Category Archives: Design

Brandon Ragnar Johnson


Brandon Ragnar Johnson is an illustrator and graphic designer based in California.  He graduated with honors at the Art Center College in Pasadena, California.  The artist moved around much of the west coast of California while growing up, but spent his formative years in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.  Hence the  heavy influence by florescent lights, hard shadows and midcentury design.  His work is often some combination of the things he most loves; film noir, fashion illustration, classic cartoons, the great men’s magazine artists, mid century design and architecture, punk rock, monsters and old Las Vegas.  On an interview with California Home Design he says this about his work:

“I really love simple, abstract shapes that hint at something organic – shapes that may or not be the silhouette of an animal or a plant, maybe something microscopic like an amoeba. I think a design is most
successful when it seems both familiar and completely new at the same time. Being able to accomplish that with just color,
form and line is challenging, but when it works, it’s very rewarding.”

“Mid-century designers were so adept at combining sophistication and humor, and I do my best to strike that same balance in my work. To me, that’s really what makes design appealing rather than rigid and stuffy. I think even the best design can falter when it takes itself too seriously.”


You can follow the artist on his website, Behance and Instagram.  His portfolio can be found here.  

Images:  Courtesy of Brandon Ragnar Johnson.

Cooee Design

Just purchased the origami ornaments pictured above. Was intending to use it just for Christmas but the colorations make it applicable for any occasion.  We’re eyeing the stained oak birds for our next purchase.  They are from the Swedish brand, Cooee Design, established by Catrine Ã…berg in 2005.  They are known for their beautiful minimalistic vases and trays created in various sizes primarily in earthy tones.  The ‘ball vase’ was the first product in their ceramic series.  It was met with great success and assortments based on this item was developed with new colors and shapes.  The name Cooee means ”Hi, Hello” on the Aboriginal language. 

More of their products can be seen on their website,  Facebook and Instagram.

Images:  Courtesy of Cooee Design.

Estudio Guardabosques

Estudio Guardabosques is a Buenos Aires-based design and illustration studio consisting of Carolina Silvero and Juan Nicolás Elizalde. They like to draw and make things with paper using the ancient art of paper folding.  Their main focus is on nature crafting not only the birds shown above but also various geometric mammals.  They create a wide range of paper projects for publishing, fashion, advertising, cinema and other artistic branches.

You can see more of their work on their website, Facebook, Behance and Instagram.

Images:  Courtesy of Studio Guardabosques.
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