Netdiver (ISSN 1911-866X)

Niessen & de Vries form an Amsterdam-based graphic design studio. They work for small and big clients in the cultural sector like museums, artists and publishers. They also initiate exhibitions, books, lectures and workshops.

Navigate projects by mousing over vertical left-hand text.

The ravage of addiction depicted live is a true testament to the sheer magnitude of what happens to people.. Very real – very sad. Brilliantly executed by sculptor Philippe Faraut.

Must see! Meth-Amorphosis — the movie.

Studio Plastac is a young graphic design and multimedia agency who are currently working in the area of visual identity, editorial design, wayfinding systems, web or animation. They have a penchant for typography, are small so very reactive and indulge in self-initiated projects too.

From France with luv.

Ain’t this gorgeous? Guess what it is? Water Figures! Shapes made out of water based paints and sound from a speaker. Motion captured with mic triggered SB800 Nikon flash controlled by StopShot.

From now until August 5 you can get a smashing 35% off Chronicle Books by using this special promo code: FRIENDS at checkout.

Choose from a large selection of art and design books, including architecture, graphic design, typography, sustainability and titles appealing to the crafters and DIY types.

Showing some of my favorites:

Indie Publishing How to Design and Produce Your Own Book — Princeton Architectural Press — edited by Ellen Lupton

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Logo — Laurence King Publishing — by Michael Evamy

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Gig Posters Volume I — Rock Show Art of the 21st Century Quirk Books — by Clay Hayes

Remember the dancing baby aka “Baby Cha-Cha internet phenomenon of the 90’s? Well Evian Roller Babies is an updated version. Granted not technically perfect (it must have been quite a challenge) it is hilarious!

How not to be impressed with by INHOUSE design studio? Row after row, each project stands out. How they present each portfolio piece feels more like browsing a high-end magazine than visiting a website. Probably one of the best creative team out there!

From New Zealand with luv!

If you drink diet Coke or Pepsi – you want to read this article.

“Power to the People survey has revealed dramatic changes in the way that consumers are using the internet to create and share their thoughts, pictures and videos.

Research into the facts behind the hype of social media reveals that social networks are becoming the dominant platform for content creation and content sharing.”

Universal McCann Wave 4 global report tracking social media is available for download.

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via: davaidavai

alice + olivia (a+o) is fashion line that was started back in 2002 while Stacey Bendel was rollerblading in NYC. It has now evolved into a full apparel line that retains some of the funky and quirky street style with an xtra touch of chic urban feel to it.

Cool whimsical flash website too.

No-Method (claiming Ideas are dead?!?!) was started by Wai, an art director, designer and aspiring write back in January 08 and have since, collaborated with design and advertising agencies in London. Now if that portfolio reflects ideas are dead – then anytime – I no longer want ideas, so I can produce awesome projects like these.

Luv the astute one-pager interface where the thumbnails make for a beautiful visual maze.

What if a bunch of friends planned to relay a laser beam as a party? Watch the movie and find out how they did it: Drop the Tough.

Transformer Studio has got this genial navigation – big bold coloured stacked blocks – which are an entry door to how they present their stunning projects. Simple yet compelling. Must see!

A photograher’s ability for composing a visual canvas that overcomes the most dire of situations is quite a gift, one that David Balhuizen has and exploits, in a wide range of topics.

Showing: Hurricane Ivan picture that looks more like an art installation than post-disaster capture.

Amelia Lyon is a wedding, portrait and music duo (Amelia and Justin) that are fun loving and obsessed with finding the story to tell in the images they take. From traditional settings to really out there, from what would be expected to the surprising, they do it all.

Fresh out! The Pick of the Crab just released Proyecto Ensamble, their opera prima. After an open call for contributions, 9 works were selected, sent to print and now sold as a block fitting kewl product. DIY taken to a brand new level! From Chile with luv!

We are currently updating Netdiver — downtime may happen. All good! Update successful!

Stingosaurus? Well Stina Johansson has got this thing for dinosaurs amongst other interests.. like graphic design, self-publishing, (awarded) apparel design and more design. As a recent graduate, wait up – she will probably populate the industry with many new legg-breaking creative creatures and projects.

Porro Ago (classic latin) = Long Live!

Narani Kannan is a recent graduate and the Gotta Moo packaging concept and strategy is a sure indication of how the new generation of designers intend to tackle environmental expectations and constraints.

“The package focuses on the most eco-friendly method for milk packaging. This greener milk packaging solution will be made out of Sugarcane Bagasse molded pulp paper, coated inside with sugarcane lignin and printed with vegetable based inks, all based on food safe materials.”

Sebastian Bagge and Julio Rölle met each other at the beginning of their graphic design studies on the University of Applied Sciences in Bielefeld 2002. Since the beginning the two young graffiti inspired students start working together. 44flavours does graphic design, organises art shows and even publishes its own magazine.

Showing Robot Koch & Cerebral Vortex – Upside Down EP

Fascinating photography essay by Jenny Wicks titled Root Ginger. As her, a branch of my family residing in California – of 5 cousins – 4 were born with red hair and passed on the gene to some of their kids.. as for me, one of my daughter was born with fiery red hair – and grew up to become platinum blond..

Read the accompanying text for an overview of her approach and some of the social implications raised.

Part of our anniversary bash, we invited special content scouts to contribute 10 project reviews on the topic of their choice and do a 3 questions mini-interview.

Presenting #10 in the series: French Top 10 by Benoît Bodhuin

“Here are 10 French creatives: my choice is motivated by a desire to present some novelty, some variety in the activities, but especially some quality. You will find designers, one illustrator, one plastics technician, a photographer, a collective and a magazine.”

Reviews are in English and French.

TSA Poster Series: ‘The Place I Live‘ by Matthieu Bessudo (mcbess)

From concept, to sewing parts, to assemblage, the Bouquet chair as a finish product designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, is a sensational achievement.

Dima Loginoff is a young product designer from Moscow who already has a répertoire of stunning furniture and accessories under his name. Modern, slick, whimsical pieces showing influences such as Eames, Ernie Jacobson, Starck, Jaime Hayon, all favorites of mine.

Showing: the Psyche Lounge is awaiting commercial production! Anyone interested? This powaboy rocks!

Rebecca Thuss art directs, does prop and set styling, wedding and event designs and crafting. “She delights in throwing parties, has a passion for packaging, a weakness for fanciful candy and confections, and an infatuation with vintage paper item.

For nine years Rebecca’s contributions were instrumental in defining the creative vision of Martha Stewart Weddings. During her tenure it became widely recognized as one of the most popular wedding magazines in a highly competitive marketplace. Rebecca has received six Society of Publication Designers (SPD) Merit Awards for her styling work.”

Her work is about making elegant and festive dreams come true. Her minute attention to oh so lovely details is enchanting. Check the confection – food – cake section to get an idea of her lushing creativity.

DHNN (Design Has No Name) received this mega assignment to develop the corporate id and brand manual of Fox International Channels. From the slogan “We enterain people” they began to work on the idea of entertainment and movement steering away from the TV screen standards but rather trying to transmit entertainment and motion in static spaces. This was achieved by layering juxtapositions and cuts to comunicate the dynamism of the images captured in full motion as shown in these two exceptional posters.

Some of the pieces range from basic design id cards, to the design of cds, dvds beta cassettes, t-shirts, stands, infographics, etc.

Lee Hasler who uploads to Eyeport is one of the best pixel based illustrator in the world and he keeps becoming better and better and better. Guaranteed joy as a bonus! Wait till you see his eye candy filled little jewels that make me smile. Most illustrations have top down perspectives (like flying over sorta speaking) and to the last pixel, verily, his work is sensational!

Know of others? Share.

It’s been a while. Just remembered one of the first iterations of Hellovon website.. now this one feels all tame and grown-up. I like the calming enviro to make full room for this artist/illustrator who creates such versatile work.

He can do this.. that! Kudos bro!

A most unusual clock by Sander Mulder.

“While moving to a new house our clock was damaged severely in transport, to a point where it’s minutes – and seconds pointer fell of the central axis, and where just laying in the transparent bubble cover. Witnessing the random patterns that occurred with the hour pointer still rotating, the first concept for the Continue Time clock was born.”

The District reloaded. Still throwing punch lines such as “Do us an ad and make it snappy” and “In which we go for silver and win” to describe their projects. They’re pretty good; evidently not just for smarty copy writing but for all kinds of design, firstly.

Thuss Farrell is a NYC photographer who makes a simple statement on his website: “Photography is fun”.

Dyptics present most of his base work throughout — which already spell out how capable he is to do self-editing and generate story-like visual assortments. Each set giving mutual credit to both selected pictures. When taking so many shots – easy to instantly see the good takes – definitely harder to single out the excellent one. It demands a special ability to really objectivize your work. That’s why photographers do some of their best work under the influence of xtra gifted art directors.

HELMO (Thomas Couderc et Clément Vauchez) is an extraordinarily talented creative duo who associate with as talented individuals to produce outstanding projects. Worth browsing from top to bottom, I am humbled and energized by the consistant quality of their work.

They are behind the stunning “Bètes de mode” (superimposing two color gelatines photographs to create window store show-stoppers) featured in the first of our They LUV design! It shows series.

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Another stunner is the calendar made for the Bar du Marché in Montreuil.

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Last but not least, posters for the Jazzdor 09 festival.

New gorgeous font, Theorem, designed by Angel Koziupa and Ale Paul who is one of the founders of the Sudtipos project, the first Argentinean type foundry collective.

Ten Things I Have Learned — Miton Glaser.

• “You can only work for people that you like”
• “If you have a choice, never have a job”
• “Some people are toxic, avoid them”
• “Professionalism is not enough or
• The good is the enemy of the great”
• “Less is not necessarily more”
• “Style is not to be trusted”
• “How you live changes your brain”
• “Doubt is better than certainty”
• “On aging”
• “Tell the truth”

Feeling like you have the whole world on your shoulders (hands)? Braving being assaulted by life new complexities? Trying to make sense of it all and keep doing no matter what? Well, as I like to say: “Never underestimate the power of ONE!”

She just nailed it! Pepa Prieto

Now that’s a gutsy crazy interface design and navigation for Studio Boot who affords this search us if you want throughout their website. Check the archive section to see what I mean – mouse over to find hidden links. Fantastic projects they’ve delivered.

All around? Wild creativity on the loose!

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While visiting discovered RED-RAG flash website which they have designed.. including the shoes as well! The line extends to men, women and kids and is just fabulous!

“Design is intelligence made visible” — Sir Terence Conran. If you’re interested in discovering the journey and quest for excellence of this remarkable thinker-designer, read (or download) the 50 Years In Design book.

Found this cool advert movie Vote for cool kids sponsored by Gap. Wish there were more similar awereness raising adverts made for good causes.

Hofstede Design print work is superlative. They take corporate communication and whip up unexpected folds and crafty collaterals that make their publication and environmental graphic design projects pop. And has they say: “we are doers, not talkers” — so no surprise their portfolio website is minimalist and somewhat low profile, reserving clicking surprise as you browse it.

From Australia with luv.

Another simple interface layout that use large colored bands that pick up on the really nice logo. Polytron is a start-up that is working on releasing a Xbox game by 2010. What I particularly find interesting is that it couples the project section (which is evidently minimal for time being) with their blog. No boundaries between the two affords them interaction with their audience all the while serving to keep the website fresh.

Here is a perfect example on how to present and organize a portfolio website that has multiple information to include. Adams Morioka navigation is simple and based on letters from the initial interface through inside levels. They have done enough client work to warrant using the A-Z metaphor.

By creating a simple but elegant placeholder to display their projects, they maximize getting undivided attention and evaluation of their services and design capacities.

IWANT design based in UK, luvs birdies background. As a small creative agency, they create nice work across a range of media and their newly restocked portfolio, shows exactly that.

Gotta luv the funkiness!

Interesting find, perhaps an experiment in opposite, this one more like macro photography of people mostly on beaches or around pools by Massimo Vitali. One would think that it’s about capturing leisure moments.. how about a study on social conformity?

Oh my! Just visited the most incredible land of liluput via the work of Thomas Doyle. In his own words: “My work mines the debris of memory through the creation of intricate worlds sculpted in 1:43 scale and smaller.”

If you have no clue what this ratio means, head-on to see for yourself. Not only are all the characters sculpted in that size, they all bear tangible emotions and are staged in mini-parcels of land, houses, furniture.. all breath taking.

A big fan of miniature photography — there is no end to the sense of awe I get from looking at these minuscule self-contained stories.

Jack Usine aka SMeltery updated collection of gorgeous fonts, some of which are freebies such as TWenty One, REdevance and Enfer. Indulge!

Jacqueline Kari Bos is an illustrator and painter based in NYC, who also dips into fashion illustration that includes photos of bits and pieces of textures and patterns has well as hand-drawn details. Couldn’t resist the appeal of these two montages.

Joris Kuipers compelling mega 2D wall reliefs and drawings on paper root in body parts extracted from MRI, CT-Scans, etc. all in different shades of red.. for as he says: “for within, all of us is red.”

Overcast by cyan and pink shadows, even out of focus, John Gripenholm explodes the confines of commercial photography and extends the craft towards an unknown territory, with both edgy and poetic staging and compositions.

Evgeny Kiselev is a prolific illustrator! Now a long standing ND alumni what a joy to observe the constant evolution and mastering of his skills. His blooming talent cannot be overlooked. As one of the early adopters of complex digital artworks which many have embrace, he takes it to another level altogether.

What does randomness look like? Have a look at the beautiful Random Walk data visualization simulation project by Daniel A. Becker. Just LUV the color palette and the shapes.

BTW if you can help, he’s looking for a Publisher.

Following the 2nd interview on Data Viz, this time with critic, curator and researcher Joe Luis de Vincente, did a little research and found the Machines and Souls Exhibition 30 min documentary.

Skeleto like machines activate by the wind? 32 motors for facial expression in humanoid robot, mechanical mirrors and more frontier bumping new media art experiments.

Marumiyan got interested in drawing in his infancy under his father influence and went on to study graphic design at the universty. Now living in Fukuoka, Japan, he freelances and his editorial, cd jackets and illustrations are a razzle-dazzle assortment that all speak one and only one message: explosive creativity!

The sheer amount of details and the quality of the montages are worth clicking through from one project to the other. Wow!

Miriam Casanellas is a recent graphic design graduate from Barcelona now living in London and is growing a nice portfolio.

Catching my attention is this campaign (made at SCACS SA advertising agency) for a new line of sport clothes. The campaign asserts for the real woman that “The doll women era is gone, now is time for the real ones”.

Luv it that Barbie® stereotype is finally being defeated with reality — as in wait till you have a couple of kids to see how true this is.

Part of our anniversary bash, we invited special content scouts to contribute 10 project reviews on the topic of their choice and do a mini-interview.

Presenting #9 in the series: The Design Economy by Valeria Hedman

“Sustainability issues of products and materials have been widely recognised and discussed for a number of years now. Everywhere we look we see how a linear materials economy threatens not only the natural environment but also consequently imperils the survival of a linear production industry, since it will have nothing to produce if the raw resources are indeed consumed. But how do we address issues of sustainability within our own economy, the design industry?”

The girls at Three Tarts located in NYC, stock goodies (prepared daily) that are of consumate refinement or simply fun and goofy. Luv the Rooftop S’mores that come ready with sticks and matches for rooftop roasting (camping)?!?! How about that?

Lola is one of those exceptional artist who are very hard to categorize. The (almost) featureless characters have something both dark and innocent and are always staged in fantasy landscapes accompanied by strange animals.

Her work is mysterious yet emotional and as much part of her art, are the frames she chooses to add another layer of drama to the piece iitself, conveying even more, familiar with improbable.

On the nice minimalist grid website of Kate Spade although I think the index is a bit too crammed there is this Things We Love section which is an image based linkorama to discover odd knick-knacks as well as more serious stuff.

Her sense of street-smart style (check the Spring collection montage) is always mixed with her heart-smart social activism, mainly focussed on women living in dire situations.

Another fine example on how your success can be used as an influence platform to do good around you.

This is an invitation to take a leisurely stroll into the deliciously captivating work of Keetra Dean Dixon. Some may find it too kitschy, too literal in concepts, too crafty or tactile.. but in the end, you can’t disagree with the steadfast quality emanating from a uniquely creative approach to design.

Keep tilting good up to excellent. Keep inspiring us.

The Economist launches Thinking Space a 3D flash project. Submit yours.

Introducing a new kind of agency who happens to be just my kind of agency. Zerofee, is an ethical design agency! Period! They “create visual identity and design for print and digital media, but not for irresponsible brands or companies.”

Now if they design as good as they write, then they are IT. The ultimate deal for honest clients. Let’s see what they’ve done and what they’ve been involved with.

First just the Create Not Hate is a catchy slogan but so are the visuals. What are they? Well since the project addresses gang crime.. Check it out, these are kaleidoscopes built out of weapons.. so that youth gets the message of creativity over violence!

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Next, well this one I wish to import right here — right now.

Zerofee did the rebranding, signage and marketing collagerals for TRAID who operates over 900 textile recycling banks across the UK.

Read how they operate and see first hand, how a vested organization walks da talk.

Ethical conduct is the quintessential quality we seek. It is one we abide by and will never compromise, so no surprise, we LUV Zerofee.

UNO Hispanic Branding shocking pink to magenta gradient background hints at the famously known passionate and enjoying life traits of latin descending cultures, such as Italian and French. The agency base focus is on reaching Hispanic consumers exclusively.

Luv the simple flash website with ‘grabbing hand’ functionality to scroll through projects.

How should we then eat? Hellmann’s short film (Eat Real. Eat Local) raises concerns that are global in perspective although the short film explains what’s happening to Canada’s local food system and why we should all care.

“Where’s your food coming from?”

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via Idées vidéo

Interminable traffic jams, massive incoming transiters using cars to get into cities are a plague and a large cost to quality of air (and mental health due to related stress) for large populated megapolis. Montreal with a 3.5 million demo that includes all surrounding suburbs won’t see any decrease since suburbs are still expanding further out from the center year after year.

We don’t own a car! We won’t own a car! We rent when absolutely necessary. We walk. We take the bus. We take the subway.

To incite reluctant transiters – a huge campaign with an environmentally conscious aim was launched by the STM, accurately named: Society in Motion. Now who said civic service communications had to be boring!

While travelling to Barcelona, a friend took me to the Desigual store in the gothic part of the city and was I in for a surprise. Not only the space was trendy and well stocked, the vibe was definitely ‘designy’.. as their brand states. Found rad tshirts that are artworks and received a nifty messenger bag as a token of appreciation.

Have a look at this year collection, the men and women are both urban, chic and confortable. They are now spreading over Europe. Can’t wait they make their way in Montreal.

Oh the lovelies! The MYBU series is a platform toy (a toy with a base figure that is exchangable with other styles) BUBU Co Ltd has recently launched with a number of different characters and variations coming soon.

Harajuku (hara-joo-koo) Lovers is an irrisistible brand, aptly termed “a fatal attraction to cuteness” that was first captured by Shoichi Aoki which lead to publishing two wildly popular books and a cult-like magazine based on Tokyo Street Style.

Highly recommend you acquire these. They can prove fool-proof assets if you hit the blank state. A couple of pages will suffice to kick you right back into gear — thinking to yourself — what? no such thing stopping me from being creative and using my imagination; if they came up with this crazy over the top original fashion style they wear in public, there’s nothing I can’t do.

Fruits (100,000 copies sold)

Fresh Fruits

A couple of years ago, purchased a cool (mini) messenger bag with this message printed in big typo on the flap cover:

“Our Love is the Real Thing”

What a powerful statement in opposition perhaps, to “Our War is the Real Thing” hinted by the green camouflage printed pattern.. Wanted to shout it to the world.. and did.. by carrying it around. Little did I know that I had fallen for the girrrl empowering brand Gwen Stefani had created.

The new video campaign for Harajuku Lovers Fragance which had to seize Gwen’s vision of “cuteness” was commissioned to FWY (Friends With You) Studio who dwell into happy design too..

Now “G” sits pretty at a place of honor amongst other toyz on the studio mantle, stating silently:

Powagirrrls rule (with more than pink design)!!!

Validation is a fable about the magic of free parking (well not exactly that right – would be too boring) that has been written, directed and composed by Kurt Kuenne. This narrative short has been showered by soo many awards, guess recognizing the true impact.. of having true values.

What’s in a smile? The power of change.

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via Kiddy Gavrila

Four Essential Members of a Great Design Team by Michael Roller

“Have you ever wondered why you can successfully collaborate with another designer in your office? At Kaleidoscope, some of the designers (including me) are organized and analytical. Others think freely and contextually. How can we coexist?”

Unouplus (which means one or more) is a fascinating and well built simple flash website that his home to freelancing art director and web designer, Yoshihiro Toda, hailing out of Osaka.

As you can see there is this vector illustration that scrolls up and down on the left side. Hit the ASOBI link and what have we got here? The vector illustration turns into a sweet pinball like game.

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Wanna something that will blow you out of the waters? Visit the +LifE his jaw-dropping photography + videos section, and how he has visually and technically organized these.

Astounding talent!

Since the art of story telling is one mostly associated with reading a (paper) book, newspaper or magazine, how does one translate the same linear qualities online? Would a 430 ft lateral scroll do the trick?

Well this is what the band Orba Squara choose to do to celebrate their 2nd CD release. They hopped on a bus for a 10 days journey “to play music, meet new people and see what they’ve been missing” and had the website constructed around that story.

Watch out for the nice contextual typographic treatments!