When times get hard in America, one of the more intelligent things we can do to sort ourselves out is to remember history and look to our immigrants. Sometimes we need the perspective of an outsider to understand what we have become. Heidi Hesse is a German-born artist who was raised in South Africa and Germany and emigrated to America in 1982. She is currently considering the naturalization process.

Some of her recent projects include Apple Pie Project, Drawing on the Constitution, and Exporting Liberty. Clearly she has America, and American identity on her mind. But unlike Werner Herzog, another German artist with an interest in America, Hesse’s work is at least as troubling as it is celebratory. Take for instance the word “liberty” in red script made out of plastic so that it looks something like the Coca-Cola logo. Abstracted and branded in this way as a part of the Drawing on the Constitution project, we are forced to look again at a word — and an ideal — that is supposed to be fundamental to the American experience. I don’t have time here, but I would suggest that the portraits in the Apple Pie Project are also deeply troubling. And the Humvee covered in gum balls that appears along with this post? I don’t think we even need to analyze that one.

Locher’s just added six new accessories to their already lovely collection, and these latest brooches and necklaces bear the Locher name with as much coyly-disguised hedonism as we’ve come to expect from the up-and-coming French label. The delicate-looking pieces, much like the line’s clothing, pair innocently girly details like pearls and flowers with shockingly dirty sayings. For those of us who can’t bear the thought of our mothers finding out we wear necklaces that say “without panties” — albeit in French — there are a few options that offer the girly charm sans flooziness. Whatever your preference, the site is worth checking out for a few giggles, and as an extra incentive, enter the word DARLING in the promo section at checkout for free worldwide shipping. You can always email us for our shipping addresses, especially when it comes to shiny things like these. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming…

Whether we admit it or not, grids are an essential part of our life. Without grids, our lives would be messier, uglier, and more confusing places to live in. This is the sentiment that forms the basis for the Grid-it series of notepads, a family of 7 different grid-based notepads designed to make organizing your life just that little bit easier.

Each pad is based on a grid system created by a famous designer: Jan Tschichold, Paul Rand, Le Corbusier, Josef Muller-Brockman, Willy Fleckhaus, Johannes Gutenberg, and David Hillman; each pad offers a new way to keep your ideas organized while you’re scribbling them across the page. Some are better for layouts, some for grocery lists, but integrating any of them into your busy schedule will help keep your life nicely compartmentalized.

Now if I could just get my agency to start shelling out for some of these, maybe my concepting notebook would look a little more organized!

Via Cool Hunting

–Danny Nathan

Brazilian design studio Colletivo has finally finished putting up their new site, which looks pretty spiffy after a redesign and includes their most recent work. The group has worked with clients across the creative field, dreaming up brand identity, motion graphics and digital projects for national and international names like Cavalera and Nickelodeon. As you can see from their portfolio, they have a healthy fixation on monsters — big points in our book. While you’re perusing the site, check out the shoe they designed for France’s String Republic, plus the posters they did for Sao Paulo’s toy art store Plastik in addition to their entry into the Munny toy exhibit at the same place. The photo here is of a lamp created for their client, Melissa.

I have bad airport karma. Take this past week for instance: I went back to Ohio to see my folks and my flight both ways was delayed four hours, despite the fact that the skies were nothing but sunshine. If it isn't layovers, then it's always something else. Usually, and I fully confess, I am that person in front of you who has so much extraneous stuff (e.g. a purse full of gadgets that need to be emptied, laptop case that is ridiculously bulky and full of overflowing cords) that it backs the up the entire security line and makes for a frustrated crowd of eye rollers and loud, impatient sighers. What I need is a bag I can fit everything in like the ones made by Shambra, which are not only incredibly functional and organized, but also absolutely stunning.

The highly crafted, Italian leather pieces are divided into two collections: Maren bags and Hertha Travel Accessories (which all complement and integrate into each of the Maren bags, natch). The Maren Carry-On Bag, which may just be my savior and yours if your ever standing behind me in line, functions as both a handbag and laptop carrier in one. Carried by the handles or by a shoulder strap, it has two big zippers and an open middle section for the slightly padded laptop sleeve. The inside pockets fit all manner of tech accessories like a phone, PDA, or ipod, travel wallet and power cords. If you don't need all the room and want something more minimal, the work tote and laptop bags are just as hot looking and maintain all the pockets. They all come with Hertha wallets for even further organization and a speedy way to find your license.

Now if they could only ensure no delays…