Juana Gaita translates roughly as “the new course.” It’s the title of a Latvian periodical that was first published in 1955, and is still being produced today.

Take a tour of the wonderfully abstract covers from the the official Juana Gaita archives.

Credit for some of the finest in the collection go to Ilmārs Rumpēters, who served as art director for JG during the magazine’s most formative years.

Found via Grain Edit.

Check out this fantastic 2-minute spot from 72andSunny for Nike Football. There’s also a :60, but what’s not to love about a full ‘nuther minute? Extra credit to anyone who can name all the international cameos.

Makes me want to go out and kick something.

There’s an unmistakable smell – and a somewhat disturbing fascination – that accompanies the burning of plastic army men.

I’ve heard the stories of young girls who have mutilated and tortured their Barbie dolls over the years. But I haven’t found any documentation of young boys who do the same with their little green troops.

Now we have this. An alphabet. Made from melted, charred and otherwise horribly disfigured plastic army fellows. It’s glorious.

Just try not to linger too long on H, I, J and K.

Anyone who has explored stampkit’s stampworthy collection should be familiar with the eye-tasty wares of Amautalab, a world-class and thoroughly original animation shop out of Argentina.

Here is a new piece of work from them. It’s for the Tokyo.Now project, which describes itself as an “experimental program about new music and fresh visuals.” It’s actually the brainchild of Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo, which has been building upon the idea since 2003, along with their music label W+KTokyoLab.

Lots to look at. Take your time.

The traditional Hindu mandala form is very precise and symmetrical, representing an organizational structure of the cosmos.

Over the centuries, the idea of the mandala has been adopted by other Indian religions, including Buddhism. You may be familiar with the mind-boggling sand mandalas created – and then destroyed – by Tibetan monks. Performance art meets meditative expression meets whatever you do don’t sneeze, right?

Enter Mario Tauchi – and all the mandalas change.

They morph. They swim. They even seem to exfoliate their former skin like so many amoeba in a cosmic primordial stew. And guess what? Now you can color them yourself.

Check out Tauchi’s new compilation of ready-to-color mandalas from Trolley Books. Looking for more? Here’s a shot from a gallery of images from one of his live shows. And here’s a look at some of the pages from the book. Uncolored, of course. And sneeze-proof.

What’s next, indeed.

You might already be familiar with the fine illustration work from this duo. And if you’re not, you should be.

Now they’ve made the unlikely jump to baked goods and other assorted sweets. Unlikely, in that they’re work is unlike any you’re likely to see from your corner pastry shop. Or any other, for that matter.

My personal favorite? Chocolate bar DELUXE, of course.

Digital design culture – or subculture – just wouldn’t be the same without Carole Guevin’s take on it.

And her annual BOTY (Best of the Year) list makes it official. You’ll find great ideas along with great everything else in the broad category of interactive. And you’ll find things that you probably wouldn’t find anywhere else – like the take-g toy’s site (pictured).

But you won’t be able to take it all in at once. So do like I do and just bookmark it. Then go back whenever you need a push in the right direction. Or a kick in the pants.

It’s good for both.