first cupcakes. next world peace.

ahhh, the beloved cupcake. is there an equal confection that could bring such great delight in such a small, delicate package? i think not.

i found this interesting article in NYT today about the popularization of the American-born cupcake in the Middle East. looks like a little American frivolity IS a good thing.

- posted by Karen Raidel

[photo: www.sxc.hu]

Oh, IKEA. The ousting of Futura

It seems as if everyone in the design community is up in arms about IKEA's font change from Futura to Veranda.

I know IKEA by their recognizable, mod-looking font (not to mention their fabulous Florts, Stjalks and Malms). Personally I prefer Futura to Veranda, but aesthetics aside, some may wonder -- does it really matter?

The biggest thing IKEA should be concerned about is how their font really served to differentiate them from other retailers. It fit their brand, and some may profess that Futura was actually a fundamental component of their brand identity.

I have to wonder -- could a Tropicana OJ-style consumer uprising take place? And would IKEA ever bend to the whims of their design-savvy customers by changing the font back?

My gut tells me no. But I can hope, right?

- posted by Hillary Hempstead