One of my works is up for auction on Belladonna, in New York. You can place your bid here.
Belladonna is a feminist avant-garde collective, founded in 1999 by Rachel Levitsky. Belladonna was started as a reading and salon series at Bluestocking’s Women’s Bookstore on New York City’s Lower East Side.
© Photo by Mattia Zoppellaro
Know Wave Session online now!
Adobe Portfolio Reviews
During OFFF by Night Antwerp Festival I reviewed some portfolios for Adobe. Picture by Alexandra Bertels.
Living Corriere - October 2016
It's such an honour to be featured in this Italian magazine Living Corriere amongst these designers. Thank you Dieter Van Den Storm for the interview and Mattia Zoppellaro photography for the photo! ♡♡
Translation:
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
The city of Antwerp has been investing a lot in contemporary architecture the last couple of years, knowing it would attract another audience then the fashion crowd. When walking through the city one can take a walk through different periods and discover all kinds of architecture. Wander away in the Cogels Osylei, an impressive street with eclectic architectural beauties all built between 1894 and 1908. When walking along the river Scheldt, one can rediscover the black and white architecture of the eighties of architect Bob Van Reeth. And the Flanders Architecture Institute is situated in a new building of Stéphane Beel Architects and regularly shows the best of the best Flanders has to offer on contemporary architecture. Architecture as city marketing wouldn’t be at its best though, when the city wouldn’t have attracted some international names to strengthen its exposure. Ten years ago the new law court was built, following a competition won by the British architect Richard Rogers. The striking roof structure soon became a landmark, referring to the ships sailing in and out of the Antwerp port. The new Port House, which is being completed at the moment, was designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid. The futuristic shaped building, referring to Antwerp’s diamond sector, will be overlooking both the city and the harbour.
Also in the field of design Antwerp has a lot to offer, attracting all kinds of creative minds. Florist Mark Colle might not ring a bell, though he has been attracted by fashion designers such as Raf Simons, Dries Van Noten and Viktor & Rolf to decorate their shows. He is a floral mastermind and is one of the most sought-after individual florists at the moment. His floral arrangements can be discovered in the heart of the city. Another talent putting Antwerp on the map is graphic designer Stephanie Specht. This year she was named in the top 3 list of promising designers Flanders Style in Monocle’s The Forecast. «I lived in New York for a while, but I soon realised I couldn’t survive there. The city distracted me too much», recalls Stephanie Specht while asking for her love for Antwerp. «Here I am more in balance. The music scene inspires me a lot, whether it’s for my free work or my work for editors as Rizzoli». Jewellery store Muhjo and the book shop Buchbar both have logos designed by this 34 old year designer. «Weirdly enough, I never worked for the city of Antwerp», tells industrial designer Stefan Schöning. «I have been working for different cities designing public spaces or outdoor furniture, but never for my hometown». The 48 year old designer who has been working for international companies such as Fiam Italia, Jongform and Indera, is devoted to the city he calls his. «I think the pop up concept was conceived in Antwerp, as there’s always something new to discover. Hot and trendy places come and go, as there always the urge to innovate and launch new projects»
OFFF by Night – Antwerp
The amazing OFFF by Night Festival came to an end yesterday. I'm so happy to have been part of such an incredible event. So many amazing speakers, so much love! ♡ ♡ Thank you to everyone who came and listen to my talk too ...
Erika Bloom
Excited to create an additional logo element for Erika Bloom, a luxury holistic wellness brand (private Pilates, yoga, acupuncture, health counseling, and different bodywork modalities) with a flagship studio in NYC on the Upper East Side (and two locations in the Hamptons, a studio in Greenwich, Connecticut, and an outpost in Turks and Caicos at Amanyara)! Soon more about this.
'Lean back: the evolution of reverse italics'
Antwerp typographer Jo De Baerdemaeker showing my poster design for 'An Evening With S' during his Lean back: the evolution of reverse italics (great title by the way :) ) talk at ATypI 2016 in Warsaw.
Thank you CJ Dunn for the picture!
Half Hart Totebags
Thursday, 20 October: New York, I will be broadcasting live (5PM – 6PM, NY time) from Picture Room, NYC as part of their project with Know Wave.
My heart belongs 50% to NYC and 50% to Antwerp. That’s why I’ll be playing all music produced on Belgian/Dutch soil, in NYC. HALF HART.
These totebags will be soon available! Bottle Green, Natural and Lavender.
Jambon – Mads Teglers
Together with Mads Teglers I have been working on a new photographic book for him, called Jambon. It's getting printed this week and I'm super excited. Can't wait to show the result!
OFFF by Night – Antwerp
I'll be speaking at OFFF festival, Q&A Track! All info here.
Know Wave X Picture Room, NYC
Thursday, 20 October: New York, I will be broadcasting live (5PM – 6PM, NY time) from @pictureroomnyc as part of their project with @know_wave - playing all my favorite sounds yaaaassss.
(Behind) the Clothes. Discover the people behind the clothes.
It was an honour to work with Antwerp fashion designer Bruno Pieters on his campaign image for his upcoming exhibition '(Behind) the Clothes.' in Antwerp, opening June 3! (2016)
There are two parts to the exhibition: ’The Clothes’ and ‘Behind the Clothes’.
The Clothes and Behind the clothes.
Behind the clothes – literally and figuratively – Pieters presents a series of portrait photographs of over 40 people involved in the Belgian fashion making process here in Antwerp.
The series includes portraits of Etienne Debruyne, a Belgian Flax producer; Raymond Libeert CEO of Libeco – one of the few surviving manufacturers of linen in Belgium; and Rosalinde Heerkens and Aurélie Callewaert of Trois Quarts – Antwerp’s renowned pattern designer duo.
The series also showcases Fashion creatives and image makers including photographer Alex Salinas; make-up artist Gina Van den Bergh; stylist Ilja de Weerdt; and model Anouck Lepère.
In short, a journey behind the clothes showcases 40 members of the creative/production team, from the raw material to the ad campaign, and every talent along the way.
All photography by Bruno Pieters.
See all photos here.
Target – now online
My designs for Target are now available online here.
Ban.do
Working on something new for Ban.do - an LA based design house specializing in gifts & accessories. Soon more about this. :)
Specht for Target
In 2015 I signed a contract with a New York bedding/fabric company called Divatex/Himatsingka. They decided they wanted to buy work from me to show at their retailers (Macy's, Bloomingdales, Target, ...). They've made prototypes that were shown at their Fabric Show in NYC, March 2015. Turned out Target was the most interested. Target bought 5 works from me that will be sold exclusively online at target.com from July 1, 2016 (limited edition of 100).
I would have preferred if they would have asked me to design a new collection instead of picking random designs from me but at the same time it feels nice that the works they have chosen were all made in a different time of my life and will be now ‘connected’.
- Birds - designed in 2010
- Birds - designed in 2010
- New York Nights - designed in 2015
- African Houses Pattern - designed in 2010
- Raccoon ‘Different’ designed in 2011
Small Bodies of the Solar System – Launch
We launched our (Lilit Asiryan, Specht Studio and Thomas Salzer) capsule ceramic collection yesterday. Today and tomorrow you can still pop by and view/purchase the unique pieces. Facebook event here – Online shop here
A Capsule Ceramic Collection – Small Bodies of the Solar System
Inspired by fluid shapes and everyday functionality a limited collection designed by artists and designers Lilit Asiryan, Stephanie Specht in collaboration with potter Thomas Salzer is now out for sale. The collection includes jugs, cups, coffee pots, letter holders and posters.
The Capsule collection is a creative collaboration between Lilit Asiryan, a Visual Artist and Designer based in Stockholm, Sweden, Stephanie Specht, Graphic and Illustrative Designer in Antwerp, Belgium and Thomas Salzer, Potter from Arvika, Sweden.
The work reflects this creative clash of ideas, mingling timeless craft with free artistry drawing inspiration from space and nature. The work starts with the clay from the Swedish soil and ends in space where each object has lent its shape from moons and asteroids.
The mix of craft, art, graphics and illustration reflect the three artists’ creative heritage. Every piece is a one of a kind and produced in a very limited edition.
The Design Kiosque
So happy with this very nicely written story about my work on the Parisian website The Design Kiosque by Studio Jake. Portraits by Hejm!
Gestalten
Gestalten just asked me if I want to submit work for a new book about novel approaches to corporate design.
"Following in the footsteps of its predecessor Start Me Up!, this publication sets out to explore the blossoming field of contemporary corporate branding. In particular, it is small start-ups that surprise us with striking corporate communications poised between playfulness and professionalism, with identities clearly inspired by the personal passions of extremely inventive entrepreneurs. Compiling innovative graphic solutions produced for—and by—a new generation, this book brings together brands from various business sectors. Most importantly, it celebrates the creativity and visual output of burgeoning companies who present themselves in unexpected, inventive, and inspiring ways."
Target Launch
My capsule pillow and bedding collection for Target will be launched on July 1st – limited edition (± 50 pieces per design) and only online available.
Oval Angle for The Word Magazine
Oval Angle (Geran Knol) made this super cool remix for The Word!!
Listen to it here: http://www.thewordmagazine.com/…/exclusive-mix-60-oval-ang…/
Make sure to come and see him performing in Antwerp (together with Coco Haram) on the 20th of May, an event I am organizing for Born in Antwerp! https://www.facebook.com/events/522184041297126/
