Information design

Francesco Franchi designs incredible infographics for the Italian business newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.

Who knows if they’re actually informative, but they sure are pretty. Looking at these and The Guardian‘s consistently stellar designs coming out of its graphics department, I’m left slightly disappointed by their American counterparts :(

The Times London also just release a killer one-off iPad app for its science magazine, Eureka. First time I’ve seen navigation architected and designed in a way that gives credence to tablets (specifically the iPad) as any kind of game-changer.

Data vis pr0n

Many Eyes houses the ultimate in data vis porn, and i am INTO IT. Below, a graph visualizing U.S. foreign aid distribution over time, 1946-2005, by country:

Protect ya neck

A new discovery: Swedish music label Sincerely Yours (home to Air France, Tough Alliance, etc.) sells–in addition to records and “normal” band merchandise–bulletproof vests. Unfortunately it’s no longer for sale. Seems to have sold out as an April 2007 limited edition. Too bad, it sounds like a must-have.

protect ya neck with 50% symbolism and 50% reality. it ain’t safe no more.

this quilted bulletproof vest is perfect for traditional hunting as well as urban guerilla warfare. there’s always someone who wants to put an end to you if you kill compromises like others kill flies. if this someone aims sharp enough, at least you’ll take your last breath with sueded shoulders.

Holley portraits

I found this guy’s site while searching “christmas card” in Google Images. I kept clicking and stumbled upon a typographic self portrait project comprising user-created submissions. The resulting gallery is pretty cool. Holley Portraits via Daniel Eatock.

Round is never hip

It’s Hip to Be Round (via New York Times)
THIS summer the unvarying male uniform in the precincts of Brooklyn cool has been a pair of shorts cut at knickers length, a V-neck Hanes T-shirt, a pair of generic slip-on sneakers and a straw fedora. Add a leather cuff bracelet if the coolster is gay.

In truth this get-up was pretty much the unvarying male uniform last summer also, but this year an unexpected element has been added to the look, and that is a burgeoning potbelly one might term the Ralph Kramden[...]

NO. STOP. Pouches will never be cool.

Urban japan romanticism daily

A constant reminder that cities in japan are much cooler than wherever you are.
Turn on the music for sweet grooves courtesy fantastic plastic machine:

Comments (1)

Anxious mothers ward

Via Yahoo!/AP:

YUANLIN, Taiwan – Japan’s iconic Hello Kitty has been recruited to help calm anxious mothers at a maternity hospital in Taiwan where the cartoon image adorns everything from walls to newborns’ blankets…[full article]