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“Vignelli: Photographs” book shipping now!

I’m very excited that Vignelli: Photographs, my new book of images of the late designers Massimo and Lella Vignelli, has been released! Massimo Vignelli was a huge influence on me and my career, and I was lucky to spend a day photographing him and Lella in their home in 2013. These images celebrate their prolific partnership and capture a day in the life of two incredibly talented people. Get details and see more images from the book.

This small-format 80-page hardcover book was printed on recycled stock, and comes in a standard edition and a deluxe signed package that includes an original photograph and an aluminum Caran D’Ache Fixpencil, Massimo’s tool of choice.

A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Vignelli Center for Design Studies at RIT. Also stay tuned for news about exhibitions of the photographs in Rochester, NYC, and more.

You can order the standard book or deluxe edition from Oh You Pretty Things, or order the standard edition from Amazon.com and get free Prime shipping in the US.

“Rams” on iTunes and Amazon

Rams is now available to buy or rent on iTunes in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Poland and 50 other countries. Click here to check your local iTunes for availability.

Rams is also available on Amazon.com in the US for download or rental.

As always, you can rent the film for $5 right now anywhere in the world on Vimeo.

Cheers!
- Gary

PS: Just a quick note about data: the only data we store is your email address, and we will not share that with anyone. Period.

Booo!

Consume Creativity!

In the spirit of mass consumption (of quality, long-lasting, creative products) we’ve got a bunch of specials running in our web shop, now through Monday, December 2nd, or while supplies last. Get something for yourself or stock up on gifts.

50% off Mavis! T-Shirts

The official shirts for Jessica Edwards’ Mavis Staples documentary, featuring an original illustration by the amazing Jess Rotter. Screened in white and metallic gold in on black 100% cotton tees. Only $12.50! Sizes going quickly! Get one.

50% off Design Trilogy Interviews Books

The complete interviews from Helvetica, Objectified and Urbanized, including 100 hours of never-before-released conversations, with a foreword and notes on each interview by Gary Hustwit. A massive (and massively inspiring) 736-page paperback book designed by Build. Get one.

50% off Rams Tour Posters

The limited-edition poster previously only available at screening events for “Rams”. Designed by Build, litho printed in black, orange, and metallic silver on 80lb cover stock. A2 size (16.5” x 23.4”) Only a few left, $12.50! Get one.

$20 off Rams/Vignelli Book Bundle

A special bundle of the Rams photo book + film combo, and the new Vignelli: Photographs book. Order them both together and save $20. Get ‘em.

Other Amazing People Who Make Stuff!

If you’re looking for deals elsewhere, here are some incredible friends who you should give your cash to:

Aaron Draplin - The master of merch, Aaron has a plethora of posters, prints, patches, hats, and other fine wares. Something for everyone here.

Akashic Books - The long-running small press run by Johnny Temple. Pickup a signed copy of Keep Your Eyes Open: The Fugazi Photographs by Glen E. Friedman.

East River Tattoo - Artist Duke Riley’s shop, with shirts and art prints available from many of their fine tattoo-ers.

Field Notes - Purveyor of the best damn notebooks out there. The new Wilco box set and their National Parks series are can’t-miss gifts.

Fretboard Journal - 15% off subscriptions to the finest magazine about guitars published.

Ghostly - It’s a record label, but it’s also a lifestyle. Recent non-music releases include new apparel, bags, and a killer Vans sneaker collab.

Produced for Use - Brendan Dawes’ design product outlet is offering free shipping worldwide. Check out the new Silent State series of classic gadget sculptures.

Skateistan - Global non-profit whose skateboarding schools give kids a safe place to learn and express themselves. Donate now to their Safe to Skate campaign.

Standards Manual - You like design books? I like design books. They like design books. Buy their design books.

Teenage Engineering - The Swedish tech collective doesn’t do Black Friday, but they’ve got awesome stuff like the new Rick & Morty Pocket Operator synth.

Uniform Wares - Beautifully designed watches made in London with Swiss movements. They’re running a 30% off sale this week.

Vitsoe - Vitsoe famously closes their shops on Black Friday in protest of hyper-consumerism. But their less-but-better products are always a sound purchase.

Ebru Yildiz - My favorite music photographer has limited edition photo books like We've Come So Far: The Last Days Of Death By Audio.

I know I’m leaving out a ton of people here, but that’s a good start!

Seen Rams Yet? Watch It This Week on iTunes or Amazon

Rams is now available to buy or rent on iTunes in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Poland and 50 other countries. Click here to check your local iTunes for availability.

Rams is also available on Amazon.com in the US for download or rental.

As always, you can rent the film for $5 right now anywhere in the world on Vimeo.

Cheers!
- Gary

PS: Just a quick note about data: the only data we store is your email address, and we will not share that with anyone. Period.

Gobble gobble!

The Designer Who Changed Music History

Today would've been the 120th birthday of Paul Adelburt Bigsby (his friends called him “P.A.”) the motorcycle racer and designer who revolutionized the music industry by creating the first modern solidbody electric guitar in 1948 and influencing other pioneers like Les Paul and Leo Fender.

But the very first guitar Bigsby ever built was lost for over 70 years, until (through some luck and help from a few other guitar geeks) I re-discovered it in 2016. After a few years of research, I'm thrilled to be able to share the guitar and its full story it in the forthcoming Fretboard Journal Electric Annual which will be published next month.

To celebrate Paul Bigsby's 120th birthday today, Fretboard Journal has just released a video I made with guitarist Raphael McGregor playing this historic instrument at the Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn. Hope you enjoy it!

Holiday Sale Extended

We’ve extended a bunch of holiday specials in our web shop, while supplies last. Get something for yourself or stock up on gifts. Order by December 18 for delivery within the USA before Christmas. (International shipments can take up to two weeks)

$20 off Rams/Vignelli Book Bundle

A special bundle of the Rams photo book + film combo, and the new Vignelli: Photographs book. Order them both together and save $20. Get ‘em.

50% off the Design Trilogy Interviews Book

The complete interviews from Helvetica, Objectified and Urbanized, including 100 hours of never-before-released conversations, with a foreword and notes on each interview by Gary Hustwit. A massive (and massively inspiring) 736-page paperback book designed by Build. Great for design students, or anyone! Get a copy.

50% off Mavis! T-Shirts

The official shirts for Jessica Edwards’ Mavis Staples documentary, featuring an original illustration by the amazing Jess Rotter. Screened in white and metallic gold in on black 100% cotton tees. Only $12.50! Sizes going quickly! Get one.

50% off Rams Tour Posters

The limited-edition poster previously only available at screening events for “Rams”. Designed by Build, litho printed in black, orange, and metallic silver on 80lb cover stock. A2 size (16.5” x 23.4”) Only a few left, $12.50! Get one.

Gift a Digital Copy of Rams

Looking for a quick, inexpensive, inspirational gift? Give the design knowledge of Dieter Rams (and the incredible music of Brian Eno) with a digital copy of Rams. You can gift a rental or download of the film right now with just a few clicks.

Cheers!
- Gary

PS: Just a quick note about data: the only data we store is your email address, and we will not share that with anyone. Period.

PPS: “Design is politics”

Let the making begin…

Greetings friends, and happy new year! Hope you're doing well.

For me, 2020 marks the beginning of a decade of making things. I'll still be making films, but I’ll also be designing and making other things I'm obsessed with: buildings, watches, sneakers, instruments, clothing, furniture, electronics, and more. To start this decade of making, I've launched a small in-house brand called Swiss Dots. So look for interesting collabs in a wide range of categories coming soon. Or reach out if you want to team up? This is gonna be fun!

Limited Drop: T4 Speaker Shirts

To kick things off, Swiss Dots has issued a limited run of T4 Speaker T-shirts that pay homage to the groundbreaking radio Dieter Rams designed for Braun in 1959. Gray dots on black or white shirts. Simple. These shirts will drop today at 5pm EST (GMT -5) and are limited to 100 in each colorway worldwide.

New Guitar Pedal: Koll Brutalist

I’m a huge guitar nerd, so this one is extra exciting: I’ve collaborated with my friend Saul Koll to make the Brutalist, a crushing new overdrive pedal. And the amazing Aaron Draplin did the graphic design! The Brutalist will be available for limited pre-orders tomorrow starting at 5pm EST (GMT -5) check the Koll Guitars site tomorrow for details or follow Koll on Instagram.

Vignelli photographs exhibit and talk at RIT

I'm pleased to announce the first exhibition of my photographs of Massimo and Lella Vignelli, opening February 4th at the Vignelli Center for Design Studies at RIT in Rochester, New York. I’ll be doing a talk about documenting design at 4:45pm, followed by an opening reception from 6pm to 8pm. Follow the Vignelli Center on Instagram for details.

And Vignelli: Photographs, my new book of images of the late designers Massimo and Lella Vignelli, has been released. Massimo Vignelli was a huge influence on me and my career, and I was lucky to spend a day photographing him and Lella in their home in 2013. These images celebrate their prolific partnership and capture a day in the life of two incredibly talented people. Get details and see more images from the book.

This small-format 80-page hardcover book was printed on recycled stock, and comes in a standard edition and a deluxe signed package that includes an original photograph and an aluminum Caran D’Ache Fixpencil, Massimo’s tool of choice.

A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Vignelli Center for Design Studies. You can order the standard book or deluxe edition from Oh You Pretty Things, or order the standard edition from Amazon.com and get free Prime shipping in the US.

“Rams” on iTunes and Amazon

Rams is now available to buy or rent on iTunes in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Poland and 50 other countries. Click here to check your local iTunes for availability.

Rams is also available on Amazon.com in the US for download or rental.

As always, you can rent the film for $5 right now anywhere in the world on Vimeo.

Cheers!
- Gary

PS: Just a quick note about data: the only data we store is your email address, and we will not share that with anyone. Period.

R.I.P. Steve Dalachinsky

Last Three Days of 30% Off!

Last chance to get 30% off in our Studio Moving Sale. Everything at our web shop Oh You Pretty Things is on sale, while supply lasts. Posters, prints, books, discs, photographs, everything. Plenty of good gift ideas for design geeks! Use the discount code MOVE30 at checkout. Order by midnight Thursday and get delivery before Christmas in the USA.

And follow me on Instagram to see the rare/strange items we''re adding to the sale, I''ll be posting stuff in my IG stories all week. We just added a few more vintage Braun objects this morning, they''re live in the shop now.

Rams Exhibition at Isetan Tokyo

Open now through January 11 at the Isetan The Space in Shinjuku, "LESS BUT BETTER Dieter Rams: The World of Braun and Vitso" showcases some of Rams' iconic work. Systems Studio curated and designed an exhibition that presents the extraordinary aesthetic coherence of Rams' 1960s designs for Braun and Vitsoe through a storytelling journey, with objects on display organized to suggest familiar environments: a living room, screening room and study. Rams, the documentary, is screening on a loop within the exhibition.

Hope you're all well, and thanks as always for your ongoing support.

Cheers,
-Gary

PS: 2021 will be better.

New short documentary: The Map

Greetings friends, hope you're all well!

So this year I've had the pleasure of following digital agency Work & Co as they redesigned the NYC Subway map for digital, creating a "live map" that dynamically responds to system changes. The MTA just released the live map yesterday. The map builds on the legendary 1972 diagram designed by Massimo Vignelli and Joan Charysyn. In the film, we get to revisit the controversy surrounding Vignelli's map, including never-before-published images from photographer Stan Ries of the New York Subway Map Debate between Vignelli and John Tauranac in 1978.

The Live Map project was started before COVID hit, and was made pro-bono by Work & Co for the city, which I think is an incredible act of generosity. As Christopher Bonanos wrote in his New York Magazine profile of the project this week, "In this dire year for New York City and its transit system, this digital launch is a rare moment of things looking up." Hear, hear.

The Map (10 min) examines the evolution of wayfinding and user interfaces, and shows how good design and the latest digital technology can simplify one of the world''s most complex transit systems. Featuring Felipe Memoria, Rachel Haot, Sarah Meyer, Joshua Gee, Marcela Abbade, Karina Sirqueira, Robert Penner, and Mohan Ramaswamy. Watch it now.

Vignelli: Photographs book special discount this week

The celebrate the release of The Map, we're offering a special discount this week on Vignelli: Photographs, my hardcover book of photos of Massimo and Lella Vignelli. Now through this Saturday get 25% off the $40 retail price of the book by using the discount code MAP25. This discount applies to the standard edition of the book only. Order a copy now or get more info.

Last Call for "Rams" Book/Film

As mentioned earlier this year, we're nearing the end of the run of the photo book/disc/digital package we produced for Rams, and it won't be reprinted. The Blu-ray edition is sold out, and there are low quantities on both the DVD and digital file version left. Get one (or more) of these 80-page hardcovers now. We also have some of the "10 Principles" letterpress cards available, and of course posters, prints, and other design objects to help keep you inspired.

I hope you enjoy The Map! And thanks as always for your ongoing support.

Cheers,
-Gary

PS: VOTE!

That's all, folks!

We''re down to the last few hundred copies of the Rams photo book/disc/digital release, and I''ve decided we won''t be reprinting it. I had mixed feelings about creating a physical release for a digital film, but Dieter liked the idea of a small photography book printed on recycled paper as the medium for the movie, so I made it happen. And honestly I love this book, I think it''s one of the best things I''ve ever put out into the world. But after these copies are sold, that''s it.

Get a copy of the book with a digital file, DVD or Blu-ray disc of the film. I hope it gives you as much enjoyment as it has for me.

Gary & Jessica to Curate Program at Full Frame Festival

This is going to be fun! Jessica Edwards and I have the honor of curating the Thematic Program at this year's Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina, April 2-5, 2020. This year's theme is the creative process, and we can't wait to share a selection of inspiring documentaries about artists and their work.

From Full Frame's press release today:

Award-winning filmmakers Jessica Edwards and Gary Hustwit are curating the 2020 Thematic Program at 23rd annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.

The 2020 Thematic Program examines the creative process through films that illuminate how artists-on both sides of the lens and across a variety of mediums-make their work. The series considers both the triumphs and the uncertainties involved in producing art, featuring documentaries that convey the vulnerability, stress, resilience, and sometimes joy it takes to transform personal experience into public expression.

"I'm excited to have this opportunity to work with Gary and Jessica on our Thematic Program," said artistic director Sadie Tillery. "As filmmakers, they've brought the creative acts of an incredible range of artists, from Mavis Staples to Dieter Rams, into view. They have a way of finding the spark in the creator's eye-their films share the magic, and the gravity, artists experience in making something new and putting themselves out there."

Read the full details here. See you in Durham!

Vignelli Photographs at RIT

Now through April 15th, it's the first exhibition of my photographs of Massimo and Lella Vignelli at the Vignelli Center for Design Studies at RIT in Rochester, New York. The photographs are displayed in the Center's gallery along with examples of some of the Vignelli's furniture designs, and the combination of image and object offers a powerful look at their lives and work.

And Vignelli: Photographs, my new book of images of the late designers Massimo and Lella Vignelli, has been released. Massimo Vignelli was a huge influence on me and my career, and I was lucky to spend a day photographing him and Lella in their home in 2013. These images celebrate their prolific partnership and capture a day in the life of two incredibly talented people. Get details and see more images from the book.

A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Vignelli Center for Design Studies. You can order the standard book or deluxe edition from Oh You Pretty Things, or order the standard edition from Amazon.com and get free Prime shipping in the US.

Last Chance: T4 Speaker Shirts

There are only a few T4 Speaker T-shirts left! These shirts pay homage to the groundbreaking radio Dieter Rams designed for Braun in 1959 with simple gray dots on black or white shirts. Black shirts are almost sold out (a couple S and XXL's left) and there are only a few in each size left in white.

Cheers!
- Gary

PS: Just a quick note about data: the only data we store is your email address, and we will not share that with anyone. Period.

PPS: Let's go Mets!

Watch Urbanized free this week

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, I''ve decided to stream my films for free to viewers staying indoors anywhere in the world. No catch, nothing to sign-up for, just free. I''ll be streaming a new free movie every week, launching every Tuesday.

This week''s free film is Urbanized, my 2011 documentary about the design of cities, and re-watching it now I''m struck by so many aspects of it that are relevant to our current pandemic situation. Much of the film looks at the increased density of urban areas, the same density that''s accelerating the spread of this virus. And there are also so many references to the social connection in cities, how people move to large cities to be physically closer to other people and opportunity, and now we can''t even be near each other. But also that cities foster the innovation we need to come up with solutions to global problems like we're experiencing now.

The film features insights from an incredible group including Alejandro Aravena, Amanda Burden, Ricky Burdett, Candy Chang, Yung Ho Chang, Noah Chasin, James Corner, Ellen Dunham-Jones, Sir Norman Foster, Jan Gehl, Bruce Katz, Rem Koolhaas, Rahul Mehrotra, Oscar Niemeyer, Enrique Pe?alosa, Ric Scofidio, Michael Sorkin, and many more.

It took me three years to make "Urbanized"... there was so much travel involved, and just the premise of tackling a massive subject like global cities in an 85-minute film was pretty ridiculous to begin with. But I think the film helped start conversations about all the issues facing cities now, and how we as citizens are just as important to the design of cities as the big name architects and developers.

We''re all going through some big adjustments and being forced to stay inside. Hopefully these films can give you a little inspiration/distraction during these trying times.

Watch Urbanized free now, until April 7: https://www.ohyouprettythings.com/free
And from April 7-14 we'll be streaming my latest film, Rams. Follow me on Instagram for the weekly free film announcements.

R.I.P. Michael Sorkin

Michael Sorkin, noted architect, critic and a participant in my film Urbanized, died Saturday in Manhattan from COVID-19. He was 71.

Sorkin headed the architecture firm Michael Sorkin Studio and was president of non-profit research group Terreform. In addition to the research and built projects Sorkin's studios produced, he was probably most known for his writing and criticism for the Village Voice, the Nation, and his many published books including Twenty Minutes in Manhattan.

Michael made only a short appearance in Urbanized (something he confronted me about after the film''s premiere), not for any specific reason other than that we shot over 300 hours for that film and over 99% of it ended up on the cutting room floor. Part of what we filmed with Michael that was never seen was a walk through Greenwich Village, with him pointing out various aspects of the city that worked or didn''t work, and discussing the legacy of Jane Jacobs. I need to go back and watch that this week. R.I.P. Michael.

Our web shop is open

We're still selling posters, T-shirts, books and other merch through our web shop at Oh You Pretty Things, but shipping will take a few days longer. We're batching and shipping all orders on one day a week, and taking all necessary precautions in terms of sterilizing our supplies and work environment.

I hope you and your family are safe and getting by during all this craziness. This situation isn't forever. But our actions in the next few weeks will determine how long this pandemic ultimately lasts, and how many people die. If we stick together (by staying apart) we can get through this.

Stay safe,
- Gary

PS: #stayhome

This week's free film: Mavis!

This week''s free film is Mavis!, the documentary about gospel/soul music legend and civil rights icon Mavis Staples and her family group, The Staple Singers. I had the honor of executive producing the film, which won a 2016 Peabody Award for director Jessica Edwards.

From the freedom songs of the '60s and hits like "I'll Take You There" in the '70s, to funked-up collaborations with Prince and her albums with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Mavis has stayed true to her roots, kept her family close, and inspired millions along the way. The film features performances and conversations with Bob Dylan, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, Levon Helm, Jeff Tweedy, Chuck D, and more. At 80 years old, Mavis is making the most vital music of her career, winning Grammy awards, and reaching a new generation of fans. Her message of love and equality is needed now more than ever.

The film is now available to stream for free through May 19th. Watch it here: https://www.ohyouprettythings.com/free

We''ve been streaming a new free film every week for the past nine weeks since everyone''s staying indoors because of you know what... Hope you''re all well and hanging in there.

New Wilco Poster Limited Edition

To coincide with our free stream of the Wilco documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart last week, we've printed up a limited edition of the film's original theatrical poster. These are A2 size (16.5" x 23") and are available now in our shop.

We're making a donation of $5 for every poster sold to My Block, My Hood, My City, a non-profit chosen by Wilco that is helping local Chicagoans during the COVID-19 crisis. Other funds raised will go toward the film''s restoration. We've just begun working on a new 4K transfer of the film from the original 16mm elements that we hope to release later this year.

We have a winner.

We have a winner in our drawing for the signed Dieter Rams "10 Principles" letterpress card: Brandon Gein of Sydney, Australia. Congrats Brandon!

I also want to thank everyone who bought a print or who's donated something to the "tip jar" on the free film page. Because of your generosity, we've been able to donate over $10,000 to non-profits like Food Bank for New York City and My Block, My Hood, My City. You are amazing!

We still have a few letterpress cards left, if you'd like one.

Next week we're planning on wrapping up our free film series with a "makeup week". So for seven days (May 19 to 26) we'll show a different film each day, Helvetica, Rams, etc... So if you missed one, we've got you covered. I'll email you with the schedule next week.

Stay strong,
-Gary

Today live: Gary Hustwit & Primo Orpilla on the future of the office

Please join me today on Instagram for a live conversation about the future of the office with Primo Orpilla at 1pm EST. Primo is one of the world''s most renowned office designers and a participant in this week''s free film Workplace. He's a co-founder of Studio O+A, whose work includes offices for Facebook, Yelp, Uber, Slack, Nike, and many other companies small and large.

I think it''ll be interesting to discuss the future of the office at a time when most of us can''t even go to one. In a post-COVID world, how/where will we work? Join Primo and I today and we can all try to sort these questions out.

Tomorrow: Watch 95 minutes of Helvetica bonus footage, free!

Greetings everyone, hope you're all well. I'm continuing to stream my design films free for viewers staying indoors worldwide. Starting tomorrow I'm streaming 95 minutes of bonus footage from Helvetica! The sad truth in documentary filmmaking is that we shoot far more footage than we can actually use in the final film, and sometimes what ends up on the cutting room floor is fantastic but just doesn't fit the film's narrative arc.

There is some great stuff in here (actually longer than the movie itself) from Massimo Vignelli, Paula Scher, Stefan Sagmeister, Hermann Zapf, Wim Crouwel, Experimental Jetset, Michael C. Place, David Carson, and much more. Vignelli's rant about the hippy "flower children" of the '60s is worth the click alone.

Head to the free film page for Helvetica bonus footage tomorrow starting at 12 noon EST. And Workplace, my documentary project about the future of the office, is still streaming free until tomorrow night.

Thanks for the support

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted all of our film projects currently in production. But our web shop is still open and shipping. We're offering posters, T-shirts, books and other merch at Oh You Pretty Things, but shipping will take a few days longer. We're batching and shipping all orders on one day a week, and taking all necessary precautions in terms of sterilizing our supplies and studio environment.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support. I hope you and your family are safe and well.

Cheers,
- Gary

PS: #staystrong

Watch "Workplace" free this week

Greetings friends, hope you're all well and staying safe. I'm continuing to stream my design films free for viewers staying indoors worldwide.

This week's free film is Workplace, a project I made about the past, present and future of the office. Created for the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, it looks at the thinking, innovation, and experimentation involved in creating the next evolution of what the office could be. Workplace follows the design and construction of the New York headquarters of digital agency R/GA (in collaboration with architects Foster + Partners) who were experimenting with how physical and digital space can better interact.

Workplace features Bob Greenberg, Norman Foster, Nick Law, Barry Wacksman, Chris West, Nikil Saval, Julia Goldberg, Primo Orpilla, Amanda Carroll, and more. The film was shown in a site-specific exhibit at the Biennale, where it screened daily from May to November, 2016. It was not meant as a commercial release, so many people familiar with my films have probably not seen it.

There''s already plenty of discussion about the future of the office post-COVID. Will we still want to work in "traditional" offices, and if so how will they be designed? These are some of the questions this film asks, albeit pre-pandemic.

Watch it here: https://www.ohyouprettythings.com/free

Some of you have left a little something in the "tip jar" on the free film page, that''s very kind. Film First is giving 50% of all donations to NYC COVID-19 relief efforts, so keep ''em coming.

Sunday night DJ sets

Partly as a way to stay sane during quarantine, I've been spinning records on Instagram Live over the past few Sunday evenings. I don't claim to be some hotshot DJ, it's just fun to play music for friends and connect during this crisis.

The week's theme is Cover Me, and I'll be spinning weird and wonderful cover versions of songs you love this Sunday night from 9-11pm EST (GMT -5). Follow me on Instagram and tune into IG Stories to listen, make requests, and talk smack. Hope you can join me.

Support indie filmmaking

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted all of our film projects currently in production. But our web shop is still open and shipping. We're offering posters, T-shirts, books and other merch at Oh You Pretty Things, but shipping will take a few days longer. We're batching and shipping all orders on one day a week, and taking all necessary precautions in terms of sterilizing our supplies and studio environment.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support. I hope you and your family are safe and well.

Cheers,
- Gary

PS: #stayhome

Creativity and Design in Crisis

Greetings friends, it's been a few months since I've written you, I hope you and your families are well. Our strange times continue. In New York City where I'm based, months of quarantine restrictions around COVID seem to have worked, and after a devastating loss of life this Spring the city has been able to flatten the curve and start the process of reopening. But in other parts of the USA and in many other countries, the crisis is not over yet.

I started working on a few new creative projects late last year, some films, and some other things. But like a lot of you, I've had to reassess those projects during the pandemic, and in light of the continuing struggles for equality and human rights. I'm having to ask myself, is this project still necessary now? Does it have the same resonance it did nine months ago? What should I be working on now? And those of us whose work is centered around generating creative ideas might be finding it hard to stay open to those ideas when there's so much chaos and uncertainty in our daily lives.

But I keep coming back to the fact that creativity has value. We process our experiences, our struggles, our hopes, through creative expression. And it's critical for us to continue doing that, so keep trying to create in whatever way you want/can right now. Everything we do does not have to be defined by a virus, or by our current social/political moment. But at the same time it's more important than ever for us to express our opinions about our society and how it needs to change. And if you want to channel your opinions into your art, by all means do it. There's nothing more powerful than a creative idea when it comes to affecting change.

I'm also convinced more than ever of the importance of design in these times. So many of the challenges we're facing now are ultimately design challenges: public health, sustainability, systemic racism, economic equality. Designers will (and should) have an increasingly active role in helping to re-envision our society for the better. To quote Dieter Rams, "Design only works when it really seeks to achieve something for humanity."

As for me, I'm still thinking about how my time and efforts are best spent going forward, and how I can continue to contribute to the global design and film communities. And while it still feels a little strange to be emailing you with news and product releases, here goes.

Brian Eno "Rams" Album Drops for Record Store Day this Saturday

After a COVID-related delay, Brian Eno's original soundtrack to my film about Dieter Rams is being released in a limited edition for Record Store Day this Saturday, August 29. Eleven songs from the film on white vinyl (includes a download code) available exclusively at independent record shops and limited to 2,500 copies worldwide. This is the only way this album will be released, there are no plans to put it on streaming services, etc. These are the full songs Brian composed for the film (in the documentary I only used shorter excerpts), it''s over 40 minutes of music. It''s such a different experience to listen to the full tracks all together. And I got to design the LP package!

Record Store Day was conceived as a way to draw attention to a dying breed: small independent record stores. Hundreds of musicians worldwide will be issuing limited-edition records that will only be available for this day. Small record stores need our support more than ever, so check the RSD website for a participating shop near you.

Where Are the Black Designers?

The lack of diversity within the design industry is an issue that's been talked about for decades now. But the 2019 AIGA Design Census reports that only 3% of designers, across disciplines, are black. Where Are the Black Designers is an initiative which aims to give a platform to creatives of color. It connects designers, educators, and creative leaders to start a dialogue about change in and out of the design industry. The kick-off event for the initiative was a free online conference June 27, attended by over 10,000 people. And the event spawned an awesome Slack community of over 5,000 designers, with networking and job opportunities for BIPOC creators.

Our web shop, Oh You Pretty Things, was proud to help this new initiative by co-producing an official conference T-shirt as a fundraiser, with a design by Annika Hansteen-Izora printed on cotton tees. There are a few of these conference shirts left, and 100% of the proceeds go to WATBD and Annika. You can follow WATBD on Instagram for the latest updates.

Last Call for "Rams" Book/Film

As mentioned a few months back, we're nearing the end of the run of the photo book/disc/digital package we produced for Rams, and it won't be reprinted. There are less than 10 copies of the Blu-ray edition left, and low quantities on both the DVD and digital file version too. Get one (or more) of these 80-page hardcovers now. We also have some of the "10 Principles" letterpress cards available, and of course posters, prints, and other design objects to help keep you inspired.

Thanks as always for your time, for your energy, and for your ongoing support.
Stay strong.

Cheers,
-Gary

PS: Black Lives Matter
PPS: Americans, please make sure you're registered to vote.

Last chance to win a letterpress print signed by Dieter Rams

There''s only one day left to get a Rams "10 Principles" letterpress print and be entered into the drawing to win a copy signed by Dieter Rams himself.

These 5" x 7" prints were designed by Build and beautifully letterpress printed in two colors on heavy Cranes Lettra 300gsm stock. And for each print purchased, we'll make a donation to Food Bank NYC that will provide 25 meals for families in need and health care workers here in New York City during the COVID-19 crisis.

Just order a print before noon EST tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5th. We'll announce the winner of the signed print then. Letterpress prints are $35, and for each print you buy you'll get an entry into the signed print drawing (buy 2, get 2 chances to win, etc). These make thoughtful gifts too. Good luck!

Free film of the week: Wilco!

Over the past six weeks I've been streaming my films free for viewers staying indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and over 500,000 people have watched one. We've already gone through the five films I've directed, and some bonus content. So now we're on to films I've helped produce! First up: I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Sam Jones' epic 2002 documentary about the creation (and aftermath) of Wilco's album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

Shot entirely on black-and-white 16mm film, the project was originally conceived as a look at the band''s creative process while recording the album (which just had it's 18-year anniversary). But after the band''s label rejected the record, we spent the next year documenting the fallout. The result is a film which not only looks at a turbulent chapter in the band''s history, but also a breakthrough moment in the struggle for artistic freedom in the corporate-dominated music industry. Rolling Stone hailed it as "one of the greatest music documentaries of all time."

The film is currently not available on Netflix or any of the digital platforms, and we're working on a new 4K restoration of the film from the original 16mm elements which we hope to complete later this year.

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5th at noon EST, the film available to stream for free to viewers around the world via Oh You Pretty Things. We've also set up a ''tip jar'', with 50% of the money raised going to My Block, My Hood, My City, a non-profit chosen by Wilco that is helping local Chicagoans during the COVID-19 crisis. The remaining funds will go toward the film''s restoration.

The documentary features Jeff Tweedy, Jay Bennett, Glenn Kotche, John Stirratt, Leroy Bach, Tony Margherita, David Fricke, Greg Kot, Fred Armisen (hilarious, pre-SNL), and many others. Even if you don't know the band, you'll enjoy the film, I promise.

Hope you're all doing well, and staying safe/sane.

Cheers,
-Gary

PS: Keep your head up high.

Watch Rams free this week

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, I''ve decided to stream my films for free to viewers staying indoors anywhere in the world. No catch, nothing to sign-up for, just free. I''ll be streaming a new free movie every week, launching every Tuesday.

This week''s free film is Rams, my latest feature-length documentary about legendary designer Dieter Rams. For over fifty years, Rams has left an indelible mark on the field of product design with his iconic work at Braun and Vitsoe, and his influence on Apple. But at 87 years old, why does he now regret being a designer? Rams is a design documentary, but it's also a rumination on consumerism, materialism, and sustainability. Dieter''s philosophy is about more than just design, it's about a way to live. Featuring Sophie Lovell, Mark Adams, Naoto Fukasawa, Klaus Klemp, Mateo Kries, Dietrich Lubs, and more. The film also features an original score by pioneering musician Brian Eno.

Rams is streaming free with optional subtitles in English, German, Italian, Czech, Russian, Korean, Turkish, Japanese, Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish.

Hopefully some of Dieter's philosophy and wisdom can be an inspiration for you during this crisis. #LessButBetter

Watch Rams free now, until April 14: https://www.ohyouprettythings.com/free
Follow me on Instagram for more free film announcements and the latest news.

We're shipping

We're still selling posters, T-shirts, books and other merch through our web shop at Oh You Pretty Things, but shipping will take a few days longer. We're batching and shipping all orders on one day a week, and taking all necessary precautions in terms of sterilizing our supplies and studio environment.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support. I hope you and your family are safe and well.

Cheers,
- Gary

PS: #stayhome
PPS: R.I.P. John Prine

Studio Moving Sale: 30% Off!

We''re moving our studio this month so we''re having a moving sale! Everything at our web shop Oh You Pretty Things is 30% off, while supply lasts. Posters, prints, books, discs, photographs, everything. Plenty of good gift ideas for design geeks! Use the discount code MOVE30 at checkout.

We''ll also be offering some rare items we''ve unearthed in our storage space, some of this stuff goes back 20 years. For starters, we found a few boxes of discs that we previously thought were out of print, including Helvetica Blu-ray discs and Objectified DVDs and Blu-rays. There are only a few dozen of each, and they won''t be reprinted. They''re live in the shop now.

And follow me on Instagram to see the rare/strange stuff we''re adding to the sale, I''ll be posting stuff in my IG stories all week.

Online Screening of The Map plus Panel Discussion

Join me next week for an online screening of The Map and discussion about the evolution of the MTA''s iconic subway map along with Felipe Memoria (Work & Co), Sarah Meyer (MTA), Suzanne LaBarre (Fast Company), Rachel Haot (Transit Innovation Partnership), and Joshua Gee (MTA). Wednesday, December 9th, 5pm EST.

The Map (10 min) follows digital agency Work & Co as they redesign the NYC Subway map for digital, creating a "live map" that dynamically responds to system changes. The film examines the evolution of wayfinding and user interfaces, and shows how good design and the latest digital technology can simplify one of the world''s most complex transit systems. Featuring Felipe Memoria, Rachel Haot, Sarah Meyer, Joshua Gee, Marcela Abbade, Karina Sirqueira, Robert Penner, and Mohan Ramaswamy.

I hate moving. But hope you to see you at the online event! And thanks as always for your ongoing support.

Cheers,
-Gary

PS: Mask up till we can vax up.

Watch Objectified free this week

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, I''ve decided to stream my films for free to viewers staying indoors anywhere in the world. No catch, nothing to sign-up for, just free. I''ll be streaming a new free movie every week, launching every Tuesday.

This week''s free film is Objectified, my 2009 documentary about product design. It''s amazing how products have changed so much in the past 11 years, but all the issues (sustainability, bad design, consumerism, etc) haven''t changed at all. If anything the issues in the film are more important today. And there are also some great moments in here with some of my favorite designers: Jony Ive wiping his iPhone screen, Dieter Rams and his bonsai, Karim Rashid''s white suit (so bright we couldn''t tone it down in post), the amazing Bill Moggridge (RIP), Rob Walker''s deadpan humor, and more.

We''re all going through some big adjustments and being forced to stay inside. Many of you have probably seen Objectified already, but over the next month we'll be watching all my other films together so maybe there's one you'd like to re-watch. And please share this with friends who might need a little inspiration/distraction.

Watch Objectified free now, until March 31: https://www.ohyouprettythings.com/free
On March 31 we'll start streaming another free film, I haven't decided the order yet. and there might be a few surprises. Follow me on Instagram for the weekly free film announcements. Stay safe.

Koll x Draplin COVID-19 fundraiser

I had the pleasure of co-designing a killer new guitar effects pedal with all-star collaborators Saul Koll, Jack Deville and Aaron Draplin, and it'll be released this Friday! I absolutely love how it looks and sounds.

But when we announced the Koll High-Rise overdrive back in January, I don''t think any of us could''ve foreseen how radically our world would change in just a few months. The health concerns and economic impact on most working musicians has been devastating, and there''s still a long fight ahead.

We''d like to try to help that situation a little. So Koll Guitars is donating 50% of its net proceeds from pedal sales this week to the COVID-19 Oregon Musicians Relief Fund. Funds raised will go toward medical expenses, lodging, food, and other vital living expenses for musicians based in Oregon (where Koll Guitars is located) who''ve been impacted by sickness or loss of work.

If you play electric guitar, you need this box. And your purchase will help working musicians during this crisis. Order a pedal or get more info. And check out the demo video on Edge of Breakup.

Our web shop is open

We're still selling posters, T-shirts, books and other merch through our web shop at Oh You Pretty Things, but shipping will take a little longer during this crisis. We're batching and shipping all orders on one day a week.

I hope you and your family are safe and getting by during all this craziness. This situation isn't forever. But our actions in the next few weeks will determine how long this pandemic ultimately lasts, and how many people die. If we stick together (by staying apart) we can get through this.

Stay strong,
- Gary

PS: #stayhome

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, I''ve decided to stream my films for free to viewers stuck indoors anywhere in the world. No catch, nothing to sign-up for, just free. I''ll be streaming a new free movie every week, starting now with Helvetica.

We''re all going through some big adjustments and a lot of us are being forced to stay inside. Will watching a film about fonts do a goddamn thing about this crisis? Probably not. But I make films, and hopefully you like films, so it''s one way I can contribute to the greater good right now. Most of you have probably seen Helvetica already, but over the next month we'll be watching all my other films together so maybe there's one you'd like to re-watch.

Watch Helvetica free now, until March 24: https://www.ohyouprettythings.com/free
On March 24 we'll start streaming another free film, I haven't decided the order yet. and there might be a few surprises. Follow me on Instagram for the weekly free film announcements.

And please share this with friends who might need a little inspiration/distraction.

Brian Eno is releasing his soundtrack to Rams.

Here's something to look forward to: Brian Eno is releasing his original soundtrack to Rams, in a limited edition for Record Store Day on June 20. Eleven songs from the film on white vinyl (includes a download code) available exclusively in record shops.

You can''t order this record online, you have to physically go into a local shop on June 20. (That's three months away, so hopefully things will be back to semi-normal by then - fingers crossed.) This is the only way this album will be released, it won''t be on streaming services, etc. Check the RSD website for a participating record shop near you: https://recordstoreday.com/Stores

These are the full songs Brian Eno composed for the film (in the documentary I only used shorter excerpts) it''s over 40 minutes of music. And it''s such a different experience to listen to the full tracks all together. Mind-blowing-ly great.

Hopefully the world hasn't ended before June 20, because I've been dreaming about this release for years now.

Cheers,
- Gary

PS: Listen to (or play) some music today. It helps. And consider a donation to Doctors Without Borders, who are continuously on the frontlines of medical emergencies around the world.

PPS: Stay strong. We're gonna get through this.