The people over at GOOD have created a look back at the past design decade and may I say it made my designer drool run.
Design makes a difference in the world – it’s not just about making things look pretty. Though it helps 
Check out their list here: The Decade in Design
I keep an archive of work that I’ve done throughout the years and I just stumbled upon these glass jar sauce labels that I designed in the very beginning of my career for Best Foods® Denmark.
These were one of three first round concept designs presented to the client. This direction was chosen.
So, what’s the reason I’m posting this old stuff? Well, because I think that these labels as concept designs would still work today, 11 years later. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of things to do better here – for example to take into consideration the color of the actual sauce in the glass bottles – but the basics still work for me.
I’m hungry.
The Original Scandinavian office will be closed from February 5th – 15th, both days included. I will be able to answer emails within 24 hours during this time.
Bon voyage!
I was clicking and clicking on Marian Bantjes website to find the best example of her work to post with this… I got lost for a minute or two in awe over her designs and I finally had to give in and just pick one example blindly.
Her work is outstanding and you’re just going to have to visit her site yourself.
Here’s the exceptionally good news: She’s coming to Alaska to give a lecture at the Alaska Design Forum, Monday, January 11th at 7pm at the Anchorage Museum Auditorium.
From Alaska Design Forum: “Marian is known for her custom typography, detailed and lovingly precise vector art, obsessive hand work, patterning and ornament.”
Still to this day many rural villages have no hot showers, running water or flushing toilets, however this is changing with huge efforts of ANTHC / Division of Environmental Health and Engineering (DEHE).
This year alone DEHE have brought historic changes to several Native communities across Alaska by for example implementing something most of us take for granted: Clean drinking water. For the first time ever, the children of Goodnews Bay can get a glass of water right from the kitchen sink.
I enjoyed working on this brochure project to showcase these changes.
Thinking about sustainable design again and decisions to be made when selecting paper. Below are some of my favorite examples from AIGA’s Center for Sustainable Design. These are things I consider for every project.
DEFINITIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Carbon Offsetting
The act of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by funding projects that reduce their impact, such as sustainable power generation, changes in land use and forestry.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
An international organization that has developed standards emphasizing environmentally- and socially-responsible criteria to certify and label wood products from well-managed forests.
Post-Consumer Waste (PCW)
Waste collected after the consumer has used and disposed of it.
Processed Chlorine Free (PCF)
Paper is made from fiber recycled from post-consumer waste (PCW) and unbleached or bleached without Chlorine compounds. PCF paper is the most environmentally friendly type.
SUSTAINABLE PAPER CHOICES
When selecting paper, keep in mind that sustainability is not simply a matter of maximizing recycled content. Energy used in manufacture and transport, chlorine content and other chemical content, sustainable forestry, and other factors should be considered.
Proximity of the mill to the printer should also be considered, however this is a serious challenge when living in Alaska. A recycled paper shipped across the ocean or flown across the country is less sustainable than a sustainably harvested virgin-fiber paper that has to travel only a few miles. What to do about this, I’m not sure…?
Domtar
Domtar EarthChoice is a complete and innovative line of socially and environmentally responsible papers that includes paper for a variety of end uses. EarthChoice products are certified to FSC standards, publicly endorsed by Rainforest Alliance and supported by WWF-Canada.
Mohawk
The Beckett Expression and Concept lines are FSC certified, as are some Options, Via and Strathmore grades. Options, Via and Strathmore include 100% PCW papers. All papers are process chlorine-free and/or elemental chlorine-free. Mohawk uses 60% windpower, and Beckett Expressions and Concept and Strathmore are carbon offset.
Neenah
Neenah Environment, Classic Crest, Classic Linen, Classic Laid, Classic Columns and Classic Cotton are FSC certified and Green Seal certified. All but Classic Cotton are chlorine-free certified and are available 100% PCW. Environment, Classic Crest, Starwhite and certain grades of Eames are Green-e certified for renewable energy. Some Environment grades use alternative fibers.
Yes, beauty and function go hand-in-hand – in fact it’s the perfect match.
As I’m patiently waiting for my parents back in Denmark to send me their favorite wild rabbit recipes, I’m searching the net to find inspiration. This Friday I’m going to cook two wild rabbits provided by a good friend from Bethel. I will share the dish at a party in honor of her husband and mother-in-law.
Why am I writing about food? Well, along with design, this is a huge passion of mine and I’ve been a foodie since my teenage years living in the countryside of Denmark. I remember coming home from school and going straight to the kitchen to make crepes for snacking.
I just stumbled upon this Alpine Rabbit Stew recipe from FX Cuisine and I have to share the site. This is an example of beautiful, step-by-step food photography. The only complaint I have is that there should be more recipes and more pictures. I wish this guy did this for a living.
Is the website well-designed? No. But, there’s soul in the photography and I feel immediately inspired to cook.
It’s not enough to make something beautiful – functionality is a key ingredient. These pictures take me through the recipe from start to finish and within a matter of seconds I can decide whether or not I want to follow the recipe.
This Saturday, December 5th I’m going to be part of an artist-made jewelry and ornament sale at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art
Super talented artists such as Holly McQuinn, Hanna Eklund and Sonya Kelliher-Combs will be selling their work, too. Stop by the gallery between noon and 4pm and check out the goods.
International Gallery of Contemporary Art
427 D Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
