The mechanics of love

Today is Valentines Day. Apparently, this is the cause for a great deal of consternation.  I know that it has, over the years, occasioned horror for me, too*. So, I thought I’d just share something a bit fun and whimsical.  Those of you who are American will no doubt know the name Rube Goldberg. I […]

A very deep-sea chandelier

I am in lust for this chandelier. Don’t get me wrong - I am often in lust for chandeliers.  I am not, as it turns out, without my quirks.  But this one if particularly gorgeous. This piece - Skyphos 1 - was designed by Kateřina Smolíková.  It’s a low-energy glass-and-LED design.  And the reason it looks […]

Adrian Shaughnessy and the 15 Paradoxes of graphic design

Adrian Shaughnessy spoke last weekend at this year’s Semi-Permanent, and had some pretty brilliant, and practical, advice for graphic designers. Why are they called paradoxes?  Well, because they address statements/beliefs which many in the field take to be true, but which, on closer inspection, turn out to be less true (not necessarily wrong, though). So […]