There have been points through the years that have marked significant changes in the classic 501 jean. For instance in 1922 when men started wearing belts instead of suspenders so Levi’s started adding belt loops and removed the buttons for the braces. In 1944, the U.S. government demand that all businesses ration materials like fabric, thread and metal. So the 1944 LVC 501 was made without rivets on the watch pocket, crotch and cinch. The War Department also determined that the famous Levi’s back pocket stitching — called the Arcuate — was “decorative and a waste of thread” according to LS & CO Historian Lynn Downey. So rather than lose its trademark, Levi’s hand painted the Arcuate on every pair of Levi’s 501 WWII jeans.

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“I think what my father and I have in common in terms of art and writing is being fascinated by the challenge to develop a story and pictures that go together. It is not just a story, which is very important in its own right, but it is also the pictures which must together make a book that works, that is alive, that can give something to the readers, and share something of authors. This is the most precious gift my father gave to me: a living example of how a man must follow his creativity to find himself. So in effect, my inner story is of making a connection to my (long-estranged) inner father through my personal creativities.”

Above is a small excerpt from a guest post by Ron Freeman on his father, the author/illustrator, Don Freeman over at www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com. It’s a great read—in four installments— for its touching honesty about the difficult relationship between a father and son, and how work harms and heals through perspective.

“Like George Lucas, you need to consider the universe of your brand–its physics, its planets, its characters and the stories that have already been told. With this in hand, you then need to consider the telling of new stories which are consistent.”

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“Ryosuke Namiki, a Japanese professor, left his job and opened a small factory to produce gold pen nibs in 1915 under the name Pilot. About a decade later, Alfred H. Dunhill, of Dunhill luxury men’s-wear fame, began selling the pens in his Paris store. Pilot is a company I’ve always loved — it is responsible for putting forward the coolest looking marker (the Pilot Jumbo chisel tip). These last couple of years, the Fineliner has been my writing implement of choice. It is by far the best 0.4 millimeter pen available. The pen’s design is a classic. Sure, it’s at its best for the first 20 seconds of use, as opposed to ballpoints, which never flag. But right when the tip first gets broken in … man, I love that instant.”

via The Purist | Summer Classics – The Moment Blog – NYTimes.com.

“Design Is a Point of View: Seven Truths in Designing”

DESIGN is a point of view.

PEOPLE are our ultimate clients.

EMPOWER individual creativity.

PROACTIVE over reactive.

DESIGN is not a democracy.

CULTURE is the key to soulful work.

CHALLENGE anything.

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U.S. News & World Report: “Malls have a natural lifespan, as population centers shift, architecture evolves, and shopping habits change. But a sharp recession is clearly accelerating the demise of vulnerable retailers—and some of the shopping centers they inhabit. Plunging sales are one obvious reason. Many retailers are also saddled with heavy debt taken on in recent years to fund aggressive growth. And the credit crunch has made cash scarce for firms that need it most.”

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PSFK comments: “And while economic downturn is certainly speeding this downward trend, one can’t help but think that it’s the model itself that’s broken. Once single-use facilities outlive their usefulness, it’s often difficult and costly for anything to assume all that real estate, which points to the necessity for more thoughtful planning from the outset. Complexes that attempt to incorporate the needs of the communities they serve into their overall design have a much better chance of surviving harsh financial conditions.”

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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House, originally uploaded by Jeff Rickard.

“The house of moderate cost is not only America’s major architectural problem but the problem most difficult for her major architects.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright, 1936

“With these words, renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright put forth a challenge that he would grapple with for many years. His solution–the Usonian house –was a modestly-scaled family dwelling that was (relatively) affordable, designed for modern family life, and responded to the surrounding environment. The Pope-Leighey House is a classic example of this type of architecture and of mid-20th century design.”

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I appreciate L.L. Bean’s wee web icon. Pure and appropriate.

L.L. Bean

On the Nike+ brand experience:

“Nike has always tried to meet the physical needs of athletes with shoes and equipment, but Nike+ does something very different. Nike+ is about creating, and then meeting, a psychological need.”

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