Interview: Richard Branson on Design

Our interview with the entrepreneur on the importance of design in building a brand

by Rod Kurtz When you board a Virgin America plane, distinct aesthetics—purple ambient lights, black leather seats and a flight crew smartly clad in Banana Republic uniforms—make it immediately clear this airline is different. Like the rest of Sir Richard Branson‘s properties, Virgin America launched in 2007 as a brash upstart in a traditional industry—an attempt to jostle the stalwart carriers and give air travel …

Puxxle

Portuguese designer sisters Luisa Lente and Catarina Lente rethink the puzzle

Growing up, sisters Luisa and Catarina Lente were as fascinated by classic jigsaw puzzles as they were by complex virtual games like SimCity2000. Drawing connections between the pixels that made up their online worlds and the pieces of their favorite board games, the Lentes decided to create a kind of hybrid to bring their pixelated world into the tangible realm. Part puzzle part pixel, their …

Pisacco

An artful new restaurant in Milan

Milan’s airy new bar and restaurant Pisacco was born out of a collaboration between consulting firm food.different and a group of food- and art-loving friends. As a result, the new eatery is characterized by its close connection to contemporary art, from the name (a deliberate misspelling of Picasso), to the important art works decorating every corner of the space, restrooms included. Pisacco’s simple, sophisticated menu …