Waving from the Alps!

(turn up the volume to hear the cowbell)

Pardon the lack of posts here, but this family is enjoying two weeks off in the Swiss alps. You can catch a glimpse of our trip over on Instagram. (Follow hashtag #swissmissgoesswitzerland2014)

Bern Hyperlapsed

Bern Hyperlapsed is a short and incredibly beautiful portrait of Switzerland’s Capitol, Bern. It merges a view on traditional sights with the novel visual impression allowed by hyperlapse photography. The film consists of around 3500 single pictures, mainly taken between December 2013 and March 2014.

Congrats to Marcel Rolli, of Studium Punctum.

TV Ski Workout – 1989

G and I just booked our first family ski vacation over the weekend and that reminded me of the ski workout tv shows I used to watch as a kid, growing up in Switzerland. And thanks to YouTube I can all send you down my personal memory lane.

I love the internet so much.

Freitag Tough Business Bags

F301 Freitag

In this wonderfully absurd product video Freitag introduces their F301 Moss and F302 Roy tough Business Bags. Definitely made me smile.

As if that wasn’t enough, this takes product videos to a whole new level:

Nothing beats the durability of a Freitag bag. I own 4 and one of them is 14 (!) years old and still going strong. And I will now add the F302 ROY on my wish list for santa this year.

Open Switzerland

Open Switzerland

I stumbled upon Open Switzerland, a project that examines just how open Switzerland is to the outside world. Is it open or does it remain the walled fortress of Europe?

Open Switzerland is a conceptual design project by GVA Studio and BaseGVA. Go create your own poster!

Wish they would let us upload our own images. Or am I missing that feature? I have so many photos that celebrate all things Swiss. But I understand that allowing just any photo to be uploaded opens a can of worms…

Swiss Poster Collection

Swiss Poster Collection

Schweizer Plakate is a growing online gallery of Swiss Posters. Sort by type, stile or color. Wonderful!

(Thank you Martin)

Bed No.1

Bed No.1blueroom kids bed

I love this minimal kids bed by Swiss Blueroom. Add a few pillows and it feels more like a couch. Hello there, teen years!

(thank you Barbara)

Homework Table

homework table

Homework is an interesting table design by Swiss Tomas Kral. The aluminum surface extension seems quite practical for storing books you’re working with or displaying documents you need to reference.

(Thanks Nate)

Yay! SIGG!

Photo by Julia Robbs.

Part of my latest Quarterly mailing was a custom SIGG Bottle. In my letter to my subscribers I explained that I am struggling with keeping hydrated when at the studio. In the mornings, I would get in, sit down at my desk and just be swallowed up by the busy-monster and not take time to walk over to the water fountain. I would literally forget to drink water.

I realized that I needed to trick myself by filling up 2 bottles in the morning when I come in and have them sit on my desk, with the goal to empty them by the end of the day. Otherwise I would not drink enough water. After talking to a few of my studiomates I realized I wasn’t the only one struggling with the hydration problem and so I decided to send out a custom Sigg bottle.

I grew up on Sigg bottles, they’re a staple in every Swiss household. They’re designed and manufactured in Switzerland and the SIGG HQs is a 15 minute drive from my hometown. So, I admit, there’s a bit of nostalgia packed into my latest Quarterly. Yay for things that carry from you childhood into grown-up land. In my case, one of them is Sigg.

(The YAY illustration on the bottle is by the wonderfully talented Jen Mussari)

Swiss Alps Panorama Knife

Now here’s a gift for the chef that has it all: Swiss Alps Panorama Knives. From top to bottom: Berner Alps Panorama, Lake of Constance Panorama and soon to be available the Zurich Panorama. Made me smile.

(warning their shop is in German only)

Filo Tape Dispenser

(photo by ECAL- Julien Chavaillaz)

I have no idea if this Filo Scotch Tape Dispenser is at all easy to use, but it sure made me look for it’s minimal aesthetic. It is the brainchild of Swiss designer Marie Schenker.

Fou Lard (Bacon Scarf)

I just nearly fell off my chair. In a package that was just delivered here at my studio, I discovered a Silk Bacon Scarf, named Fou Lard. We just all had a good laugh, but my Studiomates agreed, this is so utterly ridiculous it’s awesome. Fou Lard is a brainchild of Swiss designer Natalie Luder. The scarf is made of 100% silk, digitally printed and hemmed by the artist herself. Available on her site for $170. Bacon lovers unite!

Swiss Clock with Swing Arm

Love this retro Swiss Clock with swing arm wall mount that allows clock to be quickly and easily mounted to the wall. #want

Elsa – The Raclette Machine

Stadler Form released this new Raclette Grill and I am giddy over it. (Melted cheese rules my world!)

How does it work? Put a chunk of Raclette cheese on the tray, melt it, then scrape it on your place. Enjoy with soft boiled potatoes. YES!

FREITAG – Out Of The Bag

FREITAG recently published a new book called Out of the Bag. I got my hands on a copy and if you’re like me, fascinated by the FREITAG story, then you should get yourself a copy. The book looks at how this small, SWISS creative start-up became a large brand with such an incredibly strong identity. FREITAG’s history and processes are explained, commented upon, and presented in often surprising ways.

V71 F-Buch / V72 F-Book from FREITAG lab. ag on Vimeo.

And this is the newest bag I am currently drooling over. #youcanthavetoomanyFRETITAGbags

Puxxle

Put a Shark on your wall, Pixel by Pixel. How? Watch this video!

Teaching to See

Inge Druckrey: Teaching to See from Edward Tufte on Vimeo.

In this short 38 minute film by Edward Tufte, Inge Druckrey teaches us how to see, really see. Absolutely fantastic!

(Trying to convince Edward Tufte that it’s ok for me to embed the video here.) Thank you Mr. Tufte!

(via Tufte / via @chadkdesign)

Kajütenbett

This modular bunk bed called Kajüttenbett made me look. I love multifunctional kids furniture that can adapt to your changing needs. It’s a design by Swiss Roland Jaggi and available over at Refurnished.ch.

Also, for all you grown-ups that like the idea of a minimal bunk bed, check out this one.

(Thank you Thierry)

Friend of Mine

Zurich based company Friend of Mine makes really sweet belt loop bags for women, men and kids. Each bag comes with a shoulder strap and therefore serves a double purpose. Love it.

#Wishlisted!

F60 JOAN

FREITAG’s new cyclable handbag F60 JOAN went on vacation in Zurich, Davos, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, Tokyo, New York, Paris and Amsterdam. Documented in this little gem of a video:

FREITAG – F60 JOAN from FREITAG lab. ag on Vimeo.

F61 Betty

I absolutely love this new FREITAG bag design, called F61 Betty. I am all for shoulder loops! In case you’re not familiar with FREITAG: Their bags are made out of old truck tarp and are pretty much indestructible. And best of all, each bag is unique.

Switzerland does everything for your perfect summer holiday.

This Switzerland commercial made me smile and miss my childhood home.

(Thank you Alex)

swissview


SWISSVIEW is my new go-to-iPad-app when I am in desperate need of some major zen. It features more than 1,600 films of spectacular helicopter footage of Switzerland. Every film comes with useful information on the overflown regions and places. Nice.

(thank you Ted)

Peter Megert

Thinkingform posted the above graphic by Swiss designer Peter Megert. I find the three interlocking arrows fascinating.