noelle o designs

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Pretty Ugly


The more I see the more I love of Italian artist Aldo Lanzini’s work. Brilliant master craftsman of thread, needles, ribbon and wool his creations are intriguing and nonsensical, a cacophony of color and creativity. When asked if he is an artist or a designer he states, “Definitions are always quite liquid. I use my needle as if I were a sculptor. I move instinctively and I don’t think about the design of my work: I create straight away. Needlework makes me think three- dimensionally: I start working on a little piece, than I stand in front of a mirror and I imagine the next step. Sure I have a vision, but I often change my mind when I’m midway. And what was supposed to be a dress turns out to be a jacket“.
Ushers at Missoni’s Spring/Summer 2011 show in Milan.


The work of Aldo Lanzini, among many others, is to be featured in a new book Pretty Ugly, a sampling of the “new ugly”, groundbreaking graphics, art and design coming out next month. A book about what it looks like when designers are out to break all the rules… what could be more intriguing?

4 Comments

  1. Patch

    May 7, 2012 at 6:32 pm

    Interesting. Amazing work!

  2. clothmonkey

    May 7, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    These are great, really inspiring

  3. Mi Laraway

    May 26, 2012 at 10:58 am

    I realize this is late, but after seeing this I have to recommend a great TED talk on crochet. It gets pretty math-y in the middle (I use this in my math class), but hold on to the end. It is a great beginning of summer message. http://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_wertheim_crochets_the_coral_reef.html Hope you’re having a great backpacking weekend. I’m jealous

    1. noelleodesigns

      May 29, 2012 at 6:38 pm

      Thanks girl- I’ve always found TED talks useful and interesting- I’ll check it out. Come by and see us sometime when you’re in the neighborhood of Midway.

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