As part of It’s Nice That‘s Design Legacies series, Lucy Bourton takes readers on a deep dive into instant ramen’s origin story. First conjured up by Momofuku Ando during the food shortages following the Second World War in Japan, instant noodles drastically altered cooking and dining at home—an especially remarkable feat when one considers Momofuku had no prior culinary experience. When he lost his job …
$28
A handbook for those wanting to embark on a career in graphic design, Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Designers combines all types of publications to be part textbook, part comic, “zine, manifesto, survival guide and self-help manual.” Through essays, interviews, artwork, typeface and beyond, lesser heard voices at various stages of their careers are given a platform to share …
An oil spill off Israel’s Mediterranean coast has impacted the water’s population of endangered green sea turtles. At the country’s National Sea Turtle Rescue Center, medical assistants stumbled upon an unexpected way to break down the sticky substance and its leftover residue: mayonnaise. “They came to us full of tar. All their trachea from inside and outside was full of tar,” Guy Ivgy, an assistant …
Hidden among the brushstrokes of Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch’s famous “The Scream” painting (actually named “Skrik”) are the words, “Can only have been painted by a madman.” Scrawled in pencil at the top left corner, the inscription’s attribution has been debated recently, with many wondering if it was written by a harsh critic (as the work received heavy criticism upon its release in 1895). New …
Nashville-based artist Herb Williams’ playful crayon sculptures address climate change in ways more palatable for children. Inspired by wildfires, extreme weather and deforestation, his works make statements embedded with complex references and calls for action. “The epic catastrophes, disasters, and pandemic are virtually impossible to navigate as adults, so I am trying to create works that will help children understand and eventually deal, most hopefully …
Netflix, along with Japan’s WIT Studio, will offer a full scholarship to the new anime course at Tokyo’s Sasayuri Video Training Institute. Animator Hitomi Tateno, of Japan’s world-renowned Studio Ghibli, designed the six-month program and will teach it herself. There are only 10 spots available in the program, which is accepting applications now through 28 February. It’s available to residents of Japan only (but non-citizens …
$180
Handwoven in Sacatepéquez, Guatemala from 100% cotton, this DittoHouse grid pillow cover combines contemporary design and traditional craft, with a brocade pattern and bold colors. 50% of the profits from its sale go to the Trama Textiles Almaya Fund, which works directly with Mayan artisans. The initiative aims to secure fair wages for women artisans working at 17 weaving cooperatives across several regions in Guatemala’s Western …
$40
From Teeling Whiskey and La Colombe, this limited edition Irish Coffee cocktail kit includes one 750ml bottle of Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey, two nine-ounce La Colombe Vanilla Draft Latte Cans, two whiskey glasses, two metal straws and grated nutmeg with a shaker. Together, the components produce an unconventional cold brew iteration of the cherished classic cocktail, but it’s unsurprisingly delicious.
$32
Designed by acclaimed artist Andy Rementer, Areaware’s Block Party toy series comprises seven characters (cat, duck, monkey, mouse, tiger and two humans) broken down into several pieces. Stack them anyway you like, or collect the set for mix-and-match options. Each has its own accessory—the monkey comes with a banana, while the woman has a soccer ball. Whether a collectable for an art enthusiast or a …
Sammy Harkham + Brain Dead + NTWRK
$140
Available exclusively on NTWRK, a content-driven shopping platform, comic book editor Sammy Harkham teams up with Brain Dead on a hoodie designed to accompany their collaborative 72-page comic book, a “message in a bottle” meant to “celebrate independent comics, bookstores and artists” in the aftermath of 2020. The comic features work by Geoff McFetridge, Julie Doucet, Charles Burns and others, and a portion of profits …
It’s been a decade since Braids tantalized with their debut record, Native Speaker, and one year since we fell for the Montreal-based band’s electric ode to attraction, “Young Buck.” Today, they return with the hypnotic “Young Buck (DJ Python Remix)” and its steamy music video directed by Kevin Calero. Lead vocalist Raphaelle Standell-Preston dances herself through the visuals, surrounded by a choreography that heightens the …
From Jansport J’s instrumental EP Save My Soul II, “See Me Through” carries a distinct laidback feeling that’s reminiscent of ’90s underground hip-hop, specifically Dilla beats. Jansport J (aka Justin Williams) is a California-based producer who started making music in high school, and has since worked with Snoop Dogg, Freddie Gibbs and others.
New York-based band Steady Sun’s sonically rich, retro-tinged single, “Truth is a Needle,” provides plenty of psychedelic elements and the Slack Barrett-directed video was designed to match. Floating from your sound system “like lysergic vapor” (record label Daptone Records writes), the song enthralls listeners with its many layers. Simultaneously something to delve into or zone out to, “Truth is a Needle” warrants repeat plays.
The Creative Collective NYC and Black History’s virtual exhibition BLK HST: Reclaiming Our Stories profiles dozens of influential Black individuals who achieved “firsts” throughout US history. From Matthew Alexander Henson, the first person to reach the North Pole; to Cheryle Browne Hollingsworth, the first Black contestant in the Miss America pageant; Doris S Davis, the first Black woman to govern a metropolitan city; and Deford …
