Online giant AOL recently revealed their new branding... a move away from the triangle and typeface currently featured on the AOL website to simple "Aol." type (including the period) that can be displayed with countless images as its background. Business Wire features a small sample of the new branding, that is meant to show the company's flexibility and focus on varied content. The new look has received pretty quick backlash and complaints from the design community... what do you think?

37signals makes great products that help us stay organized, from tracking tasks to managing contacts to online chatting. Mac AppStorm put together an impressive list of Mac and iPhone apps that compliment these products. The list includes software for Basecamp, Backpack, Highrise and Campfire. Since these 37signals services operate online in a web browser, these alternatives allow you to work offline and on-the-go.

We often hear the terms "right-brained" and "left-brained" to describe creative versus analytical thinkers. As graphic designers we are often right-brained, relying on visuals to complete our jobs. We also have to tap into the left side of the brain to handle the business aspects of design, from contracts to quotes. The Web Designer Depot has an interesting and clearly written article on both sides of the brain, and how they relate to designers. There are also links to two "brain quizzes," one of which comes from the about.com painting site.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), which features modern and experimental exhibits ranging from video installations to trees growing upside down (which is actually working outside the museum's main entrance). One of the exhibits that I found most interesting from a graphic design perspective was "Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing Retrospective." Lewitt's unique approach to art focuses on the creation of the pieces... but not by him. Instead, those who install or purchase the art are responsible for creating it by following detailed instructions and diagrams.

The size of the art and the surface it is on can vary as well, allowing it to take on a life of its own depending on the space and person responsible for the drawing. If a piece is passed on to someone else, the original needs to be painted over, so it only exists in one place at a time. The MASS MoCA website has a great mini site that allows you to see all the drawings by grid or floorplan, as well as watch time lapse videos of the project that took 65 people and 6 months to complete. If you want to head over to MASS MoCA and see it for yourself, you have time... the exhibit will be up for at least 25 years.