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Friday Five with Colin Brice & Caleb Mulvena of Mapos

New York City-based Mapos is a multi-disciplinary studio of architects and designers that was co-founded by Colin Brice and Caleb Mulvena in 2008 to cover everything from architectural environments, creative concepts, and branding. Over the years they’ve worked with notable brands like Nike, fresh, Coca-Cola, Caudalie, and MTV, to name a few, all while realizing private homes, urban initiatives, retail concepts, hospitality and workspace concepts, and pro-bono work for community groups. As if that wasn’t enough, the duo took time out of their day to share five picks of things that inspire them and keep them going, in this week’s Friday Five.

Photo courtesy of Kunst Images

Photo courtesy of Kunst Images

1. Urban Palimpsest
Every city, and every building contained within, is a conversation layered upon previous conversations ad infinitum. When these layers are exposed, they stand as a beautiful collage that spans generations and enhances our built environment. We believe the best design engages in this layered conversation and celebrates it. Colin Rowe had it right with Collage City.

Photo by J. L. CEREIJIDO / EPA

Photo by J. L. CEREIJIDO / EPA

2. Frank Gehry and his Bird
We salute Mr. Gehry for saying what he said and saluting his interrogators in Oviedo. Sometimes it just needs to be said. Hell yes, Frank. Hell yes.

F5-Mapos-3-tom-sachs

3. Tom Sachs’ Ten Bullets Video
How can you make a studio manual memorable, beautiful, and entertaining? Tom Sachs nails it with what is simply the world’s greatest studio manual. Anyone who runs a studio with employees will appreciate this inspiring little gem… “always be knolling” my friends.

Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Peter Foley

Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Peter Foley

4. The World Cup
Every four years, from every culture and corner of the planet, people gather and celebrate. In New York City (perhaps the most international of cities), bars and cafes and restaurants and living rooms are filled with the messy vitality, diversity, and energy of humanity at its best. As designers, we love being reminded and inspired by what makes us all different, yet still very much the same.

Photo courtesy of Desert Survivor

Photo courtesy of Desert Survivor

5. Central Colorado in October
Feeling overwhelmed with the daily grind? One too many rat sightings in the subway? Stuck with a design challenge? Picture in your mind the following: white capped mountains. A canopy of glowing yellow aspen leaves. The deepest and clearest of blue skies. Grab a bike. Take a hike. You can feel it in your bones.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.