Balance, Design
May 8, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
The narrative-driven work of artist, illustrator and designer Andy J. Miller combines bold, figurative imagery with abstract details and patterns like stars, spots, icons, and more. Though modern in influence, the work has a handcrafted feel to it, at once introspective and emotive. In addition to client for work the likes of Sony and Smart Car, Andy created the Indie Rock Coloring Book, a charity collaboration with the Yellow Bird Project. His site Art Directions offers online pep talks to artists and creatives. In this week’s Playlist, we asked Andy take a moment to pep us up with a sampling of his music tastes. Lend your ears.
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Balance, Design
April 24, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Architect Ray Tam left the advertising industry to begin studying architecture at the University of Oregon. After finishing his degree, he began a new focus on the rehabilitation of affordable and market-rate multi-family housing while working at BASIS Architecture and Consulting. Ray is also involved with the Bay Area Young Architects, part of San Francisco’s AIA chapter, and is a photographer. We asked him to take time out of his creative endeavors and design a sound musical structure for us in this week’s Playlist. Take a listen.
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Balance, Design
April 12, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Take a look at what’s been on our radar this week.
1. Five black and white offices that are “anything but boring” at Apartment Therapy (agreed).
2. Happy to see our Mirra Chair in one of the greenest structures in the world: the new Center for Sustainable Landscapes, designed by Design Alliance Architects for Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory (via Architizer).
3. The “Quiet Motion” installation by designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for BMW i at Milan’s Salone del Mobile 2013 (via URDesign Magazine).
4. More Bouroullecs: check out the brothers’ Steelwood Galva for Magis (a new iteration of their Steelwood chair and stool in galvanized steel and beech wood) along with other photos from Salone del Mobile from Wallpaper* Magazine.
5. And even more from Salone del Mobile: enjoying Snap Assembly’s Tumblr coverage of the show.
6. The solitary Eames Molded Plywood Lounge in this composer’s Wisconsin practice studio designed by Johnsen Schmaling Architects at Dezeen.
7. Classic mid-century chair stencils by Stencil 1 spotted by Design Milk.
8. The sunny Fresno House — nicely situated between the forest and the ocean in Carilo, Argentina — co-designed by Felix Raspall and Federico Papandrea and featured at Dornob.
9. The thoughtfully designed L23 House by Pitágoras Arquitectos in Portugal found at Archello.
10. Patrick Rochon’s eye-popping photos of wakeboarders riding special boards affixed with LEDs at Colossal.
Featured in photo: Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Eames Walnut Stools, and Eames Sofa by Charles and Ray Eames
Design, Products
April 11, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Here at Herman Miller the “Everywhere in Your Day” contest is in full swing. Rounding out the first week, we present these six items inspired by today’s contest clue, now awaiting your clever, watchful eye. And don’t forget to enter here — you could win the grand prize of an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman!
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Balance, Design
April 10, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Unless you’ve been living under a Rocky Mountain, you’ve probably seen a lot of Topo Designs over the last year or two. Mark Hansen, along with fellow adventurer Jedd Rose, created the backpack and apparel company to satisfy their obsession for the perfect gear. Together they produce beguiling products, made in the United States, that hit the sweet spot between great aesthetics and smart functionality. Here’s the music Playlist that fills Mark’s workplace. Lend an ear.
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Balance, Design
April 3, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, designer Jay Fletcher surfs when he has spare time — or he would if he had any spare time. The creative mind behind this week’s Playlist spends his working hours creating full-scale identities for companies large and small, near and far. Jay’s thoughtful and precise designs are both visually arresting and effective in their communication. Now check out the arresting sound waves emanating from his superbly appointed (with Embody and Eames Molded Plastic chairs) workspace. Listen up.
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Balance, Design
March 20, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
This week’s well-mixed Playlist hails from Wichita, Kansas. Its creator, designer and illustrator Luke Bott, creates work that reaches a good deal farther. Since graduating in 2002, Luke has been creating design and illustration for clients like Coca-Cola, MailChimp, and Wired UK. His iconic work draws inspiration from mid-century design, children’s books and toys, and vintage ads. Now Luke shares the sonic background of his work with us. Take a listen.
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Balance
February 27, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
The work of Amélie-Phaine Keller is wide ranging, literally. In addition to chairing the Bay Area Young Architects, and sitting on the board of the AIA in San Francisco, she also works with a nonprofit organization called Effect International. EI helps communities in rural India build their own schools, requiring Amélie to create interesting, yet simple-enough designs so locals can follow and construct their new school structures. Now Amélie shares another way to keep work interesting with her dynamic Playlist. Look and listen below.
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Balance, Design
February 8, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Here’s a look at what we’ve been bookmarking this week.
1. “The Untold Story of How the Aeron Chair Was Born” at Co.Design.
2. 12 backyard office pods from Inthralld.
3. Designs by Charles and Ray Eames (molded plastic chairs, an Eames Aluminum Group Side Chair) found by Automatism.
4. Jauntsetter’s tour of Zubehaus, the upstate New York home owned by Fab.com founder Bradford Shellhammer.
5. This clip from 1967 featuring Walter Cronkite previewing 21st-century technology — and his foreshadowing of how it could change the way we work at home — via FORA.tv.
6. Six things to know when setting up a home office from Kiplinger.
7. The light and airy home of Jesper and Majbritt in Copenhagen, Denmark, spotted by Lovenordic Design Blog.
8. ArchDaily’s look at Interstice, a settlement house from the 1930s rehabilitated by Fabi Architekten BDA in Regensburg, Germany.
9. The just-opened AETHER shop in San Francisco made entirely of shipping containers (and decorated with a pair of Eames Lounge Chairs) via The Fox Is Black.
10. Normann Szkop’s inspiring aerial photos of tulip fields in the Netherlands at Colossal.
Featured in photo: Eames Sofa; Eames Wire Base Elliptical Table; Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair with upholstered seat and back
Balance, Design
February 1, 2013
By Amy Feezor
A look at what’s been on our radar this week.
1. The tour of Hodgson House, the 1950′s home of Herman Miller consulting creative directors Craig Bassam and Scott Fellows, at Mr. Porter.
2. “Where I Work,” a new LinkedIn photo series featuring the workspaces of various thought leaders.
3. New York City’s first prefab apartment tower, scheduled to rise in 2015, featured at Co.Design.
4. “30 Cozy Attic Home Office Design Ideas” at Homedit.
5. A step inside the Nervous System design firm in Boston via Design Milk.
6. “Insanely Simple Work-Life Balance Shortcuts From People Who ‘Have It All’” at Fast Company.
7. Automatism’s post on the house that recently won the “Danish Fairest Home” contest. (We particularly like the Eames Aluminum Group Lounge Chair in the den.)
8. DesignTAXI’s coverage of a new app that “gives your photos a ‘mid-century modern’ twist.”
9. This review of the upcoming book Irving Harper: Works in Paper at Collectors Weekly.
10. The quietly dramatic L House by Florian Busch Architects in Japan, found by ArchDaily.
Featured in photo: Scissor Chairs; Tuxedo Corner Sofa with Attached Sofa; Noguchi Table; Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, White Ash; Eames Walnut Stools