We say that the French have a certain "joie de vivre," but Italians have something else more difficult to label. Italian culture couples a love of beauty with an ability to laugh at itself. The designs of Milan-born architect Alessandro Mendini embrace this attitude with their color and humor -- thou

Decorative, Funny, Ironic, Pop/surrealism/anti-design, Repetition

By rights, Todd Oldham should have been a fashion failure. He is exceptionally polite and sunny in an industry that punishes good manners and good cheer. He is openly critical of the fashion machine. Worst of all, he finds fashion funny, and fashion is an entity not known for its sense of humor. None

Bright, Collage, Couture, Decorative, Funny, Playful, Vibrant color

According to Randall Rothenberg, "Most great design, the sort that helps define or even fashion an era, derives from a particular vision. For this reason, most great design firms tend to die with their founders or evolve into corporate entities more skilled at making money than actually reshaping the

Funny, Playful, Witty