Cutting down on plastic bags (and what do with the extras).

According to the Huffington Post, “American Samoa is going to make it illegal for stores to hand out plastic bags once a new law goes into effect early next year.” On top of that, Washington DC’s 5-cent bag tax already resulted in “an 82 percent reduction in the number of plastic bags and $150,000 for the city” in just one month.

The numerous upsides of switching to reusable bags are obvious. What do to with the extra plastic bags you may have laying around may not be. One solution? Take a cue from artists like Nils Völker, Joshua Allen Harris, and Michael Rakowitz.

installation view of Michael Rakowtiz’s paraSITE

September 3’s daily design idea is even eco-friendly lifestyle changes can result in waste, so why not go one step further and put that waste to use?

Recorded proposals.

Wedding proposals come in all shapes and sizes, but sadly many of them don’t get recorded except through the stories that people share. I have two friends getting married this September that have an incredibly cute proposal story, and it’s all caught in a series of fantastic photos (some hysterical) thanks to the forethought of the groom and his new high-tech, remote-controlled camera.

My other favorite proposal documentation is definitely the semi-viral Graffiti Proposal of photographer Shannon Reiswig to his girlfriend Jessica. On top of the amazing video that Shannon arranged the production of, he also captured the whole process in a series of stunning photographs.

July 10′s daily design idea is while they may do it the best, professional photographers aren’t the only ones who can capture your special moments. Remember, documentation is important.

Photo by Reiswig Photography.

This post is dedicated to Elle and Mike, who were married at 5pm today.

Inevitable controversy?

As public art becomes increasingly well documented (note, for example, the efforts of WSPA and Exit Through the Gift Shop), I have to wonder if its commission, perceived quality, and overall presence will ever become less controversial.

Last year, Flavor Pill posted a great overview of public art that’s recently hit New York City, including a decent start at practically breaking down how people qualify public art. The article features the current Event Horizon by Antony Gormley,  Richard Serra‘s notorious Tilted Arc, and more.

Cambridge, MA has also been blessed with a good amount of public art. Musical Fence by Paul Matisse may be one of the more well known controversies, though unlike Tilted Arc (which was sliced up and carted away in the night) Musical Fence was simply relocated to a sculpture park.

Do you happen to be in New York this weekend? Visit FIGMENT on Governor’s Island for a serious dose of possibly controversial, purely temporary, and highly participatory art. You can also read about how FIGMENT launched a Boston version of the event in Cambridge this past weekend.

June 5’s daily design idea is does controversy contribute to the ‘publicness’ of public art?

Felix Morelo hits the spot.

Most projects intended for the public try (in varying degrees) to influence their users to experience preconceived actions and thoughts. The recent chalk pieces by Felix Morelo in New York just do it a little more overtly (and humorously) than some:

June 4’s daily design idea is remove the ambiguity, try being extra direct with your message. And remember to write loudly!

See more of Felix’s work on the Union Square sidewalks or at felixmorelo.com. Photos by Gisela Garrett.

Out of place and happening now (in Manhattan).

I made three lucky design-related discoveries today. All three had an element of being “out of place”, and all are happening right now for a very limited amount of time. So read quickly!

1. Vanessa Chew‘s Elemental Form on display at the Pratt Show
Out of place: There’s a turntable carved into an otherwise simple wooden place mat. The plate looks like someone was just spinning into it. Such a crazy (and beautifully executed) combination of disparate activities.
Happening: Friday May 14 from 9-1 / 311 W 34th Street

2. Knoll Warehouse Sale
Out of place: It’s in a make-shift showroom on the corner of 5th and 20th, nothing says Knoll until you’re inside, and their sales people kind of look like Apple Store employees. On top of that, the stylish home furnishings are at seriously reduced prices. It’s all very un-Knoll.
Happening: Friday May 14 from 10-6 / Saturday May 15 from 11-6 / 156 5th Ave

3. Shepard Fairey Street Art
Out of place: It’s definitely street art, and it’s definitely the Obey Giant, but it’s in a position that is meant for posters. And it’s outside Pentagram, which is the ultimate seal of graphic design approval.
Happening: Now (street art is usually fleeting despite this setting suggesting otherwise) / 204 Fifth Avenue
Also happening: Fairey has a show at Deitch Projects until May 29 / 19 Wooster Street

May 13’s daily design idea is design shows up in ways and in places that are unexpected. Be sure to keep an eye out.

Reconsidering the milk crate.

It’s been a while since milk crates were used solely for transporting milk. They’re common enough in contemporary home furnishing and storage to be sold at the Container Store in a variety of colors. Cratemen are a famous kind of street art. There’s even a blog dedicated to the diversified “milkcrate lifestyle,” which sometimes includes posts about innovative milk crate furniture.

Chandelier featured in Apartment Therapy

Starting June 11, you’ll be able to see another beautiful example of milk crates in action at FIGMENT NYC on Governors Island. The Living Pavilion, pictured below, was the winner of FIGMENT’s first ever City of Dreams Pavilion competition.

Living Pavilion by Ann Ha and Behrang Behin

April 21’s daily design idea is re-think milk crates as a design material.

Physical pixels.

I’ve been riding a wave of street art love since seeing Banksy’s Exit Through the Gift Shop (which opened on the 16th in New York City and California, and drops in several more US cities over the next few weeks). Pixelated street art, similar to the early work of Invader, has become especially interesting to me since it both honors and rejects digital. This art is non-digital in form, yet it remains decidedly removed from the worlds of mosaic or pointillist painting. I’d also argue that the viewer needs to have been exposed to digital art to get the intended joy and/or feelings of nostalgia out of these pieces.

Patrick Jean of Onemoreprod recently made a really impressive short movie called PIXELS, where 8-bit video game-like creatures take over New York City. Jason Eppink has spurred on an amazing “unauthorized on-going video art performance collaboration” with his creation of the DIY Pixelator, which transforms the MTA’s public video ads into something a little less literal.  Then there’s always the more classic approach to street art:

taken by Annamarie Tendler in the East Village

April 16’s daily design idea is imagine that your world is pixelated, and design something based on that imagery.