Never knew I'd enjoy visiting art museum with kids, because of how fast they move and how they stop only for things that grab their attention. I never get to read those detailed background history and descriptions anymore... Yet because of that I became more intuitive about how to appreciate what I see in a whole different way.  Seeing paintings as paintings themselves, not how critics and historians want us to follow about the paintings. I glance, I skim, and I stop where my kids stop.
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Took them to see Joan Miró' s work at the Grand Palais in Paris last week. Kids have a two week break and it was a great show! I took some snapshots and posted them here to share with you what I noticed.

The first batch below shows a few earlier pieces done by Miró .  Like Picasso, he has very strong foundation, and you can also see strong influence from Cubisim, Van Gogh and Cézanne. I didn't get to read the details, it's really that obvious.  He has also demonstrated a very strong sense of composition in a  graphic sense like a trained designer.

Later on, Miró has also experimented with print making, typography in spreads... and how he reduced the amount of details to simple, minimalistic forms and elements that take much more time to position than to create. They look like work done for visual communication, publications, posters.  Some pieces also remind me of Matisse's “cut paper” period. I posted a few of my favorites below. He's good with calligraphy and typography too.

The final batch below are three examples of Miró's work done in his most popular period. Painted in his famous child like, sometimes Dada, surrealistic, expressionistic, and minimalistic visual style.  Amazing and influential work. Regardless of what the critics think, my intuition is that Miró had a keen sense of business. In terms of differentiation and productivity.  Just imagine how many paintings he can produce, with the same amount of time he used to finish just one painting in 1917 :D? Genius!  After all no one should be surprised as he was also a business student while studying art.  

How much do you like Miró? Have you ever been inspired by his work? Whose work do you think I should bring my kids to study next time? hmm...

We've been creating brand assets for beer brands for many years, usually partnering with creative teams at agencies. We create Icons, illustrations, and characters. From refreshing the iconic Eagle brand of AB Bev, to creating a brand new Muse character for Brahma beer in Argentina. We were lucky to have clients and agencies with visions, and willingness to invest capital in creative process execution for the best possible outcome, which is rare to come by nowadays. ROI is evident when you take into account its long term effect. We've created mascots and icons that brands use for more than a dozen years on average, vs the market average of about 4 years for smaller brands, and 8 years for Fortune 500 companies. This Muse is the chosen one, emerging from the sweet spot where tradition meets contemporary. Technically and practically it is created in a graphic style that is easy to be reproduced for different platform, without compromising on design integrity.
Character design always begins with a strategic vision. When all the puzzle-like brand attributes are identified, and start coming together, we begin to compose a visible entity, it is like meeting your dream girl on a subway platform, where, and when you least expected. This “person” is no longer just an abstract notion, but as real as someone flesh and blood. When she materialized, the whole team and client got excited, and with utmost confidence that she would be embraced by the prying eyes of focus groups. Exactly what happened to our new incarnated Muse of Brahma.

Americans love our cars, and brands know it. Graphic designer and illustrator Filip Yip helps those brands connect with their audience, creating car graphics that speak to people’s lifestyles and loyalties. “I do love cars, but not in that car-guy kind of way,” says Filip. “To me, cars represent where you are in life, what your needs and dreams are at that moment.”
 Filip has conjured powerful racecars for companies like Kingsford and Havoline and cars with throwback charm for Eddie’s Premium Salsa and Sierra County Chamber of Commerce, along with many more. “With cars, and really all brand design, you’re trying to create a shared experience between the brand and the viewer. That’s where my process starts,” Filip says.
The relationship between company and consumer is one Filip takes very seriously. A decade into his successful design career, he took it upon himself to earn his MBA so he could fully partner with his clients on their strategic communications efforts.
Some may not immediately see the connection between Filip’s hard driving business instincts and his inspirational idols Van Gogh, Matisse and Gauguin, but for Filip, that’s the power of design and visual communication. “I try to create something authentic and emotional every time because those are the building blocks of strong branding,” he says.
With clients from Anheuser Busch to FedEx to EBay to Clif Bar, Filip’s vast portfolio reaches far beyond driving machines. Check out his cowboys, monkeys, schooners, skyscrapers and much more here.

This piece originally appeared as a blog from Freda Scott Creative.
Illustrator and Graphic Designer Filip Yip can see through buildings, machines and more – and he’ll help you do the same. Filip’s precise technical illustrations are often used to show the inner workings of complex machinery, or to help explain how things are used.    
“With all technical drawings, first I have to know the communications goal,” he says. “Then I can decide how much information to include in an asset. Too much or too little leaves the viewer confused.” 
That finessed judgment is something only an experienced designer can offer, which is why Filip is still highly sought for technical jobs, despite developments in 3D and rendering software. “We make decisions in terms of line weight, how to transition from straight lines to curves, how to be simultaneously elegant and accurate,” he explains.
And yes, even in this era of technology, Filip still starts with a pencil sketch. “If I can achieve clear communication in a sketch, I know the idea will only get more clear with clean, fine digital finish.”
And though Filip is well known and awarded for many styles of graphic design, including character development, logo design and packaging work, he finds a special satisfaction in technical jobs. “Solving a practical problem for a client is rewarding – and so is improving the user experience.”
Filip has created technical assets for clients in industries from pharma to tech, pet products to hospitality and even the cannabis industry. But his most…ahem, interesting project was for an electrical intimate health product. “My wife was rolling her eyes at the online research I had to do for that one,” he says. 
Most recently Filip wrapped assets for Rhoda Goldman Plaza – turning 2D floor plans into “much more contemporary and cooler 3D visions of where retirees will live.” Check out more of Filip’s work – the technical and beyond – right here.