Many industries are born from a need to solve a serious problem. Things like personal bomb shelters, electronic computers, or the internet itself. Many of these problems were an issue from a certain time period, such as Alan Turing’s first computer used to break the Nazi Enigma code during World War II, or bomb shelters… Read More
What is your calling? There are millions of occupations out there. Some professions are well-known such as banking, medicine, or teaching. But there are hundreds of careers that are unique and, outside of their milieu, their contributions go completely unnoticed. James Niehues fits the latter. As a painter, he is definitely not the only landscape… Read More
When I think of the heroes of World War II, Winston Churchill, General Patton, and Oskar Schindler come to mind. But I recently came across an unlikely outfit of skilled graphic designers, artists, architects, and illustrators that staged more than 20 “battles” after D-Day, when they landed in France, until the end of the war.… Read More
In 1961 the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” opens with Audrey Hepburn, as Holly Golightly, wearing a black party dress. This scene may have solidified the little black dress (LBD) as a symbol of true fashion elegance. Truthfully, the original LBD is attributed to Coco Chanel, who’s drawing of a knee-length black dress was published in… Read More
I first learned of Athens-based artist Teo Zirinis from a co-worker’s wife. She introduced me to his Instagram profile and I became immediately hooked. Since then, Zirinis’ quirky little creations have consistently brought a smile to my face! His work is silly, simple, and takes subtle jabs at familiar everyday items. His inanimate objects engage in hypothetical conversations laced… Read More
A pretty common phenomenon these days is going down a Youtube rabbit hole, where you continually watch videos that get suggested at the end of the previous video you just watched. Similar to a Wikipedia rabbit hole, the subject of the videos will progressively change from video to video until you are watching something completely… Read More
I just saw this clever brand awareness campaign for McDonalds that targeted European travelers this summer and had to share. Created by DDB Vienna, the “Genieß deinen Urlaub” (“Enjoy Your Vacation”) campaign is made up of four posters featuring visitor attractions that include stone arches similar to McDonald’s golden arches. I’d be shocked if this… Read More
Japanese watercolorist Hiroki Takeda specializes in joyful “blooming” paintings featuring stylized living creatures such as cats, dogs, insects, and sea life. Takeda captures their gestural essence and then finalizes the body with botanical-themed images. Delicate leaves, branches, flowers, and buds fill the body of his subjects. The artist’s inspiration originates from his mother’s love of plants hence, his use… Read More
German architect and author Ernst Neufert (1900-1986) did. In 1919 Neufert attended the Bauhaus and was one of Bauhaus founder Water Gropius’ first students. Having been a bricklayer and a student of the “Baugewerbeschuile” (German school of construction) prior to his enrollment, Neufert was familiar with building, construction, and design principles. Modernism, industrialization, and mass… Read More