Text Messaging

It's custom, it's recycled, and it's total kitschy fun. Write whatever you want in this digital-style debossed fill-in greeting card. Designed and created by Yellow Owl Workshop. [via poppytalk] |DBK

Vignelli's World

Massimo Vignelli, the renowned Italian born designer, is truly a renaissance man modernist (if I can put those words together). He believes, "If you can design one thing, you can design everything."

Vignelli recently published The Vignelli Canon, a 96-page online book that lays out his philosophy on typography and design. He talks about Design (always with a capital "D") with such reverence that I find myself nodding along in agreement and wanting to plaster his quotes all over my studio.

Such beauties include:
"Design discipline is above and beyond any style."
"We detest the demand of temporary solutions."
"White, in typography, is what space is in Architecture."
"In a world where everybody screams, silence is noticeable."

Vignelli is also not one to shy away from controversy. I find myself chuckling when he blasts "vulgarities", such as the United States' basic letter size. He laments, "The United States uses a basic letter size (8 1/2 x 11") of ugly proportions, and results in complete chaos with an endless amount of paper sizes. It is a by-product of the culture of free enterprise, competition and waste" Ouch! He goes further to say, "Just another example of the misinterpretations of freedom". This guy does not mince words.

Whether you agree with him or not, his love of design is apparent, and unapologetic. [via SwissMiss] |DBK

Welcome to the Spamghetto

From Milan Furniture Fair, Todo.to.it brings you the Spamghetto—the junk mail wallpaper. Here's what they have to say about their vertigo-inducing project:

"Everyday our mailboxes are flooded with unsolicited offers of porn material, pirate software, viagra, illegal financial services and advice on women seduction: if this is annoying for the average user, we really love it... But the crisis is striking and we must recycle. So, instead of sweeping spam under the carpet, we decided save some junk-mail in order to turn it into a wallpaper for your house before it’s too late: someday a brilliant scientist will find the definitive solution to eradicate from the web the bittersweet pleasure of spam."

I want an entire wall covered with this in my home. [via poppytalk] |DBK

Chocolate Chic

There's something really sophisticated and beautiful about this packaging for couture chocolate company, Co-Couture. Designed by Sort Design out of Ireland. [via Lovely Package] |DBK

Initial Impression

Are you into collecting your initials? Then Kelsey Henke is your girl. Kelsey photographs found typography and mounts it, creating a custom piece of art, just for you. You can get whatever you like—your name, your initials, or your dog's initials. Check out her Etsy shop at kelsyhenke.etsy.com. |DBK

“E” is for?

“E” for Erin, I presume.

I don’t know if it is purposefully an “E” lettered brush or if it is a brush that just coincidentally looks like the letter “E”.

Either way, I find it curious. It looks like the wooden “E” has just started to grow hair. This starts me thinking about manipulations of letters or found type and what meaning those manipulations bring. In this case there is something incongruous, something uncomfortable about an old wooden letter growing hair. Or maybe it IS just a brush and I can rest easy. [via Design Observer] |DBK

For a Sleepy Thursday

Enough said. From Keep Calm Gallery. |DBK

Zombies & Kittens

This poster by Richard Perez is awesome. Happy day-after-taxes day! [via we love typography] |DBK

Funny, Weird? Or Funny, Ha-Ha?

The folks over at Princeton Architectural Press were kind enough to send me a copy of their upcoming release, There's Nothing Funny About Design, a smart and witty collection of essays by David Barringer. The essays aren't always directly about design, however, Barringer writes about his particular point of view, and his everyday run-ins with design.

Barringer has written articles published in Print and Emigre magazines, and won the 2008 Winterhouse Award for Design Writing. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to reading this one. When it comes to books about design and design theory, I think this one will be a breath of fresh air. |DBK

The High Seas

Maritime imagery must be on my mind since the news of the rescued captain. When I came across these pillows byThomas Paul this morning, the nostalgic illustrations and hand-drawn type caught my eye. Ships ahoy! [via Poppytalk] |DBK

Boombastic

The Mix Tape letterpress wedding invitation is chock full of old-school goodness. Designed by Adam Ramerth at Lark, and printed by Studio on Fire, a Minneapolis-based letterpress studio, this is one jammin' invitation. Makes me want to break out my mixed tapes from high school—Gin Blossoms, anyone? [via Beast Pieces]

On a side note, DBK has added an author! A big welcome to Erin, fellow graphic designer and Washingtonian extraordinaire. Check out her first post below! |DBK

Letters

Do letters feel? I think Oded Ezer's do.
May I take one home with me?
[via Design Observer ]|DBK

Logo Envy

A friend of mine just sent me a link to 35 Stunning Black and White logos. These are the most clever, and, therefore, are my favorites. Thanks, Anik! |DBK

Found Typography—Philadelphia, PA

I have a weakness for kitschy and visibly old-school typography, so today I'm posting some of my favorite typography finds I came across while exploring Philadelphia two weekends ago. Want to see more? I've also updated my Found Typography album in the left sidebar of this page. Check it out! |DBK