Designers refer to them as mood boards. These wonderful collections of images, colors, impressions, words and random bits and pieces of the past, present and future deliver inspiration during the creative process. And eyewear reigns supreme in this conception-through-to-inception process. Our friend Nico Roseillier obviously has lots on his mind and in his heart as he goes about his creative tasks designing Europa, State and now American Optical eyewear. We’re seeing creative input from the recent evolution of a new Ford Bronco as it was sparked by the original Bronco decades ago. And there’s more than a twist of rock ’n’ roll, as well as clever spurts of mid-century modern ushering in the fact that sometimes great design demands a refinement of classic moments from an entity’s heritage. And let’s “peek” at the cleverness of a frame blueprint on a lens cleaning cloth. 

–James J. Spina