NYC impressions

2011 brought major change concerning my daily routine. Many years of self-employment (and maybe sometimes overindulging myself in its independence) made me desire a new challenge. I decided to move to New York City where my business partner Ilias is opening a jewelry store which is representing Mimi Vert. I also applied at Parsons and was offered a scholarship to continue my studies at my favorite Design College. My new life includes a tight schedule, fixed deadlines and lots of exciting new projects. Some can be viewed here (thank you Timo)
The first months of going back to university were pretty tough and I had serious doubts about managing it next to my other ventures. However I slowly got used to it -how boring would it be if it was easy anyways- and I successfully finished my first semester. My recent experiences and commuting from Brooklyn to Manhattan made me discover and even appreciate a less glamorous (compared to my numerous previous visits) but more real side of the city. Ok, I still dislike riding a crowded subway but this is just one among few negative side effects of living in NYC. And it is worth it. I'm not only learning useful design tools next to lovely and talented people, I'm also in the heart of the most inspiring place of the world. The new versatile tasks take a great amount of my time and they might slow down the current growth of Mimi Vert. Yet I'm convinced that all these new inputs will eventually benefit our line. For the close future my studies, a new collection and the store will be keeping me busy and hopefully excited. My plans about moving back to Switzerland though are postponed, but just for a few years..
front of St. Patrick's Cathedral, opposite to the store in the Olympic Tower on 645 Fifth Ave (opening next month)

Notes on a Notebook Pt 3

I don’t like to get rid of the past. Especially I get attached to things where I have put thought or invested time. Usually I end up storing them in a drawer or finally after years throwing them away.
So I asked myself what are the possibilities to recycle my old Moleskine notebook?
I wanted to transform it into a new item that allows me to keep carrying around my beloved companion. Since jewelry is my business the first that came in my mind was to convert it into a necklace.
I only used (except for some water and starch paste) the properties of my 2010 Moleskine. Each bead of the necklace represents one random day of my past year. While I was creating them some names, events and places appeared repetitively others surprisingly. Either way -and even just as simple notes- they awoke emotions and memories. I experienced it as a therapeutic process that made me aware of what moved and dominated my daily life throughout that year. For next January I plan to do a new piece with this year’s diary instead of making New Year's resolutions.
Out of a notebook (that due to technological advance is an unnecessary object) I made a piece of jewelry (that by nature is unnecessary), but ultimately an accessory that is truly one of a kind.

Notes on a Notebook Pt 2: Necessary, Accessory or Luxury?

As already mentioned some useless objects in our daily life were preserved and gained new value. The fact that a wristwatch is not really needed anymore helped to take it to another level converting it into a status symbol. Such objects that lost their original purpose are now charged with a new, more emotional value. The Moleskine notebook’s subtle marketing concept supports that bond, makes it part of each owners personal identity. It becomes a cult object.
I like to see a person next to me in a cafe having his notebook on the table instead of (or in addition to) his blackberry or iphone. For me it’s like seeing a women with an exquisite handbag or piece of jewelry, it makes someone more interesting. This addition to one’s personality is what an accessory should do.
The iconic Moleskine, almost a synonym for notebook, may be inexpensive and produced in masses but could be perceived as a luxury product in many ways. Something inessential but conducive to pleasure and comfort, it is a brand focused on a history that represents a lifestyle and evokes emotion, inspiration and satisfaction. Just as other traditional products Moleskine was forced to connect to the digital world and like some luxury brands they did it impressively. Moleskine makes successful use of social media, holds an interactive website, e-commerce, online marketing and people all over the net are uploading and sharing scans of their notebooks.
In our times of iPhones, iPads, facebook and Google calendar, drawing or writing down things in a notebook sure may seem unnecessary and time consuming. But isn’t having and especially taking time priceless and the ultimate definition of luxury?

Notes on a Notebook

Why am I drawing this notebook? I could just take its picture and in a matter of seconds I would have a much more realistic image of it. Nevertheless photography wasn’t able to completely replace drawing like the computer didn’t push aside the book or notebook. Sure technology made them less needful, but so how did the notebook prevail in today’s digitized society?
For people like me -who got familiar with the internet at a young age but still grew up drawing, tinkering their own toys- writing down things by hand is a nostalgic act and can be a cleansing process. Compared to the technologically advanced alternatives, a notebook doesn’t require electricity nor updates, which makes it much more reliable on a long term.
Although the laptop -not surprisingly also called notebook today- took over the original function of a notebook, the book of blank pages persisted as a primary venue for notes, drawings, organizing and brainstorming because it offers a more direct, simple and authentic way of visual thinking. It continues to be a flexible and individualized tool to create ideas and becomes in this manner an essential part of our personality.I’m not sure how the new generation is going to experience this but somehow I think that the physical will always feel more real than the virtual.
I believe the sensory experience of paper, the process of sketching or a distinct handwriting- even barely readable- are irreplaceable.