On August 8th 2011, Ray Anderson, ‘radical industrialist’ and chairman and founder of Interface Inc. passed away without the world noticing. Barely two months later, the death of Steve Jobs became an inescapable subject of discussion. Canonized by the mass media, Jobs is referenced as the doyen of visionary leadership and Apple products as the utmost examples of purity and perfection. In truth, Jobs’ legacy represents everything that’s wrong with design, manufacturing, and the global economy. Like the soap in Fight Club, our ignorance is being sold back to us; reconstituted hyperbole elaborately packaged under the auspices of good design. →

The Definitive Documentary on Design Icons Charles & Ray Eames
IFC Center – NY, NY & Laemmle Music Hall – LA, CA
11/18/11

“The Eames Era,” began in the optimistic flush of American victory during World War II, and the global impact of the Eames aesthetic continues to grow unabated today. Now, First Run Features is pleased to present the U.S. theatrical premiere of Jason Cohn and Bill Jersey’s definitive and unprecedented cinematic foray into the private world of the Renaissance-style studio that Charles and Ray Eames conceived in a cavernous warehouse on a gritty street in Venice Beach, California where design history was born. →

The Precision and Sheer Velocity of Haze’s Art
Known Gallery – LA, CA
Ongoing thru

Known Gallery proudly presents “New Mathematics”, a new collection of paintings and drawing by one of the godfathers of graffiti art, Eric Haze. Throughout the years, the New York-based artist has crafted a distinct vocabulary of stark, abstract symbolism imbued with deep meaning. Recognized worldwide for more than three decades for his iconic design work and artistic productions – from the Beastie Boys to Casio to Nike – those years also revealed Haze’s concentration towards his fine art roots. →

A Forum on Edgar Orlaineta’s Solar Nothing
Steve Turner Contemporary – LA, CA
10/3/11

It’s great to see that our friends at Big City Forum are back with another scintillating forum on the issues that matter most to us.  BCF in conjunction with Steve Turner Contemporary presents a panel focusing on the myth and impact of Southern California Design.  The discussion will be moderated by Marissa Gluck and will focus around the solo exhibition Solar Nothing by Mexico City-based artist Edgar Orlaineta →

Globe, designers and distributors of shoes, clothing and cruiser skateboards, unveiled its upcoming Year Zero collection this past Monday at the Roosevelt Hollywood premiere of its acclaimed surf movie Year Zero. Produced in conjunction with the film, the Year Zero collection features unique, one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the film’s dystopian, post-apocalyptic art direction. →

Condoms. We all need them yet I think I speak for every gentlemen of how painfully awkward it is when one has to purchase them. Fellas, you know what the scenario, that long line at CVS where you end up buying your pack of jimmy hats and you felt obligated to purchase the latest issue of People to camouflage one’s purchase. Ok, maybe that’s just me but in any event, I think one company did condom packaging and marketing right. Take a look at Sir Richard’s Condom Company, which takes the philanthropic TOMS Shoes model and provides →

For the ninth installment of Curated by Arkitip, artist Romon Kimin Yang, aka Rostarr, explores human nature via a series of geometric paintings applied to Incase’s signature protective cases. Available today, the Rostarr capsule collection for Curated by Arkitip treats Incase products as a vessel for delivering original Rostarr artwork →

SIR/FQ magazine art director, Abel Munoz, is a couture shoe designer and Costa Rican native based out of Toronto. With SNL/Bridesmaids actress Kirstin Wiig wearing his shoes, a coveted write up in WWD and a nod in an Italian Vogue spread (for his chic, multi-buckled Petronia,) Munoz is a rising star with few peers.  And for good reason.

His shoes are sassy, yet refined and beautiful, made for women of “any age who love luxury and shoes.” They are architectural, bold and streamlined, perhaps echoing his graphic design back ground.
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Arkitip is very pleased to announce the reopening of Project Space.  Stop by Saturday between 11:00 – 19:00 we will be serving complimentary wine and small bites during the afternoon. All online inventory as well as some surprise items will be available with a special 50% discount on ALL issue editions. →

An interview with Jiji Panda
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In China, the national symbol is not a dragon, a Ming dynasty urn, or a red star, but a cute animal- the giant panda. Infamous worldwide for their generally docile nature and overwhelming cuteness, pandas have even been sent to other countries from China as big greeting cards of peace, a practice the media termed “Panda Diplomacy.” As of this article, they are still listed as an endangered species. However, a new species of panda is breeding successfully, in fashion and cute goods sites all over the world, and he doesn’t eat bamboo and loaf around, smiling. →