It's Friday - time to check browser history. Some links, people.

1. According to my browsing behaviour one of the most interesting themes this week has been Milan 2010 Fair. Lots and lots of interesting stuff, but it is really hard to pinpoint the best designs and/or ideas - or to even make a decent summary of them. Dezeen's reports are worth checking out. Fast Company has a slide show of new Finnish goodies, too.

2. Now that we are talking about Milan Fair... Artek revealed their new chair, designed by Enzo Mari. According to Artek's press release, "customers will purchase a set of precut pinewood boards, nails and instructions for the chair". Apparently it's more of a concept than an actual chair. It may be noticable that we've seen a lot of these postmodern self-assemblage items recently, actually there was one rather similar chair in Milan called "Fruit Box" by Finnish group Creadesign. Nevertheless, mr. Mari's work and career is indeed worth checking out. If this is the first time you hear about this grand old man, go and google.

3. A new find (at least for me): Moustache. Fun and playful, some items have even echoes of baroque and the 70's - but not tacky. Like!

4. The Most Beautiful Finnish Books of 2009 have been selected. "The title chosen as Book of the Year was Amour unit deux cours - Henry Lönnforsin miniatyyrikokoelma - Henry Lönnfors miniatyrsamling (The Henry Lönnfors Miniature Collection) published by the Turku Art Museum." Good, traditional graphic design. Why not check out the previous awards (via my older blog post).

5. Did you know that the first world exposition was held already in 1851? This year China will host the 2010 Expo in Shanghai, and (naturally) Finland will take part in it, too. "The Finland Pavilion "Kirnu" is surrounded by a lake, appearing to float on the water. It has the slogan "Sharing Inspiration," where ideas can meet and mix. The design draws inspiration from Finnish nature. Elements reinterpreted in the pavilion include the shape of small rocks found on coastal islands, the surface of a fish, reflection on water, framed view of the sky and smell of tar on wood." Doesn't sound very avant-garde at all, but the 3D mockup looks kinda nice in pictures - but I didn't know that there is so much empty white space in Shanghai... and only a handful of people?

+ 1 And last but not least: someone has made calculations about font ink usage. Loving the comments, great professional entertainment. But seriously: if you really are concerned about your company's ink usage, please hire a designer to help solve these kind of problems. 

This is part II of 5+1 series. Originally the idea was to gather some sort of mix'n'match selection of (hopefully somehow design-related) links that would be posted on Werklig site every Friday. However, this week we have Easter coming up so I had to do this already on Thursday. Anyways, here goes! 

1. First, some interiors and architecture. Why all public spaces (especially in Finland) are so dull? It's all lame light gray, light green, light yellow and cherry/beech laminate. Why can't they look like the Achievement First Endeavor Middle School in Brooklyn designed by Pentagram? If there's an architect reading our blog, please feel free to comment.
2. House Industries has released a new font called "Eames". Not too bad. Surprisingly I seem to like even the Stencil version, which is odd.
3. This is just great: "Movie Title Stills Collection". You should also check out a documentary about film music on Yle Teema next Sunday (L'Age d'or de la musique de film).
4. The Story of O (in design, people).
5. I bet you didn't know this about banknote patterns.
+ and finally, some zen letterpress stuff here and here. Sit down, watch and enjoy.

Happy Easter!
 

(Picture courtesy of Pentagram) 

Here are 5+1 casual goodies gathered from the web for your Friday amusement. Surf on!

1. The Museum of Modern Art has acquired the @ symbol. At least that's what they say.
2. A Collection a Day. Very nice.
3. Roel Wouters. Check out the Grip-video for starters.
4. I want one of these. I don't know what for and why, but I do.  If I'd have a dog, I'd want one of these, too.
5. Meanwhile in Japan, Isamu Noguchi has set new cool standards for parks.
+ and as a bonus: something creepy, funny and strange in a blog that has a rude name. 

Have a great weekend! 

Whenever I meet someone, the second question is always what is it that we do in Werklig? The answer – a design agency – usually raises more questions. And rightfully so.

Design as a concept is so overwhelmingly undefined, yet so crucial to identify what we actually do. Everything can be designed but not everything is design.

Design is, as we see it, a solution to a complex set of problems. Let’s look at corporate identities for example. CI is a complex problem, not merely a challenge. If we leave the two other elements of corporate identity mix aside, these being communication (advertising, PR, sponsorship etc) and behaviour towards customers and stakeholders, we are left with corporate visual identity. Visual identity can be solved but not without thorough knowledge of the organization in question.

Why it’s a must to understand your client and their business? In order to visualize corporation’s identity we are creating something that visually embodies the core existence of the whole organisation and fulfills the most prominent presumption of marketing: differentiation. To put it more simply:  great visual identities fulfill two things; they fit and they differentiate.

Being or looking different, without any fit is not that hard. Achieving a fitting visual identity is not that cumbersome either. However, creating a great, fitting and differentiating visual identity is complex. Design is the answer to this complexity.

For that purpose we must get to know the organisation in order to create something that can be rightfully labelled as design. Without thorough knowledge of for what, who and why we would be simply creating something hollow, something meaningless, unfitting or the same as everybody else. It's labeling instead of design. We are not in labeling business, we must not be. Labeling happens when something is just done instead of questions being asked why it should be done.

Werklig is a design agency. We ask questions. We want to know our clients. We need to know why. Luckily our clients understand this. 

Vanilla flower for 'Vanilla' & shamrock for 'Irish Coffee'

Freeze dried Colombian coffees

My friend is an entrepreneur and my hobby is to give him a little help with his label & package design.   

Our latest collabo – DeCasa family; Amaretto, Caramel, Irish Coffee and Vanilla is in stores now (at Stockmann's etc.).

I really like the small 50 g size of jars. It enables consumers to pick selection of different flavours home. Just like we are used to do with flavoured loose teas or tea bag selections. The price will be very competitive 2,40 € / jar. 

Through my friend, I have learned interesting details and quality facts about the Colombian coffee production. 100% Colombian coffee is always a matter of honour (authorised Cafe de Colombia logo).

Freeze-drying is the ideal process to preserve the attributes of flavour, aroma and perfect balance of the coffee.

Only minus is that freshly opened Decasa's scent is missleadingly very artificial and disturbing strong. That's weird, because the taste is just perfectly soft.

Last minute housewarming gift, 'leave behind' product when visiting a friend or think about to mix different kinds of coffee-based drinks using DeCasas.  

My next given hobby assignment is to design labels for very trendy freeze dried 100% natural fruits. This one goes to hipster babies. Colourful and fresh paper cut illustrations & fruit characters! Fun.  

The friends of Finnish Handicrafts was created 130 years ago in response to a manifesto exhorting Finnish artists and crafts enthusiasts to cherish and develop our national heritage of crafts.

Friends & Friends opening TONIGHT! Culmination. Bringing the message of the manifesto. I heard that at least Saara Renvall has developed nice product ideas for this. I bet they all have, actually – Samples and prototypes. 

Rainy day + opening = perfect act. 

Invitation

I spent a perfect weekend in Marais with Anna Ahonen from Ahonen&Lamberg. Mini holiday. Sun was shining in Paris, we were biking and just walking around. Visiting places we love, discussing about topics we find attractive and feel passionate about. Just perfect. 

Art

We visited galleries chosen by architecture (interior) and by (known) name, not by art itself or artist as we are maybe used to. That turned out to be an inspiring concept. Surprise art. 

Weekend's palette offered among other things a very nice solo show 'Considering Henry' by Hernan Bas in Gallery Emmanuel Perrotin (Miami&Paris).  

New romanticism, inspiration from the myths and the history of art. Lone figure in exotic landscapes, either reading alone or whispering to tree.

Gallery Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris

   
Hernan Bas, Considering Henry
I liked this isolated cabin painting

Fashion 

The release of the new Tim Burton version of Alice in Wonderland (starring Johnny Depp) had caused Alice mania in Paris. 

Printemps had collaborated with a gang of top fashion designers like Ann Demeulemeester, Maison Martin Margiela, Alexander Mcqueen etc. allowing them to decorate windows, create their versions of Alice in wonderland scenes – Alice outfits and playful display designs.

Actually Alice theme was going on in-store as well. I think that Ladurée's Alice in Wonderland tea party in the basement was amazing. Sweet delicacies & tea sipping. Books, macarons in every colour (black!), and other carefully picked theme-related objects from floor to ceiling.

The tea room itself featured a mix of chess board and grass floors. The sets were so impressive (out of this world!) that after some serious discovering and admire me and Anna couldn't find our way out from the store anymore. Art spectacular.

Photo via Heute World

Photo via Heute World 

Living 

Merci concept store is a fresh alternative for Colette. Lifestyle looking. Charity business. Merci donates all of its proceeds (after breaking even) for young women in Madagascar.  

I totally crushed on these Mydraps at Merci. First cloth serviettes 100% cotton or linen, in roll and pre-cut, for single use or to be washed and used again. High quality houseware design, with various colours and formats.  

A good idea on a roll!



THE kitchen at Merci = a system to tile three dimensionally. Originally as part of the Droog Design Collection. 
     
tiled washbasin, yes please. 

Internal fruitful Werklig discussions, yesterday's Grafia's and Aalto University's 'Future of graphic design'- seminar (We went to see how brilliant minds see it!) and for example Aiga's 'defining the designer of 2015' research shows that there is a one huge hot topic over the others. And that's the most relevant and inspirational issue that lead us, too, forward:

The ways of thinking & doing, processes, defining design, defining graphic designer and the content of art and design degrees in Finland, present and in future, keep our eyes and brains busy. We want to think that our influence is important. We need to speak out. 

In addition, there is a bunch of potential customers and the public who insistently asks questions of concrete profits they can reach by means of design, questions of added value. Lots of good argumentation work is done daily by us. I'm proud of us. 

In the past few weeks, I have found Werklig and our team to be a great success, because i think that already since Werklig's first baby steps over two years ago we have been searching solutions to right kind of questions, or more correct, we have asked the right questions and the very same ultimate ideal and goal that is in every institute's and great minds' lips now leads us forward.  

"Better vision leads to better solutions" as Marco Steinberg from Sitra puts it.

Random note page

Minna Parikka asked me to do a collaboration for a silk scarf collection with her. Minna Parikka is a succesful Finnish shoe designer who sells her collections around the world. I really admire Minna's way to work and I'm happy to have the opportunity to work with such a talent. For me this is a perfect way to be creative. Making something new by combining two ways of thinking forthe ambition of making something beautiful.

Photography: Nina Merikallio

Photography: Nina Merikallio

Photography: Nina Merikallio

The scarf collection was inspired by women, their beauty and some traditional silk scarf imaginary.

The collection is coming out next fall and is presented in fashion fairs in Copenhagen, Milan and Paris during this spring.

Typeface by Underware 

In making the decision concerning the award 'Graphic Designer of the year', the board annually observes the various sectors of graphic design in order to take equal notice of people working in different fields.

Graphic Designer of the Year is awarded annually without applying, primarily for outstanding work noted in the field of graphic design, or any other activity that advances the level and appreciation of Finnish graphic design.

Sami Kortemäki and Underware brings typography into focus in 2010! 

In contemporary use, the practice and study of typography is very broad, covering all aspects of letter design and applications: typesetting, type design, handwriting, calligraphy, graffiti, poster design and other large scale lettering. Business communications and promotional collateral, advertising, logos, cartographic labeling (map design), kinetic typography in motion picture films and TV, component of industrial design (type on home appliances for example) or modern poetry, web pages and mobile screens. Type is everywhere. Art and technique.

Typefaces, point size, line length, line spacing, adjusting the spaces between groups of letter, adjusting the space between pairs of letters etc. In typography, text is composed to create a readable, coherent, and visually satisfying whole that works invisibly, without the awareness of the reader.

Repetition, contrast, proximity and alignment. Choice of font — prose fiction, non fiction, editorial, educational, religious, scientific, spiritual and commercial writing all have differing characteristics and requirements of appropriate typefaces and fonts. Legibility – number one concern of typeface designer, and readability, concern of the the typographer or information designer. And what about the color of the text? How does it affect? 

Above ^ Everyday life of a professional visual designer who never question the importance of every detail and choice, the power of typography.

So, At best, typography in focus means that there is actually a large large amount of all kind of proper and thinkable things in focus. Pay attension for type in 2010!

And for your own best, just drop not later than NOW all the typo associated 'high society' or geek-related hearsay. Knowing type, talking type – we simply call it no more no less than professional. 

Sources: Grafia and Wikipedia