From Ginva: The showcase of typography in modern architectural design for your inspiration.

The Shape of Design isn't going to be a text book. The project will be focused on Why instead of How. We have enough How; it's time for a thoughtful analysis of our practice and its characteristics so we can better practice our craft. After reading the book, I want you to look at what you do in a whole new light. Design is more than working for clients.

On Vimeo: Frank Chimero is a graphic designer, illustrator, teacher, maker and writer hailing from Portland, Oregon. He also teaches graphic design & typography to eager minds at Portland State University and is managing partner of graphic design blog, Thinking for a Living.

From the author of 'Getting Things Done' at Do Lectures: Unlike a computer, we can not add more RAM to our brains. So we have to free up RAM so we can think more. David Allen gives us a system to set us free.

From BigThink: Just in time for the holidays, the Hubble Space Telescope has delivered an amazing view of a cosmic event that is being called the "Holiday Snow Angel." The image captures a compact star-forming region in the constellation Cygnus that is 2,000 light years away from Earth. All the commotion is being caused by the formation of a star called S106 IR that is found in the center of the image.

From Gizmodo: In 1987, a young, brash Steve Jobs sat down with the world's preeminent gentleman's magazine.

From Jonathan Fields at 99%: The ability to live in the question long enough for genius to emerge is a touchstone of creative success. In fact, a 2008 study published in the Journal of Creative Behavior revealed tolerance for ambiguity to be “significantly and positively related” to creativity.

Unique Perspectives from Unique People is an engaging and intellectually stimulating event that brings together 16 of the world’s most extraordinary thought leaders, creators, and innovators for one exceptional day. These are the people behind the technologies, the trends, the ideas, and the global movements that shape our existence. The only event of its kind in Houston, UP is a learning opportunity, a creative conference, a think tank, and an entertainment event all in one. During 20-minute onstage presentations, each of our 16 guests discusses his or her work, passion, and ideas for the future; offstage, attendees experience up close and personal Q&A sessions. Designed for both personal and professional application, UP is an infusion of exceptional people, exceptional thinking and exceptional advances.

From A List Apart: Imagine you are standing on a bridge casting a net. Above the bridge is your conscious mind, where thoughts come and go like travelers visiting a fair. Below the bridge is your subconscious — the ever-flowing stream of random thoughts, with countless ideas darting through the water like schools of brightly-colored fish. As is often the case where bridges and streams are concerned, a cold and menacing troll lurks nearby. This troll is your “Inner Critic.” The troll, aggressive and mean-spirited, doesn’t give a lick about your Grand Ideas. The troll has but one purpose: to prevent the ideas which playfully zoom about your subconscious from being gathered into the net of your consciousness and made manifest in the world.

From Gretchen Rubin: A “happiness project” is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy, satisfaction, and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom, and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part: keeping your resolutions.

Olmsted (1822-1903), the father of American landscape architecture, may have more to do with the way America looks than anyone else. Beginning in 1857 with the design of Central Park in New York City, he created designs for thousands of landscapes. His works include Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Boston’s Emerald Necklace, Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, Mount Royal in Montreal, the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and the White House, and Washington Park, Jackson Park and the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. Plus, many of the green spaces that define towns and cities across the country are influenced by Olmsted.

From TED: Rockstar designer Stefan Sagmeister delivers a short, witty talk on life lessons, expressed through surprising modes of design (including ... inflatable monkeys?).

From TED: Graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister takes the audience on a whimsical journey through moments of his life that made him happy -- and notes how many of these moments have to do with good design.

"I often get mail from people and students asking me 'What are your influences; where do your ideas come from.' I will answer that now: 'Everything.' Conversations, things I read, things I see around me, books, magazines, old stuff, new stuff, art design, craft, film, music and garbage. I can be inspired at any moment by the strangest things. I am seldom bored. I have more ideas than I will ever be able to produce in my lifetime—some of them are even good ideas."

From the Heart of Innovation

From Herman Miller via Fast Company: check out what happens when you give artists a lot of tape and a cool space to work in

From adaptive path: Making an inspiring, appealing environment for creative work is a team effort, and often it’s the little things that really make the difference. Here are some quick and easy tricks for promoting a creative atmosphere–in our office or yours.

From TED: Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?" His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers -- and as a counterpoint Tivo, which (until a recent court victory that tripled its stock price) appeared to be struggling. "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it."

The Girl Effect, n. The powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society.

From NY Times: Maira Kalman

the power of words

casts a wide net to find inspirational experiences in the unlikeliest of places—the things we do and see everyday.

From Blue Flavor

Debbie Millman interviews James Victore

a network of remarkable people, extraordinary conferences, powerful ideas & innovative projects that are changing the world

the most beautiful, distinctive and offbeat business cards from creatives around the country.

After attending SXSW Interactive conference, Kathy Sierra reflects on inspiration and the value of face-to-face communication.

From David Armano at Logic + Emotion: Being "fuzzy" means unlearning the way we've always done things and moving away from rigidity toward adaptability. (slideshow)

From TED: Analyzing a list of things that have made him happy, Sagmeister realized that almost half of the items were in some way related to design. In this intensely personal talk, he shares the details of some of those moments, and the three artists who

a documentary film by Gary Hustwit

From Clemens Kogler: stream of consciousness about life and meaning making

Reading about designers can be moving. Seeing their work can be inspiring and, at times, can provoke us to action. Hillman Curtis, in his video series, allows us to experience leading designers through sound and motion.

by Fredrik Härén

an online forum that has challenged the design profession with honest, daring and passionate dialogue. Since September of 2002 Speak Up has steadily grown into a community devoted to the constant discussion of issues related t