Observed | March 20
From Tristram Shandy to black holes, from Coco Chanel to Johnny Cash, from Francisco Goya to Mark Rothko:
Ten ways to look at the color black. [BV]
With storage spaces filled with works that may never be shown,
some museums are rethinking the way they collect art, and at least one is ranking what it owns. [BV]
Observed | March 19
In response to last week’s Christcurch mosque shootings, Meena Kadri teamed up with her former Māori language teacher Te Ataahia Castorina to compile a set of Māori words + English translations celebrating unity. If you learn and share 10 Māori words this week,
make it these. [BV]
Observed | March 18
Journey back to a time when serifs were Antique, sans serifs were Grotesque, and
extra bold faces were Fat. [BV]
“A six-year-old could have drawn that logo!”
Well, in this case, he did. (via
James I. Bowie) [BV]
Observed | March 15
Street art used to be the voice of the people. Now it’s the voice of advertisers. [BV]
Scientists have not kept pace with the work of discovering new species. Now, a growing number of committed hobbyists – ranging from a Belgian bus driver to a California cybersecurity expert – are out in the field, igniting a boom in
documenting the world’s biodiversity. [BV]
Observed | March 14
In a week where the transportation department is facing some of its most pointed criticism,
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao wants to speed the commercial adoption of untested technologies like driverless vehicles and hyperloops—without addressing the dramatic, necessary changes needed today. [BV]
In 1927, the Italian Futurist artist and designer Fortunato Depero created a monograph of his work unlike any book that had been seen before. Called Depero Futurista, or “Depero the Futurist,” it is also known as The Bolted Book, because it is famously bound together by two large industrial aluminum bolts.
And you can have an exact replica! [BV]
Observed | March 13
Olympic Games sport pictograms were first introduced at the Tokyo 1964 Games, and have been a part of the games ever since.
The Tokyo 2020 pictograms were designed by Masaaki Hiromura who “tried to express the dynamic beauty of the athletes through these pictograms, while respecting the legacy bequeathed by the pioneers of the Japanese design industry in their designs for the Tokyo 1964 Games.” [BV]
Observed | March 12
Our collective wisdom is perhaps one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments ... this is because people—no matter where they are, no matter from where they come—possess intrinsic curiosity, creative souls and inquiring minds. [JH]
Observed | March 11
Art powered by disability: ‘I fear being trapped in the statue of my own body, whilst my mind gazes out.’ [BV]
A grand collection of the tiniest of books — 950 of them — is now on display at the Grolier Club in New York City. [BV]
Observed | March 08
Neighborhood Golf Association, a new film from Nicolas Heller, highlights “Tiger Hood”, a NYC photographer who created a street version of golf to help pass the time while he sold his work. [BV]
Observed | March 07
Reckoning with design’s role in the production of more and more objects and more and more waste. [BV]
Net neutrality gets a power-up! [BV]
Observed | March 06
The Architecture & Design Film Festival returns to DTLA next Wednesday at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. 24 outstanding films are on the schedule. [BV]
‘A Sense of Place’ is a graphic art project that reveals how places can develop deeply felt strong identities and culture and includes an interview with the lovely Debbie Millman. [BV]
Observed | March 05
Out today from Penguin Random House:
Follow This Thread. A twisting journey through the world of mazes, real and imagined, unraveling our ancient, abiding relationship with them and exploring why they continue to fascinate us. [BV]
A
wildly popular mobile game allows users to decorate virtual spaces with real-life (and easily purchasable) furniture. It’s the future of advertising—but what does ‘Design Home’ say about the future of the people who play it? [BV]
Observed | March 04
The scion of a storied Amsterdam family rediscovered Rembrandt paintings that lead to
an art-world feud. [BV]
Artist Katie Holten has created a
New York City Tree Alphabet. (A is for Ash, B for Birch...) She’s encouraging people to download the free font and create tree messages that will be planted with live trees this spring. [BV]
Observed | February 28
A flip through
Playboy France reveals experimental layouts, an innovative use of typefaces, and, a design direction that can absolutely be described as “tasteful.”
It’s more about typography than titties. [BV]
Observed | February 27
Underwater photographer of the year awards announced. The winners don’t disappoint! [BV]
Observed | February 26
Saint Louis designers celebrate America’s 60th National Park through typographic focused posters. Type Hike, started by designers James Walker and David Rygiol, continue their type-focused collaborative nonprofit with their 5th installment, ARCH.
Vote for your favorite poster here through March 24. (via
John Foster) [BV]
Observed | February 25
An argument
against modern architecture. [BV]
When the %$#@! did we start to use obscenicons? Belive it or not, as early as 1901. [BV]
Observed | February 21
Science answers the age old question:
Why does a grape turns into a fireball in a microwave? [BV]
Observed | February 20
The Sunset Strip occupies a short stretch of Sunset Boulevard, but its reputation as a stomping ground of gangsters, glamour girls, rock stars and hell-raisers has held an oversized fascination for decades. Curbed LA dives deep.
Part One.
Part Two. [BV]
Should historic logos be protected in the same way as historic buildings? (via
James I. Bowie) [BV]
