the first photo could just be a lovely still life but is in fact a product photo for that little hashioki (meaning chopstick) bud vase. i love stuff like this, small things with such a sweet purpose, so poetic in some way. i would be thrilled to get my chopsticks rested on a little vase. also it’s obviously a brilliant product photo, go iko iko space-shop!
the middle photo is perhaps the perfect location for filmmaking? so inspiring, i want so badly to go there on this dull monday! and then the last photo is some kind of introvert way of coming to terms with my own fascination for lemons and eggs, preferrably together. i don’t understand it at all, the closest explanation for my obsession is that bright yellow and creamy white go together so unbelievably well.
anyways, if you have any weird visual obsessions, please share, i feel kind of weird now, haha:)
Where are you originally from and how did you end up becoming a graphic and web designer?I was born in the Philippines but grew up most of my life in Japan and now I have been living in Canada for the last 5 years. I became a graphic designer when I realized I would rather sit in front a computer designing or coding than spending another second trying to understand equations and memorizing historical dates. How does a regular working day look like for you?I don’t hit the sheets until around 5 am which means I don’t crawl out of bed until 11 am. I read my e-mails and answer text messages in bed when I wake up - it’s my coffee in the morning. I then brush my teeth, have brunch and plug myself into my work for the next 20 hours. I multi-task between eating, designing, coding, hunting for inspiration, blogging, chatting with clients on Skype, more eating and designing.
The funny thing is, I don’t even realize that I need to go to bed until I notice the sun coming up. When you really love what you do, an hour feels like five minutes. What’s on your to-do list?
1. Save enough money to go WWOOFing in Italy next summer. 2. Grow out my hair. 3. Finalize on my site’s logo as well as finish coding the portfolio section. 4. Bake a red velvet cake for a friend’s birthday. 5. Call my Mom. What’s influencing and inspiring you right now?Hipsters. I respect and admire their ability to give new meaning (intentionally or not) to a way of living in that is different from the mainstream. Understanding the difference between quality versus quantity, a sense of style that isn’t necessarily unique but is a tribute both to function and form, knowing that less truly is more. Their attitude is what’s inspiring me to make better work.
What’s your top-tip to anyone who wants to pursue graphic/web design? You have to be more than what you will/have studied in college. Immersing yourself in other interests that are outside of your field is a way you can stay inspired and connected. I may call myself a graphic designer, but in fine print, I’m also a photographer, writer, social media analyst and a baker at times. Graphic design is everywhere. There will always be someone out there who will need your services. What would you like to do in the future? I definitely want to travel more, knuckle down on learning spoken French, Italian and Mandarin hopefully by the end of next year, start a small clothing collection and bake more cupcakes.
things to love on a friday: boys shirts and their buttons, soft tights, ballet, geometrical prints in 3d sculptures, reading magazines in quiet solitude, foolish dancing in the best company and apartments that are like kids huts.
tomorrow the first interview will be up with super nice and talented graphic designer patricia de silva. yay!
she’s creating almond milk and leather shoes. everything has lot’s of truffles and close-ups. and laboratory equipment. it’s so very dark and mysterious and new. i love it. i’m talking about luxirare.
the top 3 things you can do when you’re down with the flu:
1. never-ending breakfasts + go through all the magazines you never have time to read. 2. wear soft, handknitted socks all day and feel a little sorry for yourself at the same time. 3. sloow laundry. meaning you’ll find a lot of clothes and things you forgot about.
but don’t go get any ideas now, it’s not as nice as it sounds!
or ok, it is. come to me and share a coffee, then you too can have the flu before you know it!
some spring memories. i’m down with the flu so perhaps my body is longing for the carefree spring days of sugary bubblegum-chewing and buttercup field-picnics. i think so.
the first photo is by sarah lownes and the third is by keyana tea.
your way to work/school, your lunch stop shop, your super yummy milk tea boba midsnack and then some evening lounging watching movies on the computer. a very ideal monday.
you know that you can follow lolitas on facebook, right? a couple of more inspiration updates per week. everything from houses that are for sale to music that is made to love. like the song above - i think it’s beautiful that you are 256 colors too, by black moth super rainbow. singing skull in a rainbow universe, not so hard to love.
dad pillows, belgian school chairs and snow. lot’s of it. i am by no means prepared for winter, this photo is probably some kind of mental attempt to accept it. swedish winters.. nothing to be joking about, they really are mostly awful. but then there are the days when, like in the photo, it still feels right. the 2 last photos are via dwell.
putting this together i realize what a hopeless dreamer i am, haha. oh well, just look at those beds on the balcony, i mean - how can one not be a dreamer seeing that? and who hasen’t wished there was a bed on the balcony on super hot july evenings.. super good idea. probably super unpractical too, like most dreams. but who cares, it’s a bed on a balcony!
such an awesome concept for baking. it still looks kind of yummy too. so random-looking and still probably so carefully put together. by arthur and alexandra.
most changes don’t really happen overnight and blog changes are no different. but next week the slightly altered layout will be up and then we’ll gradually move towards a better and hopefully improved blog! until then there is loads of apartments and spaces to enjoy, like the one above. it has some of my favorite attributes, huge windows, glossy floors, light wood furniture and the kind of organic balcony you could spend hours on doing just about nothing. the last photo is from a lovely berlin apartment, from freunde von freunden.
if you have have any more desires/ideas for the change, feel free to email them too lolitabloggen@hotmail.com. so far it’s been really helpful: thanks to all of you that have contributed!
lately i’ve been thinking alot about Lolitas.se and some potential developments. i thought i would keep you updated about my thoughts and see if you have any ideas of your own. i really enjoy blogging, but would like to take it to the next level. the main idea is to turn the Lolitablog into more of an online magazine. still focusing on inspiration and beautiful photos but with some more content in the form of articles, columns by guest contributors and bloggers and also more concrete links and sources.
the categories would include, just like now; interior design and lifestyle, but also more about people (graphic designers, advertisers, architects etc) and more fashion, food and news in visual industries. in a couple of days i’ll put up the slightly edited blog layout (no big changes though) and then we’ll get going! what do you think about it all? do you have any ideas or desires that you’d wish to see more of? more tips about other inspiring sites? interviews with people that work in design to get your own design ambition-inspiration kicked going? or something completely new? i’m very open for suggestions and i believe this blog has got really smart and creative readers so i’m open to all ideas. just post them in the comment field below or email to:
lolitas.se is an online magazine/blog focused on the inspiring, be it design, fashion or food.
i'm katarina, 21 years old and work as an art director at the swedish fashion council.
lolitas.se is an online magazine/blog focused on the inspiring, be it design, fashion or food.
