Signers Suitcase (Kurhaus Weissbad)

(thank you for reminding me of this one, Marco)

Ice Cream Cone Light

15126428_02_e

This is the lamp of Ella’s dreams. When about to fall asleep, E’s last word usually is ‘ice cream cone’…

Rocket Pop Molds

15073067_40_b

What’s cooler than a rocket pop? Nothing, right? Well, almost. The only thing cooler than rocket pop is a HOME MADE rocket pop! And now you can make them using these Rocket Pop Molds. I must order.

Vending machine sells ideas for things to do

Picture_34

Vending machine sells ideas for things to do

UPDATE: I got an email from the inventor of the FUN-O-Meter. His name is Jake Bronstein. Check out more about his idea here.

(thank you scott)

detergent box

1468

Vamp up your Laundry room (or closet!) with this galvanized tin Detergent box.

Fully Charged

41bk8z0l3l_ss384_

I am happy to see that Fully Charged is now available at Target. YAY!

(Thank you Jonnie)

design remixed: Andrew Sloat

Sloat

Andrew Sloat, a Brooklyn based graphic designer and videomaker is speaking at one of AIGA’s free talks at the Apple Store in Soho. I am bummed I’ll be missing this next wednesday. I would have loved to learn more about the person behind A More Perfect Union.

(thanks scott)

random impressions from switzerland

Saentis

The mighty Saentis. Today we got to enjoy it in its full glory. Most of the times G hears me say: “This is where you could see the Saentis now, if it wasn’t covered in clouds!”

Butcher_logo

It keeps amazing me how engrained graphic design is into swiss culture. Check this old-school but awesome logo of a small regional butcher.

Mail_delivery

Some things haven’t changed since I’ve left this place: They still use old Fiat Panda’s for the mail delivery in my hometown.

L1050727_4

Helvetica E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E-! (picture above taken at the Freibad Teufen)

Improv Everywhere

Twins

Improv Everywhere causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places. Created in August of 2001 by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere has executed over 70 missions involving thousands of undercover agents. The group is based in New York City and best known recently for the ‘Frozen Grand Central’.

Their latest mission involved filling a subway car with identical twins, creating a human mirror. Genius.

(via consistently fabulous it’snicethat)

crazy forts

Crazy_forts
Crazy_forts_covered

Just when you thought a kid’s world was powered exclusively by batteries. Crazy Forts uses geometrically precise balls and sticks to create a multitude of play fort possibilities that you simply throw a sheet over.

Waving from the cheese counter….

Wuerzig

Our switzerland vacation is in full swing and so is my sausage/cheese/potato/bread-diet. The cheese counter in our local store (pictured above) makes my heart jump. On a very non-designy-note: Ever tried Appenzeller Cheese? So yumme!

aviary decor kids mirrors

Kidsmirror

My latest Cookie/Nesting post covers these Kids Mirrors. How fun would it be to mimick the same playful pose in front of one of these?

(thank you theodore)

Band Aid Ring

2814fbffcefe22e8dc02b0ba0d155d7a

I’ve seen similar ideas but really like this Band Aid Ring from ‘Open! Design & Concepts’.

(thank you becky)

handwriting of typographers

Picture_33

Cameron Adams asked typography designers for a sample of their handwritting. Thank you Maria and Stephanie for fueling obsession for people’s handwriting!

10minute lectures

Picture_32

The Ten Minute Lecture series organizes lunch-time talks and presentations at the Melville House Bookstore in Brooklyn, New York. The series hopes to provoke dialogue on impossibly large topics in a short period of time.

This has me gasp for air: 10minutelectures.com! Just a few minutes walking distance from my new office. Can’t wait to be part of this. Wonderful idea! YAY!

(thank you joanna)

fifty designers current favourite typefaces

Picture_26
Picture_25

Create/Reject asked 50 leading designers about their current favorite typefaces. What a lovely book idea. Too bad it’s sold out! Would have loved to get my hands on one of these! Lovely to know that the coverprice all went to UNICEF!

What typeface would you have picked?

Dress For Dinner Napkins

Picture_24_3

Even if the guy’s dressed in his favorite old white tee shirt, with this napkin at his neck he’ll actually look like he made the effort to get “dressed for dinner”. A great conversation piece at any party. 20 paper napkins to a package; five of each design.

(via minordetails)

Cast Aluminum Ampersand

Picture_23

Finally, a perfect wedding gift for the type-obsessed couple: Cast Aluminum Ampersand: $175

Stuart White | Artist

Picture_22
Picture_21
Picture_20_2

Stuart White transformed the functional use of the IKEA pencil into a creative tool by using it to make mass-produced prints, mimicking an assembly line. Our little Ella would love to draw like this. Why use one pencil if you can use a whole bunch?

Go Into Space Print by Tom Gauld

0807_tomgauld

Tom Gauld | Go Into Space | Available at ifyoucould for only 1 month for £40/€55/$80 +p&p.

waving from the swiss alps

2636421671_801661a94e_d

Yay, I am blogging from Switzerland. Having lived in New York for nearly 10 years now has turned me into the biggest tourist when in Switzerland. Having G at my side, pointing out things that make him look, helps to experience Switzerland with the eyes of a non-swiss.

Here are a few thoughts on Zurich: G and I are amazed at the overall high standard of swiss living. Everything seems in tip-top-shape. Apartments are spacious and impressively well maintained. Getting around with trams is a truly pleasant experience. (Really!) Don’t get me wrong, I fully embrace the NYC subway but nothing beats a clean, non-crowded, non-smelly tram to fully explore and enjoy a city.

Seeing the amazing Letten RIVER Bath almost pushed us over the edge. Not only is this public ‘pool’ right in the center of Zurich, it’s clean, well maintained and free! The small kids pool, right next to the Limmat river had Ella nearly hyperventilate. Who can resist a giant mushroom emitting water?

2636585873_9b0e78d841_b_3

G and I kept looking at each other in complete disbelief, that this oasis could be in 2 minute walking distance from our friends apartment smack middle in Zurich. We are no longer surprised Zurich keeps winning the “Most Livable City” title.

After having spent the first 3 days of our trip in Zurich we now are enjoying country side bliss in an area called Appenzellerland. We can’t wait to be woken up by cowbell sounds tomorrow morning. Oh, and I can’t wait to read the product copy in all the different languages on my milk/cereal/yoghurt tomorrow at breakfast. Yay for a multilingual country.

2637250000_af3d367414_b_2

Off to the swiss alps…

Cows

Swissmiss family is about to cross the Atlantic. We are on our way to enjoy lots of fresh air, swiss cowbell sounds, sausages, cheese and, or course, our family. Postings might be sparse in the coming days but I shall go full force again sometime next week. In the meantime, check out one of the fabulous sites in my recommended list to the left. Au revoir!

why I am a designer…

6a00e54fcb6859883400e55384641d88348

Why I am a designer. I think we could add way more here. No?

(thank you david)

swiss medicine box

Picture_4

Medicine Box with White Cross

(via bemlegaus)