“NSA doesn’t have much in the way of design sense,” writes Max Read of the spy agency’s Prism logo. Turns out the mark’s featured photo was taken by British TV presenter Adam Hart-Davis, who offered a free, lo-res version of it at his website.

The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum has named its new director: taking the position is Caroline Baumann, who has worked at the museum since 2001 and has served as acting director since the death of former director Bill Moggridge last year.

The Smithsonian has officially scrapped plans to build “the Bubble,” a temporary architectural pavilion designed for the Hirshhorn Museum by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The cancellation means the loss of $8 million in commitments from backers.

“The Skyspaces, perhaps, best embody Turrell’s affinity to architecture: of the way space can be molded to heighten emotion and bend light,” writes Carolina Miranda of artist James Turrell’s work, which is on view in shows in LA, NY, and Houston this summer.

“The elder statesman of radical ideas,” Stewart Brand’s ’60s bona fides include publishing the revolutionary Whole Earth Catalog and cofounding the Well. At 74, he’s not slowing down: he’s now trying to resurrect extinct species by retro-engineering their DNA.

Commemorating the 93rd anniversary of Saul Bass’ birth, Google dedicates a video Doodle, featuring riffs on/homages to the legendary designer’s best movie title sequences, including Vertigo, North by Northwest, and Anatomy of a Murder.

Designer Vale Joseph Churchward has passed away at 81. A 2009 recipient of the Design­ers Insti­tute of New Zea­l­and’s top honor, his typefaces include Churchward 70 (used in the Lonely Planet logo) and Churchward Maori.