Design and digital culture NEWS // August 2006
Redbloc is
an intriguing concept collective who seems to quite litterally use this
metaphor as an excuse to design.
“From the Baltic Sea we drifted down to the Caspian Depression
until we found safe passage in the land of the Good Chairman. Across
the outskirts of this remote region where the tillers of the land embraced
the birth of a red dawn and where the land drenched in golden red burst
of the early sun, we planted the seeds of the Neu Revolution.”
DMP presents
pictures from the Jakarta 32 and Massive OFFline events!
Snack
attack! Websites that share video (You
Tube was first to launch) clips are revolutionising our viewing
habits, Michael Idato reports.
If
you wonder what kind of art that is, brace yourself. This is an inside
look at one of the component of the powerful new Mac
Pro! The specs are so impressive and the performance to be expected,
makes it at the very top of my wish list.
There's room to accommodate up to four drives and 2TB of storage; offers
8 DIMM slots to fill with up to 16GB of RAM; provides up to two SuperDrives
and runs on two, yes that's right, two dual-core chips!
RDAY will
come fine furniture! Hand made with elegant lines or unusually composited
built items.
Philip
Treacy for Umbro is a cool new site for the football inspired clothing
line. Sportswear going high fashion! Luv it!
My
generation by Creed O'Hanlon
In the latest issue of Australia's leading literary journal, Griffith
REVIEW, the media futurist, Creed O'Hanlon, dissects the cultural legacy
of the Baby Boomer generation, the first-born of which turn 60 this year,
and accuses them of being “manipulative, self-mythologizing control-freaks
with a flair for appropriation but no real originality”.
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ndle1:
Read essay and pass it up to your boss ;-D
You've
gotta see this! BL:ND Gnarls Barkley Crazy video!
Are you familiar with the Rorschach
inkblot test which is a method of psychological evaluation? Seems
like they took their inspiration directly from it and created something
completely new.
Amazing animation!
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BL:ND has
a jop opp for a Head of Production: candidate has, at minimum, 4 years
of experience managing 5+ million in billings in post production industry.
Fivecentstand 
is
a sweet harmonizing duo with a folkish slash irish twisted modern pop
rock meshed sound. Simply beautiful voices and profound lyrics.
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Dave Barnes is all about pop
soulish funk with a thang of country licking good feel. His warm voice
and music are both catch and gently comforting the soul.
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Spoken For superb
voices ressembling very much the rich Indigo Girls tonal intensity flavored
in haunting rock accoustic sounds and ambience.
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ndle1:
cool sites brought to you xtra talented Paul Falgout and Brandon Wilson
of Otterball.
Guess
who's behind the design of the featured Crash
Film site? Talented Mat Mejia aka Droppod!
Really like his logo too!
Michael
Cole rebrands under Cobra Creative having
partnered with his wife. Because in the end, two heads are always better
than one!
Randall
Cornish is the head of RCO
Creative and has prepared three indispensable documents that can
serve as a starting base for designers and artists.
How to write a creative brief
How to write an artist's statement
How to mount an art presentation
Enjoy!
_ _ _ _ _ _
errata:
Apologies everyone, there was a misunderstanding. The docs are not free
but available for a minimal fee.
The
awesome intro for the idFlux project is no longer available on the main
site. I did some digging and found out, it had been commissioned to Pierre
Magnol and produced with Cinema 4D.
Ain't that great? It still can be viewed via Kurtzmedias.
Click view to see the animated movie.
Music by my good friend Philippe
Gully.
In
1968 Andy Warhol stated that; “In the future, everyone will
be world-famous for 15 minutes.”
Using Warhol’s statement as a premise, 15x15 advances
the statement into the 21st century; with new media technology anyone
and everyone can be world famous....for 15 seconds!
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ndle1:
Read the about page on how participate!
It's
not finished! Dirty Coast Press launched
just before Katrina with a mission to spread cool New Orleans tee designs.
Catastrophy hit, but their determined mindset prevailed!
With the present heat wave, they've got what we need!
Dear
Mr Zeldman. “In addition to your acting duties for the position
of somewhere between intenet ‘guru’ and ‘god,’ your
are now tasked with the duties of comment moderator. Good luck. Some
of us are crazy.
For in the same way that Lassie can have fleas, your website
will itch with the irritation of the 2% of your audience who are annoying,
nasty, and malicious. Good luck.”
Designing
Through the Storm by Walter Stevenson
As designers, we all face the inevitable slump. That point where our
creativity stagnates and we find ourselves at a dead end.
“... it’s more accurate to say that there are moments when
I’m a terrible designer. We’ve all experienced low points,
and whether they’re caused by tight timelines, hostile clients,
infighting, personal disasters, or something else entirely, we have to
find a way to work through them.”
_ _ _ _ _ _
Packaging
extravaganza! You've gotta see what Beef did
for Dom Perignon!!! Sensational!
ndle1:
Major updates completed in the Events section:
plan, search or browse by month. Use the month letter, for ex. S (for
September) and see what's up or happened during that month. Available
throughout listed years.
Make the most of your time to learn or shine! Verify if other events
or competitions overlap with ones you are organizing or intend to participate
to.
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle2:
Major updates completed in the NEWS
archive section!
Missed any news? Start with current month. Want an alternate navigation
to get an idea of what Netdiver likes to talk about and review? Doing
research for inspiration, a client, an independent project or school
assignment? Great place to look.
Maintained with lots of LUV (for design) and you in mind!
Want
to improve your illustration skills
by learning from experienced illustrators? How about downloading creative
exercises complete with visual elements and instructions?
Head out to Illustration
Class and start improving!
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
Another great initiative by Von Glitschka.
Where
does your brand rank? We asked how much care and attention you devote
to managing your own brand.
43% -> My own brand is my most important client.
23% -> I manage my brand, but not with its own plan.
37% -> My brand gets only my attention left over after my clients.
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ndle1:
via Icograda
He's
got groove Shive! Luv Kenneth Robin
style of superposed elements and yet, still looking contained illustrations.
Lennard
Schuurmans aka via via is an
artist with an edge and who has constructed a fascinating repository
of projects. Stunning illustrations and murals reveal a style expressed
with strong lines and vibrant colors.
See why he's got the pulse on and is in keep with the current international
digital culture scene.
Through the visit, you will see an ever present cartoonistic influence
especially those illustrations that bear watermarked dots fx which is
reminescent of early 50's illustration print style.
Even though the website is simple both from an interface and navigation
point of view border decorations and other visual elements add up to
framing well sections.
What I find most impressive in his gathered body of work is the consistency.
Throughout, ideas are pushed and expanded in a new way -- but his signature
is ever present.
Very much in keep with the current international digital culture scene.
If
you're going to let the images speak, why not build a photorama to display
your portfolio? This is what BUILD has
chosen to do.
Should
Community-Edited News Sites Pay Top Editors? by Mark Glaser
“If there is one push-and-pull balancing act that defines news
in the age of Web 2.0, it’s the question of how much power to give
the audience, the masses, the collective mind, and how much control remains
centralized.
This is the so-called Wisdom of Crowds as described by James Surowiecki
in his book by that name, but how do you motivate people to join these
crowds online and spend countless hours working on the sites without
pay?”
_ _ _ _ _ _
The Rise
of Crowdsourcing by Jeff Howe
“All these companies grew up in the Internet age and were designed
to take advantage of the networked world. But now the productive potential
of millions of plugged-in enthusiasts is attracting the attention of
old-line businesses, too.”
_ _ _ _ _ _
Paying
the top DIGG/REDDIT/Flickr/Newsvine users (or $1,000 a month for
doing what you're already doing) by Jason Calacanis
“Talent wins, and talent needs to get paid. I love paying talented
people so they can sleep well at night doing what they love. That's my
biggest joy in business: gettin' people paid.
As we say in Brooklyn: everyone's gotta eat.”
_ _ _ _ _ _
Kevin
Rose cracks (or how to know when you've won the debate) by
Jason Calacanis
“Kevin Rose is going to make millions of dollars (perhaps tens
of millions) when he sells DIGG to Yahoo (my best guess). When he does
sell DIGG--and trust me it will be sold before in the next 12 months--he
will have done it on the backs of those top 50 members. Those top 50
members will get exactly... ummm..... nothing.”
_ _ _ _ _ _
Want more background info on Jason Calacanis -- read this article:
Revenge
of the Dotcom Poster Boy by Eryn Brown
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ndle1:
Serious food for thought here. I've know Jason in
the way back years prior to his Silicon
Alley Reporter days and Brian and I met, when he was running the Meet
the Makers events.
These two are part of a very selective crowd of true movers
and shakers who never gave up their passion for the NET! I salute their
ingeniosity, vision and stamina!
Jewel!!!
Pete Barr-Watson currently works as a Senior Design Technologist at frog
design creating interactive experiences. Just found his blog appropriately
called Flashblog that is overflowing
with valuable information.
One of utmost interest would probably be the Creating
3D Carousels III Tutorial.
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ndle1:
To all the Flash technology enthusiasts - here's a gem of a resource
just for you!
CB2 reinvents
itself to meet new modern tastes. Check the very cool interactive catalogue.
Now that's online shopping!
Bezos
Expeditions invests in 37signals by Jason Fried
“What we’ve been looking for is the wisdom of a very special
entrepreneur who’s been through what we’re going through.
Someone who sees things a little differently and makes us feel right
at home. Someone with a long term outlook, not a build-to-flip mentality.”
_ _ _ _ _ _
ndle1:
Selling out? Wisdom is worth much more!
CG
Channel is an online magazine for Computer Graphics and VFX artists
and professionals.
Adhemas
Batista is the designer behind the popular Havaianas web
site we featured a while ago. It's always exciting to discover who's
behind an outstanding concept (even if, in his own admission in this
interview by LOUNGE72, it could be made better).
Anyway, have a look at his portfolio and see the scope of his projects.
Luv it! From Brazil with luv!
Pixartisan reloads
with a new issue. Interesting to see that Adhemas Batista is now part
of the gallery too!
So
what do you think of that? Mozilla
Partners with Real Networks!
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ndle1:
via Blulit
The EDWC releases
list of prizes! Deadline fast approaching: August 19.
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Initiative brought to you by the good folks at Maxtango!
Flash
Forward finalists are
up and ready to get your vote!
Love
requires action! Celebrating the launch of a very special project: The
Bridge presented by The Glue Network.
How about building a virtual bridge around the globe for charity?
24,902 miles = 24,902 people making a difference. We are NOT asking
for any money from you, just a few minutes of your time and all the creativity
you choose to muster.
Take a few minutes and browse the miles that are posted then make your
own mile and you can generate money for those in need.
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ndle1:
Now how cool is that? Netdiver endorses the project 100%! Why not help
in propagating da luv?
Dave
Schroeder has been a commercial composer and sound designer since 1996
and operates under Pilot Vibe.
Pick your mood and listen to sensational loops (some for sales too!
Dutch
Uncle is a brand new creative management agency with offices in
London, Copenhagen and a strong link to the creative agency Starfactory*
in Japan.
They represent a contemporary group of illustrators,
animators and designers from all around the world.
Did
you know? One of the best place to start when looking for references
for CSS, code, design, fonts, industry associations, books and more,
is the Toolbox. Broken down in
categories!
Look it up! It's updated frequently.
ISO50 has
been on my rising talents watch list for a couple of years now. Come
high or low, inspiring to see that Scott Hansen is unrelenting in producing
and promoting his artowrk!
Just released, a new set of eye candy posters. If you like, support!
The
Sandwich Generation is
about those caught between their aging parents and young children and
affects way more people than we think.
In honor of unsung heroes!!! Please view and circulate this short film
about a personal situation filmmaker Julie Winokur and her husband, photojournalist
Ed Kashi are presently going through. This is an emotionally charged
account of family caregiving where they expose their lives with unflinching
candor.
In the end - LOVE is what the world needs now. LOTS of it!
Discover
the amazing world of Marcel Weisheit! Follow him in composited visual
effects or extraordinary sessions photography projects... and then, some
more.
What he did with a minuter and turned it into a slow turning musical
box is genial!
Beautiful
beyond beautiful. Presenting two
create a multidisciplinary recently graduated duo, Lucy Nunn and
Tobie Snowdowne. For sure, a new ascending 2d-3d design powerhouse.
The photography is exceptional and I luv the black background which
sets up a dramatic stage to display projects.
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ndle1:
Designed by long time Netdiver resident,
talented Sam Dallyn.
Quilt
365 is a minimalist interface portfolio site with lots of negative space,
black and red accent in the navigation which allows featured projects,
ample room to shine. Smart!
Overall, nice promotional divingboard for Sunil Krishnan, who is an
all around polyvalent designer.
From India with luv!
Domestic
is an entirely new publishing house set up by Stéphane Aurriubergé
and Christine Montard .
Founded at the start of 2005, Domestic aims at producing design collections with
the particular feature of offering the end user the freedom of participating
in the design process.
Discover Domestic VYNIL! Ain't
that fabulous or what?
Just
found this project that dates a little while ago, 2002 in fact. The concept
and artistic process is still relevant today.
Embark on a 10 cities voyage with Subway
Life, whereas Antonio Jorge Gonçalves draws people sitting
around him.
As
you will see Lance Wyman is
so big time into corporate identity design that the projects he completed
has become a huge spiral.
Found
this self-explanatory Tee design. Corporate Propaganda Vol:1 is available
from the Concrete
Hermit store.
Luv it!
Start
a story is a project that encourages creativity and collaboration
to get people from all over the world involved in creating narratives.
Option to view projects in big format. That's smart!
One of the latest and most popular projects (see as some part of the
top design is continued in the bottom one?) is called 5x5.
What a great idea!
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ndle1:
Hats off to John Harrison for initiating the project and happens to be
one half of What What.
Isn't
time beginning to design with CSS? Well Simon
Collison might have written just the right book to set you off on
the right path.
This
is an unusual puppet
show!!! Part of Christopher Liechty opening presentation at the recent
Icograda Seattle Design Week.
Curious?
Did you know that you can actually magnetize surfaces, like a whole door???
For creative types like us that can lead to some pretty eccentric (crazy?)
ideas: like covering all cupboards in the kitchen??? Krylon
Magnetic Spray Paint.
GOOD
Creative describes as a branding and graphic identity studio runned
a creative duo: Collis and Cyan (oh
so appropriate a name, isn't it?
They just launched a superb website. Luv the black & white contrast
and grayscale shades. Minimalist, crisp interface, an outstanding navigational
system and really good projects in their portfolio.
From Sydney with luv.
“We
love it! But could you maybe just change the typeface, perhaps to something
a bit more erm, funky? Also we're not sure about the colour
of the tee - could you come back with a few alternatives? And the words...
we're not sure they're quite right?
Clients. Can't live with them...
Paulo says:
You know it. I know it. They know it.”
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ndle1:
This naughty pause is brought to you by Teetonic
Yosoh is
about computing and clay. Check his art and ad work!
“I really wanted to explore this computer thing. It was not until
a Christmas break, when the chair of the art department, gave me his
building key, that I got to really sit in front of the computer. For
the next 30 days me and my friend Jim would spend 15 or more hours a
day in front of the computer. It was during this time that I taught myself
Photoshop, Illustrator and QuarkXpress, to this day about 90% of what
I know I learned during that 30 days.”
Brilliant and outstanding creativity!
Douglas
Fisher incredible compositing photography! Available are a couple
production behind the scenes how-to!
This
is one of the slickest flash web site I've seen. The interface design
is simple but all functionalities are of exceptional quality and includes
tool tips. Wow!
From the nice play on word Anova (something
new and a star category) to the intriguing opening intro and how each
sections display projects as a mini slideshow that you can pause to the
cute mini-icons.
Almost perfection! Well done Jesper!
Oh!
This is nutz and crazy!!! Vitamin
Livin designed I.V. pots for plants... and much more!
Must see!
Ever
wondered what happened to StickerNation?
“Due to circumstances beyond our control we finally had to close
the doors on our self initiated project.
For five years the site documented and encouraged the street art sticker
scene. We are looking to get the archive of 30,000+ images back online
as soon as possible as a testament to the sites success in promoting
and inspiring artists all over the world.”
_ _ _ _ _ _
Ever wondered who was behind it? TAK! designed,
managed and edited the non profit site to the point where it was receiving
8000 visits a week.
This active design and art direction studio is also behind and founder
of the popular Pinpops. Respect!
Fantasy
Interactive is now hiring in both their New York and Stockholm
offices. Check their website for more info.
Using
full screen images remains a favored approach for architectural firms.
Why? Because you get an idea of what the size, context of project are,
and since most involves a minimal scale of let's say a store plan, it
is probably correct to assume that their working 'canvas' being the largest,
requires large images too..
Chamizo Arquitectos is an architecture,
engineering, urbanism and design studio carrying out projects virtually.
The best feature? The floating navigation that hides on the top right
side while you view a selection.
Photo
Festival Union is a new association of 28 European festivals of
photography that will be registered in September 2005. The main motivation
in establishing the Union is the exchange of the information between
associated events.
Furthermore, the association would like to be a point for wide cooperation
within the exhibitions, lectures, workshops, slide-shows and portfolio
reviews program.
Stringed
and bundled together new talents to discover:
/
Azart is subliminal beat! Frenetic feedback resonance in a pseudo-psychedelic
interface.
/
LA MOI is all about fashion! Very cute branding and flash site.
/
Squidinc character designs and story dev from an x-Disney/Warner
Bros gone freelance.
/
Randal Ford stunning photography! The shaprness, the contrast and
the intensity jumps right at you.
Another
interesting find. As designers, there are three things, apart from our
workstation, mobile and books we can't live without, and that is: dressing
with cool tees, carrying our stuff around and wallets.
Poketo has created a concept store
around these. As they say: “Totally eclectic, 100% unique, and
independent to the core.”
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ndle1:
The most successfull is probably the collection of 'wallets' designed
by 100 artists. Must see!
TechVector one
of the finest vector artist who strictly uses Illustrator to design,
has reloaded with new works.
Processing is
an open source programming language and environment for people who want
to program images, animation, and sound. It is used by students, artists,
designers, architects, researchers, and hobbyists for learning, prototyping,
and production.
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ndle1:
For more resources check the Toolbox.
Session by
Andreas Wannerstedt is a cool little flash animation!
-> more
news
^
