Mad About Youth

Every September, as design students return to the academic grind, this issue offers case studies of life on the other side of the diploma—the years of big risks and uncertain rewards, when designers would sooner flip burgers than put a cork in their inventiveness. It's a spirit that launches a thousand concepts and keeps the whole creative world rocking. And the best part about it? It can last a lifetime.

Features

Playing Doctor
A broken chair is a design opportunity for Paris-based 5.5.
by Eve M. Kahn

A Breath of Fresh Art
The graphics duo called Yokoland just published their first monograph. And you thought Mozart was a prodigy.
by Nick Currie

Running on Empty
For the architects at Lead Pencil Studio, what matters is the soul beneath the skin.
by Sarah Rich

Sunny-side Up
Rachel Wingfield's textiles let the light out.
by William Underhill

Welcome to the Fold
Japanese to the core, Super Robot designs furniture in the style of origami and buildings in the spirit of haiku.
by Alex Rich

Sportsman's Notes
As a performance artist, Peet Pienaar worked with his body. Now he stands behind a body of work.
by Sean O'Toole

Atlas Shrugs
Fashion designer Alex Soza's career is powered by two questions: "What if?" and "Why waste time with lawyers?"
by Cliff Kuang

Student Design Review 2006
Jurors: Charlie Lazor, Kali Nikitas, Luke Williams
Moderated by Phoebe Reilly

Departments

.../update
Developments in I.D. stories from Sept⁄Oct 2005

.../note
A White House protest was a polite showdown. It's aftermath was a crying shame.
by Julie Lasky

.../expo
Freitag's towering BOUTIQUE Phantom of the Opera's new CHANDELIER
Tate Modern's art-history PLAY space

.../q+a
ALASDHAIR WiLLIS of U.K.'s Established & Sons on why there's no businessplace like home
Interview by Hugh Pearman

.../rant
Why a fancy COFFEEMAKER doesn't add up to a hill of beans
by Barbara Flanagan

.../campus
THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTe of chicago dives deeper into design education.
by Juanita Dugdale

.../r+d
Unwilling to scrap a beloved idea, Emeco offers two versions of its latest CHAIR.
by Jane Margolies

.../scape
Mottos and martyrs flank the streets of Tehran
by Teun Voeten

.../n+n
Shanghai's Design Republic. Insect pillows by Ige. Tableware by Toyo Ito. Pendant lamps by Rogan Gregory. Lounge chairs by PearsonLloyd.
by Jill Singer

.../crit
Product: LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT (reviewed by Noah Robischon); Interior: LE CIRQUE (reviewed by Eve M. Kahn); Exhibition: TOURISM AND THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE (reviewed by Mark Lamster); Book: THE PERFECT $100,000 HOUSe (reviewed by Andrei Codrescu)

.../back story
A brief history of sunglasses, from jurists to Jackie O.
by Susan Yelavich