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Today’s post will be about the Zime called “Beauty Papers.” This Zine specifically caught my eye for its use of imagery throughout the pages. The cover reflects the pages almost perfectly. The newspaper headline “WOMAN PAGES SPARK RIOT” is used while the woman who holds it is in lingerie and a wedding veil—giving the sense of standing up against the classic stereotypes of womanhood. Throughout the pages, the photographer plays with the stereotypes of women and how they are perceived throughout society. As the world changes and evolves, we see more content that uses the ideologies of women, twists them, and puts women in control of what they do and what statements they say. Overall, this Zine is impressive, and I suggest you find it yourself. It is a great tabletop book to catch people and start a much-needed conversation.

Obama “Hope” Poster by Shepard Fairey

This iconic political poster uses a triadic color scheme of red, blue, and beige. The warm red contrasts sharply with the cool blue, creating a sense of energy and balance. The use of dark and light tones adds depth to Obama’s face, making him appear strong and visionary. The bold color choices evoke patriotism while reinforcing the hopeful and determined message of the campaign.

Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

This famous painting uses a swirling mix of deep blues and bright yellows to create a striking warm/cool contrast. The dark sky serves as a dramatic backdrop for the glowing yellow stars and moon, making them feel almost alive. The movement in the brushstrokes, combined with the color contrast, conveys an emotional intensity and dreamlike quality. The balance of cool and warm tones enhances the painting’s vibrancy and sense of wonder.

Design Fails

In many urban areas, such as New York City, public benches are designed with central armrests or divided seats to prevent individuals, particularly those experiencing homelessness, from lying down. While the goal is to deter certain undesirable behaviors, this design approach, known as “hostile architecture,” often fails to create inclusive public spaces. By prioritizing control over comfort, such designs can marginalize vulnerable populations and reduce the overall usability of public amenities for everyone. This example is interesting because it highlights how design choices, even in something as simple as a bench, can reflect broader societal attitudes and impact community well-being

Strange Maps

In today’s post, we will examine three strange maps, the first of which is The World According to Ronald Reagan. This satirical map, created by cartoonist David Horsey in the 1980s, humorously portrays the world from the perspective of then-President Ronald Reagan. Countries are labeled with exaggerated stereotypes, reflecting the political climate and American perceptions during the Cold War era. It’s fascinating because it showcases how maps can convey a specific period’s political commentary and cultural attitudes. Our second “strange map” is Web Trend Map 2007 by Information Architects. This innovative map visualizes the top 200 websites of 2007 as stations on a Tokyo Metro-style subway map. Each “line” represents a different category, such as news, social media, or search engines, with the size and position of each site indicating its popularity and influence at the time. It’s intriguing to see how the digital landscape has evolved, with some once-dominant sites now defunct and others having grown exponentially. Our third “strange map” is The Bünting Cloverleaf Map (1581). Created by German theologian Heinrich Bünting in 1581, this map presents the world as a cloverleaf, with Jerusalem at its center. The three leaves represent Europe, Asia, and Africa, symbolizing the Christian Trinity. This map is fascinating because it blends religious symbolism with cartography, reflecting the worldview of its time and showcasing how maps can convey more than just geographical information.

An object that helps me solve problems.

One designed object that quietly solves a huge daily challenge for me is my iPhone specifically, the camera and zoom features. Because of my Stargardt’s, reading small text, menus, or even subway signs can be tough. My phone turns into an instant magnifier with crystal-clear zoom and built-in accessibility tools like the Magnifier app or Live Text.

This design is compelling because it’s invisible; it doesn’t call attention to itself. It’s sleek, beautiful, and something everyone uses, so I’m just blending in to zoom in on something when I pull it out. The design is so well thought out, from the screen’s clarity to the tactile feel of holding it, that it makes the experience smooth and almost effortless. That’s good design: when something beautiful also empowers you without screaming “special tool.”