2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on November 15, 2022 by MichelleChiang.design

At the end of the year, we love to express our gratitude and good wishes with gifts to people around us. Here are some online art and design gifting options. These gift ideas work throughout the year for all occasions.

Send Cards

It is so joyful to receive a card with a personal message. For those of us who can’t quite make our own cards, there are wonderful artisans who help us to say what we want to say.

Playa Paper Handcrafted paper goods. All cards include postage.
Pretty by Post Curated greeting cards for snail mail lovers available as single collections or subscription.
Project CELEBRATE FREE digital cards designed by Michelle Chiang.

Artist & Artisans

Many artist and artisans have wonderful gifts for sale.

Andres Palos Andres Palos is a Los Angeles based digital and film photographer. Prints are available in different sizes and frame options on this website.
Ira Meyer Ira Meyer photographs the amazing sceneries and animals of Antarctica and the Arctic.
J&S MakeScents Hand poured soy wax candles.
Leather E 100% handcrafted leather hair accessory & jewelry.
Matt Spangler Matt Spangler is an artist who draws robots. His website has prints, original arts, and merchandise available.

Books

Books are the most versatile gifts. Instead of ordering online, visiting a physical bookstore offers a sense of adventure. You may find things unexpected.

Bart’s Books 302 W. Matilija Street, Ojai, CA 93023
Hennessey + Ingalls 300 S. Santa Fe Ave. M, Los Angeles, CA 90013
The Last Bookstore 453 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Museum & Gallery Stores

Museums and galleries often have online stores that cater to art lovers.

Getty Museum Store 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90049
LACMA Store
Los Angeles Public Library Store
MOCA Store
MOMA Design Store
Studio Channel Islands 2222 E Ventura Blvd., Camarillo, CA 93010
The Gamble House Bookstore 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena, CA 91108
The Huntington Store 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, CA 91108
The Shop at the Broad 221 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Other Ideas

With some imagination and planning, this gift can be memorable without necessarily costing a lot of money. It could be a trip to a museum, a self-guided architectural walking tour, an art/craft class, a spring picnic at the park, etc. The options are limitless. You can create a ‘gift certificate’ to be redeemed after the hectic holiday season.

Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Guide by Elemental Green

Elemental Green has gathered some of our favorite eco-friendly products to help infuse your home with healthier, more-sustainable gift-giving ideas. Whether you are looking for something for loved ones or dropping hints about a special treat for yourself, we are continually curating this list with fresh products that members of our team have vetted, tried, and recommended enthusiastically.

2021 Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on November 2, 2021 by MichelleChiang.design

This list is being updated frequently. Please check back often for new additions. Feel free to share your suggestions in the comment section!

It’s that time again! At the end of the year, we love to express our gratitude and good wishes with gifts to people around us. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, our living styles and purchasing habits have shifted. With the current situation of the supply chain, we may want to find gifting options that support small businesses and artisans, are environmentally friendly, are digital, or create an experience.

Send Cards

It is so joyful to receive a handwritten note. For those of us who can’t quite make our own cards, there are wonderful artisans who help us to say what we want to say.

Playa Paper

Handcrafted paper goods. All cards include postage.

Pretty by Post

Curated greeting cards for snail mail lovers available as single collections or subscription.

Handmade Goods

There is something charming about handmade goods. Artisans make jewelry, soaps, candles, pottery, and food.

J&S MakeScents

Lower Level at 555 The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

Hand poured soy wax candles with intoxicating fragrances that only come in one color – white. No worry about choosing the right colors to match the decor. The brand just recently opened a store space at The Shops at Mission Viejo.

My Creative Outlet

21758 Devonshire St. Chatsworth, CA 91311

This creative space has an Artisan Boutique featuring local makers.

Art for Sale

There is something charming about handmade goods. Artisans make jewelry, soaps, candles, pottery, and food.

Andres Palos

Andres Palos is a Los Angeles based digital and film photographer. Prints are available in different sizes and frame options on this website.

Matt Spangler

Matt Spangler is an artist who draws robots. His website has prints, original arts, and merchandise available.

Studio Channel Islands

2222 E Ventura Blvd. Camarillo, CA 93010

This art organization has a gift shop within its gallery. Beautiful and one-of-a-kind art objects fit all budget levels.

Creating an Experience

With some imagination and planning, this gift can be memorable without necessarily costing a lot of money. It could be a trip to a museum, self-guided architectural walking tour, a spring picnic at the park, etc. The options are limitless. You can create a ‘gift certificate’ to be redeemed after the hectic holiday season.

Other Ideas

Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Guide by Elemental Green

Visual Identity Guide

Posted on June 15, 2021 by MichelleChiang.design

This is a documentation of my journey of creating branding for a local bakery café that desperately needed creative help when COVID-19 hit. I was clueless and had to figure out everything. Many thanks to wonderful professors at Arts Media & Performance at LAMC for their support and encouragement! There is still so much to do. I am not satisfied with what I have done but is thrilled to see some results of my sweat and tear.

https://indd.adobe.com/view/964e8507-1134-4c30-a7f4-06477f639e54

American Riviera Design Conference 2018

Posted on June 12, 2018 by MichelleChiang.design

After the success of last year’s first American Riviera Design Conference, ASID Los Angeles Chapter once again held the event in beautiful Santa Barbara, California this year.

The weather was perfect. The format followed last year’s event with an improved scheduling and more presentations. It was great to spend time with friends I already knew and made new friends. It was a tremendous effort of the organizers, sponsors, presenters and the attendees to made the two-day conference go smoothly.

Another mission of this year’s conference was to support the local communities that have been severely impacted by fire and flood. ASID LA held a raffle with 75% of the proceeds benefiting the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigate.

Below is the event timeline. I have added links for quick access.

Thursday, June 7th, 2018

11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Kick off Lunch

Riviera Ballroom at The Canary Hotel

11:15 am – Speaker: Ed Paulsen and Lisa Masino, Kravet Fabrics

“Modern Tailor”

12:15 pm – Speakers: Shannon Ratcliffe and Venessa Kogevinas, LUXE Interiors + Design

“Mad for Marketing”

My takeaway from the LUXE presentation was sending follow-up emails to new contacts right after the events no matter how tired you are. I always thought it was best to wait until the next business day, and I almost always got so busy and procrastinated until it didn’t make sense to email those people.

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Tour Kogevina’s Luxury Properties Landmark Estate, “Robledal”, situated in the most exclusive part of Hope Ranch

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Tour of Armstrong Associates Arlington Village Santa Barbara, a mixed-use residential and commercial development

Architects: Peikert +RRM Design Group

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Luxe Interiors + Design Reception

Ferguson Showroom

Champagne Reception and hors d’oeuvres

Speaker/CEU: Julie Arcelay, Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove

“Luxury Outdoor Kitchens”

Ready for another day of fun!

Friday, June 8th, 2018

9:00am – 10:30am – Breakfast and Presentation

Cabana Home

Presentation: Raina Cox & Eric Runner, Farrow & Ball Inc.

11:00am – 1:00pm – Lunch & CEU’S

Pullman Room at The LARK

11:15am- 12:00pm Speaker/CEU: Barry Cik, Naturepedic

“Flame Retardant in Home Furnishings”

12:00pm-12:45Pm Speaker/CEU: Guy Elston, Morris Tait Associates

“Disguise and Hide- Designing for Technology”

1:30 – 3:30pm – Montecito

William Laman, Furniture Garden Antiques

Elizabeth Ribons- Walking Antique Tour in Montecito

The list of shops curated by Elizabeth Ribons can be download from http://www.mentormeresource.com/ when you provide your name and email.

4:00pm – 7:30pm – Tour of SBIFF The Riviera Theatre, and Movie

4:30 Speaker/: Shelby Fowler, Sherwin Williams

4:45 Speaker/: Leslie Delli-Venneri, Victoria + Albert

5:00 pm -7:30 Movie: RBG, Ruth Bader Ginsberg

The ‘Flat Stanley’ Project

Posted on April 23, 2018 by MichelleChiang.design

In spring of 2017, I agreed to help my niece in Northern California with her ‘Flat Stanley’ project. For two weeks, I was to take Stanley to visit various places in Southern California. It was an interesting experience. Below is a list of places we visited. Yes, I took the assignment seriously.

Thursday, 4/6/17

Arrival (Chatsworth)