What Comes Next_
Thoughts on AI, predictive text, technological metaphors, and the string of thought.
🗺️Map work by Shannon Rankin
Exploring the captivating art of Shannon Rankin, who transforms cut-up maps into thought-provoking collages that challenge our perceptions of geography and connection.
🎨The Jolly Flatboatmen (detail), by George Caleb Bingham
A reflection on George Caleb Bingham's vibrant portrayal of labor and camaraderie in the 19th century.
🌍The right book at the right time
Tété-Michel Kpomassie escaped a jungle snake cult in Togo to embark on his dream to experience the icy landscapes of Greenland.
🎨Street Musicians by William H. Johnson
William H. Johnson's vibrant art captures the essence of street musicians, blending folk influences with expressionist techniques.
🎬Two clichés make us laugh. A hundred clichés move us
Eco explores how _Casablanca_ transcends clichés to unveil narrative power and emotional depth.
🍽️Food culture and the Last Supper
An intriguing analysis of portion sizes in the iconic Last Supper paintings reveals notable trends over centuries. The study conducted by Wansink and his brother uncovers how food representations have expanded in size, reflecting cultural shifts in consumption.
⚙️Sublime technologies
Christine Rosen reflects on the evolution of human awe toward machines from the marvel of the dynamo to the mundanity of modern technology.
🦠An iconography of contagion
An illustration of the public health efforts against tuberculosis, depicting the balance between awareness and fear in disease prevention. "Discover the Unknown Spreaders!"
🌱Flinty and grassy with finesse and subtlety
From Beth Ann Fennelly, a look at how soil influences our food and our lives through the practice of geophagy.
🛋️We’ll always have HOVÅS
Here's a clever mix of comfort and creativity in urban space with IKEA's ad campaign in the Paris Metro.
💔God help me to be human
Richard Rodriguez reflects on César Chávez's vision of courage and suffering for others in the context of Mexican identity and dignity.
🎨Even better than the real thing
An exploration of how modern techniques of reproduction, as seen in Cameron Moll's Colosseo project, transform the concept of authenticity in art.
♿Give me a lever long enough and I shall move the world
A remarkable student-designed all-terrain wheelchair utilizing standard bicycle parts for better accessibility in developing countries.
🎬So bad it’s good
Exploring the unexpected joy found in bad movies, this piece highlights how audiences can connect with flawed filmmaking through shared experiences and creativity.
🎹Piano transformers
Who wouldn't want to dine or sleep inside an elegantly designed piano?
🎁You can’t give this stuff away
A reflection on the challenges of altruism and trust in giving, as illustrated by two attempts to distribute money.
🪓Axe Cop!
A unique collaboration between a child’s imagination and an adult's artistry brings to life the adventures of Axe Cop.
🤝Take only staples, leave only electronics
Examining the complex aftermath of the Chile earthquake and the human responses in crisis situations.
⛪How to move a church
This quirky and surreal promo video offers a unique look into the challenges of relocating an old church.
🌮Do you know where your taco comes from?
Exploring the complex journey of taco ingredients from farm to truck, revealing a world of food sourcing and travel.
🎭Portfolio | StageGrade Logo
I had the pleasure of designing the logo for the relaunch of StageGrade, an innovative publishing startup focused on theater reviews. The graphic element creatively incorporates StageGrade's unique bar graph representations of critical reviews, while the scalloped corners subtly nod to vintage theater tickets.
🎶A graphical analysis of national anthem lyrics
My quest to learn "La Marseillaise" led me to explore the curious and often violent lyrics of national anthems from around the world.
🌌Perfect boredom
Exploring the intriguing nature of boredom and its potential beauty in a world of peace and familiarity.
🎨Everything is Everything, by Koki Tanaka
An exploration of inventive actions through everyday plastic items in Koki Tanaka's whimsical short film.
🤡The crying-on-the-inside kind of news
I can't help thinking about the fascinating blend of humor and seriousness in Mexican media, particularly with Brozo the clown delivering news and critiques.
🥦You Are What You Eat, photos by Mark Menjivar
You can learn a lot about people by examining what's in their refrigerators, as shown in Mark Menjivar's insightful series.
🌿Marginalia
Reflecting on Wendell Berry's thoughts about the importance of margins and wildness in our lives.
📚LifeSize by Roland Tiangco
Here's a fascinating project by Roland Tiangco, inspired by Borges, that combines art and literature into a single printed reproduction of our world's bookshelf.
🧵Reap what you sew
Michael Swaine brings art to life by offering free clothing repairs in San Francisco's Tenderloin district.
🕰️The traveler’s game
Reflecting on the challenges of experiencing other cultures through time, Lévi-Strauss contemplates the fleeting nature of understanding and perception.
💾Lander, by Nick Gentry
Check out this striking piece by UK artist Nick Gentry, showcasing mixed media using floppy disks.
🌌Some awe
A study finds that awe inspires the most-shared articles, highlighting our need to connect over extraordinary experiences.
🏷️Significant objects
An exploration of how invented narratives can transform thrift store finds into valuable treasures.
🌍Lego Globe
I wonder if they used red and orange legos for the globe's core?
🎭Medieval helpdesk
A humorous reflection on the challenges of cultural products in the modern tech landscape, reminiscent of bygone debates on books and technology.
⛪An archipelago of churches, one pebble at a time
An incredible account of a unique tradition in Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, where devotion and geology intertwine through the art of throwing stones into the sea.
🎶The book of love is long and boring…
A reflection on Peter Gabriel's upcoming album and its interpretation of beloved songs, highlighting the emotions they evoke.
🔪You need a good chopping scene
This excerpt explores the cinematic artistry of cooking, particularly the act of chopping, as a means of character representation in film.
🍂Plundering tradition for helpful tips
A reflection on how the pursuit of happiness may overshadow the deeper wisdom of ancient traditions.
🎵Early warning system
There's a whimsical quality to these acoustic listening devices, evoking a sense of curiosity about the world around us.
🎨Jason Holly
A captivating piece that blurs the lines between custom design and found object inspiration. "Love this. It made me slightly less happy once I saw that it was a custom designed-for-designers design rather than a found object. But only slightly."
🤖Robots and the grace of presence
Exploring the surprising reactions people have to humanoid robots, the uncanny feeling seems to fade in person, revealing a more approachable side of robotics.
📚What food books say
A reflection on our complex relationship with food and cookbooks, revealing both knowledge and ignorance throughout history.
🧩Portfolio | natebarksdale.com
A reflection on the design process of my previous website version, inspired by my word search business card and utilizing the Moveable Type platform.
🍂Agate snuff bottle, China, 19th century
Reflecting on the intriguing history and artistry of antique Chinese snuff bottles.
🤝Giving itself is a gift
A reflection on the dynamics of giving and receiving, exploring the deeper connections formed in times of disaster.
📚A new (fun) moral duty
Reflecting on the ethics of book-buying and the value of supporting living authors.
🌭Hot dogs of Latin America
How American hot dogs have taken on unique local twists in places like Guatemala and Colombia.
🏫Indian schoolroom posters
Reflecting on the curious and vibrant world of Indian educational posters, a blend of culture and taxonomy awaits discovery.
🎭Twenty years of unintended consequences
Quoting the Simpsons.