WEEKLY EMAIL: JANUARY 27, 2012

FEATURED THIS WEEK : ADAM HARRISON LEVY

A History Of The World In 100 Objects

I've been told that our civilization will be known for our diaper landfills and our nuclear waste sites. Other fragments of our culture might survive as well: bits of Tupperware, mountains of lithium batteries or maybe the traces of our highway system. The foundation of a skyscraper might make for a breakthrough excavation but the islands of plastic bottles floating in the oceans may prove puzzling. Perhaps we will bury a cache of digital archives somewhere, to be deciphered one day like the hieroglyphics on an Egyptian sarcophagus.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : RICK POYNOR

In Response to An Anatomy of Uncriticism

Alexandra Lange has an interesting piece in the latest issue of Print about the sacred cows of graphic design. I was agog to hear what she would say about the field’s self-congratulatory ways and deep-seated reluctance to criticize sainted figures and celebrated institutions. Weirdly, though, she almost entirely sidesteps the issue. Most of the examples in her essay are peripheral to graphic design.
READ MORE

PLACES : MICHAEL LUNDGREN, AARON ROTHMAN & JOSH WALLAERT

If There Be Such Space

Photographers Michael Lundgren and Aaron Rothman share an interest in the perception and representation of natural landscapes, and they have ventured together and separately to some of the same places in the American Southwest. Yet their voices are clearly distinct. This slideshow, drawn from a collaborative exhibition at the University of Virginia, explores the convergence and divergence of two artists working independently to measure the space between the self and world.
READ MORE

FROM OUR SPONSORS

Being sustainable has never been so profitable. See how the country's most innovative companies are improving their bottom line by staying the course on sustainability. Look into Sappi's paper mills that are setting a new standard for environmental responsibility.
Find out more about Sappi here >>
Order a copy of eQ003 >>
Download a PDF copy >>

Learn to be a design critic through SVA's D-Crit program.Design as subject matter, criticism as a literary genre and the range of tools with which to practice design criticism.
Watch videos of presentations by the Class of 2011 >>
The D-Crit Program >>
SVA Website >>

OBSERVERS ROOM : ALEXANDRA LANGE

Married at Moss

The closing of Soho design emporium Moss marks the end of an era, one doomed, I suspect, by the flood of internet images and the ease of price comparisons. The only time I was able to enter the world of Moss was when I was spending other people's money, a.k.a. when I got married, and registered there. After that experience, I encountered many, many other designers who chose the same rite of passage, selecting their grown-up things from Murray's museum-like shelves.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA

Virtual Boring Agent

I've seen this Virtual Boarding Agent a couple of times now at Orly Airport in Paris. It's a life-sized, life-like, two dimensional human figure that talks pleasantly about liquids and gels. It's spooky, clever and very well executed — and most people seem to ignore it after a first casual glance.
READ MORE

PLACES : AUSTIN TROY

Thirsty City

The urbanization of the American West is the result of diverse factors, including global industries, transport infrastructure and sunny weather. But in this arid region one factor above all has empowered the growth of Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson — the importation of water. Environmental scientist Austin Troy assesses the massive infrastructure needed to move water long distances — and the massive quantities of energy that make it possible to take a shower in Southern California.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : MARK LAMSTER

Project Project Japan

Floating cities. Capsule towers. Buildings that mutate. A reimagination of the physical landscape. Such were the promises of the Metabolists, the Japanese avant-gardists who emerged as a phenomenon in 1960 and reached their apogee a decade later as cultural heroes. They are back again today, and in all their modular glory.
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY : JOHN FOSTER

Accidental Mysteries, 01.22.12

Accidental Mysteries, a weekly cabinet of visual curiosities curated by John Foster, highlights images of design, art, architecture and ephemera brought to light by the magic of the digital age.
READ MORE

OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA

Navy Yard, GradComD, Brown Bag, Hard Hat

My talks and encounters in the US next week are about design for life after the industrial growth economy. I hope to see some of you there.
READ MORE

BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

The place to go for the latest and most trusted information regarding sustainability in our industry.
eQ from Sappi >>

D-Crit: Design as subject matter.
Criticism as literary genre.
Learn at SVA >>

Mixel for iPad.
Download the world's first social collage app FREE >>

Jessica Helfand's book was a NYTimes book of the year.
Buy it here >>

AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE

Kurt Andersen

Kurt Andersen is an award-winning journalist, author and host of the Peabody-winning NPR program Studio 360.
Listen >>
More Design Matters Archive >>

CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE

Acumen Sexy Sanitation Challenge

Acumen Fund announces winners of its "Sexy Sanitation" challenge.
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE

Illusion of Certainty

Aesthetics & Wind Farms

Ray & Charles

PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2006

The State of City Planning Today

A veteran city planner and educator analyzes the anemia of U.S. planning, and detects signs of life in neighborhood activism.
READ MORE

CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES

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

RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED

Town Planning In The Netherlands 1800 - 2000
Cor Wagenaar

Bicycle Travel Journal
Nigel Peake

Design Things


WEEKLY EMAIL: JANUARY 27, 2012
FEATURED THIS WEEK : ADAM HARRISON LEVY A History Of The World In 100 Objects I've been told that our civilization will be known for our diaper landfills and our nuclear waste sites. Other fragments of our culture might survive as well: bits of Tupperware, mountains of lithium batteries or maybe the traces of our highway system. The foundation of a skyscraper might make for a breakthrough excavation but the islands of plastic bottles floating in the oceans may prove puzzling. Perhaps we will bury a cache of digital archives somewhere, to be deciphered one day like the hieroglyphics on an Egyptian sarcophagus. READ MORE
OBSERVERS ROOM : RICK POYNOR In Response to An Anatomy of Uncriticism Alexandra Lange has an interesting piece in the latest issue of Print about the sacred cows of graphic design. I was agog to hear what she would say about the field’s self-congratulatory ways and deep-seated reluctance to criticize sainted figures and celebrated institutions. Weirdly, though, she almost entirely sidesteps the issue. Most of the examples in her essay are peripheral to graphic design. READ MORE PLACES : MICHAEL LUNDGREN, AARON ROTHMAN & JOSH WALLAERT If There Be Such Space Photographers Michael Lundgren and Aaron Rothman share an interest in the perception and representation of natural landscapes, and they have ventured together and separately to some of the same places in the American Southwest. Yet their voices are clearly distinct. This slideshow, drawn from a collaborative exhibition at the University of Virginia, explores the convergence and divergence of two artists working independently to measure the space between the self and world. READ MORE FROM OUR SPONSORS Being sustainable has never been so profitable. See how the country's most innovative companies are improving their bottom line by staying the course on sustainability. Look into Sappi's paper mills that are setting a new standard for environmental responsibility. Find out more about Sappi here >> Order a copy of eQ003 >> Download a PDF copy >> Learn to be a design critic through SVA's D-Crit program.Design as subject matter, criticism as a literary genre and the range of tools with which to practice design criticism. Watch videos of presentations by the Class of 2011 >> The D-Crit Program >> SVA Website >> OBSERVERS ROOM : ALEXANDRA LANGE Married at Moss The closing of Soho design emporium Moss marks the end of an era, one doomed, I suspect, by the flood of internet images and the ease of price comparisons. The only time I was able to enter the world of Moss was when I was spending other people's money, a.k.a. when I got married, and registered there. After that experience, I encountered many, many other designers who chose the same rite of passage, selecting their grown-up things from Murray's museum-like shelves. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA Virtual Boring Agent I've seen this Virtual Boarding Agent a couple of times now at Orly Airport in Paris. It's a life-sized, life-like, two dimensional human figure that talks pleasantly about liquids and gels. It's spooky, clever and very well executed — and most people seem to ignore it after a first casual glance. READ MORE PLACES : AUSTIN TROY Thirsty City The urbanization of the American West is the result of diverse factors, including global industries, transport infrastructure and sunny weather. But in this arid region one factor above all has empowered the growth of Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson — the importation of water. Environmental scientist Austin Troy assesses the massive infrastructure needed to move water long distances — and the massive quantities of energy that make it possible to take a shower in Southern California. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : MARK LAMSTER Project Project Japan Floating cities. Capsule towers. Buildings that mutate. A reimagination of the physical landscape. Such were the promises of the Metabolists, the Japanese avant-gardists who emerged as a phenomenon in 1960 and reached their apogee a decade later as cultural heroes. They are back again today, and in all their modular glory. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : JOHN FOSTER Accidental Mysteries, 01.22.12 Accidental Mysteries, a weekly cabinet of visual curiosities curated by John Foster, highlights images of design, art, architecture and ephemera brought to light by the magic of the digital age. READ MORE OBSERVERS ROOM : JOHN THACKARA Navy Yard, GradComD, Brown Bag, Hard Hat My talks and encounters in the US next week are about design for life after the industrial growth economy. I hope to see some of you there. READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER The place to go for the latest and most trusted information regarding sustainability in our industry. eQ from Sappi >> D-Crit: Design as subject matter. Criticism as literary genre. Learn at SVA >> Mixel for iPad. Download the world's first social collage app FREE >> Jessica Helfand's book was a NYTimes book of the year. Buy it here >> AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE Kurt Andersen Kurt Andersen is an award-winning journalist, author and host of the Peabody-winning NPR program Studio 360. Listen >> More Design Matters Archive >> CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE Acumen Sexy Sanitation Challenge Acumen Fund announces winners of its "Sexy Sanitation" challenge. READ MORE OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE Illusion of Certainty Aesthetics & Wind Farms Ray & Charles PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2006 The State of City Planning Today A veteran city planner and educator analyzes the anemia of U.S. planning, and detects signs of life in neighborhood activism. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES Academic Programs >> Competitions >> Conferences & Events >> Fellowships & Prizes >> Organizations >> Programs & Initiatives >> Publications & Websites >> Social Networks >> RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED Town Planning In The Netherlands 1800 - 2000 Cor Wagenaar Bicycle Travel Journal Nigel Peake Design Things
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