Milton Glaser (1929–2020)
The graphic designer who gave us I♥︎NY.
マンホール蓋
Today’s Zippy takes us to Japan, where manhole covers are things of beauty.
Schwan’s Dinners
That logo for Mike Pompeo’s so-called Madison Dinners: where had I seen something like it? On the side of a Schwan’s truck.
Venting
The question has haunted me: Why the vents in cabinets under kitchen sinks? I found three likely answers.
“Butter maiden” retired
The days of Native American “mascots” belong in the past.
Canteen Canteen Canteen
A mid-century vending-machine triptych.
Campaign typography
George Butterick (as in Butterick’s Practical Typography) considers the campaign logos of Democratic presidential candidates.
The Glenlivet logo
Those who read cereal boxes at the breakfast table grow up to read all forms of packaging.
Letterheads
etterheads dig letterheads. Letterhead Steven Heller offers his confessions — with samples.
NYRB covers
From the Los Angeles Times : Aida Ylanan analyzes the covers of 500 New York Review Books Classics.
Mid-century cigarette machine
There are many ways for a movie to hold my interest.
Philadelphia Solari
From NPR’s All Things Considered : “Fans of an Iconic Philly Rail Sign Are Rallying to Save It from Retirement.”
Moving to Elgin Park
The creator of an imaginary town has died.
Arrowlock Tag #108
it’s a clever design: “Hook to item — fold arrow head.”
Cachou Lajaunie
Little French candies. The flavor is kinda ghastly, but the tin’s design is beautiful.
La Posta Fazzio
It was the label that drew me to La Posta Fazzio Malbec. It so happens that the wine is good too. But that label!
Judging books by their covers
New York Review Books Classics.
Bela sardines
Probably the best sardines I’ve ever had.
A Covered Swivel Rotary File
A Cooper Hewitt Object of the Day.
An interview with Annie Atkins
Maker of graphic props for film, lead graphic designer for The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Benguiat beatniks
From Zippy, lettering inspired by Ed Benguiat’s Interlock
“Technocracy Debunked”
An Everyday Science and Mechanics cover, February 1933.
Railroad emblems
From Life magazine, 1944.
“Cost of Trans Troops vs Flaccid Military Members”
A chart is worth a thousand words.
Ballpark design
From the podcast 99% Invisible, an episode about the design of new ballparks.
Steven Heller on humility
“When you start out, there are all sorts of things you have to learn, and humility is one of them.”
Folk facade
A study for the facade of the Museum of American Folk Art.
VapoRub, the earliest camel-case brand name?
It dates to at least 1920.
Fake News, an icon
An icon by Louis Prado, from Noun Project.
Heads up
Whoever designed the posters and their sequence must have put much thought into — and taken much pleasure from — the work.