lost in thoughts #3

Hello again! I’ve been very busy for the past week, and I’m excited about my third installment of Lost In Thoughts. Let’s get started!

section of London’s Tube map via Transport for London (left)
&
section of Boston’s T map via MBTA (right)

Subway maps fascinate me. They make cities seem simpler by defining select destinations, they’re color coded, they have clean lines, and only share necessary information. Sometimes less is more, and you can find some or all of these design principles in my work. I’ve chosen to share an image of the London Tube because I lived in London, by the Glouster Road stop,  for 3 1/2 months in 2003. That was my first real experience with a subway system and with public transportation in general. I’ve also included a map of the T in Boston, because that’s where I am very happy to be living now.

Ingrid Michaelson from her website

I listen to Ingrid Michaelson pretty much every day (for the past year or so). She has a way with words and melodies, and I listen to her music while I work. Take, for example, these lyrics from Overboard:

I watch the ships go sailing by
If I play the girl will you play the guy?
And I never thought I’d be the type
to fall, to fall, to fall, to fall to fall.

To fall over, fall over, fall overboard, overboard.
Fall overboard just so you can catch me.
You can catch me, you can catch me, you can catch-

Haven’t you ever been so drawn to somebody (not necessarily romantically) that you’ve considered doing something outside of your comfort zone? If you’re shy, that could be just working up the nerve to say hello. I think we’ve all felt that way before. I enjoy this song because it’s relatable and stirs up emotions. That’s something to aspire to.

spring flowers by April May

Spring is in full bloom in Boston, and it’s a time of new beginnings and renewed life. The flowers on the trees are more beautiful than anything I could ever create. Who doesn’t find that inspiring? Over the years I’ve taken thousands of pictures of flowers, but nothing compares to the real thing.  
 

purple color pallet from Everything Little Miss

I don’t normally gravitate toward purple. However, I’ve been working on a project for a client and I’ve designed a color scheme (pictured) based on their purply logo. I’m remembering how luscious and deeply toned lilacs and grapes can be. The important thing to remember about every color is how many shades there are. There’s so much more than ROY G BIV!

What’s been inspiring you this week? Do you have an album that you listen to over an over again? Are you looking forward to blooming lilacs? 

I’ll be back with more next Thursday.
-April