2009 Annual Report, SUBURBS ALLIANCE

I recently completed the 2009 Annual Report for my client, the Michigan Suburbs Alliance. I think this is by far our best book to date. We had so much great photo this year, a resource we'd previously been somewhat light on, and it made a huge difference to the layouts. Special thanks to the staff of the MSA for all their help and talent.



Some selected spreads:

521 DESIGN in Brooklyn

521 Design is the multi-disciplinary studio of self-taught designer and artist Chris Ferebee, producing all manner of design from furniture to skate decks to print design. I spotted 521's "Joseph Felt Bench" (pictured above) at the Cooper-Hewitt's "Fashioning Felt" exhibit and decided to check out their other work. Including the 32/30 Seating Unit (below). Check em out!

A Hard Drive with CLASS

Finally, a portable hard drive that Connery's Bond or even Hemingway could appreciate. Toss it onto the café table in Marrakech next to your tattered Moleskine journal and absinthe champagne cocktail. Keep it on the night table beside your nightcap Vodka martini and Walther PPK. Set it down on the credenza next to your smoldering Cuban cigar and 25 year-old cognac.

Or just keep it on the IKEA flat pack desk next to your Diet Coke and Funyuns.

Soul POWER

A trailer for Soul Power, a "verité documentary" about an epic 1974 series of concerts in Kinshasa, Zaire, featuring some of the most revered R&B acts of all time. The concerts were held as a combined event with Don King's epic "Rumble in the Jungle", the fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman (which was the focus of the Oscar winning documentary "When We Were Kings"). Soul Power is directed by Jeffery Levy-Hinte—who produced "13".

Featuring: James Brown, Bill Withers, B.B. King, The Spinners, Miriam Makeba, The Crusaders, The Fania All-Stars, and Sister Sledge. Plus — I'm guessin' — Muhammad Ali.

OREO + RITZ

Spotted the Oreo packaging in Target this week and was waiting to catch a glimpse of the new but retro Ritz box as well. I had heard they were on the way to Target shelves for a short promotion. The wait is over for both thanks to TheDieline.com

According to their blog, the packaging was designed "by Baker Associates," and "the Retro Oreo/Ritz look was an exclusive for Target and will be treated as an in and out for the summer."

I think it's awesome that a firm called Baker Associates does packaging for things like cookies and crackers. They couldn't have planned that better. Personally I wish they'd just keep these designs permanent.

I love FRENCH TOAST

...and Trish Grantham too. Check out these amazing marushka dolls she did with a French Toast theme. You got your recipe right here, and it's art too! (It could use vanilla though. And cinnamon. But I'll let her slide on that.) Makes me want to get to the kitchen right now...

...and make French Toast. Get these while they're hot!!

While you're at it, check out my friend (and Trish's) @my Ruppel's new birds, also on Etsy!



I have one of Amy's birds and a painting by Trish. If you want to be cool like me you better get over there and get yourself some.