I think we can all agree that Jessica Hische is a pretty big badass in the hand-drawn type world. If you’ve been following her Daily Drop Cap blog (since 2009) you’ll be just as excited as I am to know that Hische has partnered with Penguin’s art director, Paul Buckley, in the eventual release of a series of 26 hardcover classics. Each book will feature a drop cap unique to the series, the first six of which will go on sale November 27th. I love the gradient that’s apparent in these first releases and I hope it continues on throughout the series. And yes, I’ll need every last one so it’s a good thing they’re available for pre-order right here.
How sexy would Kristine Five Melvær’s Tint room divider be in the corner of a loft as a changing area? They’re inspired by curtains left to flutter in the breeze and question the amount of shield needed to define a space. (via Dezeen)
As a blogger opportunities occasionally come along that are so unbelievable that you literally stop and say out loud to yourself, “Do they have the right person?” And that’s exactly what happened when I was asked to be a member of Electrolux Design Lab‘s jury for their 2012 global competition taking place in Milan, Italy October 25th.
This year marks the competition’s 10th anniversary and challenged contestants to come up with a new and exciting way to engage our senses. The ultimate goal was to draw inspiration from professional experience creators (chefs, architects, interior designers, hotel designers, etc.) to design home appliances that will provide a fuller sensory experience. No small feat.
Ten finalists, who are industrial design students or recent graduates, have been invited to present their concepts to the four-person jury of Henrik Otto (Senior VP of Design for Electrolux), Davide Oldani (founder and chef of D’O Restaurant in Milan, Italy), Dante Donegani (Director of MA in design Domus Academy Milan, Italy), and myself. We’ll be judging the designs based on intuitive design, innovation, aesthetic qualities and consumer insight. First prize is a six-month paid internship at an Electrolux global design center and 5,000 Euros. A second prize of 3,000 Euros and third prize of 2,000 Euros will also be awarded. Not too shabby, right?
You can read full descriptions of each finalist on the Design Lab site, as well as see the list of 30 finalists before they were narrowed down. Stayed tuned for more up-to-date information as judgement day rolls closer!
In celebration of Venice’s Biennale, artists Julius von Bismarck and Julian Charriere dyed the city’s pigeons in order to change their dirty bird perception into something of beauty. Yup, that’s the right. The birds were spray-painted with a specially formulated non-harmful dye. I’m still on the fence about the ethics of this project, but assuming no birds were harmed in its creation the results are definitely breathtaking. (via The Fox Is Black)
These moveable wooden dolls by artist Claire Oswalt are like paper dolls on steroids! The muted tones and light illustrating hand make you really focus on the shapes presented. And I’m so happy she went with multiples in the pieces. One would still be incredible but when grouped they almost take on a semi-creepy clone vibe which I love. (via the Jealous Curator)
