Otl Aicher: Designer/Model

• From Thomás Gonda: A Life in Design by Philip B. Meggs

Now isn’t this the greatest designer portrait of all time? Except for Wim Crouwel’s 22nd century space suit, of course.

Posted November 26th 2009 in seen and found with Comments (0)

Dark Side of Pink Floyd

• Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat, record sleeve detail

If you are reminded of the iconic record sleeve for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon by Hipgnosis, like I am, you’re about 30 years off target. This one was designed by Alex Steinweiss in the 1940’s while he was working for Columbia Records. One could consider it a precursor or an early inspiration.

Thanks to Holger Jost for digging this up.

Posted November 19th 2009 in seen and found with Comments (0)

Making Type Dance

• Detail from a poster for a choreography workshop by Peter Biľak

I haven’t seen anything in quite a while that was so elegantly relying only on type to convey the message.

Posted October 11th 2009 in seen and found with Comments (0)

Stefan Kanchev, Applied Graphic Artist

• Some of my favorite SK (1915–2001) logos

I just recently discovered the Bulgarian graphic designer — or “applied graphic artist”, as it was called back then — SK and his work.

I have a particular fascination for his logos, which remind me a lot of Anton Stankowski’s marks (PDF). The sheer amount is amazing in itself. Looking closer, you probably won’t find a single logo that isn’t constructed with great precision or unrelated to its subject, form and content in perfect unison.

This site for SK is a great resource that will hopefully grow over time. I’d love to see more projects like this, which preserve the work of great designers.

Go visit the Stefan Kanchev archive.

Posted August 31st 2009 in seen and found with Comments (0)

A Serious Trailer

• Still from the trailer

Apple recently debuted the trailer for the next film by the Coen Brothers, A Serious Man. And it’s definitely one of those rare gems. The rhythm and pacing are brilliant while it builds up to deliver the punchline. I’m so looking forward to the movie, which hopefully is just as good as this glimpse.

Go ahead, watch the trailer for A Serious Man.

We’re gonna be fine.

Posted August 8th 2009 in seen and found with Comments (0)

Music for the 8bit Generation

• From Mega Man 3 on the NES

Nerd Music is a growing collection of, well, music for nerds and nostalgists. Some of my personal favorites so far: NES-style Drum’n’Base and 8bit Nine Inch Nails.

Posted May 3rd 2009 in seen and found with Comments (0)