The Art of Ping Pong 2015

From Anthony Burrill to Noma Bar, 21 illustrators create one-off paddles to raise money for disadvantaged youth

A ping pong paddle isn’t your typical canvas, but the Art of Ping Pong challenges esteemed designers and illustrators to try—and the bespoke bats are then auctioned off to raise money for BBC Children in Need, which supports disadvantaged youth in the UK. For its third year, London design agency Fivefootsix asked 20 very recognizable names like Anthony Burrill, Craig & Karl and Noma Bar …

The Surprising History Behind Typographic Symbols

It’s fascinating to think that younger generations will grow up only knowing “pound signs” as “hashtags”—yet, before that, did you know they were actually referred to as “octothorpes”? This continuous evolution of language affects all of us, and it’s the focal point of Adriana Caneva and Shiro Nishimoto’s new book “Glyph.” From ampersands to slashes, interrobangs and manicules, there’s a wide world of typographic symbols …

Starbucks’ Vice President of Design + Content Jeffrey Fields Reveals Their Red Cup Design

Discussing global brand identity and how it morphs for changing seasons

While coffee preferences vary and CH often prefers to consume local, indie coffee brands, Starbucks plays a critical role in global coffee adoption—and they aim to do so responsibly. Moreover, they’re one of only a handful of brands whose iconography has reached the world over. Since 1997, Starbucks has unveiled a holiday cup that’s become synonymous with seasonal change (we’ve chronicled their progression visually here, …