When companies/designers go the simple route with their designs, I feel it shows their high level of design skill to be able to create successful pieces of minimal design. It shows a level of confidence and an understanding of how to use design without overdoing it.

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  6. Looking at the simplistic designs on the Russell+Hazel site made me feel like I could almost breathe. Too much design and over design can sometimes stress me out and to see simplicity in the designs of these notebooks makes me happy because it is very organized and clean.

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  7. It's always nice to see simplistic design in a world full of media overload. To see clean, subtle uses of the elements for functionality is something that I think every designer should be able to appreciate.

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  8. These binders, etc. look like they came straight out of a Crate and Barrel / CB2 store. They're nice and clean, without being boring. Sometimes 'clean' design strikes me as too boring, but I would buy these.

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  9. As you may already know, I'm a sucker for negative space and clean design--your links are pretty inspiring to me! I know you had mentioned during class that you would like to do something with branding. If you decide to make a logo for your project, I suggest you keep this idea of simple shapes, color, and typography in mind.

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  10. I think Katie brings up an a good point about simple vs. simply boring design. I feel like the distinction might be mostly a matter of personal taste, but maybe other people have other thoughts on the matter?

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  11. I agree with Jenna's comment that the simplistic designs show a level of confidence. Sometimes we are afraid to go too simple, but when done correctly there seems no other way. With these links in mind, I will definitely try to simplify my work more because that is something I struggle with.

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  12. Your blog just reminds me more and more of how just a simple logo can make a difference to its identity. I struggle at times remembering that simple is most likely better. This holds true for just about every type of business out there.

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  13. Your links are great examples of how something as simple as the right color can make an ordinary object engaging. I have a bad habit of buying based on color - just because it's light lime or candy apple red, I want it.

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  14. I am a big fan of minimalism as well. I feel it has a great place in the world when either conveying a point or when incorporated with something else like a note book. Although design is meant to be looked at, I feel like the great designs are unnoticed. Maybe that is what makes them great...

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  15. I agree. Over designing is almost like a sickness. It happens when your trying too hard. Good design is effortless and I feel like over designing is happens when people don't know what they need to do to get their message across therefor they try ever avenue of design, which usually doesn't work.

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  16. i love minimalism. it is like photo editing, the more edits you need to make in photoshop, the worse the picture is.

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  17. I like how you have been inspired by the small things, such as supplementary stationary. There is a need for these things in our everyday lives and it would be a great creative outlet to explore the way these things make a difference in our day to day routines.

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  18. I am a sucker for stationary, organizational tools, and paper- great find! I think Jenna said my sentiments on simplistic design best, that "it shows a level of confidence and an understanding of how to use design without overdoing it."

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  19. I interned at a stationary company for about a year and I came across some hideous stuff but mixed in there were some wonderful thought out things that made me want to write a letter or have a dinner party.

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  20. I totally agree with Katie's comment. The website is so clean and something I'd expect to see from Crate & Barrel.

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