trans-pecos love letters

desert adventure 2009 | el cosmico

american lens

mathew scott captures the essence of america in the 21st century. see more of his photos here.

design*sponge | biz ladies

woohoo! new piece on design*sponge on the basics of preparing presentations & proposals

Aim for White & Blue City Fancy

Photography by Brigitte Wolfgang Drejer. Represented by sisters agency in France, she has a whole category dedicated to *snow*

These selections are from her 'white' & 'city slickers' categories.

Sweet Air Sweets

Karina from el beso is also associated with Buenos Aires Pastry who makes these lovely things. The creations are innovative combinations of sweet, savory, salty - with such distinct color combinations. Que linda...

Peace Plates

On Mocoloco, they featured some designs from the Centre de Design at the Université du Québec in Montreal's school of design's year-end exhibition. This exhibition features the final projects from grad students in the Environmental Design program. 

The exhibition was entitled Poupées Russes (French for "Russian Dolls" or more commonly known as Matryoshka dolls) aiming to show the importance of layers in designs - and more broadly conceived, the interplay and interdependence on form & function; how these layers are inextricably tied to one another. 

The feature is fascinating and there are a number of excellent, inspired designs. My favorite is this dinner plate by Marie-Pier Rivard. Here's a snippet from Mocoloco about the design:

"Dinner plate for the elderly, disabled, by Marie-Pier Rivard. Taking on the task to improve the famous Manoy plate designed by Russel Manoy in the late 60s, the designer aimed to help without signaling, marking or even implying a person's disabilities: camouflage in tableware. The first step was switching the original oval design made of melamine to a more contemporary, common and elegant round ceramic dish. Though it keeps the vertically curved side wall designed by Manoy helping users pick-up difficult foods with only one hand, it now cleverly includes a slanted bottom to naturally set liquids on to one side, a groove under its rim facilitating handling, and finally an air-insulated double-wall which enables the safe manipulation of hot contents. Tutors: Patrick Evans & Katherine Lapierre."

I wasn't familiar with the Manoy plate. This is the original plate design (from MoMA's site) as well as its modern iteration which we all know from hospital, etc (...can almost smell it!) 

The newer version from Rivard has a sophistication to it that I really appreciate. It is adult and civilized while successfully addressing the needs of its user in a subtle, classy way.

Going Dutch - from NYT

Yesterday's article in the New York Times (first post from yesterday - just below) reminded me of an article from a few weeks back. It offers insight into what the perceived 'high' tax rates in European countries are comprised - what programs, initiatives and social support. Read the entire article {here}

Community Pedal Power

This feature today in NYT is so inspiring. It is a focus on Vauban, a town outside of Freiburg - close to the German/French/Swiss border. According to the article, almost 70% of the city's residents do not own a car and the city's streets are virtually 'car free.'

I'm going to take a visit to this city and check it all out for myself. Read the entire article {here}

Happy Cinco de Mayo

I'm celebrating with a margarita. Turns out, {Martha} can make a mean drink.

Public Space

Link to a very interesting article on Design and Diffusion about design development of furniture in public spaces.

Fence by Dutch design house Demakersvan

About Time

It's often the simplest things that are overlooked by design innovation. Katrina Allen and her team in Australia have concepted a discreet line of femme hygiene products that successfully addresses the monthly challenge of clean and secure tamponage transport. Products are available in a practical mix pack and they also offer a liner that is black - as opposed to the ubiquitous bleached white. I thought, why is it that they are white anyway? How clever indeed. Thank you smart people from De jour.

Play All Day

gestalten has a brand new book out called Play All Day. It features loads of imaginative designs inspired by the notion of play. die Baupiloten have a fantastic video about their contribution to the book (I can't embed....) Also featured is my design crush de jour, Marije Vogelsang.

Doo-Nanny Tomorrow

see butch anthony's site for updates and photos.

Maybe they are Squares

You may have seen this piece before. In 1974, young and brave Joshua Levitan, made his way into John Lennon's hotel room with a tape recorder and asked some insightful questions. Amazing moxy for a 14-year-old. First-rate illustration & animation