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More gifts from mehallo

My Zazzle store has prints, cards, mugs and much more. Not sure what to get, here’s some highlights from my individual collections.

Click on the images to jump to products. Visit my main store page here.

Tags: design, fashion, mehallo merchandise, typography by steve
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what’s your poison?
Celebrate the holiday season with your favorite seasonal toxin on a mug! Choose from Poinsetta, Mistletoe, Holly or the often elusive Pyracantha (which is a bit like holly). Vintage druggist labels on a nice, clean mug. Brand new, limited edition merchandise, available only thru end of December 2009.

Go here to order.

For additional mehallo merchandise, go here.

Tags: cool finds, design, design history, mehallo merchandise by steve
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Lustig collection

‘He was in the vanguard of a relatively small group who fervently, indeed religiously, believed in the curative power of good design when applied to all aspects of American life.’ -Steven Heller, Eye Magazine

Alvin Lustig (1915-55) didn’t limit himself to the field of graphic design – as a ‘generalist’ he designed just about everything he could leave his mark on. Including a helicopter.

Check out the incredible collection of book jackets designed by Lustig here. More here.

And for even more, visit the Alvin Lustig Archive.

Found via Twitter.com/Sandoer

Tags: cool finds, design, design history, illustration, publication design by steve
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Too many type issues, so little time

Competing Helvetica billboards, a visual from my morning commute

I’m not much of a purist. Well, that’s a lie. When it comes to type I am. Well, not always. I argue with myself a lot about it. It either works or it doesn’t. My litmus test: ‘Does it communicate?’ And if the goal for the local business is not to be read, then often, it works.

An article in this Sunday’s New York Times is all about this. Once one starts to see type, it’s all over. Read here.

Thanks to Susan and Jonathan for forwarding

Tags: design, education, thoughts, typography by steve
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Depero 50

Roxy, c.1930

I finally made it over to the Depero 50 exhibit at the Italian Cultural Institute in San Francisco. Discovered many of Fortunato Depero’s originals were an interesting mix of ink washes. Above is his view of NYC from 1930. When he finally visited the overgrown metropolis, it wasn’t the Futurist utopia he’d imagined. Also below, the number composition is a sketch for a series of Futurist pillows.

A great exhibition catalog can be had for only 20 bucks – and thanks to the docents for all their help. Show details.

Exhibition ends December 4, 2009.

Composizioni Numeriche, 1927

Campari, 1933

Italia – Guerra, 1916

Plus
Here’s more Depero over at designboom.

Tags: cool finds, design, design history, education, exhibitions by steve
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How to: Art Deco layout schematics

Found via Leslie Cabarga

Tags: cool finds, design, design history by steve
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Bauhaus at the MoMA

”It’s a Haushold word, the Bauhaus, but a misunderstood one. Its influence is all around us, from Ikea furniture to glass skyscrapers, but it is credited – and blamed – for much more than it should be.’ -Candace Jackson, Wall Street Journal

The bauhaus was about advanced thinking in design, and it has its successes and failures. It was a great experiment and it changed the world. Its influence can be seen in everything today.

Workshops for Modernity: Bauhaus 1919-1933 just opened in NYC. And the exhibition is about going beyond the basics, show how far reaching the school actually was.

WSJ article here. Exhibition info here. Catalog here. TIME magazine video here. Show runs thru January 25, 2010.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe armchair, 1927-30