This gut wrenching poster, designed by the Polish graphic designer Jan Lenica, was produced to advertise the Polish National Opera’s 1964 production of Alban Berg’s avant-garde opera Wozzeck in Warsaw.  An icon of Polish graphic design, the poster was awarded a Gold Medal at the 1966 Warsaw International Poster Biennale, and is Lenica’s best known...

There are many ways to celebrate an anniversary.  To commemorate a decade of working together as the design duo Non-Format, Kjell Ekhorn and Jon Forss did not opt for the traditional gifting of tin, pewter, or aluminum.  Instead, they pooled their creative energies towards a personal project that drew upon their shared love of David...

One of 31 video segments featured in 'Designing Media', the new book, DVD and website by Bill Moggridge. More info on 'Designing Medi'a available at http://www.designing-media.com Blixa Bargeld has been leading an innovative industrial rock band based in Berlin for decades and has accumulated a loyal and enthusiastic community of fans. Working in the traditional...

We got in touch with Critter & Guitari, electronic instrument designers from Philadelphia, to ask them four questions about their practice of design, music, and art. COOPER-HEWITT: Owen, you studied Music at Dartmouth, and Chris, you studied electronics at ITP. Tell us how you met and when/how you knew you wanted to work together. CHRIS...

This is the sixth interview in Chapter 2 in my new book, Designing Media Roger McNamee, November 2008 Roger McNamee is both a musician and a venture capitalist. He got his start on the business side, helping the Grateful Dead to stay viable after Jerry Garcia’s death through direct sales to its fans. Now he...

The Interactive Dance Floor has come of age. Introducing: Synplode. Up-and-coming interaction designer Josh Silverman is the developer of this generative art and audio application. credit: www.xkcd.com The system synchronizes rhythmically, melodically, and graphically with a soundtrack that is under constant development. The design provides an opportunity for any musician to compose and integrate easily...

The Megalizer is a sneaker that could put a few DJs out of business. The nearly invisible system of hardware and software allows a dancer to create live music with his shoes. The device uses Flash and Processing software, an xBee wireless module, and force sensors. Engineer Didier Brun wrote this blog post explaining his...

Matti Niinimaki’s Beat Blender is a device that puts a literal spin on familiar musical terminology. The modified blender allows the user to mix, blend, and chop sounds through a playful tactile interface that uses Arduino, RFID sensors, felted fruits and Ableton Live software. Watch the video below to see it in action! Select your...

This is the first interview in Chapter 3 in my new book, Designing Media Jorge Just, December 2008 While studying history and political science, Jorge fell in love with the public radio program This American Life, so he taught himself to edit audio, moved to Chicago, and applied for an internship with the program. Ira...

This is the fourth interview in Chapter 2 in my new book, Designing Media Erin Zhu and Blixa Bargeld, December 2008 I read a piece in the paper about the way that Blixa Bargeld and Einstürzende Neubauten were able to survive by fan subscription, thus avoiding the traditional perils of the music industry. I sent...

This is the third interview in Chapter 2 in my new book, Designing Media Tim Westergren, February 2009 In 2000 Tim Westergren founded Pandora, the personalized Internet radio service. Based on his Music Genome Project, Pandora selects songs and artists with similar musical qualities to a sample chosen by the listener and creates a “radio...

This is the seventh in a series of posts about my new book, Designing Media DJ Spooky, AKA Paul D. Miller, October 2009 Paul Miller may seem a less interesting name than DJ Spooky: That Subliminal Kid, but he makes up for it with his erudite conversation, informed by his background in philosophy and French...

During the summer of 2010, the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Nike and Make Something!! teamed up for a youth-based education program in celebration of the World Basketball Festival which took place in Rucker Park on August, 12. Youth participated in the ultimate design experience working with top designers from Nike, Jordan, and Converse. Workshops...

  When the Carnegie mansion was built, it may have been lavish, but it was designed to be home. That spirit lives on in Cocktails@Cooper-Hewitt, our popular summer series. Every Friday evening, Members and museum visitors come “home” to Cooper-Hewitt to unwind for the weekend.     The Ed Fuqua Group provides smooth sounds of...