Go to Annie’s pick
Alia
director, accounts and strategy
Do people still use Tumblr? I’m not sure. But Design Clever, a Tumblr
blog started in 2007 by two designers, has an active community of creatives who share their work for all to enjoy. The designers curate
really interesting, impressive, and stylish designs that can serve as inspiration—or just a reminder to appreciate the talent that’s out there.
Good Thing
–Leon Bridges
What’s Goin On
–Marvin Gaye
Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall –Bill Withers
Brittany
senior editor
I loved this interview on JSTOR with a map collector who focuses
on “persuasive cartography”: maps that were made not to detail geography but to influence people. How he fell into the hobby and mounted his collection online with Cornell University is fascinating, but
the best part is definitely the maps themselves. Leff talks a lot about
the importance of visuals, and these maps are proof of how a medium that is thought of as objective truth—cartography—can be used
to persuade. Clearly, visualization is one of the most powerful tools
of humankind.
Go to Brittany’s pick
Annie
editor
Go to Alia’s pick
I was recently researching agriculture and was reminded of National Geographic’s “A five-step plan to feed the world” interactive from a few years ago. While it somewhat oversimplifies the steps we need to take to feed nine billion people by 2050, it’s a useful overview for the layperson who is worried about how we might go about solving one of humanity’s most pressing threats (raises hand). The graphic and interactive elements do a nice job of illuminating the opportunities and primary challenges.
Records on the turntable this month:
Aretha Arrives –Aretha Franklin
One of our mantras around here has long been “everybody loves maps.” And it’s true; a map can go a long way toward making data real and driving home a message. This month, many of us have been reflecting
on the power of design and how visuals can be used to influence
and inspire.