The wonderful Alexandra Lange has invited me and two of my peers — Angela Riechers and Molly Heintz — to speak on a panel about architecture writing. As someone who finds architecture to be the most difficult topic to tackle within the confines of the written word, this should make for an interesting evening. I’m looking forward to proudly sitting next to three women I respect as professionals and humans!
Thursday, May 10, 7:00 p.m. @ The Van Alen Books
In 2008, President Obama’s campaign revolutionized the role of graphic design in American politics. Using a contemporary typeface and bold logo, Obama’s campaign presented an cohesive brand that struck a bold contrast with his opponent’s traditional typefaces and visuals.
The same lesson about the importance of unique branding was made clear the hard way in the years leading up to last week’s parliamentary elections in Myanmar, where political parties traded accusations of copying each others’ logos. Because the country was under military rule for the past 50 years, the election was only its third since 1962. And with such a sparse political history to draw from, parties chose to use symbols that would be instantly recognizable to residents who weren’t familiar with the electoral process. While politicians hoped that approach would them develop loyal followings, it backfired when many of the parties chose extremely similar symbols. Factor in that 9 out of 17 parties include a form of the word “democracy” in their name, and the result was a political mess.
Read the rest of my article at GOOD.
I’m beyond excited to speak at my alma mater, the University of Texas. I’ll be talking about my own adventures and career beyond UT, and about the importance of writing in the field of design. I predict some laughs, some hugs and maybe a few tidbits of knowledge, all wrapped into one evening.
People say that the Internet is to blame for today’s decline in the quality of journalism. I say inane, meme-worthy journalism has always been with us. The above image is an article from Popular Science, July 1960.
Illustration of the Horticultural Hall at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.
While some hail Nike’s new shoe as the “future of footwear,” others aren’t convinced that the Flyknit is anything more than a gimmick. For a large company like Nike, co-opting the terminology of a handcraft evokes a warm cozy feeling that offsets the technical jargon also used to describe the shoe. Instead of the actual process — a factory filled with mechanical weaving machines — we imagine a room full of grandmas, humming as their knitting needles produce the fabric used in each shoe. One commenter on the FastCo article claims that this is no different than toilet paper companies who claim their products are “quilted.”
Read the rest of my post on The Etsy Blog.
IT WAS EXCELLENT.
The above images were created through Processing, an open source, electronic sketchbook that truly simplifies programming to a level that even I could understand. Though these sketches are extremely n00b level, the excitement of producing visuals through strings of code is without compare. I highly recommend taking Jer Thorp‘s day-long workshop, where you not only learn about Processing, you get an incredible view of the Manhattan skyline and the company of an adorable dog named Trapper.
When Kim Dotcom was arrested over the weekend for operating the illegal file-sharing site Megaupload, he was found in a fortified safe room of his New Zealand mansion protected by his gun collection. As authorities continued the raid on his property, they seized millions of dollars worth of personal property, including a collection of 18 luxury automobiles. In a detail that has delighted followers of the Dotcom story, each car featured a personalized license plate, each inscribed with a single bold word: “EVIL,” “GOOD,” “GOD,” “STONED,” “CEO,” “MAFIA,” “HACKER,” “GUILTY.”
The vanity plates fit in perfectly with Dotcom’s image as a wealthy mastermind villain. That association has been forged through decades worth of films in which custom plates often mean the bad guy is rolling in.
Read the rest of my article on GOOD.
When the Toronto Raptors hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers last week, television audiences may have noticed what appeared to be a huge sandwich board resting at each baseline. It looked like a 7-footer would miss a layup and go crashing through one of the signs at any moment. Then, early in the game, a referee walked straight through one of the signs, and TV viewers realized they were viewing an optical illusion. To the announcers calling the game, the Toronto’s win was overshadowed by the Raptors becoming the first North American basketball team to use a 3-D graphic on its court.
Read the rest of my article on GOOD.
I write articles and essays about design and culture. Sometimes my writing is humorous, though that isn't always intentional. I studied design criticism at the School of Visual Arts, where, amongst other thing, I wrote about the carpet patterns of movie theaters. I currently reside in Brooklyn, New York, next to an above-ground subway track that is always under construction.
Happily committed to my desk-free, freelance practice, I also write and edit publications for individuals and companies who seek to communicate their research and methodologies to a broader audience.
Lead Contributor for The Etsy Blog
Design Columnist for GOOD