One of JS’s favorite design masters Brian Jaramillo (beejay) finally has a site up that showcases his work for various brands, as well as some killer personal work in design, typography and lettering. Another new collab featuring beejay is Letter Cult, his blog with Ray Frenden. The new site dedicated to the custom letter holds it down, featuring great modern innovators that push the boundaries of the field.

There must be something in the water lately in Sao Paulo, because it seems like it’s a particularly blooming time for art galleries here on account of the rash of fine, inspiring art they’re showing. Among these contributing to the cause is Wagner Pinto, a different kind of Brazilian artist we’ve been featuring lately on JoshSpear.com — uniquely Brazilian influences, such as iconic references to the Afro-Brazilian religions of Cadomble and Umbanda, and country folklore make their way onto his canvases. Pinto is part of an art collective called Upgrade do Macaco, which counts members like Bruno 9li who dash a bit if the mystical into their works in a street-savvy way. Pinto’s latest works just opened in his solo Miracao at Rojo ArtSpace in Sao Paulo.

It’s amazing what goes unnoticed while in transit. You probably never paid much attention to the patterns and texture on your train’s seats, but in the mind of Austria’s Seatshirt, it’s pure design gold. Taking the interiors from actual trains from around the world, Seatshirt brings us a line of T-shirts that utilize these forgotten patterns for fashion. The first series comes to us from Copenhagen, Seatshirt’s native Vienna, and the Tokyo Metro train system. Yeah, it sounds odd, but the product is pretty sweet. Best of all, it’s perfect urban camoflage.

Having trouble finding snarky greeting cards? Copywriter Joel Gryniewski wouldn’t put up with the void when he was trying to woo now fiance Lauren Wienblatt, an art director with whom he launched the letterpress card company Old Tom Foolery. One Craigslist letterpress purchase and a successful stationary show later, their “unsappy, uncrappy letterpress greetings” are earning a following on both coasts. (In SF, they’re available at Green Apple Books and Wishbone; in New York, Kate’s Paperie and  Greenwich Letterpress sells them.) One favorite reads “Kudos*” with the footnote “The congratulatory kind — not the women’s candy bar.” Another, “Wishing you a speedy recovery*,” ends “Chop-chop. I’m tired of covering for your sick ass.” The duo’s tactile and entertaining approach to high quality cards just may be enough to make up for paperless Mothers Days gone by.

When Sarah Palin was announced as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, the term MILF was suddenly thrown into the political arena. Rather than focus on the real issues, sex appeal was suddenly playing more of a pronounced role in the election as voters were drawn to the former pageant runner up/mayor/governor’s charisma. In an effort to address the idea that natural attraction and instinct often plays more of a role in our decision making, Ji Lee and Cory Forsyth have ran with this idea of glamour fascination to ask voters and non-voters alike, “Which One Would You Do?” The seemingly simple sexiness poll pitts former Democratic favorite Hillary Clinton and the current Republican VP against both first lady candidates, with the current results relaying a not-so-shocking similarity to present poll numbers. What can I say, I voted for Obama.

The Apple iPhone has many practical uses. Owners employ their magical machine for just about everything from taking photos or surfing the Internet. Many treat their jack-of-all electronics with the tender loving care they would treat a newborn babe. In other words, they would never use it as a coaster. (You wouldn’t balance a beer on an infant either.) Luckily, Brazil’s Meninos Design has the cure for such slightly inhumane inklings. Their iPhone Icon coasters allow fans of the phone to place their drinks on their favorite applications — without the touch screen getting all freaky.

via Technabob

Chotovelli E Figli , or Chotovelli and Sons is a third generation Italian orologiaio (watchmaker) family, based in Torino. Back in 1920, a man by the name of Mr. Simone Chotovelli began repairing and restoring old mechanical movements, and he was known all over Italy for his incredible dedication and craft. In 1967, he passed on his knowledge and know how to his son Yitchak Chotovelli who continued the wishes of his father to also became a master watch-man. In the early ’80s Yitzchak moved his family to Antwerp with a foray into the fine jewelry and diamond trade, and for a short time the watch-focused family was silent. Only a few years ago however, in 2005, brothers and sister Chotovelli were inspired to revive the family tradition and launched the unique new line pictured here. Their popularity in Europe exploded, as they’re known for both their affordability (you get a U-boat look and feel at the fraction of the cost) and quality. If you’ve been lusting for a big face but balking at the limited-edition prices of U-boats, Panerai and the like, give these watches a look — 80 years of history can’t be wrong.

These watches are available online through our friends at WatchUSeek.com

Between now and next spring, New York’s Lemar & Dauley take us a step further back into the nameless 90s, reviving those garish color combinations through modern, genre-bending designs.The preview of the Fall 08 - Spring 09 collection shows us familiar styles mashed up with references from De La Soul to Keith Hering to Ghostface. Check out pieces as they become available at lemaranddauley.com

You’d think that if a president is proclaimed to be the “leader of the free world”, the free world might have some say. But, as was proven in 2000, American citizens can’t even speak up when the fix is in. If only there was some way to take the pulse of global politics and show, once and for all, that a presidential candidate has the mandate from the international community.

You Can’t Fix This, just launched by the Tokyo arm of strategic planning company Naked, needs your help to hold the world election. As you can see, there’s no “United States” category … we’ll have the privilege in about 34 days. Which leaves our overseas readers to fill in the gaps. Yes, it’s completely unscientific (as are the majority of polls), but from those initial numbers, we think we know who the planet is hoping for.