This past weekend I attended the Thinking Creatively Conference at Kean University and heard Jon Kamen and James Spindler of @ radical.media speak. One of their many intriguing projects, The Johnny Cash Project was particularly interesting. It is a website where the user can pick a particular picture and draw over it creating a frame for the music video for one of the tunes. All of these frames are drawn over by different people all over the world and then compile as one and make one music video for which ever song was chosen.  Definitely check it out and be a part of the The Johnny Cash Project. Here is also some background of the project.

Staying on the topic of recommendations I was at Wegmans over the weekend and thought it was great concept to have a recipe of only a few simple ingredients hanging above the olive bar area/cheese department. What is even more unique about this signage is that the recipes are from Wegman’s own magazine Menu. I think its great they provide their customers with simple quick recipes with delicious and fresh ingredients on a budget. In addition they direct their customers to their website in order to get more recipes and tips. The shopper has an experience in the store and then can continue it at home at their convenience. This is just another example of how recommendations are personalized the specific retailer’s demographic and customer base.

This morning I was reading am New York and came across this article about Le Vigne a West Village wine shop that has been designed on a budget but with a strong concept. The materials used were from Good will and The Salvation Army but were designed in such a way that this space is a masterpiece. I love the way the interior of this store looks and the presentation of the wine. The design team that made this happen is MADLAB a design firm based in Montclair, NJ.

Last Friday I went to the new Urban Outfitters in Menlo Park Mall in Edison, NJ. I really loved the light bulbs hanging from the ceiling in front of the cash registers. The entire interior design of the store was very intriguing. In addition to their awesome designed products and apparel.

Upon departing from Newark Airport to San Diego my friend I was traveling with decided to stop for some coffee at Juan Valdez Cafe. The interior space of this coffee cafe was unique due to the wall collage of photographs of Juan Valdez.

Last week I went to one of my favorite chefs, Bobby Flay’s restaurant Bobby’s Burger Palace. The signage was very bold and popped. The interior design of the restaurant was very modern and stylish. And of course my blue cheese burger was delicious along with my sweet potato fries. Little did I know Pentagram designed this identity system and restaurant interior.

Last night I went to Metuchen’s Junebug Arts Festival. Metuchen’s Main Street was filled with artists and their work. There was a variety of work including paintings, illustrations, drawings, people drawing caricatures, and live music! I would definitely love to participate in this next year.