TEN COMMANDMENTS

No one could argue that Dieter Rams has had a profound influence on many contemporary designers. You can find an array of his designs not only living in peoples homes, but immortalized in museums all over the world. Chief of design at Braun for more than thirty years; he has created some beautiful products, under the incantation 'weniger, aber besser' - less, but more. If you're not familiar with his work, I urge you to go find some.

How would you define good design? I often ask myself - 'Am I really a graphic designer. Have I just blagged my way through. Soon to be caught out as the fraud I really am?'... I hope not.

Dieter Rams - knowing that such things can't be measured in a finite way - constructed what he thought to be the ten basic principles of good design.

Good design:

• is innovative
• makes a product useful
• is aesthetic
• makes a product understandable
• is unobtrusive
• is honest
• is long-lasting
• is thorough down to the last detail
• is environmentally friendly
• is as little design as possible

LIFE ON MARS

Google Earth is so 2004. Have a gander at Mars instead.

NOW WE'RE TALKING

I played one of those Guitar Hero / Rock Band games the other day, and I've gotta say, it was pretty lame. Beating the drums to an inch of their plastic lives was the only fun part. Now, I used to play the drums when I was younger, so it felt vaguely natural to pick up the sticks and hit the pads to the beat of a song... But when I had a go on the "guitar", I was lost. I'm pretty sure playing the guitar is nothing like that. And where was the bass? Something needs to be done. And whoever made this video has the right idea!



Sorry for the cut-off screen. Youtube doesn't seem to embed on here since they went widescreen. Video here.

____ & ____

I love ampersands. I also quite like food, booze, and illustrations. So I obviously liked these.

Check the rest here. By Dan Beckemeyer.

I'M THE NINJABREAD MAN

Are people laughing at your mediocre standard-shaped gingerbread men? Well put a stop to it, with these ninjabread men biscuit cutters!

Molded from food-safe ABS plastic, and only $7.99. Get yours here (in September).

EVOLUTION

Good old ffffound. A neat little comparison of the trusty photoshop tool bar.

PIXEL

FORMATION

TYPODARIUM

Daily inspiration with 365 fonts from 180 foundries and designers from 30 different countries, all packed into a neat little calendar. Nice. Get yours here.

ADAM ISAAC JACKSON

I've been thinking about getting some new tattoos recently. During one of my regular visits to ffffound, I came across this dude. Adam Isaac Jackson is a graphic artist from the Seattle area working mainly in the apparel/fashion industry. Influenced by comic books, rock posters, cartoons and  pop culture (and I'm assuming tattoo culture). I love his elegant pen and ink work, simple black and white line drawings, bringing out natural curves in female bodies and hair. Marvellous.

STICK AROUND

Your walls are looking pretty dull, right? You also have a strange fetish for stickers? Great! Me too. So let us head over to Hu2 Design, and peruse their rather creative vinyl wall decals. From simple decorations, to thought-provoking green living reminders and educational infographics.