Sunday, June 29, 2008

The Iron Curtain

I really respond to artists that explore typography as a medium, beyond the canvas or paper. This amazing curtain of type by Jaume Plensa is titled Silent Rain (2003). Constructed of iron in eight parts: with texts by Baudelaire, Blake, Dante, Estelles, Ginsberg, Goethe, Shakespeare and Williams. All I can say is WOW. 
(Via Design Muse)

Friday, June 27, 2008

Lake Straw

Have a cool weekend. A large straw in a small lake by artist Vinchen.

The Thing Quarterly

The concept behind this fine art subscription service is brilliant—THE THING is a quarterly periodical in the form of an art object. Each year, four artists, writers, musicians or filmmakers are invited by the editors Jonn Herschend and Will Rogan to create an everyday object that somehow incorporates text. If I happen to love a piece of art and it also has some typographic or text element, it’s a bonus for me, being a graphic designer. Above is the latest issue by Anne Walsh that shipped out, it is a doorstop with text from a letter written to Billie Jean King in 1973 just after her victory in the “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match. I really don't want it to sit under my door, so it will live happily on the Eames cabinet for now.  

Thursday, June 26, 2008

The Notebook


Came across these very covetable Field Notes memo books brought to you by Coudal Partners/Draplin Design Company, inspired by “vintage farmers’ planting books and other practical, historic, mostly-midwestern American design.” They have a great website, a blog and a Flicker photo groups of the Field Notes in action/usage. Love the typography and the price, 3 for $9.95.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Going to Pot

When I was a little girl and my Dad was studying architecture at USC, I was taken to many of his friends’ studios and workshops because I loved anything to do with art and being with my father. He met Otto and Vivika Heino at USC and became fast friends. I have fond memories of peeking into vats of brightly colored glazes and watching Otto and Vivika work on their beautiful pottery while my parents carefully selected a few pots to purchase. Somehow these pieces made it through raising 2 children and countless moves without a single chip. I treasure these vases and bowls and am blown away by how valuable and collectable they have become. Otto is still throwing pots at 94 years old at their studio in Ojai-definitely worth a day trip up to Ojai.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Living in a Miniature World


I first saw some of these artful photos of little people set in the streets of London awhile back, but failed to bookmark the site. This morning, thanks to Black Eiffel I rediscovered the world of Slinkachu. Slinkachu is the clever young artist/photographer behind these gems, “Little hand painted people, left in London to fend for themselves.”. His upcoming book “Little People in the City-The Street Art of Slinkachu” can be pre-ordered from the UK. There are lots of scenes posted on his blog, so check it out!

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Typography Couture

Thanks to SwissMiss I found these laser-cut micro fiber suede scarves at Little Factory—how clever a design and I think a great modern accessory. I like the uppercase ones the best although they also come in just numbers for all you math nuts and lowercase letters as well.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The Isle of Type

On April 1, 1977 the British newspaper The Guardian published a seven-page “special report” about San Serriffe, a small republic located in the Indian Ocean consisting of several semi-colon-shaped islands. A series of articles described in detail the geography and culture of this obscure nation. The report generated a huge response. The Guardian‘s phones rang all day as readers sought more information about the idyllic holiday spot. However, San Serriffe did not actually exist. The report was an elaborate April Fool’s Day joke—one with a typographical twist, since numerous details about the island (such as its name) alluded to printer’s terminology.

Davies, editor-in-charge had imagined a small, one-page feature, but the other editors, realizing the potential, decided to expand it into a seven-page supplement, making it the largest special report the
Guardian had ever published. The Guardian turned to the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson to find companies willing to participate in the hoax. This proved to be an easy job. The special report, when it was completed, consisted of seven pages, four of which were devoted to ads. Articles, written in a quasi-serious style that parodied the prose of special reports, examined the history, culture, and economy of San Serriffe.
(Read more at Hoaxipedia)

Pushing the Design Button

Brian Janusiak and Elizabeth Beer of Various Projects have launched a series of buttons in support of the Democratic presidential campaign. Titled the Obama Button Project, it started out with wanting a good simple design for a button which they produced themselves. After realizing the need for well designed political buttons, they then decided to also invite other designers to participate and will continue to include more designs throughout the campaign. I love the simplicity & clean design, especially of buttons #2, # 8 and #9. The buttons sell for $1 each at Project No. 8 and all proceeds will go to the Obama General Election Campaign.
(Via Coolhunting)

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Carnivore Type

I am always in search of new ways of looking at typography, no matter how absurd. Robert Bolesta’s Value Pack alphabet art project is a fine example of thinking way outside the box, or perhaps under shrink wrap. 

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Skull Dance

Viva Calaca!! is a personal project from animator/designer Ritxi Ostáriz. The animated short with music by Voltaire, is a tribute to Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations. Love the flickering, scratched images and imaginative animation. (Via http://drawn.ca)