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Boards >> Screening Room >> LEGO - Cl!ck Short Film

2010-01-12T13:14:00.001-08:00

Boards >> Screening Room >> LEGO - Cl!ck Short Film

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IRVING PENN 1917~2009

2009-10-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

An ode to a great photographer who passed away this Thursday. During my foundation studies in art school, I was greatly influenced and inspired by 3 photographers, whose work instantly captivated and inspired me. Horst, for his exquisite use of light and shadow; Man Ray for his most original style and composition and Irving Penn, who was able to masterfully capture his subjects candidly, perhaps even drawing you into their world, their story.

Thank you Irving Penn , for the inspiration.

Background:

Born in New Jersey in 1917, Irving Penn studied design at the Philadelphia Museum School, where he became a student of Alexey Brodovitch. In 1937, the year before he graduated, several of his drawings were published by Harper’s Bazaar. From 1940 to 1941, he worked for the art and advertising director of Saks Fifth Avenue, and the following year he spent in Mexico painting, a medium he subsequently abandoned. Returning to New York, Penn was hired by Vogue magazine, first to create ideas for cover illustrations, then to photograph covers as well as editorial illustrations for the interior of the magazine. Working closely with Alexander Liberman, Penn developed a highly stylized, graphically compelling form of fashion photography which did much to define post-war notions of feminine chic and glamour. In his fashion and portrait photography, Penn favored the use of a neutral backdrop of gray or white seamless paper, or alternatively, the use of constructed architectural sets which created striking effects with oblique, diving diagonals and upward tipped perspectives. Penn also created numerous still life compositions for the magazine: carefully orchestrated assemblages of food or objects characterized by a play of three-dimensional and two-dimensional forms. In 1953 Penn opened his own commercial studio and almost immediately became one of the most influential and successful advertising photographers in the world.

+ another living legend, Nick Knight.
(These photographs were borrowed from various sites and will not be used for commercial purposes.)

PH •

BACON WRAPPED DATES

2009-10-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

I first tried these nuggets of sin at AOC on Beverly Blvd, here in Los Angeles. Pescatarians, vegetarians and whatever-rians, you might not be able to resist these temptations from hell, and pop one while no one is looking. Salty, nutty and melt-in-your-mouth sweetness ooze and meld into an unbelievable taste that will probably entice you to reach for another before that plate gets passed on. Okay I love it that much! (Let's go get some Diana!)

The worst part is, the recipe is easy peezy:

GET
1 package (8 oz) bacon 
1 pound dates (organic might taste better)

MAKE
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut the bacon slices in half.
3. Pit dates.
4. Wrap each date with a half a slice of bacon. Use toothpicks, they help.
5. Set on a baking dish, ideally one with high sides, so the bacon grease doesn’t spill all over your oven when it melts. 
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon gets crispy (ah the aroma)
7. Remove from oven and DIG IN

*BURP* (I hope you like the gallery)
+ get more Bacon for your buck HERE

PH •

MORGAN vs. MOHEGAN

2009-10-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

Actually the post should read "VISA vs. MOHEGAN SUN", but I prefer the alliteration with "MORGAN". Anyway, blog 'pr*tty sh*tty' posted this comparison of 2 commercials featuring individuals ~~shamelessly expressing~~ superfreaking! Which one's more effective? You decide. Enjoy.

VISA

MOHEGAN SUN

+ more dueling HERE

PH •

JAGUAR vs. CHRYSLER

2009-10-08T21:53:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't resist. Some hi-end, classy style that is just bordering overkill in imagery and EFX for this über-trendy commercial. I do however feel that the :90 vers. feels more complete. Never been a real fan of the previous campaigns but whoever they hired this time around, has done a dazzling job.

Here's a close second (copycat?). Chrysler targets the same market with a new campaign for the 300C. The dub-by Dean Martin track helps. I still prefer the styling of the 300C although the XFR up close is pretty sexy.

+ still need more inspiration? How about another comparison?

PH •

PAPA'S CAR PT.1

2009-10-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

4 kids in the backseat, with an age difference of 10 years between the oldest, my sister Patricia and me, the youngest, shoving, squirming, disagreeing while Mom and Dad, tried to navigate and discipline us at the same time. Maybe the reason why my Dad bought a new car so often was because we were getting bigger and louder. I can't remember when was that last time my whole family, all 6 of us were in Dad's car, or what year, make or model that vehicle was but here are the ones I remembered:

'67 or '69 Volvo (Red)
This is my first memory of riding in a car. As a kid, I thought it was the biggest I'd ever seen. I loved riding in it especially on road trips to Malaysia we would take every year during the school holidays. Being a Volvo of course, it would breakdown consistently, oft times interrupting our windy journey through open, winding roads and rubber plantations as we headed north for resort towns like Port Dickson and Melaka, and even all the way to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur (a 6 hour drive back in the 70's).

Of course, I was always front and center in the backseat, squeezed in between my parents, lapping up every new turn around a street corner, getting yelled at by my Dad to 'Sit back!' Little did I know the Volvo would be a sought after classic today. Definitely in the Top 3 of my Dad's cars.

BTW I really don't recall what the exact year/model it was but the pictures of the Volvos I found online were close.

(to be continued)

PH •

MILKY WAY RISING

2009-10-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a cool time lapse of the Milky Way rising in the night sky, submitted by Michael Castleman on Vimeo. You can even see the galactic bulge. Wow!

ALSO: The Discovery of a new ring around Saturn. Read about it HERE .

+ how about some Jedi training?

PH •

VISUALIZATION

2009-10-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 interesting animations, visualizing data about people and their flying habits! Fly the crowded skies.

JUST LANDED - 61 HOURS

This animation plots a map, using Tweets that contain the phrases 'just landed in...' or 'just arrived in...'. Locations from these tweets are located using MetaCarta's Location Finder API. The home location for the traveling users are scraped from their Twitter pages. The system then plots these voyages over time. Created by Jer Thorp for blprnt.

24 HOUR GLOBAL AIR TRAFFIC

Straightforward GPS location of each passenger plane in the air over a 24 hour period. Notice how there are 3 centers or hubs of activity, which increase in density as the sun rises in their respective regions - US (East Coast), Europe and Asia (North East). ATC's dream or nightmare?

+ what do Luggage Monkeys have to say?

PH •

COTTON MONSTER

2009-10-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Strunge was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where she still resides, creating these soft-sculptural Cotton Monsters from found blankets and bedding. She also works for the Black Cherry Puppet Theater, bringing art and puppetry to schools throughout the city.
(adapted from her bio)

Her collection, categorized into groups with names like Bottom Feeders, Watchful Eyes and Pentapods, can be viewed on her site here (nice stop motion too). Or if you'd like to make a purchase, you can try her Etsy store. Watchful Eye starts at $25 USD; Little Monsters at $58 USD.

We like Jennifer's Cotton Monsters because they're handmade from recycled clothing and linen, making them unique and one of a kind!

+ anyone hungry for Felt Food

PH •

ARCHITECTURE TOP 10

2009-10-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, Fast Company listed the 10 most innovative Architectural firms. Here's the list and their current or completed projects:

No.1 : SKIDMORE, OWNINGS & MERRILL

The world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai and dozens of other superlatives make SOM a massive - and dynamically creative - commercial force.

+ SOM website
+ Slideshow of the construction of world's tallest building - almost completed!

No.2 : HERZOG & De MEURON

The Swiss team of Jacque Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, won accolades for the Beijing Olympic Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.

No.3 : ZAHA HADID

The awe-inspiring work of visionary Zaha Hadid is legendary. Some current projects include the Guggenheim Hermitage in Vilnius, Lithuania.

+ discover SOHO III
+ I want to be an Architect like Zaha Hadid (links to her site)

No.4 : REM KOOLHAAS' OMA

Headquarters building for China’s CCTV, Prada store and the refurbishment of the LACMA.

+ see LACMA (from some guy's vid, ignore the commentary)
+ read about the CCTV building

No.5 : STEVEN HOLL

His Linked Hybrid complex in Beijing, which opened last fall, shows genius and technological virtuosity.

+ learn more about the Linked Hybrid here
+ website link

No.6 : FOSTER + PARTNERS

A double-decker bus for London, an ethereal bridge in France , and the world’s most advanced airport terminal in Beijing show the range and global fluency of this British stalwart.

No.7 : RENZO PIANO

The firm’s plan for the California Academy of Sciences, with its undulating roof, is a triumph of green design. Another contribution: The New York Times’ new headquarters , which the paper is hoping to mortgage for a $400 million spring debt payment.

No.8 : CHRISTIAN de PORTZAMPARC

Little known in the U.S. outside architecture devotees, de Portzamparc is notable for the LVMH Tower in New York and the breathtaking concert hall for the Luxembourg Philharmonic.

No.9 : KIERAN TIMBERLAKE

The firm’s Cellophane House was the hit of MoMA’s prefab home show last summer. (Definitely one of my faves!)

No.10 : OLSEN SUNDBERG KUNDIG ALLEN

This Seattle firm boasts a dossier of important public buildings, but what we love most: a skillful hand with -residences framing sub-lime natural vistas.

TED McGRATH

2009-10-02T23:19:00.000-07:00

Original and inspiring. The work of Ted McGrath, an artist based in Brooklyn NY. Accolades include Print Magazine's "20 Under 30 New Visual Artists 2008 " plus a client list that includes MTV Networks and the New York Times. (We like)
Ted's site HERE for everything you need to know plus he's featured HERE too.

+ explore more 'originality' with Christian
+ see Alyssa Monks too

PH •

AMEX vs. VISA

2009-10-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

As discovered on blog, pr*tty Sh*tty, here are 2 commercials from rivals Amex and Visa trying their hardest to get you to spend beyond your means, and feel oh-so-good a.k.a. deep, warm feeling, doing it. Like I've always said - when you got the moolah you can do/sell almost anything.

+ here's a print campaign from one of the above mentioned - VISA GO

PH •

SEPT BEST OF

2009-10-01T15:30:00.000-07:00

Goodbye 09/09. Hello October.

Here's a look back at the most popular posts this past month of September, on the Dirtyblog. Thanks for all your support and your contributions/comments. It means a lot to me. Enjoy!

1 : READ ON
You loved the book reviews by Frances Schifrin. More on the way! (Yay caca)

2 : GOOGLE MASHUPS
Witness the brilliance of Web 2.0 as we find new ways to utilize Google API's to market and promote.

3 : WOLF LOVES PORK
Viral experiment in stop-motion with a funny tale to tell.

4 : 5 FLY SMART's
Learn new ways to fly cheap and smart.

5 : CHARLEY HARPER
Admire the work of a one great illustrator.

6 : MONSTER FACE
DIsney influenced artist creates a whimsical typeface to teach his son the alphabet.

7 : UNIQLO CALENDAR
Yet another unique creation from the house of Uniqlo - a desktop calendar with time lapse macro view of human activity.

8 : LEGO HOUSE UPDATE
Read about the house that James built and its demise. Sad.

9 : FELT FOOD
Etsy seller creates delicious food samples.

10 : DYNA MOE
Feature on the artist who created the characters for Mad Men season 3 promotions.

And then some. Just bubbling under the top 10 is...

11 : BEIJING HEARTS IKEA
Read about how Ikea is more than a furniture store in Beijing China.

PH •

MINI AQUA

2009-09-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

Add GIF animations of Cardinal Tetras swimming in a loop, to your blog. The site is in Japanese. Unless you can read the language, scroll down for the HTML script. Just copy, paste and enjoy!

LINK HERE

+ for more mindless downloads, check out the Uniqlo Calendar.

PH •

ULTRAMAN STREET ART

2009-09-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

Transformer boxes are painted with silhouettes of Ultraman monsters, on the streets of Sukagawa (Fukushima prefecture) in Japan, the hometown of sci-fi special effects master Eiji Tsuburaya (who was the FX director for the Godzilla movies).

(as seen on PinkTentacle)
+ more 'intensity' with Tadanori Yokoo

PH •

UPGRADE + MOBILIZE

2009-09-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

From the amazing Culver City based team of Capacity (who recently completed the very 'cable' network package for NBC), here's a look at their anime adventure. Enjoy.

MOVIE as seen on Boards
Capacity - Upgrade Mobilize

+ we also liked Kosai Sekine

PH •

LEGO HOUSE UPDATE

2009-09-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

Last month, we featured a Lego House being built in the UK. Sadly, the wonderful project has come to a crashing end. UK television personality James May who steered the project, saw to its completion but was unable to find a buyer. The main goal was to transfer the entire building to a legal site since there was no permission to build on the current site, in the first place. It seems Legoland showed some interest but the high cost of transportation diminished their interest in the project. The 3.3 million bricks will however, be donated to charity. Here is a gallery of the final product and its demolition.

+ read more about the house HERE

PH •

8-BIT TRIP

2009-09-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

Created by Rymdreglage - Daniel Larsson and Tomas Redigh.
+ more lego adventures HERE

PH •

INCREDIBOX

2009-09-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

Designed by Romain Delambily with music by Paul Malburet, and powered by Allan Durand, Incredibox is an addictive and mindless site, featuring a series of looped audio samples you drag and drop onto sleepy eyed characters. Looking like a Beatles cartoon (remember that TV series?), each new character may be associated with loops which include an instrument, percussions, chorus and voices. There are even 2 bonus intermissions containing new characters plus a shuffle mode.

Ah, the things we do for repetition.
+ more 'mindless' entertainment. This time with some undead characters from Japan.

PH •

LUX

2009-09-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

Swedish student designer Mae Yokoyama invents a new way of harnessing the sun's power, and still look good doing it. Ultra thin solar panels cradle your neck and shoulders, harnessing energy during the day. Come nightfall (if you're still wearing them), your face gets an accent light via tiny LEDs disguised as pearls, everywhere you go in the dark of night. Lighting you up like a Christmas tree!

"Turning energy into beauty."

We like eco-chic. Might come in handy at Halloween. (Photographer: 1 and 2 Andreas Nyquist, 3 Mae Yokoyama)
+ for a more subtle adornment, try jewelry that gets you where you want to go.

PH •

VISA GO

2009-09-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

2008 ad campaign expounding the benefits of a Visa debit card. Brilliantly photographed by Dan Tobin Smith but I am unsure about the campaigns messaging and its success. Still, worth a look.

Photography : Dan Tobin Smith
Set Design : Rachel Thomas
Art Direction : TBWA Chiat Day
Retouching : Martin Pryor

+ get your 'head'-line analyzed HERE

PH •

U3-X

2009-09-26T22:51:00.000-07:00

Move over Segway (P.U.M.A.), here comes the next generation of compact personal movers, the U3-X from Honda. Looking like a very modern unicycle, you simply place your body weight in the direction you would like to go, even sideways. The single wheel on the U3-X is made up of many tiny motor-controlled wheels, packed inside the bigger wheel, allowing the device to swerve in any direction. Topping out at a top speed of 3.7 mph, Honda hopes one day, the small, safe and unobtrusive device will be zipping up and down streets and even indoors. The U3-X weighs in at under 22 lbs, runs on a fully charged lithium-ion battery for an hour, and requires a minimum height of 5 ft to operate. (Wait a minute, how about maximum weight or how wide someone's a**...oh never mind)

Video showing the workings of the uni-wheel plus a demo, below.

There are currently no plans for marketing the device but Honda plans to debut the U3-X at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009. (BTW the man demonstrating the device in the pictures is the Honda President Takanobu).

sidebar : the sitting/operating position looks awkward!

PH •

ECO CELLULAR

2009-09-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

(Hmmm I guess I'm on some eco-trip this weekend)
Here are 2 new cellular products geared towards the eco-chic, carbon footprint conscious, Hybrid driving 'Loca'-vores out there.

+ SURGE

Novothink's Surge is a hybrid solar charger case you attach your iPhone and iPod Touch too. The integrated solar panel on the back of the case allows you to charge your device solely from sunpower without the need for any other energy source. However, for convenience, there is an additional USB cable that can help charge it should the sun suddenly disappear! Retails for $70 available from their site. (There are similar products already in the market, like this charger available for $27 from Amazon)

sidebar : I am not an iPhone person. I just thought this would be a good eco alternative to providing 'joos' for your device. Maybe one day, I'll give in. Until then I am cell-free by default :)
•

+ RECLAIM
Samsung/Sprint's Reclaim is a new eco-conscious smart phone, primarily made of corn-based bio-plastics, 80% recyclable and apparently, is chock full of nifty features.

"Although there may be some criticism on the sustainability factor of the maize-made material, you can’t deny that Samsung has made giant efforts to produce a product that is not only green, but also services the needs of today’s consumer. Most of us rely on our cellular telephone as a way of staying connected to the different types of communication we have grown accustomed to, and thankfully the people at Samsung equipped the Reclaim with a QWERTY keyboard, 3G network, GPS and one-click access to social-networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube. They have also eliminated the paper manual and its recyclable packaging is printed with soy-based ink. In addition to the “green” materials used to produce this phone, Sprint’s CEO Dan Hesse also announced that $2 of every Reclaim’s sale would go to the Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre program." - inhabitat.com. Retails for $49.99.

sidebar : a step in the right direction for others to follow. Apple, your move?
•

+ if the sun starts to heat things up in the near future, we just might have to start burrowing.

PH •

LOCAVORE

2009-09-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

New word. New diet. New goal?
Coined by Jessica Prentice from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2005, Wikipedia defines Locavore as “someone who eats food grown or produced locally or within a certain radius such as 50, 100, or 150 miles.”

Why become a Locavore?

You help the environment. Decreasing the distance food travels releases less carbon emissions, and small farms often plant diverse crops which reduce soil degradation.

You help out farms. Over 90¢ of every dollar you spend at a farmers market goes directly to the farmer who produced the food. When you buy produce at a grocery store, vegetables farmers get only 21¢ of your dollar.

How to become one?

Join a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) group, eat in season, request it at grocery stores, start small and plan your meals. The USDA defines a CSA as “a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation…in return, they receive shares in the farm’s bounty throughout the growing season.”

A few tips:

Don’t be scared of a little dirt on your vegetables. Ask questions. You may be surprised to find that your organic apple from Whole Foods traveled three thousand miles to reach the store. Try new foods. Remember that even if something is in a package and looks clean, it might not be healthy. Trust your local farmer instead.

(the above was adapted from an article by Gina Marie Cheeseman for Jolly Green Girl)
+ and when you get some local bacon, here's a guilty pleasure.

PH •

SECRET LIFE OF

2009-09-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

"Ever wonder what happens when we toss old cell phones in the trash? Take the paper we read in the morning, and the jeans and t-shirts we wear. Have you ever considered what impacts these products have on the environment, from beginning to end? INFORM’s Secret Life Series is a collection of videos that highlight the environmental impacts of everyday products we all use."

The Secret Life of Cell Phones was created by Azimuth Media and Off Ramp Films.
+ see also the secret life of a volcano, Kilauea!

PH •

YOUNG

2009-09-25T23:01:00.000-07:00

Learn Something Every Day is a self-initiated daily project created by a immensely talented design studio based in the UK, Young. Users are invited to submit lesser known facts, which are then interpreted into doodle-like illustrations, posted onto their site daily. "The best fact will be made into a super special poster at the beginning of each month, with the winner getting a free poster."

Do check out their design work and portfolio on their site. Some excellent work.
+ explore the work of a hairdresser turned designer Dima Loginoff

PH •

VADER MY MENTOR

2009-09-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

It seems British Airways truly dig Darth Vader's management skills and leadership qualities.
In a recent article published in their Business Life site , they go on to highlight his more positive attributes which make him an 'unlikely business guru'. Indeed. Here are some salient points:

CULT OF LEADERSHIP
His underlings were undoubtedly devoted to him, "excusing his occasional lapses of mood — a strategy that stood Apple boss Steve Jobs in good stead as he created an empire built on cutting edge, planet-changing technology."

DRESS SENSE
Perhaps his sense of style and that mask enabled an air of mystery. "If people can’t read your face and don’t know what you’re thinking, they can experience an uncomfortable sensation that puts them on the back foot — perhaps US Vogue editor Anna Wintour’s famous bob and huge dark glasses were influenced by Darth back in the 1970s…"

DRIVEN
Lord Vader, like any good leader, is "decisive, swift to act, has a variety of skills (he doesn’t just sit behind a desk, he gets out and flies a fighter ship alongside his junior pilots) and is driven by an insatiable desire to succeed."

FLAWS
Unfortunately, he's human too. Well, behind the mask at least. He allowed family issues to clooud his judgement and, "in the end, revealed himself as a sentimental pussycat and showed a modicum of remorse as the empire crumbled. Sometimes, you just can’t let the mask slip."

"HR would have a field day with the Star Wars villain, what with his bullying and torture of staff who displease him. Not to mention the corporate responsibility and PR problems that go along with building something called the Death Star."

+ more Lord Vader (vs Eddie Izzard/Lego)
+ crazy Vader Robotic Arm for sale HERE

PH •

TABLE SCRAPS

2009-09-24T22:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a collection of images that don't need any introduction because they either say a lot or have nothing really to say. Actually they're the bottom of the barrel, the leftovers while cleaning up my folders, the Table Scraps. Enjoy the inspiration!

+ care for a swim in your dumpster ?
+ how about a 3-way, Eames style ?

• PH

GOOGLE MASHUPS

2009-09-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Google API's are no longer just for encoders and programmers. With the advent of Web 2.0 and the availability of Google's 'on-board' tools, companies and individuals are conjuring up mashups of digital creativity. Whether it's marketing their online store through an adaptation of Google Maps or the use of YouTube Annotations to create their website, these experiments of customization and remixing are definitely the ones to watch, in the near future.

Here are 3 good examples:

UNIQLO 1000 + GOOGLE MAPS
Uniqlo 1000 makes use of the Google Maps API and Flash video to show people all across Tokyo trying on their clothing in a creative way.

BOONEOAKLEY + YOUTUBE ANNOTATION
North Carolina-based ad agency BooneOakley makes use of YouTube annotations to create their website entirely within YouTube videos.

GOOGLE DOCS
I think this is a great alternative to 'About Us' pages on design house websites. Gives them something to do!

+ try out an online Typography tool, WORDLE .

• PH

GIL THE CRAB

2009-09-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

I miss Gil. 'He funny!' This one's dedicated to Frances Schifrin.

+ more animal hijinks

• PH

WOLF LOVES PORK

2009-09-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

...or オオカミとブタ!
This is brilliant. A stop motion adventure by YouTuber "dokugyunyu". Check out his (or her) site too.

+ more stop motion, this time by Thiago Maia.

•PH

UNIQLO CALENDAR

2009-09-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Yet another RAM intensive app you really don't need but WANT! This time it's the UNIQLO CALENDAR that's available for download (I think. The instructions are confusing) I love the way the time lapse is shot; the way everything looks minature and how humans appear 'avatar'-like.

+ just in case you missed it the first time, here's the Uniqlo Clock.

• PH

BESTE VRIEND

2009-09-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Thomas Boerboom is a designer from the Netherlands. As his site is still under construction, there wasn't much information I could gather about this very 'different' project. Nice photography. He did however blurb a little about his little feathered friend, the budgie.

"I've examined to what extent it is possible for humans and animals to come closer together, and how to realise that. As a result of my research I tried to become best friends with a budgie. In the end this resulted into an instruction guide as well as an instruction dvd in wich I demonstrate step by step how to become best friends with a budgie. The guide consist of three chapters; communication, body language and recreation. By means of observation and imitation I've implemented these three terms to create a band between me and my budgie."

+ more images of birds and other animals, see Charley Harper

• PH

SPACE SHOWER

2009-09-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

Space Shower TV is Japan’s largest cable/satellite music channel. Here are 2 spots/IDs; "We Love Music, We Love Peace" created by Kōki Tange (Yellow Brain) and "Guitar" directed by Koichiro Tsujikawa.
+ I love Hirst

• PH

SEGWAY P.U.M.A.

2009-09-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

I'm all about new modes of moving humans around efficiently, producing small (carbon) footprints, here and there.
I doubt if Oneone is going to be around soon but this Segway P.U.M.A. might just be zipping into your parking spot (a fraction of it) in the closer future. Looking like a cross between a wheelchair and a horse-drawn carriage (without a laboring beast), at least this evolution of the Segway doesn't have one towering above other pedestrians, looking like a busker on stilts/wheels.
My one concern though is safety, especially on the mean streets of Los Angeles, where douchebags run amok in their gas guzzling SUVs, flouting the 'no cellphone' rule. The original (tall) segways might enable higher visibility but when the design starts to involve seats and windshields, you start to become 'more like' the other car drivers and motorists. And without ABS brakes or a protective shell, I'd probably only drive this around the farm! Meh.

from Dapper Scout:

"As a technology collaboration between Segway and General Motors, the Segway P.U.M.A. Prototype represents the next step in the evolution of the personal urban transportation vehicle and as of now, it’s the only one of its kind. The Segway P.U.M.A. is currently configured for two people and features a proprietary dynamic stabilization system that uses angular rate sensors and accelerometers to identify orientation and send power to the motors, as necessary, to ensure proper acceleration and balance. The P.U.M.A. has a top speed between 25 – 35 mph and an approximate travel range of 25 – 35 miles. An intuitive steering console allows users to accelerate and brake by simply pushing away or pulling in the steering console as appropriate. And with a Lithium Ion battery and regenerative braking capabilities, the Segway P.U.M.A. is both cost efficient and environmentally friendly, requiring only about $0.60 worth of electricity for a full charge."

+ read more about this HERE
• PH

SIETCH NEVADA

2009-09-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

Architects: Matsys Design

Year: 2009
Location: 37°46′20.10″N, 117°31′57.38″W
Exhibition: Out of Water | innovative technologies in arid climates at the University of Toronto
Description: In Frank Herbert’s famous1965 novel Dune, he describes a planet that has undergone nearly complete desertification. Dune has been called the “first planetary ecology novel” and forecasts a dystopian world without water. The few remaining inhabitants have secluded themselves from their harsh environment in what could be called subterranean oasises. Far from idyllic, these havens, known as sietch, are essentially underground water storage banks. Water is wealth in this alternate reality. It is preciously conserved, rationed with strict authority, and secretly hidden and protected.

Although this science fiction novel sounded alien in 1965, the concept of a water-poor world is quickly becoming a reality, especially in the American Southwest. Lured by cheap land and the promise of endless water via the powerful Colorado River, millions have made this area their home. However, the Colorado River has been desiccated by both heavy agricultural use and global warming to the point that it now ends in an intermittent trickle in Baja California. Towns that once relied on the river for water have increasingly begun to create underground water banks for use in emergency drought conditions. However, as droughts are becoming more frequent and severe, these water banks will become more than simply emergency precautions.

Sietch Nevada projects waterbanking as the fundamental factor in future urban infrastructure in the American Southwest. Sietch Nevada is an urban prototype that makes the storage, use, and collection of water essential to the form and performance of urban life. Inverting the stereotypical Southwest urban patterns of dispersed programs open to the sky, the Sietch is a dense, underground community. A network of storage canals is covered with undulating residential and commercial structures. These canals connect the city with vast aquifers deep underground and provide transportation as well as agricultural irrigation. The caverns brim with dense, urban life: an underground Venice. Cellular in form, these structures constitute a new neighborhood typology that mediates between the subterranean urban network and the surface level activities of water harvesting, energy generation, and urban agriculture and aquaculture. However, the Sietch is also a bunker-like fortress preparing for the inevitable wars over water in the region.

(Taken from the MATSYS DESIGN site )

We are excited and intrigued.

+ check out my visit to the Barnsdall House

• ph •

TOWN LOGOS

2009-09-21T00:06:00.000-07:00

Japanese town logos - official symbols designed to communicate the identity of each municipality — come in a vast array of shapes and colors. Many of these municipal symbols incorporate typographical elements (particularly kanji, hiragana, katakana, and Roman letters) into their designs. In most cases, the stylized characters are straightforward and easy to spot (even if you don’t read Japanese), but sometimes you have to bend your eyes to see them. The more complex logos encode the name of the town into a puzzle-like symbol that begs to be deciphered. Here are a few typographic town logos that make clever use of hiragana and katakana characters.

The design although modern could well be inspired by the family crests or Mon used in the Tokugawa Shogunate era, still widely used today. The next time you enter a Japanese restaurant with the short curtains draping the entrance, look for the symbols on each panel. If it's a reputable (traditional) establishment, they should be able to tell you what those symbols stand for.

(original article from PinkTentacle)
+ be more inspired with 39 Visions.

• PH •

JAN VERBURG

2009-09-20T21:53:00.000-07:00

Photographer Jan Verburg shoots skinny fashion girls with Russian circus freaks a la 1995 MTV Europe VMAs. Well almost. Spread found in Buffalo Magazine.

+ more moody photography with Jeremy Cowart

• PH •

READ ME

2009-09-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

An amazing designer and a good friend of mine, Frances Schifrin is also an ardent reader (sigh I wish I could have her patience). Here are 3 books she recommends:

+   The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Fantastic book! Has all the elements and more that make it a incredible crime novel. The first 25 or so pages are tough to read. But keep going! It gets so good that you can't put it down. A complex novel, with elements surrounding modern day computer technology, stock markets, and magazine journalism is juxtaposed by finding out about a crime that occurred in 1966. You fall in love with the characters as you battle their journey to unveil the truth.
Frances rates this 3.5 out of 5. (Own it for $16.47).

+   My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Great great book. Jodi Picoult is an unbelievable contemporary writer dealing with tough issues of today. She raises a lot of questions. And each paragraph ends with a profound physiological intensity. The ending without revealing is...
Frances rates this 4 out of 5. (Own it for $19.40)

+   Little Bee : A Novel by Chris Cleave
I was so surprised by this book I had no idea what it was about when I bought it. A story about a little Nigerian girl and her journey of survival. Warning: This is a gut wrenching book filled with sadness and beauty.
Frances gives this book 4 out of 5 too. (Own it for $16.32)

Thanks Caca for your helpful reviews.
+ if you missed Wallander on PBS, read the books - brilliant sleuthing!

DYNA MOE

2009-09-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present THE designer of all that Mad Men 50's illustrations you love...Ms. Dyna Moe ! Yes here she is in all her glory. (Thank you Frances Schifrin for the contrib). If you're like me, you'll want to click every thumbnail and savor every frame (and desktop wallpaper) that Ms. Moe has created and posted on every social network, from her flickr page to her site. Enjoy!

(BTW it's Emmy night, Congratulations Mad Men!)
+ in case you missed Mad Men-ing yourself the first time around, here's Dyna Moe's spiffy online tool again. We love you Ms. Moe!

• PH •

MONSTER FACE

2009-09-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Joey Ellis
created these 'scary' monsters, to teach his son the alphabet. Joey is a graphic designer and illustrator for Hawse Design in Charlotte, NC and loves Walt Disney.

"My son James is beginning to study letter forms. He's a visual kid (as most kids are) and really likes monsters. So, I designed some Letter Monsters to help him in his studies. I'd like to share these Letter Monsters with others who may be learning their letters."

+ you can view the entire typeface on Joey's Flickr
+ check out some old skool artwork HERE

:PH

THE LEDGE

2009-09-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

The Sears Tower in Chicago opened its new set of glass balconies for public viewing. “The Ledge,” as they’re collectively called, hangs 1,353 ft in the air. With transparent walls and ceilings, visitors say its like floating in the sky, and the view is, of course, spectacular. Apparently the glass floor can withstand five tons, but just to be safe, jumping up and down is probably not advised.

The idea came from the hundreds of forehead prints left on windows at the top of the tower which attracts 1.3 million visitors each year. A spokesperson for Sears Tower said: "Visitors are constantly trying to catch a glimpse below. Now they have a unique and unobstructed view of the city. The balconies provide unobstructed views of miniature-looking people, taxis and bridges from glass floors 1,353 ft over Wacker Drive and the Chicago River."

Original Sears Tower architecture firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill were called in to design the new feature which retracts into the building to allow easy access for cleaning and maintenance. There is no extra charge for The Ledge, although the charge for Skydeck admission increased a dollar to $14.95 for those ages 12 and older, the first increase in two years; admission for those ages 3 to 11 is $10.50.

Sears Tower stands at 108 storeys and 442 m and was the tallest building in the world when it was completed in 1973.

+ explore the Moon

:PH

NOW ARRIVING

2009-09-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Campaign created for Disney MGM's Star Wars Weekend. We like.

+ more Star Wars HERE and HERE

: PH

KOSAI SEKINE

2009-09-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

MUSIC VIDEO : Maledict Car by Jemapur
DIR : Kosai Sekine

Yes we've all seen the kaleidoscope/reflection technique used extensively in film and television. In Jemapur's trippy music video, Kosai Sekine employs this effect creating new dimensions, new worlds and perspectives of everyday life, people and places. Fantastical yet simple.

+ evoking a similar feeling - Röyksopp's Happy Up Here.

: PH

LAST CALL

2009-09-19T22:37:00.000-07:00

5 short videos reveal a Tokyo neighborhood in transition. Monzen-Nakacho lies low, laced by canals that flow into Tokyo Bay. A refuge from bustling Tokyo life yet now experiencing a change which includes fewer children, dying businesses and a lack of faith.

{ LINK HERE }

About Last Call

These stories were produced by reporters in the "Digital TV and the World" special project at the Graduate School of Journalism, Universit of California, Berkeley. According to project director Todd Carrel, the digital jounalists travel the world to "find interesting stories that help reveal the fabric of a community." The series began in Aug 2002 with stories about ordinary people - from a fishing village near Nagasaki, to the rainforests of Peru, to the streets of Phnom Penh.

+ Beijing loves IKEA...beds!

• PH

CHARLEY HARPER

2009-09-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

I discovered Charley Harper years ago, while thumbing through a copy of Dwell. I was drawn in.

Mr. Harper's clean and simple representation of animals, objects, and environments coupled with a subdued palette, take on more than just an iconic or typographic appearance. They capture a movement or gesture of an animal, bringing his illustrations to life. Whether it's a crocodile sitting quietly in the water, waiting for its prey or even the provoked behavior of a finch, as it battles with its reflection, Charley Harper conveyed these moments of nature, exquisitely.

"When I look at a wildlife or nature subject, I don’t see the feathers in the wings, I just count the wings. I see exciting shapes, color combinations, patterns, textures, fascinating behavior and endless possibilities for making interesting pictures. I regard the picture as an ecosystem in which all the elements are interrelated, interdependent, perfectly balanced, without trimming or unutilized parts; and herein lies the lure of painting; in a world of chaos, the picture is one small rectangle in which the artist can create an ordered universe."

Mr. Harper passed on in 2007. He was 84. His legacy lives on in a book by Todd Oldham "CHARLEY HARPER AN ILLUSTRATED LIFE" (get this book and other publications by Mr. Parker at My Amazon Store for $32.97). Here too is a short movie that showcases the artist and his work.

A true genius.

+ savor more delightful work from Aardman with Creature Discomforts.

•> PH

MANUEL ROMERO

2009-09-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share some typo-candy, from Manuel Romero. Poster design for a project called Minusa. Looks like they're very much inspired by the design of currency, which I hope to get to do one day. Who doesn't like designing money?! I could not find any information about this designer or more of his work. If you find stuff about Manuel, feel free to share it with me and I'll post it. Enjoy.

+ more candy, this time from Jessica Hische and Amy Martin.

•> PH

QUIZZICAL

2009-09-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Friday.
Here are 2 mindless quizzes to see you through the final working hours until the weekend is here.

Camembert or Clarendon? Cheese or Font? (that sounds French already) Name of cheese or just a fancy named typeface, you decide in this quiz created by Tony Gambone. Delicious!

{QUIZ}

Arial or Helvetica? A short test to gauge your type-dentifying skills. Good luck!

{QUIZ}

More Helvetica vs. Arial combat HERE.
+ do check out some Sneaky typography

GEORGIA & VERDANA 2.0

2009-09-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

Type Geeks rejoice (or not). Web-happy typefaces Georgia & Verdana will finally get the enhancements they need, via an extended family and a 'cosmetic makeover' in 2010. (What about Arial?)

Taken from the Sept 8 press release by Ascender Corporation,

"Ascender Corporation, Carter & Cone and The Font Bureau, Inc. announced today that they are working on a project in conjunction with Microsoft to extend the Georgia and Verdana typeface families. This project began more than a year ago, and the first of the new typefaces are expected during the first quarter of 2010."

( Current )

"The Georgia and Verdana typeface families were originally commissioned by Microsoft to address the challenges of on-screen display. Designed by Matthew Carter and hinted for screen legibility by Ascender’s Tom Rickner, these fonts were initially released in 1996 with Microsoft’s ‘Core fonts for the Web’ font pack, and then with the Internet Explorer 4.0 ‘supplemental’ font pack."

( 2010 Enhanced )

'Version 2.0' enhancements include the following:

New weights and widths beyond the original four fonts in each family
Extensions to the character sets
Extensions to the kerning
OpenType typographic features for enhanced typography

Why can't there be more fonts/typefaces added to this 'versatile' collection?
+ enjoy and be inspired by Siggi Eggertsson

• PH

CÉSAR PESQUERA

2009-09-16T22:06:00.000-07:00

3 spots from a very talented César Pesquera, who is a creative director and co-founder at Actop in Spain.

+ Renault "Family/Kiss"

"Funny and effective"

+ Durex "The Trip"

"Cheeky."

+ Canal+ "Trampoline

"Circue Du Sol-80's. Shooting from the crow's nest is awesome"

+ more uniqueness for your visual appetite, see Bang-Yao Liu
+ bloody viral video campaign from HBO

.

ONEONE

2009-09-16T18:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I find looking at the future to be somewhat depressing.

When you click on 'Concept Vehicles' on some automaker's site, you can't help but wonder when these Philip K Dick envisioned modes of transport will finally drive off the assembly and into your garage, or more importantly, why 'next year's model' still doesn't quite resemble the 'Artist's Impression' at the Auto Show you attended last year.

I guess we've made a leap here and there. 10 years ago, the Prius was probably one of them 'Artist's Impressions' we "Oo'd" and "Aa'd" at. So there's hope yet. And the future is still bright, and brimming with ideas like this one...

Nissan OneOne "combines personal mobility with the family-robot concept. Powered by a skating-like propulsion and guided by a GPS system, it is capable of transporting passengers without the driver. OneOne (pronounced “won-won,” an endearing Japanese description of a barking dog) is the ultimate pet; a friendly, helpful member of the family of the future, tending to a family’s busy lives from retrieving dry cleaning and groceries, to tending to the children." We like that.

Using synthetic muscles in its “legs,” it propels itself along by skating, much like you would on a pair of rollerblades. From performance car to city shuttler, it "lies down for speed or stands up for better visibility, allowing for more nimble navigation and easier parking." How exciting! I can't wait to see it in action

My prediction: it'll probably be featured in a Spielberg movie in the brighter future. Sit OneOne Sit!

+ see how some of us are making a change for the future, one card at a time.

SOLVED

2009-09-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

IMPOSSIBLE recently created a teaser promo for Investigation Discovery's Solved. Telecine and design are spot on! + MOVIE HERE.

+ more Broadcast Design

DIMA LOGINOFF

2009-09-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

Dima Loginoff started out as a professional hairstylist in Moscow. He pursued his interest in interior design and in 2008 graduated from the Interior School RHODEC in London. His body of work includes the Lace Hotel and some very interesting interior pieces and well designed lighting options.

+ Lace Hotel

Awarded: Special Prize "Design Without Limits" at the Design Debut Awards 2008 held in St. Petersburg, Russia

+ Curl My Light

   Table Lamp Concept 2008
   Material: Plastic
   Awarded: Second Prize in Home Interior Products, Lighting at the 2008 International Design Awards held in Los Angeles CA

   + Trunk

Suspension lighting concept 2008
   Material: Glass, chromeplated steel. LED

BTW the lamps are currently not available commercially. Check back at his website for more info
+ art things we've forgotten about

TRES LECHE

2009-09-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

What do you know. It's Milk Shake Monday! (Well at least in our home).
Throw away your calorie counter. Put aside your ever expanding waistline blues. Forget about your jobless status and indulge in some bone-growing goodness.
Today we drink nothing but Milk Shakes. LOL. Here are 3 delicious recipes that's on the menu today, adapted from Chow.com:

+ Oatmeal Cookie Milk Shake
(Be sure to use the crunchy versions!)

method:

Combine 4 to 6 tablespoons milk, a dash of cinnamon, and 1 pint vanilla ice cream in a blender or a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Pulse 8 to 10 times or until mostly smooth. Add 6 crushed crunchy oatmeal cookies and pulse 5 times more. Layer with caramel sauce in a chilled pint glass and serve.

"Evil but good."

+ Purple Cow Milk Shake

method:

Combine 1/4 cup Concord grape juice and 1 pint vanilla ice cream in a blender or a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Pulse 10 to 12 times or until smooth and pourable. Pour into a chilled pint glass and serve.

"Juicy good. Might be strange in flavor for some. An acquired taste. Fun."

+ Pina Colada Milk Shake
(Adapted from Banana Foster version. Canned pineapples work as well.)

method:

Cut fresh pineapple into chunks (larger chunks for canned variety) and place in a blender or a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Add 1/4 cup dark (or light) rum. Add 1 pint Haagen Dazs Pineapple Coconut ice cream and pulse 10 to 12 times more until smooth and pourable. Pour into a chilled pint glass and serve.

"By far my favorite. I like having bits of pineapple in my shake plus the rum gives it a kick."

+ bake some Bread too
Photos from Chow.com

寿司 MIYAKE STYLE

2009-09-13T23:09:00.000-07:00

OMG giant sushi. Yum! Ad campaign created by Taku Satoh Design Office for the house of Japanese legend Issey Miyake's diffusion line Pleats Please. Oishii.

+ Moomoo House

DENIM FACE

2009-09-13T22:33:00.000-07:00

Definitely something worth shouting about. These Wrangler ads featuring denim masked men were debut in Japan recently. Unfortunately the unique head gear is not available for sale in stores. Too bad. They remind me of the masked models of W&LT . You might find the leather alternative at your local Pleasure Chest! Created by Tycoon.

(I hope it's stretch)
+ Remember Sprouse

MACOTO

2009-09-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Macoto Murayama is a 25 year old CG illustrator from Japan. Macoto's expressions journey into the unseen world of the shape and form of flora, highlighting their geometric and mechanical structure through an X-ray vision.

"Generally, a plant is considered to be a being that has an organic form. However, that is just one of the aspects because along with their organic form, a plant possesses a contradictory element of geometric/mechanical structure. By highlighting the later, the plant's out-of-the-ordinary form is revealed, and in it, a different kind of attractiveness can be found. As such, C.morifolium, better know as chrysanthemums, was chosen as the primary subject for my work."

Dr. TRAN

2009-09-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Dr. Tran rules! That voice is just awesome. In this episode 'Fruit Hat', Dr. Tran is waiting in a dark, dank subway station for his train to arrive. He is subjected to the horror of a woman with a peculiar, manly voice. Created by Breehn Burns & Jason Johnson. MOVIE HERE

+ chew on something more substantial here
+ see more Tran

FELT FOOD

2009-09-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

...anyone? Machiko has been concocting hand-sewn Felt Food for almost two years, currently sold at her Etsy store, GoBuggy! Originally from Japan, Machiko started making these delectable creations for her daughter - but now they're primarily sewn and sold as decorative objects. Her menu stands out for its dominant Japanese flavor... ginger root, onigiri, edamame, gyoza, even eggs! Kawa-i-neh.
I think they're life-size too!

Machiko on her creations,

“When I am out, I try to make that time for observation. It can be from what baby toys to what people eat, and sometimes the idea can form months later. The environment is something no one can ignore and I think my work develops accordingly. I think about the food I grew up with or foods that have great aesthetics (in my mind). I try to take the essence of what that food is and try to make it simple, but well made. I draw out few templates for some. My choice of material is felt and fleece. I like the colors and hand sewing makes shapes easy to shape. To me, fabric definitely brings warmth and somehow humor. Maybe, that notion is from felt and fleece having a long history of stuffed toys that are geared towards children.”

+ Machiko's Etsy Store
+ Wayne White

ZOMBIE BOOTCAMP

2009-09-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

"The Saikyō Senritsu Meikyū (”Ultimate Horror Maze”) — a 900-meter-long zombie-infested labyrinth at Japan’s Fuji-Q Highland amusement park — is billed as the world’s longest and scariest house of horror. However, at a “press conference” staged last month, organizers announced they had temporarily shut down the facility because the zombie staff had lost their edge and were not frightening people enough. While the haunted house was closed, the undead employees were put through a rigorous training program designed to upgrade their zombie skills." - Pink Tentacle

Video's pretty funny. Reminds of that Japanese director in Lost in Translation , "Kah-to! Ka-to! Ka-to!"

The horror house has since reopened and the camp-hardened zombies are reportedly as scary as ever.

+ more videos : Colin, Punching old ladies!

GIL VS. PUCKEY

2009-09-09T21:49:00.000-07:00

Same technique different style? You be the judge. I just like the way both artists have adopted this Scriptograph for their work.
Looks good but what were they for?

+ Nacho Gil
a designer working at MTV Buenos Aires. Here is his work called The Animals

+ Jonathan Puckey
Tool assisted Delaunay image vectorization using Scriptographer and Color Averaging by Jürg Lehni

+ see Ed Nacional

GREAT SHOWDOWNS

2009-09-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

Scott Campbell created this series of acrylics on watercolor paper which were all sold for $250 each. Guess the movie? Answers in right column> below. Check out the gallery below for more of his work. Funny. (Flickr)

+ Eddie Izzard vs Lego
+ Tauba Auerbach

MOONBELL

2009-09-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Developed in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the "and space" team, Moonbell is an automated music generator that plays musical scores based on lunar topographical data obtained by Japan’s Kaguya (SELENE) explorer during its orbit around the moon from late 2007 to June 2009.

Read ABOUT it and EXPERIENCE it. + here for more Japan!

BEIJING HEARTS IKEA

2009-09-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

Taken from the article in the LAtimes by David Pierson,

"Welcome to IKEA Beijing, where the atmosphere is more theme park than store...Every weekend, thousands of looky-loos pour into the massive showroom to use the displays. Some hop into bed, slide under the covers and sneak a nap; others bring cameras and pose with the decor. Families while away the afternoon in the store for no other reason than to enjoy the air conditioning. Visitors can't seem to resist novelties most Americans take for granted, such as free soda refills and ample seating. They also like the laid-back staffers who don't mind when a child jumps on a couch."

"Bai Yalin mapped out a five-hour outing (with her 7-year-old son and two teenage nieces). First, they had hot dogs and soft ice cream cones at noon. Then they enjoyed a long rest lounging on the beds. Bai kicked off her sandals and sprawled out on a Tromso bunk bed. The 36-year-old homemaker made herself comfortable and even answered passing shoppers' questions about the quality of the mattress. After that, Bai and her family took group pictures. By 5 p.m., it was time for another meal, so they headed to the cafeteria and ate braised mushrooms with rice."

WTH
+ LAtimes
+ Lego House

TADANORI YOKOO

2009-09-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

In 1975, graphic artist Tadanori Yokoo produced hundreds of pen and ink drawings for Genka (”Illusory Flowers”), a historical novel by Harumi Setouchi that recounts the struggles of Tomiko Hino, the wife of shogun Yoshimasa Ashikaga (1435-1490). The fanciful illustrations, which do not appear to directly reflect the content of the story, were published along with the novel in a long series of installments in the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper.

+ see Karim CZ too

DARK NIGHT

2009-09-07T15:55:00.000-07:00

Dark Night of the Soul recently premiered at the Michael Kohn Gallery on Bevery Boulevard here in Los Angeles. (I'm unsure if the show is still on as the site doesn't reflect it at all). I guess it was a pretty good show based on the review in the LA Times. How did I miss this :(

The audio and visual project is a collaboration between Grammy-winning studio whiz Danger Mouse and musical surrealist Sparklehorse, with visuals/photography by director David Lynch . The photographs, which provide a visual narrative for the music, are compiled in a limited edition, hand numbered book accompanied by a blank CD-R, reading 'For Legal Reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.'

Due to an ongoing dispute with EMI, Danger Mouse were unable to release the recorded music for DNOTS without fear of being sued by EMI. Danger Mouse remains hugely proud of the project and hopes that people lucky enough to hear his creation, by whatever means, will be excited by it as he is.

Don't you just love record companies?
I personally liked the album after listening to it for the first time today. Here's a listen:

+ check out the track listing

Revenge (Flaming Lips)
Just War (Gruff Rhys of The Super Furry Animals)
Jaykub (Jason Lytle)
Little Girl (Julian Casablancas of The Strokes)
Angel's Harp (Frank Black of The Pixies)
Pain (Iggy Pop)
Star Eyes (I Can't Catch It) (David Lynch)
Everytime I'm With You (Jason Lytle)
Insane Lullaby (James Mercer of The Shins)
Daddy's Gone (Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse and Nina Persson of The Cardigans)
The Man Who Played God (Suzanne Vega)
Grim Augury (Vic Chesnutt)
Dark Night Of The Soul (David Lynch)

+ remember Lost Highway

KEITH COLACO

2009-09-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

"I don't have a website of my own. It's purely a hobby I picked up in Dec last year when I bought my cam. I just carry the cam around all the time and shoot what I see."

Yeah right Keith lol.
Keith and I were classmates at Lasalle College of Art in Singapore. Even then, he exhibited great style in his work and a keen sense of composition. In our final year, a bunch of us had already found employment even before graduating, Keith included. Trying to balance a part-time career and complete our final project eventually took it's toll. We almost didn't graduate.

Keith currently spins music at well-known venues in Singapore, where he's based. If you're interested in checking out more of his work, feel free to connect with him on Facebook, http://www.new.facebook.com/keithcolaco

Nicely done KFC.

+ for some rocker photography, see Dean Karr

5 FLY SMART's

2009-09-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

Recently airfare expert Rick Seaney listed 10 ways to fly cheap and smart.
Here are my Top 5:

1. FLY THE CHEAPEST DAYS AND TIMES

Generally, the cheapest day of the week is Wednesday. After Wednesday, the cheapest days to book departures/arrivals are Tuesday and Saturday. Airlines often file cheaper airfares that are only good on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The cheapest time to fly is typically the first flight out in the morning - yes, that means you have to get up at 4am. Next best times are flights during/after lunch and flights at the dinner hour.

2. FLY LOWER COST CARRIERS OR NO FRILLS

Check with Southwest, AirTran, JetBlue, Virgin America, and others - their prices are often (not always, but often) cheaper than the legacy carriers. Always check airfare prices with all carriers, but neglect to check the “cheap” airlines at your peril.

My only argument with this is just last week, I priced airfare from LAX to SFO on United, Southwest and JetBlue. After factoring in the taxes, they were priced the same with United just a dollar cheaper. LAX to JFK is a compeititive route. You might want to take into consideration the limits you will go to for comfort. Personally, suffering for cheaper airfare of $100 difference on a 5 hour flight just doesn't cut it for me.

3. FLY THE BIG HUBS

Believe it or not, a bigger airport can mean bigger savings. If you’re in a medium to small sized city, it usually pays to drive to the nearest big-city and depart from there - LAX, for example, is usually cheaper than Burbank. Surprise, surprise.
WARNING: this isn’t true everywhere; if you live in Cincinnati, for example, it can be cheaper  to fly out of Dayton, Columbus or even Indianapolis.

4. BE FLEXIBLE. ASK FOR VACATION AFTER YOU FIND THE FLIGHT

If you are willing to be flexible (rather than shoe-horning yourself into a particular vacation week), you can save big. Use email alerts, find a great fare, and then ask for the time off. Fly to off-the-beaten-path destinations or out-of-season resorts and save.

Now here's an interesting tip that actually works. One holiday, I was planning to spend Christmas back east in New York. Unfortunately I waited to the last-minute to purchase a ticket. After frantically punching in Departure dates and 'search airports nearby' many times, I discovered that the airfare on Christmas Day was real cheap. So I sacrificed not being there earlier. No matter, I arrived just in time for a nice dinner waiting.

5. EDUCATE YOURSELF

Use all the technology you can get your hands on: email alerts, historical data, information on trends, and more. An educated consumer is going to be a happy consumer.

Totally. The more you know, the smarter you'll fly. And cheaper too. Happy flying.
+ what are Luggage Monkeys doing with your checked-in luggage?

OFFI PAKET

2009-09-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

Question: How to comfortably seat one, two, three or four people around a table, in small and restricted dwellings?

Answer: Designed by Yugoslavia born designer Srdjan Simic, the Offi Paket Table transforms from a colorful cube into a full table and chairs, with the flick of a wrist. Sounds like clean up's pretty easy too with its laminated birch plywood and powder-coated metal construction. You may also choose from 3 colors (grey, white and orange), mix n match 'em or even opt for the 2-seater which retails for $249. The full 4-seating set goes for $499. Table closed measures 25 x 25 x 30", opens at 43 x 43 x 30".

FYI Paket was an LA Times Editor's Pick at ICCF. Now why didn't IKEA think of that?

BROWN SUGAR BACON

2009-09-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick all-will-hate-to-love 'side dish', I learnt if your current lover/partner/whoever decides to invite some friends over for Brunch (at what time? 10am this Saturday? Grrr). It actually tastes a lot like the barbequed sweet meats (my guilty pleasure) you may find during Chinese New Year in Singapore. I remember as a kid, gobbling down heaps till I fell ill.

Here's the wicked trick:
Preheat oven at 375. On parchment paper, place thick bacon strips, side by side slightly overlapping. Sprinkle or (ahem) throw on bacon brown sugar (liberally!) Pop into oven for 35 - 40 mins or until desired crispiness. When done, pass them around the table, along with the Baked Banana French Toast (recipe another day). Watch your guests try to decline a strip or two when you say 'lightly sprinkled with brown sugah babeh'.

(To celebrate International Bacon Day held yesterday and for my friend Diana Horowitz. Take that Tempeh!)
+ get more Bacon and Baked

ROCK ME BABEH

2009-09-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

"A rocking bed seems to make perfect sense! The first calming experience we encounter is being rocked to sleep in our beds as children. The 'Rocking Bed' from Private Cloud is of course adult bedroom furniture that adds a feeling of relaxation and calmness which we need after the hustle and bustle of daily life." - Private Cloud.

Er, I don't think so. (Notice how the description states 'adult bedroom furniture'). Funny I thought this better suited a Tween dwelling. Or perhaps even taking 'center stage' in some Vegas wedding suite ;-) Definitely not a wise choice for earthquake territory here in Los Angeles. Imagine trying to jump out of bed when a shaker hits at 3am in the morning. Woo-hoo! Strange and quite funny.

(No it's not available in My Amazon Store)

CRV43

2009-09-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

Presenting the NEC CRV43 43" Curved LED Desplay. Here's a breakdown:

* 2880 x 900 double WXGA native resolution
* 200 cd/m² brightness
* 0.02ms Rapid Response
* 10,000:1 contrast ratio
* Wide color gamut with 100% coverage of sRGB and 99.3% coverage of Adobe RGB
* Single link DVI-D and HDMI 1.3 input
* USB 2.0 connectivity
* On Screen Display (OSD®) and software-based GUI, which enables advanced display control options
Estimated price $7,999 for this bad boy!

CARDS OF CHANGE

2009-09-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Eric Proulx, director of soon to be released 'recession aftermath' movie, Lemonade, highlighted an ingenious site for all those out there, out of work to do what they do best - stay creative. If you haven't heard of Cards of Change, it's a super-simple idea where you scribble out the job title on your old business card and scribble in one positive change that has happened to you since losing your job. (I love this!)

Created by former creative director at Chiat/Day LA, Tom Van Daele, Cards of Change "is a place where the glass is always half-full. A destination where all the bad news of the day takes a back seat to stories of individual success. Our mission is to collect as many business cards and stories of positive change of people who have recently been laid off and connect them with new opportunities from potential employers, business partners and people who make the effort to look on the bright side of life."

+ Check out Tom shedding more insight into his cathartic excercise. Join up and contribute! I will. (Password: mylemonade)
+ Want more Lemonade?

KARIM CZ

2009-09-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

Karim Charlebois-Zariffa hails from north of the border, Montreal Canada. Posessing a most original style, his best ideas can be enjoyed through his brilliant stop-motion creations for TV series La Liste and session opener for Stefan Sagmeister (we likey!) Oh and I love his site too. Delightful.

+ For more experimental visions, try WOW

BACK IN BIZNATCH

2009-09-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

I guess we are back to our regular programming schedule here in baked and scorched Los Angeles. Only in this city will some douchebag who's probably high, try to escape from the clutches of the LAPD, be chased by the California Highway Patrol at more than 80 mph on the freeways, preempt every news story including the fires burning in La Canada and Palos Verdes. Even the burial (finally) of MJ at Forest Lawn didn't even get 15 seconds of airtime. Although BBC News is covering the MJ thingy.

+ 2055h on KCAL 9

+ 2056h on KCET

In other news, a magnitude 3.2 earthquake struck an area close to the city of Barstow today. Yawn.
Welcome to Los Angeles.

BUGGER OFF

2009-09-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

I just had to because this little guy is just so damn cute. Thanks Vallone.

BEST OF

2009-09-02T21:18:00.000-07:00

To kick off September, I thought I'd share with you the top 10 (highest number of page loads) posts for the month of hot August (boy was it ever).

+ SVU grad Cardon Webb sets out to rebrand one flyer at a time. Nice.
+ a sexy and smart web design from Rob Bigwood for Vox Pop Films.
+ 2 Film Titling powerhouses battle it out in Yu vs. IF
+ next time you board a plane, remember your list of Flying Speak Not's
+ experience and be inspired by the titles for Francis Ford Coppola's Tetro
+ Aakash Nihalani redesigns the streets of New York. Minimal boldness.
+ The Simpsons spoof Spielberg. Love it.
+ finally a bike rack we can hang on to : Cycloc
+ awe-inspiring architecture of Zaha Hadid and the Soho III project.
+ the exclusive, hard to find men's boutique in Paris, L’Eclaireur

and my personal favorite...
+ Eddie Izzard vs. Lego, a viral video.
Enjoy.

BACON

2009-09-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

2 nights ago on our walk back after picking up some Tommy's chilli burgers, I noticed these bright lights in the night sky, looking northeast. I asked my roommate Hal, who was walking ahead, what construction he thought those cranes were for, with their bright orange lights burning through the dark of the horizon. He said, "What crane? Those are from the fires!" Duh.

Here are 2 pics my friend Frances Schrifin took from her street in La Canada (one doctored by me. Thanks Caca.) Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the 2 firefighters who lost their lives plus a big thank you to all the fire crew who've risked their lives to save us from these Burning Hills of Bacon.

(Because of my allergies due to the fire, I haven't had a chance to post anything new but I'm back)

MOSSY COVERS

2009-08-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

Yet another compare and contrast post. This time featuring the different styling and photography adopted for different Vogue magazine covers, to suit the different international markets and their definition of what's hot in their respective countries. Who better a chameleon than Missy Kate Moss. (i-D and TAR covers were thrown in the mix, for fun)

+ For more comparisons, check out The Simpsons spoof

TIE-POGRAPHY

2009-08-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

"Display typeface constructed from a personal tie collection. A large amount of the collection was acquired from my dad, the rest bought at flea markets, thrift stores with a few brand new purchases sprinkled throughout. I hope to soon extend this project to add alternates, numbers and ligatures as the collection grows."

~ Ed Nacional

+ Also, Oscar Nunez 'fills in the cat and a pack of dogs'!

FRESH MEAT

2009-08-31T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Good Design Awards Expo held in Tokyo feature more than 2,000 items ranging from consumer electronics, automobiles and furniture to office equipment, building designs and consumer goods like this Freshness indicator for meat pack labels. Designed by To-Genkyo, the hourglass shaped label contains special ink that changes color based on the amount of ammonia emitted by the meat (the older the meat, the more ammonia it releases). Functioning like an hourglass, the bottom half of the label “fills up” as the meat ages. Consumers can judge the product’s freshness at a glance. When the meat is no longer suitable for sale, the ink blocks the barcode at the bottom so that it cannot be scanned at the cash register. Brilliant!

Of course, here in the US, giant supermarket chains might never implement this 'for the consumer' label, because most of the labels would never scan anyway. Oh for the love of bovine.

+ To really get your message across, try the Ninja Shuriken!

LEGO HOUSE

2009-08-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

Here again is another Lego story. This time thousands of people have answered UK's Top Gear presenter James May's call for help building a new house entirely out of Lego bricks - which the TV star has vowed to live in when it is completed.
A total of 1,200 volunteers were granted free tickets to the Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, Surrey where the two-storey building is being constructed. The life-size house uses over three million bricks and features a staircase, toilet and shower.

For more pics and an update on the house { here }
More Lego fun is of course available on The Dirtyblog { 1 } { 2 }
Don't forget to check my Amazon Store for Lego Architecture series featuring Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water and even Sears Tower. Wish List!! Read about my visit to the Barnsdall House

BAKED

2009-08-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

As the fires rage on in the foothills of La Canada here in Los Angeles, we retreat once again into our A/C cooled environments of our homes, chalking up huge summer rated electric bills. I just can't help but feel, baked, when the sun goes down every day this past week. Here's my ode to Wayne White.

Funny how out of all the heat and destruction we are given a spectacular gift every evening. (Yeah right it's the pollution!)

+ See clever typography by Jung Von Matt used for these Ikea ads. Don't worry, it's not Verdana!

CYCLOC

2009-08-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

This looks interesting. A vertical bike rack that looks good and is perhaps, unobtrusive. Looking like a plastic flower pot designed by Phillippe Starck, the Cycloc Bicycle Storage is made of 100% post industrial plastic and retails for $135 from Zwello or my Amazon Store. According to the site, it "mounts your favorite vehicle to an interior wall space. The sound construction fits a wide range of bike frames. Additional storage located within the cup-shaped storage unit."

Remember to mount your rack on a stud! I have purchased and installed quite a number of bike racks available out there and quite frankly many of them cannot withstand the weight of a mountain bike or the constant 'on/off' action which causes the rack to shift (just STEER CLEAR of the tension pole variety - bike racks must and should be mounted on the wall or ceiling).

As for Cycloc, I have not tried it but am interested. If it's made of the same sturdy and tough plastic that bed-risers are made of, it might just, if I may, hold up. Measures Dia 9.8" D 11.8"

+ Bike sharing in Denver Colorado, see if it'll work in B-Cycle.

ALT RUGBY SPEAK

2009-08-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

That's right. It's the Alternative Rugby Commentary actually. Humorous promos and typography from NZ. Good on yer, mate!

Written and Directed by Jed Thian and Fraser Davidson
Animated & Produced by Fraser Davidson

(Seriously, I haven't a clue, well kinda, what this site is all about. I guess it's just commentary that's more raw. Rawr!)

+ Don't miss out on Tokyo based, WOW.
+ or visit the bizarre world of French illustrator Muzo

ALPHABEASTIES

2009-08-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

What a great way to introduce kids to the alphabet and typography. This book is a gem, I wouldn't mind having it on my reference shelf as well. Created by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss, clever shapes and forms of animals are assembled with different typefaces, in the alphabet their names begin with. (Perhaps inspired by WordWorld, which I like)

Some of you might actually be wishing they identified the typefaces ie. their names, too. Remember it's for the kids not you. You can purchase this book from my Amazon Store for $13.59. (click here for more images)

S-S-S-S
+ Check out the logos of the candidate cities vying to host the 2016 Olympics

YU vs IF

2009-08-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

No, you're not seeing double and no, it wasn't created by the same design group.
Here are 2 beautiful film titles, dramatic and well choreographed that somehow evoke illustrated story books I use to read as a kid. Both use the paint splotch on canvas effectively but the former, representing bloody battles and the latter, calligraphy.
Just thought I'd showcase this very graphic novel approach to 2 very different films, for comparison and contrast. Maybe they both hired the same freelancer? (click images for movie)

• 300 (2006, created by yu+co)

• The Mummy : Tomb of The Dragon Emperor (2008, created by Imaginary Forces)

+ Look back and compare the titles of the Alien : Quadrilogy.

MICROFLAT

2009-08-28T22:51:00.001-07:00

I don't know what it is but I have this thing for small pod-like human dwellings. Maybe it's because of the sight of the futuristic flats featured in Janet Jackson's Doesn't Really Matter or even Bruce Willis' cigarette spewing residence in The Fifth Element. Maybe it's because I had a most interesting experience staying at The Pod Hotel in NYC (they have a very sexy shower in the rooms). I loved my room and the hotel. It's right across the street from the Singapore Consulate and a couple of blocks from the MOMA. If you're not concerned about space but desire clean and chic amenities at an affordable price (NYC standards) then I recommend a check-in. They have great deals direct from the website.

Pod residences are here to stay.

The Piercy Conner Microflat is a small, efficiently designed, high quality, compact dwelling that is around two thirds the size of a conventional inner-city (London) one bedroom flat. "Efficient use of space means that Microflats can provide more homes for more people within the same space. The purpose-built, pre-fabricated utility pod for the shower room and kitchen helps save on construction costs. The compromise is dwelling density; but with this comes developments that support local amenities, shops and facilities. Grouping young professionals and key workers together will provide pockets of self-sustaining Microflat communities, breathing life back into the city."

Sounds good to me. Now step up NY and LA.

+ For a more luxurious experience in tight spaces, you might try the Hotel Ilyushin

MOOMOO HOUSE

2009-08-28T22:45:00.001-07:00

Designed by Polish architects moomoo architects, the house looks incredibly graphic with its clean geometric lines and matte smooth texture. Based on traditional Polish dwellings (hmm really?), the house will be clad entirely in a plastic insulating material called Thermopian normally used for roofing.

BREAD

2009-08-27T23:12:00.001-07:00

Five Minutes a Day for Fresh-Baked Bread
By Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François. This article and recipe makes good common sense. You make an extra moist dough, refrigerate, cut off what you need, shape and bake. That easy? You might want to find alternatives to purchasing equipment they recommend. So not that easy unless you already have a baking stone, pizza peel and a broiler tray.

+ How about some KFC a.k.a. Korean Fried Chicken?

MORE LEMONADE

2009-08-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

Today, I received an email from the creator of the Lemonade movie (see previous post), Erik Proulx. In it he tells a wonderful story about hope and coincidence. Perhaps things are looking up... please read on

"You may remember Kurtis Glade, the creative-director-turned-documentary-film-maker from the trailer. As a reminder, he was the one who "lost his job and is finally doing something that [he] thinks matters." What you don't learn from the trailer is that his daughter has Cystic Fibrosis, and that the documentary he's making is about professional surfers who hold surf camps to help kids with CF. Of course, like me, Kurtis is not earning any money to create this documentary. All he wants to do is share an amazing story and raise awareness for the disease. So to pay the bills, Kurtis has to freelance anywhere and everywhere that will have him. He's going to where the work is, as am I.

Fast forward to last Friday, when a creative director from Razorfish (an interactive advertising agency in Seattle) called me about a week-long freelance project. They wanted me to start right away, so I booked a flight and showed up bright and early on Monday morning. I walk in the meeting to get briefed, and who is sitting there? You guessed it...Kurtis Glade. Razorfish contacted two writers. One was me, the other was Kurtis.

Now, you might be thinking that they found us both from the trailer. Because, honestly, that's what I thought. But when I asked the creative director if that's how he paired us, he said no. He hadn't even seen the trailer yet. We were just two writers that he wanted to work on the project.

So Kurtis and I met through Lemonade several months ago. And now we meet again through advertising. One small world, two chance meetings. These weird little karmic things have been happening since we started filming Lemonade. My re-run in with Kurtis is just the latest. And I'm certainly not going to question them."

Good luck Erik and hurry on up with the release of your movie!

CHRIS DOROSZ

2009-08-27T14:16:00.001-07:00

San Francisco based artist Chris Dorosz drops paint onto acrylic rods creating scenes of human life. He's also created a replica of his parents' living room. Check out the video of this installation and a preview of more of his work here. Amazing!

Chris describes his work.
"Out of material discovery I began to regard the primacy of the paint drop, a form that takes shape not from a brush or any human-made implement or gesture, but purely from its own viscosity and the air it falls through, as analogous to the building blocks that make up the human body (DNA) or even its mimetic representation (the pixel). With this in mind I’ve been working towards creating a narrative of materials as the groundwork to explore changing ideas of human physicality in an age pushing towards virtual reality."

+ Get more inspired by 39 Visions

LIKE MINDED

2009-08-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

RVCA. Sydney based design studio Like Minded Studio collaborated with designer DMOTE to create these typographical excursions for the RVCA clothing label in Los Angeles. Some were used as part of their popular T-shirt collection. (above : detail from illustration for LoDown mag)

Nicely done Like Minded!
Ted or Alive. This appears to be an editorial spread for Texas Monthly. Impressive.

Creative Director Luca Ionescu has worked alongside major brands like Zoo York, MTV America, Nike, Etnies, Reebok, VH1 and Stussy to name a few. Check out their dazzling array of work on their website. (I was pretty blown away!).

+ Perfect your Handwriting, all over again!

SNEAKY

2009-08-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

UK's Sneaky Sound System recently held a contest for budding animators and designers to create a music video for their hit single, It's Not My Problem. The winning creation came from Maik Hempel, an animator from Melbourne and fan of the band.

Although, my pick would have been Luke Gibbs' entry, showcasing some original typography and 'low tech' animation. Brilliant!

BTW Sneaky Sound System is available here

HELP

2009-08-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

At $4 a box, these trendy looking Help Remedies might help ease the pain when reaching for them, if not for their cures but for their delightful packaging made of molded paper pulp and a bio plastic made primarily of corn. "We use these materials because they are interesting to look at, and they are compostable—which means one day, they might become part of a large tree. Maybe you can cut down that tree and make it into a speedboat."

16 pills in a box make them great for traveling or by the bedside. Available for purchase online @ Help Remedies (cool site BTW), my Amazon Store or at stores like the Food Emporium, Malin+Goetz, Famima and even on Virgin America flights. Feel better?

For a closer examination of its contents { HERE }

SHURIKEN

2009-08-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

The Shuriken has captured the witty imagination of Taiwanese designer, Weilang Lee, and it’s been reconceptualized as the Ninja Shuriken Magnet . In Edo times, delivering secret marks was an important mission for Ninja. This less deadly version is still an important means of getting one's attention (I doubt throwing it is that good of an idea though). Ninja note says: "Oi! Remember to pick up some milk, 2% preferably." The Ninja Shuriken Magnet will deliver the message with the unusual combination of gravity and humor, for $19 available at Epaulet.

EAMES THREE-WAY

2009-08-25T15:39:00.001-07:00

I doubt if copywriters would even dream of coming up with a headline like that today, even if it's for an Eames thingy.
(Then again, it would be more attractive then say, 'Ménage a Tues'? Sorry I just couldn't help it.)
Still, a well designed brochure/ad from yesteryear announcing the latest in audio technology. The full ad can also be found here.

HANDWRITING

2009-08-25T14:42:00.001-07:00

Learn how to write again with this post on Flickr by Millie Motts.

WOW

2009-08-24T23:36:00.000-07:00

The View From There, was created by Japanese team WOW.
"The various ideas that flow from moving through this stimulating and distinct environment influence the unique designs of Japanese cars."

{ more info }

Factory and Fantasy. WOWLAB participated in the OCCUR2009 event organized by Sendai Creative Cluster Consortium, with this stunning installation. The work was exhibited at Miyagi Museum of Art, Sendai, Japan in March 2009. Architects, visual image composers, musicians and scientists came together to produce a visual experience, inviting visitors to interact with fantastical silhouettes, bouncing giant balls and bursting bubbles, projected on a room-filled canvas. (This technology can be witnessed and experienced in many new large installations such as the Samsung center at the Time Warner building in NYC too.)

iTunes Visualizers. Being the experimental arm of the WOW team, WOWLAB have also created 11 beautiful quartz composed, iTunes Visualizers, available for download. I have not installed any of them yet.

MTV Flashback IDs. To round off this mega post about WOW, here's a cool alternative for a station ID or M IDs, probably only available in Japan. Remember: MTV still uses VJs and cool animation as part of their On-Air programming and promotion, outside of the US. Aah the good ole days.
Designers: Takuma Nakaji, Naoki Takano

PS. check out an interesting concept of people living in a crowded city possibly Tokyo, time-sharing spaces and areas of activity, in this whimsical animation called Megahouse

AIGA & APPLE

2009-08-24T16:55:00.001-07:00

For a limited time, Apple is offering AIGA members a 17% discount on any of their products, third party included.

{ info here }