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Logos of the early UFOlogy scene and Japanesel love hotels

18 August 2026 at 22:59
A spread from KFAX4, Logos of the Early Computer Software Scene (Klasse Wrecks)

Klasse Wrecks is a record label and publishing company based in London and Hong Kong. I haven't listened to their records or cassettes yet, but I've been tempted to buy some of their 22 KFAX zines. 

Each is about 100 pages long and consists of black-and-white reproductions of logos. — Read the rest

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Mixed reviews for Instagram's new logo

18 August 2026 at 18:33

Instagram has rebranded with a new logo, and it's gone in the direction so widely-disliked it had supposedly went out of fashion years ago: geometric sans-serifs. Instragram boss Adam Mosseri explains.

The wordmark at the top of the app hasn't changed in 10 years, so it was time for a refresh.

Read the rest

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In Japan, press the button on your table and a server appears

13 August 2026 at 17:47
table call button — Japanese restaurant table call button. Photo by Karl Baron / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Many restaurants in Japan put a small plastic device on tables. When you press it, a chime rings at the waitstaff station or in the kitchen, and a server comes to your table. 

Algis Tamosaitis writes the newsletter Japan or Die, and he explained the table call button for travelers. — Read the rest

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This is Instagram’s new logo

13 August 2026 at 17:00
The updated Instagram wordmark.
It’s certainly… different. | Image: Meta

Instagram has unveiled a new wordmark, moving away from the recognizable cursive typeface it's used over the last decade. The updated wordmark is a strange mix of half-cursive half-print that's somehow less legible than its predecessor. Like, that totally says "Instagzam," right?

"The wordmark at the top of the app hasn't changed in 10 years, so it was time for a refresh," Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced on his account. "Cleaner and more modern, with references to the original and the simplicity and craft that's always made it Instagram."

Mosseri is seemingly aware that this will be a controversial change, because he also posted it t …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Why Osaka and Tokyo keep landing in the world's top 10 cities

8 August 2026 at 14:00
Japan's most livable cities — Photo by Ogiyoshisan, public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Osaka ranked seventh and Tokyo tenth in the Economist Intelligence Unit's 2026 Global Liveability Index. Japan was the only Asian country with two cities in the top 10. BBC Travel asked residents and planners why, and their answers came down to four rules. — Read the rest

The post Why Osaka and Tokyo keep landing in the world's top 10 cities appeared first on Boing Boing.

This winning design looks like it wandered out of a fantasy film

6 August 2026 at 15:30
planned Rotterdam building — Image: MVRDV

A spectacular complex is about to emerge in Rotterdam, and it looks like it belongs in Middle-earth or Thra instead of the Netherlands.

Award-winning international architectural firm MVRDV was declared the winner in a competition to design a mixed-use, eco-friendly Embassy for Shift. — Read the rest

The post This winning design looks like it wandered out of a fantasy film appeared first on Boing Boing.

Buckminster Fuller explains his life's work in 42 hours

5 August 2026 at 22:53
Everything I Know — Laurent Bélanger / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Over the last two weeks of January 1975, Buckminster Fuller, the designer who popularized the geodesic dome, gave a series of lectures walking through his entire life's work. "Everything I Know" runs 42 hours. The Buckminster Fuller Institute has posted the full transcript, and the video is at the Internet Archive. — Read the rest

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A German strip mall hides a museum of Braun's design history

By: Popkin
4 August 2026 at 18:00
Braun design museum — Niels Patrick Geisselbrecht / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

The BraunSammlung is a museum of Braun's industrial design in Kronberg im Taunus, up one flight in a building Atlas Obscura describes as a German strip mall. Braun's headquarters is around the corner, and a nonprofit association runs the museum in collaboration with the company. — Read the rest

The post A German strip mall hides a museum of Braun's design history appeared first on Boing Boing.

Type a word, get it back in 50 ASCII art fonts

3 August 2026 at 22:19
ASCII title generator — Jonn Leffmann / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Lokesh Dhakar's ASCII Today renders your text as big block letters made out of slashes, pipes, and underscores — the kind that head old README files and source-code comments. When you type a word at ascii.today, all 50 fonts appear at once in a grid, redrawing character by character.  — Read the rest

The post Type a word, get it back in 50 ASCII art fonts appeared first on Boing Boing.

Interior Designers Swear by This Small-Space Lighting Trick

2 June 2025 at 23:12

Maximalism isn’t about more clutter—it’s about more character. And in a small space, the best place to start? Right on the wall.

Wall sconces are the secret weapon designers reach for again and again: they save space, layer in light, and (in some cases) double as sculptural art. In the cozy corners and clever placements ahead, we’re taking cues from some of our favorite designer spaces to show how a well-placed sconce can turn even the tiniest nook into a major design moment. Ready to see why they’re a small-space essential? Below, you’ll find out how to use them just like the pros.

Read More >>

The Best Dining Room Chairs of 2025, According to Interior Designers

24 April 2025 at 23:00

More of us are entertaining at home—whether it’s a quick weeknight pasta with friends or a full-blown garden soirée—and that means our dining spaces are getting a little extra attention. While I’ve previously reported that formal dining rooms are shrinking to make space for open kitchens, they’re not disappearing entirely. In fact, they’re evolving.

Designers are seeing a shift toward warmer, more layered spaces that mix old and new, and make you want to linger long after the dishes are cleared. The dining room is having a quiet glow-up—and it’s not just about dramatic lighting or maximalist tablescapes. It’s about comfort, character, and (maybe most importantly) chairs you actually want to sit in.

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Small Entryway, Big Style: 5 Ways to Make Yours Work Smarter

23 April 2025 at 22:31

Your entryway is the first impression your home makes—so why not make it a good one? Whether you have a narrow hallway, a tiny mudroom, or just a sliver of wall by the front door, your entry deserves just as much love as the rest of your space. After all, it’s where keys are tossed, shoes are kicked off, and first hellos are exchanged.

The good news? You don’t need a lot of square footage to make a big impact. From smart storage solutions to statement-making lighting, we’re sharing our favorite ways to turn even the tiniest entryway into a functional, stylish moment.

Read More >>

How to Style Your Kitchen for Spring, According to Our Founder

16 April 2025 at 19:16

Welcome to the latest edition of Food52 Founder Amanda Hesser’s weekly newsletter, Hey There, It’s Amanda, packed with food, travel, and shopping tips, Food52 doings, and other matters that catch her eye. Get inspired—sign up here for her emails.


Emily, a reader of this newsletter, sent me photos of her kitchen and a note that said, “Renovated my dream kitchen a year ago, but cannot figure out how to style my countertop area, particularly corners. Help if ya’ll can!”

Read More >>

What Makes a Great Dining Chair? A Designer’s Take That Might Surprise You

8 April 2025 at 19:37

Most dining chairs are chosen for how they look. But according to award-winning interior architect Alyssa Anselmo, that’s the wrong starting point.

Well—technically—she’d probably never say anything is wrong. Alyssa isn’t one for design absolutes. But when it comes to picking the perfect seat, she believes something matters more than aesthetics: how it feels.

Read More >>

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