Design news | Dec 06
Julie Blackmon Domestic Vacations is a photographic essay both biographical and fiction, in the current social situation that represents a home in disarray, full of rowdy children and boisterous family gatherings.
These reflect not only our lives today and as children growing up in a large family, but also move beyond the documentary to explore the fantastic elements of our everyday lives, both imagined and real.
The Graphic Glass Ceiling by Michael Bierut
“Why do you — all three of you — suppose there are so few female graphic designers — or at least so few female superstar graphic designers? Is there a glass ceiling in graphic design?”
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ndlr: More than pink design - our Powagirrrls section!
LUV architecture! It's been one of my passion for many years and am attracted to modern design and solutions. View Studio 3lhd works!
Great! From Croatia with LUV!
The top 20 mistakes marketers make when rebranding - and how to avoid them by ReBrand a forum for case studies and programs focused on effective rebrands.
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via: Icograda
Since acquiring Macromedia, Adobe has wasted no time in recuperating flash to forward brand itself. The Creative Mind is such an attempt geared towards the hit generation that is their targeted audience.
To their credit, they have done a pretty darn good job. Use the I want to navigation to pick a section and click your heart away and discover sweet illos, animations and a quick overview of CS2 capabilities.
More than a great stunt!
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ndlr: Produced by Unit9
Pendulum circle, background changing colors and a most unusual interface experience awaits you at Artless, which btw is anything but art less.
If you wonder? This is a partial screen capture of an interesting website called the MoMB (short for Museum of Modern Betas) that has crossed the 2,000 barrier back in October.
If you're interested in the latest (techno based) betas launched, check it out!
AixSponza specializes in designing moving contents. They focus on communication solutions for broadcast, advertising, events, fairs, presentations and more.
Chek their new winter reel! Absolutely gorgeous!
And the winners are? Stereohype just released the shortlist (roughly in alphabetical order). There were a stunning 593 entries from 232 individuals/studios/collectives, which for us judges was borderline crazy to pick and choose the best!
Have a look!
POTIPOTI is celebrating their 3rd anniversary and offers this Christmas every order place through their website, delivery free of charge.
If you want cool sweaters and other cuties, look them up.
Flash on warp! Eeee Section Seven attempts to corner another book concept and method. Careful, panning is very fast and can be dizzying.
It's the time of the season! Wanna do something extraordinary?
Kiva.org lets you connect with and loan money to unique small businesses in the developing world. By choosing a business on Kiva.org, you can sponsor a business and help the world's working poor make great strides towards economic independence.
Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the business you've sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.
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via: Ready Made - Oct / Nov issue
For visual goodness, Lee Hasler operates under Eyeport and has redesigned and reloaded his portfolio. You've never seen pixel designs quite like his!
And still rank has one of the best in this category!
Another monsterish character on the loose to identify Mutanthands that has more than hands mutating. Delicious, luscious, technically advanced and a great sense of staging.
Check their reel.
It's the year of robotica and a return to hanging tv panels for ingreme who specializes in post-production. It's kitsch gone techy.. and it's ok and funny. Some clips in the 3D section are pretty good.
From Lisbon with LUV.
Worldwide Identity by Robert L. Peters
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Profoundly insightful, contextually relevant and outstanding production for this book published by Rockport.
Including contributions from 40 countries and 300 identities this is a monsterish load of data come true, an almost impossible summit to attain, and surely a potential nightmare to manage... but to author, who has fun (experience?) climbing real mountains, this topic is just the right challenge for him... a natural extension!
Forever curious, well travelled and a man of heart, his thirst to understanding and his openness makes this book probably one of the most relevant, not because super brands and logos are (again) disserted about, but because of his aptitude to convey his passion and knowledge in the most valuable way: words.
To be honest, I was a bit reluctant because... well... you know, not another one. But within a couple of pages reading (just the intro is worth the book) - I was floored. Really!
This is not a gorgeous book to only look at. It's a book to take to your fav spot and read... and reap. It's a feast for the eyes and the mind. In fact, that is exactly what a great book should be.
If I was a writer, this is the book I would have like to have written!
MUST READ!!! Anti–Social Media by Andy Rutledge
“Mediocrity is the only possible result of a wide sampling of opinion or input. The “highest” anything is largely held by the masses as being discriminatory and elitist.
So only the lowest common denominator wins out. The point is that in this sort of environment excellence does not survive.
Excellence is not the sum of opinions. Excellence is not born of consensus. Excellence is by its very nature something far outside the average. In fact, not even good is found in the average. Average is comfortable. Average requires no great effort. Average requires nothing exceptional. Average anything is…, well, just mediocre.”
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ndlr: Couldn't have said it better. For years, mediocrity has been my pet peeve. In fact, in a recent interview that's exactly what I said. Mediocrity, is the mother of all ills.
One thing I've always favored is excellence. Not perfection. Excellence in giving 100% to anything and all in life that is pursued.
YOUARE is an ongoing research project documenting and cataloging global diversivity and aims to become an earth-wide map of the relationships between the infinite diversity of things and places.
cool website and luv the navigation system!
Celebrating the brilliant minds behind Enigmind. Juan Carlos says that “with 2,500 lines of ActionScript, it took them a full year to develop develop and organize. Idea was show the profile and portfolio of our advertising agency with a very unique style.”
Well they certainly achieved their goal!
Oh my!!! If you're into shoes and would like to funky up how you lace them, then 31 Different Ways To Lace Shoes by Ian W. Fieggen, is just what you were looking for.
The Sawtooth Lacing, Double Back Lacing and Zipper Lacing are my favs.
Get ready to see stunning pictures taken by Vincent Fournier. In the tour operator section - he's well travelled - you will discover that his vantage point of view turns out compelling compositions.
For the viewer, some of the apparent dichotomy between forefront and background are both beautiful and unsettling.
Huan Tran has a stunning illustrator portfolio Leakingfaucet who often uses overdrawn lineart to define the message in the compositions. Must see.
Stickfort is home of Adam Haynes. He has a penchant for putting automotive items in the most unexpected compositions.
Another artist that has got a fascination with automotive parts, with somewhat of a grafiti style to it and embedded in urban settings. Meet Jason Thielke.
Nick Brandt luvs animals and his sepia tinted photography is breath taking. You sense the fierceness of the wild as well as the common thread between all: this is where these creatures inhabit. How he did to capture these is quite a feat in itself.
Fantastic!
ME studio is a recently launched small print design agency based in Amsterdam. Nice projects, promising talent!
Storyville? A stunning concept around a special reserve coffee coupled with a going on the road mentality.
Fantasy abounds in Hypehopewonderland. The mini-scenes comprises so much details - you're drawn in the interior world of the artist.
After the immense success of Bravia, following suite is Coca Cola Blak new FR campaign... this time it's not multi-colored balls thrown down a San Francisco hill but all shades of brown illustrated bubbles... hum... circles that are filling the screen.
To their credit - it's fantastic use of flash! Luv the transitions and all the very in the now youth with attitude style. If nothing else, they've nailed their target audience by feeding them lots of the stuff that appeals to them.
As for the beverage itself...
Secret Santa reveals his identity by Maria Sudekum Fisher
For 26 years, a man known only as Secret Santa has roamed the streets every December quietly giving people money. He started with $5 and $10 bills. As his fortune grew, so did the gifts.
“Even in literature and art, no man who bothers with originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell truth (without caring two pences how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, will be become original without ever having noticed it.”
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via: Modern Dog Design
The exhibit, Seeing Red (35 designers confront contemporary issues), is a forum for designers to speak out, raise awareness and affect change. It is an opportunity to discuss the issues we care most about in a format we all recognize: posters.
More than an exhibition or even a dialogue, Seeing Red is also a fundraiser, as all profits from poster sales benefit a charity of the designer's choice.
IF stands for Imaginary Forces and imagination they've sure have got plenty of, have a look at their reel. The website is in flash with skewed panels for the visuals and easy navigation - that is if you figure out to click on right or left end side of the pictures.
The spectrum of projects is large and they've turned out some pretty amazing work.
Although they're announcing that a new website will be available soon, Hula+Hula present site explores whimsical navigation systems that are differenst for each portfolio sections.
From Mexico with luv.
Fork Unstable job opps. Got a hot portfolio and too much time on your hands? They're looking for just a few good men. And women.
What design means by Henning von Vogelsang
“Clients asking for variation happens out of natural reasons.
Clients are insecure about their choices, just like you are insecure about which is the best mountain bike you can get for money.
You want to do some research before you settle for a solution, and so does your client.
In order to make him understand why you chose red over green, you will have to guide him through your thought-process.
You will have to show him what made you think red was better than green and have him agree with you.
Following this pattern, selling your work will become a lot easier.”
Mediafix redux book (portfolio)! Quite a feat, the print version is as the website. Also, if you interested they're on the lookout for des créatifs!
From France with LUV!
I don't know if you've watched The Inconvenient Truth film yet, if you didn't, please do. Why? Because as designers we are (in)directly contributing - well at least those doing print projects - to one of the highest source of pollution which is the print industry.
Sustainability, change and environmentally conscious choices are top on my list of priorities, and if you visit Renourish, a resource dedicated to us, you will find information and alternatives.
Why care? Because as communicators, we can influence and make substantial changes by our choices.
/ Azul de Corso has gotten ahead since first being listed. Her work has been featured in books, magazines and a recent portfolio spot in Computer ARTS.
Way to go!!!
An agent de photographes, Lise Goldfard has surrounded herself with only the best of the best. Shown in the backgroun one of Denis Felix photograph! You're invited! If you're a pro or a serious amateur, see what these fantastic photographers show and learn from them.
Another must see!
Metropolis Magazine is celebrating their 25th Anniversary and have released a collection of their covers. Go back in time and see their first issue July 1981 which included articles about sustainable design which became an on-going topic through the years.
Many more years to theym who have consistently covered the architecture design culture evolution.
One the most creepy but harmless creature and character creator, one that uses dazzling colors and chaotic layouts organized à la Paul Klee (influence?) and prolific illustrator and toy designer Tim Biskup relaunched his new website!
If you've never seen his stack pack vinyl toys - you must!
Make TJ Drink is an hilarious marketing stint. Two guys testing combinations of 168,894 drinks that you choose. Mix recipe will appear.
Try it and see for yourself what they think of your choice! Fun!
A flamboyant product designer Patrick Norguet collection of works is a must see. His style is modern classic with a touch of retro lines and funk especially in textile choices and/or surface treatments!
Pay attention to his chairs! Sleek and elegant! The transparent Rainbow chair looking like a bar code is simple eye candy.
SYRUP/NYC is looking for a Flash Developer/Creative Technologist and a Designer to work in New York. Now that's a way cool opportunity since that studio develops great projects.
When there is no end to imagination and experimentation, the field of typography has got a chief scientist. Created by Oded Ezer, Typosperma is the second experimental typo project in his biotypography series.
The Ultimate Portfolio by Mark Ramshaw
“.. As a designer, you need to look at yourself as a product.
The key tool for active self-promotion is the internet, where a website can provide visitors with instant access to a digital portfolio.
.. If you want to make your mark with a portfolio, then you need to be creative, but there are eight million ways to blow it.
.. A unified presentation is always preferable to a comprehensive folio of half-baked ideas.”
Brilliant portfolio for Kevin Robertson. I especially like his print pieces most of them carry outstanding concepts with a very clean and minimalist approach.
Nice, very-very nice corporate website for Tolleson Design. Luv the simple visual interface with lots of white space and well presented projects.
Is it a lamp? Is it a new discoball? Both and more? When kitchen fans go bling-bling as you can see in the Elica Collection, you know that industrial design has crossed another threshold and stepped into a much in need territory.
When I think of the boxy white and boring (and useless) fan above my stove... mmm... Why in the first place did they have to be so ugly?
Exhibition 'MIX06 : One Step Back, Two Steps Forward, the culmination of an Indigenous/Immigrant exchange project between students at the Hartford School of Art and Monash. There's a full description of the MIX06 initiative (Migrant Indigenous eXchange 2006) in the about section of the website and view the website gallery of student works.
When design is at the service of addressing pressing issues.
studio804 specializes in alternative building techniques. Most interesting is the 20 weeks study of Modular3, an experiment housing project done by the firm and interns.
“In the end, this year's house is more than prefab construction. Modular3 explores the potentialities of prefab: expedience, solidity, and beauty. An experiment into what is possible and what should be demanded out of our built environment, the dynamic spaces and experiences modular3 offers show how architecture can be a subtle mediator between the tangible and intangible.”
From this to this!!! Amazing project and amply documented.
Desudesu has got nice visual funk! Luv the opening sequence and some of his short animations are spunkily delicious.
Ann Woo pushing photography to its outmost limits. Shown: a splendid composition and the lighting is so beautiful!
Piu Studio is an architectural firm based in Italy. Nice projects, that even included restauration of a couple of palazzo.
Intense and vivid colors. Sharp compositions. Jamie Kripke has got this edge and an eye to capture the uncanny. A point of view that would be completely missed by most of us.
The beauty and power of photography is that the eye of the photographer is lent to us, the viewer, and permits to see through the mind of another person the world, people and life's moments in sometimes profoundly new ways.
Grungy and edgy website for Open Source and electronik musik festival! Edition 2007 is in the making.
Wow! Javier Ferrer Vidal has not only an excellent eye for photography but his website is one of the most original I've seen built for a photographer.
Unsung as in unsung heroes? You bet, nice CSS for a website dedicated to promoting emerging designers, as in fashion design from all over the world complete with a listing of all designers with a small bio.
cool! LUV indie projects!
The Wonder Association is a collective of talented illustrators where refined line art are superimposed over brash and broad backgrounds with intention to surprise viewer by some of the perspectives used.
Rojkind arquitectos taking on the future of urban design. Innovative and modern views mixed into nice results.
If you were given 2-5 years to live, what would you do?
“Be a founding member and key part of a landmark motion picture about what it means to be alive, what it means to die, and what is important in life.”
What is Latex for Fun?
“The project started with a simple idea: create disposable designer toys with pure d.i.y. ethics. We started drawing over balloons what we would like to draw over vinyl toys, but we couldn't afford. So we tried it and liked it, and decided to spread out the idea and make something else out of it.”
Ora Ïto is a fantastic product designer and his website follows suite! The mosaic is constantly refreshed, so not all same projects are available.
Must see!
What do you know? He ponders the infinite. Veers off course. Has an idea. The next big thing from Gary? Go-HiFi!
Check the Genesis 2.0 section.
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ndlr: Site developed by Planet Propaganda.
In2media has got two job openings for freelancers: one for a Senior Digital Designer and the other for an ActionScript Developer.
Nice limited edition stencil Tshirts by CIOOMOYOKO. Luv the single color ones with empty space that uses the shirt color as complementary color.
Dave Torres via LAB25 is into young fahion & lifestyle design mostly related to extreme sports. Don't let the skull deter you, there is a cool flash website and loads of projects.
See design trends? Probably the skull theme is ranking ex-equo with the Rorschach inkblot test like designs.
Thorsten Konrad is young and already dabbing into multi-discipline projects with a consistent level of quality. Someone to watch for.
His website navigation is a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it works.
He says: “I'm a fellow atmosphere maker.” Check Yew Kee Chung aka Matte digital art portfolio complete with small slide shows.
Where do great talent go? At AREA17, home of extra prolific creative execution master Arnaud Mercier (who was listed as a design forte recipient back in 2002) et al.
Luckily for us, most of his outstanding past work is still available for viewing.
Now what do you think of the information tree-like navigation?
Again, LUV his work!
Want to adopt a My Misio and place this luvely crochet knit kitten in situational pictures and build a fantasy story around it??
Childish? Then why not? This is a cool idea.
A mesmerizing illustrator, Riki Blanco portfolio website holds a large quantity of work. Meant to provoke and enchant, visual constructions defy usual perceptions.
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via: Diseco.es
If and only because of the rotating portfolio pieces, Zago Design won't disappoint.
Smooth operating is the portfolio site of Bob Corporaal which has gone through many transitions and versions. His work is really good and consistent.
Another evolving studio, red design is still red hot!
A working duo has updated their website in a new simple version: Practicing Farm
Les Chinois recrutent! Ils sont à la recherche d'un directeur artistique.
Just found a fantastic flash site! Fluid which titles as dynamic media design is a little visual and code marvel. Luv the tiling navigation and the popping up of the miniature project section that contains information about it.
Basically, no efforts spared to make the interface and information displayed enjoyable.
