swissmiss

TELEGRAMSTOP

Finding a TELEGRAMSTOP in my mailbox yesterday sure was a fun surprise and put a smile on my face.

The telegram has a long, proud and important history in the development of person to person communications. It’s development enabled people to quickly send news around the globe, messages of congratulations, messages of sadness or messages that marked important events.

The TELEGRAMSTOP Team realized that these important messages became records that the recipient would keep as treasured memories and wanted to recreate something special that you, your family and friends would appreciate as a historical record.

Their telegrams are made to look and feel like a classic telegram from the original days when telegrams were one of the only forms of national and international communications, they’ve taken great care to ensure the experience to the recipient is one that garners surprise and a sense of warmth.

PS: For all those wondering why “STOP” was inserted in the old fashioned telegrams at the end of sentences, punctuation used to cost extra whereas letters were free (up to a certain character limit). So users would craft their telegrams to fully make use of this limitation.

Consider me a fan.

09 / 07 / 2010
22

TEMPT1 & EyeWriter = Art by Eyes

My friend Zachary Lieberman who’s work I highly admire just pointed me to the Kickstarter Campaign he started for his project with and for Tony Quan (aka TEMPT1).

TEMPT1 is an artist, publisher and social-activist based in Los Angeles, California. He was a pioneering artist in the California graffiti scene in the 1980′s and 90′s and influenced a younger generation of graffiti writers with his vision to unite the No-Cal and So-Cal graffiti communities. Sadly, in 2003, TEMPT1 was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ( also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease), a degenerative neuromuscular disorder that causes paralysis and ultimately death. Over the course of 5 years, he lost the ability to move his arms and legs, speak, eat and even breathe without life-support systems. But, the disease has left his mind alert, and his creative spirit and drive to make art completely intact.

In the last year, Zach and his team have been developing tools and software in collaboration with TEMPT to help allow him to draw again using his eyes. See eyewriter.org for more info. Now, they’re going to make some art from the great drawings that he’s making.

This represents his return to being able to make a living as an artist.

In addition to the kickstarter, they’re also going to be dropping a 2.0 version of the device in the very near future. It’s a big improvement over the first design, which was really specific to TEMPT and his condition, and remains cheap (approx 100$ in parts), fully open source and has a high degree of accuracy. They were just out in LA testing it, and he told them that it’s completely comparable in accuracy to his 15k system.

TEMPT will be making artwork for digital prints, typefaces and screensavers, and in addition, they’re teaming up with my friends Chris Glass and Arianna Orland to make t-shirts, letter press prints. There’s alot of ways to get involved.

Let’s support TEMPT1 & EyeWriter. Go to kickstarter.com to get involved.

09 / 07 / 2010
0

high-rise staples

A concrete stand for high-rise staples, by Shay Carmon.

(thank you Galit)

09 / 06 / 2010
5
- made me smile

Future of Screen Technology

This is the result of the Open Innovation experiment. It is an experience video showing the future of screen technology with stretchable screens, transparent screens and e-ink displays, to name a few.

(thank you Micle)

09 / 06 / 2010
19
- made me look
- videos

swissgerman lessons via twitter

Here’s a twitter account that I just discovered that made me chuckle: @swiss-german teaches you a swiss german word a day. While I don’t fully agree with some of the words, as we say things a little differently in my Heimat corner of the alps, but nevertheless, it made me smile. G, this is for you!

09 / 03 / 2010
10

FREITAG am Donnerstag

I am happy to announce «FREITAG am Donnerstag» (Friday on Thursday), a mini lecture series I am curating and partially moderating for FREITAG, to celebrate their new REFERENCE collection.

Three renowned international speakers are going to share their thoughts on the topic of journalism and media. The «FREITAG am Donnerstag» talk series will take place at the FREITAG REFERENCE editorial space in Zurich that the bros. have set up for the month of September. (read more here)

Space is extremely limited (50 spots max). 25 spots will go to a carefully selected group of people but 25 slots will each time be available for swissmiss readers. Maybe you? (No worries, for those of you who can’t make it either because you are too far away or you didn’t get a slot, we will tape the talks and then share here on swissmiss.)

SPEAKERS:
Khoi Vinh, former NewYorkTimes.com Design Director
September 9th, 8.30am – 10am
Moderated by swissmiss.

David Rowan, Editor WIRED Magazine UK
September 17th, 8.30am – 10am
Moderated by the FREITAG bros.
(We realize that the series is called Friday on Thursday but this event is happening on a friday. Consider this one talk ‘Friday on Friday’)

Peter Hossli, Reporter SonntagsBlick Magazine
September 23rd, 8.30am – 1oam
Moderated by the FREITAG bros.

HOW TO SIGN UP:

Get your name on the list of potential attendees by sending us an email with your preferred date/speaker in the subject line. These talks will be in a rather intimate setting and we anticipate a lively discussion after each talk. We’d love to have people attend with a serious interest in the topic of journalism and media.

Send your email to FREITAG@swiss-miss.com.

We will get back to you and let you know if you made it on the list.

09 / 02 / 2010
5

Calendar Scarf

This 2011 Calendar Scarf is a beauty. It’s almost poetic how you are supposed to pull on the yarn as time goes by. If I didn’t have kids, I’d totally put one of these on my walls. In fact, this is the first time I think I endorsed a wall calendar. I usually can’t stand them.

09 / 02 / 2010
23

Envelope Template

I am so getting this Envelope Template for Ella who has been talking about wanting to write letters recently. Creates envelopes that measure: 4.5 inches W x 6.4 inches W; template measures 7.8 inches W x 11 inches H W x 0.1 inches thickness. It is an International Standard Size, Format: C6 and suitable for content format: A6 (or A4 folded in half twice).

09 / 02 / 2010
12
- crafty
- kids stuff

Villa Voice

Villa Voice is home to six soft characters. Each of the characters has its own little story with a distinct sound. Thus, the stories in Villa Voice feature the six Ling sounds that make up the foundation of the child’s emerging language.

09 / 02 / 2010
2
- gift guide: kids
- play

Letter Tiles

This picture made my Typography loving heart jump: Tiles with letters on them, by Made A Mano.

(via styl.in)

09 / 02 / 2010
7

FREITAG Reference Collection

I can’t get over how unbelievably cool this brand new FREITAG Reference bag collection is. They sure are starting a new chapter in their book. The Reference line is a collection of 14 horse-messenger inspired bags and accessories bags for medialites and urbanites.

My personal favorites?

R102 HANDBAG

R301 LAPTOP SLEEVE

R504 BUSINESS BAG LARGE

09 / 02 / 2010
4

swarmation

Swarmation is a totally addictive fun browser based game. I agree with @ario, and wished there were two anonymous teams competing.

09 / 02 / 2010
2
- made me look
- play

Print Factory

Love (!) this Print Factory illustration by Jez Burrows. Wishlisted for Tilo’s future (new) room, once we move.

09 / 02 / 2010
2

Swiss Supermarket Commercial

Migros is the largest supermarket chain in Switzerland and enjoys somewhat a cult status. (Especially for people like me, living abroad.) The below Migros commercial made me smile. The countryside scenes you see there, that’s pretty much how I grew up.

(thank you @the12dude)

09 / 02 / 2010
12

etsy find: Large ‘e’

Just had a peek at my favorite etsy shops and found this beauty of a large helvetica ‘e’. How fantastic would this look in Ella’s room? (le sigh) Oh, and big giant ampersand anyone?

FREITAG / The Daily Reference

FREITAG, the swiss truck tarp bag and accessories company ~~is one day away of launching~~ just launched a fantastic (!) new collection of bags called REFERENCE Line. They’ve chosen and unusual and superinteresting approach in celebrating this new launch:

More than 15 years after they started FREITAG, they finally know what they’re about: cycles. They cycle to work. They cycle tarps. And they think in cycles. So they are devoting one month (this month) to creating a newspaper called THE DAILY REFERENCE which cycles content:

How does it work?

1. They get newspapers
2. They cut them up
3. They transcreate, you transcreate
4. They manufacture a recontextualized print product

From September 3rd through 30th, daily at 8:00am a team with the Bros. and guests comes together for coffee and snippets at the REFERENCE editorial space in Zurich. They cut up newspapers like they cut up tarps – with an eye for visual junctures – and comment on them in 140-character statements. The same snippets are uploaded for your own 140-character transcreation which reach Grüngasse by means of a ticker. Best line wins.

The next morning at 8:00am THE DAILY REFERENCE is sealed: The ultimate commentary makes the front page. The others are collected on the B-side and printed on their lead press for distribution. This happens every day. For the finissage on September 30th, all THE DAILY REFERENCES are reunited and published simply as THE REFERENCE. A user aided, cycled content compilation that mimicks FREITAG, in thought, word and deed.

From September 3rd through September 30th, the REFERENCE editorial space is open at Grüngasse in Zurich (Mo-Fr 7.30am thru 7.00pm, Sat 11am thru 5.00pm). During this time, what used to be the two founders’ studio is turned into a newsroom and printing facility – with a two hundred year old bookpress, a coffee machine, the REFERENCE line on display and the Bros. (no promises, but yes, they are working out of Grüngasse in September).

The bros are asking for your 140 character input for their daily newspaper. FREITAG would like you to send them your transcreational commentary (max. 140 characters). Make sure to start your message with the number of the snippet you are commenting on. (check on their site and scroll down to THE DAILY REFERENCE section.)

The REFERENCE editorial space will also serve as reading room, where coffee, current international newspapers and the new product line are on display for your enjoyment.

You can go by the REFERENCE editorial space and hand deliver your 140-character commentary. And, if you’re lucky, you get to say hi to the bros. You can watch the editorial team in action and get your copy of THE DAILY REFERENCE if you show up after 5pm. And, of course, you get to check out their new bag collection and buy a REFERENCE bag.

And I’ll be at the editorial space sometime wednesday (september 8th) mid-afternoon myself. Why? I’ll let you know a little bit later today. Check back!

More info: Freitag-Reference.ch | freitag.ch
Map to REFERENCE Editorial Space

09 / 02 / 2010
4

LIKEA CAMERA

Pared down to the absolute essentials, the LIKEA MPH does away with the superfluous. Hand assembled by your good self, the MPH dismisses that which is not absolutely necessary. No battery, no light meter, no mechanical shutter, no embellishment – just your eye, a lightproof box and the emulsion.

LIKEA CAMERA

#mademesmile

09 / 01 / 2010
5

An Office in the Forest

(photos iwan baan)

Spanish architecture firm SelgasCano has designed their own office in the middle of the forest. I have no words. Gasping for air. This is unbelievably cool. Thumbs up!

(via cielbleu)

09 / 01 / 2010
29
- architecture

minimalist advertising

We all know, the Swiss are minimalists when it comes to their aesthetics. But, now, can any of my Swiss readers explain this ad campaign to me? Are the Swiss going über-minimalist and don’t even explain what an ad is for? Sure, it made me look.