(Bar)barian

New creative studio No. 1 Son teams up with Esque glassblowers for a collection of decadent objects

Born of a meditation on authenticity, the recent collaboration between design studio No. 1 Son and the innovative glassmakers at Portland-based Esque Studio flirts with scale and fantasy for a collection of modern heirlooms “so exotic and unique, that it truly would be an object passed on to generations to come.” Esque artist Andi Kovel continues, the “concept is staged in the future, but just …

We Are Paper Toys: Print-Cut-Fold-Glue-Fun

Paper robots, gorillas and zombies in a new book about origami's younger sibling

Seizing on the DIY phenomenon of recent years, “We Are Paper Toys: Print-Cut-Fold-Glue-Fun” takes an investigative look at 32 masters of paper toy design and their intricate creations. Editor Louis Bou details their personal techniques, while the included CD demonstrates how you can create your own with printable PDF designs. In addition to cover star Shin Tanaka, highlights include Faisal Azad‘s “Reog Ponogoro“—a man/lion/peacock named …

In Case of Design – Inject Critical Thinking

A Swedish designer's new book takes a hard look at the role of criticism in shaping design

Raising several questions about the state of design today and the importance of valid criticism, the new book “In Case of Design – Inject Critical Thinking” analyzes the changing role media plays in the universal design discussion. Swedish author (and designer herself) Frida Jeppson assembled a cast of some of the world’s most vocal critics and wordsmiths—including Stephen Heller, Anna Gerber, Donna Loveday and more—to …