Conference: Future of Design

It will be interesting to hear what comes out of the conference "Future of Design" that will be held at the University of Michigan in two weeks.

The presentations are free and open to the public. The speakers will present their views in 15-minutes segments. Following the Friday session, there will be dinner conversations moderated by faculty and students. All segments, including the round table discussion at dinner, will be available at YouTube starting Oct. 9-10 2009.

Conference Website

Masters of Design 2009

Fast Company magazine's October issue showcases Design. This is a good read for those looking for insight into the current world of who's demonstrating design leadership by "making things" happen.

Fast Company's Masters of Design

Architect: Allison Williams

The number of licensed black women architects is 0.2% which is quadrupled what it was 15 years ago.

Allison Williams is one of the few, and she is being recognized as the designer of the just opened August Wilson African American Center of Culture in Pittsburgh.

Article: The Number of Black Women in Arcitecture

Article: Behind the Curtain (August Wilson AA Center of Culture)

Design for the Developing World: PeePoo

The opportunity for designer to provide useful solutions to the developing world's problems is becoming more real each year.

Article on the PeePoo

PeePoo Website

Apps and Google Come to Washington

Google and a host of other companies are readying their organizations to support the efforts of the Obama administration initiatives to leverage technology to make government more efficient and reduce cost of operations.

Cloud computing, a model in which software is delivered over the Web rather than installed on individual PCs or local servers, is now being made available to governmental agencies. Apps.gov

NYTimes Article

White House Blog Posting

Wired Article: Obama's Chief Information Officer

Apple's Latest Product Upgrade

Apple has become so known for innovation in product design that the signficance of their announcements can be over looked.

As with the introduction last week of the Ipod Nano, which now includes FM radio and video/audio recording. The addition of these two features is a direct challenge to products like the popular Flip video recorder as well as all other mp3 players on the market. Which will translate for Apple into an increased share of the portable entertainment market.

Review of the New Nano

Design Conference: Icsid World Design Congress

It looks like Singapore is the place to visit come November if you have an interest in Design.





Icsid Conference Site

Singapore Design Festival Site

Graphic Designs: What's the Best Way to Signal Trouble?

Since its introduction the terror threat color code key had its detractors. In the video link here the rationale behind at least one designer whose believes it is ineffective at communicating its stated message at best.

Video: Discussion on Alert Symbols

A Different Kind of Design Firm: Project H Design

Project H is an different kind of design firm, more in how it is structured than in the projects it takes on, though they are unique in many ways.

This young firm, started in 2008, seeks to address humanity centered problems though leveraging the talents of designers dispersed throughout the world but anchored in local chapters.

Emily Pilloton, a product designer and founder of Project H, will have to shore up the organizational structure if the network of well intentioned designers is to sustain itself.

NYTimes Article

Project H Website

Metropolis Article

Typography: The NYTime's Style Magazine Covers

The power of a single type character to be made expressive is demonstrated in the covers of the New York Times Style Magazine.


Slide shows of "T" magazine covers:

Covers from 2009

Covers from 2008

Covers from 2007

Covers from 2006

Covers from 2004

Typography: IKEA Makes a Change

This Swedish based international furniture producer/retailer has decided to update its word mark and much of the respond has been less than flattering.

The switch from the type Futrua to Veranda was intended to improve online readability, you can decide (see the link below).

NYTimes Article

Samples of Before and After

Ikea's History