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Perdiz is a new bilingual design magazine from Spain that's billed as "a magazine about people and the things that make them happy" and mixes a collection of profiles, narrative features, and advice lists that in one way or another explore the idea of personal happiness. In between issues, the editors maintain a blog with supplemental contributor interviews, short lists, and meditations on art that didn't make it into print.

Issue #2 of Perdiz is out now.

Look for an excerpt from Perdiz in Nothing Major Features later this week.





1907 cartoon about the “Chicago Gait”

The phrase “Calumet 412” once stood for the phone number of one of Chicago’s most famous brothels, but these days it just refers to one of our favorite Tumblr pages. Calumet 412 is run by ­­an amateur historian, and it’s one of the best visual histories of “the city that works” that we’ve found. You’ll find ancient photos from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, Vivian Maier street photos from the 1960s, early 20th century ads, and even old cartoons complaining about how quickly Chicagoans walk. 

All images from Calumet 412

Untitled, 1957, Chicago, Vivian Maier

The Lagoon at the 1893 Columbian Exposition

Subway construction at Milwaukee and Ashland, 1943

Southbound view of Lake Shore Drive at Bryn Mawr, 1954

Drawing inspiration from the stop motion animation work of filmmaker Jim Blashfield, whose work you've likely seen in videos for Talking Heads and Michael Jackson, the design studio DR.ME's new video for Dutch Uncles required around 1,800 frames of collage-based animation. The narrative is intentionally fuzzy, but we're sure Terry Gilliam would approve

Check out the video for "Nometo" below, and revisit DR. ME's tour poster for Grizzly Bear and the xx

Anyone who’s traveled an itinerary with multi-country stops knows that a travel adapter is one of those small but necessary accessories. We pass on any doodads where plugs pop out with a push of a button; moving parts break easy on the road.

Instead, we’re about these colorful 4-in-1 adapters from Flight 001. They’re solid, compact, and, perhaps most importantly, thoughtfully designed. Perhaps more obvious than required, a color-coded system matches the right plug to the corresponding country. You'll have power on whatever side of the world you're on, jetsetter.

Visit Flight 001 for more details and grab 4-in-1 Travel Adapter for $25.

A little known fact about the early days of Star Trek is that the series probably wouldn't have existed without Lucille Ball. After the pilot her Desilu company produced was rejected by NBC, Ball insisted the executives reconsider, and after funding a second pilot, they eventually ordered a full season.

Just about 45 years later, graphic designer Juan Ortiz started a month-long project during which he produced a new poster for a classic Star Trek episode every day, casting each episode in the style of a movie poster or book cover. Like the original series, his posters were eventually picked up by a publisher for a full run of 80.

Star Trek: The Art of Juan Ortiz is out now from Titan Books. Check out a feature with Ortiz over at The Verge, and see a few posters below. 





As MoMA's official Flickr account shows, the power of sharing a gaze with Marina Abramović brought some participants to tears during her "The Artist Is Present" performance in 2010. In her new "Mutual Wave Machine" project, Abramović introduces neurological sensors to this familiar posture to illustrate the power of the gaze from a scientific perspective. Instead of a museum atrium, participants sit opposite of one another in an enclosed egg-like space, and manipulate audiovisual elements using the synchronization of their brain waves. While the surroundings are manipulated, brain activity is recorded and displayed for visitors outside the enclosure to observe. [via Creators Project]

Back in March, Abramović visited WNYC to talk about a version of the project. Check out a video of the interview below, after a trailer for "Mutual Wave Machine."

"Mutual Wave Machine" will be presented by the Marina Abramović Institute as part of the TodaysArt festival in the Netherlands on September 27 and 28.



We tend to like cheeky homages to the design past better than the ultraserious ones. They're often better than literal remakes. Designed by Berlin-based Axel Pfaender, the Berlin Boombox won't be mistaken for an actual '80s-era blaster upon close inspection. The cardboard boombox system features its own integrated ampiflier and speakers, and comes in an build-it-yourself kit. But from a distance, the black and white graphics capture that fresh in-your-face look of the breakdancing era. The 3.5mm jack takes input from any digital music device.

The Berlin Boombox is $80 from BiteMyApple.co

The life of a creative freelancer in the big city involves numerous coffeehouse meetings and knowledge of free Wi-Fi workspaces. Photographer Nathan Michael knows this existence and its territory well and focuses his Instagram account on the delicious side benefits (or hazards) of this existence: exquisite espressos, pour-overs, housemade donuts, muffins, and other high-calorie treats. He tends to shoot from an artful 90-degree angle, but sometimes loosens that up.

See more Nathan Michael online.

Hugh Miller's Folded Record Bureau isn't named for some cruel method of vinyl destruction, but rather for his handmade fabrication process that involves the bending of a solid piece of Iroko wood. Miller installed a 1985 Bang and Olufsen turntable completely flush on top of the console, with all original controls maintained, and built the main storage area on a slight slope to keep the records from tipping over. An easily accessible storage area on the right-hand side works for records on deck, or some printed matter.

The bureau was produced in a series of ten in Hugh Miller's Liverpool Studio.




Hyping a new shoe with a classic inspiration, Saint Laurent Dance, Hedi Slimane has directed a series of fashion films for the house's ballerina slipper. Gracie Van Gastel dances to Clementine Creevy's "Trick Or Treat" in the first video while recalling the babydoll looks of the grunge era. While in video two, Lida Fox prances to Cherry Glazerr. The common theme is punky expression of childlike freedom in gritty suroundings. Some are calling Slimane's embrace of wearable punk-influenced clothes and a reworking of the classic ballerina slipper "controversial," while others are calling it "safe."

Visit saintlaurent.com if your interest is piqued. The shoe doesn't come out until November.