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Minneapolis home featured in Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The Wall Street Journal highlights a standout Minneapolis home that was locally designed. It belongs to Kaywin Feldman, who leads the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and her husband, Jim Lutz.

The house originated as a part of the prefabricated “weeHouse” series designed by area architects Geoffrey Warner and Scott Ervin of Alchemy Architects, the story states.

The modern house has a boxy exterior and glass walls, while the couple’s art collection, midcentury furnishings, and library fill the space, the story reads.

About the white walls, which provide a neutral backdrop, Feldman says, "It's my world," adding, "Our museum is all white walls."

Reclaimed wood and renewable bamboo floors characterize the place, which has a treehouse feel.

Besides being an attractive retreat, the home is energy-efficient and doesn't require too much in the way of upkeep, according to the story.

Business Journal names healthiest employers of the Twin Cities

Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Fifteen companies have been named as the Healthiest Employers of the Twin Cities for 2012, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

The results come from extensive surveys about workplace wellness programs, and include factors such as access to fitness facilities, communication about wellness topics, and disease-management programs.

Companies that made the list include Target, StoneArch Creative, Syngenta, Minnesota Elevator, Great River Energy, and Accenture. The Business Journal will hold a special recognition event for the companies in mid-June.

Minneapolis designer recognized for innovative crutch invention

Plastics News Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Traditional crutches can be cumbersome, difficult to use, and downright painful. That was the experience of Minneapolis-based designer Jeff Weber after he had to hobble around with a broken heel.

He was determined to create a better option, and came up with Mobilegs, a plastic and aluminum crutch that recently won the medical and scientific category award in the Society of the Plastics Industry's design competition.

The product was covered in a recent issue of Plastics News, which included quotes from the award's judges. One industrial design judge joked: "You almost can't wait to hurt your ankle just so you can use it."

Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Minneapolis featured for interesting makeover

USA Today Wednesday, March 14, 2012

A recent USA Today story highlights the makeover of the Hyatt Regency hotel in downtown Minneapolis.

As a part of a $25 million project that started in December 2011, the hotel charged its designers with creating a “sleek, new look with an eye towards all things “local”--including Red Wing Pottery,” the story states.

Michael Suomi, design chief for Stonehill & Taylor, which came up with the architectural and design plans, is quoted saying "We had a specific goal of bringing as much of the manufacturing and sourcing back to America to promote job growth, increase speed to market and celebrate American craft"--adding that this way, “we saved money!"

LA Weekly highlights local artist Brock Davis

LA Weekly Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Stonehenge recreated in miniature with Rice Krispies. A bearskin rug made from a single Gummi Bear. A treehouse built into a single stalk of broccoli.

These charming, diminutive creations are the work of Minneapolis-based artist Brock Davis, who captured the attention of LA Weekly recently. In a blog posting, the newspaper featured photos of Davis' work, along with an appreciation of his style.

"In some pieces, Davis elevates a humble product, often iconic out of ubiquity in its own right, by manipulating it to resemble an iconic image," the writer noted, pointing to a work that recreates a Pink Floyd album cover out of Dorito bags.

The blog states that in Davis' world, junk food can be medium, muse, and, perhaps even a message.

Vending Times recognizes local vending machines for bike repair

Vending Times Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Vending machine industry publication Vending Times profiled two Minneapolis entrepreneurs who are boosting the robust local biking scene. The pair, Chad DeBaker and Alex Anderson, have launched Bike Fixtation, which combines a large vending machine with a standalone bike repair rack.

The machine vends bicycle repair products such as tubes, lights, tools, and patch kits, as well as refreshments like energy bars and water bottles.

The article notes that the bicycle service stand allows patrons to perform repairs at the site, and includes an assortment of tools like Allen hex keys and wrenches.

DeBaker says in the feature that the company sees the potential for expansion to college campuses, bike trails, and any public location that attracts bicycle ridership.

Education News features MCAD comic program

Education News Wednesday, December 07, 2011

The web-based Education News, which covers various national and international education topics, recently highlighted the comic degree that’s available through the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

It’s one of only three such programs around the country, the story states, citing information from MPR and the Star Tribune.

Local author Britt Aamodt, who profiled over 20 area artists in a book called, “Superheroes, Strip Artists & Talking Animals: Minnesota’s Contemporary Cartoonists,” is quoted saying that a “recent crop of artists is taking Minnesota’s scene to new heights.”

Aamodt goes on to say that the local comic artists have "really spread their wings,” and, “They can tell any kind of story. And they just don’t have to be about men in tights.”

Downtown Journal highlights area's "lost mansions"

Downtown Journal Wednesday, November 02, 2011

About 500 unique and formidable mansions have vanished from the Twin Cities, and now many of them can be "visited" thanks to a new book by architectural historian Larry Millett.

Showcased in The Downtown Journal, Millett's work, Once There Were Castles, tells fascinating tales about the wealthy individuals who lived in these often-massive homes. A notable example is a mansion on Lake of the Isles Parkway East that became the largest private residence ever built in Minneapolis. Yet the owner died before he could move into the behemoth.

As noted by The Journal, Millett will talk about his book on Nov. 7 at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.

Rice Park a Great Public Space

American Planning Association Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The American Planning Association (APA) put St. Paul's Rice Park in downtown St. Paul on its 2011 list of 10 Great Public Spaces across the country.

Through the APA’s Great Places in America program, sites such as the historic park are recognized for “exceptional character and highlight the role planners play in creating communities of lasting value,” according to a press release about the award.

The park, which is characterized by decorative lamps, statuary, benches, and a central fountain, “serves as much as a pathway and shortcut as it does a lunch stop, festival grounds, and outdoor sanctuary,” the release says.

The 1849-vintage park is also surrounded by a number of historic buildings, museums, and music halls that developed over the course of more than a century.

Jolly Green Giant in ad icon showdown

USA Today Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Talk about a cage match: the Jolly Green Giant is up against Smokey Bear, the Energizer Bunny, and even Subway's Jared.

The Giant, a longtime brand rep for Golden Valley-based General Mills, is part of an online popularity contest held by New York's advertising agencies in anticipation of the event-packed Advertising Week 2011.

As noted by USA Today, the winner will be celebrated with a permanent banner on Madison Avenue, the ad industry's answer to Hollywood Boulevard.

People can vote via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and the 20 ad icons range from Progressive's Flo to Mr. Clean to Sparky the Fire Dog.

Even the U.S. Department of Transportation's crash test dummies (named Vince and Larry, for you ad trivia buffs) are up for consideration.

New York Times highlights Target's fun, '60s style Missoni campaign

New York Times Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Target's new ad campaign for Missoni, a fashion line of more than 400 products, is distinctive for its nod toward Italian films of the 1960s, notes a recent story in the New York Times.

In its advertising column, the paper reports that representatives from Target traveled to Milan to collaborate with the Missoni family, in order to strengthen the brand and give the campaign an authentically Italian feel.

In the campaign, which includes TV ads and Web spots, swinging 1960s music accompanies images of a dining room decked out in Missoni products, and models wearing the brightly hued clothing line.

The ads were done in collaboration with Minneapolis-based Olson, a creative firm known for high-profile work for clients like General Mills, Amtrak, and Converse.

Cool Hunting features Bike Fixtation kiosks popping up in Twin Cities

Cool Hunting Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Cool Hunting, which showcases interesting new developments every week in the areas of design, tech, style, travel, culture, and more, recently featured an invention that comes out of Minneapolis.

Bike Fixtation, the bicycle-repair kiosk from the Minneapolis company of the same name, topped a recent list of picks on the Cool Hunting website.

"If you've ever ended up stranded in the city with a flat tire, you'll find the new Bike Fixtation kiosks helpful. The self-service stations are open extended hours for bicyclists in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan areas," the notice reads.

An international team of editors and contributors at Cool Hunting sort through all kinds of innovations to provide the weekly digest.

Fast Company takes long look at 3M's visual impact scanner

Fast Company Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Hey, look over here. No, here. That's right.

3M has fine-tuned its tool to track just where your eyes went--and where they go--when you visit a website.

In a June 9 Fast Company article, Austin Carr takes a detailed look at 3M's visual impact scanner (VIS), which uses an algorithm called visual attention service.

William Smith, business manager at 3M's graphics division, tells Carr that the tools "predicts visual impact" � something of interest to advertisers and designers alike, Carr notes.

The article includes a video and several visual examples of the VIS at work.

Good Design: Pad & Quill brings bookishness back to new media

Good.is Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Ever heard someone say they just like the feel of a good book in their hands--as a way of dissing electronic media?

Well, Pad & Quill is bringing the old feel to the new media, as Elisa Huang writes in a March 23 article in the Design section of Good.

The St. Louis Park-based company makes leather-bound covers for the Nook, Kindle, iPhone and iPad that look like the real thing because they are made "using traditional bookbinding techniques," writes Huang.

The covers cost $50�$70 dollars.

"50 and 50" project redesigns Minnesota, states' mottos

fastco.design Wednesday, March 02, 2011

The graphic design project "50 and 50," is an ongoing collective project of graphic designers reinterpreting the 50 mottoes of the U.S. states.

The project's "leadoff batter" on Jan. 31 was local designer and printer Erik Hamline, owner of Steady Print Shop in the Wedge neighborhood of Minneapolis. (Hamline's design can be found at the bottom of this 50 and 50 page.)

Fifty and Fifty was created by Brooklyn-based designer and animator Dan Cassaro.

The Feb. 2 issue of the daily Fast Co. Design featured the project, then with just four designs of four states' mottoes.) Nearly half the states' mottoes had been completed by the end of February.

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