Netdiver Mag

Corporations endorsed Helvetica as the font to use. Others design posters and packaging in Helvetica. Others dream of possibilities and make a film about Helvetica. While others cook with Helvetica?!?! Thanks to Beverly Hsu who created the Helvetica cookie-cutters.

Now that’s font-luving dedication.

“Every once in a while – often when we least expect it – we encounter someone more courageous, someone who choose to strive for that which (to us) seemed unrealistically unattainable, even elusive. And we marvel. We swoon. We gape..

Luck has nothing to do with it. It is really all about the strenght of their imagination; it is about how they constructed the possibilities for their life..

.. Our abilities are limited only by our perceptions..

I recommend the following course of action.. DO what you LOVE, and don’t stop until you get what you LOVE. Work as hard as you can, imagine immensities, don’t compromise, and don’t waste time. Start now. Not 20 years from now, not two weeks from now, Now.”

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Excerpts from the Look Both Ways (Illustrated essays on the intersection of life and design) book by Debbie Millman. The book has no images but it is designed. The layout is disconcerting and not always legible. It’s personal, and meant to be experience as such, personally.

So personally, the above words made a difference in my life.

Since first featured, Marcel Restrepo aka Leftyhand has moved on to create a fertile career as an illustrator using her exquisite drawing skills most with a hand-drawn look and feel.

Matthew Billington likes to play with parts: parts of vintage photography, parts of typography, parts of distressed backgrounds to create collages that may or not have weird little stories going on.

“There has been little development of the toaster since the start of the century, whilst other appliances have developed and improved incorporating new technologies and thinking, toaster have remained relatively untouched.”

Well George Watson just reinvented it!

Destill is Mike Harrison pod on the web and this young illustrator sure knows how to draw. Check the movement in these Nike illustrations. Wow!

Just luv the imitating pixel design meets iconographic meets flat 2d meets boxy style of Cyrus Deboo vector illustrations in his editorial portfolio! Now that’s talent to cram so much info in a legible, clear and interesting way.

BTW he’s ready for new assignments.

Snapshots of Provence is an experimental website for the local tourist board which you can navigate two ways. Pick pictures on the left to visit by regions which includes small video clips or use the wheel on the right for an alternate navigation.

This comprehensive sound and visual experience is an excerpt from the travel book of photographer Thomas Duval and sound designer Tacteel and produced by UZIK.

Now who would not want to influence the future? Drop your message in this time capsule that will be opened in Barcelona in 2159!

Graciela Goncalves aka Animalito based in Argentina, designed and illustrated this gorgeous Live the Love poster. As her handle infers, she really is into creating hugely huggable fantasy animals and mysterious characters. Just what succulent and vivid dreaming is about.

Luv her color palette!

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Featured: Revista Collectiva – Greatest Hits submission

New and stunning new work by IWANT design! Pay attention to the 50th 12″ design for independent underground dance label Buzzin’Fly. Having designed everything for the label since they began seven years ago, this landmark release has been given the special treatment it deserves.

The 12″ will be a strictly limited gold foiled deluxe collectible edition, pressed on 180gm heavyweight vinyl including a poster featuring all previous releases. Each one will carry a unique code that will allow the buyer to download a 320kbps MP3 of the release for free. There will also be 50 copies that will be hand finished!

Fast and furious and dazzling the per second stream of CATK new reel who is a talented animator and motion graphics addict.

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Really enjoyed the After Hours (tv) show packaging!

No kiddin’ these are real! Here’s to taking a concept and literally translating it into products. Anybody wants Porky Chop Pork or about a Meat Medley with plush toy and pillow (all from 100% recycled materials, from dye to fleece)?

Brought to you by none other than Sweet Meats the brainchild of Lauren Venell! Hats off to a new Powagirrrl!

GILLES et DADA is a nonsense art fashionbrand for men and women. Each new photoshoot really is pushing our perceptions of how to present a new season collection. The Between allows for deconstructivism and other computer generated alterations to convey (yet again) their unique approach to wearables and making a fashion label stand out.

Admire their creative audacity. Shot by xtra talented Tokyo22.

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Other collections: Walking through light – ID09

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via: Benedicte

David Pino is an Amsterdam based graphic designer and lead singer in a band called El Pino & the Volunteers. Watch their really awesome DIY letter based idea to show the lyrics for the music video.

Can you fathom the time it took? Awesome!

Alberto Hernandez is a Spanish graphic designer who just finished his MA Graphic Design at London College of Communication, has put a nice editorial and print portfolio and is currently looking for assignments.

As if passing nonchalantly through different spaces or strolling streets or hapchancing through elaborated stagings, Monika Schürle captures picture perfect randomness.

She can draw too! Her drawings resembles a somewhat flat and as color explosive version of her paper sculptures. If you have not seen Jen Stark artwork and paper sculptures yet, you should.

Now that is original! The chairs are created by heating and pressing a seat-shaped former into a stack of common plumbing tubes. Meltdown Chair version #1 and version #2 by Tom Price.

Resn Web Reel posted originally on ASCIImeo, showing the best videos in the universe, in text (unfortunately no nav is available) + (site now gone to lalaland).

(Not Motion GFX Reel)

Must see!

Who wants chocolate? I do – I do.. and I’m not alone! The benefits of eating (high quality) chocolate are real and the joy of both giving and receiving is still a strong tradition.

So how about I introduce you to a company that has taken the business to a 2.0 level? 100% Chocolate Cafe has developed a fabulous concept and packaging that can entices to explore 56 diferent flavors from all over the globe.

The website (though in Japanese only) is an eye candy jewel.

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Each flavor shows a propriety chart! Wow!

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Check the Tab Letter section to compose a message and get a personalized box ready! Tried it check out the results. Now that is cool!

See Clear Channel (airport) kiosk prototype with nifty functionalities animated by Peiter Hergert.

Don’t have time to personalize your Twitter background. Here is a genial idea by COLOURLover: Themeleon and also a quick overview and link to a tutorial by Jarel Remick.

Did some exploration and using a single palette choice (there are a staggering 724,730 background patterns and 1,083,156 color palettes to choose from) came up with the following.

Rocking app! Have fun!

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via: Collis Ta’eed

Furiously wild, crazy, funny, audacious and talent soaked photography work by Studio Edelweiss located in Belgium. Every staging is calculated, compositions well planned, lighting perfect.. but seeping through is this sense of protoganists being caught in the moment, creating an immediate contorted reality that is both weird and familiar.

Even the logo resembles a font parody. Wonder if it’s intentional. Maybe either Mich Van Den Berghe and Jan Matthys will tell.

Designers, illustrators, photographers, design studios, collectives/crews, agencies, students, visual artists… you are welcome to submit an innovative, creative, exciting, personal and experimental artwork inspired by the theme:

WHAT DOES USA MEAN TO YOU?

Selected works will be featured through online exhibit and book.

Extended deadline: February 20

Cool laptop bags website just launched: Bythreads. Behind a graphic design firm from Denmark. But there’s more to it.

They produce the bags in Vietnam. They have a full-disclosure policy. The artisans have a stake in the company. They chose the long road to quality instead of the usual expedite one (short-term profits by having the lowest expenses usually equalling in cheap labor and we, know what that is, and we, are strongly against any). So they do business with heart? How’s that as a paradigm?

Quite a story!

Want a sweet deal? Early bird pricing to FITC Toronto. Use code:netdiver for extra 10% off!

You gotta see the augmented reality Nike True City (make the hidden visible) full trailer designed by AQKA. Wow the future just got here!

The strange and forever expanding world of Nate Williams whose illustrations hold true to memories of child-like doodlings strapped to serious topics. Check what he’s been up to lately, and if you like his style, check the art licensing section to see some products to which his illos were applied to.

Keep it up mate!

Another exceptionally well-done website for Toshiedo agency, hailing from Australia. “Like so many internet companies founded in the late 90s, Toshiedo started with a guy in an attic with a mission. Disappointed with what he saw on the web, James Mason set out with a goal to create online experiences to satisfy his own expectations.

Driven by passion and a meticulous attention to detail, an attic-based operation quickly grew into a recognised agency attracting a list of glamorous clients.”

Not bad uh?

Keep hitting back to it! Although at first sight might look like a mumble jumble interface, Public Class website is a really well organized grid-like interface which uses the block effect to display content.

Luv the boxy clean look.

:output is the biggest international competition for students in design and architecture. Works carried out by students usually disappear into drawers after presentation to a relatively small college audience. There the work remains invisible. We want to change that. The works selected by the jury will be published in the yearbook.

:output Grand Prix: 3.000 Euro

Deadline: February 15

Los Angeles based, working regularly in NYC, Kimberly Nunneley is a photograher with an eye for catching poetic beauty. Her takes are young and fresh and evidence, she’s staying away from current (fashion) trend of showing it all with as much trash and decadence as possible, trend that is long past the threshold of borderline sexploitative photography.

Some portraits are little jewels.

We need more like her.

Call for entries. WOLDA is the worldwide logo design annual that is extending its foundation to become a global awards scheme.

Enter and get one ’09 book copy free of charge!

Deadline logos 2009: February 10

Oh! You gotta try this. Who is your type? by Pentagram. Fill in name — use this password: Character — answer the 4 questions (turn on your speakers) and tada! You are done and profiled.

The results are accompanied of a small and succinct narrative about the font and its designer(s). Luv the Brit accent of anonymous anchor, so class! In order to test it, did a first round under my real name, then under a nom de plume changing two variants (from emotional to rational / from understated to assertive).

Shown the results :))

Featured: as Carole Guevin

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Featured: as Karl Laurence

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via: frog design

Found this brilliant and in your face Pfizer campaign shot by Dylan Collard. Denouncing the harzards of buying conterfeit medication online and showing the dire (potential) consequences. Point made don’t you think?

“Fake medication online. You could end up paying with more than just a credit card.”

One of the companies vested in producing outstanding (viral) campaigns for their products and design competitions is UNIQLO. Access all their creative projets to date from the same starting page. Terrific!

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via: siteinspire

Serious attitude at work here. Really like the palette of this digital art montage by Kervin Brisseaux.

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And these wacky woofer speakers designed by Sander Mulder.

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via: Designaside

Limited edition boards designed by Antonio Carusone (a graphic designer obsessed with grid systems – runs Aisleone) as a special collaboration with Buddy Carr Skateboards.

Totally awesome!

Effektive is all about graphic design and communication. Independent and owned by Greig Anderson, hailing from Glasgow, they work across a wide range of disciplines, from identity and branding, print media to web design!

Won’t say it enough, their work is brilliant!

Can’t get enough of these wall stickers by Veer. Spell out a really swashy “Typography” with these characters and flourishes, or set them any which way you want.

Ouch! I.D.’s Executioners: Julie Lasky (she was the last editor) on what really was wrong at ID Magazine:

“I showed evidence of I.D.’s global stature and urged the establishment of a strong web presence that could serve as a window on the world and open new avenues for profit (not to mention shore up I.D.’s reputation for featuring cutting-edge design).

On each occasion, I was politely told that the typical buyer of advertising space lacked the time and intelligence to grasp complicated ideas such as I had just presented. Nor in six years was any notable investment made in a dedicated sales staff, reader research or web development for I.D.”

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Is Print next to fold? F+W Media ousts Editor-in-Chief Emily Gordon by Stephanie Murg (of interest article since it’s the same publisher as I.D.)

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via: Design Observer

Emigre releases Priori Acute font designed by Jonathan Barnbrook which includes a set of ornamental elements to create patterns.

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via: Zeldman

Certified conflict free! Bling rough diamonds r¿ng by Sruli Recht! First time I ever see such stones and to think that all the sparkle lays into mastery cutting.. What a genial idea!

As a powagirrrl, would you ever want or wear something like this (engagement) ring? I’d luv to have your comments.

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via: Josh Spear

Gerd Arntz designed around 4000 signs, which symbolized key data from industry, demographics, politics and economy, for the visual language Isotype.

The International System Of TYpographic Picture Education was developed by the Viennese social scientist and philosopher Otto Neurath (1882-1945) as a method for visual statistics. Gerd Arntz (1900-1988) was the designer tasked with making Isotype’s pictograms and visual signs.

Can you imagine the task???

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He also was one of the first doing graphics that are referred to as data vizualisation or information graphics today. Check the Statistics section to see examples. Now that’s being ahead of your times. Pretty impressive isn’t it?

Another of my recent new fav design studio, Shotopop relaunched a new website which is a sharp break from their previous iteration. Reloaded with their latest new projects, gotta luv their wonderful creative output and originality.

Won’t spoil the surprise but Via Roma (tagline: Italian food with personality) rebranding by united* is “more than just packaging, this is about how to create a total voice for a brand and bringing it to life.”

Literally! Luv the concept! Check it out!

Totally awesome new website for Søren Rose a product designer who releases a yearly limited edition of interior design and furniture. His style is best described as what the new modern signifies: sparingness of lines and material, condensed functionalities and sharp angles making strong visual statements.

Michael Paul Young is prolific and can’t stand still. He just released yet another version of his website and as usual, he’s delivering the kind of stuff that makes me crank up the efforts to be excellent. Definitely still leading the way to great projects.

so+ba (a creative duo composed of Alex [so]nderegger and Susanna [ba]er) defines itself as Swiss made in Japan (!!) and are total pros in the line of art direction, illustration and editorial design and of course, typically inclined to use lots of typographic treatments mostly commissioned from the retail, fashion and cultural entities who ain’t fearing lots of edge..

The sheer size of their portfolio is a testament to both their ability to land clients and deliver the goods.

San Francisco based, Jeff Singer is an editorial and commercial photographer who captured these very intense, vividly color saturated and busting with life portraits.

Although there is not much info about ruiz+company, the quality of their work speaks amply. Their packaging designs are exactly what I find most attractive: minimalist, bold typography and sparingness of details seasoned with just the right amount of edge.

Check Archive I to see more.

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Featured: Cooked in Barcelona

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Featured: Chocolat Factory

Giorgio Pesce opened Atelier Poisson in 1995, after working in Switzerland then New York, and trainings in Spain and France. Meeting Tibor Kalman had a great influence to the conduct of the atelier, in order to have a clear vision of the projetcs without compromise.

Clients are mainly cultural and institutional events/objects, always in charge of the entire image, from poster to programs, sometimes through museography and signage.

This is a mammoth size achievement: The Lego Kitchen created by Munchausen, a duo formed by Parisian designers Simon Pillard and Philippe Rosetti, where they customized a basic IKEA kitchen island bar and then spend a full week covering it with more than 20,000 Lego pieces!!!

Have a look!

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via: Design You Trust

The Third & The Seventh by Alex Roman is a full-CG animated piece that tries to illustrate architecture art across a photographic point of view where main subjects are already-built spaces. Sometimes in an abstract way. Sometimes surreal. Made with 3dsmax, Vray, AE and Premiere.

I can assure you, you’ve never seen somthing like this. Will blow you away!

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via: Tim Murtaugh

Die cut gift tags of strange creatures by illustrator John Metcalf.

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Featured: Happy Birthday

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Featured: Get Better

Troika is a multi-disciplinary art and design practice with backgrounds in graphic and communication, art, product design and engineering. They develop a variety of self-initiated and commissioned projects that are both engaging and demanding to the user, from printed matter to product design and custom art installations.

Their approach focuses on the contamination between the arts and design disciplines and is born out of the same love for simplicity, playfulness, and an essential desire for provocation.

Digital By Design.

Yugo Nakamura aka Yugop is one of earlier flash and interactive explorers who went on to be part of the pioneers of using rich media online. As creative director of tha ltd. he was part of developing the MUJI rhythm tv ad series along store collaterals. The videos are deliciously made and convey the minimal and modern brand approach to product design.

Worth seeing all.

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Also tha ltd. has developed so many outstanding websites (check their portfolio) and did you know? They are behind the popular FFFFOUND! and have developed an iPhone app for it: iFOUND!

Marcus Eriksson aka Subdisc is not only an xtra talented creative director, graphic designer, typographer and aspiring photographer, but also a man on a mission. Since ’99 he has consistently brought design goodness to many projects mostly in the field of sports and entertainment.

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Recently, he embarked on a total new journey. In fact, A Journey To Zero, will be conducted under the tutelage of Richard Saul Wurman, TED founder, who will guide the conversation around zero emission mobility.

The website is a little jewel in ref with interactive exploration, and the content (which incldes videos) as challenging as the navigation. You can actually join the movement and make a poster, download the font, take the pledge and spread the word around you.

Fiktiv is about searching, exploring, finding, playing, words, work and their website is gorgeous! Luv the thumbnail wall that cycle new material upon refresh. Luv-luv their second-level page reusing the simple yellow banner with their animated tagline and big arrows.

Did I mention it? Their portfolio is spectacular.

Was surprised, oh joy!

In need of inspiration for textures, forms and a méli-mélo of design artifacts? WOWGREAT is a great spot.

OFFF is a cutting-edge festival exploring the latest in digital aesthetics and software language. OFFF festival brings together the artists that are breaking ground and shaping new standards in media and design, becoming the essential meeting point for the international scene of digital creation.

OFFF 2010 will take place in Paris, France. It is an exciting challenge and a very special way to celebrate a decade of post-digital creation.

Super early tickets available till January 31.

Upcoming: June 24-26

Peter Rigaud is a giant amongst photographers. He distinguishes himself as a master of portraiture by deft use of context to avoid superficial or corporate-like-we-see-all-the-time captures and that under the non-stop pressure of assignments.

The sheer amount and variety of his work is dazzling and most of it, hold a super highly glossed feel that truly honors the people in the photographs. Hats off to an empathic and true image making artist.

Nice! Love #3 identity for a cool inner city cafe that is part Japanese pop and part kitschy, small town diner by Deuce Design hailing from Australia. The ID was applied thoughout the cafe to stationery collateral and signage graphics.

This is promising! Mix George Clooney and Meryl Streep voices over an animation flick and intelligence sparks all over the screen. Watch the Fantastic Mr. Fox trailers (1) (2) and see for yourself.

Have a look at Pentragram ‘The Making of Fantastic Mr. Fox’ book.

Funny has just been reinvented!

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Featured: Trailer 1

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Featured: Trailer 2

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via: Diseco

Wonder what this is? Aircondition is a reverse stop-motion animation by Oliver Laric. Must see!

Revisiting the portfolio of Edvard Scott happy to see that since first featured on ND, he has developed a rich and varied body of work which is unique, candid and bold.

Have a look at Sarah Kahn diploma project which is based around 5 different themes: compression, screenshot, copy/paste, use’s profile and code.

“The stake was to develop the emotional intellect delivered by some computing tools and functions, from virtual to manual.”

Consistently, strange, litteral metaphor and concept involving photography and paper sculptures to illustrate the series of promotional flyers and posters for Bangers events at the cultural stage EKKO in Utrecht designed by

Adam Haynes operating under the pseudo Stickfort, is an extra talented illustrator. He has drawn these jaw dropping posters. Looking at the perspective makes me dizzy, conveying accurately the adrelin rush of extreme sports as depicted by him.

Luv the choice and unusual palette of colors.

Luv the work of Katie Kirk whose illustrations are often kept very simple yet elegant by using solid elements in a limited color palette against an opaque background. Shown, two of the New York series.

You can also have a sneak peek at her home and studio spaces. Lovely!

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Featured: Coney Island Katie

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Featured: New York Nate

Really enjoy these two identity and packaging solutions Campbell Hay (London and L.A. based studio) designed.