Hate advertising? Make better ads. Filmmaker Doug Pray shows how it’s done in the documentary Art & Copy. Now playing in select cities, the film spotlights influential advertising creatives such as George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, and Lee Clow, and legendary campaigns, from “I Love NY” to “Got Milk?” But Art & Copy is no history lesson. “In my interviews, I stuck to emotions, creative motivation, and big-idea philosophies of the ad creatives rather than ‘how-to’ stories, industry-insider talk, or the politics of their clients’ products, which is a different film altogether,” notes Pray, who secured sponsorship from The One Club to realize the project. “By interviewing these icons, they became real for me, and I saw advertising as an art form with enormous potential—when done well.” Pondering whether to see this film? Just do it.

Fans of Mad Men will recall from the show’s season two premiere that Don and Betty Draper celebrated Valentine’s Day 1962 with a trip to the Savoy Hotel, where they endured some…technical difficulties before ordering room service and watching Jackie Kennedy‘s televised White House tour. Don and Betty’s plans for the third season, which kicks off August 16, are still anyone’s guess, but Starwood is hoping that die-hard fans will swap the Savoy for the St. Regis and take advantage of the hotel’s new Mad Men package. Even at a starting price of $895 (what recession?), we think it’s one suite deal.

Beginning next Sunday, guests checking into the St. Regis New York can opt for a Mad Men experience that includes in-room dining (shrimp cocktail, New York strip, apple cobbler), cocktails (Bloody Marys), and personal shopping at Bergdorf Goodman with a shopper who specializes in 1960s fashion (might we suggest a zippy frock by Lisa Perry?). But wait, there’s more! Upon arrival, guests will receive a copy of George Lois: On Creating the Big Idea, which should spark a spirited debate about the largely forgotten legacy of Julian Koenig, Lois’s former partner. And because nothing completes an illusion like toiletries, guests will find “Don Draper’s cologne and Betty Draper’s signature red lipstick” waiting for them. Ready to book? Call Denise Harnett (212-339-6738) and tell her UnBeige sent you. To quote the immor(t)al Roger Sterling, “See you at the St. Regis!”

Recently on UnBeige:

Not to be missed is this week’s edition of “Studio 360,” a conversation between the Muhammad Ali-rapping George Lois and the Martha Stewart-skewering Kurt Andersen (although we imagine the “Studio 360″ editing team had to do a fair amount of snipping since Lois can’t speak more than 10 words in a row without one of them being ass, shit or motherfucker).

They spend a lot of time chatting about the blurring line between ads and art, but the highlights are Lois’ stories about designing covers for Esquire, including the story behind the Andy Warhol cover above. Lois’ impression of Warhol when telling the story about asking him to pose for the shot is absolutely priceless. He also manages to get in at least two “design students today don’t know how to draw” jabs. Warhol, for the record, could draw, according to Lois.

A slideshow on the show’s site offers more musings by Lois on specific covers (all PG-rated, of course, but you can use your imagination). Pick up Lois’ new book, Iconic America: A Roller-Coaster Ride through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture for a taste of his racier side.

The world’s most prolific design writer, recently-named Design Observer, and subject of much obsession here on the old UnBeige, Steven Heller will be honored with SVA’s Masters Series Award, including an exhibition and catalog of his work that sounds like quite the spectacle:

Curated and designed by Kevin O’Callaghan, chair of 3D Design at SVA, the exhibition highlights the inspiration and collaboration behind Heller’s many achievements as a writer and art director. On view will be over 100 covers of The New York Times Book Review that Heller art directed and a visual anthology of his major publications, with select volumes available to peruse…Nearby, visitors will be able to browse Heller’s many contributions to American and foreign periodicals at a full-scale replica of a New York City newsstand. The centerpiece of the multimedia display will be a larger-than-life photo montage of Heller’s library with recorded commentary about his collection of design ephemera and its role in his research and writing. In a series of video podcasts specially commissioned for the exhibition, Heller will discuss design in the context of popular culture, politics and history.

Whew! Heller joins SVA’s long list of luminaries that includes people named things like Saul Bass, Milton Glaser, George Lois, Paul Rand, Massimo Vignelli, and Paula Scher, who coined the phrase we want made into t-shirts: “Steven Heller has been graphic design’s biggest fan.”

We know they plan these schedules way in advance but, man, could the timing be any better for Luke Hayman to get grilled by Debbie Millman on today’s “Design Matters?” For Hayman (above right, with potty mouth George Lois), the past few months have gone something like this:

1) Join Pentagram
2) Redesign Time
3) Win an Ellie for New York Magazine
4) Praised by Milton Glaser; called “traitor” by Adam Moss
5) Win SPD awards for just about everything in New York Magazine

Tune in today at 3-4 EST and remember, it’s a call-in show: 1.866.472.5790.

Being the somber, sullen dullards we are, it takes one heck of a wack from the humor stick to get us laughing over here at UnBeige. Now imagine us, with our perma-frowns, listening to this podcast from SVA’s MFA Designer as Author series featuring David Rees, the horrendously outrageous but blissfully honest comic artist. We were beyond laughing. We were literally crying.

As attested by his work, Rees pretty much sits at home and cracks himself up all day, and that’s what he does in this presentation, too. He uses an overhead projector to show his work (Wikipedia link for those born after 1987) and easily wins this week’s George Lois Award for Most Gratuitous Profanity.

But Rees also inflects some rather inspired comments about doing stuff that matters, namely by pointing out some stomach-churning ads produced after 9/11 and showing how he’s trying to agitate the political arena through his own work. In short, he’s simply fearless–proven without a doubt during the second part when he delivers six failed stand-up jokes that all incorporate the same very bad pun. He doesn’t care who laughs; he’s giggling so hard he can hardly get the words out.

If you haven’t had enough of his Ali Rap, or maybe if you have, you simply can’t miss George Lois‘ grumbling baritone in this podcast from the SVA MFA Designer As Author program.

It’s gotta be good when he opens with this statement:

“What can I give you in a couple hours that can change your life?”

Then inserts these choice statements about how he reacts to good work:

“Holyjesuyoucantputthat…whoa.”
“This is almost, uh, how’d you get away with–that’s terrific.”
“Holy shit, wait ’til the mutha fuckers see this.”

And gives his best piece of advice:

“If anyone in here can’t draw, goddammit learn how to draw.”

We apologize for the profanity. It’s Lois.

It’s a three part-er (and he probably kept talking long after that). But hey, it’s a long weekend. And you’ve got all the time in the world.