Hey there! My name is Alissa. I’m a writer, a gelato-eater, and a walker in LA.
You can learn more about who I am, what I write, why I walk, and even see where I live and work. Last year I was honored to be named as an USC/Annenberg Getty Arts Journalism fellow. You also might like this talk I gave about how to do the work you love.
Welcome to Gelatobaby
Follow me at @gelatobaby
- @JinxMcGillicudd Crested Butte, Colorado
- Due to last night's blizzard, the snowbride is now wearing a fashionable veil. http://t.co/PiYYUYB0
- @GetDianeFarr Ha! Thanks, I like to keep my readers on their toes.
- What's a park, really? My story on Southern California's first parklet, located in Long Beach, is in today's @LAWeekly http://t.co/HWgVcrtY
- My story at @ForYourArt on Suzanne Lacy's powerful public performance artwork @3WeeksInJan http://t.co/R2sWn7XL #RapeEndsHere
Come say hello
- GOOD Design for Cities
A new event series hosted by Alissa and supported in part by ArtPlace is coming to Portland and St. Louis. Here's how creatives can apply to be part of it.
- GOOD Design for Cities
Check out our next de LaB
- Design East of La Brea is a monthly party I co-host with Haily Zaki, Marissa Gluck and Erin Cullerton. Almost always east of La Brea. Learn more about past de Labs and sign up for our monthly newsletter.
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Click on some recent posts
Read my articles elsewhere
You can find my writing most days at GOOD, or at Fast Company's new design site, Co.Design, or over at Dwell. You can also read about my 13 favorite stories from 2010.
- Waaaaay Back to the Future
Fast Company, August 2011
Nike's 23-year journey to make Marty McFly's AirMag shoes real. - Meet the Makers
Details, July 2011
Profile of Saul Griffith, an engineer and inventor who could change the way we make... everything. - Sasaki's Heartbeat
Dwell, June 2011
A studio visit with the Japanese-born artist Sasaki, who has been drawing people's heartbeats for 15 years. - Is LA's Public Transit a Joke? This Comedian Sure Hopes So
GOOD, June 2011
For comedian Kristina Wong, living car-free isn't just an act. - Middle School Students Tell LAUSD: No More Styrofoam
GOOD, April 2011
A group of sixth graders mounts a campaign to rid their school of the evil white foam. - The Future of Reading Online [Video]
Fast Company, March 2011
At SXSW, I interviewed designer Khoi Vinh about tablets, pay walls, and browsers. - How LA's "Farmers Field" Could Boost Urban Agriculture
GOOD, February 2011
Let's turn the city's new football stadium into the world's biggest urban farm. - BOOM! Palm Springs Plans a Wacky Old Folks Community
Fast Company, February 2011
10 architects have collaborated on a very unique new kind of retirement home for gays. - The Design Difference
GOOD, January 2011
How can design help create change in the underserved community of Brownsville, New York? A three-part series. - Why We Don't Need Any More Anonymous Critics
GOOD, January 2011
Let's stop the dining in disguise and make food critics powerful, public voices for real social change. - The Rise of the Bus-Riding Celebrity
GOOD, October 2010
Why don't more eco-minded celebrities in LA take public transit? - Can Design Save the World?
Fast Company, October 2010
Profiles of superstar emerging designers Candy Chang and Bobby C. Martin, Jr. - Where My Ladies At?
GOOD, August 2010
Why aren't there more women in industrial design? - At Home with Ed Begley, Jr.
Dwell, June 2010
I visited LA's greenest celebrity to talk about gardening, solar panels and riding the bus. - Why I Write About Design Now
GOOD, May 2010
How we need to cover the design industry: Without a chair in the world. - Here's Why the Banksy Movie is a Banksy Prank
Fast Company, April 2010
The world's most famous street artist makes a documentary? I'm not buying it. - If You Lived Here, You'd Be Urban By Now
GOOD, Spring 2010
The case against fake "walkable urbanism" developments which are neither walkable or urban. - Why Can't the World's Best Architects Build Better Websites?
Fast Company, March 2010
Loading... - The Fake Freeway Sign that Became a Real Public Service
GOOD, January 2010
Artist Richard Ankrom's act of guerrilla public service improved the commuter experience.
- Waaaaay Back to the Future
View my photos
Try some gelato
- Catch up on my latest gelato adventures, or find gelato using my Gelatobaby GeLAtomap.
Monthly Archives: January 2011
A leg up
I’m still glowing/recovering from the awesome experience of moderating my very first full-day conference. Compostmodern was a huge success and it’s been great to hear all the kind words from people, none of which I can take any credit for (except … Continue reading
Posted in designing, speaking
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The other side
Just a reminder that if you’re reading Gelatobaby, you’re only getting half the story. Check out Keith’s blog, Carwash, for more of our urban adventures, background on his artistic endeavors, and far finer photography. He’s also got a Tumblr, Show … Continue reading
Posted in creating, designing
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Compostmodern closing thoughts (in rhyme!)
I spent yesterday moderating Compostmodern, the design and sustainability conference hosted by AIGA San Francisco. At the end of the day, I read a wrap-up of the day, including 18 speakers, which I had composed as a poem. Here it … Continue reading
Posted in designing, speaking, traveling
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75 and gelato
Sigh. Another freak winter heatwave, which means I’m pretty much legally-mandated to drag myself down the street for some lemon vanilla and Thai iced tea gelato from Pazzo. While there, I usually use my gelateria time to read some stories … Continue reading
Posted in gelatoing, Street Walker
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The long run
This week I signed up for the Los Angeles Marathon. Now you may have remembered me going through a phase where I did silly things like running half-marathons or maybe a 25k through Malibu’s mountains, which, although fun, almost always … Continue reading
Posted in Street Walker
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Compostmodern is January 22 and 23
Next weekend I’m heading up to San Francisco to moderate Compostmodern, one of my all-time favorite conferences—and one that I’ve attended religiously since 2008. Not only is it a fun time with like-minded folk in a beautiful city, but Compostmodern has also … Continue reading
Posted in designing, speaking, traveling
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Watch my CreativeMornings talk!
2010/12 Alissa Walker | Gelatobaby from LosAngeles/CreativeMornings on Vimeo. A few weeks ago I gave at talk at CreativeMornings, a new event series that just launched here in LA. I wasn’t 100% sure what I was going to talk about, … Continue reading
Chips
After what feels like three weeks of rain, I couldn’t have said it better myself. More Street Walker photos.
Posted in Street Walker
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