Graphics

DA Residence by deDraft

Self-taught graphic artist Matthew Tapia hand-painted the illustrated text on the bottom of the pool.

Spread from "Goods 2 - Interior Products from Sketch to Use" by Frame Publishers

Life Along the Elevated, by Megan Canning, Krisanne Johnson, and Whitney Johnson, $25 from designtrust.org Published by the non-profit organization the Design Trust for Public Space, the book is the product of a photojournalism fellowship documenting life in New York City near its nearly 700 miles of elevated infrastructure, which includes bridges, highways, subway tracks, and rail lines. This title offers a glimpse the cityscape that is misunderstood, something the urbanism enthusiast or landscape designer on your list would appreciate. (Plus proceeds benefit a good cause.) “The reality is the elevated looks beautiful from afar, especially at sunset, but after spending a great deal of time photographing along it, you quickly notice the intense noise pollution, the poor lighting, and the chaotic nature of a transit hub. And these conditions are exactly what the Under the Elevated project is trying to improve,” noted photographer Krisanne Johnson.

Pieces from Lawrence’s voluminous archive act like unintentional architectural ornaments, bringing color and humanity to the often Spartan LOT-EK design.

A collection of objects from Lawrence’s desk include stencils, paint rags, glasses, and a notebook.

Interface design tool company Figma makes employees feel right at home with a cozy, living room-like lounge area and long, lunch tables for meals encourage s strong sense of community.

A timeline of Ilmari Tapiovaara's multitude of chair designs. (For more sleuthing, we recommend the exhaustive fan site "In Search of Ilmari Tapiovaara" for many, many more archival tidbits on the designer.)

Sketch for the Handkerchief Chair by Lella & Massimo Vignelli. Image form the Knoll Archives.

ZEITmagazin Mann no. 01 — Design by Bureau Mirko Borsche

Blue DFSR by Willie Real “Their designs are so beautifully simple yet bold, with tireless contemplation behind them. Their overall sense of style remains iconic today and continues to influence new designers.” The gallery says.

The lamps play with our perception of depth and space. Photo courtesy of Vera & Kyte.

Writer Dan Maginn’s Ode to the Ikea Cabinet says it best: “O CABINETS, thou art affordable and shall fit like Careless laughter on our walls! Yet ye remain incomplete. ’Tis time to cloak you properly. What color are thy doors And drawers? Be ye wood’n made, or be ye glossed in shiny Resin? Do steely knobs populate thine countenance? Companion! Like siblings at play with Mr. Potato Head, let Us now select a proper face for our Kitchen-Tuber. Duvbo? We smileth not at thee. Ärlig? No—thou art too white. Lo! Who’s this? Companion! What think thee of Linjär? Aye! Blue of face, sleek of handle, (shines she not brighter’Pon our approach?) LINJÄR! Thou art ours!”