Design and digital culture NEWS // May 2004
I
must admit the DIESEL
Kids #3 online catalogue is a work of pure visual delight! Fantasy
settings and cute kidz intersect the virtual realm in a fun and respecful
way. Campaigns towards kidz should always respect their innocence, sense
of wonder and the fact that they need to learn and form a world vision.
Handle with care so they grow to become strong contributing individuals.
Creative
Behavior has got an interview
with Giulia Balladore 
illustrator
extraordinaire whose design style is 3D realism!
Asterik
studio redesigns and relaunches their site which is now sporting
a lean and clean interface.
Blogger
has redesigned their site in a way that is intended for an altogether
different audience than when they started!
For a company prone on top code and claiming 'geek chic'
interface design, I am surprised to see that on Opera 7 the images are
broken on index page?!?!
Claiming
over 200 loops in their db, I listened to about 30 them all categories
confounded and, they are really good. Also the player is programmed in
such a way that there are no interruptions between each track chosen.
For experimental sounds that live up to their promise, check Termoblue.
Stephane
Manel illustrations are mostly about people. His signature style
is about realistic rendering in atmospheric minimal surroundings.
Xtreme
sports are really for the most reckless of them all! Go ahead and have
a peak at Alvaro Onieva. Although there is a lot of information - easy
navigation which is also decorative helps keeping the site cohesive.
For those into that particular sport will probably appreciate the small
stunt videos.
Some
have inquired about posting more 'corporate' sites - well here is Wildly
Sophisticated that follows the rules with a twist or two. It's not boring,
content carries good visuals and is done completely in css for design!
No tables 'Ma!!!
BIG
UP is Ben Watts photography project who specializes in funky fashion
settings and star treatment. Have a look to his latest book intro -
which is part collage whereas smart actionscipting reveals the next
photograph. A rare intensity permeates everything he does.
|
LEAF:LET | is
an interactive experiment that has enough quality links to keep you
busy for a while and is brought to you by powagirrrl Natalie Ebenreuter.
I really like the simple pixel based design concept to display information.
Have a look!
You've
never seen something quite like this before, guaranteed! Amazing flash
building sequence for Ars
Thanea! Not withstanding this innovative feat - the quality of projects
is rarely matched with a site of such interface simplicity.
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
I stand corrected - Juan forwards this url to
show pre-existing such site circa 2002.
Funky,
dazzling and totally unique Genevieve
Gauckler just
explodes with creative energy on g2works.
Have
you read Anne Frank diary???
Probably one of the most poignant that sure makes you wish with all your
heart for peace and respect of human rights in our world.. Having become
a world-reknowned musueum and historical repository, the site is an initiative
of Miep Gies.
In her own words “I think it is marvelous, that I can still tell
the story of Anne Frank through the website at my age, I am 95 years
old. I hope that many people understand the significance of this
beautiful informative website and will understand each other better.
There must be no more war. War does not solve anything. People should
talk to each other more.”
Words from Anne's father: “I am now almost ninety and my strength
is slowly failing. Still, the task I received from Anne continues to
restore my energy: to struggle for reconciliation and human rights throughout
the world.”
What a powerfull statement to both how the W3 can be a (communication)
platform to bridge our differences and bring us closer and to the resiliency
of our senior citizens! Take time to read through
and regain appreciation for freedom and world peace. Respect!
XFN™
(XHTML Friends Network) is a simple way to represent human relationships
using hyperlinks.
In recent years, blogs and blogrolls have become the fastest
growing area of the Web. XFN enables web authors to indicate their relationship(s)
to the people in their blogrolls simply by adding a 'rel' attribute to
their
<a href> tags.
Play
Airways is a new studio ran by graduating students! They have built
the bumpers
for FITC which got most of the crowd attending in awe of their
imaginative flash proficiency! Definitely talents to watch for!
If interested there is an interview on Ventilate about
them - whereas you can some of the 'graphics' for the bumpers.
Incandescence not
only has great projects but displays another exploration in alternative
navigations: by category - by next project with the floating mini-thumbnails.
The
Industrial Ranch is a sprawling 5,000 square foot multiifunctional
gallery/studiospace. Located in the Northern Tip of Staten Island they
want to be an out the tangents creative space and for such have used
a site with no navigation.
Let it roll or Try the Play / Stop to visit the site!
A
fantastic exploration :::::: FUNNEL is another eclectic and totally original
one page site for Eric Kass portfolio. The copy is excellent and his
work matches his design skills.
KUB a
pixel based design and explorative interface layout with multi-opening
windows and original nav system.
What
is the true mark of a great designer? Anisa Suthayalai is the brain behind byDefault and
she deserves hall of fame recognition for the quality, diversity and
uber creativity demonstrated in all her projects.
What is the true mark of a great designer?
Diversity! You might have this unique set of skills and a recognizable
signature but the true test is clients work. What is corresponding to
this status? Capacity to serve clients with fresh design that tags along
their brand.
This is a breathtaking portfolio. The sheer amount of projects being
one but most important - the perfect execution.
Execution like in minute attention to details, differentiation, chromatics,
layout and originality.
Don't think she has it any different than any of us - the brief - the
expectations - the deadline - the budget! But she seems to step up and
push everything one notch ahead.
You find anything boring! I admit that some of the clients could have
been more than challenging but she pulls it with flair, gusto and elegance
and a touch of humor.
No blatant easy solutions. Just originality and originality and originality
with transcending communication skills. That is master tasking a challenge
with a ever evolving quality!
What is the true mark of powerful design? Quality! Non-compromised quality!
She hits it on brillantly! Every time! She makes us proud to be designers.
Two
promo movies you need to see that were produced by Hushwish
Studio: a) the Samsung Fun Club and b) Samsung Mobile X100. Amazing
fluidity for the vector one. Compelling animated images and copy for
the second.
“I
know darkness is coming... but there is still something I need to fight
for: honor, trust, love, peace, beauty... and so I stand.” That
is quite a statement for xtra talented Activate.ru to
make! Sustained! Powerful storyboarding skills and delightful illustrations.
Well
Vetted issue #21 is out!
That
would be the 'real' story from a
to e behind lorem ipsum the latin mock-up type we use!
Wildly
imaginative doodle like illustrations exploding with intricate details
done at work??? Who would have thought of using old receipts as canvas
base to draw upon??? Seemingly, Robert
Cameron Burns the third did. But that's just a slice of what he shows.
Don't miss a true sketchbook with some pages showing a semi-transparent
fx by which you 'see' the imprint of previous drawing - that is pretty
slick.
Seems
like Youneedtogetoutmore new design portal.
Amazing
flash site for LEVI501 re-born which is another proof of what I call
the alternate storytelling based brand promotion. Reality is - we don't
have time anymore to be fed marketing noise. We want to experience the
brand and see for ourselves if we can relate.
My mum used to ask if I was going to wear something else... she referred
to my wearing jeans as being my 'second skin' ROFL. Still do btw: it's
my day in and out 'official' uniform.
ProSonica offers
loops for new media project! I really like the 'Club' collection best!
BanRap is
a minimalist site for a photography rep agency! Stunning photographers!
Yen
Magazine presents Curvy dedicated
to the best of female graphic design & illustration worldwide. 100
leading artists from 18 countries have participated and their work compiled
for the first limited
edition book.
Mean
Tangerine adds 42 pixel fonts to its library. Up from 100 to 142
in all, the MT library offers an ever-widening array of typographic
styles, from industrial, techno and sci-fi, to traditional sans and
serif text.
Sam
Gilbey has been drawing since aged four, inspired by kung fu films and
superheroes for as long as he can remember. Personal
Space Invaders (PSI) focuses on his illustration work, as well as
his written contributions to Pixelsurgeon, for which he is Music Editor.
I've known Sam for a couple of years now - my judging one of his submitted
(awesome) illustration. I was anticipating the relaunch of his site -
he pulls it!
PROLIFIC!!!
You have got to see the work of the DESIGNLAB
Co who commissions the best illustrators around the globe! Oh my!!!
Last but not least - cool pixel based interface design with a 'book'
that stands instead of being flat on screen.
Julien
GrandClément aka odbo just completed the 365.zone project!
A design a day for a full year! Soon becoming a travelling exhibit and
future book.
Un projet magistral - une réalisation réussie - un succès
assuré! Get a coffee!
There
is a wealth of typographic talent in the world today, yet many faces
go unnoticed due to limited exposure and language barriers. With Umbrella,
Veer compiles typefaces hand-picked from small foundries and independent
designers.
Only
one way to describe ULTRAsuperuich -
possibly one of the weirdest domain name out there - is: wild, exotic,
unique, funny and well executed! It's like the whole site is on hyper
drive! Spanish version recommended because the... hum... robots will
translate :))
Design
and Usability: The Road Runner site critiqued by Kevin Airgid.
For
students only - TAXI has
gotta an offer for you - check it out.
Remnant
of the psychedelic lineart styles of the '70s Katsuo
Design is every part that, and more!
Luv
the tagline of one of the new Soul
Rebel Clothing Ts: “Keep it steady! Be humble don't grumble”.
A
Jessica Helfand and company collaborative site: Design
Observer is a repository of food for thoughts about design, from
critique to theory to application.
Sites
recently redesigned worth revisiting:
/
Culture jammers aka AdBusters
/
Mondotrendy
/
nuevo spaciale
/
::miguelripoll::
Karen
Gwyer is
an experienced interactive designer! The richness of details and capacity
to reinvent for each of the projects is simply outstanding. Impressive
achievement!
Welcome to a new powagirrrl!
The
art of portrait illustration is probably the hardest talent to come by
and develop. Not only you need to be gifted with eye / hand coordination
but your extreme attention to details is tantamount in catching the person
little irks and features since the audience will 'know' about that person
there has to be semblance... or you're a fraud.
TOTAL Ricord has a vast portfolio
showing that he is at the top of his game!
Now
playing beta 0,975 because Pixeltable has
got a logo (finally) with page graphics refreshed and new navigation!
This is a CSS design layout ONLY.
For those interestested: use Mozilla or Firefox to
see imbedded accessibility features! Really it can be pretty and standards
compliant!
A
curiosity! Mathematical
LEGO® Sculptures (no affiliation with the company) sometimes
made with C code model first!
A
little jewel of a site for this total interior design firm Orna.
The pictures show exquisite craftmanship while the mini- navigation area
leaves ample room to 'see' what they are capable of.
Rested
and ready GUI Galaxy reborns!
Good spot for posting/reading 'Mac' related news! CSS layout design!!!
Flash
and Hybrid Sites by Sam Royama
“First and foremost, I think it’s important to note that
Flash can be used effectively in a variety of ways. It’s well documented
that Flash gives web designers a powerful tool towards creating well-crafted
and beautifully designed websites.
For our purposes, however, we are interested in best uses
of Flash as a component of hybrid sites: Flash added in small bits and
pieces within an (X)HTML and CSS-based structure that is primarily text-driven.”
Have
a look at Flash
version penetration - interesting data.
From
this to this, Celsius relaunches with a half-permanent beta site... because
as David says, they're busy burning midnight oil for clients. Now that,
is pretty audacious!
Platico
Games look easy enough but these cute apps can really defeat your
brain. Try the Floor Tile one! If you solve it! I wanna know. They
would probably be very good at developing educational games for children!
Thick
urban ambience for Antonio Carusone photography.
Often there is an overcasted tint which produces a dreamy somewhat surreal
result.
Elisa
Sassi illustrations
cover a wide range of styles: from pixel design to elegant to cartoonish.
Some of the print layouts include characters which adds an element
of fun to it. A talent to watch for.
I
had the pleasure to spend some time recently with Florian and Alexandra
from Hi-ReS! ||| (incredibly
smart, fun and gentle souls).
They just just launched | LifeSwitch
| which is proposing matching you with a new beginning somewhere
on the planet! Guaranteed No Shnik-Shnak! Try it.
For
people who make websites:
CSS Drop Shadows
II: Fuzzy Shadows by Sergio Villarreal
The
future has come through Space Fx who
designs and installs comprehensive systems for intelligent homes. From
home cinema to solar blinds, networking, telephony and security. The
future is here?!! Gorgeous pictures, fast loading and awesome 3D chrome
like interface design! Now who wouldn't want an 'intelligent' house?
Umeric astonishing
illustrations in the venerable tradition of vectors and 45 degrees angle!
The sculpture remix is particlarly remarkable.
Awarded
a Design Forte circa 2000, Nothing from
outer space has redesigned and relaunched! Still incredibly appealing
visually - the concept they have favored, half science-fi and half comic
strip, is still rocket strong. Kudo to much talent here!
A
must see! Open! Concepts displays
wonderful and extravagant objects of industrial design! LUV the watch!
Metron
Press is committed to bringing readers vibrant stories of the human experience,
told in a variety of artistic styles, with the goal of empowering personal
and community aspirations.
Books are illustrated using comic book style.
Now
you've gotta see this! Dodo Arslan is
a designer... but a really creative and original designer... I think...
when you view the 'cocktails' little piece - well haven't we seen this
type of attempt before (putting yourself as the 'center' character takes
more than guts it takes audacity and class...
Take a look again at an old new concept.
This
is a well done flash site for Susan
Gray a
singer. The ambiance is very warm and personal with just the right touch
of edgy-grungy feel.
The 'cardboard' cutout has been a visual element that has been used
a lot lately but in this case, useage is perfect.
Just
like a breath of fresh air Oo
_spaincreative innovates with loading sequence and watch out for
the frog when you move it around. Flash talent to watch for.
Talent,
talent and talent! The site is a jewel of mix media mostly illustration
and the projects are often board as in snowboard and skateboard related. Swanarts makes
illustration..print...painting... client work...shine! The site interface
is well done and the different section navigation & projects takes
advantage of the visual real estate all of which include a little graphic
caption to exemplify the content. As Paul says: “It's swanophobical
glamour!”
All around to be visited from top to bottom.
New
'creative' magazine on the block! CI-Magazin is
a minimalist flash site - with easy to navigate features. Luv the baby
metaphor!
That
is an original idea, why not catch people involved with one of the primary
sign of our culture? These photographs caught in action are quite evocative
with a tad of unnerving_ness to it... because there is NOT the advertising
clamor and glamour. Makes you think about NOT
IF BUT WHEN. Project theme is about shoppers and shopping by Brian
Ulrich.
Developing
With Web Standards. Recommendations and best practices by Roger
Johansson.
DAB
is a student project by Josh Raskin. No denial - this is a promising
talent. I especially like the 'concept map'.
Smooth
textures for the ears from Vectorheads who
specializes in audio production / remixing all the while completing some
interesting web/print projects. Good work to chill and reflex with. Brought
to you by a powagirrrl!
Different!!! BUG
Studio is good at fat line art illustrations and other media explorations
such as sculpture. Well I guess if you can't sketch you can sculpt
but it's an unusual mix.
Perfectly
Unreasonable by Melanie Bowden
Expecting perfection is counterproductive. Here's why.
Talking
about powagirrrls - one that do us proud is Euna Seol, the prolific creative
designer behind PostVisual whom
I just heard have 2 of their projects chosen to appear in the upcoming
Communication Arts Interactive edition, won at FlashForward 04 and moved
to brand new offices!!!
Now if you want see jaw dropping design & flash work from this pioneering
firm and developed mostly for entertainment projects... you now know
where to go!
Directly
from Argentina: Pretty Pink Pixels from our new Powagirrrl Claudia
Lareu! Deliciously
professional Projects too!
Mark
Wisniowski has redesigned probe3 media.exploration!
Pay special attention to his 3D renditions + graphic design. His work
presses home that a whole lot of hours playing with making real the unreal,
design is atmospheric and the execution dazzling. Respect!
Read
the interesting story behind the new The
Yale Typeface.
“Yale is inspired by the late fifteenth-century Venetian typeface
that first appeared in Pietro Bembo’s De Aetna, published by Aldus
Manutius. A pristine copy of this book may be found in the collection
of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale.”
Emiliano
Rodriguez Ruiz de Gauna _v2 relaunches! This original designer
takes his site to the next level. Job well done!
Creative PILLs?
To spark the flat out days, get a jar of these powerfull instant latency
lot of suggestions, PILLs for short!
CSS made! Warning! Heavy download!
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news
^
