When Mies took a job at the then Armour Institute of Technology (now the Illinois Institute of Technology) in 1938, he found a blank canvas in Chicago and almost immediately set upon remaking the campus and, in later years, Chicago and the world. more ›

Here are some more "neighborhood brands" from The Chicago Neighborhoods' Steve Shanabruch. more ›

Graphic designer to create a project where he designs "brands" for them. more ›

This year's annual poster challenge from the Chicago Public Library celebrates the tenth anniversary of the "One Book, One Chicago" program. more ›

Jeremy Scheuch -- you may remember him from a certain tattoo he got a few months ago -- has been nice enough to share a design with us that YOU can use to make you're own t-shirt to memorialize the impending natural disaster making its way toward Chicago! Here's how to make your own... more ›

We've gotta agree with Andrew Huff, with 20 people running for mayor, chances are you'll know someone who knows someone who knows someone who's running. Which makes this shirt a perfect stocking stuffer more ›

Curbed Chicago editor Mark Boyer has an interesting piece about plans for the Washington, DC-based National Museum of Health and Medicine's plans to open a satellite museum in the old Rock Records store at 175 W. Washington. more ›

We're as frustrated as you are about the drawn out process that the Rahmformer has taken toward formally announcing his candidacy (and been very guilty of propagating it). But both hipsters, hoopsters and fans of making statements on t-shirts will find this series of Chicago flag t-shirts with Emanuel's headshot in the center a must on their holiday shopping list. more ›

When we walked into Agent Gallery on Damen Ave (between Augusta and Chicago), Mariano Chavez was working on some large planks of wedged wood that he was turning into bookcases. “This is my first commission to do a whole apartment,” he said, walking to his computer to show some photos. “Look. I suspended this old firefighter trampoline from the ceiling. Normally I just do lighting, I'm excited to do a whole loft.” Chavez said he preferred "Indirect, warm light," the kind of light that many of his fixtures provide. The Gallery, opened only since October of last year, is a tiny cramped space of such lights and nostalgic design pieces, but the website is a venerable catalog of explosion proof phones, factory lights, and a distinctively almost playful style of design. Along with Post 27 and Salvage One barely a mile away, Agent is a big part of Ukrainian Village’s developing design steeze. more ›

If you've lived in this town for more than a day then you begin to realize that you are surrounded, and sometimes compounded, by the vast amount of visuals; perhaps more than the eye can begin to absorb. Translated, there's a lot of beautiful stuff to look at. With design and art luminaries like Ed Paschke, Helmut Jahn and Mies van der Rhoe to the city's credit, the bar for visual excellence has been set extremely high to say the least; but at what cost? In an economy where everyone seems to have to do it all for no cost non-for-profit businesses tend to suffer in terms of design, i.e., websites, brochures and general artistic vision. Well, fear not for Open Hand Studio, an organization best know for giving small organizations the best in design at a lesser cost, is holding what they have dubbed Meet and Match; an event geared to give non-for-profit and community-based-organizations networking opportunities with top design organizations. more ›

Stephanie Izard is getting ready to open her new restaurant, Girl and the Goat. It's been said so often that it should be put on an endless loop, we know. But she really is thisclose to finally opening. more ›

Every day we are reminded just how expansive and high-quality the art and design scenes in Chicago are. Whether it's by walking down the street, going to galleries like Rotofugi, or even skimming through our RSS reader, we are exposed to exciting work on a regular basis. Our latest exposure? The artwork of Mike Dornseif. more ›

We're sure many of you have seen some of these gorgeous posters designed by Delicious Design League floating around town, either at Schubas or The Metro or plenty of other venues. Delicious Design League was started in 2006 by Jason Teegarden-Downs and Billy Baumann, a couple of friends who bring more than ten years experience in advertising and design to the table. Originally a hobby, DDL's music posters have spawned a full-time studio dedicated to the craft and it's located right here in Chicago on 3200 West Carrol. The studio is putting together some of the most impressive and advanced music posters out there, so be sure to check out their store where you can purchase some of the posters featured in our gallery. more ›

Ever wonder how a book cover gets designed? Wonder no more, via Galleycat. more ›

Interior designer David Bromstad is making a splash, and it’s not just his infectious blend of energy, creativity and central-casting good looks that’s got everyone excited. The first winner of HGTV’s “Design Star” and host of his own series Color Splash, Bromstad is actually something of an “accidental designer.” more ›

Lunchbreath (not his real name) is a Chicago-based creative agency director whose drawings poke fun at the design world and contemporary American culture. Craig Berman -- aka Fueledbycoffee -- is a Chicago-based industrial designer/creative director whose drawings often poke fun at the same things. Since May, they've collaborated on "Core-toons," a weekly cartoon slot at the esteemed online design magazine Core77. Recently we talked to them about their process and work. more ›

A young man's oafish buddies convince him to take a bus to the countryside and meet them at a college chum's guest house, where "there's lots of booze and delicious barbecue." Of course when he arrives his friends are nowhere to be found; and getting back to Seoul proves to be an unexpectedly tall order. Among the problems he has to contend with are crappy cell phone reception, con artists, and the constant necessity of being polite by accepting drinks from strangers. more ›

The annual James Beard Award winners were announced over two nights in New York. Despite some strong showings from local chefs, media and restaurateurs, the ceremonies turned into a case of "It was an honor just being nominated." more ›

There’s a hint of melancholy in the eyes of artist Tara McPherson’s characters—wan, porcelain faces that remind us of a cross between Blythe Dolls and the lovably macabre creatures born from Tim Burton’s brain. If you’re a fan of the scary fairytale style, head to Rotofugi this Saturday where McPherson will be signing her latest book, Lost Constellations. Published by Dark Horse comics, this new release chronicles the NYC-based artist’s most recent paintings, drawings, and sculpture. Also on display will be McPherson’s new Kidrobot mini-figure series, Gamma Mutant Space Friends. more ›

Thanks to la recession, high-end fashion designers are teaming up with mass retailers like never before, so you can look stylish at a fraction of the cost. Here’s a round-up of spring’s high/low collaborations, as well as some sneak peeks for fall 2009. more ›

Of course you’ve seen Shepard Fairey’s “Hope” design on posters, buttons, the cover of Time Magazine, even as a bad tattoo. But Fairey isn’t the only independent artist who was compelled to create in support of then President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign. Now you can see more than 100 works (prints, posters, photos, and videos) from artists, designers, and the Obama ‘08 campaign at Officially Unofficial - Inspired Art for Obama,” opening April 1 at the Chicago Tourism Center. more ›

If you've ever watched "Iron Chef America" and thought, "this would be better if the subject was digital design and kitchen stadium was actually the Congress Theater," then Cut & Paste 2009 is for you. more ›

There’s nothing better than listening to an artist / designer talk about their creative process—the inspiration, the tears, the glory. But when you add in some random crazy-ass comedy, ‘80s jams, and deliciously crafted cocktails, the result is a brilliant alternative to an uptight theory lecture—The Show ‘n Tell Show. more ›

There’s something about multimedia artist / designer Cody Hudson that makes us just want to have a beer with him. Maybe it’s the symmetrical chaos of his work—complex, but approachable. Or maybe it’s his love of Wisconsin cheese curds. Actually, the name of his upcoming show at Andrew Rafacz Gallery may have something to do with it—thanks man, see you around man, fuck yeah, you guys are wild, thanks man, i dig it, see you. more ›

Admit it. Magazines are pretty much in the shithole these days. Publications are either folding, downsizing, or going online with the hopes that readers will pay for content. (Yea, right.) So, imagine how happy (and surprised) we are to hear that the folks of the Public Media Institute are celebrating the launch of a new design magazine, Matériel, this Saturday, March 21 at Co-Prosperity Sphere. more ›

Yeargh, this stuff sells out fast. Local outfit Orange Beautiful's limited edition "Motivate Prints" are back. The set of four includes "get your sh*t together," "get on with it already," "quit your bellyaching" and "do something about it." more ›

Ooooh, it looks like our favorite CTA calligraphy enthusiast has struck again, this time at the Fullterton Red/Brown/Purple Line stop. So great. more ›

There are a lot of spoof posters out there, but this one, by David Friedman of Ironic Sans, is the clear winner. more ›

Editor and Publisher got a sneak peek at what could become the new Chicago Tribune - and it ain't pretty. The news that Red Eye founding editor Jane Hirt would be promoted to managing editor worried a lot of people, and now it appears that the Red-Eye-Ification of the Tribune goes much further than just personnel changes. more ›