River and Sea

What an incredible song. Travel on!

-WONG

M&S

What can I say? I absolutely love Marks & Spencer.

What's not to love? It's the classic British department store for the everyday person--not exactly on the same level as Jenners. Marks & Spencer is the place you go to buy a specialty prepackaged sandwich on on the same trip purchase a flamboyant hat. M&S is the whole retail package rolled into one branded masterpiece.

Not to mention the fact that they provide plastic utensils for to-go meals that would fit in on a luxury cruise line.

Now to the real point:

In M&S's flagship store in Westfield, London, design firm Kiwi & Pom (I can see you working at a place like this, Wong) have created a one of a kind cafe setting.

The sculptural design of the booth creates a welcoming seating area that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

I like the space age quality of the design, with almost a 60's lounge vibe to it. I can see this being a functional public seating piece for a very long time. Because of the materials it is made of, the piece will surely stand up to some wear and tear.

...I can just see myself sitting there, surrounded by shopping bags, indulging on a millionaire square and a cappuccino...

Hey Wong, let's go to London! We could call it a business trip--we do have business cards now after all!

-DUNN

An Old Flame

Not exactly revolutionary, but I did get a good laugh out of this lamp from 5.5 designers. I'm also lusting for the lake at the moment soooo yea.

Speaking of lighting a flame, I told Wong a while back about an article I found that included a guide to flirting. Step. By. Step. How to flirt.

Download the PDF and get busy. If only I had read that about 15 years ago. How different my life would be.

I'm off to practice my eyebrow flashing now.

-DUNN

Mr. MacBook

I found some sweet accessories for Mr. MacBook that go above and beyond the standard "buy me and be boring" add ons.

Exhibit 1:

"what does MB stand for anyway?"

Exhibit 2:

After I witnessed a fellow student pulling their MacBook out of one of these puppies (no joke), I knew there had to be some better options out there.

Enter the "Book Book" from Twelve South.

Each one is unique. Made from a real vintage hard cover book.

Makes for a perfect, classy disguise.

Surprise! Hello, Mr. MacBook.

Now for the real winners. Not that I would ever put a sticker on Mr. MacBook, but these etsy finds are really smart.

I love this one because of the use of the iconic symbol of the apple and how it links to the story of Snow White! found here

For the tech lover, this one brings Mac & Canon together. YAY. found here

Lastly, I thought you would enjoy this one especially, Wong:

-DUNN

ps. our moo cards are on their way!

Photoshop CS5

Earlier today, it was noted by an acquaintance that although Photoshop CS5 is set to be unveiled, what new innovations could it usher in that CS4 did not already? In two words - 'content awareness'.

This feature is nothing short of incredible and represents a real leap forward. The new seam carving algorithms and retargeted resizing in general is both practical and long overdue. I often say "I wish Google was my boyfriend" because he would be intuitive, funny, look adorable and have all the answers. But if CS5 rolled up on his bike and held out his hand, who wouldn’t accept? Badass.

The mental stress levels of graphic designers working against deadlines are collectively decreasing everywhere. Looks like their billable hours might decrease also. See you at the global online launch on Monday, April 12th, 2010.

-WONG

Perspective Shots

(I lost the credits for these photos, so for the record they are not original work of DunnWong)

One of my favorite hobbies is to stalk cities around the world via flickr and Google Earth street view. I stumbled upon these beauties while on one of my arm chair adventures:

This guy (again, sorry about the credit) finds vintage photographs of streets/buildings in various cities, goes to the exact location, matches the photo up with the current streetscape and voila! Genius, right? The comparison is really stunning. I especially love how you can see an Model T Ford in the old picture juxtaposed beside the modern vehicles.

I searched a little deeper into this flickr phenomenon and found these (from a different photographer):

Wherever this guy travels, he buys a souvenir of an attraction, which he then incorporates into a perspective shot.

Or, he'll line up the souvenir with the actual tourist attraction. Makes for unique travel memories, wouldn't you say?

He had over one hundred shots from around the world! This was my absolute favorite out of the bunch:

I love being inspired by flickr.

-DUNN

MMMG

I am always on the lookout for a mug to call my own, and I think I may have found it!

The 'Scandinavia' and 'Budstick' cups from South Korean designers Millimeter/Milligram have a quirky appeal and are made of glass, so they feel great to use and are substantial to hold. Now that deserves a toast. Cheers!

-WONG

Classic Design

A classic is defined as: definitive, fundamental, of the first or highest quality; of enduring interest, quality, or style; serving as a standard, model, or guide. So what constitutes classic design? I think it is the harmonious balance of form and function.

Tables are an essential structure to have in one’s life. And their build is basic enough, a stable surface held upright by a base or legs. Not all tables however, are created equal.

The 'Kant' table from Nils Holger Moormann is a perfect example of design and function. The folded sectional serves as a storage compartment and its simplistic form encourages efficient workflow in addition to eschewing contemporary design tendencies.

Good design doesn't mean that you have to make your credit cards cry either. The 'Dave' laptop table from Ikea defines ergonomics and understated styling. No excesses here!

The Birkin Bag, Eames' DCM, Converse high-tops - all retain a timeless aesthetic value and have removed the variable of improvement out of the equation.

New is not always better, and next is not always what is improved. Our world evolves at a rate that is almost too fast to comprehend, it's comforting to be able to find familiarity and constance among such change.

-WONG

McNally Jackson Books

I was searching for progressive architecture/design firms to recommend for my urban planning project and I came across Front Studio design firm from New York. Their renovation project for McNally Jackson Books caught my attention. Talk about being a place for a book lover!

-DUNN

Emerson Made Blooms

Visit EmersonMade if you would like to die from cuteness overload (yes please!!!).

I'm going to make one of those beauties this summer. Maybe a smaller version. Would you like one, Wong? I think a deep crimson bloom would suit you best.

Did you die of cuteness overload? I sure did.

-DUNN

Eames

Recently, we've been discussing the "classics" of fashion. The Lacoste polo shirt. The Ray Ban Wayfarers. Converse sneakers. The items in ones closet that never go out of fashion. We wondered if there was an article of clothing that has yet to be assigned a to a classic fashion statement. And how does one create an item that will be sophisticated enough to last a lifetime?

What design industry other than fashion goes in and out of style on a yearly (or weekly) basis? FURNITURE DESIGN.

You know the saying, "that's SO last season"? That also applies to furniture.

In the spirit of "classics" I thought I'd do a little tribute to Ray & Charles Eames. "Sleek, sophisticated, and beautifully simple" has always been the Eames look.

Exhibit 1: The Eames Molded Plywood Chair

They aren't kidding when they say this chair is molded to fit the contours of a body. I've had the privilege to spend many hours planted in the library's knock off version of this chair (although I do commend the university for choosing such a aesthetically pleasing piece). The combination of natural stained wood, metal, and rubber truly create a signature look. I particularly enjoy the side view of the chair, comparing the angles of the metal frame and wood seat.

Exhibit 2: The Eames Molded Plastic Chair

Not that I've actually seen one of these beauties in real life...but they are beautiful! I think it's the 60's swinger feel that I like.

Exhibit 3: The Eames Wire Chair

Yea, these designs have been around since the 40's. These chairs sit in museums. That's what I call classic.

-DUNN

DunnWong: The Beginning

Welcome to DunnWong.

This project began when Wong deleted her Facebook and Dunn didn't know where to send Wong random crap anymore.

Topics for discussion:

• Architecture
• Design
• Photography
• Travel
• Fashion
• Music

We'll try to keep things professional.

-DUNNWONG