Here Design’s new identity for the Electric Coffee Company came from the founder’s desire to light up the world of coffee. The team took inspiration from old electrical circuit designs – with their electrons, conductors and resistors – the result is a singular idea that drips down from the logotype into every application effortlessly. Joined up thinking.

One of the major problems faced by any creative professional at the beginning of his career is the visibility. Until today. Bibiana Ballbé has presented The Creative Net. An online map that organizes and connects emerging creatives from Catalonia to the rest of the world. It is a visual and structured tool that works as a talent web search engine. And this is only the beginning. There is also a blog, tv show, lab, conferences, events… and probably more cities will be added in the future.

This special issue of the New York Times magazine is all about life in high places. The magazine rotates to accommodate dramatic photographs of skyscrapers and the life that revolves around them.

Art Direction by Matt Willey
Photography by Jack Davison

I’m really enjoying this identity for the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts by Manual.

The core of the identity is a container device (that houses the YBCA acronym) that takes its shape from the Center’s geographic position. The device is paired with bold typography, playful messaging, imagery and bright colours and there’s an enormous amount of flex and variation ensuring each application feels unique, energetic and fresh.

Like many designers, I strive for clarity, strength and simplicity in the work of our studio. I sometimes achieve it, sometimes not. For inspiration, I often turn to the undisputed Crown Prince of clarity, the Grand Poobah of simplicity: Saul Steinberg. The ideas he communicated for the New Yorker with the slightest flick of the pencil are startling: witty, profound, surprising, fun. He described himself as “a writer who draws”. I call myself a designer who draws. But not as well as Saul.

A stunningly simple new identity for web developers, Designers’ Friend by Paul Belford. Built around the line ‘we write code’, the identity is a lovely observation that the ‘D’ and ‘F’ keys are conveniently located next to each other on a coders main tool — the keyboard.

Made In Italy—Bodoni In Print is an exhibition, designed by SEA, that takes you through a journey of typography. The exhibition is a chance to experience first-hand early unseen archive material and Bodoni’s contemporary influence across graphic design with works by Massimo Vignelli, Paul Rand, Karl Gerstner, Peter Saville, Fabien Baron, Heinz Waibl and Bruno Monguzzi.

Don’t miss the first Why? event in San Francisco during AIGA SF Design Week. We’re extremely excited to present Steve Chaitow and Greg Mottola from architecture firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Michelle Dougherty from Title sequence and digital agency Imaginary Forces and Steve Reinmuth from Branding Agency Wolff Olins. One evening, 4 speakers, plus beer, wine and appetizers included in the ticket price. Get tickets and more information here.