Wow! That’s so awesome, GO AMY!

That’s great! I guess I’m a little confused by how this stuff works – how does the Average Shopper go into Target and know what stuff is done by any particular designer?

A definite congrats to Amy. So cool. I can’t imagine how it must feel to know that your work is on a nationwide holiday campaign. I love her birds! Can’t wait to go to Target and check out the decorations.

wow, that’s great! so neat :)

Wow Amy! Congrats! That’s so exciting.

we share your thoughts about Amy completely Grace… we still cannot believe she is our Student Of The Month! She is such a joy and even with all her success, so sweet & humble.Amy Rocks!

eek. am i the only one who doesn’t think this is really great? it’s certainly awesome for amy to have her great, great work available to a larger audience, no question … but target and other giant corporate retailers are known for working with indie designers for a short time and then just having their in-house design departments copy their look in some uncool, derivative way. esp. here in minneapolis, a lot designers see target as the kiss of death despite the great exposure and obvious financial benefit. not to mention that when people shop at target (again, here in mpls where there are one thousand of them), they aren’t shopping at independent boutiques who *always* support independent designers… any thoughts?

Amazing!!! Congratulations Amy! That is absolutely incredible news!

and I was thinking about what you wrote above Kimberly .. part of me agrees, but then the optimist in me thinks perhaps this is a symbol of a shift in the aesthetic desires of an entire culture. A sort of tipping point. Mass market stores upholding indie designers and artists, so eventually people who would only shop at Target go looking for the real thing. My husband teaches high school and I’ve seen this in his students. It’s a process of discovery: they see something at target or urban outfitters and then they go out in search of the artist.

congrats to amy!

i’m also a little wary of designing for the big guys although i don’t think i could say that i would turn it down if the opportunity came my way.
on one hand, it is a great way to democratize design but one the other, i don’t like to buy too much mass-produced, made in china products even in the name of “good” design.

I think that’s a great point Kimberly. While I try not to support Target as much as possible, I hope in the greater realm at least Target will make Amy’s name more commonplace and increase the value of her work.
But, like with Tord Boontje’s work last year, personally I’ll resist buying her work at the mass-produced level and save up for something a little more collectible on down the road.

I can see your point, Kimberly. But from my perspective, I think this is a great opportunity to expose the work of great independent artists to a wider audience, many of whom wouldn’t have much access to these smaller, independent shops in the first place. Think of rural towns in the heartlands of the US who may not have small, independently-minded boutiques, but may have a Target.

Furthermore, many people may not be able to afford original works of art, but could on a more mass-produced, cost-effective scale (though I don’t know if Any is releasing any tangible products for sale in Target stores).

I guess I’m just all for “Design For All”.

I say the more art we can get into the mainstream, the better! While I recognize the dilemmas of mass production etc., on this one, I’m choosing to be optimistic and go with Kelly’s comment, “Design For All.” Congratulations Amy. Very talented, very dedicated and oh so very sweet indeed!

Congratulations to Amy! She is one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met (well, OK, I haven’t met her in person but we’ve talked on the phone). She’s so talented.

Hi All! To end this confusion, I was hired as the illustrator for the ad campaign for Target. I didn’t design any products or anything – just the in-store look and the illustrations for in the ads/commercials. I am an illustrator, after all! It’s not the big scope of a campaign as it was last year with Boontje. Was just another (but amazing) illustration project for me. Target and the design teams at BBDO were amazing to work with, and I’d do it again if they asked me too. Cheers everyone!

I was just at Target & totally did a double take when I saw a package of window decals that looked just like Amy Ruppel’s work. I had to check Design*Sponge to make sure I wasn’t mistaken. Congrats Amy! I have long admired your work. I think I’ll pick up up a set to cheer up our tiny apartment for the holidays, but I’ll hint to the husband that I’d like the real thing for under the tree.

Oh, good! I saw one of the commercials, and I instantly recognized it as Amy’s style. I went to her site trying to find out if she had worked with Target, or if she had been copied… I’m so glad to find out that it’s all on the up and up! Congratulations, Amy!

Go Amy !! I knew you could do it. See, Plymouth High was not that bad after all.

Oops, I’m coming into this a little late, but it’s so fun to see Amy thrive. She was the very first customer I profiled over at Hatch, and it led to pillows designed by her soon after (unfortuantely, I don’t believe they are still in production, but they rocked). Her work continues to inspire.

As for the Target debate, I must admit I am addicted to the place. I never get out w/o a full cart, even if I just dashed in for Diet Cokes! I don’t see them doing blatant ripoffs like West Elm does, it seems like they at least hire designers and not copycats most of the time, and often bring great designers to the masses. Of course, I could be wrong about the not doing blatant ripoffs part, I’ve just never noticed it.

becky

P.S. Has anyone else noticed the black and white swirly pillow EVERYWHERE lately? TV shows, magazines, etc. I think it’s by Victoria Hagen.

amy rocks + rules!