Backward to the Future
All this has happened before. All this will happen again.
Design
B. Martin Pedersen Interview
Marty Pedersen isn’t stopping. The 74-year-old owner and creative director of Graphis Inc. has been publishing great design since he took the helm in 1986, and he has no plans of slowing down.
A Designed Experience: Raines Law Room
In the dim, quiet hours of morning she dressed for day with thought of the night ahead. Like the characters in old photos she is a vision of grayscale; black stockings, heels, and a voluminous dark gray skirt with a belted waist.
Ready Betty?
Betty had me from “hello.” A brilliant red manual transmission Audi TT Coupe Quattro with a distinctive aerodynamic exterior that would soon make my neighbors jealous. We had a little conversation, Betty and I, the day we met. She wanted to be mine.
As the proud owner of a TT, I had to significantly modify my [...]
What’s in Your Wallet
What’s in your wallet? I have just five cards—I like to travel light. An examination of these cards can become a narrative about the beholder. My MetroCard tells that I’m an urban dwelling public transportation user. A well-worn credit card and unworn ATM card (and lack of greenbacks) say I prefer credit over cash. My [...]
Syrup and Lemons
The most famous design stories of our century weren’t born for museum walls, but for retail shelves (and showroom floors). Much can be learned from examining two famous design icons—one great success and one magnificent failure. The iconic and unforgettable Coca-Cola bottle and the unfortunate Ford Edsel have become symbols of the best and worst [...]
Muji Madness
Muji’s “no brand” policy is being challenged. The problem is that Muji itself has become a brand. Walking through the store is a minimalist experience—unadorned practical commodities in limited color selections have become part of the store’s image. The logo’s bold English and Japanese lettering have become familiar to the consumer, symbolic of quality.
Originally called [...]
Orientation
If you live in a metropolis like New York City and use public transportation you know how easy it is to lose your orientation. You’re not lost, exactly. It just might take a minute while you get your bearings. On the gridded streets of New York, knowing which way is North is everything.
Above ground, finding [...]
Storytellers
I have fond memories of sitting in my parked car and listening to the radio program This American Life. The radio in my house didn’t get good reception. I would bring hot coffee and a blanket—and sometimes a friend—recline the driver’s seat and close my eyes for an hour of storytelling.
Real Fake Housewives
I love the Real Housewives of New York, it’s my guilty pleasure. What is it that’s so entertaining about botoxed socialities with never ending drama? With the most lavish parties, jaw dropping shopping sprees, and cosmetically enhanced beauty, these women paint a vivid picture of the upper echelons of our society.