Well crafted typefaces are always inspiring and pleasing to look at. They don’t need to be adorned with design elements to stand out. They solely speak volumes when communicating their intended message.
Here are some nice specimens from Klim Type Foundry and typographer Kris Sowersby of New Zealand.
National, a retail typeface:
Methven identity, designworks
National, customized by Kris Sowersby
Serrano, a custom typeface:
Sold exclusively through Village.
A super cool installation by Strukt studio of Vienna, Austria for Büro Hirzberger. Their interpretation of “Digital Wallpaper” utilizes the horizontal lines on an unassuming white wall to create a visually stimulating environment with static colors and moving graphics. Great for your next private party.
via Ricardo Hernandez via Yatzer
Hirzberger Events – Digital Wallpaper from Strukt Studio on Vimeo.
COLOURlovers is a great resource for a quick hit of color inspiration. I came across the site while searching for 1940s era color palettes (not the one shown).
Described as a creative community where people from around the world create and share colors, palettes and patterns, discuss the latest trends and explore colorful articles.
Another nice resource I found on my IPhone is the free Sherwin Williams ColorSnap iPhone App.
I love the feature of snapping a photo of a something and creating a custom palette of complementary Sherwin Williams colors.
Here is a Maryland Lottery commercial for Medal Madness that does a spoof on the “kiss and cry” moment of Olympic figure skaters. I designed the Olympic style graphics on the ice rink barrier and the medal moment backdrop. The graphic was printed on multiple small panels that had to match up, repeat and look like one large fluid pattern. It’s no Vancouver graphic identity, but serves its purpose. And of course I didn’t want to upstage the actor.
We were in need of a more inviting and ergonomic work surface so, we decided to build a large industrial strength table that could also double as a conference table.
In our possession we had various tools from our recent Black & Decker design project including an 18V cordless Porter Cable circular saw and drill and a found laminate table top. All we needed were some 2×4x8 boards and screws.
In order to determine the total number of boards and work out the design, I created a quick model in SketchUp. A shelf was added at the bottom for extra stability and storage and was inset to allow room for scooting in a chair. A total of 10 2×4s were needed.
It only took a few hours since all the dimensions were already figured out.
Let us know if you want us to build you a table too.
The 555 KUBIK is a fresh approach to architectural facade projections. A great combination of contextual relevancy and artistic abstraction.
A collaboration of many including urbanscreen.com and Daniel Rossa, and located at the Hamburger Kunsthalle on O. M. Ungers’ Gallery of Contemporary Art.
Watch the video…
We are finally settled into our new studio at 120 W. North Avenue in the Load of Fun building. There’s still lots left to do but, our computers are up and we had a routine morning of Café Bustelo and NPR.
(more…)
A film by Gary Hustwit, director of Helvetica.
“Objectified is a feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. It’s a look at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. It’s about the designers who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. It’s about personal expression, identity, consumerism, and sustainability.”
Screening in DC sometime soon, otherwise the next closest is at Drexel in Philly on May 11, 2009.
This film is probably based on our pre-recession ideology of irrational exuberance which should make it interesting to see the film’s outlook on the future of industrial design. Is the film already outdated? Either way the study of consumer’s choices and habits are important and worthy of exploration.
I am not a fan of consumerism but I love design. Unfortunately, or fortunately for designers, our economy is based on consumerism and the design and creation of new and better things. Why do we constantly feel the need to have the newest and latest? Is it the deceptive marketing? Our envy or our friends? Or is it our intrinsic nature to create? There has to be a better way of doing things.
Any ideas?
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