Your morning just got a little cuter with Pantone’s line of swatch-inspired coffee cups. With a range of vivid hues and shades of espresso, they’re perfect for hardcore designers who crave a dose of design in the morning.

I’d really be swooning if they were available in every Pantone color. It won’t happen soon, but I can still dream, right?

Posted in: Coffee, Design, Pantone

Can’t concentrate because you’ve got a billion windows opened?

Check out Isolator. The clever Mac app dims background application windows to keep you focused on the current application. Couple it with Menu Eclipse to dim your menubar, and you’ve got a distraction-fighting dynamic duo.

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The Ampersand
A cute little blog dedicated to respresentations of the beloved Ampersand.

The Trouble With EM ’n EN (and Other Shady Characters)
Do you know the three types of dashes? Peter Sheering has a quick tutorial on the proper use of dashes as well as other typographic details on the web.

Setting Web type to a baseline grid “This article covers the basics of baseline grids—defined grid areas within which content is placed—and how they can be applied effectively to the web medium.”

Figuring It Out: OF, LF, and TF Explained
“Numerals (or figures) can take various forms. The figure style you choose ought to be appropriate to the project you are working on. Readability is key. But which style is best for which purpose?”

I’ve been swamped, but I hope you have a good weekend!

My typical work day is 9:30 to 7:30. Often, my work bleeds into my “off hours”. This isn’t helped by instant messengers, twitters, tiny laptops, and my fancy new 3G iPhone. If someone “needs” me for a random assignment in the wee hours, I’m just a few buttons away—just a tug of the electronic dog leash.

So, the next time you’re twittering away at 1am grumbling about some project you’re working on, think about the benefits of a 9 to 5 job:

1. A life outside of work
   At 5pm, you’re free to do whatever you want—except work. That means you’ve got time to cook dinner, go to the gym, see the sun set, or go on a hot date. In other words, you get a life.

2. Less stress
   Since work ends at a consistent time everyday, you spend fewer brain cells worrying about work when you shouldn’t be. Less worry means more happiness. I don’t need to cite the countless studies on this one.

3. Greater efficiency
   When you bracket your work day, you force yourself to work efficiently. It’s like having a deadline everyday at 5pm. No matter how long the work day is, you’ll find ways to fill it up. Why? According to Parkinson’s law, because you can. Firmly holding yourself to an 8 hour day means you’ve got to prioritize and negotiate your tasks.

It must be possible to be an excellent and passionate designer while working only 9 to 5, right? Is anyone else doing this? Or am I chasing a unicorn?

Posted in: Design, Stress

Today, Rajat and Jayant Agarwalla resurrected their recently murdered Scrabulous app under a new name, Wordscraper. This incarnation works much like the original, with a few significant differences:

1. You can create your own board layout (this includes layouts based on the original Scrabble board), or you can generate a random one.
2. You can share your boards with others.
3. The board uses circles instead of squares.
4. You can add “premium” circles that quadruple or pentuple your words and letters.

In short, it’s Scrabble on steroids. Not shying from an unfortunate situation, the Agarwalla brothers used their technical prowess to create a game that’s even more fun and robust than the original.

They made lemonade out of lemons. What every designer must do.

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Remember that little coin pocket in your jeans that you never use? Turns out, it’s the perfect size for your iPhone.

The mini pocket keeps your Precious close to you while protecting it from scratchy keys and objects in your main pocket. No need for a stupid holster or bulky case.

I’ve tested jeans from Gap, G-Star, Levi’s, and H&M. All fit the 3G iPhone perfectly, though some pockets were deeper than others.

Other brands might not fit. So before buying your next pair of jeans, check and make sure it supports your iPhone. I can imagine the “Approved for iPhone” stickers at Urban Outfitters already.

Posted in: Fashion, iPhone