As it turns out, even with the newsletter on ice, I still come across a few articles that I wish to share. Here's a list of articles found throughout September.
Creatives behind Glossier and Brat explain the new rules of branding
Another take on the evolution of branding, including Charli xcx's Brat album.
WKRMN - Past Work
Some beautifully made knives and other bits by whoever this guy or gal is. Goes to show that even simple things can be executed well and with style.
This ingenious new prosthetic mimics the bones and ligaments of a human foot
Having had a lot of exposure to prosthetics over the years, one thing that keeps them in the uncanny valley is the lack of articulation at the wrist or ankle. This is a very cool development both in terms of function and appearance.
Learn to Forage and Process Your Own Natural Pigments with ‘The Mushroom Color Atlas’
Want to learn how to forage and blend your own pigments? This book teaches you how.
Everything that turned out well in my life followed the same design process
An interesting article on designing your own lifestyle. It follows the tried and true design process - using information in-context to create a form that fits that context, then continually gain feedback and adjust the form to improve the fit. Note; it looks like the article has been put behind a paywall now, though I was still able to load the full article through Pocket.
Take a Nostalgic Dive Through a Visual Cassette Tape Archive
For those that are old enough, a fun walk down memory lane of all the different ways cassette tapes used to be labelled. I see there's so metal tapes listed in the archive, which I never knew existed.
Why solid soap is the most pleasurable object to bathe with
A comprehensive article breaking down the tactility and beauty of the soap bar. And better for the environment too.
Moloch Fuckery w/ John Mauriello and Raffi Minasian
Why does everything eventually get worse? The concept of Moloch is that to sustain growth, everything else must eventually be sacrificed. An interesting podcast discussing Moloch and how it relates to design and the world we live in.
David Bowie Working on Desktop Computer in Office, 1994
Did you know David Bowie set up his own ISP called BowieNet? Neither did I. What's more interesting is how Bowie saw, in 1999, how the Internet would become the consolidated and subverted mess it is today.
How to write in the dark.
Lewis Carroll invented the nyctograph in 1891 so he could write in the dark. Might just be the perfect thing for when inspiration hits, especially if you share a bedroom.
The Collapse of Self-Worth in the Digital Age
This article stuck with me for days. From one creative to another I would encourage you to read it. It takes a deep dive into the internal and external values that are assigned to us, or we assign to ourselves. It discusses how everything in the digital age is tracked and measured, what that's doing to our worth, and what we can do about it.
