The Making of the Eames LCW Chair

For the most part, these processes are virtually identical to those developed by Charles and Ray Eames over 65 years ago.

But in very quiet but telling ways, is still guided by humans simply because the materials are natural and don’t lend themselves to automation.

Movie Scene: Fight Club

A short commentary on consumerism's psychological influence on how Ed Norton's character, Jack, reflects on  the objects in his apartment as a mirror into his identity. Spoiler alert: He was not successful.

But what do the objects that we acquire say about who we are?

Design Icon: Thonet Chair No. 14

The world's best selling chair when introduced in 1859 by Michael Thonet, a cabinet maker, was innovative in that it was made from machine-made and hand-made parts. Still in production 150 years later No. 14's consist of only six components. This first ready to assembly chair could cheaply and easily be shipped around the world. More than 50 million of these chairs have been sold.

Article: World Most Popular Chair

A Brief Interview with Architect David Adjaye

The international renown architect David Adjaye sits down for a Q and A with Time magazine. His work can be seen in the DC area, two recently opened public libraries and the planned Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (2015).

Marc Newson has a Book of on the Way

The breath of work produced by Marc Newson is truly amazing. The designer of this generation as impacted both the Art and Design worlds with some of his best known works. In the video below he discusses his forthcoming book.

Book: Marc Newson. Works.

Article: 10-minutes-with-marc-newson

What is an Open Ended Design Process?

3D model making is offering opportunity to include more input from clients and end users in the design process.

NYTimes Article: In a Shifting World of Product Design

The Passing of the Father of the Laptop

 Widely viewed as a father of the field of interaction design, a discipline that focuses on improving the human experience with digital products.A founding member of IDEO, a leading product design consultancy based in silicon valley. Bill, as he was affectionate called was recently appoint as director of the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum will be missed. R.I.P.
NYTimes Article: William Moggridge Dies

Interior Design: Designing Set for Televison

Anton Goss, 41, a Los Angeles-based set designer who’s carved out a niche designing sets for single-named daytime talk-show hosts, including Oprah, Tyra, Ellen and now Ricki. 

NYTimes Article: Designing Sets for Oprah, Ellen...

Video: Learning to See as a Way to Think

 Inge Druckrey has been teaching design for more than 40 years. But what she has really been doing is teaching people to see.
Inge Druckrey: Teaching to See from Edward Tufte on Vimeo.

Branding: Twitter

Twitter has dropped its wordmark for a blue bird.

Fast company

Designer Beats: Music that Inspires Creativity

When I think of the music that has inspired me this year Robert Glasper (Black Radio), Rebecca Fergueson (Heaven) and most recently Emeli Sandae (Our Version of Events) come to mind.

Exhibition: 40 under 40 - Craft Futures

The exhibition 40 under 40: Craft Futures investigates evolving notions of craft within traditional media such as ceramics and metalwork, as well as in fields as varied as sculpture, industrial design, installation art, fashion design, sustainable manufacturing, and mathematics. The range of disciplines represented illustrates new avenues for the handmade in contemporary culture.

Smithsonian American Art Museum Site

Design Exhibition: House and Home

The House & Home exhibition at the National Building Museum April 28, 2012 - May 1, 2017. This look at the American domestic life considers what 'home' means.Remarkable transformations in technology, laws, and consumer culture have brought about enormous change in American domestic life.

National Building Museum Site

The Architect and the Lost Art of Drawing

Drawing is fundamental to the architect/designer catching and communicating their visions. The tools have changed since the days of old, but now the computer is causing concern among purist in the field. Architect and the Lost Art of Drawing Drawings with a Purpose