swissmiss

quote on patience

“If you are consciously patient with people during the day, you will see more beauty.”

taken from Making Their Own Limits in a Spiritual Partnership, by Leslie Kaufman

critter front by craig frazier

Love this! Critter font by Craig Frazier. The O is so sad. Boooo hoo.

I am still alive

I had the pleasure to finally meet Dylan from Iamstillalive.net at today's Likemind. He gave me the above poster, which I can not wait to get framed! Thank you Dylan!

Little 1 | Written by Ann Rand | Illustrated by Paul Rand

Our little Ella has discovered the joys of counting to ten, the 'toddler freestyle kind' of counting. She has a tendency to skip 5 and 6 all together, but loves 8 and 9. I am wondering if "Little 1" might get her to embrace 5 and 6? Originally published in 1961, this beauty of a picture book was illustrated and designed by Paul Rand, one of the most influential graphic designers of the twentieth century. Ann Rand's text tells the engaging story of "Little 1" and his quest for a friend.

Like most 'designer moms', I love to expose Ella to wonderfully designed books. My favorite spread in "Little 1" is the one with the umbrellas. I like to believe that our umbrellas are having conversations when we are not around.

"Little 1" | Written by Ann Rand | Illustrated by Paul Rand

swissmiss exclusive: Hillman Curtis' latest movie: Lawrence Weiner

Hillman just walked over to my desk, pointing me to his latest movie, featuring Lawrence Weiner. How exciting to, yet again, have another exclusive HC sneak premiere! YAY! (you can't find it linked off his site yet)

Debbie Millman called Hillman to film this one - she originally wanted to have Lawrence on her "Design Matters" podcast, but he wasn't so interested in a phone interview. Since she had the opportunity to show up at Weiner's studio she asked Hillman along and it became a joint - Design Matters/Artist Series - production.

Fabulous! I think I'd like to see more collaboration happening between Debbie and Hillman!

you want minimalism? you got it!

Helvetica Film Bag.

raindrops

I just fell in love with this lamp by benjamin hopf & constantin wortmann. Oh my!

Owl Umbrella Stand

Owl Umbrella Stand

trays by angela adams

Tray by Angela Adams

(via cribcandy)

The Rise Of Contextual User Interfaces

The new interfaces are winning people over because they are based on usage patterns instead of choices. The key thing about new UIs is that they are contextual - presenting the user with minimal components and then changing in reaction to user gestures. Thanks to Apple, we have seen a liberating movement towards simplistic, contextual interfaces. But can these UIs become the norm? In this post we take a look at the rise of the contextual UI and ponder if they will cross the chasm.

The Rise Of Contextual User Interfaces, by Alex iskold

AMEN!

things to do with your kids in NYC

100 things to do with your kids in NY before they grow up

Life on Mars

“Life on Mars,” the 55th Carnegie International, is the latest exercise in handsome, measured, frictionless thoughtfulness. It may actually have more than its share of interesting art and poetic juxtapositions. Yet almost nothing happens. (Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Lombard-Freid Projects, New York)

(via jratlee)

The day there was no news

I agree with Chris, I could watch this over and over:

USA political election logos 2008 - 1960

All the American presidential election logos/bumper stickers since 1960.

(via chrisglass)

You say Tomarto....

Excerpt of JohnsonBanks latest 'thought of the week':

Here we are, 4 decades later, and things are a lot more complicated. In London alone you still have Müller-Brockmann devotees, but more for the ‘look’ of the Swiss style than anything else, a sort of Aesthetic Neo-Modernism rather than its more philosophical original form. Then you have another group of Closet Modernists who fall back on it in times of stress (or deadlines), dabble in ideas and might ‘play away’ from Univers and Helvetica every now and again (but only in an ironic way, you understand). There’s a whole group who wouldn’t know an ism from a schism but know a good grid when they see it – let’s call them the Gridnik Modernistas.

Read full post: You say Tomarto…

Phonesex The Book

Phil Toledano's latest project: Phonesex The Book

sciarpone | italian scarf-sweater-thingy

I *love* this italian scarf-sweater-thingy called sciarpone.

is asparagus superior?

(originally uploaded by BB))

what would you do on 'day four'?

In an ideal world, we could work for a living three days a week. On the fourth day we’d work on whatever we are drawn to, intrigued or fascinated by. Personal stuff. The work we do for love. Dayfour is a magazine of personal work by photographers and other creative people.

(thank you martina!)

Mshelving now available in all white...

... or with a touch or red, for the swiss in me. I am about to faint at the sight of this beauty. MShelving by Loadbearing.

question for my readers: what would you ask michael bierut?

Lovely Debbie Millman just emailed me with a fun request:

"I will be interviewing Michael Bierut at the HOW conference next week in Boston and he came up with an idea that I would like to undertake. He thought it might be fun to solicit questions from people *before* the interview via the design community blogs and I was wondering if you might be able to assist us by posting a "request for questions" on Swiss Miss.

I have interviewed Michael on Design Matters, and in my book (wherein he waxes sentimental about his passion for folding laundry), so the more inventive the questions, the better! (and the more personal!!!)
: )

In the request, folks can send the questions to designmatters@sterlingbrands.com"

So, lovely readers, if you could ask Michael Bierut ONE question, what would it be? Email it to Debbie and please also add it as a comment below.

ring ring magazine/book holder

*Love* this minimal free standing magazine rack, as well the wall mount version. This could look great next to a kids bed to hold a few books....

animal alphabet poster

animal alphabet poster by decoylab

color swatch book of nyc observations

Wonderful idea: color swatch book of nyc observations, by Julie Cloutier

cheat sheet collection

Julie collects her sister's cheat sheets and shows them on her site. Oh my, I wish I still had some of mine.

Apologies are like monsters:

They’re only real if you believe in them.

read all analogies to live by

Paul Rand on cows, Bodoni and relationships

Paul Rand on cows, Bodoni and relationships

come join me this friday at likemind!

who: people like you
what: an opportunity to enjoy coffee and conversation
why: because drinking good coffee with likeminded people is fun
where: At Retreat, 147 Front Street, Brooklyn, DUMBO
when: friday, may 16 at 8:30am

I'll be co-hosting this friday's likemind again in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Come and have a coffee+chat! Last months' likemind was a great success, as you can tell from the above images (thank you Daniel). Thanks everyone for coming out...

Planning on coming to this week's likemind? Leave a comment below!

UPDATE: I just received fabulous news from Noah and Piers, the masterminds behind likemind:

As a special treat for those of you in the US, rob walker (author of the new york times magazine "consumed" column and blogger at http://murketing.com) & random house were kind enough to supply early copies of rob's new book "buying in: the secret dialogue between what we buy and who we are"* (rob is brilliant and although we haven't read it yet, we're sure it's awesome.)

Coffee for US likeminds is on them as well. as usual, all you've got to do is show up, chat over some coffee and this time walk away with a free book.

design is thinking made visual

Winners of the What is Graphic design poster competition, 12th prize

It's not you, it's me

It's not you, It's me.