Ornament it.

2006 Target Back To School. Designed by OFFICE.

Dutch designer Tord Boontje Holiday theme for Target 2006.

I am frequently asked to either create, direct, or define the vector ornament style that has grown into the visual style of the moment. Thanks to early adopters like Target, the style which is composed of primarily vector silhouettes continues to evolve as more and more adopters and adapters craft the look that continues to feel fresh.


Coke bottles for European nightclub promotion.

Fancy, fanciful ornament is now expressed everywhere, in many styles. Sure, I wonder too, what designers might use next, but most likely, this movement of ornament will continue to evolve, as creative people use motion and different technology to continue this trend of visual design which hold the distinction of appealing to most everyone.


I personally beleive that the looks public exposure began in the mid 1990's with contemporary artist RYAN MCGUINESS whose installations of vector forms and sillo's inspired a generation of young artists who saw the style as a retaliation against a digital 1990's world of Photoshop photorealism, filters and solarflares. Oh yeah, it happens to be beautiful too.



"McGinness’s consumer-culture-inspired motifs have made their way from the corporate office to skateboards and coffee mugs to the image-heavy mandalalike painting and prints…. Moving from context to context, he has kept the concepts of marketing and branding as a launch pad for endless permutations of a consistent vision—simulacrums of the consumer environment." Excerpt from gallery guide.