A sunny view and her grandparents’ original Eames Wire Chair help make the Brooklyn-based home office of photographer-turned-designer Jennifer Levy both cheerful and meaningful. Check out the bright workspace — which simultaneously serves as the headquarters of her interior design firm CAVdesign and an occasional guest room — in this quick tour. Read more
Boston-based designer Aisha Densmore-Bey is a multi-faceted creative who works in mediums from architecture and interiors to film and painting. Aisha recently wrote, produced, and directed an architectural short titled “The Built Perception: Boston” which explores our relationship with the built environment. In her installation “FOLD!” at Boston’s center for Architecture and Design, BSA Space, she investigated the interaction of creases, pleats, curves, and computational patterns within all aspects of design. One might wonder what such an eclectic artist would listen to while contemplating the design of the physical world. Let’s find out in this week’s Playlist.
To celebrate the upcoming birthday of Herman Miller’s former design director and the creator of the Herman Miller Collection, we present this roundup of George Nelson’s artistry, life, and legacy — as told through notable books and Nelson designs. Read more
Our thanks to those who made a difference.
Image: Alexander Girard
Take a look at where we’ve been this week — then enjoy the long weekend.
1. Slate’s history of the paper clip — is it the perfect design?
2. “A Communications Primer,” a film from 1953 by Charles and Ray Eames on YouTube.
3. A infographic on Apartment Therapy that helps you determine what the music to listen to on the job (of course, we also recommend checking out our weekly Playlist).
4. How will this change your work life? (via Time).
5. A simple, contemporary, and energy-efficient home for less than $100,000 in Alberta, Canada (via Arch Daily).
6. Inthralld’s post on this house built for family with deaf parents in Tokyo.
7. “How to Be Happier at Work: 3 Tips” from Inc.
8. Have you seen the Microsoft Hardware Limited Edition Artist Series? (Bonus: Free desktop wallpapers.)
9. This TED Talk from IDEO founder David Kelley about building creative confidence (via swissmiss).
10. All sorts of inspiration on exp.lore.com.
Boundaries can be beautiful — especially since a little solitude might be a necessity for some people to be more creative. But where to find real privacy in the middle of a busy open-floor plan? Here are some ideas we discovered in workspaces across the continent. Read more
With the arrival of Memorial Day weekend, summer is nearly here. Time to drop the top and hit the hop. This week’s Playlist features a few mid-century classics to suit your summertime, perfect for the patio or the lounge.
1. Penthouse Serenade, Nat King Cole
2. A Kiss to Build a Dream On, Louis Armstrong
3. Only You, The Platters
4. Night Train, Jimmy Forrest
5. Chances Are, Johnny Mathis
6. Rock Around the Clock, Bill Haley & His Comets
7. Tequila, The Champs
8. Delicado, Percy Faith & His Orchestra
9. Titulos Principio, Esquivel
10. Busy Port, Martin Denny
11. Ballad of a Teenage Queen, Johnny Cash
12. Rave On, Buddy Holly
Dematerialization is an iterative design process for reducing materials and environmental footprint while maintaining comfort, function, and durability. Here’s six ways to get more for less, literally. Read more
It’s an annual showcase for some of the latest designs in the furniture industry, but the International Contemporary Furniture Fair — now back in full swing in New York City — also introduces interesting accessories for the home and office. Here are a few we spotted that might look smart in your workspace.
Take a glimpse at where we’ve been this week.
1. Could you work in an outdoor office? (via Co.Design)
2. A cartoon by Charles and Ray Eames linking creativity, innovation, and data at The Atlantic.
3. 6 devices you need to update in your home office (via Apartment Therapy).
4. Details on the Getty Conservation Institute’s initiative to conserve modern architecture at The Architect’s Newspaper.
5. The Redesdale Residence designed by Space International in Los Angeles (via Contemporist).
6. “The War Against Sixties Architecture” at Design Observer.
7. The Mid-Century Mundane blog.
8. The offices of Russian IT company Yandex (check out those Setu and SAYL Chairs) featured at Office Snapshots.
9. More things to do during New York’s Design Week from Core77.
10. An interesting way to spend a little time today? Search “HermanMiller” on searchinstagram.com (or just click here).