Newsarchive
Design anywhere digital culture NEWS // August 2005
Man,
greed spins yet another tsunami of stupidity and surely jumps over the
board. What? Do they think us that desperate? When
the branding circus comes to town by Naseem Javed
“Pregnant mothers are being pooled to place ads on their round,
shiny stomachs as part of tummy branding. Some argue that this
is how news is created. To some, this is desperate branding in
action. Welcome to guaranteed-to-fail branding, a process that ensures
a top spot on the list of branding failures. These projects are sometimes
called reality branding. There is no limit to these weird processes.”
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
I LUV this one: “Roy Disney said, You need branding when your product
has nothing to offer.”
Along
those lines, another must read: Why
Corporate Images Die a Slow Death? Seven Reasons by Naseem Javed.
“...Deloitte, spends 40 millions to become Braxton , a name they
picked up from the past so that the future can be their judge. KPMG also
kicks in 40 million to be re-named to BearingPoint. Their challenge is
now to unite 16,000 bright consultants under this difficult term on the
global scene before they reach their breaking point... This fancy colorful
makeover of the worlds top four consulting companies, plus a 300 million
budget for four new names... ”
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
Ouch! Ain't that crazy waste or what? Just think about the barrage of
lame argurments you get to can a great design idea citing budget limitations.
It makes me cringe.
Project
FOX is a gift to the new urban generation. Project FOX brings together
young artists, designers, cooks, hotel industry professionals and managers
to develop and implement their own ideas.
One of the most amazing project is the Park Hotel was a standard 3-star
hotel. From April 2nd, however, it is the Hotel
FOX.
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
Read that the project was initiated by Volkswagen, a car manufacturer,
who made a most unusual decision to buy a new hotel as part of their
marketing strategy around the launch of their new mini-car VW Fox.
via: Pol-Oxygen / Issue 14
_ _ _ _ _ _
Artists were invited to re-design a total of 61 rooms. Furniture, carpets,
wallpaper – the artists were given free reign to do whatever they
want. Redevelopment of the property started in January 2005 and is finished
now.
61 rooms, 21 artists, 1000 ideas. Must see!
These snapshots display but a very small sample of what awaits
you. No kidding, visiting all the rooms won't disappoint you. Ain't that
putting the power of design at the service of mobility. Now I want to
go to Copenhagen and chill there!
The
show is on! The
VisualArts Gallery by Taxi.
Jack
Hollingsworth, a man who is extremely well travelled, truly has
roamed the world to capture it with his camera. His collected work
spans many different categories and his forte, portraits.
Podcasting
for newbies by Marie-Chantale Turgeon from Meïdia,
a new shop specializing in building blogs (and multi-users apps) to
facilitate and maitain a human web.
“The term podcasting plays upon the terms broadcasting
and webcasting... involves the recording of internet radio or similar
internet audio programs. These recordings are then made available for
download to your iPod or other portable digital audio device...”
Erring
more on the wild side of visual eclectism, talented Loo Chee Keong, aka
Drivdriv, presents his illustration portfolio.
From Malaysia with LUV.
_ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
This excellent site was removed because .TK domain extension are using
pop-unders and adware / spyware. If you are serious about your talent
and career, DO invest in an appropriate hosting provider.
I strongly recommend contacting 2advanced.net!
They are trustworthy!
How
do we interact with interactivity? Whoa! Don't
Click it is one of the most brillant experiment to be release in
the ether for a while. Yeah I know, it sounds a bit redundant but really,
one may think it easy to relearn how to use our pointing device?
Try it and see how well you fare! My reflexes were instantaneous - clicking
instead of mousing over. Don't miss the 'click' history section. Also,
you will be asked on the fly questions about your experience that are
tabulated irl.
Hats off Alex, for opening the door to a new path to develop and experience
the future of interactivity!
BBDO an
ad agency powerhouse, relaunches their worlwide (they have 290 offices
in 77 countries!) site with a new flash site!
You've gotta see their Work section!
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
via Flashstreamworks
Another
explorative navigation, Interone uses
a flora theme. I really like how it grows and animates differently in
each section.
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
via Flashstreamworks
Cool
designed site and an exccellent way to present yourself! He is ready
to learn and looking for a 10 week internship in a creative agency in
Amsterdam.
Meet Steven!
From
the award winning entry A Break
in the Road by Luke Whittaker, comes another incredibly amazing animation,
this time for a new widget named StikAx.
This time around the backgrounds are clean, slick and the animations
reintroduces the same characters as before and are just... well... see
for yourself. I do have some reservation for the footages used as examples
in the site itself... too bad definitely not of the same quality.
This lack of continuity in good taste raises some concerns: if you lend
your characters as an artist, does it mean you (necessarily) endorse
the products you design for? How does this impact, in the long run, someone's
reputation?
Black
is Beautiful BLACKLIST® Issue
No.7 Out Now! } Substance and style for the planetary urbanites.
What
a great day for South Africa, after running a contest, the winner for
the Statue of Freedom is
announced!
Do
you like print? One thing is for sure, even if in the early days when
it was predicted that the web would be the downfall of print matters,
I never believed it. Holding a book, looking at a magazine, hanging a
poster, sending a wish card are all part of the ways we like to communicate
through design. The following is an excellent, well illustrated and condensed
overview on how printing is done.
How
to read a press release by Sappi.
Outstanding
flash work from Grupow, one of my fav design shop, for Nike
Juegar 10.
Joakim
Oscarsson is a new promising talent. The Station
to Station music video with music and lyrics by THE JE NE SAIS QUOI
is really interesting.
Request
for help: a startup non-profit organization that is focused on helping
youth and adults prepare for college and a career, needs help to complete
populating their web site. Involves creating 15 more pages, upload text,
images, final linking and hooking up to payment gateway. For more info,
please contact Sam Schwortz.
You
have got to see PANTONE,
a short film from Sebastian Kutscher: The
images and the editing are simply jaw dropping in their simplicity and
also the infered atmostphere of it all. The music pairs with images in
a slow motion duo is simply awesome.
Imagine macrovision that telescopes you into a place, that is always
there, but to which you don't pay attention to on any given day.
Like.no.other is
the new strap line for this electronic giant. A look behind the scenes
site that emphasizes that these are visionaries among us who are
passionate for new experiences. They explore the impossible and pursue
the unknown. Mind you, should we not all have the same aspirations?
Simple and extremely well executed flash movie. Some of the quotes are
really inspiring.
WellVetted
inspirational gathering issue #36 is out and it's the 3rd anniversary
of the project.
Sites standing out, having been chosen more than once include:
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
My pick for this month is Peepshow v
3.
Elisa
Sassi 
keeps
on improving. Please update your bookmarks her domain name has changed!
How
about creating a database of designers' Ts? SHIRT² has
begun doing just that!
These
type of illustrations just make me smile. I like the expressive simple
lines with a vignette feel by Wayne
Harris.
Urban
Culture Project (UCP) transforms empty spaces in the core of downtown
Kansas City into dynamic arts venues. Now that is way-way-way cool.
Every city should do just that. Via: Moluv.
Sophie
Smallhorn described
as an artist / sculptor introduces a complete rethinking of what modern
structuring is about. I luv her work. Clean lines, striking palettes
and the morphology is constantly revolving around bar codes and simple
geometrical forms.
KAWS?
To some who like small figurine toys - it may ring a bell. To others,
like me, nein. The site you are about to visit is in French only, since
his home site (kawsone.com) is mysteriously empty of content (?!?!).
What is disturbing about this elevation of defacing advertisement (hey
not that I side with the megacorps world dominion plan) and other forms
of material, is the fact that protesting via destroying and altering
and expressing on others property, know as art crime, would generate
such endorsement from other... as big companies.
Granted - his tag signature is genial, and there is real talent to reward
- he did a solo in 1999 at Colette store
in Paris. But it makes me wonder about the whole graffiti movement.
Don't want you to misunderstand me. I will be releasing on Relabel a
photography section and you will see jaw dropping urban walls who were
dedicated to displaying such. This particular spot is so beautiful, it
transports you. On the other hand - the sprayed tags on my neighboring
buildings suck. That's a topic to follow up on.
I have
just received my copy of Clubspotting
v.3 / Into the Mixed Media and I am floored. I invest a lot in books
and magazines. Why? First, print stays and you can always have the reference
handy. Though I luv the web, sometimes good reference work just disappear.
Just like the link to Mieke Gerritzen's Everyone's a Designer book is
404. Oh it is still listed in the catalog, but for such an influential
book (3rd print) - well when the new site was designed - either it was
overlooked or worst, dropped. No link in the list of books is to be found?!?!
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
(Texts in both Italian & English)
Anyway you get my point. What is interesting about Cluspotting - is
the quality of the texts that are examples of when one gets really passionate
about a topic, the level of their immersion will transpire in their writings.
But the cherry on top, well in that case, a whole jar of cherries on
top, is the choice of graphic work included.
Oh my! This is a jewel. Too many books lack the consistency
required to make a book great. Too many fall prey to big names that sell
instead of inspiring designs. This one, I highly recommend, there were
evidently no compromising on the artists chosen, and the quality of work
will act as a long time tutor to great urban scene design.
We
all need a little help from our friends sometimes and so does Lounge72
who is looking into making a print version of their 2006 calendar. Looking
for? Printshops and/or companies who would step in to sponsor or support
the project. If you know someone who would/could help, please contact
system@lounge72.com for further information.
A
fifteen part article to get an overall bird's eye view of the No
Sleeping Giant / The dawn of graphic design in China by Robert L.
Peters
“Pessimists study Russian. Optimists pick up English. Realists
learn Chinese.” I recall this tongue-in-cheek counsel for language
study from my high school days in Germany in the early 1970s. At the
time, three superpowers held the world in relative balance. The Soviet
Union was building ballistic missiles, the U.S.A. was embroiled in the
Vietnam War, and in the world’s most populous nation, Chairman
Mao was orchestrating the
“Chinese Cultural Revolution.”
Three short decades later it seems much has changed and that advice
to optimists and realists could well be interchangeable.
I
just discovered dan23 an incredibly
talented and astounding painter who does simply amazing portraits! Must
see!
CLAO is
an illustration site designed in vibrant colored content boxes which
shelters cuty characters and some monsters.
If
you do eclectic do something like *uolts.
Minimalist. Nice graphic elements. Explorative navigation... and make
sure you have as good projects, to show off as he does.
Welcome
a new powagirrrl, Anna Cangialosi who
is a talented illustrator with work mostly done for fashion and lifestyle
markets.
See
what the first pentop computer offers? LiveontheFly just
made the future of interactivity playfull and promises to be... mind
blowing!!! I want one!
Very
exciting when someone whose site has been displayed in the netdiver galleries
for over four years, resubmits another great version. That's what Adrenalab just
did. This is what I call originality! My, what an interesting grid. The
interface design is .mmmph, original, unique! Wow! Size of shown projects
and fonts snug right in, you get it instantly, everything is neatly offered.
That's a great example on how to use your portfolio to your advantage.
Hats off Luca Cighetti who is an art director. From Milan with luv.
It's
sooo corny it makes me cringe and want to call the style police. On the
other hand, it's simply the kind of project that can't be overlooked.
Why? Because the whole concept, visual design and flash anims and transitions
are simply... from a technical point of view and mastering the media...
simply awesome.
Wish it wasn't sooo overtly aimed at one particular gender, since I
recall very well, is very much inclined to some of these spoofs. Wish
it wasn't so cliché. Don't over indulge in Nestea
Ice.
DailyCandy is
the ultimate insider's guide to what's hot, new, and undiscovered --
from fashion and style to gadgets, arts and culture and travel. Published
in eight daily editions New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco,
Boston, Dallas, and London are devoted to those cities. Everywhere is
national (style knows no boundaries). Kids (for busy and hip parents)
is published every Thursday.
The illustrations are all in the same style and simply gorgeous througout.
_ _ _ _ _ _
/ Sujean Rim is
the incredibly talented illustrator behind the signature visuals for
the Daily Candy site. It shows that she was trained in fashion but as
so many other fashion illustrations are just brisk strokes with minimal
lines, these are breeming with details and elegance.
Just
found dual pearls! Satellite 01 (below) was orchestrated by Visualdata.
Check it out. Warn you they actually DO wear their name and dwell pretty
far from the out of the box thinking.
Shown inside a CD case!!!
Fashion
always runs a season ahead and POTIPOTI Graphic
Fashion (luv that) just launched their (naughty) winter line with
a rather familiar theme, would you not say?
Cool Ts available as well.
Do
you know The New School which
defines itself as a University in communications?!?! Probably
not and you are not alone. I was stunned to discover that the educational
structure behind Parson's School of Design or The Actor's Studio or Mannes
is in fact named... as... If you are interested in learning about this
unique institution and it's recent rethinking...
If you are interested in learning about this unique institution and
it's recent rethinking of its positioning and perception by both media
and core attendees (mix of of under-grads, full swing professionals and
even some retirees), one that attracts “outstanding designers,
writers and actors, one that specializes in the verbal and the visual...
(that) ought to have a startling, original and memorable voice.” needs
it seems, to “Act with the verve and style expected of a leader...”
then reading the research
done by Siegal & Gale will prove enlightening.
Evidently, it seems it has more to do with setting forth the original
vision of the founder, which is “The New School was founded on
the proposition that a free society depends on free expression. That
learning has its roots in creativity as well as discipline and critical
intelligence. That training people in the skills they need to make democracy
succeed means giving them the courage to express their own distinctive
voices...”
with this ultimate goal in mind “Expressing yourself and developing
your own voice applies with equal force to all parts of the University...
The idea goes to the artist’s drive to find a personal and differentiating
voice...” and, garnering around it, the various faculties who have
achieved a more independently reknown reputation. Talking of voices -
don't miss page 49 - which shows a roster of voices who trained there.
As for the end result for the new identity, which aims to demonstrate
these qualities: Activist. Eclectic. Open. Street-smart. Articulate.
Creative. Courageous. ... mmm... you be the judge. Personally I don't
like the font used, but the whole concept of back to roots to set
forth the future is truly worthy.
That's
a cool concept: VACANT (check
some of the fab shoes) presents 'Le LMAC travelling boutique' that offers
urban styled and designed apparels and more...
Special
issue dedicated to photographers and
their talent to unveil and catch in the moment the world and the people
we live with.
/
Leslie Williamson masters the art of composition.
/
Jason Todd insterts drama and tension.
/
Ji Shin portraitist extraordinaire.
Ping-Pong
Remix was updated with 22 new more artists contributing! Amazing
illustrations.
John
Finnell redesigned his portfolio site and shows load of new work
Architecture
and interior design have been areas of fascination and a great source
of mentoring, for example, how to use any size of visual real estate
and building a balance layout, and that, since I'm a teenager. What you
are about to discover is probably one of the most usable, smart, gorgeous,
thought all around the user site. Simply put - one of the best site I
ever visited. Commercially intended - of course - Zeyko shows
and displays kitchen cabinetry... but I have never seen something quite
like this before.
Interestingly, the site construction, the attention to details, valuable
information were not spared neither were efforts to provide a useful
experience. You even have movies to watch and you can put .pdf file in
a temp file for more info on the models that interests you.
A
nicely designed flash animation on Tupuedesevitarlo.
Ohalala...
this looks like a straightforward navigational system - grid looks like
a floor plan. Ok easy, just click the box and... nope there's more to
it than meets the eye on Satellite01 which
is home to graffiti artist Zedz who is presenting his own clothing line.
Use the left side corner to activate more options.
Resize the browser window and design resizes proportionately as well.
On reload, grid change places and so does the colors. Attention - requires
intensive clockwork. Nice design work.
The
grid is way too tight on the index but at least it loosens up in subsequent
pages and has loads of gorgeous pictures for up close scrutiny. If you're
into design with a particular interest in industrial design, that's a
site worth bookmarking for reference: Designws.
Happy
is just released by MUSA Collective.
Don't we need some?
Stuff
and Nonsense: Strategies for CSS Switching (An excerpt from chapter
8 of Professional CSS) by Christopher
Schmitt et al.
Chris and I go way-way back. If any readers were around about 8 years
ago, you may recall High Five, which was the very first design hub created
by David Siegel, that became hugely successful. After a couple of years,
David decided to close it and hand it over to new blood. During the transition
period in which I was involved, is when Chris became curator, and when
we first hook up.
Following a mysterious and big fallout, the discussion list disappeared from
the server (?!?!) and Chris resurfaced it as the Babble
List still running today. Now many years later, he has become a proficient
writer, speaker and upon his first book release, I did this interview with
him.
As you can see High
Five mission statement is STILL very much so, up to date: “Promoting
Fine Design and High Style on the Web for the benefit of surfers all
over the world. A well designed Web site is a rarity. We encourage
designers to sweat the details and banish the garbage. Good design
wins!”
Dedicated
to all the real and aspiring geeks. The future has just began under the
direction and vision of Jun Rekimoto. Watch what he is playing with!
Oh my gosh!!!
Have
you ever heard of the Craiglist?
A divingboard to look for jobs and appartments which has acquired a huge
popularity.
Food.Munich.Restaurants.Music.Delicious
describes what delicious:days is
about. Gorgeous reviews and food photography, poetic and exotic recipes
and...
If you're into food (or food photography) it's a must stop.
(Lulu) Plasticpirate is
mostly a fashion and editorial oriented illustrator. Palette is subdued,
attention to details is exquisite and illos depict mostly modern lifestyle.
Welcome a new powagirrrl!
New
kid on the block launching his first ever site! Excellent identity and
print work by ***meda. Fetch!
Xtra
sweet as a person, amazingly talented sometimes expressing twisted vision
in his designs, James Patterson is a rising star. There is something
completely innocent and childlike in his illos balanced with ironical
juxtapositions that are sometimes quite challenging. His kind of doodling
style is unique and it's the final assemblage, how he connects disparate
elements into one piece, that is amazing.
Known as one of the earlier flash artists, his animations are simply
wow. Using randomness the complex movements are fascinating.
Enter the virtual world of Presstube and
if you're in New York, don't miss his solo show at Bitforms.
Definitely worth enduring the present seething NYC summer to go there.
Shown captures from a recent animation.
Sadly, THREE.OH (Inspirational
Kingdom) is now RIP. James Widegreen was the brillant founder who, alongside
the likes of K10K, Factory 512, Dightalthread, Media Inspiration, became
part of the early wave of design portals operators on the web.
He is also the grand schemer behind May1st
Reboot which has become a yearly event for the community and is now
curated by Paul Szypula.
I did a candid interview with
him a couple of years back, and while updating the links, I realized
how fresh and inspiring it still is. Probe the mind of an intentionally
reserved artist, one of the most creative bright light and pioneer of
the new media industry.
“From
concept to completion, Trollbäck
+ Company was charged with redesigning the Court TV image as part
of a multifaceted rebranding, coming up with an engrossing new attitude
for the network including strategy, design, logo and tagline... the key
to relaunching Court TV is the innovative outdoor advertising initiative
sure to captivate New Yorkers.
The campaign hints at what may lie beneath the surface of ordinary New
York streets by reinterpreting everyday objects to reveal the city as
seen through the eyes of criminals and investigators.”
Brillant! Simply brillant! That's probably one of the best multi-level
meanings campaign I've seen of late. Read the press release - which makes
an excellent case study to learn about the conceptual process and how
they landed the liner: Seriously entertaining!
All the objects achieve their purpose and objectives. I could not help
but smile, and assent to the smartness of it all. Have a look!
A
Jessica Helfand and company collaborative site: Design
Observer is a repository of food for thoughts about design, from
critique to theory to application.
Let
your Core speak now in blue!
Drop by to see if you agree with some of the new Dense bites
such as “Why your site visitors don't like error pages”
and “Creative Director: Misconceptions of a job”.
Bendable
Element is a clean portfolio site which includes well sized snapshots
of projects. Shown: You bring light in.
Somewhat
nutz about sneakers? Well cUstoMizE
mE exhibits what happens when designers take over! Are these shoes
made for walking?
Back
in May in beautiful Barcelona, I gave the Real PILLS workshop at OFFF.
It was sold-out, intense and sooooo much fun! Nutz with simultaneous
translation given by two fab powagirrrls, who impressed me by not skipping
a beat! Part of the material handed out was this cool Jewelboxing with
a “I survived the real PILLS workshop in Barcelona, May 14, 2005.” If
you would have attended, surviving was not a literary exaggeration!
So if you want a peak into what the workshop is about, read Attend
Two and Call Us In the Morning. “The beauty of this concept,
resides in the fact that having participated anonymously, they can
now view and criticize the work of everyone, gaining new insights into
what they have learned, shared and experienced over the course of the
workshop and Jewelboxing becomes way more than just a souvenir.”
This workshop will travel. Interested to have it come to your hood?
Simply ask to make it happen!
Plastic
Kid seems to be really enjoying himself. I really like the fact
that the opening page shows a creation process in becoming. That is
an intelligent and original way to show you skills. It is interesting
to have a peak into one's technique, his a mix of foamcore, paint and
collage organized with a level of perspective. Shown the end results.
Again!?!? Microsoft
Faces Old Antagonist by Associated Press. “The inventor of
one of the precursors to handheld devices — an operating system
that enabled computer users to write with a pen instead of a keyboard — long
suspected Microsoft of crushing his business.”
National
Forest holds more than a few surprises. Though the index is kind
of bare and dread pop-ups, the work they have done has made it definitely
worth overcoming my first impression.
Brendan
Monroe is capitalizing on many different medias to convey his enigmatic
and fantasist vision via paintings, illustrations, installations and
even sculptures and toys. Perhaps he might be spreading thin? Well
he seems to pull it off.
While
war, terrorism and civil unrest are tantamount, what do you make of a
respected company who errs using this
kind of propaganda to attract, evidently, a young people audience?
If, agencies pay the bills by having no integrity, concscience and sense
of world awareness... man where is this world going? Violence is NOT
cool! Violence will NEVER be cool! Violence is NOT a creative option!
Violence in communication is NOT OK... studies shows media violence
engenders violence in real life! Ask anyone who has experienced it, violence
is NOT fun! As if it needed to be said...
Simply
extraordinairy! Aaron Baggio portraits
are definitely his forte. His one of a kind illustration style which
mixes caricatura with traditional graphite textures, line art and lots
of negative space, (to emphasize finesse of details), are profoundly
mobile and emotional. Shown in the thumbnail: The Thinker. Must see!
-> more news
^
