Marathons, Makers, and Surviving the Dark MiddleIn the dark middle of the race, runners need encouragement, reminders that they're strong, that the finish is ahead: plausible, real, within reach.
Message from BeyondA missive from quite another big medium arrives in my mailbox.
David Byrne Never Stops Making SenseDavid Byrne's concert in Paris was an inspiring reminder of the simple pleasure of sharing the amazing stuff you make.
Jacques Villeglé: The Original MashupAn exhibition of torn poster art asks fascinatingly relevant questions in an era of online mashups and user-generated content.
Winning the Uphill BattleParis solves a problem with its bike-sharing program by turning hill-climbing into a game.
Follow the Grid, Skip the LinesMy post office features a clever heat-map grid to announce slow and busy hours. A perfect idea for the web.
C’est la BeachAs Paris morphs into the Riviera, some clever icon design works its own transformation.
ControlledYour faithful correspondent fell under the browbeating eye of authority on a few recent and essentially trivial occasions, making me think a bit about the effects of control, rule enforcement and tone in my own work.
Design Treasures Found and Lost in the Paris MétroTons of cool historical design in the Paris subway is getting gutted.
A Subtle Nose for Coffee, a Taste for Good DesignA coffee tasting leaves a caffeine buzz and a lesson that applies to design, too: In matters of taste, subtlety is everything.
Centaurs and Park Benches: Innovation by IdiosyncrasyA park bench becomes a subversive design element. Every project needs one.
Gotta Have a Helipad: Banality and Betrayal in DesignA neighborhood landmark gets a garish transformation, and thoughts wander to designer responsibility and online communities.
Buggy Behavior at the LouvreThe Louvre lifts a photo ban, and visitors go insane. A small change in the rules can spark dramatic behavior shifts, not always for the better.
Pay To Play: Fair Price for Good CommunityA new bike-sharing program in Paris suggests that a modest fee buys good behavior.
Night at the MuseumNuit des Musées shakes up stodgy preconceptions about museums and reveals them as lively, relevant places.