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I recently found this nice and varied set of book cover concepts.

The covers were designed by Norwegian based designer Morten Iveland as The Infamous Press, in the style of the late sixties to the early eighties.

The balance between typography, illustration and composition is just amazing, don’t you agree?

This has been online for a few weeks now, but it sort of fell off of my list to post: the Victor Bike.

The Victor is Christophe Robillard‘s attempt to create a bicycle with less metal and less welds. And although the reasoning behind it was eco-friendliness, the result holds obviously holds a minimalist quality.

Christophe Robillard, who is based ion Montreal, Canada, promises us that the design is structurally sound. And judging by the pictures he took, it really is. Where can I sign up for a test ride?

“The minimum could be defined as the perfection that an artefact achieves when it is no longer possible to improve it by subtraction. This is the quality that an object has when every component, every detail, and every junction has been reduced or condensed to the essentials. It is the result of the omission of the inessentials.”

- John Pawson, “Minimum”

mnmlist: letting go of fake needs:

These needs are created by fears, and the more honest we are about these fears, the better. Face the fears, and give yourself a little trial period — allow yourself to let go of the need, but just for an hour, or a day. Just for a week. If nothing bad happens, extend the trial, and slowly in this manner you’ll find that the need wasn’t a need at all.

It can feel good to let go, and by letting go, you are freeing yourself.

It’s as if John Pawson is trying to prove that monastic austerity is capable of brightening our spiritual needs—no surprise, considering that with the minimalist British architect, “Every architectural word tells.”

A reductive design process that questions the necessity of every element in the desire to eliminate what is superfluous. This discretion in design is vital for a group of robed Cistercian monks, originally from France, who deliberately seeks seclusion. The restored Our Lady of Novy Dvur monastery, in the Czech Republic is their entire world—based on bare necessities and self denial.

Mr. Pawson’s edgy poetry in the Our Lady of Novy Dvur monastery is evident. Everything is a shade of white. Spartan interiors with a dramatic stripped down elegance of modernism that reveals hidden sources of light. Concrete, plaster and wood; no stained glass; minimal comfort.

This extraordinary serenity is rare. And we are glad that Cistercian monks do these things, so we don’t have to. Well, sort of.

For those of Mr. Pawson’s fan club: The London Design Museum’s exhibition “John Pawson Plain Space,” will feature John Pawson’s work from September, 22 2010 to January, 30 2011.

I’ll leave you a present for the long weekend: Jamiroquai, traveling without moving

Lots of fun.

I’m taking a break so whatever is being posted on the weekend is from the queue. Have a good long weekend!

A minimalist keychain.

(via this)