Daily Dose: Happy Valentines

Robert Indiana’s LOVE at the Indianapolis Museum of Modern Art. Photographer unknown.

House Industries x Herman Miller Japan: HM Building Blocks

From our friends at House Industries, children's building blocks for Herman Miller Japan, based on original 1950's Herman Miller packaging:

"Each set includes eight basswood children’s blocks dressed in House Industries numbers, shapes and patterns. The puzzle sides are based on the original Herman Miller furniture box that was used to deliver American modernism. We then packaged the “box” in a miniature corrugated shipping carton. Took us a while to sniff out the tiny brown kraft packing tape, but solving specky details like “tape scale” allows me to sleep at night. It was all made in the USA (Grand Rapids, Michigan) by Uncle Goose and Advance Packaging."

via swiss miss.

Paris versus New York

A graphic tale of 2 cities by Vahram Muratyan, via swiss miss.

Braun Clock GIF by Dieter Rams, Dietrich Lubs

Sweet simplicity, via Daily Icon.

Vitra's Hidden Heroes

Visit this amazing site and learn about all the brilliant things we take for granted.

"The Vitra Design Museum, in association with Hi-Cone, presents "Hidden Heroes", an exhibition dedicated to these common objects that we use on a daily basis — coffee filters, ear plugs, bottle caps, clothes pins, etc. — without ever knowing their history, their inventors.

This exhibition introduces these everyday heroes together with patent drawings by their inventors, with historical and contemporary advertisements and films, and also with design and art objects that have been inspired by them.

The exhibition has an online presence through a beautifully crafted website designed by Grimm Gallun Holtappels."

Via vitra's facebook and cpluv.

Another visit to Herman Miller's Design Archive

Another visit to Herman Miller's Design Archives, but this time with Wallpaper*, a nice follow up to my earlier post.  Featured are some great vintage ads and photographs of Herman Miller's Trinity of Nelson, Eames, and Girard (the last ad at the bottom of this post features all 3).

This is only a sample, see the full article and slideshows here.

Via inform's facebook.

Watch: Paul Rand explains Graphic Design

"For Paul Rand's posthumous induction into The One Club Hall of Fame, Imaginary Forces created this short film, combining original animation with a videotaped interview of Rand himself, that encapsulated his unique and timeless contribution to the design community."

director - Mark Gardener
producer - Cara McKenney
designers/animators - Jeremy Cox, Joey Salim, & Liz Centolella
animators - Andrew Chung, Sean Eno and Chase Massingill
editor - Corey Weisz
sound design - Derek Lee

An Imaginary Forces production, via swiss-miss.

Spaces: Todd Selby visits George Lois: New York

Photographer Todd Selby visits the home of the legendary graphic communicator George Lois. Lois' New York apartment is home to an impressively curated collection of 20th Century design reflecting his love of form, ranging from Art Nouveau, to Bauhaus, to Mid-Century Modernism. Lyrical works by Loos, Wagner, and Guimard; sit alongside iconic molded plywood pieces by Eames and Aalto, and austere works by Prouve, Perriand, and Mies.

"What do you love about furniture?

I love to look at great chairs (but rarely sit in them). Some of the greatest sculpture ever created were created by Mies and Guimard."

See the full shoot and interview here.

Via The Selby.

A Visit to Herman Miller's Design Archives

Lish Dorset takes us along for a visit to Herman Miller's Design Archives.  This is a true time capsule of design history: untouched Alexander Girard fabrics, vintage advertisements by George Nelson and Associates, original blueprints, and of course amazing furniture.  Check out the seat cushion on the George Nelson MAA chair, and right beside it, is that a red suede upholstered Eames DCW?

The most interesting photos are of the original molds for both the George Nelson DAF chair and the Eames Armshell, which should dispel any myths that they are no longer in Herman Miller's possession.

All photos by Lish Dorset via craftzine, thanks Elke for the link.

Vintage Alva Skates Ads by Eric Monson

Bold and graphic Warhol-esque advertisements for Alva Skates, circa late 70's-mid 80's.

Via Mary & Matt, thanks Abi for the link.

Scandinavian Mid-Century Design Logos

"....not a gradient or bevel in sight."

A great compilation of mid-century Scandinavian design logos, some obscure, and some iconic like France & Son's Double F. Godfred H. Petersens Mobelvaerksteder's red H logo bears striking resemblance to Herbert Matter's Knoll Logo. Check out the full flickr set, and see how many you recognize.

Compiled by Oliver Tomas, via logo design love.