Through Lines 233

A visual look through the history of the superelljpse that underlies so much of the modern (and mid-Century) look of imagined futures, taken from Kelli Anderson’s now fully funded Alphabet in Motion book. Microgramma and its ilk paved a brave yet comforting typographical vision that continues to reach deep into our collective subconscious.

• “Cynicism and skepticism are often confused for each other, but they couldn’t be more different. Cynicism is a lack of faith in people; skepticism is a lack of faith in our assumptions.” I’m a proud “hopeful” skeptic. It’s a helpful mindset for an ever-accelerating world.
• “At this point in time, I don’t think the technology matters at all, and money matters more than all the others put together.” Why not Bluesky. I wholeheartedly concur.
• The Computer History Museum in Mountain View has a new exhibit on about AI called Chatbots Decoded which I suppose is required viewing for pretty much everyone in Silicon Valley. You might even see a certain Pin in said exhibition which opened earlier this week.
• Pierre-Joseph Redouté's exquisite painted botanical illustrations are the gold star of flower painting. 655 of these illustrations have now been carefully restored and are available from the Internet Archive as well as catalogued at a beautiful site by Nicholas Rougeux
• The new Emigre Fonts: Type Specimens, 1986–2024 from the Letterform Archive should be on every designer’s wishlist. Although I have many of the originals, I’m sure this massive block of a book will end up in my library soon enough.
• Designers in Silicon Valley move around a lot, I imagine for a lot of reasons, but Naz pins down a bunch of solid, intentional strategies for maintaining a high level of resilience that can work both within the boundaries of a single situation and that can put you in a better position than you might be otherwise for what’s next.
• Maybe it’s time to seriously consider doing something about the Anxiety Industrial Complex (a great term) that’s become a burden that we’ll all continue to suffer the consequences of otherwise.
• Blood on the Rooftops is the most unquestionably British song you might listen to this week from a band you probably know but are less familiar with the best parts of their extensive back catalog.
• Hollie Chastain's playful series of collaged UFOs are out of this world. Pun very much intended, and I’m not even remotely sorry for it because they’re that good.
• Equally lovely are Marilou Schultz's highly architectural woven computer processor patterns that intertwine the histories of traditional Navajo tapestry and modern technology into something entirely new.
• Al Green + R.E.M.? A surprising combo and a moving interpretation of Everybody Hurts. Hold on.
• Duane King has recreated Susan Kare’s original complete design for the Chicago typeface.
• I know what I like — and it's this. Perfect for a certain someone’s 50th birthday too.
• The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper is absolutely going on my reading list for 2025.
• The Romotow camping trailer I can get behind though the price tag…
• There are rules and then there are good rules.
• I’m just going to leave this here in case it might be, um, helpful.