The Windows of New York
Once again, Miss Moss has managed to stumble upon something extraordinarily cool! The fabulous Windows of New York project is the brainchild of NYC-based graphic designer José Guizar. He explains,
A product of countless steps of journey through the city streets, this is a collection of windows that somehow have caught my restless eye out from the never-ending buzz of the city. This project is part an ode to architecture and part a self-challenge to never stop looking up.
I’d love to see something like this for San Francisco or the East Bay! Get on it, designers! (I’m looking at you, Kel!)
Daily Dishonesty
I was reading Miss Moss the other day, as I am wont to do with utter abandon, and fell head over heels for this post on Lauren Hom. Lauren is a graphic designer living in New York City who started this kick-ass hand-lettered poster series (Daily Dishonesty) all about the little lies she tells herself on the daily. Such as:
You can purchase some of these prints over at her Society6 shop. Also, check out this step-by-step tutorial she made about her process. Inspiration much?
Which sayings resonate with you?
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Natalya Lobanova
Just discovered Natalya Lobanova, an artist who totally tells it like it is. I especially love the, “‘Today is the day I organize my life’ Nope’” one. Story of my life. Preach, sista!
(Natalya Lobanova via Booooooom)
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Money Money Money
ABBAAAA! Is it possible to read that one word (money, in case you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about) repeated three times and not break into song inside your head? Well, not for me anyway. Here’s a link to it for reference.
Back to the money pictured above! In 2010, Dowling | Duncan won the annual Dollar ReDe$ign Competition competition with this beautiful note design. Marvelous! The competition was founded in 2009 by New York based designer Richard Smith. Here’s why:
It seems so obvious to us that the ‘only’ realistic way for a swift economic recovery is through a thorough, in-depth, rebranding scheme – starting with the redesign of the iconic US Dollar – it’s the ‘only’ pragmatic way to add some realistic stimulation into our lives! [...] The American Dollar has not truly been redesigned since about the 1930s. The Dollar ReDe$ign Project is your opportunity to theoretically ‘change’ that. Yes, technically there are many limitations and complications when it comes to bank note design, but if the Swiss can do it on a regular basis, why can’t we North Americans too. Besides our great ‘rival’, the Euro, looks so spanky in comparison it seems the only clear way to revive this global recession is to rebrand and redesign. Why not ? It seems to work for everyone else …
Interesting logic. Though the competition is annual, design students and firms from across the land send in sets to the DRC website just for funsies. To see other sweet entries check out the ReDe$ign blog.
Also–fun fact–Dowling | Duncan is responsible for a bunch more awesome identity campaigns. Check out more of their work here. Or view it in person if you live in SF!
Little People
Oh NPR, how I thank you for bringing me the truly fantastic! Jean-Joseph Renucci, the Corsican designer behind these little people scenes, has helped me to see the random objects around me in a whole new light! The computer keyboard is an oddly shaped trampoline and this steaming mug of tea (Earl Grey, hot!) is a murky hot spring. Where can I find me some miniature men to put in this scenery?!
A bit about the history of this project:
When Jean-Joseph Renucci’s daughter was little, he would tell her stories about “les petits bonhommes verts” (little green men) who lived in the ceiling. They were responsible when a pen or a toy went missing, Renucci writes in an email. And, he says, “I admit I loved to imagine they were here for real.”
Soon after seeing the work of Slinkachu (which I highly recommend viewing!), Renucci was inspired to design his own little people landscapes. To see more of Renucci’s lp scenes, head on over to his site.
If you had the supplies what little people scenes would you make? I’m curious!
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Olympigraphics
In the spirit of the Olympic games, which I have not been watching because we don’t have TV here, I present to you Gustavo Sousa’s oceaniaeuropeamericaasiaafrica, a series of infographics that utilize the Olympic logo in order to highlight mild to extreme statistical differences between the participating nations.
As Sousa remarks in an interview with Jordan Kushins of Fast Company’s Co.Design,
The rings represent healthy competition and union, but we know the world isn’t perfect. Maybe understanding the differences is the first step to try to make things more equal. [...] I was reading about the logo one day and realized the colors represented the five continents, [...] It’s beautiful and elegant, and I thought I could make something out of that.”
The graphics will be on display in East London, via live projection, throughout the games.
(oceaniaeuropeamericaasiaafrica via Fast Company | Co.Design)
FUROSHIKI
I learned of furoshiki (Japanese cloth wrapping) awhile back and rediscovered these images today. As a kid I spent a lot of time doing origami (I folded about 400 cranes (trying to reach 1000) but eventually grew tired and stopped…ugg muffins) and furoshiki feels like a grown-up craft equivalent. Totally up my alley! One of my housemates recently bestowed upon me a beautiful Ghanaian textile that I plan to fold into a bag sometime soon. Learn some of the furoshiki techniques here. What would you make?
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MIRANDA JULY | AUTUMN DE WILDE
I’m baaack from a lovely Philly weekend and really liking this collage collaboration between Miranda July, Rodarte, and Autumn de Wilde for Tar Magazine.
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BITS & BOBS No. 6
Discovered Broad City this week (thank you Design*Sponge!) and dang are these ladies fine! A post featuring my favorite episodes will no doubt make an appearance soon. Want to laugh immediately? Watch this video and check out this picture.
Jenny Morgan‘s paintings are beautiful, haunting, and fierce. (via We Are Selectors)
The new Terrain store in Westport, CT looks b-e-a-utiful! My college graduation dinner last year was spent at the Terrain at Styer’s Garden Café in Glenn Mills, PA. It was one of the most beautiful dining experiences I’ve ever had. Which reminds me, I would love to go back before I leave the East Coast. Kelly, you down? (via Andrew+Carissa)
Alice Ferrow‘s illustrations are dynamite. See more of them over on her Tumblr. (via Brown Paper Bag)
I absolutely love Dabito’s photography. Check out his blog for interior design inspiration and more lovely images. (via Old Brand New)
FLYING FLEMISH
Flying makes me anxious, so on my plane trips I like to come prepared with distractions. Sodoku, 7 Little Words, a laugh-out-loud book, letter writing materials, and a movie are the most common weapons in my arsenal. Next time I might even try to emulate some of Nina Katchadourian‘s lavatory self-portraits…because pretending to look like a Flemish painting using toilet paper and other found objects is obviously the best distraction in the world!
The artist says of her work, which is cleverly titled Seat Assignment:
While in the lavatory on a domestic flight in March 2010, I spontaneously put a tissue paper toilet cover seat cover over my head and took a picture in the mirror using my cellphone. The image evoked 15th-century Flemish portraiture. I decided to add more images made in this mode and planned to take advantage of a long-haul flight from San Francisco to Auckland, guessing that there were likely to be long periods of time when no one was using the lavatory on the 14-hour flight. I made several forays to the bathroom from my aisle seat, and by the time we landed I had a large group of new photographs entitled Lavatory Self-Portraits in the Flemish Style. I was wearing a thin black scarf that I sometimes hung up on the wall behind me to create the deep black ground that is typical of these portraits. There is no special illumination in use other than the lavatory’s own lights and all the images are shot hand-held with the camera phone. At the Dunedin Public Art gallery, the photos were framed in faux-historical frames and hung on a deep red wall reminiscent of the painting galleries in museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
That last image gets me every time. Her hand!
