January 26, 2021
MUSES FOR TMRW, Ariana Holland
Designer and Studio Owner, Ariana Holland, of @ABoxCollective
IN 3 WORDS, WHAT DOES COLOR MEAN TO YOU?
Subjective. Versatile. Foundational.
HAVE YOU LEARNED ANY LESSONS IN EXPRESSING YOURSELF?
1. It's a daily practice to give myself permission to win. 2. Just like in functional space planning, self expression will require your own actual space. Space to be inspired, space to reflect, and space to execute. That same space will need daily "maintenance"! "SPACE and PACE myself" have been my lessons overall!
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR & WHY?
TAUPE - I am team neutrals all day! I strongly believe a color such as taupe gives you that timelessness and versatility that you would want out of the neutral family. It's my go-to, and then I build from there.
DO YOU HAVE A MANTRA OR AFFIRMATION YOU USE?
"All that you touch, you change. All that you change, changes you. The only lasting truth is change." - Octavia Butler
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BEAUTY RITUAL?
I love a mid-day facial hydrating mist. When I worked in an office as a designer, I would keep a bottle of Caudalie Beauty Elixir next to my keyboard and spray it on my face throughout the long work days - it was a sort-of "mid-day pick-me-up" with a lovely fragrance. I still do that today as I work from my home base.
WHERE & HOW DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
I started a self-imposed mission I coined as "Homework" to stay inspired, after I discovered it was my own responsibility to find inspiration during my day and spontaneously throughout my weeks. "Homework" became my snapchat-based journal featuring virtual tours of spaces, objects, interiors, photography, etc. I made an effort to walk into newly finished projects and scope out the place. Touch fabrics in person, taste a snack from a new coffee shop, maybe chat with the owner, or take a different route home and pass by something eye-catching or subtle, yet amazing. All of these explorations became homework for me, and something I looked forward to doing for myself. Inspiration lies everywhere if you allow yourself to see.
"Inspiration lies everywhere, if you allow yourself to see."
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION RIGHT NOW?
The socially-distanced dining escapes along the sidewalks of NYC in all its plywood glory. I have seen some impressive improvisations of material, space, and uniformity of branding to these plywood build outs! New challenges in our social interactions have not stopped the boundaries of creativity!
WHAT NAIL COLOR SHOULD EVERYONE HAVE?
A nude that matches your nail beds.
WHAT ARE SOME BEAUTY PRODUCTS OR PERSONAL WELLNESS RITUALS YOU SWEAR BY?
If I could fly to the Caudalie vineyards in France and bathe in their grape water, I WOULD! I'm obsessed with so many of their products. And as for my ritual with nails, I always add on a hand or foot massage at the nail salon. Be kind to your hands and feet. We use and need them all day, every day.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN FINDING JOY POST-QUARANTINE?
Bike rides have been my daily dose of zen, accompanied by my bike speaker playing tunes to balance my mood. Also, a stop to get an overpriced (but worth it) cup of joe!
