With the use of visual puns and strange object combinations, design studio PUTPUT has created a series that is clever and delightfully useless. From unusable screwdrivers to bouquets of non-flowers, salami sunglasses, and a hilarious candle chair. Via Colossal:
Fellow Portlander Mako Miyamoto understands the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and has captured it fittingly in this series, The Emerald Forest. Fully embodying the moss and fog aesthetic we love so much, his photography captures the damp, verdant nature of these tall and inspiring forests. Via Behance:
Yep, we’ve posted a fair amount about Iceland. Here. And here. Oh, and here. And maybe here. How can we help but be drawn to their plethora of moss and fog? And it’s also the pure desolation, a land so full of beauty, but also supremely bleak and raw. No wonder it’s been used as a backdrop for any number of post-apocalyptic films, though in a beautiful way.
Well, we’re at it again, this time showcasing part of a series called Islandia, by Jesse Echvarria, another photographer we’re quite fond of. Great aerial captures and depth of color and contrast in his work. You can almost smell the clean air and rich moss and lichen in the images. Iceland, we’ll see you again soon. Via Behance:
Every few months, we feel it appropriate to share posts that strike us as fitting to our name, Moss and Fog. Usually there are some good photographers sharing adventures in the woods, things that we think would fit our namesake.
Lucky for us, British photographer Neil Burnell has a beautiful series entitled Mystical, which showcases some truly rich and verdant trees. A gnarled and dramatic forest draped in thick moss, the trees emerge from fog, appearing much more like the set of a haunted fantasy movie than a place outside Devon, England.
However, this is a special place, indeed. Called Wood of the Wisemen, it’s considered a very haunted place, one feared for hundreds of years. Burnell has a great description:
Nestled on the eastern slopes of the West Dart river stands a wood of dwarf oak trees. Once you walk into the tangled web of trees you are transported into a mystical world of moss carpeted boulders, lichens of all descript, finger like oak branches, all engulfed in a wonderful smell of earth and age. For millennia this small, mystical, stunted woodland has been held in awe and for many fear.Tales of Druids, ghosts, the Devil and a host of other supernatural creatures abound, some dating back to the long lost ages before man could write. Many writers have described the wood as being “the most haunted place on Dartmoor”, others warn that every rocky crevice is filled with writhing adders who spawn their young amidst the moss and leaf strewn tree roots. Locals will never venture near once the sun begins it slow descent over the nearby granite outcrops for it is when the dark mantle of night draws tight that the heinous denizens of the wood stalk the moor in search of their human victims. So be afraid, very afraid, as the wagging finger of fate warns you to stay clear and risk not your mortal soul in the ‘Wood of the Wisemen’.
Having lived in Marin, California, I can attest to the beauty of the natural landscapes, and the way the Bay shapes weather. Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco was always a visual treat, despite the traffic often being quite terrible. Photographer Nick Steinberg has a great collection of photos taken of the Marin Headlands, a natural area just north of San Francisco. The fog often rolls in like waves, shaped by the hills and valleys.
Berlin-based Studio Rem has a new collection of house planters, with a frosted glass top that resembles a foggy forest setting. The globe-like design, called Nebl, makes your plants delightfully cozy and intriguing, and encourages the viewer to take a closer look. Metals and ceramic bases create a nice pedestal look, almost like the plants are a type of light fixture. And it’s a bonus that this design screams “moss and fog”. Via Yanko Design:
The pure and minimalistic design of Nebl represents the sense of peacefulness and calmness that strikes, when everything is wrapped in rich, grey quietness on a foggy day.
Nebl is an intuitive and innovative planter that salutes unity and simplicity. Nebel is the German word for ‘fog’ and this exact meteorological phenomenon is the main source of inspiration for designer Michael Rem. Nebl consists of two parts: A ceramic base in which the plant is placed, and a frosted glass that is placed on the base. The glass has two openings with different sizes, which makes it possible to place the glass either high or low on the base.
At Moss and Fog, we’ve never been afraid of color, so the design of the new Shoreline Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii, is right up our alley. Embracing a playful, neon aesthetic, the Shoreline eschews the bland taupe and beiges for something far more fun. Their lobby spaces, guest rooms, and branding have bright, energetic shapes and colors, thanks to design firm BHDM. The 56,000-square-foot, 135-room boutique hotel feels thoroughly modern, but not staid and predictable. We find it visually striking and memorable, and a heck of a lot of fun. Rooms start at $200/night. Via Design Milk:
Walk into the woods, and you might find a life-size, bright green child peacefully standing in a creek. Finnish artist Kim Simonsson stumbled upon the creation of these ‘mossy’ sculptures by accident, a result of nylon flocking, which leaves the sculptures covered in a verdant green exterior resembling moss.
Simonsson’s work is visually arresting, especially when placed in a forest, adding a sense of supernatural to the physical world. Her sculptures are life-size, made from stoneware clay. See more of her work and interview on My Modern Met:
Andre Elliott’s series is entitled Acoluthic Redux, and in theory, it’s simplicity shouldn’t make it as visually intriguing as it is. Hands photographed under neon light, what’s the big deal? Somehow, the subject matter and vibrant backgrounds make for more than a sum of their parts. The hands feel new and full of character. Some simple hand gestures, paired with the right lighting, can also convey deep emotion, like fear, anguish, protest, and delight. For more visually interesting takes on the human hand, check out Moss and Fog’s Instagram page, where we’re focusing on hands this week.
Namibia is a photographer’s dream, with the world’s largest dunes, huge open expanses, and wildlife that would make any skeptic swoon. Russian photographer Daniel Kordan does tremendous justice to this landscape, with a series of images that take the night sky to new heights, with long-exposure photos that turn the starry sky to a swirling vortex. The famous dead trees you’ve seen in photos are part of the Deadvlei, a white clay pan so dry, that the tree skeletons can’t even decompose, and have stood rigid for over 700 years. A truly beautiful part of Southern Africa. See more of Kordan’s work on his website and Instagram. Via Colossal:
Just about anything taken on a trip could be considered ‘travel photography’. But to have it actually be something of note, something memorable, it usually needs to come from a place of inspiration and passion. Take this series by Hong-Kong based Victor Cheng. His photography soars in it’s scope and style, encompassing fascinating architectural details, huge landscapes, and intimate moments. Often utilizing a drone to help him get the perfect angle, his work spans much of the globe, but with a special fascination with asian cities and architecture. His work is bright, optimistic, and inviting, and definitely makes us want to pack our bags. Via MyModernMet:
Tesla’s interior design has set automotive standards for putting big screens into cars, creating the sci-fi experience that we probably thought about as children. Other automakers are playing catch up, some of them compensating perhaps a bit too much, trying to cram a ridiculous number of screens and cameras onboard. Take the new Byton SUV, a Chinese startup debuting this week at CES 2018. The relatively handsome SUV is positively festooned with cameras and enormous display screens. It makes for impressive photos, but we’re concerned it would be a total visual overload while going down the road, and just speaks to the excess that automakers feel they must equip their cars with. In fact, Byton isn’t even referring to their SUV as a car at all. Their website calls it “Your next generation smart device.”
With no automotive experience to speak of, Byton definitely feels like one of those companies that might be a total flash in the pan. But with markets finally starting to embrace electric vehicles, it’ll be interesting to see if Chinese companies can create a car that will succeed outside it’s borders. Via Wired:
From the outside, the Byton looks like a pretty normal midsize SUV, except for the lack of door handles and rearview mirrors.
With a projected starting price of $45,000, the Byton SUV is claimed to have over 300 miles of electric range.
In fact, Byton isn’t even referring to their SUV as a car at all. Their website calls it “Your next generation smart device.”
This line of jewelry, photographed by designer I’m blue I’m pink from Barcelona, has a beautifully outerspace vibe, made stronger by the otherworldly design of the backdrop. Titled Planet, the series is small but impactful, with an especially creative sense of setting. Using dramatic light and clever, oddball set pieces, the photography does it’s job well. Via Behance:
We posted a lot in 2017. Over 500 times, in fact. Through all of that research, writing, and posting, we’ve shared art, design, science, and just plain fun from all over the world. At the end of the year it’s fun to look back at all of the visitors to our site, and some of the more popular posts. This week we’re going to share a retrospective of some of the top posts from 2017. Here are a handful of our favorites over the last twelve months. Thanks for visiting.
A fabulous, inspired office lobby space for a new Seattle building, by BAMO Design.
Some warm and magical animated GIFs, all about butterflies, by Vladimir Stankovic.
An impressive and beautiful series of National Park posters that cover the entire range of America’s special parks.
In the unlikely city of Manila, a high-tech running track shaped like a Nike shoe was unveiled, with walls made entirely of LEDs.
A series of powerful and sobering posters that declare “Destroying Nature is Destroying Life” by Grabarz & Partner for Robin Wood.
Eye-opening and stylish video for band Grand Yellow, created by Akatre Studio with post production by St-Louis Post House.
Making a set of wooden blocks for your kids is great. Making custom, beautifully crafted wooden characters for your kids is even better. Yen Jui-Lin has a great collection of such characters, all with loving detail and creative, quirky style. Finished with different color stains, the characters have a playful quality that make them beg to be picked up and played with. Via Colossal:
Voted as this year’s World Interior of the Year by Inside festival, this sculptural plywood pavilion is certainly striking and elegant. Created by molding wood into an organic, faceted arching form, the pavilion is a showroom for Herman Miller’s line of office furniture. The display was built within a large furniture showroom in Singapore, and has attracted a great deal of attention since it’s inception. Studded details have given the structure the name Fabricwood, as reference to the appearance of button-tufted upholstery. Much structural engineering and design went into the final structure, and that process led to Produce Workshop‘s final product winning Interior of the Year. Via Dezeen:
The large swooping ‘wings’ of the wooden walls creates a focal point for the furniture showcase.
The “Fabricwood” is multi-faceted and meant to mimic the tufted design of upholstery.
The form gives the showroom a protected, ‘cocoon’ like feel.
