ELSEWARES

At ELSEWARES, we talk about designers as entrepreneurs a lot. So when we found out about the design MFA program at SVA, (link, thx Randy) we clapped our hands and said, “Yeah!”

In a nutshell, the program trains designers to be makers. And they make original, viable, marketable designs — some of which actually sell in places as varied as the MoMA store and the drug store.

Awesome.

Mark Weber gets some more fan mail:

“I just received my comic strip of my fiance’s and my love story. It is fabulous! I could not be more thrilled with the work you did portraying our story. The detail and our nuances were captured perfectly. It will be the most special gift to my groom-to-be. I am so excited about this that I am having your strip enclosed in each wedding announcement. Thank you so much for your wonderful work.”

High-five, Mark.

Some students at the Stanford “d.school” have a new blog where they talk about innovation and entrepreneurship with innovators and entrepreneurs.

I love these bits of their conversation with David Kelly, founder of IDEO (I’ve paraphrased these quotes a bit for maximum effect):

Q: How do you institutionalize creativity?

A: It’s pretty simple, you empower the people. Everybody’s creative.

Q: So for small business owners out there, how would you encourage creativity in a small company?

A: Figure out how to enjoy the process. Like, enjoy every day. You’re making a lot of money so you can like have a good life? Why not just start out trying to figure out how to have a good life?

He also mentions something about making it a priority to enjoy every lunch for the rest of your life. Those are words we live by.

Robert Elmes, the director of Williamsburg’s Galapagos Art Space, has some interesting ideas on the subject of fostering creativity in the age of real estate.

The canaries in New York City’s real estate gold mine – it’s emerging artists – are no longer talking about the next show they hope to land, they’re talking about the next city they think they can land in once their current lease runs out. A New York that is too expensive for the emerging arts to dream about coming to or continue producing work in begins a tipping of the very understanding of New York City as a cultural capital.

It’s true, today’s Brooklyn demands that you either learn some new moves, or move to Philadelphia.

Down-under Australian designers Bud have hit the mark with these brilliantly packaged rubber buddies. Take your pick of personalities from the Luxury Ducks or the Posh Pigs.

NYC based design masters Mint are a choice addition to the ELSEWARES lineup. They specialize in functional but inventive housewares that combine equal doses of fun and style.

Inleaf has always got the goods…their home accessories are hand-printed using real leaves and plant materials. Check out the new Viburnum Sachets and Queen Ann’s Lace Pillow.

Nylon magazine shows in their August issue that they’re hip to the sleek jewelry stylings of Early Jewelry.

Mark Joiner feels some love deep in the heart of Texas.

Check out the whole Statesman article right here. Also check out former Austinite Ben Brown’s take on the matter.

Last year they fired a guy for not drinking the Kool-Aid. Now the LA Times is making the paper hard to read. Check out these “required registration” screenshots:

You have to be 13 to register. That makes no sense. But wait, it gets worse (click thumbnail):

Please select “at least one offer so we can compete with other, better online media sources” would be a more accurate plea.

I rolled my eyes when I read Jason Calacanis’ post about buying a newspaper. But he’s right. These people don’t get it. They’re squandering massive potential and they’ll be arguing about how to monetize the funny pages while someone else buys (them) low and sells high.