redesignrelated:

The Heinz ketchup condiment packet gets a redesign.

“…A true packaging breakthrough, the Heinz Dip & Squeeze dual-function package gives ketchup lovers two ways to enjoy Heinz Ketchup: either peel back the lid for easy dipping, or tear off the tip to squeeze onto favorite foods…The new Heinz Dip & Squeeze product marks the first ketchup packet makeover for the foodservice industry in 42 years. In the past, on-the-go eaters have struggled to open multiple ketchup packets while worrying about making a mess…” —from Heinz Ketchup press release

In ’Twas the Icon of Christmas, Steven Heller looks at the visual history of Santa Claus and illustrators of the past. (article via AIGA)

Jaime Oliver wins TED Prize for 2010 

“21 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade”
(via nytimesbits on twitter, via the business insider,
photograph of phonebook via Wallula Junction)

R.I.P chalkboard

“Writing’s on the Wall for the Chalkboard”
(via Newser)

“Berlin Builds a New Wall to See How the Dominoes Fall: 20 Years After the Original Was Destroyed, A Styrofoam Version Is Readied for Toppling”

“…As dusk creeps across the German capital on Nov. 9, 20 years to the hour after East Germans first began hammering away at the original concrete Berlin Wall on their way to the West, the first section will be pushed over, and the rest will fall — like dominoes…” —Wall Street Journal

(photo credit: Almut Schoenfeld/The Wall Street Journal)

“Longtime curators and local artists Jordin Isip and Rodger Stevens know a lot of other local artists — they recruited 300 of them (many with day jobs: graphic designers, illustrators, lighting designers, etc.) for Dime Bag 3, closing at Giant Robot in the East Village on August 12…”

See What 30 Local Artists Stuffed Into ‘Dime Bags’
(via Vulture, above “Dime Bag” illustrated by Ray Fenwick)

“The Art of Rebellion,” Steven Heller reviews “New visual books on the comics artist Harvey Kurtzman, classic underground comics, political posters from the Lebanese civil war and mug shots” (via NYTimes.com)

“The World’s Most Beautiful Currencies” slideshow (via CNBC.com)

 “Mixed to Perfection” 

“…Lori Tharps shares the motivation behind the new line: ” As the mother of two mixed kids and a journalist who often writes about race and identity, I knew that the phrase ‘What are you?’ is one of the most annoyingly pervasive questions people ask of those who don’t look like the stereotypical definitions we have for racial categories…”

(first discovered via Visual Culture)

redesignrelated:

The Changing Face of Everyday Design: From air steward uniforms to Corn Flakes cereal boxes…how has everyday design evolved over the last half-century?

looking at the evolution of design from 1950s to today in pictures

(discovered via The Guardian)

Apartment Therapy asks “Would You Decorate with Fake Food?”
(photo from Kappabashi Market in Tokyo)

a collection of the great infographics from GOOD magazine’s ongoing Transparency feature now on flickr

Transparency: A History of Gay Marriage Bans (via GOOD Magazine)

The Obamas are “Changing the Art on the White House Walls”

Isn’t it about time for some variety?… 

“…The National Gallery of Art has loaned the family at least five works this year, including “Numerals, 0 through 9,” a lead relief sculpture by Jasper Johns, “Berkeley No. 52,” a splashy large-scale painting by Richard Diebenkorn, and a blood-red Edward Ruscha canvas featuring the words, “I think maybe I’ll…,” fitting for a president known for lengthy bouts of contemplation…” —Wall Street Journal