NEWS // January 2007
New
concept and hub on the block for illustrators: Illoz
“Top illustrators shouldn't have their portfolios rubbing elbows
with beginners. That's why illoz is available to top talent, by invitation
only. How does that work? Only the people who have a portfolio at illoz
can send out an invitation.
The quality stays high and the numbers stay low.”
/ LAB | Mathieu Badimon - Oh! Oh! Oh! Astounding submission!
Literally pulling my socks off! Wait till you see this!
It's the first time that an explorative site ever gets a Design Forte
review. Why? Usually actionscripting experiments have kewl interface
results but never has someone taken the time to make it as visually enticing
and pushed the interactive prowness to this extent.
Mathieu's LAB starts with a simple letter based loading sequence and
then appears seven black rectangles which will affix just about anywhere
in the browser window sometimes with a skewed perspective.
Mouse over any box and it highlights in a different color - mouse out
- and it rewrites automatically the box content.
As an example I've chosen the Corner Drag but each one of them
is worth playing with? How so?
Again, after picking a box, you can directly see the experiment in action...
drag and play... it even shades down on mouse out. But wait, there is
more. See those small boxes on the left, right and bottom of the screen?
Well you try these and see what happens!
Ain't this amazing or what?
Decidedly
if 2007 continues on this trend, I will be out of socks to be pulled off.
One of the most fascinating aspect of the Internet are the myriads of
interactive possibilities which are just being barely scratched.
The more powerful programing and the more knowledgeable designers become
the more impressive experiments will be and Ample
design is demonstrating just that with this musical project.
Thus
says Pyhai aka Snagt 
:
“When I grow up, I'd like to spend all my time making paintings,
animations and designing games. Ideally, I will have have my own studio
at my own house at the coast of a northern European country, with a small
shop, gallery and garden, where I can feed wild potbelly pigs and cats
between the cabbages and carrots.”
Vivid imagination for this upcoming illustrator!
Check
out spyline’s
50 best websites of 2006. A shipload of beautiful design, passion and
technology.
What's
that??? Asimo just brought
the dream of a robotic feature much nearer.
Suprised
by.. innovation!!! Julian Red
is a fashion label that just launched its new collection website... but
wait! I cannot state enough how important it is to distinguish yourself
from the crowd.. and that's exactly what they did. Click the red bar
and see what happens.
Intertwined to showing the clothes are animated artwork that are so unconventional...
better, unheard of.. which emphasizes the uniqueness of the collection.
Must see!
Funny
Garbage is hiring!
Lead Developer
Interactive Producer
and more!
Living
objects are light objects whose intensity change with its position. Each
cell are autonomous and together they can be pluged or combined.
Designed by Antoine Boilevin
Could not attend Flash on the
Beach? Some speakers presentations are ups to grab!
Electornic
Ink is looking for User Interface Designers: information architecture,
visual design, information graphics.
The
power of CSS at the service of Antonio
Orozco website. Nice.
Reminescent
of another project which was to plant a tree, the Hope
Garden, let's you seed the power of hope to lift others going through
the hardships of cancer. Water them too with additional encouragements.
Because we all, at one point or another, need the help of another.
Now that's using flash for a good cause!
Overworked???
How many days of paid holidays do you take per year?
80% - Less than 5
12% - Between 5 and 15
11% - More than 15
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
via Icograda
Going
crazy all over the screen RESN interface
design is unconventional and is probably meant to dazzle with all the
flickering. It holds more moving stuff than I've seen in a while. You're
either going to like or hate it! No in-betwee possible here.
The portfolios pieces are excellent!
From New Zealand with luv!
Totally
kewl! Starting with a vibrant magenta background, FUSE
Media resorted to using line art visuals and to the point mini-animations,
to convey each sections content.
The home screen is beautiful! Luv their logo and how the 3D perspective
conveys a sense of space and place.
“Don't make an issue of my womanhood.”
-- Greta Garbo, Ninotchka, 1939
Uniqlo
flagship store in NYC has got a kewl interior design presented in flash.
Open-sourced KRUGLE is a community
based project has just launched plugins
for Firefox to integrate the search engine.
What
I'm really looking for by Carole Guevin
Over the past 11 years I have literally visited well over a hundred thousand
sites... It may seem a lot. You know what? It's definitely nothing compared
to what is out there.
Nonetheless, my level of expectations is high... very high.
Follows some tips on how to prepare a strong portfolio.
Promising
talent to watch for, Oskar Mendez has set a small illustration portfolio
under iwasink. I like his strong strokes,
overdrawn details and somewhat charicactural approach.
Over the years, we've spot emerging artists that went one to create a
great name for themselves.
We all start somewhere and all need a chance to do so. Here's to all
aspirante! Make 2007 rock for you!
They
make your ideas grow and their website uses this exact metaphor: ad
tatum, agence de communication, édition, presse, rédaction
et copywriting.
Stir
my cup will you! How about using a ceramic ball to tinker and stir fav
beverages? Genial idea created by Anna
Gram', a product design studio.
Can't wait to see what they come up with next.
Stock
Exchange of Visions is a website where you can see and hear a series
of short interviews with artists, scientists, sociologists and futurologists
- people who have a vision of the future and discuss culture, environment,
resources, economy and society.
I've watched some, and although I do have an appreciation for the exercise,
wouldn't say that I heard earth shattering novelties, especially if you're
already keeping abreast of environmental design issues.
I particularly appreciated Alan
Cooper (father of Visual
Basic programming language) take on what software should be about!
Keeping in mind that this was part of a public exhibit
and aimed at such, although, again, those visiting a museum... would not
necessarily, in my opinion, fit in a general public audience
categorization.
Out
of inspiration to create a color palette? KULER
to the rescue! Over 2,005 color themes available. Pick one and it appears
as top banner!
If you're so inclined, contribute yours!
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
For more on color be it pickers or related to color
deficient resources, visit the Design
toolbox Usability/Color topic
Did you know that the Box Doodle project
has got template for you to draw on and you can submit the results? Right
from onset that has been one of my fav project and there are pictures
of a recent Pictoplasma exhibit
they did too.
As David Hofman, the founder says: “The rules are quite simple:
rearrange a box to make any kind of figure or object. Make the most of
least.
The box doodle project helps to sharpen the powers of observation through
the discovery of resemblances between geometric and natural forms.
This observation is essential in the study of visual symbols.”
The king of flash, Joshua Davis
reloads with a new pale gray background whereas when clicking on a project,
the whole navigational system changes its palette.
He's probably the first to have use flash software to build actionscripting
to create art using algorithmic randomness.
Aspiring
and promising modern product design firm Fornal
has got what I think is a beautifully made and simple website.
From Poland with luv!
It's show time for your brand so says the WM
Team on their new v.2 absolutely awesome flash version! The intro
is just delirious and that's just the beginning.
Deliciously naughty, excellent technical execution and hosted by the
same construction guys characters all sections are a delight. BTW, they're
looking for a screen designer.. (hint-hint)!
Must see!
Pop
Life Magazine the home/design magazine for the rest of us!
The
artwork of San Francisco graphic designer Rex
Ray is a prolific mediation on the abstract and dynamic nature of
fluid forms. His resins panels are simply stunning and in my view, his
best work.
If
you think you can get off work for a year and do some high-profile learning,
your application for the new class of W+K
12 is due on January 12th.
The brief: Make us want to meet you. 24 candidates will be flown
to Portland.
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
via: Steve Delahoyde, UnBeige
Release
of the new short film ROOF
by Hillman Curtis
No kidding, that's a great plot!
Show
time redux! The Art Directors Club Young
Guns #5 revealed! Netdiver is proud to have been part of the talent
search.
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
Kewl concept for the event book formatted as a limited
edition moleskine and is also available for purchase.
I luv
JD Hooge new studio space where he operates under the name Gridplane.
Look in the photography section!
Helvetica an upcoming documentary film by Gary Hustwit now has trailers
available.
Eeeeee
welcome to the big bad world of Agencyland,
where your worst nightmare will unfold. A riotous, hilarious and oh so
true, too oftentimes, worthy of reality show status, scenario.
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
Brought to you by Redonk Marketing
Lehel
Kovacs is an illustrator living in Budapest... who hates winter. His
line art style and color spotting have a whimsical and child like quality.
Warm your soul to his work.
So
talented, Chris Gordaneer
has a sharp eye to snap densely moody pictures.
Fast becoming a yearly exercise, LOUNGE72
calendar is ready for download. Get the January .pdf, print it and
voilà!
Oh
the lovelies! If you want to know what is the latest trends in homewares
and more, Apartment Therapy
is “changing the world, one apartment at a time”... and is
available in different city flavor.
A don't miss goodie, there are loads of house
tours. Isn't that kewl or what?. Luv this feature. When I
walk around (especially at night) I'm always trying to get a glimpse of
how others inhabit their personal quarters...
Hum...
hum... she did get carried away! Geneviève
Gauckler did
an exhibit at Someday Gallery of mix media collages holding more than
a couple hundred pictures as you will see and invaded by the familiar
little characters that are her trade mark.
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
via Computer Love
Max
Longin has designed this fabulous floating bed! Sweet dreams!
Long
time netdiver resident Paul Drohan aka {{
D5ive }} explores an all black interface design.
Turnstyle
has managed the right dosage of interaction and design for the studio
website.
You've
gotta watch AISK one cute animated
intro! Luv it! Great illustration skills too.
Ebony
Cuts? Launch of ebonycuts podcast which focusses on the music of late
70s club-underground. Designed in a very personal way to make anyone who
ever owned a vinyl-record feel at home.
All covers for the guestmixes are original designs in order to show the
appreciation for their work.
He's dunnit again! An 'eco-friendly' product designer, zanicdesign
launches his new site. Since he started his career he's been skyrocketing
in terms of recognition for his work.
You gotta see what he designs!
33 Ideas
(or Designisms) by Morla Design
“As designers, we often underestimate the impact we have on the
world at large, and how our visual vocabulary is influenced by political,
social and cultural events. So here my version of Holzers truisms, 33
Designisms, questioning what we do, why we do it, and how it gets done.
Design is not solely a marketing device that supports consumerism. It
can be a communicator of dissent, it can market ideology. It can effect
change.
Design can be seductive propaganda. It is our responsibility to be knowledgeable
about what we are asked to communicate. We need to make educated choices
about what type of work we are willing to do. Make your decisions educated
decisions.”
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
Timeless writing, this piece written circa 2000 proves
just that. The pdf is still available. Download and mull over it.
CS3 in Action!
Get a sneak preview (via video clips) of the new interface and functionalities.
2006:
Media Story Of The Year by Dylan Stableford
“YouTube's $1.65 billion sale to Google was a big reason, but not
the only one.”
Falling from the sky logo, AR2DESIGN
launch of its v.2. Smooth operating and simple flash website with just
enough subtle functionalities.
Return
of the lawn patch? Although there was a time where lawn backgrounds abounded,
must say that OTOfilm, attempted
something different.
Grafikal
an upcoming design mag is looking for contributions. Subject is open.
The categories are: photography, design, illustraion, painting, and urban
art (grafitti, stickes, stencils, etc).
If
it's your cup of tea, Yosoh
has got one for you!
Awesome!!!
Kom in I garderoben is another
fascinating rich media experiment. A bit slow to load, just wait, it's
worth it.
The
2006 film Epica d’Or was won by Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam for the
Coca-Cola “Happiness Factory”
commercial.
Watch it!
What
do you think of this tagline: “Every idea has an expiration date”
which comes straight out of Barkley
website.
If you wonder who they are, well the supra creative team of lookandfeel
which had a smashing success of their own website back in 2002 (still
available for viewing if you are so inclined) merged with them and recently,
I posted the Make TJ Drink website
without knowing they had produced it.
Well quality seems to mesh similarly! Little wonder how the world is
small sometimes!
They've
done it again.. ICGIST v.3 is launched!
Just luv their new palette and as always kewl graphics and animations.
BTW if you speak the language there are jobs opening to check out.
Subdisc
that once made famous using a cd box as interface for his website is looking
for an Art director and a designer to join their Nike EA team in SF or
Vancouver.
Nothing
delights me more than to see continuity and evolution in a design studio
practice and Square One Design
is no exception.
Back then using a black & white minimalist approach now fast forwarding
in huge photographic and visuals with a simple plus sign as navigation.
Wanna see a completely umprecedented website interface??? Go to Bascule
who have relaunched another stunning and amazing site. Although all written
in Japanese, you can find your way around.
Take a look at the project presentation area for one, but there is something
I've never seen done before. Scroll all the way down - aren't the little
animations delicious, but my point is at the complete bottom, there is
an urn... click and watch what happens!
Gotta luv flash!
What
is the greatest hardship when travelling? Ending up in a crummy chain
produced furnitured / designed hotel room. For a designer, I've discovered
that it's a luxury to have a beautiful surroundings and soothing environment
when away from home. It does affect my productivity, especially that most
times, I'm out to work, not on vacation. Most of them boutique hotel are
not affordable, I concede.
That being said, found this resource in Design
Hotels which happens to be a collection of over 140 independent hotels
united by progressive design.
If you've enjoyed the Hotel
Fox concept... here are 140 upscale boutique hotel versions!
Another
terrific studio, Animal Logic,
(have you ever visited their website? It's a must) is always on the lookout
for talents. Make sure you read their requirements carefully.
There
are many openings for talented individuals at
HUGE!
Mediafix
redux book (portfolio)! Quite a feat, the print version is as the website.
Also, if you interested they're on the lookout for des créatifs!
From France with LUV!
Where,
how and why? A recent interview published on Flashden.
If you want to know a bit more of what I do and how Netdiver came about.
If you're interested in digging deeper around a phenomena called social
(micro) lending - here are 3 articles that will help clarify whu and how
this model works:
Social
lending the next Web 2.0 phenomenon - Part I by Allen Stern
Social
lending the next Web 2.0 phenomenon - Part II, ibid
Social
lending the next Web 2.0 phenomenon - Part III, the Why, ibid
Snapshot from ZOPA presently operating
in UK and opening soon in the US. Very nice web site design where friendliness
is displayed all over.
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
via Mark Langeneck
CHRISTMAS VACATION
_ _ _ _ _ _
PEACE AND LOVE
From the 23rd of december
to the 3rd of january 2007,
JF and I will be on Christmas
vacation.
Thanks for a great year.
We wish you PEACE
and whole lots of LOVE!
-> more news
^
