Matthew Williams Design | Weblog

I <3 3Form

2009-09-29T21:44:00Z

My 3Form samples were delivered yesterday. I’m looking forward to using this material on an upcoming project.

1553 Fairfax

2009-09-29T05:46:00Z

I was in Los Angeles for the weekend and I spotted these beautiful and cleverly-designed address numbers—which appear to be fabricated from bent strips of bar stock, painted, and pin-mounted to the facade—an excellent example of creating elegant typography with simple, inexpensive fabrication techniques.

Somethin’ New From Chemistry

2009-09-11T04:34:00Z

Invented by Finnish designer and architect Samuli Naamanka, Graphic Concrete is a process with which textures, patterns, typography, images, or works of art can be “printed” on concrete surfaces, producing subtle and dramatic results. Currently, Graphic Concrete is being used mostly in Europe, but hopefully I’ll get a chance to add a project to the Google map.

Shoutout To All My Eichler Homies

2009-09-06T22:27:00Z

Most Eichler homes are located in northern California, but you can find a few in the southland. People restore and renovate their Eichlers (I love the spice rack and the master bathroom), write magazine articles, newspaper stories, and books about them, and take lots of photos of them. Even Mr. Incredible owned an Eichler. But owning an Eichler is not for everyone. Want to buy an Eichler? Join the Eichler Network, tour an open house, and start saving for a down payment!

Fire on the Mountain

2009-09-03T16:59:00Z

Time-lapse videos of the Southern California wildfires. NASA image of the fires, as seen from space. The Boston Globe’s Big Picture set of photographs. Flickr group and images. Google map.

Brick House

2009-08-31T19:34:00Z

James May built his own house with Lego™ bricks.

Their Futura Is Now Their Past

2009-08-30T18:32:00Z

“It’s a sad day,” “Wrong on so many levels,” “Awful,” and “The worst idea ever,” are just a few of the reactions to a major change at IKEA. Some speculate the decision is based on financial reasons; others think the change signifies the end of IKEA’s printed media. After fifty years, IKEA has switched from using its custom-designed Futura and Century Schoolbook fonts to Verdana. In an interview with Cap & Design, IKEA’s CEO Ivana Hrdlickova defends the decision.

L’Aventurier

2009-08-22T23:59:00Z

Christoph Rehage filmed himself every day for a year as he grew a beard and walked across China. Many other videos of his journey on his YouTube channel.

A Rendezvous of Strangers

2009-08-21T10:23:00Z

Eggs and Sausage (in a Cadillac with Susan Michelson), a typographic music video by graphic designer Jackie Lay. Via Laughing Squid.

A Fair To Remember

2009-08-12T09:41:00Z

Vintage Seattle’s Erecting The Needle is a photo essay featuring concept proposals for the Space Needle, its construction (1, 2, 3, 4), and a picture of the rarely-seen gas-flame beacon in action. More design sketches and images, from the University of Washington’s image database. In 2008, crews from Kärcher GmbH & Co. cleaned the Space Needle for the first time, and this morning, the Space Needle was briefly for sale!

Sit Down, Print Out, Cut Up & Fold On

2009-08-02T20:33:00Z

President Obama pencil topper. Olympic Mayor Daley. Parachuting Rod Blagojevich (Acrobat PDF). Mayor Daley Parking Meter (Acrobat PDF). Paper sculptures of Illinois politicians by Chicago Tribune illustrator and animation artist Joe Fournier.

Lighting and Tables and Chairs, Oh My!

2009-06-16T18:10:01Z

Paint Or Die But Love Me. Stereovision. Tilted Soup Plate. WTF. The art, furniture, and accoutrements of John Nouanesing.

Muni Don’t Take My Kodachrome

2009-05-14T23:05:44Z

Since September 11, photographers have been stopped, harassed, and intimidated into handing over their personal property simply because they were photographing subjects that made other people uncomfortable, such as ship locks, trains, buildings, bridges, and bus stations. If you live in the United States, here’s a guide to print and carry with you: The Legal Handbook for Photographers. British photographers should carry The UK Photographer’s Rights Guide, since photography is slowly becoming illegal in the United Kingdom.

With that in mind (and with advice from my lawyer), I’ve designed these entirely fictitious Photographer’s Licenses.

This license is intended as art and political commentary in that one does not need a license to take photographs. This license is not an official government-issued document, nor is it intended as an imitation of an official government document, and it should not be used as such. The author expressly disclaims all liability for any use to which this artwork is put. This license is a work of fiction and is not to be used as official identification or authorization. Know your rights, and please support the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Old School

2009-05-05T02:03:00Z

Wu Note Records: Logan Walters redesigns Wu-Tang Clan (group and solo) album covers, Blue Note-style. More here and on Flickr.

Good Morning America, How Are You?

2009-04-21T19:47:55Z

The last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific has a rich and dignified history. Delivered in 1944, No. 844 pulled the Overland Limited, the Los Angeles Limited, the Portland Rose, and the Challenger. After Union Pacific began using diesel locomotives to pull passenger trains, No. 844 was transferred in 1957 to freight service, and in 1960 she was retired for special service. Today, No. 844 travels the country as one of Union Pacific’s remaining “living legends”. Here’s her schedule and route.

If you’re in the Bay Area, No. 844 is on display today, from 8a to 6p at the Union Pacific yard. She pulls out of Oakland tomorrow morning at 9a sharp.