San Diego-based creative company Holiday Matinee (a company I also intern for) has published their first book, I Swear to Good You Are God At This. It’s as inspirational as it is fun to flip through! The book is a compilation of awesome creative work and ideas by people who do what they love and love what they do. If you’re interested in purchasing 72 pages of creative inspiration, head over here.

In addition, a book launch party is being thrown to bring the book to life with art installations, performances, interactive presentations and more. If you’re lucky enough to be a San Diego native or if you’re willing to trek down from any nearby city, please feel free to join us.

What: I Swear to Good You Are God at This Book Launch Party
When: Thursday, February 18, 2010 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Where: BASIC, 410 10th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Age Limit: 21

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If you’re embarrassed about the books you’re reading, you can always give them a disguise. These book jackets from Book City Jackets can do the trick.

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Canadian communication designer David Berman takes on a subject regarding a designer’s two choices: working to create deceptions that encourage more consumption or using their profession to change the world.

http://www.davidberman.com

[via Selectism]

We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist. Here’s what Catrina wants, although something tells me those last ones might not be available…

1. Attack of Literacy Print by Joshua Kemble
I fell in love with this illustration when I saw it on Society6 while I was browsing applicants’ work for the Design Milk Mini-Interview and Post opportunity. It isn’t available as a print (although I would really love that, so maybe I’ll put in a little hint for him), but it is available as a graphic tee on Threadless. It’s sold out at the moment, unfortunately. I can definitely see why.

2. Super Secret Spy Lens from Photojojo
Somehow, people have a sixth sense for knowing when the camera lens is on them, which isn’t helpful when I’m trying to capture some good candids! These “spy lens” from Photojojo can help eliminate that little problem I have by attaching to the lens of my Nikon DSLR camera.

3. A History Of The World In Six Glasses by Tom Standage
This book explains the significance of six different beverages (beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola) and how they helped shape human history. I find it an interesting approach to giving insight from the Stone Age to today.

4. An endless supply of Cheddar Cheese Popcorn from Popcorn Palace
I love gourmet popcorn. I’d really like to have a gigantic tin on the floor in my room for the popcorn along with endless refills of popcorn being sent to me every month.

5. Mix Tape USB Drive from Fred Flare
I’ve seen a lot of different USB drives out there, but this one by far is my most favorite in the bunch. It isn’t as compact as the small USB stick I have on hand already, but it has 512 megabytes of space and it speaks volumes about how much I love stuff inspired by mixtapes

6. Reverse alarm clock
This actually doesn’t exist, but I wish it did. It would do the opposite of a morning alarm clock. I have a habit of sleeping really late, so I think an alarm clock that somehow tells me to go to sleep would be perfect.

7. My own personal sushi chef
Because I find myself wanting sushi almost all the time, so why not?

8. Two panda bears
They’d be best friends. I’d name them after Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart.

We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist. Here’s what Erin hopes to get:

1. Fair Isle Bootie at Urban Outfitters
Because the truth is, I spend 99% of my time in pajamas and slippers. And mine are sorta starting to smell.

2. Crystal Counterpart Decanter at Anthropologie
I collect white things, because for some reason, I feel a bit more Scandinavian that way. This would make the loveliest addition to my collection… ever.

3. Herringbone Throw at Auto
Do I need a reason to love this?

4. Beechwood Kitchen Utensils at A+R
I just bought a fixer-upper and can’t wait to display these in my newly renovated kitchen! Eek!

5. Covo Teapot at DeDeCe
Because this is the prettiest teapot I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

6. I Love Your Style: How to Define and Refine Your Personal Style by Amanda Brooks at Amazon
I re-invent my wardrobe entirely too often and am hoping that one day, I’ll finally get my act together and achieve the ultimate in style definition. Until then, I’m riding the coattails of Amanda Brooks.

We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist. Here’s what Crystal is crossing her fingers for.

1. Color Masking Tape Set 2. Brand Puzzle 3. Sky Planter 4. Hamster Bank 5. Vitra Uten Silo Large Wall Organizer or 6. This one 7. Typeface 8. Made in Bunch Book 9. Moustache Pencils 10. Wooden Letters

We don’t do gift guides here on Design Milk because, well, everyone does them. We like to be different. So we decided to go in another direction this year. Since our staff is getting larger, we thought it would be fun to ask each person what was on their wishlist this holiday season. So, every day for next 2 weeks we’ll feature a staff wishlist.

Here’s what I’m looking forward to:

1. Diamond Necklace by Sprout Jewelry
This is another item that’s been on my wishlist, but this one has been there for about 3 years. I think it’s time to take the plunge!

2. Stendig 2010 Calendar
Just bought this to replace my 2009 one! It’s the perfect calendar for right above my desk.

3. Sienna Mary Janes from Keen
I love Keen shoes because they are super comfortable, eco-friendly, and I also love Mary Janes so these are the perfect combination!

4. Renewal of my Lucky Magazine subscription
With magazines dropping like flies, I’m hanging on to as many glossies as I can. This is my must-have. Mr. Design Milk gets a 2-year sub for me every other year!

5. Organic Cotton Pin-Tuck Duvet Cover + Shams from West Elm
I have wanted this duvet for quite some time now. I’m still drooling over it, so I know that it’s real love.

6. WTF Snowglobe from Urban Outfitters
I need some comic relief at my desk and this is the perfect thing. I also think one should be purchased for the 2009 time capsule. I wonder if in 200 years they will understand WTF?

7. Blanche! OK, that’s probably not going to happen this year, but every year I can’t help but wish for alpaca [image source: pluckytree on Flickr].

Mom, are you reading this?

Awesome design. Each one measures 7″ x 6″ x 6″ and is made from powder-coated steel.

A new book arrived on my doorstep from Penguin called Glimmer: How Design Can Transform Your Life and Maybe Even the World by Warren Berger. The book seeks to discuss the “glimmer” moments in design: the moment when a new solution to an old problem is revealed. The book also features the insights of prominent designer Bruce Mau. The book goes beyond the how-to approach and looks at design as a cultural phenomenon — a force of change in today’s world. Berger speaks with over 200 leading design experts and discovers ten major principles of “design thinking”, which he outlines in the book. They include innovative ways to solve community problems and improving your creative flow.

Check out an excerpt from an interview with Berger below:

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Imagine if your favorite magazine decided to compile a “best of”. That’s exactly what Elle Decor Editor Margaret Russell, along with other fellow editors, did. They rounded up the best rooms from Elle Decor over the past 20 (wow!) years and released Style and Substance: The Best of Elle Decor. I would say this is going to be a bestseller and a must-have for all decorating enthusiasts. The book is 240 pages and is available on Amazon.

The style icons and celebrities whose homes and work are featured include Cindy Crawford, Sarah Jessica parker, Madonna, and Julianne Moore, as well as fashion icons including Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Jay Lane, Ralph Rucci, Monique Lhuillier, and Donatella Versace.