{Submitted by camp nowhere}
Today I’d like to bring your attention to Everyday Carry, a website with photos of all the stuff that people carry with them everyday. Now, similar websites exist for computer desktops, iphone homescreens, office setups, etc. and I always find it interesting to see how people are going about their lives—what they are using, how they are organizing—essentially what’s important enough to make it onto their desktop (virtual or otherwise), iphone, or, in the case of Everyday Carry, their pocket or bag. Now in theory this is great, but I find EDC a bit unnerving and now I can’t help but look around me on the train or bus and wonder if all of these people have 5 pocket knives and a hand gun. I mean one pocket knife is great, but do you really need 5 on you everyany day. These people must really hate it when they have to fly.
If you can get past all the weird stuff that people seem to carry with them, you might just find something useful. I, for one, was in the market for a wallet and found one photo featuring a really barebones wallet that fit the bill perfectly (plus it was on sale for $9). So, if you are on the lookout for a better notebook, wallet, keychain, flashlight, or a pocket knife, you might check it out.
We’ve done it. We’ve gone corporate. Well, not exactly, but we do have a logo! It’s pretty great, incorporating both the cliché “two become one” concept and a W / E weathervane metaphor — something for everyone. I mean, it’s got an arrow. Southwest trend: check.
If you’ve heard of The Working Proof already, it’s for good reason. The online print shop has received some well deserved praise and press from some of my favorite design blogs. So I was deeply intrigued (and flattered!) when I found a sweet and unassuming email in my inbox from Anna, one of the co-founders, letting me know about one of their freshly released prints that she thought I might be interested in. Needless to say, I was interested. You had me at hello, Anna. You had me at hello.
Last week our friends got married. It was pretty darn exciting, and Sarah and I are kind of jealous. The wedding was really pretty and in Texas, which meant that it wasn’t snowing like it is hear in Chicago.
You know how you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover? Well, sometimes you have to. Here at Westervin, we’re hard at work on a new design for the very blog that you are reading right now. I’ve found that one of the best ways to find inspiration for website design is to look at design in other fields: enter The Book Cover Archive.
As the name implies, the site is a collection of book cover designs. But it’s not just a collection of any old books. It’s a curated collection of visually interesting books, mostly new, but some old. To explore the selection, you can search by book title, designer, art director, font, or many other elements that might interest you. I realize not all of you are embarking on website redesigns, but perhaps you can find inspiration from book covers for all sorts of creative projects.
I happen to read a lot of articles online, and one of the most annoying things I find is how unreadable some sites are. Whether there are too many ads, or poor typography, sometimes it would just be nice to see the content by itself. Luckily Arc90 Labs has an answer: Readability. Readability is a little bookmarklet (it goes in your bookmarks toolbar) that you can click on to rid yourself of unnecessary ads and to generally prettify an article. Of course this concept isn’t new; it’s part of what the popular Instapaper does. However, Readability doesn’t save things for later — it changes the display of what you are reading right now. Check out the informational video for more information:
Time machines might not exist, but that won’t stop you from seeing the past through a whole lot of old advertisements at Vintageadbrowser.com. Man, you can bet Don Draper would love this!
Yet another one of my favorite things has been given the infographic treatment: The Beatles. Charting the Beatles is a collaborative community project that turns Beatles information into infograhpics.
Here’s an example: The Self Reference Diagram
The lyrics of the Beatles include a number of references to their own previous songs. This diagram explores these connections, noting the exact referencing lyrics and at what point in each song they can be found.
As Sarah has already mentioned, we’ll be having a small party this weekend. But it’s diminutive size didn’t stop me from putting together a cocktail menu compatible with our bubbly theme.
Post-party I’ll be posting guest impressions, and letting you know where I found these recipes. That way you can make them too (the good ones at least).
While perusing the Scout Holiday blog this weekend, I came across WORK FOR FREE, a new magazine on the e-scene that shows some promise. With three issues under their belts, creators Paul Wagenblast and Aidan Koch seem to be experimenting with layout and content, and while the result is a little rough around the edges, I find it refreshing. Artists themselves, Wagenblast and Koch seek to promote other creatives, featuring only work that has not been exhibited elsewhere and without profiting from their publication. With collaborations galore, WORK FOR FREE creates an interesting dialogue, blurring the lines between different avenues of expression, and eschewing traditional definitions of art and design, fashion and illustration. I’m interested to see how they progress.
From issue three.
From issue two, “A Special Digital Collaboration with Knitwear Designer Annie Larson”
From issue two. (If you remember, we just featured an oven mitt designed by Jacqueline Bos! Love her! We’re following her on Twitter…)
