Design
Welcome to Seoul, the City of the Future
The once poor South Korean city has bloomed into a cultural capital with high-profile architecture, top museums and an influential arts scene
November 2012 |
By Tom Downey
Why Does Dracula Wear a Tuxedo? The Origins of Bram Stoker’s Timeless Vampire
The evolution of Dracula, from the mind of a sickly youth to an iconic portrayal on the silver screen
October 31, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Recapping ‘The Jetsons’: Episode 06 – The Good Little Scouts
A camping trip to the moon might seem fanciful, but 1960s advertisers were already promoting space tourism
October 29, 2012 |
By Matt Novak
12 Creepy Kids in Halloween Masks
When their faces are obscured, these children transform into frightening little creatures
October 29, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
The Witches of Halloween Past
Sexy or scary, the outfit has cast a spell on costume wearers going back many years
October 26, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Copyright Confection: The Distinctive Topography of the Hershey Bar
After a legal tug-of-war, Hershey's secured a trademark for the structural design of their classic chocolate bar
October 24, 2012 |
By Sarah C. Rich
Political Animals: Republican Elephants and Democratic Donkeys
Politicians and parties may flip-flop but for more than 100 years, the political iconography of the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant has remained unchanged
October 23, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Taking a Closer Look at an Odd Pair of Very, Very Old Socks
With their divided toes and extreme length, these red knit wonders from an excavated Egyptian site have an otherworldly quality
October 19, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Designing Lives and Building Stories, Chris Ware’s Comic Book Epic
In Building Stories, cartoonist Chris Ware presents the banality of everyday life as a stunning comic epic
October 18, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
The Transformation of Freshkills Park From Landfill to Landscape
Freshkills was once the biggest landfill in the world. Today, it's the biggest park in New York City
October 15, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Dress Codes and Etiquette, Part 1: What Not to Wear to High School in the 1960s
Before the Age of Aquarius, there was the age of administrators and their button-down rules about students' wardrobes
October 15, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Stocking Series, Part 4: The Rebellious Roll Garters
Wearing rolled stocking back then must have been akin to the liberating, punk rock feeling of wearing ripped fishnets today
October 12, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
San Francisco’s Makeathon Leads the Way for Hacking the Urban Landscape
How citizens are using design interventions to shuffle social dynamics and change public space in cities
October 11, 2012 |
By Sarah C. Rich
This 105-Year-Old Made Marilyn Monroe’s Earrings
Meet Sadie Mintz, a jewelry maker who saw her handiwork on the cover of LIFE magazine
October 09, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
How Did the Pigskin Get Its Shape?
American football may have evolved from soccer and rugby, but it turns out that the football was never truly designed, it just sort of happened
October 05, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
As a Matter of Fact: Jockeys, Tartans and Cowboy Glam
The real stories behind some fashion fads and classics hold some surprising twists
October 05, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Antonio’s World: The Life and Work of a Celebrated Fashion Illustrator
Antonio Lopez's electrifying art defined the style of the times, 1960s-'80s. Now, a gallery show and book call renewed attention to his accomplishments
October 02, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Leatherhead to Radio-head: The Evolution of the Football Helmet
From hand-cobbled beginnings, the football helmet has evolved to become one of the most highly designed pieces of equipment in all of sports
October 01, 2012 |
By Jimmy Stamp
Yayoi Kusama, High Priestess of Polka Dots
The avant-garde Japanese artist attains retrospective status—and embarks on a fashion collaboration with Louis Vuitton
September 28, 2012 |
By Emily Spivack
Making Objects: A Dispatch From the Future of Small-Batch Manufacturing
A pair of young design entrepreneurs are building a small-batch manufacturing company in Chicago
September 27, 2012 |
By Sarah C. Rich

