Uniqlo Sprz NY

Large brands and museums rarely use their currency - be it cash-based or cultural - with such extraordinary intelligence, style and bravado as Uniqlo Sprz NY (Surprise New York). The collaboration between MoMA, Uniqlo and dozens of artists and their estates is shown on the new mezzanine level of their 5th Avenue flagship.

The artists' project seamlessly flows into celebrations of print textiles and pop culture image franchises with such confidence it shook the cynical dust off our boots. The design of the mezzanine is, if not an oasis of calm, panoramic and extremely beautiful, altering the rhythm of the entire store in a very welcome manner.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum

About five years ago, MoMA kindly recommended us to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Our brief is so broad that the intended uses for our work are still not finalised, but momentously for us the designs have travelled from person, to desk, to department and have been approved for use. The 9/11 Memorial is free to use them while we keep a custodial eye on the project.

Here is the first of our designs: the shield is an ancient object. In its contemporary use, the shape of the shield, while significant is secondary to the words and images that identify the organisation to which those who wear it belong. The design is in honour of all shield bearers. In this application, the shields honour the courage and sacrifice of the first responders on 9/11. The design employs the shapes used by the principal organisations involved. It will be used in clusters of three or as a wallpaper, usually reproduced as black on black.

Post-Operative

Lichtenstein: A Retrospective opened at the Tate Modern last week. A similar love of comic books inspired us to create some 'post-operative' graphics for New York's Met Opera -

Monday Portrait: Richard Artschwager

This week sculptor and painter Richard Artschwager who died this weekend. 

Table With Pink Tablecloth, 1964

Sculpture is for the touch, painting is for the eye. I wanted to make a sculpture for the eye and a painting for the touch. 

Site of the month: Kiosk Kiosk

KIOSK KIOSK is a New York based shop that sells products the owners have picked up on their travels. It is truly worthy of the overused term 'eclectic'.

IS GREAT BECAUSE  they sell pretty much anything. That is not to say their tastes aren't discerning, far from it. Sourcing products from around the world, Kiosk Kiosk are particularly good at finding unusual objects that are often beautiful and occasionally practical. Expect to find multi-coloured pipe cleaners, a traditional Japanese carpenters knife and 'Nun calms', a German remedy to alleviate nerves.

Arguably the best thing about the site is the highly entertaining approach to product descriptions, Kiosk Kiosk subscribe firmly to the 'why use one word when you can use 5?' school of copywriting. We would particularly recommend the $28 fly whip description HERE.

OUR FAVOURITE PRODUCT IS the American Lottery ticket (actually from Sweden) which is as beautiful as it is useless to the average person. Wouldn't it make a fantastic necklace?

The Kiosk motel-style key ring came a close second. It is stamped with their details and a promise to guarantee postage.

The theory is that if you lose your keys, some kindly soul will pop your keys in the post, you call KK and eventually you get your keys back. Very clever.