Since 2000 and every three years after, Cooper Hewitt has hosted the National Design Triennial featuring works from different disciplines within the field of design, simultaneously examining its current state. From architecture, products to fashion, graphics, new media, and landscapes, the Triennial is the largest and most anticipated exhibition the museum showcases. It has taken place in 2003 and 2006 but oddly enough was absent in 2009. Whatever the situation may be, it returns this year focused on “addressing human and environmental problems.” Couple this with the successful opening of Rodarte’s exhibit and the appointment of its new director, Bill Moggridge, Cooper Hewitt is poised to revitalize the city’s interest in the museum. There’s very little information released so far on the Triennial, it is scheduled to open during ICFF weekend on May 14.

While living on opposite ends of the coast, New York and San Francisco, Aaron Carambula and Erik Marinovich launched Friends of Type via iChat. It was a reservoir for both designers to share their love of illustrative type, whether it be hand drawn, digitized or found. Since its inception in September of last year, the duo have been diligently posting original and inspiring type explorations, while recruiting two other designers to add to the mix. Now the team of four have decided to release its first printed edition. By assigning a word to each of the designers, Friends of Type have created the letterpress set “Always Play Amongst Friends.” Limited to 100 pieces, each set contains four prints meticulously produced by Jordan Provost of enormouschampion. The set goes on sale today over at Friends of Type. More photos after the jump.

From dinnerware and subway maps to interiors and furniture, Massimo Vignelli appears to have designed it all. Working with clients that span the spectrum that touches upon aspects of our daily life. Vignelli is a pure modernist, his designs are clean, pragmatic, and beautiful. The latest issue of Edible Manhattan interviews Vignelli about his love of food and design including the work he did for the three month old Italian restaurant SD26. Massimo Vignelli will be speaking in February on a panel discussing the “past, present and future of the New York City subway signage.”

Some people were meant to do it all. Carlo Mollino is that such person. Formally trained as an architect, he went on to design furniture, cars, interiors, and was an avid photographer. Mollino was also a speed freak. Rather than taking pleasures from the sport from the sideline, he participated in it. Designing the “Bisiluro” (twin turbo) and partaking in the 1955 Le Mans. His eccentricities revealed themselves through his lifestyle and after his death. A believer in the occult, he designed an apartment that was meant to be his tomb. Furnished with all the desirable objects that he wanted to be surrounded in, though he never once spent the night in. After his death the discovery of over 2000 nude and semi-nude polaroids of women were found. The photos were highly stylized and meticulously preserved. Mollino appeared to live life to the fullest, a rare breed to this day. Read more about his life in this profile from designboom.

Bobby Solomon has been a proponent of established and up-and-coming artists and designers, not only featuring them on his blog but enlisting them to participate in his Desktop Wallpaper Project. Bobby continues this support by launching the Kitsune Noir Poster Club. A new series of posters designed by artists based on a theme. For the first series, he has asked five different artists to design a poster that is based on a favorite book of theirs’, included in the group is Frank Chimero, Mark Weaver, Jez Burrows, Cody Hoyt and Garrett Vander Leun. Be sure to visit the site throughout the week as Bobby publishes interviews on the artists.

ur good friends, Friends of Type and Ed Nacional will be in a group show this weekend “Wearing Whitman’s Words; A Typographic Exploration.” The designers were asked to explore letter forms based on Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. The reception will be held at Red Hook’s Lucky Gallery from 6-9pm. 176 Richards St. Brooklyn. The drop cap you see here is designed by Jessica Hische. You can embed this and other drop caps that she’s designed from her Daily Drop Cap blog. Hische will also be a part of this exhibition.