The color of 2009

I find this incredibly interesting. Pantone has selected "mimosa" as the color of the year for 2009, for reasons having to do with our collective state of mind. Fascinating. The way that we can collectively be drawn to a color seems to me to be related to why we all go to the bank at the same time, for example. What kooky internal, unknown quality is there that draws us together in these seemingly random ways? Are we so much more connected than we even know? I know some will cry bogus, but examples like this make it hard to deny that we can have a collective aesthetic, or internal timer, or numerous other types of (quite personal!) sensibilities.

PANTONE® 14-0848 Mimosa, a warm, engaging yellow, as the color of the year for 2009. In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow.

"The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."

I'd like to weigh in as officially loving this color, and notice that I'm already using it in my design work, here and there.

Best of 2008

OK, here goes, my personal top favorite things from the year 2008 (in no particular order):

1. The Visitor, a great small movie. Just may be my favorite of the year.
2. Pentagram's re-design of the Atlantic Monthly. A classy new look for a great publication.
3. NARS sticks. Makeup that isn't too makeup-y.
4. The utterly watchable yet utterly awful Jeff Lewis from Bravo's Flipping Out show.
5. Anthony Bourdain, you sexy beast, I'd eat something gross with you any day!
6. Feist. 'Nuf said.
7. The Bonn Lair, my favorite pub, where I'll always run into at least 5 people I know.
8. Iconoclasts on the Sundance Channel. It's high-level documentary-style, bringing together famous people who make an impact. 
9. Tim Gunn on Project Runway. You make the whole show for me, Tim.
10. Baby Bel cheese. 
11. Eddie Money. Saw him in concert with his daughter, Jesse, and loved it!
12. Typography I projects. I loved co-teaching Typography I at Art Institute this year. The students' projects were amazing.
13. SacTown magazine. This publication raises the bar not just in our region but for cities everywhere. Bravo to you, SacTown!
14. Etsy, the best website for my personal values -- support the little guy (gal), buy stuff that's unique & made by hand, whenever possible, and get really cool stuff. Also, it's a smartly designed website.
15. The Magic Theater. This place is small and eccentric and worth the drive from Sacramento for a 7:30 show.
16. Young @ Heart, a documentary that moved me. Elderly people on tour singing pop songs and proving that you're never to old to belt one out like James Brown.
17. Dandelion, another sweet, subtle, sparkly produt from the fine people at Benefit cosmetics.
18. Will Shortz, a toast to you for providing me another year of NYT crosswording fun! 
19. Guinness, a tasty beer that is always reliable, delicious and lower in calories than any other decent beer.
20. The New Yorker magazine, what would I do without you? The two weeks this year when my subscription lapsed were quite lonely and bland and I never realized how much I need you and all your attendant writers and features. Can anyone explain to me why I still read Tables for Two when I haven't actually visited New York since like 2001? Your Barack Obama victory cover was your best since 9/11.
    

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