Media

Mark Lamster|Essays

Master of Shadows — In Stores Now — New York Event

After so many years of working and waiting, the day has finally arrived: "Master of Shadows" has been released into the world, and is available at a bookstore near you.

Mark Lamster|Essays

Peter Paul Rubens: Graphic Designer

In his day, Rubens was also revered as a diplomat, an architect, a classical scholar, and even a graphic designer.

Alexandra Lange|Essays

Love Among the Figurines

I finally got my hands on Important Artifacts by Leanne Shapton.

Steven Heller|Essays

Ramparts: Agent of Change

Ramparts magazine has been dead for almost two decades, but to look back at it, it stands out as one to remember.

Andy Chen|Essays

The Value of Empathy

Andy Chen responds to the debate between David Stairs and Valerie Casey on the recent surge of social design activity.

Alexandra Lange|Essays

Unhappy Homes

In Revolutionary Road and Away We Go, the characters lack believable emotion because they fail to convince us that they are in a house, rather than a set.

Mark Lamster|Essays

The Art of Diplomacy

It's a rather satisfying bit of parallelism that the excerpt of my book on the political career of Peter Paul Rubens appears in the Wall Street Journal on the same day that Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize is the …

Alexandra Lange|Essays

The Ladies' Paradise

In “Souvenir,” Mad Men welcomes back Joan, looking lovely.

Mark Lamster|Essays

Tiepolo Pink

I'm happy and honored to report that Master of Shadows has been named an Indie Next Notable Book for November by IndieBound.

Alexandra Lange|Essays

Cutting Remarks

I'm not so sure that Lonny, the online-only magazine from the former editors of Domino, is such a good thing.

Michael Bierut|Essays

The Figure / Ground Relationship

Designing is the most important thing, but it’s not the only thing. All of the other things a designer designer does all day are important too, and you have to do them with intelligence, enthusiasm, dedication, and love. Together, those …

Mark Lamster|Essays

We Regret to Inform You That Love Will Not Save the Day

The big story on East 7th Street these days is the opening of Thom Mayne's new student center for Cooper Union, on Third Avenue.