JSYK : Before you fly, seek the Guru

Seat Guru is your ultimate source for information about every seat on every plane on every airline. If you're like me, and you seek the highest level of comfort your money can buy, then click away to the Seat Guru. They provide in-depth information about your seat, right down to the pitch and the width.





They define what 'bulkhead' really is for each plane and what seat you might prefer. Reviews of in-flight amenities, even noise cancelling headphones and baggage info per airline can be found here. There are also comparison charts for each class of travel on each airline.


Stop whining about how short-changed you are, flying today. We all know how much the airlines especially domestic ones are trying to jip us. So how can we as passengers make our travels more comfortable? I believe there are handy tools and tips to be discovered on the web and this might just be one of them. You only have yourself to blame if you don't do a little homework before hitting 'Confirm'. I highly recommend this site before booking your next flight. http://www.seatguru.com/

BEST SPOT : James Jarvis and Richard Kenworthy press on for Nike

I'll be honest, I've not been a fan of the psycho cartoon characters used to brand a lot of broadcast design today. A good laugh because something is visually cute gets played out if that same trick is used by another designer. It's the same pony! But this. Now this spot showcases good writing enhanced by refreshing and sublime animation technique.

Onwards from AKQA on Vimeo.

Illustration by James Jarvis and animation by Richard Kenworthy. James Jarvis on the Nike project, Onwards,
"At the beginning of last year I was thinking about what kind of project I would like to work on. I had become interested in the idea of characters that were less referential and more iconic and abstract. I particularly wanted to do something with a potato-headed stick-man that I had been drawing at that time.

I liked the idea of a moving image project that involved my obsession with running. Rather than make a narrative-based film, I wanted the content to be non-linear, reflecting the way I make drawings that have a logic all of their own.

I was talking to a friend at Nike, Kerry Shaw, about this idea and, given the subject matter, she suggested that Nike might be interested in supporting the film. I had been an admirer of Shynola's collaboration with David Shrigley in their promo for the track Good Song. I liked the way it maintained Shrigley's drawn aesthetic in its transformation into moving image, so I contacted them to see if they would be interested in working with me on the idea. Richard 'Kenny' Kenworthy agreed, and worked heroically on the film.

The film was inspired by certain personal experiences in running – a favourite run over Blanchland moor in Northumberland, being attacked by a crow in Singapore – and also by the transcendent, almost psychedelic experience of the simple act of running.

Rather than a marketing project inititated by Nike, the film was something proposed and produced by myself, and as such I hope represents a much more equal collaboration with a brand"

For a fullscreen version, here's the Nike site for Onwards http://www.onwards.tv/

SPOT ON : Ubik's Voxel impresses F5

London-based directing duo Ubik have posted their latest short film, Voxel, up online. It was made for last month's f5 festival in New York and features rippling water, rain showers and various organic shapes made from 3D pixels. Smart and very imaginative. There is a short creative brief about the project for the very successful conf F5 http://www.ubik.tv/2009/03/f5.html

Voxel from Ubik on Vimeo.

HOT SPOT : Hombre.cosa are fluorotastic!

Hombre.cosa is a Buenos Aires based visual lab/studio created in 2008 by Julian Montesano (former Creative Director of Amautalab) and Franco Bittolo (Director of Bitt Animation +VFX). They created this amazing/dazzling package for MTV electropop show 10+Pedidos. Bright colors and geometric shapes interact with Live Action, dancing, fighting and loving talent, orchestrated in a clever 3D environment. Mucho Love this!
Check out their website for more of their fluorotastic work! http://www.hombrecosa.com



Countdown "Un Poco Todo"


Show Open

SPOT ON : Aardman delights in Creature Discomforts

Well um, I am quite sure these PSA's were created by the same team who gave you Wallace & Gromit, Aardman Animations. Once again, delightfully funny, with a message this time, mimicking their earlier Oscar®-winning effort, Creature Comforts. Quite Brilliant really!
Creature Comforts are @ http://www.creaturecomforts.tv/uk/
I found their site a bit stingy with their thumbnail size only previews. Maybe they should use less of their bandwidth for the useless scrolling of clip frames, for a bigger preview window instead. I didn't even try the hokey screensaver download. Come on Nick Park, you've won an Oscar, you do groundbreaking animation, you can do better than this! Because I still admire their work (oh and don't forget Chicken Run), here's a better view on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ob-OVUoJ1RM
Cheese Gromit!

REWIND : 2007 MTV Movie Awards Best Kiss

With the 2009 MTV Movie Awards just around the corner, I thought I'd share this passionate moment from the 2007 ceremony featuring the Best Kiss-ers. (BTW what's with the dorky promo spots MTV is running with Adam Samberg - er, they're not funny. Why MTV why?!)

SPOT ON : Shiny Object shines for "Lollapalooza Lineup"

For those who have not seen this yet - Austin-based Shiny Object produced this seemingly low tech spot for client C3 Presents with refreshing and clever results. Showcasing the names of the Lollapalooza lineup, I especially like its graphic references to everyday life, tailored to the performers' branded identities whether through their famous album covers or song content. Scrappy-book like, stop motion and a pretty good 'mixtape' track, this is Spot On!

BRING IT BACK : Jay Vigon

Introduction on Jay Vigon's splash,
"Anyone who has ever hopped on a surfboard knows the logo for Gotcha 'The Fishman', which created new industry standards for graphics, as well as pioneering the integration of typography and graphics into live action television commercials. And anyone who's ever donned a Bon Jovi or Prince tee-shirt has probably displayed Jay's work. These are just a few examples of his creations. There is a lot to see, come in, look
around, enjoy!"
What more is there to say but will this look return to the design table? Bring Jay back but while you're at it bring Neville Brody back! Did I say that? Early Brody though, please.

Navigate to http://www.jayvigon.com/ and pay homage to one of the greats. THX EB.



I really like this poster design!

MY MEMORIAL DAY : We Love Stephen Sprouse

Hello fashionistas and style mavens! Here's another look at one of my icons http://www.welovesprouse.com/
Thank you Mr Vallone

ONE MORE VIDEO : The Divemaster MAX

Multiple angles and POVs! Awesome. Thanks Dione Li!

VIDEO : Ninja Cat + The Divemaster

BLOG : 1001 Rules for my Unborn Son

http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/

FYI : Melissa & Zaha Hadid plus Dover Street Market

From Commes Des Garcons DOVER STREET MARKET
“For their latest collaboration, the Brazilian footwear company Melissa known for their impermeable, 100% recyclable, plastic fashion footwear, has commissioned the visionary architect Zaha Hadid (see post I WANT TO BE AN ARCHITECT LIKE : Zaha Hadid), to create a limited edition shoe.

If you're like me, because you love CDG but wish you could afford it (although you can still get that de rigueur CDG black shirt reasonably cheap at American Rag Los Angeles), you can still rummage through the DOVER STREET MARKET site and discover what the 'flea' its all about! http://www.doverstreetmarket.com

For more in-depth reports about the shoes, discover
http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/sandal-architecture-melissa-x-zaha-hadid.html

Still Vamping it up!

Okay so after my crazy food allergy attack by Mr. MSG yesterday, I'm back. Forgive me if I don't have a lot to post today as I am still in a daze after being horizontal for almost 12 hours!
Good morning! Here's something I discovered when I was sneaking around my sister Phyllis' things, when I was a teen. Oops! Her boyfriend then (he played in a band) loaned her some (racy) comics. I picked one up (you know how it is when you're 14), thumbed through one that had a pretty under-dressed voluptuous lady on the cover, with a masthead that read "Vampirella". My life changed, I was hooked. Soft porn? Maybe. I loved the artwork, the style and the development of the characters. Still do.

For those interested investigating a true comic classic or for those wanting to reconnect with a fine lady, go to http://www.vampirella.com/ and witness her second coming! You can download the wallpaper above too.

AS RECOMM'D BY HANNS LEE : La Roux

Directed by The Holograms @ UFO Label. Nice CG work, motion control and composting by a French team, MATHEMATIC for Brit act, La Roux "Bulletproof". For more trendy work and some insight into this creation and other projects check out MATHEMATIC's site http://www.mathematic.tv/index.php?2009/05/04/64-la-roux-bulletproof-


Thanks Hanns!

PLUS check out La Roux's cool website with free downloads and more music videos. Like the logo design and the 80s New Wave style! You can get 2 free song downloads too!
http://www.laroux.co.uk/

I WANT TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER LIKE : Nick Knight

Exquisite. Minimalist but functional site. http://www.nickknight.com Friend of Peter Saville (See previous post, "AS RECOMMENDED BY EB : SHOWstudio The erotic House...")

I WANT TO BE AN ARTIST LIKE : Gary Baseman

No words today. I just love Gary's work. Check out his site and you'll see. http://www.garybaseman.com/
Here's a blog featuring his first solo show in San Francisco, and photos of Gary too! http://www.vinylpulse.com/2007/03/seen_gary_basem.html Kinda takes me back to...was it Details Magazine with Saban reviewing clubs?


WEBSITE

JSYK : 2009 Promax|BDA Promotion and Marketing Awards : Finalists announced!

Congratulations and good luck!



NORTH AMERICA GOLD
http://www.promaxbda.org/media/site/pdf/PromaxBDA_NorthAmericanMarketingPromoFinal%20Nominees2009.pdf

WORLD GOLD
http://www.promaxbda.org/media/site/pdf/PromaBDA_MarketingPromoWorldGoldFinalists2009.pdf