April
05

TOPIC / Video

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Peter Buchanan-Smith talk at the Walker Art Center

Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/walkerartcenter

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This video is from the Insights Design Lecture Series with designer Peter Buchanan-Smith from March 16th, 2010 at the Walker Art Center.

April
05

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TOPIC / Video

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"Printing the Eames Century Modern Catalog"

Link: http://www.houseind.com/showandtell/2010/04/02/EamesCenturyModernCatalo

March
31

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TOPIC / Video

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stop-motion animation for Icograda's Design Currency

Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/designcurrency2010/

The animated promo for the Design Currency: Defining the Value of Design conference has given me reason to give the upcoming design week in Vancouver a second look. Icograda Design Week in Vancouver (hosted by the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada) runs from April 26th through April 30th, 2010. The headlining speakers include Marian Bantjes, Frank Chimero, Brian Collins, Debbie Millman, and more.

Vancouver-based studio Rethink conceptualized the identity for the "Design Currency" theme. The animated stop-motion promotion is a collaboration between Rethink, Giant Ant Media, and Wave Productions.

"To promote the conference we developed a stop-motion video showing the value of design. Using 2218 individual bills, 1 money counter and 1 long night of filming we came up with the following." —Design Currency 2010 on flickr

March
29

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TOPIC / Fashion

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vintage American Fabrics magazine, Spring 1951

The Spring 1951 issue (number 17) of American Fabrics magazine provides an abundance of vintage lettering and illustration styles, advertisements, fashion trends, out-dated cultural commentary, vintage textiles and fabric swatches, and more than you ever cared to know about Paisley patterns. With 146 pages and a trim of 11 x 14.5 inches, the large-format magazine is a bit difficult to fit on a shelf, but provides interesting visual content on almost every page.

March
23

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TOPIC / Typography

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The Type Directors Club's too sexy promo?

Link: http://tdc.org/tdc/membership

The new TDC membership promo booklet I received in the mail was an unexpected surprise. To kick off a new series of "limited edition keepsakes commissioned by the Type Directors Club," Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich took a bold approach with a tongue and cheek guide on "How to Make Love to Your Type." The copy-writing and style of this approach is a noticeable departure from the more conservative collateral materials one tends to expect from the Type Directors Club.

(the Art Directors Club had their Pimp My Brand campaign back in 2005 which raised a few eyebrows, while the TDC sent out the classy invite for an Alejandro Paul talk last year).

Here are photos of the spreads in the borderline risqué promotional book:

Though some may not be able to get past the far from subtle sexual references in the new TDC promo book, one can still appreciate the cleverness and unique typographic solutions. Regardless of how you feel about the accusation of an overt attempt to sell their brand with sex, the Type Directors Club is a top-notch, highly respected organization that I can with my heart recommend to all aspiring and professional designers.

This new initiative to commission limited edition designs intrigues me (especially when so many other organizations are cutting down on their printed materials). I'll look forward to the future collaborations appearing in my mailbox throughout the year.

March
21

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TOPIC / Graphic Design

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vintage-styled matchboxes designed just for music video

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qxrN93Xbpg

Prague-based designer Pavel Fuksa (a.k.a. jergot+gotroch), ambitiously designed 178 different matchbox designs for use in a new music video by Navigators.

March
20

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TOPIC / Graphic Design

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Print magazine's top "20 under 30" 2010

Link: http://www.mydesignshop.com/product/print-april-2010-digital-download/p

The April 2010 issue of Print includes their annual prestigious selection of the "20 under 30," now more commonly referred to as "The New Visual Artists Issue." All of the judges this year were past winners in this category, including Saiman Chow ('02), Joshua Darden ('06), Rob Giampietro ('04), and Julia Hoffmann ('06).

"...Our judges showed a predilection for two sometimes contradictory elements of design: illustration and installation. Many of the featured illustrators incorporate textured, craft-based techniques to render good ideas with even better skill, as evident in the deceptively simple images from Jean Jullien, the importance of shadow in the work of Leslie David and Karim Charlebois-Zariffa, the physicality employed by letterpress artisan Mikey Burton, or the pattern “surface library” used by Lotta Nieminen..." —Print staff on New Visual Artists 2010 competition

note: Print magazine subscribers received an alternative front cover seen above

Below are spreads for just a few of the winners included for 2010:

Here is a full list of the 20 talented designers (and illustrators, artists, and photographers):

Always With Honor (currently living in Portland)

Mikey Burton (Philadelphia)

Jonathan Calugi (Pistoia, Italy)

Karim Charlebois-Zariffa (Montreal)

Frank Chimero (Portland)

Leslie David (Paris)

Jean Jullien (London)

Aaron Koblin (San Francisco)

Oliver Munday (Washington, D.C.)

Lotta Nieminen (Helsinki)

OK-RM (London)

Bondé Prang (Wilmington, DE)

Jonathan Puckey (Amsterdam)

Janine Rewell (Helsinki)

Emmanuel Romeuf (Paris)

Nikolay Saveliev (New York City)

Katrin Schacke (Offenbach am Main)

Sicksystems (Moscow)

Tomi Um (Westfield, NJ)

Sam Weber (Brooklyn, NY)

March
17

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TOPIC / Illustration

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snail mail: Tad Carpenter illustration promo

Link: http://www.tadcarpenter.com/

It isn't very often that I receive a promo at the office that makes me smile instantly. Tad Carpenter's oversized envelope filled with illustration and design goodies will not get tossed. There are even signed prints included! Adorable and memorable.

The Missouri-based illustrator and designer illustrated a children's book published by Chronicle Books earlier this year titled Simple Steps Toward a Healthier Earth.

March
15

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TOPIC / Graphic Design

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vintage Saul Bass matchbook covers for Hunt-Wesson

Back in 2008, a link on Grain Edit introduced me to a set of matchbook covers designed by the legendary Saul Bass. Jonathan Turner (a.k.a. insect54) took a photo of the full series of matchbooks at a Saul Bass retrospective held at the Design Museum in London in 2004. The designs were likely commissioned by the Hunt-Wesson food company for The Ohio Match Co. sometime around 1964 (please comment with further info).

Ever since I saw these designs I loved their simplicity and wanted a set of my own. I always assumed they were rare and unattainable within my budget constraints. Last month, Scott Lindberg shared that he made a lucky find at a thrift shop in Illinois, scoring two Saul Bass matchbook designs. I was instantly jealous and commented that I would probably never have such luck in New York City. Sure enough, while rummaging the Chelsea Flea Market with no particular agenda, I had a hunch I recognized a few Saul Bass designs peering out of a randomly assorted box. What made the Saul Bass designs stand out instantly is that they were the only matchbook covers in a pile of hundreds sans advertising-related text or graphics.

Once I got home to double check online, I was excited to confirm that I did come home with Saul Bass designs. Then the disappointment set in that I only nearly found the full set of 16 designs. I'll have to settle for just 14 (and lots of duplicates, bringing the total to 35 covers). My new goal will be to find the last two. I could make my life easy and splurge on the $300 Ohio Blue Tip box, but that's not nearly as fun.

All the photos and scans in this post are from my one-time find at the flea market. I've included the duplicates because it is interesting to see how the color hues vary from one to the next (maybe just due to aging). Seeing all of these side by side, aren't they begging to become wallpaper designs?

For larger image at full size click here

March
13

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TOPIC / Exhibitions

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The House Industries Eames exhibition, virtual view

Link: http://www.picturebubbles.com/gallery/eames_03.html

Living in NYC, I was disappointed that I couldn't make it to the House Industries exhibit at the The Eames Office on March 11th, 2010 in Santa Monica, California. Blogger and type designer Josh Korwin "spherically" photographed the space and has kindly shared a virtual view of the Eames inspired experience online. (images shown here are screen grabs from virtual gallery view, best seen in original form).

Be sure to also check out the House Industries Eames font and object collection:

"House Industries presents the manifestation of our decade-long journey into the philosophical world of Charles and Ray Eames with the release of Eames Century Modern. The result of exhaustive research and tireless collaboration with the Eames family, this innovative new font collection and its accompanying objects honor the utilitarian, mirthful and beautiful tangents of the Eames oeuvre."

design:related

Karen Horton

Contact Karen Horton

Peter Buchanan-Smith talk at the Walker Art Center

"Printing the Eames Century Modern Catalog"

stop-motion animation for Icograda's Design Currency

vintage American Fabrics magazine, Spring 1951

The Type Directors Club's too sexy promo?

vintage-styled matchboxes designed just for music video

Print magazine's top "20 under 30" 2010

snail mail: Tad Carpenter illustration promo

vintage Saul Bass matchbook covers for Hunt-Wesson

The House Industries Eames exhibition, virtual view

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