Head-smacking Marketing Tip for Design Studios: Personalized Tradeshow Giveaways.
With the economy having taken quite a blow in recent months, many design companies have found themselves falling under. Clients are unwilling to pay debts, new clients are reluctant to spend money, and employees are getting restless. Luckily, if you are part of, or own a design studio then you can take measures to prevent the economy from hurting your business. Just go to tradeshows.
Tradeshows happen all year round so finding one in your area is easy. Usually the price for setting up a booth a tradeshow is minimal and with charismatic people the return on your investment will be high. Take for example, you go to a home remodeling tradeshow as a design studio, while everyone will most likely deal in home remodeling services or products you’ll find that as a design studio you’ll be poised ina position where people will want your services. You can easily offer people branding services that can give them an edge over their competitors. At this point, it’s merely a matter of getting them into your booth.
One of the easiest ways is that when you register for a tradeshow, you usually have the option of adding trade show giveaways into goodie bags that tradeshows usually distribute to all people coming to them. This means that no matter what, people will leave with an item of yours increasing their likelihood of remembering you. The downside to this is that it usually costs considerably more than setting a booth. Don’t have the money? Try personalized pens. Small items like these can be bought wholesale at low price and everyone likes free pens. Giving away anything at your tradeshow booth will increase the likelihood of people stopping by, and it serves as a great ice breaker. “Hey you want this free t shirt? Great! Here’s a little about what we do…”
PS3 Released this Week and is Green?
Coming out this week is the, smaller, cheaper model of Sony’s Playstation 3. Heavenly rumored and expected for most of the year and finally, officially announced three weeks ago. This is the week that in Japan and North America you can walk into a store and come out with the new version of the console.
What makes it so different from the old one, now termed as PS3 fat? First off is the new price point. Originally the Playstation 3 came out at a dual price point of $499 and $599 depending on what specs you wanted. Now the slim is at retail for $299. Various retailers are getting rid of their old stock at the same price.
It is in the hardware. The first thing you are going to notice is that its a hell of a lot smaller. The PS3 fat is an inch wider and the slim is about 1/3 shorter and almost 4 pounds lighter. From being one of the heaviest consoles ever and second only to the original X-box in size to a much more manageable size that takes up roughly the same space as a wide-screen laptop.
Much of the other specs stick to the line as the more recent iterations of the Playstation 3. It stick with the 2 USB ports, integrated Wi-Fi and an absence of a Flash card slot, that was removed after the original production models were pulled off the line. The boxed console comes with the composite cable and a Dualshock 3 controller. All the same.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Sony decided to include a replaceable if wished 120 Gig hard drive. Plenty of space for whatever your need may be. The big disappointment is the lack of PS2 backwards compatibility. It can play Ps1 games fine, but your PS2 library is a no go. This is another feature removed from the original line of consoles.
Now to the title of this post. How exactly is it a Green console. The console is built now not to overheat. Shrinking processors and a bigger fan prevent this. The big upshot of it is that the console is said to use 34% power. That’s all well and good, but is direct from the Sony press release. C-net decided to try this and see if it’s on the up and up. What they found is the console uses up to 70% less power to run than it’s bigger brother when playing games and up to 50% when playing Blue-ray discs.
If you’ve been on the fence of whether or not to get a Playstation 3, the Slim is big new argument to go out and get one.
Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Ceramics
Somewhere between found art, Picasso, and industrial design is where Object Factory’s newest US based installation takes place.
Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Ceramics is the first major U.S. museum exhibition to survey contemporary innovation in industrial ceramic production and the renaissance of ceramics in art and design today. The exhibition explores how artists and designers are reviving interest in ceramics through collaborations with industry that enhance and sometimes subvert the industrial process. Object Factory presents works created for leading manufacturers as well as artworks by independent artists and designers. Both non-functional and functional works are highlighted, as are important technological advances in ceramic material that allow for its use in electronic appliances, cutting implements, and other surprising products.
Object Factory has more than some 200 works by over fifty artists, designers, and industry manufacturers. This large collection features work by some of the greatest American, European, and Russian designers. The exhibit runs from May 6 to September 13th and it can be found at the Museum of Arts and Design
By train: A, B, C, D or No. 1 to Columbus Circle at 59th Street; N, R, Q or W to 57th Street and 7th Avenue F to 57th Street and 6th Avenue By bus: M5, M7, M10, M20, M30 and M104 to Columbus Circle at 59th Street or 57th Street and 8th Avenue
Museum Hours Tue. – Sun. 11:00 am to 6:00 pm Thurs. 11:00 am to 9:00 pm Closed Mon. and Major Holidays
SUMMER HOURS: Due to popular demand, the Museum will be open on Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm throughout the summer.
Blue Balls – Innovative, Chic & Modern Furniture Design by Animi Causa
@flakhound was ranting and raving about wanting ‘blue balls’ and I couldn’t even begin to fathom why anyone, especially FlakHound would want blue balls. Perhaps his girlfriend was a bit too much for him, I will never know. It took a few hours of listening to his rant before he dropped a link and I completely understood what he was talking about. It wasn’t the metaphorical blue ball syndrome of pre-teen jokes, but rather innovate furniture design by Animi Causa.
I’m not usually a fan of high priced, designer furniture, but come on. Giant foam balls with stretch fabric that you can mold into any position imaginable? It’s worth any price tag. Furniture that’s fun is something hard to create, but Animi Causa has shown that’s its possible to invent such a comfortable and enjoyable piece of furniture. Check out their online store if you want to purchase it, and make sure to check out their homepage for more information about their design studio.
The Swerve
Alright, So here’s the story:
I was sitting at home one day, humbly minding my own business, and peacefully watching “Green Acre’s” when all of a sudden just as Arnold the pig informed Mr. Drucker that Mr. Douglas had parked in the spot where he (Arnold of course) usually parks his bicycle MegaLongCat comes storming into my house, yelling and shouting in some far off language, (I think it was some weird cross between Manhattanese and the lower half district of Jersey city with a bit of Creole and Jamaican tossed in just to confuse me).
“Christoph hajuba relief check Wall-street discount seafood ‘mon!’” he exclaimed.
Which translated of course means “Hey whats up man? Let’s go party it up!”
Of course I told him I was much too busy to “party it up” as he called it, for I was trying to solve this conundrum of how a Arnold, being a pig and all, was able to ride a bicycle.
To make a long story short, Megalongcat handed me this package and said you should really check this out. The package read “swerve.” Apparently it was the worlds best neck hair remover. I wondered if he was trying to give me a hint, and then I wondered why he cared so much about my neck hair.
The answer of course was sewn into the fact that I probably the hairiest back and neck region (next to our barbarian friend Mageta the Bunny Pillager also known as Mageta Terrorizer of Kittens and Other Tiny Beings, as well as the Dreadful Swain Train of Pain)
So I said ok, why not i will try it out. Megalongcat said “No, no, no, I want you to review it, take a look at it, tell me what you think, and then post it up.”
By this point in our conversation, however, I finally determined that Arnold must have been using a tricycle as that would have been the only way his feet could reach the pedals. (But then I wondered why they would have called it a Bicycle in the show, which is now still causing me trouble to this very day).
[Images from http://www.theswerve.com/]
I took the Swerve out of it’s box and I gave it the once over trying to figure out how to use it.It was not until I pulled out and read the instructions that I fully understood.
I decided that in order to test it, I must compare it to other razors. I mean why buy something that you already have.
[Images from http://www.razorspares.com]
The first razor I tried out was a Mach 3 due to the fact that both had 3 blades and lubricant and what not. It was definitely troublesome trying to shave the neck area. I had to hold up another mirror to angle myself in the right position to see where and what I was shaving. After clumsily falling over myself and several minutes of frustration I got everything settled and started to shave.
Ow..Ow…Ow… you know how if you let your beard get somewhat long and then try to shave it with a razor how the hair kind of gets pulled out and your skin hates you for awhile. Yeah that’s what happened. It was difficult trying to shave normally which is from the top to bottom, so I had to shave against the grain, which on the chin is fine, but on the back of the neck it is a bit of a pain. Well, the shave went alright, and I hacked my back up fairly well. Now all I had to do was wait for the hair to grow back.
So several weeks and many episodes of Green Acre’s later it grew back to a point I deemed reasonable enough to attempt a shave. For the next test I used the same type of razor, however, I used the Fusion with 5 blades and vibration (I don’t know if that actually does anything but it makes you feel like it does). I had some of the same issues, such as the mirror, and the angling, but overall it was a much smoother and better shave than the 3 bladed. It was a lot less painful.
So now I thought to myself as I waited for the hair on my neck to grow back, how will the Swerve fair? It seems like it’s design may be more accommodating, but with only three blades will it hold up?
Well, the hair has grown back and I have just shaved with the Swerve. To my surprise it actually worked very well and I was able to get to more places then I thought…I mean…yeah holding the mirror was still tricky…but overall it was able to stand up to the 5 blade and out maneuver it. I think it works fairly well.
With all three of the razors I used though, the clean up sucked. Neck hair and shaving cream all over the floor. I also felt kind of stupid. However, if you want to shave your neck this is the tool to do it with. I honestly do not know how it works on the back because shaving your back seems to be more trouble than it is worth (I would just Nair that if I had too). This on the other hand seems like a great way to trim down the neckline a bit when used in between haircuts. The design really makes it easy to use, much easier than I thought it would be.
The Prices Range from $4.99 for a single and $12.99 for a three-pack; both of which can be purchased from their website www.theswerve.com
~FlakHound
Loading image
Click anywhere to cancel
Image unavailable
%8Fv%91%92q%1D%7D%12%88%98%99%9A%1B%9C%10%88%89%9Fy%93%A2%86%1A%9E%A7%8B%8C%2F%AB%18%A5%AE%A0_%AA%8E%AC%90%B5%B6%60%19%A3%0D%AD%BC%AF%A1(%B2%9D%BB%C3%C4h%BF%C7%A4%C9%CA%A8%A9A%CE%0E%B4%D1%BD%7B%10%C0%0A%C2%D8%D2%C5%DB%D5%0C%D7%DF%CB%B7%13%B9%C8%97x%02%EE%02%2B%B0%D47%13%DEln%1E%EF%EF'%F2%2B%F6Zd%3A%E8%1Bhb%9A%3Fv%F7%DAp%18%C8%90%84%C1%13%D0%C6%94%CB%C0%B0%E2%08f2%14%02%2Ce%8A%FFb%C5%86U%B4%B5(%B3%91%A3%C0%8F%20%CD%CD%E2%08h!%CA%94*%AD%B1l%99%EF%25%C1%98%0Bf%D2%1Ca%F3fL%9D%F8X%F4%D4g%0EhG%17C%F7%0D3%EA%23%A9%3B%5EL%818u%054%C9P%AA%2C%DF%D8%C4%FA%8F%CAK%AE%08%15Y%AC%15%F6%13%D1%A5%3Bq%AA%5D%CB%B6%AD%DB%B7p%E3%CA%9DK%B7%AE%DD%BBx%F3B4%DA%F5%1B_a%7F'%16%0D%0C%89%B0%E0h%86%13%F3%FD%A9%B8qV%95%8E%23%F7%85*%D9Me%B5%97%BB9f%1BY%AF%E7%CF%A0C%8B%1EM%BA%B4%E9%D3%A8S%AB%C6A%92r%D0Se1%C5~s8P%ED%24%26a%DF%1E2%13%EC%E4%1CUu%F7%06%12%D5wn%E0%C1%5D%0F%9FQ%1Cq%F2%83%3A1%3FO%F8Xzt%EA%C7%DB6%AFs%5D%EE%F4%95%D5%25%BEv%D1Z%7Cv%F0%BB%EB%05%CC%B8%DERz%99%BF%D5kd%11%91%C3y%F9%F3G%D4%2F%B1%DF~%FF%08%BC%F9%E9%F7_I%EDaW%12t%01%3EP%DE3%B3%B9g%DB%80%9A-%A8%20%84%8CAha%7C%90Q%A8!%85~a%B8!%87%CE5%18%8C%88%E4%80%88%16%89%25%26%C8%A0%8A%19%A2%98%93%8B%11%B2%D8!%8C1J%08%A0%89%9F%BC%97b%81%F8%C9x%A2%8F%F0%F1%D8%A3%8D%CA%E8%B8%23%91%2B%02)%9C%92%232y%24%92%C6%A55%E4x~%E0H%9B%95%04%60%89%A1%22%5B%06%09%E5%8D4%9Aa%A4%97RNY%26%97X%D6x%E6%3ANv%91%A6%9ATr%D7%26%15of%19%26%99q%E6(%A4%7Fs%929%E3Q%EE%7D%89%1Eiu%AAVhj%87%A2%96%E8i%8B%9A%D6%A8%A3%7B%AE%C6'%A0%AE%24%00%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2C%0A%00%02%00W%000%00%00%03%FFH%BA%DC%FE0%BE%40%83%BC8%EB%3D%2B%E5%60(J%9E7%9E(WVi%EBv%EB%2B%BF%EB7%DFgm%E1%3C%A8%F7%23%81P%90%FA%A1%00H%40k8D%19G%C9%24%8A%C9%CC%D5N%D1%E8%89%DA%1C%3DCYi%90%2B%F4%5EEa%B1%88%DC%F5%9DAi%F5%9A-%FAn%E2%CA%14%9B%E8%8E%C1%E3.%7B!v%19x%2F%82*o%1A%86%87%88%1A%84%12xy%8Dd%89~%8B%803%7B%7C%19%90%10%928%8E%18%9E%0F%8C%A1t%9D%8A%91%99%3C%A2%24%AA%11%A6%AD%A8%17%A4%0C%B2%B3%B4%11%B6%0A%A0%40%0A%AE0%25%18%B8%3D%9B%B5%B0%0D%BE%BF%C0%BA%10%97%B1%AC%10%03%D4%03%81%CE%C2%C4%D2%0F%D5%D5K%D8G%DB%0D%DD%E4z%952%E2%E3%E4%E5c%5C3%E9%0C%EB%F2%EDm%E8Y%18%F2%F3se%3CZ%19%F9%FA%98%09%04%18P%E0%2F%82%EB%0C2C%C8N!%10%86%DD%1C%1E%84HMb%0F%8A%15-%F2%C0%A8%F1%13%22%C3%8E%0F%09%82%0C%99o%E4%C4%86%26IZK%A9!%01%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2C%1F%00%02%00W%000%00%00%03%FFH%BA%DC%FEKH%01%AB%BD8%EB6%E7%FE%60%A8u%9Dh%9E%22%E9%A1l%5B%A9%92%2B%CF%04L%D1%F8i%E7%7C%B8%F7%A2%81p%C0%FA%9D%02%C8%40k8D%19E%C9%24%8A%C9%D4%C1%8EQ%A9%89%DA4%3DAYm%90%2B%F4%5E%A1a%E4%89%DC%05%7D5i%F1%98%9C%3A%83%E3K%B6%CF%BE%89%2B%F3tn%7Cpx.lD%1Fo%17~3%87%88%23%83%8B%8C%8Dz%1B%8A%15%93%94%95%19%97%0F~%7F4%87%96%91%98%859%A2%9C%A4%9E%A6%A7%9B%17%9D%0D%99%3C%A8%AF%AA%B1%AC%B3%B4%2F%B6%0B%9F%40%0B%BA%10%B0%0A%B2%40%8E%B5*%92%B8%C6%AE%C2%24%18%C5%BF%04%C1%0F%25%CAa.%00%DA%00%18%D4(%D1!%DB%DB%DD%812%CB%20%E2%E9%17%CD%2C%E7%1A%E9%F0%E4U8%D8%22%F0%F7%19%F39Q%26%F7%F8%D2%D2%FC%FD%03%D8C%E0%40%828%0C%C6C%C8C%A1%3A%86%09%1D%8E%83HC%E2D%8A3%2Cj%C3X%D1%14%22%C7%88%0A%3F%E6%08)r%A4%C0%92%05%17%A2L%B9%D1D%02%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2C%3C%00%02%00B%00B%00%00%03%FEH4%3C%FA0%CAI%AB%9D%AD%DD%CD%7B%CD%99'%8E%16%A8%91hj2i%3B%AE%8E%2Bo%F0l%7F%EB%ADG%B5%2B%FC%82%DD%A3%97%02%02%85%8B%5C%D1x%DC%11I%CC%A6%EE)%8AJo%D4%8E%F5j%CBr%B6A%A1%F7%02F%26M%D0%ADy%5C)%AF%95Z7%92%3D%91%CF%E1%1Bp%F8%8D%8E%5B%CDCx%16v%7C%20~Q%80%81%7Ddj%89%0At%0Az%8E%8F%82u%8D%93%90%92%93%94!%8C%7F%9B%8A1%83%97.%01%A6%01%3B%84(%A7%A7%3A%A4%AB%AC%AC7%AF%22%B1%B6%AEL)%B6%BB%A9%5C%1E%BB%BC%A0%1B%C0%C1%C2%15%C4%C5%C6%12%C8%B7%CA%14%CC%B1%CE%13%D0%B2%D2%11%D4%AD%D6%D7%D8%A8%DA%10%DC%DE%CB%D0%E1%D3%C8%E4%CF%C4%E7%C7%CD%EA%EB%A6%ED%F0%F1%F2%F3%F4%F5%F6%F7%F8%F9%FA%FA%00%FD%FE%FF%00%03%024%26%B0%A0%C1%7F%A0%0E*4%B8i%A1%C3%81%93%1EJ%04%D0p%A2%C3%84%16%0F%12%CC(%03PA%02%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2CN%00%0A%000%00W%00%00%03%ECH%BA%BC%F3%A3%C9I%2B%85%D0%EA%7Dq%E6%E0%E6%7Da)%8D%A4%A9%A2%A9Z%B2%91%BB%B2%B2%0B%D7%E6%8D%87p%BCs%BA%9F((%B4%10%8B%1D%14r%A8%5CV%8ENF%2F%9A%1CQ'%D3k%03z%E5%AA%04%60%81%91%B6%0B%87%9F%CD%9Ay%5D%C5%A8%D7%EC%B6%CF%04%AF%8F%1F%B2%BA%9D%AA%DF%3B%FB~H%80p%7C%83fQ%86%87%7F%89%60%85%8C%8E%86Z%89Z%0A%83%94%0B%80%97%0C%81%9A%95g%9D%A0%A1%A2%A3%A4%A5%A6%A7%A8%A9%AA*%01%AD%AE%AF%B0%B1%B05%B2%B5%B6%AF.%B7%BA%B6%AC%BB%BE%B8%26%BF%C2%01%BD%C3%BB%B9%C6%B7%B4%C9%B2%AB%CE%CF%D0%D1%D2%D3%D4%D52%00%D8%00%A5%D9%DC%A2%DC%DF%DA%9D%E0%DF%E2%E3%E4%94%E6%E3%E8%E9%E0Z%EC%ED%EE%EF%DD%F1%F2%D8%F4%F5%EB%F5%E1W%FA%FB%FC%F8%F9%D8%95K%17%8A%A0%B7s%A3%E6QH%00%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2CN%00%1F%000%00W%00%00%03%E9H%BA%DC%FEn%C8%01%AB%BDmN%CC%3B%D1%A0'F%608%8Eez%8A%A9%BAb%AD%FBV%B1%3C%93%B5v%D3%B9%BE%E3%3D%CA%2F%13%94%0C%81%BD%231%A8D%B6%9A%8F%1C%14R%9B%F2L%D6%AB0%CB%EDz%BF%E0%B0xL.%9B%CF%5C%81z%CDn%BB%DB%B3%B7%7C%CE%5E%D1%EF%F3%13~%0F%1F%F1%FF%02z%80%7Bv%83tq%86oh%8B%8C%8D%8E%8F%90%91%92%93%0A%01%96%01f%97%9Ac%9A%9D%98%60%9E%9D%A0%A1%A2%5D%A4%A1%A6%A7%9E%5C%AA%AB%AC%AD%9B%AF%B0%96%B2%B3%A9%B3%9FY%B8%B9%10%00%BE%00%2F%B8%15%BF%BF%C1%B0%BD%C4%C5%C6%A7%C8%C9%C07%CC%0F%CE%CA%D0%A5%D2%D3%CF%3B%B1%C3%D8b%D8%BE%DE%DDa%DF%D9_%DFc%E7%E3%E2%EA%D3%E1%EB%E6%EF%5E%E4%EE%CE%E8%F1%5D%E9%EC%F5%FA%FB%60%F9%FE%ED%E8%11%23%D3%CF%1E%B8)%09%00%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2C%3C%00%3C%00B%00B%00%00%03%F9H%BA%DC%FEP%8DI%AB%BD6%EA%1D%B1%FF%15'r%60%F9%8D%E8c%AEY%EAJl%FC%BE%B1%3C%BB%B5y%CF%F9%B9%FF%C0%A0pH%2C%1A%8F%C8%A4r%C9l%3A%9F%D0%A8tJ%10X%05%D4%D7u%9B%1Dm%BF%D8%AE%06%FC%15G%C8%60%B3%03MV3%D8mw%15%5E%96%CF%E9W%FB%1D%1Fv%F3%F3v%7FVz%82F%01%87%017%7FD%88%88%8AxC%8D%8D%3Bt%91%92%87%40l%96%97%89%99u%11%00%A1%00%1C%9C%98A%5C%1A%A2%A2%A4%A5O%AA%AA%1B%A5%A6L%AF%AB%B1%ADM%B5%A1%AC%B8K%BA%A3%BC%97%B9%BA%23%B2%B4%C4%22%C6%BE%C8%C9%BDH%BF(%B2%9D%CF%CC%CD%9CJ%D0%D1%CAG%D9%DA%D7%D4%B5%2F%DBE%DD%DE%C2%DC%D5%E6%92%E8%E1%E2%E3B%E5)%EFA%F1%F2%DFD%F5%EA%8E%E4%E9.%E7%FC%EDvLb%F7J%8F%83%7Cv%10%CAQ%E8%86%A1%1A%87%0F%0B%1A%7C%00kb%83%04%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2C%1F%00N%00W%000%00%00%03%FFH%BA%DC%FE0%CA7%EA%988%EB%CD%89%FD%5D(%8E%CDg%5Ed%AAJ%A7%B9%BE%B0%D7%BAq%1D%CE%AD%ADkx%BE%FF%90%DE%09Ht%08i%C5%E4%11%94%2C.-M%E5%13%15%05N5%80%2C%E0'%E8%0AFO%8CV%AB%F3z%C1%C7%C9x%5C3%9BIB%F5%3A%DBvwU8%C9%9C%1C%B3%9F%F1H%10%7Bt%13%01%86%01%18~w%2BL%11%83%5B%85%87%86%89%8AQ%8F%90%11%92%92%13%8A%8BE%8F%18%9A%87%94~I%97%A1%A2%88%9C%9D%9F%83%19%A9%AA%AB%A5%40%A0%AF%A9%1A%AC%3F%B5%A8%A2%B8%95%3B%BB%BC%9A%1B%B95%A7%1A%B0%C4%C50%C1%C2%9B%CA%B3%CC%CD%91%BD%D0%D1%2B%D3%D4%C3%1C%CB)%D9%DA%CF%DC%BF*%DF%12%C9%1D%DD%22%E5%E6%B7!%E9%1C%C7%1D%E7%E8%EFX%AE%22%F3%F4%D7%1D%F7%F8%ED%22%E3B%F4%0B%91O%9F%1BokR%144%E8%89%04%1B%85%FFF%BC%A9%E2l%14%C5(%0B%2F%FE%C8%A8Q%13%07%C7%8E5%3E%82%84!r%E4%8Bj%26%89%84K%A9%20%01%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2C%0A%00N%00W%000%00%00%03%FFH%BA%DC%0E%10%B8I%AB%BD8%B7%C8%B5%FF%E0%C7%8DRh%9E!9%A2lK%A9%A4%2B%B7%B0%3A%DF%60m%E3%3C%A6%C7%BD%E0%E4%B7%12%1A%17%C4%CEq%99%8C%2C%8FM%C8%13%DA%9CR%89%A7%806%20%1Cx%07%99dv%AB%ED%7D%BF%3E%1D%8AL%C6%9D%CF%97Z%8B%BDu%BF%BDi%25%8B%5E%BF%DD%D1qN.%7Ce%17%02%87%02%18%7FxV%04%84%5C%86%88%87%8A%8BV%8F%90%15%92%92%17%8B%8CK%8F%18%9A%88%94%7FO%97%A1%A2%89%9C%9D%9F%84%19%A9%AA%AB%A5F%A0%AF%A9%1A%ACB%B5%A8%A2%B8%95A%BB%BC%9A%1E%B98%A7%1A%B0%C4%C53%C1%C2%9B%CA%B3%CC%CD%91%BD%D0%D1%83%AE%1F%C9%1F%CB%7B%D9%DA%B7%20%DDc%7C!%DB%DC%BF%DE%E5%E6%E1%E2%E9%26%C7%20%E7%E8%EF%20%D3%C8%ED%EE%D7%F6%EB%26%F3%FAo%D6%F4cW%CDD%3D~mP%FC%03%E8I%60!%85%F9%0C%02jDm%18E%2B%0B%2F%0A%C9%A8%B1%12%07%C7%8E8%3E%82%9C!r%A4%8C%82%26%8D%3C%E3%91%00%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2C%02%00%3C%00B%00B%00%00%03%F5H%04%DC%FE%F0%A9I%AB%BD%98%C6%CD%5D%FE%E0%D5%8D%5Ch%82d*%9D%AC%A5%BE%40%2BO%B0%3A%DF%F5x%EF%F9%B6%FF%C0%A0pH%2C%1A%8F%C8%A4r%C9l%3A%9F%D0%A8tJ%3D%05%AE%81%AA%0C%CB%D5%9A%B8%E0%AC7%13%06%8F%2F%E5%F0%99%92.%AF%09m%F7%3A%AE%3E%D3%CD%F6%3B%F6%AD%DF%E7%FB%7C%80%81w%3B%02%86%02Fz%85%87%86Et%3F%8C%8CDmA%91%87%8Ex%40%96%97%98WC%9B%8D%20%03%A3%03R%A0%88%A2%A4%A3P%A7%A8%19%AA%AAO%A7!%B0%A4N%AD%B4%B5%A5M%B3%B9%B5%BC%A0'%BA%BBK%BD%BE%B0L%C6%C7%B1J%B8%C2%BA%C5%C1%2C%C3%CD%CA%CB%B6I%D6%D7%ABH%DA%DB%C4F%DE%A9%BFG%E2%E3%C8%E1%E6%1F%D4%E9%9B%3B%ECE%D27%F0D%F23%F4%F5%91%40%F8%F9%A1%3F%FCo%26%00%0CH%60%60%40%83o%10%AEQx%86aCt%0410K%00%00!%F9%04%05%05%00%04%00%2C%02%00%1F%000%00W%00%00%03%E7H%BA%0C%0E%2C%CAIk%7B%CE%EAM%B1%E7%E0%E6%8Da)%8D%A8%A9%A2%A9Z%B2%AD%CB%C1%B1%AC%D1%A4%7D%E3%98.%F2%0F%DF%0E%08%11v%88E%E3%04%A9%AC%00%9B%16%1C4%0A%9B%0E%7B%D6_%26%CB%EDz%BF%E0%B0xL.%9B%CF%A1%80z%CDn%BB%DB%B6%B7%7C%CEv%D1%EFs%15~%0F7%F1%FF%01z%80%7Bv%83tq%86oh%8B%8C%8D%8E%8F%90%91%92%93h%02%96%02f%97%9Ac%9A%9D%98%60%9E%9D_%A1%9E%5D%A4%A1Y%A7%A8V%AA%A5S%AD%A2%AF%B0%97%A9%B3%96%AC%B6%9F%B2%B3%5C%B62%03%C0%03%16%BC.%C1%C1%15%AD6%C6%C6%14%A7%3E%CB%C7%CD%B1%3A%D0%D1%D2%B7B%D5%C0b%DA%C2a%DD%DE%60%DD%DC%E3%DF%DA%E4%D5c%E5%E2%E7%E6%ED%EC%E9%EE%F1%F0%D0%E8%F5%F6%CB%F8%CC%F2%F7%F4%F9%FA%DB%D4%CD%D3wf%9F%86%04%00!%F9%04%09%05%00%04%00%2C%02%00%02%00%7C%00%7C%00%00%03%FFH%BA%DC%FE0%CAI%AB%BD8%EB%CD%BB%FF%60(%8Edi%9Eh%AA%AEl%EB%BEp%2C%CFt%0A%DC%40%AD%938%BE%FF%9E%5E%0FH%CC%08%7D%C5%24%E5%88T%3A%1D%CC%E6sJ%88%E6%A8X%2B%96%AA%DDN%BB%5E%A5%F5%1AN%82%CB%C41%DA%1C%5D%B3%99%EEt%3B%0E%3C%D3i%EA%BB%CE%AE%8F%E5%FB3%7C%80%12%01%85%01!%82%83%0E%86%86%20%89%8A%0B%8C%92%1Fs%90%10%92%98%1D%95%96%8B%98%99%1BG%9C%11%9E%9E%1CC%A2%A3%A4%9F%A8%26%AA%A5%AC%AD%AE%93%B0%24%B2%B3%B4%23%B6%8C%B8%B5%BA%85%BC%22%BE%BF%C0!%C2%C4%C1%B6%C7%B9%AE%CA%CB%A4%CD%BD%B7%D0%CE%87%D3%D6%D7%D8%D9%DA%DB%DC%DD%DE%DF%E0%E1%C0%02%E4%E5%E6%E7%E8%E7%DC%E9%EC%ED%E6%DA%EE%F1%ED%D9%F2%F5%EA%D8%F6%F9%02%F4%FA%F5%F0%FD%EE%D6%01L'%AE%A0%C1%83%08%13*%5C%C8%B0%A1%C3%87h%06H%1C%00q%C1%C4%8B%10%2Fj%A4%D8pP%A3F%86%1E7*%0C%E9%11!%C9%92%07O%8A4%A8%F2%23%CB%96%13M%C2%94%98r%26%C7%970%13%CE%5C%98%93%E7I%87%24%2B%AE%ACH%00%23%D1%A3H%93*%5D%CA%B4%A9%D3%A7P%A3J%9DJ%B5%AA%D5%ABX%B3j%DD%CA%B5%AB%D7%AF%60%C3%16I%00%00%3B)
Loading image
Click anywhere to cancel
Image unavailable
Anti System: Repurposing for the Resistance
Remembering the hype in New York last holiday season on the evening news about the repurposed newspaper and envelope wallets… totes, handbags, etc. Why use old newspaper when you could use a skateboard? I think the obvious answer is it’s lighter, and less bulky as a wallet, but no, not skateboard wallets. Skateboard notebooks, or Sk8 Notebooks, Sk8 Notebook Minis, and Sk8 Shoulder Bags, all designed by Anti System.
[Image from http://web.mac.com/lovegallery/iWeb/Site/Home.html]
The notebooks were an incredible idea. And while the shoulder bags lend themselves to a particular taste in style (just like the paper envelope wallets), they certainly are unique, not to mention durable. While it is small, the hard shell cover does offer some flexibility for bulk with its hinges, not like a hard shell suitcase, and certainly more stylish than the average fanny-pack.
Should Sk8 Shoulder Bags not suit your fashion interests, Sk8 Notebooks and Sk8 Notebook Minis also incorporate the skateboard shells but are, as the name states, notebooks. More of a concealed weapon of sorts in comparison to the shoulder bag I suppose? Some especially beautiful designs on the notebooks, like these:
And at a smaller and slimmer scale, if you’re still feeling more of the newspaper wallet style, Anti System offers an international substitute to the New York Times, using pages of Japanese newspapers, laminated, with a strap. Even smaller? There are also card cases.
All of these products by Anti System are handmade, but they’re so loved they seem to all be sold out on Tokyocube! Unfortunately, most information on Anti System Products is in Japanese, their main website http://antisystem.jp/ redirects to here where more unique pieces can be found.
[All product images from Tokyocube]
Feeling Felty…
A fun new exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, that opened last week, offers a look at the versatility and creative opportunities that come with working with felt. The exhibition, “Fashioning Felt”, includes the work of over 20 designers spanning products, furniture, fashion, and even architecture.
If you were wondering how to bring more felt into your life, this is without a doubt the exhibition for you!
But in all seriousness, the exhibition offers the opportunity to see how felt-making techniques are transformed into surprising results. Like the exquisite felt necklace with coral beads by Brigit Daamen, a necklace that shows both the durability and fragility of felt… or the very surprising Felt Rocks by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen that will give your pet rock some competition.
The exhibition can be found at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, in New York City:
2 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128
More information is offered on the Cooper-Hewitt’s website for the exhibition: http://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/Fashioning-Felt/
[Images from http://exhibitions.cooperhewitt.org/Fashioning-Felt/]
Unique Product Innovation – Toilet Seat Handles *Shandles*
Creative Fluff seems to have attracted an eclectic and innovative group of people lately. A few weeks ago we were contacted by a group named Shandle. At the time I was like “well, what the hell is a Shandle?” I quickly found out that a Shandle is single-handedly the greatest innovation for single men, frat boys, potty-training (for toddlers or frat boys…or single men for that matter), and girlfriends obsessed with clean bathrooms. The Shandle is a device for any toilet seat that serves as a handle for the lower toilet cover. You know the second seat that you never want to touch because its either grimy or you’re at your friends place and you’re not quite sure who else has touched it or what could possibly be under there? Shandle solves that problem.
We were lucky enough to be sent samples from one of the employees and we went ahead and took pictures of the unpacking process. As much as we would like to post pictures of the Shandles in use, we found that Katherine’s toilet seat was considerably too high-tech for it to be installed in, and mine was..well. There won’t be any pictures of my bathroom anytime soon. (Didn’t get a clean enough bathroom). You’ll have to take my word on it, but the Shandle works well on most standard toilets and they come in over 60 assorted designs. Some are silly while others have decent contemporary designs so there’s a Shandle for everyone. Below are pictures of one of our favorite Shandles. When the bathroom is in Fluff-tastic condition we’ll post pictures of it in action.
If you’re looking for something that would give your friends a laugh when they have to use your restroom, I highly suggest you head on over to Shandle and order yourself a couple.
Kindle 2: The unboxing, part 2
So yesterday, I posted something on the Kindle 2’s packaging. Unfortunately, as it was a gift I could do the actual unboxing, but it is revealed today.
Removing the ultra light box from its paper slip, the container is a simple molded carton stamped with the product name. Simple enough. No excess use of material, no fancy glossy paper, all recyclable material to be environmentally friendly.
The Kindle 2 has a nice and simple keyboard, with pleasing “round button” tactile quality that didn’t exist in on the first keyboard. It also comes without the awkward shape of the first Kindle, finished in back with a sleek brushed metal.
And finally after removing the Amazon Kindle, one would then begin to reap the benefits of the ebook reader with its beautiful free web access… an attractive quality for even those who don’t do the ebook thing.
[Image from http://xkcd.com/548/]
The Kindle 2 can be found at Amazon here.
Kindle 2: Packaging may make you go “ooooooo”
So I received Amazon’s Kindle 2 today, though it’s not mine, I’m seriously considering getting one just so I can experience the un-boxing of my own. However, because this is a gift, the un-boxing of the product must wait! I did get to remove the Kindle 2 box from the .. um.. box. You’ll understand when I get to the photos.
Here’s what happened. I got this light little Amazon box, and when I opened up the cardboard box it was shipped in, I was greeted with a lively graphic of glossy black letters sprinkled across a matte black interior. Still can’t help but run my finger across the forms of the glossy alphabet.
Then removing the actual Kindle 2 packaging, I found more of the delightful letter splatter in the bottom of the box, encircling the recycle icon.
… And it becomes evident that the Kindle has gone green.
If you remember the first Kindle, you’ll remember a chunkier box that looked something like this:
[Image from http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2008/03/amazon-kindle.html]
Kindle 2’s packaging is greener. It’s obvious that the environment was taken into consideration. The thick, bulky box of the Kindle 1, is now replaced by a lightweight black material similar to that of an egg carton that houses the Kindle 2 in its belly (I’m guilty of trying to remove it without actually opening it, but to no avail).
The same glossy letter splatter is found on the smooth paper cover enveloping the rounded case, creating in the center a badge for the name “Amazon Kindle”. This paper wrap seems flimsy, but is actually acting as a kind of security system (at least for me in this case) as well the decorative element of the packaging.
And here is where it stops. I can go no further until this gift has been opened. AH! THE FRUSTRATION! This post is to be continued when the gift has been opened and held hostage momentarily by me and my camera. Stay tuned for the unveiling…(tomorrow?)
Geek Out Tote Bag
Feeling the urge to “geek out” you accessories, then I may just have the thing for you. From the Himeya Shop is a tote bag with a very old school style to it. How old school? 16-bit ear old school.
The Sega Genesis tote bag. Niche? Maybe, but still cool to look at. Comes in black only and made of nylon. $55 pricewise. Just thought I’d share it.
http://www.himeyashop.com/product_info.php/products_id/11854
Concealed Lighting – Modern Lighting Design
I’m pleased to bring the public something different from our normal gamut of posts about graphic design, creative illustrations, and kickass web applications. Today we’ve been contacted by a famous hometown industrial lighting design studio: Concealed Lighting.
Located in both New York City (Creative Fluff’s base) and Buenos Aires, Concealed Lighting has managed to provide innovative solutions for creative problems posed by clients for lighting design. The first, and possibly my most favorite examples are their display lighting examples.
Aside from the fact that I’m a sucker for anything that glows blue, I found their creative display lighting reminiscent of fibirous spider webs and it was an excellent example of using natura as the basis for a design concept. What’s most interesting about this specific example is that it uses its subtle lighting to make impressive shadow illustrations on plain walls getting rid of any need to spend money on creative wallpaper.
This second example is a completely lit bookcase / storage displace with built in LED’s that illuminate every compartment. Concealed Lighting’s use of LED’s instead of lightbulbs offer them the ability to consume less energy, it allows for flexible/subtle lighting sources, and it is less likely to set anything on fire removing any and all health hazzards. The bookcase remains minimal and fuctional while retaining the ability to qualify for something that would be displayed in the MoMA’s product design section.
The final piece from concealed lighting I want to discuss is the Nikon display. The subtle lighting in the background is far from a neon sign with Nikon’s name on it. Instead it is a warm, f uzzy, but recognizable version of the logo created by hundreds of golden LED’s. Even though its a lighting display it manages to retain Nikon’s corporate branding while expressing it in a creative manner.
If you need lighting design done for you or just want to check out their portfolio make sure to see them here: concealedlighting.com
From The Shooting Range
These little personalities are part of Rachel Pfeffer’s Bullet Buddies collection. Each Bullet Buddy is unique labored over until it obtains its own form and expression. They have all been transformed from empty bullet shells, abandoned at shooting ranges, into quite the collection of characters. They are all made by hand, and are an interesting way of recycling the bullet shells into collectable items, pendants, or key chains, and can be personalized by the artist. I suppose one could consider this a sustainable solution to all those discarded bullet shells, a step in the direction of the modifying and repurposing concepts found in the English Retreads tire handbags or Droog Rag Chair. In any case, creator Rachel Pfeffer has taken on the task of recycling and giving new life to these empty bullet shells in the creative spirit.
More bullet buddies can be found on the artist’s own website at http://www.rachelpfeffer.com/bullets.html and on Etsy.
[ Images from http://www.rachelpfeffer.com/bullets.html ]
It’s Chanukah!
Chanukah Menorah!
Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights which takes place every December and lasts for 8 days and nights. Chanukah celebrates the recapture and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by Judas Maccabaeus in 164 BC.
According to the Book of Maccabae once the Temple had been reclaimed a lamp was lit; this lamp according to Jewish law had to be kept lit and never put out! The only problem was that there was only enough oil to keep the lamp lit for one day. This of course is where the miracle comes in; the oil in the lamp lasted eight days, just enough time to aquire more oil.
To commemorate this miracle a lamp is lit during every night of Chanukah and placed in an eight-branched candlestick called a menorah. Here are some menorah examples:
Now this is an interesting Menorah, it is seems to be made out of nails!
Although this next one may not be religious none the less it is fairly interesting….especially if you are a cat lover like Fred is…
This one is very nice, I especially like the flame effects,
This one is also quite interesting,
And here I will leave you with what a typical Menorah may look like all lit up on Chanukah!
I hope you have all enjoyed this little menorah show. Hopefully you may have learned a little something about this Festive and fun holiday!
Happy Chanukah!
19 Amazing Playing Cards from Around the World
Images from http://thecontaminated.com/cards-of-life-and-death/
Czech Nationalistic cards by Emanuel Neumann, c.1895
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/czech/index.html
Hand painted Dasavatara Ganjifa cards, c. 1950
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/india/dasavatara.html
Image from http://www.wopc.co.uk/japan/unsun.html
15th century Italian playing cards
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/italy/italia.html
The Book of Trades by Jost Amman, 1588
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/germany/ammon.html
Images from http://photography-arena.blogspot.com/2008/10/ukraine-human-feature-playing-cards.html
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/germany/ambraser.html
Waddington’s Barribal Series, 1933
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/waddingtons/barribal.html
‘Unique’ playing cards by Ian Roth
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/usa/ianroth.html
Pippoglyph playing cards by Ben Crenshaw, 2004
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/usa/pippoglyph.html
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/otc/aboutea.html
Images from http://www.wopc.co.uk/reviews/thedeal.html
Image from http://adnil.com/CARDS/jong.html
Invisible Playing Cards by Peter Woudt, 2002
Image from http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma/ProductDisplay_Invisible%20Playing%20Cards_10451_10001_15115
Frank Lloyd Wright playing cards by Frank Lloyd Wright
Images from http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/golden-klimt/index.shtml
Images from http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/aleister-crowley-thoth/index.shtml
And finally a very strange Chinese deck I picked up, with images of Chinese aristocracy. They also have little educational blurbs on each card, and apparently had a little trouble with the English translations.
Designer of the Week: Okapi Studio and Modular Design
Gabi Lungu at Henkel Design Awards 2007
Ladies and gentlemen it’s time for your favorite portion of the Creative Fluff magazine blog (insert drumroll please) I am pleased to bring you the lucky Designer of the Week: OkapiStudio. We were lucky to get in contact with a young design studio such as Okapi and after a few back and forth emails we were given the chance to review one of their best design pieces: The Shelf Concept Project.
Before we go into detail about one of their best design projects, lets talk about a little of their history. Okapi studio is an Art Direction and Design Consultant agency based California and Romania with over five years of experience in international markets “offering a fine mixture of traditional and new media creative services”. OkapiStudio is run by three individuals: Gabi Lungu the Creative Director, Andrei Ostacie the Marketing Director, and Sam Purtill who is their managing partner.
I’m sure I’m not giving their studio any justice when it comes to describing what it is exactly that they do so below is a short description from their website:
“OkapiStudio is a multidisciplinary creative shop, encompassing talents that excel in full advertising services, brand strategy, graphic, web and motion design. We help companies in the research and development process and we fine tune their brand and positioning by carefully planing each move.”
Enough background lets get into the awesomeness that is Okapi studio. The picture above is from their exclusive Shelf Concept Project which at a glance looks like a normal, minimalist, and modern shelving unit that could be sold as an item through CB2 or another contemporary furniture store. But as you can see below, there’s more than meets the eye when OkapiStudio is involved:
The shelves are modular, a concept that is being readily adopted by all industrial design groups recently (within the past two years). Modular design is a good base for any furniture/storage project because it gives consumers/users the abiltity to not only adjust how their furniture looks within a space, but it gives those with smaller homes the ability to save on space while owning an exceptionaly designed storage system.
Below is a small clip from their website concerning the Shelf Project:
“When we play in-house with our talent sometimes we come up with amazing things. This is a classic example of research for functionality while trying to use a cost effective solution for spacing issues. Be it used for home or office purposes, the modular office storage equipment is a flexible and smartly designed solution that adapts to space requirements. Built from plastic polymers, it comes in lightweight customizable modules that can be used accordingly to everyone’s needs. The shelf concept provides a fresh and modern approach to similar common wood based products on the market, with it’s perfect shapes that mold around the objects and the possibility for redesign on the fly to match any setting you might have in mind.”
If you haven’t googled them already, you should Check out the Okapi Design Studio here:
Solar Sailing Super-Yachts
Super-yachts owned by super-billionaires aren’t usually thought of as being environmentally friendly. They are, first and foremost, symbols of in-your-face wealth, (and, in some cases, possibly signs of having to compensate for something.) But a new interest in making sea transportation energy efficient has been emerging.
CNN’s article, “Solar sails could turn super-yachts green”, points out how Solar Sailor, an energy company based in Sydney, is working towards creating fin-like solar “sails” for large boats, acting as a sail but also as a large, energy-generating solar panel, minimizing fuel consumption.
Though not the greatest looking things in the world, the environmental benefits of a large solar-powered watercraft, ships, and shipping vessels are enormous.
A recent airing of Man-Made, on the National Geographic Channel, about the engineering that went into building the Queen Mary 2 (http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/man-made/3548/Overview#tab-Overview) pointed out the massive amounts of energy needed to not only put the ship into motion, but to keep everything on board functional. Maybe a future Queen Mary 3 could benefit from some solar power?
The CNN article can be found at: http://www.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/11/04/solar.sails/index.html
[Images from CNN and Solar Sailor]
Chinese Democracy: About F*#king Time
About f*#king time. Seventeen years ago, a band called Guns N’ Roses released their last studio album of original content. After some infighting, in 1994, Axel Rose began work on the bands next album: Chinese Democracy. It will be released November 23rd of this year. I repeat: About f*#king time.
The cover shows a parked bicycle, that looks like its made for transportation of goods, with a large basket on the back. Guns N’ Roses can be seen spray painted on the wall next to the bike. The entire image is sepia toned that gives it an old, classic feel. The location pictured is dingy enough to give a 3rd world vibe or at least a one of a developing nation like the one depicted in the title. The title of the album and name of the band is sideways and pushed to the dark mauve colored boarder off to the right.
The overall feel the cover gives me is that this is trying to say it is a classic album. Thematically it fits the title and we’ll see if it fits the music as well. Either way it looks great.
Chinese Democracy will be sold exclusively at Best Buy on November 23rd for $11.99 on CD and $19.99 on vinyl. You can pre-order now.
Once last time: About f*#king time.
People’s Design Award…Last Day!
The Cooper-Hewitt’s People’s Design Award voting ends today at 6:00pm EST. In case any of you would still like to cast your vote there’s still time yet.
If you would like to have your say on the matter of which design is the best you can do so by visiting http://peoplesdesignaward.cooperhewitt.org/2008/ for instructions or go directly to the voting page: http://peoplesdesignaward.cooperhewitt.org/2008/browse/all/0
Designer of the Week: Delineo Design – Industrial Design
More and more designers have been emailing use their work as of late and I never thought I would see the day where I had to swim through design projects, designers, and exhibitions on a daily basis. I’m obligated of course to take care of these in the order they arrive and this week Creative Fluff Design Blog is proud to have chosen DelineoDesign, a young Italian Student Designer who has an affinity for the modern, chic, and trendy. His goals, in his own words are to “discover, experiment, reflect, and observe” and though his words might be out of order to me personally as a designer (which is my translation from Italian to English). Delineo has skills across a series of mediums and I have had the pleasure to go through his work and choose what I found to be his most influential work.
I think it’s best if I start with his most ecletic work. Aside from the modern furniture designs you will find on his personal website and later in this review, Delineo has a knack for functional footwear. These soccer cleats (my favorite sport) are egonomically designed to conform to that natural shape of the human foot. Much a trend in Delineo’s work, we find his taste of modernism.
One of his more interesting pieces, this lounge chair easily comes off as something you would find in an alien’s apartment, or perhaps your own living room ten years down the road. Conceptually ahead of its time, this chair manages to retain what looks to be both comfort, and Delineo’s aesthetic tastes.
This last piece, and perhaps one of the most important ones in his collection is the Korebo racing mountain bike design specifically for the human body and comfort. I would love to own one of these and can’t wait for them to wind up in the production stage. If you want to see more of this young Italian student designer’s work, make sure to check him out at: http://www.delineodesign.it/
Chambers Fine Art Presents the The Heaven of Nine Levels
Here in New York, Chinese contemporary artist Wu Jian’an is exhibiting his extraordinary, large-scale “paper-cut” installations. With his inspiration being channeled from Chinese folk art, more specifically Chinese mythology and the eerily beautiful shadow puppets, Wu Jian’an creates detailed and expressive pieces.
Each of his pieces is created painstakingly by hand using the same traditional methods that were employed in creating shadow puppets out of animal hide. This exhibition is named after his largest piece to date which expresses the transference of power in the world.
The exhibition will continue until October 25th at the Chambers Fine Art gallery in New York City.
Images from: http://www.chambersfineart.com/en/contemp/wjianan.html
Jolyon Yates ODE Chair: Designer of the Week
I suppose people are starting to like us over in Europe; or maybe for some reason our design blog just happens to rank better. All of the same, we over here at Creative Fluff received an email from the Jolyon Yates design studio based in Northumberland England. Yates informed Creative Fluff of his 2008 line of ODE Chairs, a new venture in industrial design. However, before going into detail, let’s talk about Yates’ past which will help in giving us an insight to his creative sustainable design.
“Born in Durham, England in 1968, Jolyon studied Industrial Design at Sheffield Hallam University and then Automotive Styling at the Royal College of Art, London. After a spell at Opel in Frankfurt, working on the development team of the World’s first wholly ‘virtual’ car design, Jolyon was invited to Style Porsche in Stuttgart. In this capacity he worked on major internal and external projects. In a freelance role, Jolyon went on to work with Stefan Stark, Seymour Powell and The Product Group. Returning to New Zealand in 1998, Jolyon taught Design at Massey University in Wellington before taking up a role at Bakewell-White Yacht Design in 2000 Jolyon now participates in various international transport and design projects: his specialties include conceptualisation, development, rapid prototyping, visualization, print and web”
Our Designer Katherine describes the chairs as “very contemporary while maintaining their organic shape to them; most contemporary furniture is characterized by hard edges and simplistic forms without taking the human into account.” The chairs also remain “artistic” and it is “enjoyable to see that the furniture “is available in the original wood grain which would make the environment that it’s in more comfortable than it would be if it were made with cheap acrylic. They also remain comfortable in appearance though the wooden grain might suggest otherwise.”
Overall, we were very impressed with Yates work and suggest taking a look at his website for more information on other products and updates with their design studio.
Sustainable Design, Going Green the Old Fashioned Way
Recently I have been in the mood to buy a bike, not anything fancy mind you, but a good plain old fashioned bicycle. However, knowing myself, I would use it for the first few days, and if the bike gets lucky maybe even a week before I forget about it or just consider it too much trouble. (Living on campus with a bicycle just doesn’t really make sense in the end.) Yet it is good to know, that if i do decide to give into my impulsive nature and buy a bike, it will have a good home. Not with me of course but with a bit of luck at this little place I discovered.
Amazing I thought to myself, what a great idea to turn something from junk to Design Motif. Although their website and their ordering information may be a little hard to use and somewhat inconvienent, for any lover of Modern Art and/or Bikes be it motorcycle or bicycle, these pieces are a must have. The look turns out to be so modern and edgy.
A really great aspect of this business is the fact that they recycle the materials instead of throwing them on the scrap heap. It is a great way to really rethink and reuse our everyday items. It definitely makes me wonder about other material goods I may throw away and what other uses I could just have for them.
So in conclusion, if you want to turn your bike into a rocking chair, check out Bikefurniture.com.
Mike Ming: Trendy Illustration Meets Commercial Industrial Design
The mainstream and the underground have been merging at an exponential rate in the past two years, and to put things into perspective lets take eclectic, trendy hip hop singers Santogold, and M.I.A. Both are known for their unique beats, melodies, and vocals which sets them apart from mainstream hip-hop. But just how underground are M.I.A. and Santogold? Not too long ago Santogold’s music appeared in a beer commercial, and then M.I.A. featured their song “Paper Planes” as the trailer music for the movie: Pineapple Express. The trendy underground is quickly moving towards the mainstream; part of this is due to the failing American economy, and part of it is simply because artists can no longer afford to starve (go figure). The question that remains is can these artists who become apart of the main stream retain their essential values and stand out from the rest of the muck. Mike Ming, a creative illustrator stands as a shining example that this is indeed possible.
Lets get a short background of Mike Ming out of the way before discussing his work:
“Brooklyn-based artist Mike Ming (born Michael Miyahira) brings fascination with popular culture and life experiences to the canvas.” – Dell.com
He graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1995 with a BFA in Illustration and has since taken his artistic creativity and honed it into a personal and expressive style which he can call his own. Ming was contacted by Dell to provide illustrations for their new inaugural Special Art Edition Inspiron 1525 laptop.
“I want to create a sense of energy, playfulness, sophistication and psychedelic momentum when I started this…This new technique from Dell brings my inspiration—water and the energy it produces—to life and gives computer aficionados their own display of style.” – Dell.com
But what is the technology that makes it possible to have Ming’s creative artistic talent showcased so vividly? Dell describes it best:
“A new Dell manufacturing technique brings alive every color and brushstroke on the laptop’s cover, creating a fluid, graffiti-inspired tattoo effect that lets style pioneers add another level of individuality to everyday life.” – Dell.com
Ming’s work has been showcased in a series of galleries, festivals, and art shows all across the country and if you like the laptops, I highly reccomend visiting his website for more of his ecletic design style.
www.mikeming.com
