Let there be (cheap) light!

This is one of the finest ideas I’ve seen in a long time. AND it’s just about people helping people, not about some corporation getting rich. Not even sure if it’s possible for anybody to get rich off of this one. But so many people’s lives are better. Well done. Main site HERE.

Janey!!!

If you’re still following this. I will still post to it (less often).

A friend in Eugene posted this on Facebook today. Amazing.
http://designyoutrust.com/2011/08/11/teddy-bears-that-have-been-turned-inside-out-and-restuffed/?fb_comment_id=fbc_5006736619758_678788_5006778150758

Propaganda Remix Project

Love this guy, Micah Ian Wright. In addition to other talents, he’s made new messages out of classic propaganda posters from WWII.

Tadanori Yokoo Inspires Japanese Culture

Remember looking at Tadanori Yokoo’s work the other day? Was sent this the same day by a friend. It’s absolutely Yokoo’s work come to life. Beautiful. And supercute.

Tax Snax!!!

Great article by Mark Bittman in the NYT HERE. Seems like a radical idea, but it’s really just incredibly obvious.

Michelle Obama Storming the Food Desert.

This seems like a good effort. I think she’s for real, and this isn’t just PR. Hope so, anyway.

Organic

Sara, from NPR on organic food buying.

Wikileaks MasterCard Parody

I’m still fascinated by the whole Wikileaks saga. If the info was so top-secret, how did Assange get hold of it? The whole thing is about a lot of egg on a lot of faces. Video HERE.

What’s wrong with this picture #338

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/04/23/176576/immigrants-taxes-general-electric/

Paper or Plastic?

Hopefully you all know the answer by now...NEITHER! Love me some re-usable bags, I have quite a collection from Schnuck’s and several from this company BAGGU—the bags fold into a smaller pouch for easier transport or keeping in another bag. Love the name, it sounds like a Japlish transformation, but I don’t know for sure.

Read HERE about “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”

Film on Paper

Very interesting, obsessive site from a film poster collector. Shared by Steve.

While my film tastes rarely collide with this guy’s—he tends toward horror, violence, pop, and cheese—I find his dedication to the collection amazing. The labor of a truly passionate collector. I found the different format and publicity slant of the U.K. posters particularly interesting.

You say “po-tay-to”

Another what’s-wrong-with-this-picture example. Out of the mouths of babes. “Acceptable levels” of poisons in FOOD is unacceptable. But that’s just my opinion.

You say “to-may-to”

My heart breaks for anybody who’s never enjoyed a fresh, beautiful, ripe, juicy, home-grown tomato. I used to love making tomato sandwiches with my dad. Fresh, gummy white bread. A little mayo—OK a LOT of mayo, and one tomato slice, about and inch-and-a-half thick, a little salt and pepper. Oh, and a napkin. Out-of-season supermarket tomatoes are for suckas.

New book by Barry Estabrook. Small part of what’s wrong with the big picture that is the food production system. Good NPR interview HERE. Barry’s blog HERE.

Nice Infographic.

When is “borrowing” actually “stealing”?

Steve asked for this link, so I figured I’d post it for everybody.

A spoonful of advertising.

Nice article in the NYT about historical health posters, promoting a show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art through July 31. Thanks to Library Lisa for this gem. Eat your bile beans! (And always purchase your dental care products from a qualified witch)

Victor Moscoso is the man.

Saw one of the finest private collections of Psychedelic Era posters in the world at the Denver Art Museum a few years ago. Link to an inadequate few samples here. Click on the Moscoso link illustrated in this post. I can only pitifully describe what was truly one of the best art experiences of my life. There were three of these “motion-posters” in a small dark space illuminated by something like a high-tech version of those old rotating multi-color lights you’d find under an aluminum Christmas tree. In this one, the mouth simply opened and closed, revealing the word “incredible”—and it was. I truly can’t describe how beautiful it was watching them move. I wouldn’t have traded it for a private viewing of the Mona Lisa. An incredible optical experience, I’m not even sure it could be captured properly on video?

Don’t put that in your mouth!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away...until you ingest enough pesticides. Ugh. Shopper’s guide to pesticides in produce. HERE.

Water, water, everywhere.

I just noticed this sidebar ad on my Yahoo webmail. Most sidebar ads are, as you know RIDICULOUS ads for refinancing, weight loss, teeth whitening, etc, etc, but this one caught my eye.

An NPR story “Will the Next War Be Fought Over Water” here.

I can’t imagine personally using that amount of water in the craziest imaginable day, but I’m not an average American when it comes to water. Think about your water consumption. Can you imagine not having any at all? What chaos that would engender?

Ghosts Inside of You.

ROBERT MONTGOMERY WORKS IN A POETIC AND MELANCHOLIC POST-SITUATIONIST TRADITION—(from the artist’s website HERE) I think I must be a melancholic poetic post-situationist, though I’ve never couched it in those terms.

Never seen this guy’s work. I’m seriously lovin’ it. Propaganda/poetry/art/advertising. Very unexpected. Working within sort of “advertising” conventions, but still poking you in the eye. Hard. Have always loved the work of word-people like Jenny Holzer and Barbara Kruger. Montgomery’s not quite as obtuse.

Zeloot

Super-tasty posters and other stuff from Zeloot, in the Netherlands.

Thanks, Mr. Mule.

From my buddy Thinkmule’s type blog. The first several posts are inspiring re: finding inspiring things in the street and photographing them for your blog. I was going to post an indvidual link, but I think he’s messed the code around a bit, so that each post link actually goes to the appropriate individual’s site.

Osocio.org

Super jam-packed social-cause site, shared by Melissa.

Stream Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Album

Currently enjoying this album. Also I regularly have dreams about crazy vertical modern houses like this. Not sure how these guys are a New Zealand/Portland band. Heck of a commute.

Some of my poster heroes: Tadanori Yokoo

Hello boy friend, coming my way?

Interesting blog, sent by my friend Allison. This propaganda about STDs during WWII is interesting. Seemingly the men were always innocent, victimized by wily loose women. The men are never “loose”...they’re just being boys. Curious that there’s shockingly little discussion about STDs in public health circles these days. They’ve got to be just as widespread as back then?

If you only read one thing...

...from the earlier “History of Graphic Design” post. Make it THIS on the history of the poster, including a section called “Social Cause Poster”—you’re not going to be tested on it, but pretend you are...study it. Really good stuff.

Some of my poster heroes: Jan Lenica

Some of my poster heroes: Lanny Sommese

Social MEDIA Cause on Mashable.

8 Tips for a Successful Social Media Cause Campaign

Getting it done on the innerwebs.

Good article from AIGA

What can designers do collectively to advance social causes?

Speaking of Collecting No. 1

Collections that don’t have to cost a lot. Buttons are a funny small design object. The 1" one being the most ubiquitous rock-band/cause-oriented size. I’ve done quite a few buttons through a cool little company in Chicago called Busy Beaver. Get your favorite cause (or band, or whatever) on a button it’s easy and cheap. Another link from that same site with the skate-decks here.

New Career Opportunities: Skate-deck Letterpress!?

Another one from my buddy in Denver, Thinkmule. He’s always trolling for the finest design stuffs in the innerwebs. Sk8 Fast, Die Young! See it HERE.

History of Graphic Design Website

I’m not sure if this site has anything to do with Phil Meggs’ landmark book of the same name. It is outbloodystanding!!!! I don’t think I’m overselling to say that if you had a pretty good grip on this site, you couldn’t know much more about the basics of the history of graphic design. Dig into it HERE!