The Blog of Lynne Door

Axel is profit

2012-02-22T06:40:00.000-08:00

This post might just intrigue the left brainers. That's right. If you live and breath spreadsheets, this is exciting news. FontShop released a brand new typeface (well, it was released in 2009 at TYPO Berlin and I just discovered it), by master typographer Erik Spiekermann. The Axel font is an economical, highly legible font family optimized for on-screen use in office apps and none other than Microsoft Excel. Why a special font for spreadsheets? I'm glad you asked. Here's the answer...

via Font Shop website: Surveys have shown that multi-functional applications, such as Excel, are used for many more types of projects than just budgeting and bookkeeping. Users input words instead of numbers in over 90% of the cells. And the columns are usually too narrow for those words. Widely-used system fonts like Arial, Verdana and the likes either take up too much space or they are hard to read (i.e. Arial Narrow). With Axel, FontShop has created a typeface that is narrow without looking “condensed”.

And what's special about Axel is less its aesthetic refinement for the reader than its usefulness to people who work at monitors every day. And here's why;

Similar letters and numbers are clearly distinguishable (l, i, I, 1, 7; 0, O; e, c …).
Increased contrast between regular and bold.
Style set linking for Office applications (bold key).
Small caps instead of italics for emphasis.
High legibility on the monitor via “ClearType” support.
Good complement of numbers (superscript, subscript, fractions…).
Real WYSIWYG in Microsoft Excel.
Pleasing look on paper.

You can purchase Axel font family here at FontShop for only $79.90. That's a bargin comparative to what you might or might not see on those spreadsheets!

Images from FontShop website.

Photo of the week

2012-02-20T06:15:00.001-08:00

San Clemente, CA. At the dry cleaners I go to, the display of thread spools on the wall looks so cool. Thankfully, I don't go very often, working from home allows one not to dress up often and only for meetings. But when I do go for the occasional cleaning, tailoring or fix-it, I love how you can tell a lot from the spools that are used most what kind of fashionable colors we're all wearing. Hot pink? Not so much.

Brand dieting

2012-02-18T07:18:00.000-08:00

It comes as no surprise that brands are on a diet. New brands, including some old brands, are scaling back and getting even more minimal. The less is more concept has reached new heights and not just because it needed to, but because it had to out of necessity, quite possibly from the wrath of the Great Recession. People no longer want or need useless extras, which is a refreshing change if you ask me, and the way life should be. Isn't it amazing what we really can live without?

All of this carries into the packaging world. Simple, clean and functional are all the rage. Ah, Apple anyone? But the brand I'm currently admiring most, is the simple, two-tone identity from the U.K. co-op called The People's Supermarket. Opened in 2010 in London, the small volunteer-run supermarket is a communal, friendly, local, cheap and democratic market that has its own no-frills, no-spin packaging line in a bright cheery yellow and white palette. Local produce at fair and affordable prices and a community coming together and taking charge of the food they buy and eat? Brilliant!

Here's a little minimalist brand overview from the great folks at GOOD.

Image from The People's Supermarket website.

Dreaming of doors

2012-02-18T06:51:00.000-08:00

This week I found myself dreaming of doors. Not just any doors though... the Dutch door. There is something so welcoming, cozy and functional about Dutch doors. How I would adore a small studio or cottage with a Dutch door!

Images from Content in a Cottage, Country Home, Shell and Seaglass, Solstice Home and Apartment Therapy websites.

Edible typgraphy

2012-02-15T06:03:00.000-08:00

Here's what I want to know... who does this stuff? I love to see when people create edible typography. Like these Helvetica cookies for example. And now, edible gelatin typography. But these are much too colorful and fun to eat!

Image from Morning website.

A walk in the park

2012-02-14T17:51:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of the amazing Saul Bass, then read this. Today, the highly anticipated reissue of his classic kid’s book was released and it's gorgeous! Henri's Walk to Paris is delightful and surely a book every kid, both young and old, will enjoy. Purchase a copy at Amazon or through the publisher Rizzoli/Universe.

Images from Grain Edit website.

Happy Hearts Day

2012-02-14T06:36:00.000-08:00

As always, here's a great infographic of Valentine's Day from the team over at Column Five.

I'm actually not a big Valentine's Day gal, it's quite a waste of money in my mind. Here's the truth, if you have love to give, let the special people in your life know you love them each and every day! Life's too short not to!

Click the image for a larger view.

Image from Column Five website.

Handmade hearts

2012-02-13T19:39:00.000-08:00

For those of you looking for a cute, handmade (and very last minute) Valentine, here's an adorable project from Danyelle over at Dandee Designs. Hearts Stitched Together comes with an easy pattern, all you need is some paper, red thread and a needle. Get all the goods here. Your Valentine will love you for it!

Images from Dandee website.

ZeBar dizzy

2012-02-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

This is the coolest interior dar design I've seen in awhile. The ZeBar, a recently opened music bar in Shanghai with impressive interior space and a live music venue, was designed by 3gatti, led by Italian architect Francesco Gatti and has offices in both Rome and Shanghai.

Reminiscent of an op-art painting, the design of Zebar was inspired by 3D modelling and encompasses sequential parallel black-and-white plasterboard slices which have been meticulously cut by hand. So not only is the actual bar unique, but how it was installed is too. Read on...

via The Fox is Black site; The project is a pretty straightforward construction of a computer modeling operation. The designers made an amorphous shape, and subtracted that shape from a series of parallel solid walls that fill the project’s boundaries. The effect of the stripes is very graphic and bold. One curious fact about the bar’s construction highlights a difference between construction norms in Europe and China. According to Francesco: “In Europe the natural consequence of this kind of design will be giving the digital model to the factory and thanks to the numeric control machines cut easily the huge amount of sections all different from each other. But we were in China where the work of machines is replaced by the work of low paid humans. Using a projector they placed all the sections we drew on the plasterboards and then cut each of them by hand.”

I found this interesting too... via Daily Tonic website; From the architect: ‘This project was born in 2006 when a Singaporean movie director and an ex musician from south of China decided to open a live bar in Shanghai. The budget was very low but the client was incredibly good and open-minded to us. The schedule was very tight and fortunately they immediately liked one of the first concepts I proposed to them: a caved space formed from of a digital Boolean subtraction of hundreds of slices from an amorphic blob."

Fair warning, after a few drinks, this place could be disastrous when you get up to leave!

Photos by Daniele Mattioli from Daily Tonic and The Fox is Black websites.

Appealing apparel?

2012-02-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

A little shocking? Sure. Vulgar? Perhaps. Sexual? Umm.... okay, dumb question. I'm not sure these recent American Apparel ads would make me scurry out and buy their wares, but hey, I'm not really in their demographic anymore. I was however when Benetton was producing provocative ad campaigns and didn't buy anything back then even. Guess I'm just not a trampy gal hoping to be on my knees.

But American Apparel makes no bones about it and has this statement on their website, "For nearly a decade, American Apparel's provocative ads have been at the forefront of our worldwide success, always standing out from our peers." Standing? Shouldn't that say kneeling?

Thanks to Steven Heller and Mirko Ilic for the heads up.

Images from Daily Heller website.

Baseball heroes

2012-02-11T07:06:00.000-08:00

The Bailey Lauerman design agency of Nebraska recently completed these extraordinary posters to promote Kansas City Missouri’s Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. As a baseball fan, I find them visually stunning and intelligent... and they have a profound message on the real heroes of baseball.

via CommArts website: Singing the praises of these unsung heroes, the messages turned a spotlight on the courageous athletes who played not for fame or money, but because they loved the game. The museum and this campaign ensure that their contribution to baseball, to civil rights, and to our country’s history will never be forgotten.

Images from CommArts website.

Slate lunch

2012-02-10T11:48:00.000-08:00

Wishing I was having this kind of lunch right now. Of course, it would be even better served on a very sleek piece of slate like the one in the photo from the Brooklyn Slate Company! Very cool products and story on how it all got started. Read it here.

Image from Brooklyn Slate Co. website.

The new urban kiosk

2012-02-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

This you've got to see and touch! The completely re-imaged kiosk is from New York City-based Urbanscale, who work to improve the quality of urban life and make "cities easier to understand, more pleasant to use and live in, and more responsive to the desires of their inhabitants."

Urbanscale teamed up with Helsinski-based Nordkapp, to create new kiosks called Urbanflow, which act like a giant iPad for the urban dweller and provide layers of wayfinding data. Not only can it map the way from point A to B, but you can find local services, "ambient" city data on air quality, traffic density, parking, cycling, public transport, and get feedback on faulty streetlights or even vandalism.

via CoExist website: Sami Niemelä, Nordkapp’s creative director, says the system is not only designed to be useful, but also "playful," encouraging people to use it. He also wants to change behavior, making people more aware of their environment.

These amazing data centers might hit Chicago very soon, but I'm sure we'll find them in every major city around the world in no time. Read more about these incredible kiosks on Co.Exist here.

Images from Co.Exist website.

Moving Helvetica

2012-02-09T09:37:00.000-08:00

Of the five posters designed by Brighten the Corners for the Faculty of Design in Darmstadt to promote various lectures, screenings and workshops, this is my absolute favorite! BTC is an independent, multi-disciplined design and strategy consultancy with offices in London and Stuttgart that produces smart, clean design. I believe this is a letterpress poster for the screening of Gary Hustwit’s documentary Helvetica and was awarded at the Art Directors Club Germany. And how about that pink? Just fabulous. See more of their spectacular work here.

Image from Brighten the Corners website.

Photo of the week

2012-02-06T13:58:00.000-08:00

Milan, Italy. Today's beautiful architectural shot is from Poland-based Piotr Kulczycki, who runs the web design firm Crafton, but who also spends a lot of time traveling about with his camera in hand documenting some of the worlds most exotic locales over at World In My Lens. The shot above taken in Milan is moody and elegant, and he's got more where that came from. Check out his gallery here, and click on 'Full Sets', you'll be amazed at the places he's taken his camera!

Image from Piotr Kulczycki website.

Good beer, no shit

2012-02-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Sunday it is, and what better a post then something about beer. And yes, you read that title correct. It's actually the tagline of Maryland's largest brewery, Flying Dog Brewery and they recently rolled out new packaging to better reflect Gonzo artist Ralph Steadman's original work on Flying Dog package designs. Almost a year in the making, the redesign included crown caps, labels and six-pack carriers. They're pretty cool and eye-catching... you won't miss these in the beer section! Even if you don't actually buy the beer, the packaging is definitely worth a stop to admire.

via CommArts: The project began with a thorough examination of the original, chaotic, intricately-detailed art created for Flying Dog by Steadman—distracting from it would be an injustice. The redesign began with the labels because of their smaller surface area, which required more detail from a regulatory standpoint; from there, Steadman’s art was allowed to run wild on the bigger space of the six-pack carriers. A matte finish stock was chosen over the existing glossy finish, to provide the watercolor paper feel of the original art, and less saturated paper colors preserve more of the textured elements of the originals. The old caps were bright blue and purple and a fun pop of color, but totally detracted from the art; to complement the packaging, the new caps are gunmetal gray with black lettering and black with silver lettering.

In the words of Flying Dog, 'Good people drink good beer'.... and have good design!

Images from CommArts website.

Movie as type

2012-02-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

These typographic movie posters by Stockholm Sweden-based Patrik Svensson are brilliant! He uses very little type to convey the plot quite cleverly. See more of his clever movie posters here.

Images from Patrick Svensson website.

Every thing is experience

2012-02-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

I chose this as for my signed 5x7 digital print from Chris Piascik's daily drawings and I can't wait to receive my book!

A little background on the quote itself via Chris' website: Paula Scher has always been a huge inspiration for me. It’s pretty obvious that her work has influenced much of mine. Today I came across a really great video of Paula discussing some of work and process. One of the parts that I really liked was when she talked about how the time/cost ratio isn’t always accurate for coming up with design solutions.

“It’s problematic because a lot of clients like to buy process and they think they’re not getting their money’s worth like I solved it too fast…..

….it is done in a second. It’s done in a second and thirty four years…
it’s done in a second and every experience and every movie and every thing of my life that’s in my head.”

Like Chris, I too find Paula impressive, inspirational and profound. I blogged about her new book, MAPS here, check it out!

Image from Chris Piascik website.

Cornwall via infographic

2012-02-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

Here's a beautiful infographic for the day. Cornwall by Design was created by London-based MultiAdaptor and is part of a brand development for Dott Cornwall, whose mission is to help designers engage the public with a 10-year program of national, design-led initiatives that bring lasting economic and social benefits across the UK. Like promoting local produce, reducing ecological footprints, creating eco-friendly playgrounds, helping 50+ people find work and many more. Read more about their wonderful projects here.

The mission of Dott (which stands for Designs of the Time): We believe that great design can bring about lasting benefits for the people of Cornwall. With world class design thinking we are running a series of practical projects to explore how design can help create a more sustainable and inclusive society.

It's an inspiring organization that needs worldwide outlets, every city needs one!

Image from Vizualize website.

Two of a kind

2012-02-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

Art and surf. These aren't necessarily the things you'd put together if you were thinking architecture. But Steven Harris of Steven Harris Architects likes to consider architecture based on routine, the way people live everyday and customizes living spaces that are highly functional. Like his design for this surfside residence in Montauk, Long Island.It makes for stunning space that functions beautifully both inside and out.

via Design Bureau site: The house’s design smartly and efficiently divides the living quarters into separate entities: the main house with the master bedroom, kitchen, dining and living room; and a second structure, which houses three guest rooms and the garage. A garden acts as the social hub of Harris’ plans, positioned between the two buildings. But the true focal point is the ocean view, which is served by sliding glass panels and an open floor plan. Both the sea breeze and foot traffic can come and go as they please, in true alfresco style. Ultimately, the classic conflation of indoor and outdoor spaces and the symbiotic relationship of “boring” and luxurious coalesce in a sensible beach house that—like its location—will never go out of style.

A big shout out to PS New York/Los Angeles for the gorgeous site for Steven Harris!

Images from Steven Harris Architects website.

Ain't that the truth

2012-02-04T06:45:00.000-08:00

I'm a nut for cool t-shirts and this Freelance Ain't Free must find its way to my closet, because it's the truth, even though some, unfortunately, don't believe it. Standing up for the self-employed since 2011, these great tees are are screen-printed with brotherly love in Philadelphia by the great Mikey Burton over at his Freelance Ain't Free site. This will be my second rockin' tee from Burton, my first was this beauty (the Tales of the Jazz Age one). Thanks for all the fabulous design Mikey, happy to pay you for it too!

Image from Freelance Ain't Free site.

Photo of the week

2012-01-30T06:07:00.001-08:00

Photo of the week is back folks! And I know you're just as excited as me right? But first I must apologize, there is no real excuse for the reason I have not been posting the Photo of the Week, except for the fact I went through some of my best photos already, haven't been out lately to take any new shots and been too damn busy to spend the few minutes each Monday morning to do so. There they are, the lame excuses I'm allowing myself to give. But to ensure I keep it going, I'm going to mix it up and feature more photographers and their amazing lens works.

Today's photo is of Sarah Britton, a holistic nutritionist and vegetarian chef and writer of the fabulous My New Roots food blog who lives in Denmark. The photo was taken by Hilda Grahnat for a segment in Kinfolk Magazine. If you haven't heard of Kinfolk, it's a beautiful publication about a growing community of artists with a shared interest in small gatherings. I love the friendliness of this photo, the texture, colors and thought of putting myself right where Sarah is, somewhere in Copenhagen heading off to the market on my bike (with a basket on the front of course!) What a great way to start a weekend day!

Here's a little more on Kinfolk.

via Kinfolk: Every element of Kinfolk—the features, photography, and general aesthetics—are consistent with the way we feel entertaining should be: simple, uncomplicated, and less contrived. Kinfolk is the marriage of our appreciation for art and design and our love for spending time with family and friends.

Don't you just love that manifesto?

Image from Kinfolk website.

Great excuse

2012-01-29T07:13:00.001-08:00

This gives me a great excuse to crawl back to bed!

Image from The Cool Hunter website.

Delicious food and design

2012-01-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist posting about this fabulous restaurant in Shanghai China, Table No.1. From the menu to the food, everything is perfectly done with exquisite touches, but not in a ritzy, can't-even-afford-to-look-at-the-menu way. Instead, rustic, communal and unpretentious are the items of the day and it's fabulous! Starting with that gorgeous rusted steel signage to the friendly rubber stamped craft paper menu cover! All of it designed by the incredible Singapore-based Foreign Policy Group. I miss Singapore... I can smell the deliciousness of roti prata at Newton Circus right now!

Images from Under Consideration and Table No. 1 websites.

Looking down at humor, literally

2012-01-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

This installation project blows me away! The idea, process and typography is amazing! Created by Gordon Young (a UK visual artist who creates art for public domains) and typography by London-based Why Not Associates, the Comedy Carpet in Blackpool England is a celebration of comedy on an extraordinary scale.

via Comedy Carpet: Referring to the work of more than 1,000 comedians and comedy writers, the carpet gives visual form to jokes, songs and catchphrases dating from the early days of variety to the present. Installed in front of Blackpool Tower, the installation contains over 160,000 granite letters embedded into concrete, pushing the boundaries of public art and typography to their limits. A remarkable homage to those who have made the nation laugh.

There are more amazing photos and information at the links below:

Typetoken

The Comedy Carpet

Images from Typetoken and The Comedy Carpet websites.