The World's Most Photographed Lady

Friday marked the 125th anniversary of the world's most photographed lady, Lady Liberty. Her formal name, the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886. After 125 years she is still a beautiful lady. To read more visit the National Park's Statue of Liberty National Monument.

(images via LOC.gov)

52x52

We all want to be "do gooders" and here is your chance at 52x52. Designed / developed by Jessica Hische this site allows you to give to charities at a dollar or less per week.

We’re not a charity, we’re a group of people committed to helping others. Every week, 52x52.org will highlight a different charity and call on you, those willing and happy to help others, to donate directly to that charity. Don’t feel like donating to one of the featured charities for whatever reason? No problem. Donate to a cause you love. The charities we’ll feature will be suggestions and since we are not collecting any money, you’re free to donate to whomever you wish. We’re a messenger, not a middle-man. If $52 is too much for you to commit to give, donate $25. If $25 is too much, donate $10. Give whatever you can, each and every week for one year, and together we will make a giant difference.

52x52.org has just begun gathering names of those pledging to help others. We’ll begin highlighting charities in November, so sign up now. If you don’t pledge by the initial launch date, no worries, pledge your own 52 weeks. It doesn’t matter when you start as long as you commit to finish.

Feel good and do some good.

A Thermostat for Today - Nest

Today homes need today's technology and this is where Nest comes to play. Founded by Tony Fadell who, back in the day, was in charge of the iPod at Apple, has developed and designed a thermostat that learns and saves you energy. The beautiful design is smart, easy to use and will save you energy. Nest found it "unacceptable... that the device that controls 10 percent of all energy consumed in the U.S. hadn't kept up with advancements in technology and design."

According to the U.S. Department of Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, the annual energy bill for a typical single-family home is approximately $2,200, with heating and cooling (HVAC) accounting for approximately half of the bill. The programmable thermostat, developed in the 1970s, promised to help people conserve energy, but 89 percent of owners rarely or never set a program (source: ACEEE, 2010). The devices are simply too complicated. In fact, Energy Star revoked its certification of all thermostats in 2009 when it became apparent that people weren't actually engaging with programmable thermostats to reach their proper functionality.

Nest addresses the programming problem through a combination of sensors, algorithms, machine learning, and cloud computing. Nest learns behaviors and preferences and adjusts the temperature up or down accordingly, making you comfortable when you're home and saving energy while you're away. Nest also provides people with tips and information to help them make energy-saving choices.

This is an excellent example of how design and function can come together to create a product the improves our lives. To read more visit the Nest site.

(via Core77)

Rum Diary Poster

I love this simple yet effective poster for the upcoming film, The Rum Diary. Trailers and background are available on the official website.

Grito de Dolores

Today marks Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores") also known as El Grito de la Independencia ("Cry of Independence"), uttered from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato on September 16, 1810 is the event that marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence and is the most important national holiday observed in Mexico. Enjoy the Mariachi and a margarita this holiday evening.

Historical Medicine

The National Library of Medicine has a vast collection of images all things medical of course. The image collection crosses over to cover items from around the world in illustrations, photographs, advertising and posters. The collection is another great inspiration site with many images that are copyright free from the government. Go for a browse and explore at this link.

National Archives of Inspiration

The National Archives has released a score of images that you can use for the most part copyright free. The images can be found at this link includes over 100,000 images with almost 20,000 categorized at this point. This images are a wonderful source of inspiration and examples of our history in times past.

Inkling by Wacom

This may just change how we work! Inkling by Wacom is a new system that lets you draw with a "magic" ink pen then download you images to your computer at a later time in vector or bitmap formats. You have to click on the video to experience what it will be able to do. The expected retail price is around $199 and if it works like it shows will be well worth the investment.

Andrew Zuckerman - Wisdom

Andrew Zuckerman, photographer and filmmaker, does a wonderful presentation at the 99% Conference titled, "On Curiosity, Rigor and Learning As You Go". There are many informative ideas that he expresses and he showcases some of his wonderful work.

Art of the Menu

The good folks at UnderConsideration have launched a new website, "Art of the Menu". The site features menus from establishments that you can review for design and layout. The site is just getting up and running but already has some great examples of good menu design. Check out this great new resource and be sure to submit great menus you have collected or created over the years.

Milton Glaser - Talks On The Fear of Failure

Milton Glaser – on the fear of failure. from Berghs' Exhibition '11 on Vimeo.

Enjoy this talk by the great Milton Glaser on the fear of failure as it relates to design.

Random Internet - Drew Carey's X-Ray

What is found on the internet daily still amazes me. This image is an x-ray of Drew Carey's separated clavicle. Thanks for sharing the image Drew. You can follow Drew on Twitter @TPIRhost. Drew, Heal up quickly and keep up the great job on TPIR.

Typography Video - Off Book - PBS

PBS has produced this video as part of its series Off Book. From the PBS site comes this description:

Type is everywhere. Every print publication, website, movie, advertisement and public message involves the creation or selection of a fitting typeface. Online, a rich and artistic typographical culture exists, where typefaces are created and graphic design seeps in to every image.

In episode 2 of Off Book, typeface designers Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones outline the importance of selecting the right font to convey a particular feeling. Graphic designer Paula Scher talks about building identity in messaging, while Eddie Opara uses texture to create reaction. Infographic designers Julia Vakser and Deroy Peraza map complicated data sets into digestible imagery, mixing color, graphics and type.

Spending TIme (Off)

It seems like Benjamin Franklin got it a little wrong when he stated, "'In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." I think we have to add to that "work". Work seems to consume us and tends to over take our lives. Luck for most of us, we are in a profession called design that we enjoy and well at times seems more like "play". But even though we enjoy designing 24/7 we need to spend time for us. Stefan Sagmeister, who I know truly loves to design, took time off for a year to charge his batteries and his skills to become a better designer. Now I know taking time off for a year would be wonderful but impossible for most. So how to you spend your time to become a better person along with becoming a better designer?

For one, turn off that computer and get out. Our off time is precious for most of us and I know the office will still be there when you get back. Turning off and refreshing can be for a day or several or more. Most of those emails can wait but if you have to answer a few don't let it take away from your mission, to enjoy life.

One way I have found over the years to revive that passion for design, family and life is travel-

Travel always comes to the top of my list. I make it a point to get "out of town" several times a year. These getaways range from a day at the zoo or art museum to a weekend to several weeks and from close to home to more distance road trips or flights abroad. One thing I have learned, if you don't plan it, it will not happen.

One of the places I have found that brings it all back into focus for me is our National Parks. A visit to someplace like Yosemite National Park will amaze your mind's eye and bring creative passion to your soul. A morning hike or a refreshing sit by a stream will work wonders. The vast history that your can explore in our parks will also amaze and put it all into perspective. You can also take advantage to observe one of the most successful design systems in our National Parks, the Unigrid System, originally designed by Massimo Vignelli.

John Muir wrote "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul."

You can find a National or State park nearby at this link to Oh, Ranger!

Go explore a city near or far. Plan a visit to their local art museum. Wonder around town and look at the architecture and signage. Explore a ride on Mass Transit (San Francisco's Cable Cars and a NYC subway ride are musts for everyone to put on your list). Explore new restaurants and let your taste buds be amazed by the local luscious eats. Remember to take in a show or music event to easy away the cares. Take creative photos that inspire and that you can use for your next projects. Need a new set of background textures for your stock, click away, and you will save a dollar instead of having to buy stock images.

Once you return refreshed, with plans already in progress for you next adventure, put your images together and self publish a book or decorate your walls at work. Share your experiences with friends and family. Everyone loves a great story. Reliving that adventure will go along way when the pressure is on.

I would love to hear what inspires you on your time off. Remember, spend time both wisely and carefree. In the end, its all about the roads you take in your life's adventure.

How Polaroid Film is Made

This past weekend I shot a ton of digital photos in San Francisco so it got me thinking of how it would have worked if I was using a Polaroid. How times have changed with digital but also how they have stayed the same. The Impossible Project decided to take on the responsibility of providing instant Polaroid film lovers their ‘must-have’ once Polaroid stopped making film and the process is explained in the above film.

(Via DesignTaxi)

Photo from San Francisco visit digitally processed to give it that vintage look.

The Lower Case A Adventure

The Lower Case A That Went on An Adventure by Conor O'Toole is a short that explain typography for the younger design crowd.

The Overworked American

As we start the work week check out this infographic from the good folks at Good on the Overworked American. Is it time for vacation yet? Enjoy your week.

Cereal Box Archive

With the retro look all the rage today, I wanted to pass along the Cereal Box Archive for your inspiration and research.

29 Ways to Stay Creative

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

A nice motion graphics by To-Fu on "29 Ways to Stay Creative".
(via Daily Design Discoveries)

Industrial Design Stamps

The United State Postal Service has recently released this series of stamps to celebrate the Pioneers of American Industrial Design. The stamps feature 12 designers and a work from each. The mid-century designers that where selected include:

Peter Müller-Munk
Frederick Hurten Rhead
Raymond Loewy
Donald Deskey
Walter Dorwin Teague
Henry Dreyfuss
Norman Bel Geddes
Dave Chapman
Greta von Nessen
Eliot Noyes
Russel Wright
Gilbert Rohde

From the USPS site:

The Pioneers of American Industrial Design (Forever®) stamp pane honors 12 of the nation's most important and influential industrial designers. Encompassing everything from furniture and electric kitchen appliances to corporate office buildings and passenger trains, the work of these designers helped shape the look of everyday life in the 20th century.

Each stamp features the name of a designer and a photograph of an object created by the designer, as well as a description of the object and the year or years when the object was created. The selvage features a photograph of the "Airflow" fan designed by Robert Heller around 1937.

Art director Derry Noyes selected the objects that appear on the stamps.

The Pioneers of American Industrial Design stamps are being issued as Forever stamps. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate.

To get your own copy of this exciting tribute go to your local post office or online.

I love the stamps and but only wish that the USPS would have included Eva Zeisel in the group. It would have been a fitting tribute to her and her beautiful work. Let hope the stamps are so successful that the USPS does another series in the very near future.

A Trip Down Market Street

60 Minutes had an interesting broadcast related to this film of "A Trip Down Market Street" in San Francisco shot days before the Great Earthquake of 1906. This original film gives us a glimpse into life at the turn of last century when cars where new and horses still pulled carts. I hope you enjoy.

Mesa Verde National Park

I experienced a recent visit to southern Colorado that included breathtaking vistas and historical architecture at Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde National Park, Spanish for green table, is rich in history and showcases the lives of Ancestral Pueblo people who lived in the area from 600 A.D. to 1300 A.D. The Ancestral Pueblo people build homes in the cliffs below the mesas. The structures are fabricated of stone and show the architectural prowess of these native Americans. The park has over 600 archeological sites that are cliff dwellings along with mesa top pueblos and towers. Keys sites to visit include the Cliff Palace, the Long House, and the Spruce Tree house. A hike down the trails leads you to buildings that will amaze not only due to there age but also the organization structures that make up these homes. I found this park to be a fascinating visit full of surprises and amazement. If you are in the area, take some time and enjoy this jewel of the National Park system.