The best of EcoSalon’s stories this week.

Everything Fred Astaire did, Ginger Rogers did backwards and in high heels – and this week, we take inspiration from one of early cinema’s most graceful performers.

Helvetica – the font without personality? Not so, as these 20 terrifically creative (and obsessive) projects illustrate.

If you’ve ever found yourself turning up your nose at a young adult novel, you might be missing a trick. Scott Adelson looks at 10 examples of truly terrific fiction for kids and teens.

Just because you’re renting doesn’t mean you have to live in drab surroundings. The landlord won’t let you repaint? Then refurnish yourself a riot of color.

Finally, fermented food means tasty food. How many of these have you tried?

The post The Friday 5: Unsung Heroes Edition appeared first on EcoSalon.

Welcome to the Helveti-club.

Helvetica was created in 1957 and is now the typeface of record for corporations, governments and design snobs for being the clean, neutral font that Comic Sans is not and Arial tries to be. Interestingly, conspiracy theorists criticize it for being too “pro-establishment,” used ad nauseam by some of the most prominent corporate globalized brands on the planet, from Crate & Barrel to Nestle. It became a symbol of the Vietnam War; Helvetica the film called it “the perfume of the city” because it “has a scent that doesn’t smell.”

In reviewing the 2007 documentary, the online version of The Economist‘s culture and lifestyle magazine, Intelligent Life, observed that while “[it] touches upon Foucaultian themes of control and power,” the font’s “ubiquity…has come to embody a certain sense of stability and confidence in tomorrow.”

Simply put, bad things can’t happen in Helvetica. Even a gigantic tattoo on your forearm is more forgiving in sans-serif. Helvetica the tattoo is included below, along with 19 other great and occasionally obsessive uses of almost everyone’s favorite font.

1.) Helvetica the movie Blu-ray box set.

2.) Helvetica the Bear on cotton (tree free) paper by Letterpress.

3.) Helvetica the Stendig Calender, designed in 1966 by Massimo Vignelli and now part of the Design Collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.

4.) A very Helvetica birthday hat.

5.) The “I’ll Use Arial When Helvetica Freezes Over” Wallet by WeDraw.

6.) The vintage Helvetica Roll clock via presentandcorrect.com and LoveHelvetica.

7.) Helvetica in transit makes the A much more tolerable.

8.) The Helvetica hanger by Alegre Industrial.

9.) Helvetica Neue coasters by Sawdust in My Coffee.

10.) A Helvetica package concept by Spanish designer Arantxa Reus.

11.) Helveticards printed on premium quality, high gloss, white core playing card stock.

12.) Part of a collection of faux book covers created as a tribute to vintage McGraw Hill books.

13.) Acrylic handmade helvetica necklace by Plastique.

14.) From Cupcakes and Mace, a helvetica Aa charm.

15.) The Helvetica Scarf by The Little Factory.

16.) The Helvetica tat.

17.) A Helveticheese Grater by Back Garage.

18.) Another dream mason jar DIY, a helvetica staples storage solution from William Blosch.

19.) Helvetica crocheted throw blanket for Mandy.

20.) Helveticake via F*YeahHelvetica.

Image: stopmestopmestopme

The post 20 Great (& Somewhat Obsessive) Uses of Helvetica appeared first on EcoSalon.