alchemi

Mac dock icon spelling

2009-07-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

Mac dock icon spelling: "Words spelled from apps in the Mac icon dock."

World's First Stop Motion Banner Ads For Coraline

2009-01-28T08:43:00.000-08:00

We just finished creating these banner ads for Coraline, coming out February 6th. Laika is the genius behind the animation of Bobinsky. Be sure to watch in HD!

New Coraline Trailer

2009-01-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

We just finished cutting the trailer for Coraline. The movie will be out February 6th

HD Version

Coraline Website

PICA TBA 2007 ad

2007-07-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

We (FI5T) just finished a spot (Pop Art) for the 2007 PICA (Portland Institute of Contemporary Arts) TBA (Time-Based Art) Festival (Festival). Watch it. Then go. It's pretty fun and there's some good performances. You can download a pdf of the events here.

finally, clarity: 08 presidential candidate issue stances

2007-07-21T13:17:00.001-07:00

This is something that I've wanted to see for some time now. 2Decide has compiled a chart of all major campaign issues and which side of the fence 2008 presidential candidates fall.

We often get so caught up in the fanfare of campaign or the charisma of a particular candidate that we forget if the actually represent the views we espouse. This chart acts as a good check of reason.

Genius and geniuser

2007-07-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

Watch one.

Then two.

Graphis Diagrams

2007-07-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

I am an absolute sucker for beautiful information graphics, and this collection of graphic diagrams from Graphis is one of the nicest I've seen. There are a few available used copies at Amazon which has both Graphis Diagrams 1 and 2.

For more in information design, see Feltron.

From: Things to Look At via swissmiss and dendeffe's flickr photoset

Economist Ads

2007-07-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've seen some of these, but I just thought I'd share.

Nike Vintage Collection

2007-07-17T09:36:00.001-07:00

Nike has just released their Nike Vintage Website to reveal the new Vintage Line. A nice throw back (though heavy on the cheese) to the the early days of Pre, Bowerman and Phil selling kicks out of a van. The shoes are beautiful, with details to mimic actual vintage. From awkward hand-cut swooshes to yellowed foam outsoles to dirtied laces, Nike has done an excellent job of keeping the feel of the original.

Maybe Nike should get a a 70's van and drive around to track meets and sell these shoes. Maybe.

Alls I knows is I'll be in line at the employee store come July 21st. Gonna get me six pairs of Waffle Racers; one for every day but Sunday. That's church.

stolen red giant tcr2

2007-07-14T12:23:00.001-07:00

alchemi gets a lot of readers in the Portland area, so I'm asking for your help.

My 05 Red Giant TCR2 Road Bike was stolen from Old Town/Chinatown in Portland. It was locked on a bike rack inside a locked garage. It was taken from NW 4th and Flanders, probably by the drug dealers that hang out in that area.

It is a Medium frame with a carbon fork and carbon seatpost. It has red water bottle cages, a green and black saddle bag under the seat, black clip-in pedals and front and rear led lights.

It had NO TUBE on the rear tire.

Please help me find this. It's my baby. Please respond to my Cragslist posting if you have any information. Thank you.

Wii Power Pad

2007-07-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

I guess I can give up on this now...

Wii Fit

2007-07-11T17:07:00.000-07:00

Nintendo announced today a new peripheral for the Wii. The Wii Fit is a device that allows you to do push-ups, balance exercises and jumping-rope to instruction on your Wii. The game monitors your health rating and helps to get you in shape with games.

The device measures your balance, and even calculates your weight (body mass index.) It is wireless via bluetooth, and will ship later this year with the software title.

This in combination with the Wii Weights might be all you need to get dat ass fly.

MTV Switch: Global Warming Campaign

2007-07-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

12 has come and gone. The reason for my recent lack of entries is not a lack of interest, rather a lack of time. Wieden+Kennedy Portland decided to hire myself and four others from 12.3 to begin a five person creative team. All of us art directors, writers and makers who float from project to project. The last few months have been crazy and hard and wonderful. More to come, I'm sure. But enough about the present, on to the past.

The last project that we worked on in 12 was a series of commercials for MTV's global warming campaign, Switch. We had a budget of $10,000 to produce ten commercials. Here are a few. The rest can be seen at MTV Switch. Enjoy. And try to listen to the message. That's the important part.

For this spot, we filmed 2,400 tealight candles with an HD Camera on a speedrail in a loading dock. 2,400 candles is unbelievably hot and we almost melted a $4000 camera. After filming, we animated the candles using a stop motion effect.

Awkward.

W+K Founders Day XXV

2007-04-08T11:44:00.000-07:00

We've (almost) recovered from this year's Wieden+Kenndy Founders Day festivities. In celebration of 25 years of creating amazing work, the world's largest independent advertising agency went all out. To get things started, the New York office flew in and brought along the Rock Steady Crew.

After a few words by founders Dan Wieden and David Kennedy, slam poet Rives shared the first of several poems.

Next up was WorldChanging editor Alex Steffen who spoke about the current state of the world and how his book and website is attempting to bring about positive change.

After Steffen came my favorite speaker of the day, Cameron Sinclair, co-founder and executive director of Architecture for Humanity. He was energetic, inspiring, and most importantly, is making things happen. He showed a small share of the works they have done from Africa to New Orleans, and offered anyone who wants to design and build free room and board for two years. I'm considering it. Seriously.

After an emotional speech by Graham McReynolds about the work W+K has done for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Daniel Gilbert spoke on affective forecasting. I'm not really sure what it all meant, but his 2006 national bestseller "Stumbling on Happiness" could probably tell you.

Next was Arianna Huffington. She needed a translator.

I was really impressed with the type of speakers that were brought in for the day. Dan spoke about how important it is that we look outside the advertising world for inspiration, and by realizing the amount of impact you have in the world, you can share positive messages in an interesting human way.

Update: I'll get back with a more accurate description of the shoes shortly. I want to provide accurate credit to everyone involved. I apologize for any misinformation.

These shoes result from a collaboration between a team from Nike and a team from W+K who worked together on this project for the last year. They celebrate the 25th anniversary of W+K and their relationship during that time with Nike.

Day two: party under the big top. The carnival took place in an old bowling alley retrofitted in circus fare. There were trapeze artists, fire-breathers, magicians, fortune tellers, rides and games.

Then the curtains opened up and the Beastie Boys put on an amazing show. Might not be a bad place to work.

A huge thank you and congratulations for everyone who helped put this together. For more pictures and information on the event, please see the W+K Studio Blog.

Voltaic Solar Bags

2007-03-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

The Voltaic solar bags are mobile power generators, designed to charge your devices without tying you to a power outlet, which makes them ideal for traveling. Included with each bag is a Li Ion battery pack which stores any surplus power generated, so it is available when you need it – not just when the sun is up. The battery pack can also be charged using an AC travel charger or car charger (both included). This makes the Voltaic bags just as useful on the grid as off. They provide enough power to charge a cell phone, ipod, pda or camera, but unfortunately not enough for a laptop. Thinking in the right direction.

Solar Cell Phone

2007-03-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

At CeBIT 2007, Chinese electronics maker, HTW, introduced a cell phone that can be charged by the sun. It gets 25 minutes of talk time from just 40 minutes of charging in sunlight, it can be charged with indoor light when no direct sunshine is available and even candlelight. Called the 'Light-Energy Mobile Phone', it is a relatively slender clamshell with an 84 x 47.6 x 0.8mm solar panel built into the flip side. As for the practicalities of putting such a handset on the market, Hi-Tech says the panel is encased in toughened glass and would stand up to all the rigors of a regular mobile.

From: Treehugger

BBC Climate Challenge Game

2007-03-08T11:34:00.000-08:00

The BBC Climate Challenge Game is pretty much enviro-geeky-awesome. It puts you in the presidential seat to reduce carbon emissions along with a world environmental summit. You have to balance wealth, energy, water, food, air quality and public opinion while you tray and achieve climate change initiatives. It takes you far into the future, offering solutions such as adding light rail, requiring residential fuel cells, and importing and exporting energy. At the end, you earn rankings based on the environment, wealth, and popularity. I was 4% popular, but at least the world still existed.

Note Table

2007-03-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

If you're anything like me, you are constantly sketching, drawing and doodling. Naturally, I love this table design from Tom Seymour. While I can't tell if this is the actual model, or a prototype, I like it, and want it. Unfortunately, I won't be coughing up the £700 price tag anytime soon.

TED2007: Icons. Geniuses. Mavericks.

2007-03-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

TED2007 began yesterday and goes through March 10. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a conference that brings together some of the most intelligent leaders of industry, science, politics and art to develop cross-pollination of ideas. The point is to create a web of thought that will lead us to a brave, smart new future.

TED Talks podcasts are fascination periodic presentations given by people working on the coolest projects in the world. Wow, I sound inarticulate in comparison to TED spearkers.

Alchemi alive and kickin' in China

2007-03-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder if your site is among the many censored for content by the Chinese government? Well put your worries to rest with The Great Firewall of China. As the caption above states, it allows you to test your website for Chinese filtering. I'm sort of surprised we got off scott free, especially with the Mao Beer Tap. Anyone in the blogosphere up for some communist subversion?

Adobe Creative Suite 3

2007-03-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

As if we need to spend more time clicking, Adobe Creative Suite 3 launches at the end of the month. While Adobe is remaining tight-lipped on the details, this excessively long video tells us next to nothing.

We can infer, however, that six colored sides of the box represent Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks packaged as one. If so, this is the first full merging of Adobe and Macromedia. I just can't wait to trade in my Powerbook for an Intel Mac. For slightly more info, check out the Adobe UK Site.

Light Bulb Art, Incandescents Needed

2007-03-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

alchemi is in search of discarded incandescent bulbs that have been exchanged for Compact Fluorescents (CFLs). The intent is to create various works, such as the one above, to encourage use more energy-efficient CFLs. If you are in the Portland, OR area, please contact us at (catchermag at gmail.com). We are looking to obtain several hundred, preferably the same wattage and color, and would rather not do any unnecessary shipping. If you have a large amount of incandescents that need to be swapped for CFLs, we could probably assist installing. Thank you.

Toyota Hybrid X Concept: The Missing Link?

2007-03-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

While I may be saving myself for electric, I see an efficient, plug-in hybrid as a logical intermediary step. Enter from Geneva, the Toyota Hybrid X Concept. An obvious processor visually to the Prius, the X, hopefully, will be Toyota's next in a successful line of hybrids.

The open, airy design, with suicide doors makes this a great touring vehicle. And with Toyota's commitment to PHEVs (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles), the next generation Prius has been said to deliver up to 100mpg. Toyota claims it at step close to zero emissions. I hope so. But Toyota, ditch the hideous 20 inch blades before you take that step

From: Jalopnik

the small things

2007-03-04T10:19:00.000-08:00

A lot of changes that I have suggested in recent posts require major purchases, huge investment capital, or drastic political change. Here are a few truly simple things that can be done to reduce your carbon footprint. Starting with the Earth Day footprint Quiz.

This is the Garden WaterSaver. Well actually, it's just the little diverter, but it's a very clever, simple design. The entire set-up shown can be made for less than $40 and it is an easy way to capture rain water for your garden. Nothing really new here, but water cisterns are often overlooked as a way to make a change.

Global Warming Facts has posted a nice list of the Top 50 Things to Stop Global warming. I like the list because it provides easy to implement, inexpensive measures that anyone can do. Download the pdf here.

EEStor: EV Ultra-Capacitor

2007-03-03T16:01:00.000-08:00

EEStor claims to have created the holy grail of EV propulsion, the EV Ultra Capacitor. Unlike regular lithium-ion battery cells, the EEStor Ultra Capacitors, or EESUs as they are called, are lighter, more versatile and can be charged and discharged up to a million times. And the EESU power system would not need to be replaced for well over a million miles. If replacement were to ever necessary, the units are fully recyclable, and unlike batteries, contain no environmentally harmful compounds.

As of now, the rights to the EESUs have been give solely to ZENN (shown above) for all vehicles up to 2,645 (Accord size), a group that makes up 40 million of the cars on the road now.

Paul Scott, co-founder of Plug In America, puts the capability of EESUs in perspective:

"I drive an electric Toyota RAV4 with a 1,000-pound battery that is capable of holding 27 kWh (kilowatt-hours) of power. I could replace my battery with three EESUs, weighing a total of only 300 pounds, that are capable of holding 45 kWhs of power. The additional power and reduced weight would more than double the vehicle's 120-mile range and it would recharge in a matter of minutes off 220 volts, slightly longer when using household 110 volts."

ZENN proposes that we'll be able to cross the country without stopping for longer than it takes to grab a bathroom break. If those bathroom break fill-ups happen to be at a solar electric filling station, you could be carbon neutral, my friend.

From: Edmund's

SWIMO

2007-03-03T15:40:00.000-08:00

Kawasaki Heavy Industries is unveiling the "giga cell-powered" SWIMO in Japan. Power is delivered by the same nickle metal hydride batteries we've been using for years in less demanding applications. It only offers about 6 miles on a charge, but recharging stations at various subway stops could keep it in motion all day long without using fossil fuels — possibly by solar.

Hitting Japan in 2007, the SWIMO transporter should make the daily commute a bit gentler on mother Earth, provided the right power at its source. I have long wanted to see energy-autonomous public transportation. This certainly is a step closer.

From: Engadget

Solar Impulse

2007-03-03T15:11:00.000-08:00

Solar Impulse aims to have an airplane take off and fly autonomously, day and night, propelled uniquely by solar energy, right round the world without fuel or pollution.
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More of a symbol than an actual practical application, I see the Solar Impulse a step in the right direction for energy-autonomous flight. While current solar technology may be too expensive and ineffective for commercial flight, offsetting the airline industry's dramatic fossil fuel consumption could be a start. Picture solar panels lining planes, and solar an wind holding stations at airports.

The site also provides a nice history of solar flight to date, including information about Solar Impulse's older brother NASA Helios (shown above).

Zink: Inkless Printing

2007-03-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

ZINK (Zero ink) Imaging has invented a new way to print and experience full-color digital images without ink cartridges or ribbons. A simple approach to printing, ZINK Digital Imaging Technology embeds color-dye crystals into ZINK paper for affordable, durable and high-quality prints.

DEMO, a website that showcases products looking for investors (ahem Wii Weights), has a more in-depth look at the Zink technology, and a video explaing some of its potential applications.

TreeHugger points out the most important aspects — environmental implications.

"The point out that the eco-efficient aspect of this technology is that it eliminates wasteful ink packaging and discarded ink cartridges. ZINK says the paper is non-toxic and recyclable".

And the technology is such that it is easily applied to larger scale printers. Billboards? Ink has long been the bane of environmentally conscious designers. Even the most eco friendly of inks can often render papers relegated to deep down-cycling.

While I think it is a technology worth noting, Zink will truly impress me if they create the paper in a manner that is infinitely recyclable. Perhaps after use, the paper is dipped in a solution that returns the crystal to their original state, allowing for another round of printing without relying on virgin pulp.

World Time Clock

2007-03-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

Designed by Charlotte van der Waals, This barrel-shaped desk clock has 12 sides, each with the name of two major cities. Altogether, the 24 cities represent the 24 Global Time Zones. To find the local time in another time zone, simply roll the clock so the city representing that time zone is on top. Available to purchase at Junro for $75. Good design comes at a price.

From: NOTCOT

Jen Stark: Paper Artist

2007-03-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

Jen Stark, a recent graduate of Maryland Institue College of Art (MICA), and up and coming fine artist, uses layered colored papers to create amazing works. While at her site, be sure to check out her drawing section. It's always nice to find artists talented in multiple disciplines.

2007-03-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

There's a lot of web buzz out there these days about HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography. HDR uses a combination of multiple sots with varying shutter speeds to produce surreal images with exaggerated detail in the highlights and shadows. While many of the shots end up looking like bad CGIs, it can be a way to bring added reality to your photography.

The HDR Tutorial Roundup offers possibly the most comprehensive catalog for creating your own imagery.

I have attempted a few, and I have found that the trick, like any other Photoshop effect, is to hide the fact that an effect was used.

storytellers

2007-03-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

Storytellers, the only project to touch the hands of all three years of 12, is complete and out the door. It is a rich, complex look into the lives those who devote their lives to the stage, and an excellent introduction to one of the most pure Shakespearian troupes in the country.

The short film has already been chosen as an Official Selection for the Ashland Film Festival, and I'm sure others will be soon to follow.

Wii Weights: Part Two

2007-02-16T08:22:00.000-08:00

The Wii Weights started like any other dumb idea. After a few drinks and several rounds of Wii Boxing, someone said, "Maybe there should be weights for this thing. Someone should invent those." A few more drinks and a sloppy drawing in my sketchbook later, it had begun. I am a graphic designer, not a product designer, so this gave me the opportunity to learn a lot about the process. I'm not looking for a quick buck, rather this is a product that I would love to see produced.

There was an overwhelming response to the first prototype, which was of course just a basic wrist weight with a photoshopped Wii logo. This was just a way to test the waters, to see if there would be any response. There were literally thousands of postings with comments ranging from calling the "inventor" a moron, to some excellent constructive criticism, to people ready to pull out their wallets for a pair. This gave me an up close view of the problems with a product like this and how we could improve on the performance and aesthetics.

I started out by researching the way that people play the Wii. While it isn't necessary to use exaggerated motions, people seemed to feel most comfortable when mimicking the actual swing of a racket or golf club. The wrist weights needed to be able to withstand a tennis backhand, a full golf swing, a jab, an uppercut, a bowling stroke, or a baseball pitch, all without sliding on the arm, impeding access to the Wii-mote buttons, or come flying off.

We had the idea of adding a weighted casing to the actual controller, but that would have exacerbated the chance that it would come off and fly into the screen. We settled on the wrist weight because it could be adjustable for any person using it.

I bought several pairs of existing wrist weights and tested them while playing the Wii. Some were too heavy so we decided that the adjustable weights should range from 1 to 2.25 lbs. Some were too bulky, so we decided that the sewn-in weights should be contoured to the wrist. Some limited use of the thumbs, so we made the thumb strap slim and flexible. Some got hot and sweaty quickly, so we decided to use lightweight, breathable materials that wicked away sweat.

We then made several prototypes, using old mouse pads, fishing weights, fabric tape; anything we could to create what we thought would be better than the stock weights. And they worked well. But, admittedly, they're not quite there. We would love to be able to work with a team with experience in this realm.

I see this as an opportunity to expand on the great idea of the Wii. I see it as a way to make video games more physical, and potentially, a way to get in shape. I would love to see a resurgence of The Powerpad, where runners from different countries could compete split-screen. I think that video games will continue to evolve to allow users to interact physically in otherwise impossible situations. I only hope that this could be a step along the way. Again, if a investor or designer is interested in further developing this product, send me an email. The world is waiting.

Wii Weights

2007-02-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

As if the Wii weren't enough of a workout, you could strap on the Wii Weights to your wrists and shed more pounds than this guy. Inserts allow for three levels of activity from featherweight (1 lbs.) to heavyweight (4 lbs.). Plus an eyelet helps keep your controls away from the plasma tv.

Unfortunately, this is only a prototype looking for an investor to take it to market.
Send me an email and I can hook you up with the "inventor".

UPDATE: Wii Weights: Part Two

ZAP-X EV the Tesla killer?

2007-02-03T15:39:00.000-08:00

Lotus has teamed up with ZAP to introduce a new cross over electric vehicle. Dubbed the ZAP-X, the aluminum body, in-hub motored rocket produces impressive numbers.

• 644 HP in AWD mode
• 155 MPH top speed
• 350 mile range
• full charge in 10 minutes

The 10 minute charge time would most likely be from a 480-volt charging system, a way to transfer massive amounts of electric power quickly and efficiently. One of the biggest drawbacks of EVs to conumers are the long charge times. With the right infrastructure, drivers could enjoy recharge times only slightly higher than current fill-up times. One more example of how good environmental design is working to topple big oil.

Exxon Mobile, by the way, made $1,252 a second last year. That's $377.64 billion in profit! I just vomited on my keyboard.

From: Inside Green Tech

Sharp as Toast: Barack Star

2007-02-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

12er Jimm Lasser has just released his newest on Sharp As Toast, the Barack Star Tee. He has also started blogging Barack's road to the white house on BarackStar. Join the fight against FOX in style.

Mixed Messages: Slow Down

2007-01-30T15:24:00.000-08:00

Late Sunday night, three 12 students, not content with the perceived negativity of Hurry Up, sneaked into Wieden+Kennedy to change the message. Bones were shattered, caffeine consumed, new bones created, and 12 hours later, Slow Down was complete. For one day only. Click here to see a larger video.

Brad Neely

2007-01-30T13:11:00.000-08:00

Brad Neely is gold. Super-conductor of weird god genius gold. Truly, an unequal proportion of talent has been dosed this man. His Creased Comics are often homo-erotic and morbid. Wizard People, Dear Reader, his dubbed-over rendition of Harry Potter, makes drinking fun again. Washington, Washington may be the only YouTube video worth watching. And his new series of videos on Super Deluxe, including JFK, is worthy of looking up genius in a thesaurus to describe.

worldmapper

2007-01-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

Furthering my adoration of information graphics, worldmapper shows maps of countries distorted according to different statistics. The simple, colorful graphics are an easy way to visualize inequalities in health care, wealth, mortality, education, and tractor dependence.

A poster of every book you've read

2007-01-25T09:37:00.000-08:00

This is pretty cool. Adam, from Tailors Today, gives step by step instructions on how to make a poster of every book that you have ever read. He says the hardest part was trying to remember all of the books--he predicts it only contains 80-90% of the total. Haven't tried it yet, but I think that viewing this chronologically could be really amazing.

Also along the line of books, Paul Watson has posted a poster made from the covers of classic Penguin Books. A full collection of the covers is available in Penguin by Design: A Cover Story 1935-2005.

abelardo morell: camera obscura.

2007-01-25T08:55:00.000-08:00

This month's Dwell has an article (Outside In) that shows the photography of Abelardo Morell. A former introductory photography teacher, Morell uses camera obscura as a medium. By blocking out all light save a pinhole, he is able to project the outside world on the walls of apartments. He then captures the images using prolonged exposure. My personal favorite is the Santa Maria della Salute in Palazzo bedroom--the one that looks like a capital on its dome.

From: Dwell

Manhattan Rising

2007-01-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

In light of the State of the Union, here are some artist renderings of what Manhattan and Washington D.C. may look like is sea levels continue to rise. Illustrations by John Blackford for Vanity Fair

Next Industrial Revolution

2007-01-24T10:38:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a lot of books and articles lately that try to bring to light how connected everything on this planet is. If we continue to neglect this connection, everything on this planet will suffer. The growing trend, and I believe the most practical present solution, is to make environmental change a viable business.

Our present world is a global economy, too long unconcerned with global ecology. This video changes the paradigm of thinking of production as utilizing our resources, to feeding our planet. If we create products that will feed our businesses in the future, both the economy and ecology will benefit. A good double watch.

From: Next Industrial Revolution

The meaning of life

2007-01-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

The meaning of life as of Friday. Le Grand Content a film by Clemens Kogler and Karo Szmit. Voice by Andre Tschinder.
From: Clemens Kogler

Stuart Haygarth: Recycled Light

2007-01-19T13:52:00.000-08:00

Lighting designer Stuart Haygarth creates beautiful illuminations created from found, discarded materials. "Tide Chandelier" is composed of items washed up on shore. "Millennium Chandelier" is made up of 1000 exploded Party Poppers collected after new Years 2000 celebrations in London. And "Shady Family" is a linear chandelier created from a selection of found glass lamp shades. The beautiful examples of green design available at the Cibone Gallery.

Sagmeister on worldchanging

2007-01-19T08:31:00.000-08:00

Speak Up has a nice interview with guitar hero Stefan Sagmeister his work on WorldChanging, the first mass-consumer book I have seen that recognizes the designer in the masthead. He describes some of the techniques he used in creating a "big book."

"It's not going to be another one of these Tibor Kalman-esque books with double-page spreads of Japanese ski-domes and African villages with strange seating arrangements. Because, you know, I think this kind of book was very, very fresh when Tibor started them. By now I can't stand it anymore. I mean every one of those books has the Japanese ski-dome and soonish the Dubai ski-dome. We wanted it to be dense."

"We didn't want to spend a lot of money on a photo budget. It was clear that some things needed to be illustrated, but as I said before, I didn't want this to be a photo book."

Another sort of amazing thing about the book: leave it out in the sun with the laser perforated sleeve, and an image will be burned into the newsprint cover. Sweet mustache! Read the whole thing at Speak Up.

mao beer

2007-01-18T17:53:00.000-08:00

As congrats for a show well done, Joel Colley of WK12 sculpted the lovely Mao Beer tap for Jim Riswold's Mao Home and Garden opening. Taylor Twist was responsible for the amazing intricate hand-made shipping crate. Thank you brothers.

Joel also crafted the Bone Tap for 12's Hurry Up show. No word yet on plans to sell these custom beer taps, but i'm sure he could be persuaded.

Contour Crafting: Robo-Construction

2007-01-17T15:23:00.000-08:00

Contour Crafting, a technology developed by inventor and USC enginering Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis, constructs objects or buildings by stacking layers of concrete. Think 3D printer, but on a much larger scale, with concrete instead of plastc or resin. The result: extremely fast production times, greatly reduced environmental impact, and less-inhibited forms. Job sites will be far safer and human error will be virtually eliminated.

But this isn't a distant pipe-dream. Within the next few months, Khoshnevis is planning to construct a 2000 sq/ft, two story house, complete with heating and electrical systems in 24 hours, without human hands. The implications are limitless.

This video gives a more in-depth look at what is actually happening, as does the shockwave narration on the Contour Crafting website.

From: Wired

Si Scott Typography

2007-01-15T12:57:00.001-08:00

I first noticed this style of typography from one of my favorite design shops, Non-Format, and was infatuated by the organic lines. The typographer is Si Scott, a UK graphic designer, who manipulates the lines by hand to create completely unique forms. The video below shows a bit of his process. For more, this interview goes a little deeper.

WorldChanging

2007-01-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I stole Jelly's copy of WorldChanging and have almost made my way through.

I am thoroughly impressed by the content and the straightforward, easy to understand and implement manner in which the information is presented. The design (Sagmeister) is clean and legible, with plenty of room in the margins for note-taking. And the supplemental WorldChanging website offers new content daily.

The book is meant to be a tool, an encyclopedia of brief introduction into topics like Urban Planning, Energy Conservation, Environmental Design and Political Empowerment. It is a starting point, yet provides much information to delve further into topics of interest. It is open and honest about environmental and social ills, but remains optimistic by offering solutions.

I admit I am relatively new to thinking in terms of environmental conservation. But I have yet to encounter resource so accessible to novices, so attractive in design, and so rich in content.

The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy

2007-01-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

Confused by the debate over hydrogen-electric versus purely electric vehicles? This book helps to put into perspective the actual infrastructure necessary to move our automotive world away from fossil fuels. The McMahon argues that a move to hydrogen is not only a distant reality--if a reality at all--but it would neglect existing, less complicated methods of auto propulsion: pure electric and hybrid plug-ins. For a more in depth look at the differences, this article from The Gazette in Canada adds insight as well as this one from AutoblogGreen.

Ossario: Reverse Graffiti

2007-01-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

Alexandre Orion, a clean tagger or reverse graffiti artist, creates his images by removing dirt and soot on surfaces to create images. His images are beautiful and thought provoking, bringing to light death and rebirth in cities.

Law enforcement is fuzzy on the issue. Is it really vandalism if you are actually cleaning the surface? Legality debatable, but often these pieces produce immediate results by being cleaned by the owners of the property (shown below).

This piece, Ossario, comes from Sáo Paulo, Brazil.

If vandalism brings to light and even corrects civic problems, does it elevate itself? For more on the matter, NPR did a story a few years back on original reverse graffiti artist Moose.

Wieden + Kennedy Lunchbox

2007-01-12T11:26:00.000-08:00

The LunchBox concert series at Wieden + Kennedy has filled our atrium with great music for the last few months. Above is the poster I did for Cold War Kids, and others include Cut Chemist, Lyrics Born, Art Brüt, The Rapture, Ladytron and Pigeon John. Expect a website soon that documents the performances, and a great list of performers for 2007. For now, YouTube has a nice selection.

iPhone countdown / cut-out

2007-01-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

Make Paris jealous. iPhone countdown also has a pdf template to make your own mock-iPhone.

feltron vii

2007-01-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

With beautiful typography and information graphics, the feltron vii annual report has become my latest design obsession.

While there, be sure to check out the 05 report.
From feltron vii.

Cellswapper

2007-01-11T18:14:00.000-08:00

The first thing I thought when I saw the new iPhone: Why did I just extend my T-Mobile contract another 2 years?

Enter Cellswapper, a service that lets you exchange plans with other service-stuck cell users.
Smart. Anybody looking to ditch their Cingular contract Junish?

why the iphone will revolutionize design

2007-01-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

Strictly from a design standpoint, the iPhone is revolutionary. I'm not talking about seamless integration of phone, email, pda, video, photos, music, and web browsing. No doubt it will accomplish this. But to my knowledge it is the first item available to the public to provide such tactile graphic interaction. Interaction that will further break down the barrier between concept and execution.

You see those two little white dots? One below the boy's chin, the other in the sky? Well those, at least in part, hint at the future of design on a computer.

A while back, I saw this video from the Ted Talks.

If you haven't seen it yet, it will change the way you think about interacting with computers.

Apple has been hot on the patent trail of this technology, and it is now in execution on the iPhone. Towards the end of this video, Apple Inc's Phil Schiller demonstrates.

Hurry Up

2007-01-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

Hurry Up, a piece that out-paced Fail Harder in hours spent is currently on display in the W+K Lobby (224 NW 13th Ave in Portland). An intimate reception was held on January 4th and the show will be on display through the end of the month.

The process began by sculpting pink insulation with hack saws and electric carving knives. After that, we covered them in a thick layer of plaster.

We chiseled, filed, and sanded until the plaster was smooth, then added additional plaster for details. The color was an inaccurate amalgum of coffee, white and ocher paints, tea, gel medium, sand and dirt. One more round of sanding, and they were ready to hang.

Suspended from 25 foot crossbeams, the bones were hung with fishing line fed through eyelets. (Minimal) kerning and leading later, we were done. No one but Bernie and I will know how slow the Hurry Up process actually was. Kind of nice that way.

Credit where due: The Chevy Volt

2007-01-08T09:34:00.000-08:00

It's here. Sort of. The Chevy Volt Concept. Debuting at the Detroit Auto Show, Chevy has unveiled their (first) official plug-in hybrid. I'll go ahead and ignore the Robo-Cop design and acknowledge that they are finally beginning to think in the right direction.

With a plug-in range of 40 miles, a driver can go fossil fuel free for most of his daily commutes. As most of us rarely drive more than this in a day, the average person will get near infinite gas mileage from this vehicle.

But why 2010? Isn't all of this technology readily available? On existing, more practical, more attractive models? Chevy has a history of cannibalizing their own good ideas. I won't berate Chevy too much, as this is a step in the right direction, but why not release the Saab Biopower Plug-In now? Practicality has never been their strong suit.

Fingerbangers: 2 of 3

2007-01-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks Mr. Hawkballs!

Wieden+Kennedy Seeks 12

2006-12-21T13:13:00.000-08:00

Poppa Neutrino speaks with 12

2006-12-21T08:27:00.000-08:00

Poppa Neutrino, the only man to navigate a junk raft across the Atlantic, came to W+K yesterday to speak with 12. He's gearing up for his next project, a float across the Pacific to arrive in China for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Rafts are only a small part of Poppa's story. He has developed a philosophy of working towards a triad of desires to find happiness. He devised the unstoppable football play. And he wants the Common Ground Air Force to bomb our enemies with medical supplies, information, tortillas and socks. His book, The Happiest Man in the World drops in March, and he is currently accepting applicant for his Pacific voyage.

White Elephant

2006-12-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

A little 12 video in which John Jay meets his match.

Eclectic Electric

2006-12-19T16:26:00.000-08:00

Monaco based auto-maker Venturi is beginning limited (20) production on the Eclectic, a solar powered EV with a supplemental wind turbine mast that can be raised on cloudy days. Venturi is billing this as the world's first energy autonomous vehicle.

With a top speed of 32mph, and a full-charge range of 31 miles, it's a short and sunny commuter, but they're heading in the right direction. A slightly-less-limited round two of production will yield 200. At a cool $32k, expect these to fly off (almost) as quickly as the Tesla.

If the Eclectic isn't sexy enough for you, the naked Astrolabe or svelte Fetish might be closer to your alley. At a significant price premium, of course.

Fingerbangers: 1 of 3

2006-12-18T17:56:00.000-08:00

More to come...

images that shape our world:

2006-12-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

See the rest here.

The Alchemists

2006-12-17T15:34:00.000-08:00

The Alchemists, a film presented by The One Club pulls back the curtain to reveal the minds behind the most iconic and influential advertising of all time. Told from the vantages of Lee Clow, George Lois, Phyllis K. Robinson, Hal Riney, and of course Dan Wieden, this documentary will show the side that most people never see. Not sure on the release date, but you can catch the trailer here. Great name, by the way.

NYT Magazine Year in Ideas 2006

2006-12-16T16:11:00.000-08:00

The cover tells you how brilliant it's going to bee. I'm sorry. Here are some of my favorites

The Beer-Gut Flask:
Underdevelopment of Reno came up with this lil' gem. Sort of a reverse Camelback, the beer-gut flask allows the user to discreetly tote 80oz. of brew in a squishy belly bladder. Created to smuggle your drink of choice into sporting arenas, it seems to work better covered by a shirt.

Ballot-Lotto:
Each person’s vote counts as a lottery ticket. One ticket wins $1 million, 1,700 win $1,000. Voting jackpot would come from the state’s unclaimed lottery fund. A lot of people forget to pick up their lottery winnings, enough to provide $2.7 million every two years per state.

Odds of winning the $1,000 are about 1 in 2,500. And since socioeconomics plays a big part in voter turnout, the good odds will get new voters to the polls. Today, it’s the poor and minorities who vote in the lowest numbers. The nonvoters are usually people working two or three jobs and struggling to pay the bills.

One-Man Blimp:
102 feet long by 70 feet wide and the cost shouldn’t be more than $200,000. And you don’t need a hangar; the craft folds and deflates in less time than it took to dismantle your wedding tent.

"If it spontaneously combusts you could say, 'Oh, the human!'"
-Mike Illick

Energy-Harvesting Floors:
My personal favorite. The average human being generates about eight watts of energy with each step, most of which is expended as vibration. It doesn't sound like much, but with 30,000 or more people passing through a major-city subway hub at rush hour, this could generate amazing power.

The Facility, a London architecture firm, sees it as an opportunity. The company proposes putting small hydraulic generators in floors to capture vibration and convert it into electricity. This could, presumably, also be applied under roadways to power streetlight, and traffic signals.

Reverse Graffiti:
The British artist Paul Curtis prefers to call it clean tagging or grime writing, cleaning an dirt area to leave a message. The legality of the process is questionable, but it often prompts building owners to clean up.

Kite Ship:
SkySails, which makes “very large free-flying sails”— basically, giant traction kites that harness the wind to pull very large free-floating objects. Ideally suited for reducing energy consumption among cargo ships and oil tankers. Working in tandem with an engine, the kites could allow fuel savings of 15 percent to possibly 30 percent.

Kenguru Wheelchair Car:
The Kenguru’s hatchback flips open so a wheelchair can roll right in and lock into place, which means the driver doesn’t have to climb into a driver’s seat. Because the steering column is a joystick, paraplegics and those with limited arm range can steer. The car is powered by a rechargeable battery and has a peak speed of 25 miles per hour.

Wine That Ages Instantly:
Japanese inventor Hiroshi Tanaka has discoverd a way to speed up the wine aging process. He pours the wine into a 70-pound container outfitted with an electrolysis chamber. A few-second electrical zap gives the wine a slight charge, which breaks up the water molecules and allows them to blend more completely with the alcohol. Voilà: Instantly-aged pinot noir, “smoother and more mellow than before,” Tanaka’s American partner, Edward Alexander, claims. The video explains it all very strangely.

See the rest of the ideas at NYT Magazine.

futurhaus

2006-12-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

Gathered by Zurich Insurance and ARUP, this brochure outlines where they think residential buildings should be in 74 years:

"By around 2080 our relationship with our home might have changed beyond all recognition. Working in partnership with Arup Associates, Zurich has identified what the house of the future might look like."

Unfortunately, their timeline is far too pessimistic, as most of the residential technology they refer to is already available. Let's take a lookie and see what we can be doing now.

Energy efficient cars: already here.
Tesla, Phoenix Motorcars, Smart EV
Buildings which harness renewable energy: already here.
Windsave, Sunforce, $600 DIY Solar Kit
Storm water management: already here.
Waterwall, LUMI Rainwater Storage
Grey water systems: already here.
Toilet Lid Sink, Under Sink Toilet Greywater, Recycle Bath Water
Self cooling/heating homes: already here.
Green Roofs, Geothermal, High Performance Windows

These are only a few examples of already available technology that will allow homes to be energy independent (possibly even producing energy in excess). While I appreciate the gathering of this information, we need to take far more initiative to solve our energy crises. Consider the brochure an intro to "Off the Grid 101." This from Treehugger.

green my mac

2006-12-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

Greenpeace has decided to lovingly chide Apple with their latest campaign, and I have to say that the approach is one to be admired. With a history of slinging megaphoned epithets towards oil tankers from rafts, Greenpeace is getting a little more p.c. to tackle Apple's industrial waste woes.

Possibly they realize guilting someone to action isn't always the best solution, possibly because many Greenpeacers are Mac junkies; either way, it's nicely done and it's getting a response.

With a clean mock-Mac layout, and a simple welcoming call to action, this may be the non-polarizing request that Apple needs to bring about positive change.

table intelligentsia

2006-12-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

Radially Expanding Table from Fletcher Capstan.

Walking Table shown during Dutch Desgin Week in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

They're taking over!

Mike and Maaike: Juxtaposed: religion

2006-12-10T16:11:00.000-08:00

For fear of coming off as some sort of whacked-out zealot, I don't know if I would ever display this in my living room, but I think the hearts of designers mike & maaike are in the right places. This well-designed and well-intentioned collection literally places the texts of 7 major world religions at an equal level. While buying this may do little to save your soul, giving this as a Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza/Tet/Festivus gift just might. That or reading the books.

brandland

2006-12-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

For the month of October, 12 took over the gallery space at Powell's and created work that challenged / mocked the line between art and advertising.

Amy Sedaris loves Brandland!

So does PC guy, John Hodgman.

more from good...

2006-12-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

For the inaugural issue of Good Magazine, 12 was asked to create the opening spreads under the theme "I heart America". Good later decided to turn all 34 of the spreads 12 created into a booklet for subscribers. Here are a few of those spreads. Stay tuned for a Portland Good launch party early next year...

Blowhole: the hole!

2006-12-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

For Halocene's 3rd annual mini-golf challenge, we created
Blowhole: the Hole! We fashioned a 16th century whaling clipper, dubbed the Sloop John J, and a mechanical whale, equipped with functional mouth, eyes and ball-levitating blow hole. Although she only worked about one out of ten times, the payoff was enough for best in show.

staying alive: mtv global aids campaign

2006-12-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

For the dubious 25th anniversary AIDS virus, MTV asked Lowe, Ogilvy, 180, Y&R and Wieden+Kennedy 12 to create spots that would cover issues from monogamy to protection. Check it. There are some great spots. I happen to be partial to fingerbanging.

Instant birth control

2006-12-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

The coasters reprinted (shown above)! The site is live! The ads are running!
Start having sex!

Good Magazine Documentary

2006-09-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

Good Magazine's inaugural issue dropped this week, and with it this documentary. It talks about our process in coming up with the "America Love it or Fix it" spreads. I thought it was pretty neutral, but the AdFreak readers think otherwise. Cynical ad people. Weird.

Freitag Zurich

2006-08-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

Freitag, maker of messenger bags crafted from old truck tarpaulins, has completed their retail store in Zurich's Kreis 5 district. Recycled shipping containers tower 26 Meters high, and allow natural light to enter from removed sides. The understated design pays homage to the bags' beginnings an the minimalist interior keeps the focus on the product. Hmm: relevant, recycled materials coupled with clean, functional design. Weird. Wonder if it will work. From:Wallpaper

Ronald McHummer

2006-08-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

While I'm not entirely convinced that this site will keep Hummer-drivin' soccer mommas from shoveling happy meal after fat-injected happy meal into the mouths of their squishy little offspring, it may help to elevate the collective consciousness of our super-sized obsessions. Give Ronald McHummer a go and see if you can't create your own cutting witticism that will only preach to the choir.

Snakes on a Phone

2006-08-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

Obviously, we are all counting down the hours until this summer's epic Snakes on a Plane takes-off. Why not let those poor souls who have yet to see the light sip from the grail as well. Better yet, why not let Samuel El tell them himself. Any word on who put this extra slice of viral together?

Cock-A-Doodle. Sorry Mom.

2006-08-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

In an effort to elevate awareness and money for nut cancer, poke has erected the Cock-a-doodle site. As you can see by my picture of The Challenger Rocket Ship, I am far above this type of childish humor. Seriously. Grow up. For more, see Adland I highly suggest you give it a go. And while you're at it, reach down and pull it out--you're credit card, that is. I'm so sorry.

GM: Build the Saab BioPower Hybrid NOW!

2006-08-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

Again with the cars, I know, but I really do think that this may be the missing link from hybrid to electric (or even hydrogen). As I see it, we are already starting to miss the boat on hybrids. They really are not drastically more efficient than gasoline-only, at least on the vehicles that companies have chosen to apply the technology. And with rumors of fully electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles to be made affordably available to consumers within 5-10 years, hybrids are looking less and less eco-sexy.

Until I saw this. The Saab 9-3 BioPower Hybrid Convertible. A mouthful. And potentially a car-full. This would be the world's first fossil-free Hybrid Vehicle, utilizing pure bioethanol with zero fossil CO2 emissions. And far from a sleeper pumping out 260 bhp and three times the torque with the E100 fuel and electric motors. And all-wheel drive for improved traction, so you can ditch your worthless SUV. But most appealing to we urbanites is the fuel saving 'Zero Mode' for city driving on electric power only for speeds under 30 mph.

I believe that this vehicle, or hopefully one of the many iterations of it's technology, will carry us into the next generation of oil-free vehicles. Building such a car may begin to atone for GM's horrendous past and unsightly present (ahem, Hummer). Go ahead and let them know if you think they can do better. I definitely will.

Upper Playground PDX

2006-08-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Upper Playground has opened up in Portland, only a few blocks away from the handi-pad. Although I was out of town for the grand opening, I stopped in yesterday and snapped a few shots. These guys hire some of my favorite designers and illustrators (see David Choe and Eduardo Recife) for their shirt designs. Love the prints, but any chance we'll see this stuff on a fitted tee?

Attn: Type Geeks, Helvetica the Movie!

2006-08-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

That's right, Helvetica, a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture is here--or will be shortly. The launch is set to coincide with the 50th birthday of the typeface, and is meant to open larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. You can even order helvetican garb from the site; if you would consider wearing the "I Hate Helvetica" button, there's no need to continue reading alchemi.

Fail Harder Tees Now for Sale

2006-08-03T16:53:00.000-07:00

You too can be a walking monument to failure. Clear script typography on a white American Apparel tee is a subtle reminder to keep failure close to your heart. And just look at how much fun you can have! Thanks to Ross and Chemin for being beautiful. To get yours, send Chemin an email and let her know how many you want. At 20 bones, I'll take one!

If it doesn't show up too well on your screen, NOTCOT had some nice things to say about it. Say something nice about WK12 on your highly-visited website and we might send you a free one too.

Tesla Electric Roadster

2006-07-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

Not exactly graphic design, but intelligent design.
Ever since my humble valet beginnings, I've been an unabashed car geek. Unfortunately this doesn't pair well with the closet tree-hugging tendencies. But those clever boys at Tesla have put their butt-rockin' days behind 'em and cooked up this green machine:

Take a look at their blog to see how they've done it. It involves a lithium ion strapped to a modified Elise chassis. They've managed 0-60 in under 4 seconds, 135MPH and 250 miles a charge. The 100k price-tag will no doubt drop in a year or two. Hopefully I'll be employed by then...

Fail Harder

2006-07-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

High Resolution Version

Artists: Wieden+Kennedy 12
100,419 clear pushpins
351 hours over 4 days
Wall: 13.5x10.5'
Font: Modified Sloop
Wieden+Kennedy Building, floor 4
Thanks to Mediums for the track Realization, Movement.
Thanks to Martin Thiel for the Photagraphy.

This is why I'm a failure as friend.

For further information:

Oregonian Story

ArtMoCo

UnBeige

Fall down seven. Get up eight.

2006-05-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

So I guess this is how it's gonna be. Poeple here at Wieden+Kennedy are whores for violence. And this is just one of the many projects we've been slaving away on for the blood-thirsty bastards of 12.

This is the promotional poster to get the word out for fight night. It was entirely hand-drawn, then screen printed. Success? Sell out crowd in less than 30 minutes.

It's hard not to ascribe individual credit when pieces turn out so beautiful. This teaser video comes from the AV geniuses of 12.

Chris Hornbecker took these really beautiful poloroids. This is Frank the Tank. AKA King Hippo.

This is Patrick. He put up a good fight.

We set up a regulation sized ring in the middle of the agency, and filled the entire atrium with people willing to get drunk and watch people beat the shit out of each other for a good cause.

Creative vs. Account. We knew it would come to this.

We raised thousands of dollars for charity. Buckets of blood were spilled. Happy audience. The manager of the boxing ring wants it to go down again next year.

bled dry

2005-12-06T00:32:00.000-08:00

You will have to excuse me if this post is less than coherent. I'm am sort of at the end of several ropes; patience, creativity, sleep. Saturday, I decided to scrap much of the work I've compiled the entire semester for a completely new concept.

Originally, I had taken the approach of gathering various elements which would help me to visually express my design philosophy. Those elements consisting of literally thousands of images of fake blood, numerous hand written pages of the below copy, and a compilation of differing type treatments. Basically, I had buried myself in way too many pieces for my idea to come across in the manner I would have liked. More importantly, the idea was no longer fresh, and I had lost all interest in working.

Then, as if divine design intervention had touched my mouse-clicking finger, a new idea emerged. Epiphany as the direct result of previous ideas, rather. I realized that I was down to two days until final execution was due, and had finally pared the mass of random ingredients down to a manageable singular concept. And I loved working. Nearly twenty-four hours of computer screen-eye strain later, I had a piece that really conveyed my meaning.

I have enclosed several images from the final piece and the copy that I wrote long before the aforementioned release unfurled. This is a philosophy of my design approach:

A tide flows within me. An overwhelming and confusing, yet usually benign compulsion that courses through my veins; controlling my actions, movements, thoughts. But it isn't a memory or a talent or anything tangible. It isn't something that can be readily recalled. It must be brought to the surface. Through coercion or force. Usually, it is little more than a pin prick or paper cut. Occasionally I'm stabbed or pierced. Slices cut deepest and leave lasting scars.

It begins as a single drop. An idea, a spark, a problem. Sometimes it takes a moment for the first to come, but it always does; the crimson spot in stark contrast to the virgin canvas. The second follows shortly after, multiplying the small dot. As they hit the canvas, the spatters create tangents. Drops gain momentum. Pools form from previous drops. New drops explore white space.

The pools near black. Desiccation darkens the edges to mahogany. They dry quickly, but are kept moist by next drop. As they come faster, it is harder to contain the flow. Drips become streams as pools spread and darken. The canvas absorbs it, but not quickly enough to keep it from running. Crimson rivulets form from the dark pools and trickle downward. Drops have grown to splashes, drenching the canvas. The original drop, now soaked, blackens in the moisture.

I try and contain the barrage, but the momentum is too powerful. I constrict it with pressure—restraints and limitations—but it flows on. I bandage it in the known, the familiar, but the red seeps though and continues to saturate the canvas. Spatters fly now, as veins gasp for oxygen. The sprays cover the canvas more quickly than the drops. I apply tourniquets of procrastination, of disclaimers, but the pressure breaks free. Sanguine bullets riddle the page.

The canvas now doused, I begin to purge, documenting the catharsis. Slightly faint but focused, I attempt to apply order to the chaos, while allowing a little of the chaos to remain. I resolve to begin anew with the act still fresh on my hands. I resolve to always be beginning. To always bleed.

In the end, it just sort of came together. I am exhausted like never before, but it feels really refreshing at the same time. This was a part of me--my design, my creation process--that needed to be released, and could only come when I had all of the necessary pieces. It's an action I would love to be able to recreate. In your design, what methods do you utilize to get to the point of visual catharsis? Tell me tomorrow. My bed is calling.

quality control

2005-11-28T22:21:00.000-08:00

Today in class we discussed quality. Whether quality is something that can be defined, or whether it is an innate sense with no need of definition. As knowledge increases within a subject, the ability to detect quality is honed, and that without quality is filtered. When we are new, we lack discretion, often unable to discern quality in music, in movies, in books. As we gather information, we dispose of the mediocre--the sappy ballad hacks, the cut and dry "B" films, the Grishams. Slowly we gain appreciation for the un-played notes of jazz. We value the way auteurs control every aspect of their films. As artists, we begin to seek subtlety in color and form, shun the obvious for the challenging solution, and create layers of depth within our pieces.

We watched several commercials and videos today that different people had interpreted as possessing quality. One in particular seemed to capture the class. This is a commercial released recently. I won't mention the company (it is shown at the end) because I don't want you to have any forethought when watching.

advert

The consensus was that it was quiet yet powerful; a simple, amazing idea translated on a major scale. Every person agreed that this was a quality concept.

If, in general, people in similar circles of interest develop very similar concepts of quality, can we say that quality is defined by our surroundings? Or is quality something that develops in the way in which a body develops? Is quality relative, or absolute?

collective consciousness

2005-11-08T22:46:00.000-08:00

This video is an exerpt from the Hillman Curtis Artists series. All of the videos, including several other interviews with designers can be found at:

Hillmancurtis

It is not enough to make it pretty. It must go much deeper. We've been given far too much to leave it at only skin deep.

Designers, by nature absorb. In order for us to be effective communicators, we must take in, filter, and then interpret the world around us. Anyone truly involved in the absorption process will develop a point of view, a response, an opinion, love, or hatred for that which they take in. When coupled with our ability to translate visually, this ability to absorb can become extremely powerful. We can create awareness, shift perspectives, sway politics, elicit emotion, generate revenue, enrage, and impassion.

Emerson said, "Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it." We create the thought. We possess the visual language. Pardon the pun, but we have the opportunity to be fruitful.

In this interview, Victore says, "Graphic design is a big fuckin' club with spikes in it, and I want to wield it, I want to use it. I want to use it in its purest, its strongest, its fullest potential."

It is seldom that we see such passion in a field of work. Are there issues evoke that level of passion in you? What moves you to action?

broad side of a narrow barn

2005-10-17T23:08:00.000-07:00

I have to apologize for my lack of entries the last couple of weeks. I ran into a torrential bout of creative block. I don't know if I want to drum up the reasons it happened--partly because I don't fully understand why it came about, partly I don't want to jinx myself back in to it. The point is, Mix Master Mike is back with an all new scratch routine.

This could turn in to a "share your creative block maladies and cures" call for entries. If you want to go in to that, fine. I'd like to hear it. But in a way, it's kind of personal, so I don't expect to hear many responses. Instead, I'd rather delve into a topic that I keep referencing, and therefore battling. The issue of wide versus narrow experience.

As some of you may well know, I've been wading through "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance." Not that I don't enjoy the trawl, I really do. But this book may be, at least in part, responsible for my little creative breakdown. I'm not sure that my professor fully understood the implications this book presents, especially in light of our current charge to define our design philosophies. Perhaps he does. Perhaps the breakdown process is integral to enlightenment. I don't doubt it, but this isn't what I want to go in to. I want to explore the two methods that we as designers go through to achieve daily design enlightenment.

I'll try and keep this fairly short, but as I see it (and the author hints at) there are two ways to research and then communicate. The first is through very narrow yet focused experimentation in which one immerses himself entirely in a singular subject. He then is able to effectively communicate his ideas because he finds a universal truth within that single matter. An example would be a scientist who studies a specific nucleotide sequence on genes in fruit flies and then applies it to all genetic make-up. The second is through very broad experimentation where one obtains instances of truth from many varied sources. He is then able to communicate based on his relative understanding of universal truth compiled from all sources. An example would be a photographer who shoots people all over the world laughing.

What works for you? Is it solely one or the other, or a combination of the two? Do the results vary based on your methods, or do you reach similar conclusions? Is one more conducive to romantic thought? Classical thought? Or do you have a more accurate way of describing these methods? Holla back yungins.

something for nothing

2005-09-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

Here's an article about a little phenomenon that has been popping up lately in advertising.

Who needs ad creatives?

It comes from Ad Rag, a website that posts different discussions about advertising-related topics. This subject has really been getting at me lately, but I'd like to hear your opinions about using customers for free, or near-free, advertising.

Side note. Here's a piece that I did recently for a proposal. Basically, the company would sponsor an art show for students and local artists and then distribute the proceeds to the art community and local schools. It appears mutually beneficial, but is this the same as what's happening in the article above?

schema

2005-09-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

I've been really fascinated by architecture lately. I notice that when I walk into a building or room where the space has really been taken into consideration, I feel an ability to breathe, to think, for ideas to be absorbed, that I don't find in less-though-out areas. I have a few friends who have recently decided to become architects and I wanted to learn as much as I could about it.

As I started to do research, I began to realize how inter-disciplinary the field really is. It's not nearly enough to simply learn to make buildings. If you are going to create a structure, you must first have a grasp of artistic theories. Theories of contrast and space, theories of color, perspective, line quality, balance. You must understand the fundamentals of mathematics and physics to ensure that your structure be self standing and withstand the elements. You must be a master of materials, both traditional and modern and understand their affect on your design. You must understand the history of buildings of the past and compensate for buildings to come. You must be aware of the social implications your building will suggest, as well a thorough understanding of what it will be used for. You must understand philosophy. Will your structure reflect minimalism or post-structuralism? An architect must grasp both the theory and practice to achieve greatness. Vitruvious, one of the first writers of the architectural process wrote; "He who is theoretic as well as practical is therefore doubly armed; able not only to prove the propriety of his design, but equally so to carry it in to execution."

Why the divergence into architecture? Architecture is public access. It is open to the scrutiny of anyone who experiences its presence. It is ubiquitous, and, unless inspiring or beautiful, overlooked. Does any of this sound familiar? Does it feel like it should be familiar? Do you think any of these things as you design?

less is more or less more

2005-09-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

This blog is starting to inherit some of the same characteristics of my written journal. Sparse, unfinished, inconclusive. Maybe my lack of consistent writing is a reflection of a personality trait that I am seeking to apply to more and more areas of my life: minimalism. Although I wouldn't say that a seemingly random selection of entry dates constitutes true minimalism, it does fall in line with my desire to get rid of the excess.

This weekend was a particularly cleansing one for me. No enemas or colonics to speak of. I, however, sold 13 items to Pibb's Exchange Saturday, and I had two more bags full of clothes for Name Droppers. I began to filter through my room next, finding anything that I could throw out or give away. Fortunately, I went through this process when I left my parents house, so the reduction wasn't extensive. The next areas of clutter genocide: my mind and daily routine. Looking back at some of the previous entries, I notice a pattern of no pattern at all. Sure I have a fairly consistent hygiene routine, work routine, even play routine; but my thoughts are often disparate and even combative.

Before I get into my plan for organizing myself mentally, allow me to explain minimalism as I see it (please offer your views if you find mine lacking). Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe uses the term "Less is More," and I believe this the source for why minimalism is successful. Less allows the more to function. Less is the bare stone walls that allows the single colored wall to alter the mood of a room. Less is the public transportation that allows a large city to run smoothly. Less is the writing, void of fluff, that allows the poet to express deeper meaning through fewer words. Minimalism is packaging intelligence, creativity, efficiency, and passion into a single streamlined package. It's A drop of water, a banana, a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water.

Minimalism is not sluggish, excessive, loud, or single in purpose. It is the Ducati Monster, naked in its appearance, openly revealing the absolute essentials. It is not a Harley Fat Boy, flourished in chrome with the muffler chopped. It is the ipod which houses years of music, images, and documents, recallable at the slide of a finger, that hides in your pocket. It is not you thousand-c.d. collecion which takes up an entire wall of your apartment.

Let's ponder this last comparison for a bit, shall we. It may seem that most of my examples so far are capitalistic in nature. As I have said earlier, this is the truth of our society, and the only way to truly change it is through the front door with better ideas than existed in the past. I the case of ipods and c.d.s, you can call me a leader of sheep for championing the expensive devise, but I truly believe in its possibilities. Imagine the end of all c.d.s. We are at a place in time where this is not only possible, it is the more intelligent alternative. All music, all album artwork can now be downloaded. If everyone were to convert to downloading music to their ipods as opposed to purchasing c.d.s, we could eliminate thousands of tons of plastic and paper waste annually. The c.d. itself, the jewell cases, the booklets, the plastic sealing, the security devices, the shipping material, paperwork, in-store displays, paper receipts; all could be eliminated.

Now you may counter: This will take away the jobs of the c.d. makers, jewell case makers, booklet designers, paper producers, plastic industry moguls, c.d. security laboratory heads, U.P.S. brown uniform seamstresses, box makers, in-store display cutter-outers, and most obviously, the snobs at the music store who tell you your taste in music is immature. I rebut: This is progress. This is sustainability, this is thinking of the future of resources and making a small dent in preserving them.

Let's extend this to the movie industry. There is no need for DVD's. All of the processes aforementioned apply to DVD's. All visual and audio entertainment can be housed in portable and stationary hard drives. A step further? There's no need for us to even have hard drives for our audio-visual needs. Everything could be purchased, stored, and retrieved from central servers. All we would need are the devices to recover our information. This would eliminate the need to purchase again and again costly hard drives to store our insatiable need for entertainment. Another step further? This is particularly out there as I happen to love the current system. But apply this to books. I realize this requires improved devices for readability, but potentially, all new books and already printed editions could be placed on a central server. I know that this is a huge stretch. But if you want to make a change, you have to look far into the future for the ideas to begin the change today.

Why the sudden divergence from the field of design? Well, I don't really see it as a off-point at all. The truest design consists of only the essential elements. I've been reading, on and off, "Hey Whipple, Squeeze This." There's a section that really hit me.

Hold on...

Some dumb shit at the table next to me is describing the tattoo he's going to get. A majestic eagle, gracefully snatching an enormous trout out of a glinting stream, back-dropped by an unfurling American flag, topped off with the family crest. Stunning. Truly stunning.

Back to work. Hey Whipple. There's a section talking about what to put in to an ad and what to take out. You start with a typical ad: Pretty picture, Headline, body copy, logo, company info. Now take out what you don't need. Do you have to have the body copy? The Logo? Phone number, web site? Do you need to have a picture, or is your headline strong to stand alone? Or the other way around. Do you need tons of color, or will it be stronger with a single swash of red? better yet, can it survive in black and white? Can you reduce your headline to a sentence, three words, one? Can your photograph be reduced to a symbol. You get the point.

So much could be solved if we were to train ourselves to think in terms or reduction rather than collection. Can you fit your entire life in a car? On the back of your motorcycle? On your back? In your wallet? Everything material is distraction. How much time and money do you spend on your car? You spend $20,000 on a new car, $1,500 on tax and titling, 4% interest, get it tinted, new wheels, you clean it weekly, fill it with gas. You buy air fresheners for it, get the oil changed, regular tune-ups, INSURE it. You pay for parking tickets, speeding tickets, meters and parking garages. You fix flats, and squeegee the windows. Why? How many hours a year do you spend on your car. I'm talking the hours you work to pay it off, everything you do to keep it running, and the little extras. I would put serious money down that it takes up more than a quarter of your waking life.

A quarter of your life to a losing battle. Simply imagine what you could do with that time. T.V.? I won't get started again, but a professor of mine once computed that if the average American were to spend his time pursuing educational endeavors rather than watching t.v., he could have four doctorate degrees by the age of fifty. I guess the only thing that would do is make more obvious how stupid people really are.

I'm done. I'm making myself frustrated. Think about it. Please.

Stepping out of the world of design

2005-08-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

I was in an argument the other night with a friend. It bacame somewhat heated, definately impassioned, and I found some of the core elements of my being being challenged. I think my state of mind stemmed from a lack of connectedness, a lack of feeling whole, mostly brought upon by all of the varied directions my brain has been leading me lately. My side of the debate was that my reasons for feeling so thinly spread were truly derived from artistic motives, not an avoidance of commitment. I've fairly recently developed an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a mind that cannot settle on a single passion. Wikipedia, podcasts, beautiful sunsets, quantum theory, and existentialism, to name a few, have bombarded my thoughts with more than a lifetime's questions. My problem, which I really don't see as a problem at all, is that I feel it necessary to investigate these paths. Pardon the cliche, but there is no where near enough time--or energy--in a day to accomplish all that I feel I need to accomplish. Her side of the argument was that I'm afraid to commit to a single direction. My shallow divergences into these random paths is a way for me to delay the inevitable of commiting to something for which I truly show potential. I don't think that she could be further from correct.

I have committed on a single something. Sort of. It was quite possibly one of the hardest, but most natural, things I have ever done. Design, however, is not singular in nature. Unless you believe that design can be taught through an online course, and that the extent of design's potential is creating cool-looking logos, you probably share some of my convictions. In order for design to be truly effective, the designer must draw from a varied and collective schema of experiences, images, philosophies, sounds, tastes, pains, joys, cuts, bruises, scars, and beautifully healed wounds. He must pursue those things which ignite a spark in his mind. He must stoke inclinations until they permanantly burn in his consciousness. Design is beautiful because it is limited only by ones capacity for knowledge. As I am quickly learning, as knowledge increases, so too does its capacity.

The other day, as I was about to leave after a late night in the studio, I metioned to my design director that I was headed home to watch "What the @#$%& Do We Know." After roughly describing its premise of attempting to understand the world of quarks and other sub-atomic matter with quantum theory, we began to talk about some recent experiments being conducted which related to the movie. One was performed by scientists in Australia who, by sending a photon of light through a silicate crystal, were able to actually stop the light within the crystal for a minute before it was released. Debatable was whether the light was entering the crystal, being slowed to a stop, and then released; or if the actual sub-atomic nature of the light photon was captured, destroyed, and reconstructed. A second experiment involved sending a sound through a yard cubed block of alloy. Using an atomic stopwatch, the sound was measured from beginning to end on one side, and measued from beginning to end on the other. The astounding thing was that the sound on the second side actaully recorded earlier than it was released. Now I can't even come close to explaining the mathematics of this, but, through the use of wormholes, the scientists were able record sound before they sent it! Perhaps equally beautiful is that the scientists chose to send a symphony through the alloy.

These conversations, on the surface, have nothing to do with design. They make my brain hurt, they stretch my concept of this world, and don't exactly have any practical application to my life. But in a way, they are more practical and more applicable than any golden rule of design. They cause me to think in a new way. They cause me to construct practical applications of the knowledge; potentially in my own field, though probably not. They do not, however, keep me from obtaining my goals.

I will get this out of the way now and forever.

"I will never be the most adept Photoshop user. I will never be a master kearner, leader, or letterspacer. My web design skills will be mediocre at best. My writing will always pale in comparison to the greats. My photography will forever be amatuer. My illustration ability will never reach its full potential. I will never be the best at any one aspect in the field of design."

A friend of mine once said that the worst thing that you can ever strive to be is a Renaissance Man. That a jack of all trades an a master of none is a poor way to go through life. Noting the way I have felt lately, I will have to dissagree. At least for now. I am not pursuing these random pathways to say that I am a better hiker on more trails than the average man. I am taking these paths because they interest me. And the further down the paths I venture, the more I feel that they are the right directions. Yes, my brain feels stretched to the limit. Yes, my soul is weary. My feet are tired and my eyes sore. This is the right path, though. Correction, plural paths, single direction.

The Fire Within...

2005-08-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

I'm sick of my apartment. We just moved in a week ago, but I can't stand to be there. Why, Mike, are you sick of an apartment that you just moved in to? The damned air conditioner, which was promised to be installed before we moved in, has yet to be installed. It's hot as shit there now, and I can't stand doing more in my own house than eat, sleep, and take cold showers (the water heater also a little shady).

I find myself doing little errands all day to delay the inevitable foray into the inferno. I go to the grocery store for the smallest things. I make excuses to stop by my parents' house. But mostly, I've been going to restaurants and coffee shops, working to get this blog up and running.

Primarily, I've been choosing these locations for the free wireless internet and fuel to keep focused, albiet jittery. But I've really come to enjoy the buzz of people that defines these places, especially late at night. I'm currently at The Salt Lake Coffee Break, late on a sunday, and the crowds are just now starting to filter in.

This is such a contradiction to my usual Sunday nights which typically consist of board games followed by a movie. Sometimes it's just me lying around all day reading. I hate this more than anything. Not reading. I love reading, but I crave some sort of human interaction that i don't find sitting around like a lazy ass on a couch. I feel more alive and connected to the world when I am surrounded by the varieties of human existence, even if I am on the periphary.

This lack of varied human interaction is something that has plagued my mind since I can remember. I know that I find happiness when I attempt to take in the world around me. I know that I get depressed when I allow the world to pass me by without actively absorbing or participating. I have trained myself to be constantly engaged. I have learned over time to not be lazy. Even if you are relaxing, you can take in the world. You can read, watch, think, or simply meditate; but there must be a conscious connection.

The reason that I am plagued is the feeling that I am alone in this conclusion. Alone, at least, in the people with whom I am most often in contact. I love my friends more than anything, but I don't think that they have the same desires as I. I feel like I am always going upstream. It's so difficult for me to broach a subject that is at all liberal in nature that often times I allow the thought to drown in my head. At the coffee shops, I see groups--obviously not every group, but some groups--passionately talking about the things they love. I see people getting enraged over political matters, pouring their souls over the art that breaks them, and expanding their minds over philosophy--often in foreign voices I can't fully understand. These are the conversations that I crave. And I'm not exactly sure why I rarely come across them.

Part of the reason could be that I am a pretty reserved person. Yes, this information is being made readily available to the world, but it is being read by those who wish to know it. I'm not afraid of expressing my voice. The fear comes in the method of delivering it. On this page, I am anonymous. If a part of me is discovered, I can respond in a calculated manner. I have time to develope thoughts and time to make those thoughts cogent. Through direct contact, these thoughts are much less lucid. I'm not saying that the potential for coherent intellectual interaction in nonexistant. Quite the contrary; I feel that there is much to be said, but lack the exercise in expression.

Another reason may be public fear. These people I see who experience this depth in communication, very possibly, have just been lucky in finding each other. Just as I have been fortunate to have grown up with friends who instinctively know how to laugh, these groups may instinctively know how to expose each other. Allowing an outsider into our friends' jokes and humor is difficult. We welcome those that can pick up on and take the licks, but it requires us to be vulnerable to that person. For us to truly be ourselves, we risk that person not getting our humor, or worse, condemning our humor. It can be scary to open yourself up with something you love, and unfortunately the desire for interaction is not enough. There must be an introduction into that interaction.

Now you may be asking youself, "Why is he telling me this?" You may not give a flying fuck. You not caring is a risk that I am taking by exposing this desire. You could take this information, figure out who I am (there are ways), and try and use it against me. My weakness lies in my ability to bring up this information with people, not in my desire to share it. What I am hoping for from this post is that others share this aspiration and that they will either respond to the need for deeper conversation about the things they love, or share their methods for achieving enlightened interaction.

I watched, rather re-watched a very thought-provoking movie today. It's called "Waking Life" and it must be seen. I'm pretty new to the nuiances of philosopy, but this introduces some concepts that have inspired most of this rambling. What struck me as most important was the amount of control we are able to have if we treat our lives as a lucid dream. This is why I have written this post. I am attempting to take control of said problem I want to be able to speak openly and passionately about the things I love, and learn of the passions of others.

I just deleted the final paragraph that wrapped this up nicely, and I can't remember what it said exactly. Essentially, I want to know how you express these things--how you bring up in conversation the things that torment you mind and are scared that no one else will understand. There has to be a way of sharing and building on the passions that drive our life. There has to be a way to increase meaningful human interaction.

Mike

The Other Side...

2005-08-05T15:29:00.000-07:00

Although the areas surrounding Salt Lake offer some of the most beautiful and varied natural scenery I've ever come across, there is perhaps equally as much passed over beauty within the city itself. Admittedly, I don't devote nearly enough time to my photography, but whenever I am feeling the pangs of conformity, I try an discover parts of the city not typically captured by a camera. Here are a few of the more recent...

This is a row of gas meters behind the Pierpont Lofts. I love the way the dim, artificial lighting enhances the repetition.

I was taking pictures at the university field house of this door on the wall about six feet off the ground with no apparent use. The pictures of the door sucked, but I snagged the train as it was passing.

I sort of have an obsession with trains. It began with a series I took of tagging on old box cars, and grew to trying to capture the paint on the rusting metal. There are so many textures that can be found on old train cars. This particalar one was abandoned, and most of the windows had been shot out.

Two of my favorite buildings in Salt Lake.

This is my favorite alley downtown. There's really amazing tagging on the old brick, and there is a small gap whe you can see the sky behind the buildings. I spent like three hours down here the night I took this. People were probably wondering where the homeless guy got the camera.

An Introduction

2005-08-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

I have chosen a contradictory career path. Contradictory according to the two masters it serves. For, although the battling elements fall right in line with the rest of my personality, I daily experience a pull between blatant consumerism and artistic integrity.

I am a Graphic Designer. I want to go to school for Art Direction, and some day aspire to be a Creative Director. Along every stage of the path, I will be adding to the visual, mental, and physical clutter that is American advertising. This is where the challenge comes in to play.

Is it possible to create intelligent, beautiful, emotional advertising that eliminates the said unsightly clutter and proves lucrative for the client, yet maintains and even promotes artistic integrity? By nature, I am a person who has to feel at ease with the decisions he makes. Not only must those decisions be justified, they must become personal dogma.

Obviously, I believe that artistic advertising is possible. I believe that the most effective mode of change is through the front door, learning the ways of the system with which you disagree. I could have been a painter, or I could have been a business man. But our society places so much more emphasis on the economy than culture that the artist needs a strong yet coherent voice to be heard. My drive is to unite the two, to elevate art into the same realm of importance as the trading floor. It is quite possible that I am setting myself up for failure at the hand of an unconquerable opponent. But my choice has been made and I tend to follow through on decisions.

What I ask from you is you opinions, your encouragement, your reprimands, your ideas. Is this possible, or must advertising and art remain separate contradictory elements.

Speak up.

Mike