WEEKLY EMAIL: JANUARY 27, 2011

FEATURED THIS WEEK : ADRIAN SHAUGHNESSY

Down in the Trenches with Kenneth FitzGerald

It’s an odd experience to review a book in which you find yourself to be the recipient of a hearty kicking by the author. It’s even odder to find that you are full of admiration for the writer’s calm-eyed analysis of the design world. But I don’t deserve the kicking: more of this later.
READ MORE

PLACES : ALEJANDRO CARTAGENA

Fragmented Cities

In the past two decades Monterrey, Mexico, has grown very quickly, its growth fueled, as Places photography editor Aaron Rothman notes, "by the usual real-estate suspects: cheap land, the efficiencies of production home building, the easy availability of mortgages for low and mid-income families, the romance of home ownership, not to mention political corruption." For several years Monterrey-based photographer Alejandro Cartagena has been documenting the disappearing natural landscapes of the once small city of his childhood. Here we present a selection of recent work, curated by Aaron Rothman.
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY : CULTURE MAGAZINE: THE WORD ON CHEESE

A Collection of Cheese Labels

Our photo essay originates in England, circa 1957. It was there and then that a colorful package of cheese inspired one person (unknown) to start a collection of dairy labels, neatly organized in a scrapbook. His or her now-vintage collection — found orphaned on eBay — is a virtual journal of cheese branding in the mid-20th century.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : JESSICA HELFAND

When Do We Call it Art?

Back in the pre-Banksy days of big cars and even bigger hair, there came a cultural moment noted for its prevalence of large-scaled words and symbols, a comparatively brazen visual trope that flirted with modernity by celebrating overscaled visuals in the interest of commerce.

Back then we used to call it supergraphics. But when do we call it art?
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : ALEXANDRA LANGE

Objects Fall From the Sky

The question of credit is as old as the profession of industrial design.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA

I am Compost

Something special is happening in the France. A 73 year old Algerian-born farmer, philosopher and environmentalist is beginning to impact not just on the electoral process, but the culture of this resolutely human-centered, nature-dominating country.
READ MORE

CHANGE OBSERVER : ERNEST BECK

Mensch at Work

While it might be true that “pro bono projects remain the lesser-loved stepchildren of architectural practice,” this book suggests that a growing number of architects are starting to think otherwise.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : JESSICA HELFAND

Certificate of Approval

My father acquired this print (and several more like it) in a collection he bought from the estate of a friend in France: a certificate of approval for a pharmaceutical product, combining official stamps, labels, and signatures.
READ MORE

PLACES : KAREN PIPER

Dreams, Dust and Birds: The Trashing of Owens Lake

Beginning in 1913, the waters of Owen Lake, in the eastern Sierra Nevada, were diverted to supply the growing and thirsty metropolis of Los Angeles. Eventually the enormous lake dried up and became, as Karen Piper describes it, "a howling wasteland of toxic dust." Here Piper, who grew up near the lake, narrates the often misbegotten efforts of city and state to comply with federal laws and clean up Owens lakebed. But as she argues, years of ineffectual effort suggest "that the engineering ingenuity that had once made it possible to move the waters was unavailable decades later for the equally large-scale job of remediating the damage that had been done."
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA

Spaced Out in a Flat World

Tom Friedman's book The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century (2005) is filled with anecdotes about change in different parts of the world that threaten our fat-cat lifestyles in the North.
READ MORE

CHANGE OBSERVER : MARIA POPOVA

The Age of Coworking: Collaborative Consumption for the Creative Community

Communal workplaces offer a unique environment for what I like to call "creative restlessness": that distinct itch to contribute to the world typical of those who have chosen to make a living from their life's calling.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : RICK POYNOR

Discovered by Chance in a Paris Arcade

I was in Paris this week to talk about Surrealism and graphic design. What better way to pass a couple of spare hours before leaving than to pay a return visit to the covered arcades — forerunners of the shopping mall — that were, for the Surrealists, some of the best places in the city to encounter the marvellous?
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : CHAPPELL ELLISON

Ultraflo: Plumbing of the Future

It's not always easy to predict what consumers will buy into. But in some cases, the questionable future of technology appears in the form of a salesman at your door.
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY : JOHN FOSTER

Accidental Mysteries, 01.23.11

Welcome to Accidental Mysteries, a weekly cabinet of curiosities set aside for your perusal and enlightenment.
READ MORE

OBSERVER MEDIA : MICHAEL BIERUT

Michael Bierut on Clients

In January 2010, Michael Bierut gave a talk at CreativeMorning on the subject of clients.
READ MORE

BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE

Peter Buchanan-Smith

Peter Buchanan-Smith, founder of Buchanan-Smith LLC and the author of Speck and The Wilco Book.
Listen >>
More Design Matters Archive >>

CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE

Cards of Change

Unemployed workers retrofit their former business cards to send hopeful messages.
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE

10 to Redesign

On Process

Michael Bierut's Portfolio

PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 1989

Western Civic Art: Works in Progress

In 1989 Phoenix, Arizona, commissioned one of the first public art master plans. The city now has one of the strongest public art programs in the country.
READ MORE

CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES

Academic Programs >>
Competitions >>
Conferences & Events >>
Fellowships & Prizes >>
Organizations >>
Programs & Initiatives >>
Publications & Websites >>
Social Networks >>

RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED

Hide/Seek
Jonathan D. Katz & David C. Ward

Original Cartoon Title Cards
Fred Seibert & Eric Homan

Vector Basic Training
Von R. Glitschka


WEEKLY EMAIL: JANUARY 27, 2011
FEATURED THIS WEEK : ADRIAN SHAUGHNESSY Down in the Trenches with Kenneth FitzGerald It’s an odd experience to review a book in which you find yourself to be the recipient of a hearty kicking by the author. It’s even odder to find that you are full of admiration for the writer’s calm-eyed analysis of the design world. But I don’t deserve the kicking: more of this later. READ MORE
PLACES : ALEJANDRO CARTAGENA Fragmented Cities In the past two decades Monterrey, Mexico, has grown very quickly, its growth fueled, as Places photography editor Aaron Rothman notes, "by the usual real-estate suspects: cheap land, the efficiencies of production home building, the easy availability of mortgages for low and mid-income families, the romance of home ownership, not to mention political corruption." For several years Monterrey-based photographer Alejandro Cartagena has been documenting the disappearing natural landscapes of the once small city of his childhood. Here we present a selection of recent work, curated by Aaron Rothman. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : CULTURE MAGAZINE: THE WORD ON CHEESE A Collection of Cheese Labels Our photo essay originates in England, circa 1957. It was there and then that a colorful package of cheese inspired one person (unknown) to start a collection of dairy labels, neatly organized in a scrapbook. His or her now-vintage collection — found orphaned on eBay — is a virtual journal of cheese branding in the mid-20th century. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : JESSICA HELFAND When Do We Call it Art? Back in the pre-Banksy days of big cars and even bigger hair, there came a cultural moment noted for its prevalence of large-scaled words and symbols, a comparatively brazen visual trope that flirted with modernity by celebrating overscaled visuals in the interest of commerce. Back then we used to call it supergraphics. But when do we call it art? READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : ALEXANDRA LANGE Objects Fall From the Sky The question of credit is as old as the profession of industrial design. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA I am Compost Something special is happening in the France. A 73 year old Algerian-born farmer, philosopher and environmentalist is beginning to impact not just on the electoral process, but the culture of this resolutely human-centered, nature-dominating country. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : ERNEST BECK Mensch at Work While it might be true that “pro bono projects remain the lesser-loved stepchildren of architectural practice,” this book suggests that a growing number of architects are starting to think otherwise. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : JESSICA HELFAND Certificate of Approval My father acquired this print (and several more like it) in a collection he bought from the estate of a friend in France: a certificate of approval for a pharmaceutical product, combining official stamps, labels, and signatures. READ MORE PLACES : KAREN PIPER Dreams, Dust and Birds: The Trashing of Owens Lake Beginning in 1913, the waters of Owen Lake, in the eastern Sierra Nevada, were diverted to supply the growing and thirsty metropolis of Los Angeles. Eventually the enormous lake dried up and became, as Karen Piper describes it, "a howling wasteland of toxic dust." Here Piper, who grew up near the lake, narrates the often misbegotten efforts of city and state to comply with federal laws and clean up Owens lakebed. But as she argues, years of ineffectual effort suggest "that the engineering ingenuity that had once made it possible to move the waters was unavailable decades later for the equally large-scale job of remediating the damage that had been done." READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA Spaced Out in a Flat World Tom Friedman's book The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century (2005) is filled with anecdotes about change in different parts of the world that threaten our fat-cat lifestyles in the North. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : MARIA POPOVA The Age of Coworking: Collaborative Consumption for the Creative Community Communal workplaces offer a unique environment for what I like to call "creative restlessness": that distinct itch to contribute to the world typical of those who have chosen to make a living from their life's calling. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : RICK POYNOR Discovered by Chance in a Paris Arcade I was in Paris this week to talk about Surrealism and graphic design. What better way to pass a couple of spare hours before leaving than to pay a return visit to the covered arcades — forerunners of the shopping mall — that were, for the Surrealists, some of the best places in the city to encounter the marvellous? READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : CHAPPELL ELLISON Ultraflo: Plumbing of the Future It's not always easy to predict what consumers will buy into. But in some cases, the questionable future of technology appears in the form of a salesman at your door. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : JOHN FOSTER Accidental Mysteries, 01.23.11 Welcome to Accidental Mysteries, a weekly cabinet of curiosities set aside for your perusal and enlightenment. READ MORE OBSERVER MEDIA : MICHAEL BIERUT Michael Bierut on Clients In January 2010, Michael Bierut gave a talk at CreativeMorning on the subject of clients. READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE Peter Buchanan-Smith Peter Buchanan-Smith, founder of Buchanan-Smith LLC and the author of Speck and The Wilco Book. Listen >> More Design Matters Archive >> CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE Cards of Change Unemployed workers retrofit their former business cards to send hopeful messages. READ MORE OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE 10 to Redesign On Process Michael Bierut's Portfolio PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 1989 Western Civic Art: Works in Progress In 1989 Phoenix, Arizona, commissioned one of the first public art master plans. The city now has one of the strongest public art programs in the country. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES Academic Programs >> Competitions >> Conferences & Events >> Fellowships & Prizes >> Organizations >> Programs & Initiatives >> Publications & Websites >> Social Networks >> RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED Hide/Seek Jonathan D. Katz & David C. Ward Original Cartoon Title Cards Fred Seibert & Eric Homan Vector Basic Training Von R. Glitschka
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