A follow up to Sarah’s post from a bit earlier completely by coincidence. Yesterday, my wife and I caught the N-Judah out to the Sunset neighborhood to drop by Mollusk Surf Shop to see the Geoff McFetridge show. If you haven’t made it out to Mollusk yet, be sure to do so, there is a great vibe and a nice selection of apparel, surfboards, and cruiser skateboards.

Here are a few images from that trip:

Also, check out local Bay Area artist and sign painter Jeff Canham. Jeff has painted signs for Mollusk and has put the brush to some beautiful pieces involving type. Be sure not to miss this video.

Wednesday evening Brendan and I had the opportunity to share the redesign of Dwell with Erik Spiekermann over a couple of drinks. It was a good time and insightful to hear his thoughts on the new design.

Thanks Erik!

Most designers I know are intrigued to learn what other designers are reading or books they find most inspiring. Take Spin’s 50 Reading List, published in 2006, which asked 50 noteworthy designers the same question: “What are the top ten books that you believe designers should read?…” Their answers inspired a printed piece which beautifully catalogues each designer’s specific list.

deSingel Museum takes this idea a step further with “Curating The Library” an ongoing lecture series which dates back to 2003. The primary objective is to learn first hand which books have inspired or made an impression on personalities from the fields of art, science, music, literature, design, and architecture. Past contributors include curator Aaron Betsky, graphic designer Armand Mevis, and architect Rem Koolhass. Sadly, these aren’t archived online yet, but can be tracked down at the museum and viewed in the “Library Box.” If you’d like to see these online in the near future… shoot the museum an email to give them a nudge.

Next up at “Curating The Library” is graphic designer and educator Paul Elliman easily one of my favorite designers working today. If your local to Belgium I highly suggest dropping in on this event.

Paul Elliman
April 17, 2008, 8 pm

Desguinlei 25
B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium

FAR frohn&rojas architects Wall House has popped up everywhere over the past several months from blogs to a feature story in Mark Magazine. After much acclaim you can now buy the plans and build your very own.

photographs © Cristobal Palma

Bertjan Pot’s extra large patchwork sofa looks so comfortable. Just imagine… a rainy afternoon, a little NCAA, and a big bowl of Doritios (nacho cheese). I believe this is also a 1-off, hopefully someone will pick this up and put it into production.

China has made a lot of headlines recently with their mad dash to acquire many of the worlds natural resources. China currently accounts for close to half of the worlds total concrete consumption. In preparation for the ‘08 Olympic Games in Beijing many new buildings are slotted for completion. This appears to be a rather impressive display of new buildings from many celebrated architects (ie: Rem Koolhaas, Norman Foster, Steven Holl, Herzog & de Meuron, and Paul Andreu).

This month both Monocle and the Guardian have slideshows up featuring many of the new buildings.

Also, here is a link to the new film which documents the completion of Herzog & De Meuron’s Olympic stadium in Beijing otherwise know as the “birds nest.”

Several images of these buildings can be found at flickr. I’ve lifted a few for this post… thanks to Dante Busquets and Zebra Pares.

This is so excellent! Sure we’ve all seen Eddie emblazoned on black T’s, vans footwear, and plastered on your bros bedroom walls. This music rocks and the graphics rule! Now you can find Eddie on the side of Iron Maiden’s ‘08 tour plane otherwise know as “Ed Force One”

Check this website where you can purchase tickets to travel with the band to a few select shows. Piloted by none other than the legendary Bruce Dickinson.

The most recent issue of Grafik has an article on Glasgow, Scotland based artist Toby Paterson. His paintings focus entirely on modernist architecture and often result in pared down renderings of buildings, retaining walls, and stairwells.

GTF recently updated their website with a new design and many new projects. Easily one of my favorite studios out of the UK consistently making good work.

From their site, I gathered that they have a show opening at the Art Institute of Chicago in March.

Resourceful Design
Art Institute of Chicago
March 23-August 17, 2008

Also, check this article from eye #39

Supreme has been making artist series decks for quite some time with top contemporary artist like Jeff Koons and Takashi Marakami. As soon as they are printed they are sold out! Chocolate and Mekansim have also been making good headway in this territory with artist like Evan Hecox and John Maeda. The boards have the appeal of affordable art and really strike a cord with collectors and skateboarders.

Several other companies are now getting in the mix and are now producing artist addition products from shoes to decks. The designer/illustrator Mike Perry just sent me one of his latest boards for Zoo York (designed with Damien Correll). A solid nod to the NYC times square scene. The rest of the series is rounded out with boards denoting the NYC landscape.

I feel as though I’ve come full-circle with my small collection of artist boards. Bought solely for the graphics, I can remember a time not so long ago that I couldn’t wait to toss the trucks on and tear the graphics off.