IIDA Perspective - Spring/Summer 2011 - 53

Design Research: The Store That Brought Modern Living to American Homes By: Jane Thompson and Alexandra Lange 192 pages Chronicle Books August 2010, $50.00 Before there was Design Within Reach and Crate & Barrel, Conran and even Target, there was Design Research (D/R). Opened in Cambridge, MA in 1953 by the architect Benjamin Thompson, D/R expanded to several other stores in major U.S. cities, and then the company folded in 1978. But its introduction of wellcurated interiors and modernist designs to the American home, and the notion that good design could be had by all, was irrefutably influential and enduring. Written by Jane Thompson (the founding editor of I.D. magazine and Ben’s widow) with the design journalist Alexandra Lange, this book tells the story of the man and the store through a variety of voices: Thompson’s own memoirs, reprints of notable articles about the store, stories by former D/R employees whose input on the store’s design Thompson welcomed, as well as a foreword by an indebted Rob Forbes of Design Within Reach and an afterword by Paul Goldberger. Pentagram’s book design is a loving scrapbook-like layout of product photos, memorabilia, store interiors, and images of the cast of many characters who played a role in this cultural phenomenon (including a Marimekko-dressed Jackie Kennedy). Photographs of the original store, a “three-dimensional show window” designed by Thompson, reveal his gift for retail architecture.

Yes, claims Duarte. And she should know. She created the slides in Al Gore’s Oscar-winning “An Inconvenient Truth” and works with companies such as Cisco Systems, Google, Adobe, and Microsoft. Resonate reminds us why we give presentations and what you should aim for: changing people’s minds, persuading, and inspiring action. To get there, Duarte offers a simple structure that helps you understand the shape of a compelling talk as well as strategies for converting information into a story that engages and creates a memorable moment that will stay with your audience. The books performs well itself, with high production values and captivating graphics. It’s not surprising to learn that Resonate follows her best-selling book slide:ology, which espoused the importance of visuals and graphics in PowerPoint design.

weBSITeS
By now, most of us have bookmarked a number of our favorite design websites and blogs. But more pop up each week, and some have matured impressively. Here are some we feel are worth giving a shout out to. For an international perspective, check out DesignBoom.com from Milan, “the home of design culture since 1999.” You’ll find online design courses, announcements of international competitions, brief interviews with designers, and news pieces on art, architecture, and products. Readers (from 190 countries) are encouraged to submit projects for posting. Need reading inspiration? Go to DesignersandBooks.com to see reading lists from 60 well-known designers from Adam Tihany to Eva Zeisel (who, being Eva Zeisel, is entitled to offer up just one book). You’ll get a respite from your reading and wonderfully whimsical eye candy at ThingsOrganizedNeatly.tumblr.com. It’s a constantly updated collection of images of obsessively arranged objects. Be warned, it can be addictive. Voyeurs will like OfficeSnapshots.com, which gives you a truly international tour of the inside of offices, generally from Web/tech companies. Sort by location or company. DesignObserver.com, a serious journalism endeavor with in-depth critical essays and news from a slate of the industry’s best writers, such as Steven Heller and Julie Lasky, has become an indispensable read for many. It offers three channels that address design and culture broadly speaking; design and social innovation; and architecture, landscape, and urbanism; in addition to book reviews, links to resources, and job listings.

The Creative Professional’s Guide to Money: How to Think About It, How to Talk About it, How to Manage It By: Ilise Benun, 256 pages How March 2011, $20.99 If you are serious about “getting down to business” when it comes to the financial side of your creative practice, this is the book for you. Chock full of resources, worksheets, case studies, real-life stories from creatives, as well as interviews with expert advisors, the book is appropriate for a range of professionals from creative industries such as graphic design, interactive design, interior design, advertising, and communications. It considers those in a variety positions from heads of their own firms or agencies, to freelancers and entrepreneurs starting up businesses. Detailed discussions and tools address business issues such as qualifying prospects, calculating your hourly rate, how to talk about money and fees with confidence, and how to negotiate. It also helps you look at the big picture and walks you through setting your goals, what it takes to move your business to the next level, and money management. Still want to avoid the topic? Benun makes it very easy to take the plunge by offering a free downloadable chapter and the preface at www.creativeguidetomoney. com/chapter.html.

Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences By Nancy Duarte, 272 pages Wiley September 2010, $29.95 We’ve all been there—and it’s usually during the low blood sugar hour. It’s the industry presentation you’ve set aside valuable time to attend that ends up dragging on relentlessly. There’s research, facts, and case studies, but you are far from captivated and wish you had the courage to leave the room. Then in a panic you remember that you have your own talk coming up. Can you escape the curse of the pointless presentation?

perspective

http://www.DesignBoom.com http://www.DesignersandBooks.com http://ThingsOrganizedNeatly.tumblr.com http://www.OfficeSnapshots.com http://www.DesignObserver.com http://www.creativeguidetomoney.com/chapter.html http://www.creativeguidetomoney.com/chapter.html

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IIDA Perspective - Spring/Summer 2011