ID magazine is a beautifully produced magazine on design that I've
   been getting for about 10 years. ID, generally, is understood to mean
   "Industrial Design" in the design community. I think that was the
   original name of the Mag.  They've changed it to mean "International
   Design." Last year it won a major award for excellence for smaller
   circulation magazines.

   The magazine is very sophisticated (sometimes too
   "in-crowd-y"), and has many articles of interest to museum people,
   including this month's article on a man named David Rockwell, who is
   the designer for some of the more extreme theme parks (Planet
   Hollywood) and theme restaurants.  He is busy on some wild and
   fascinating stuff in Las Vegas, including a new zoo theme park.

   They do feature in-depth articles on industrial design, ranging from
   coffee cup covers (!?, very controversial, as it turns out), to guns
   (which I'm sure will even be more controversial).  They try to read
   these things as cultural signifiers, which can get a bit wearysome,
   but the articles are generally thought-provoking.

   This month there is also an amusing pre-review of the new design
   exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt.

   I have seen it at some newsstands, but it is very expensive.  It is a
   monthly mag, and the subscription costs like 50 bucks.  But they do a
   design review each year which is incredibly absorbing, and that sells
   for $25 alone at the magazine stands.  So, it makes most sense to
   subscribe.  This magazine, BTW, is a keeper, ie, one doesn't throw it
   out.  They are out of New York, but are very national, and to some
   extent international, in their outlook.

   You asked...

   Eric Siegel
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