Web 3.0 from Kate Ray on Vimeo.

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.

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.

We are super excited to be a part of the Load of Fun community, being among the emerging and established artists working in a variety media from 2D, to 3D, to installation, performances and everything in between. Some include: the LOF/t, Single Carrot Theatre, Jordan Faye Contemporary, Julia Pearson Photography, Jackie Milad, Sergio Martinez Architecture and more…

Located within Station North Arts & Entertainment District, this was the first area in Baltimore City to receive the state designation as an arts and entertainment district. There is always something going on here such as the Station North Flea Market on first Saturdays or various events at the Windup Space. Definitely stop by and check them out.

The LOF warehouse building itself is an amazing space due to it’s architectural features, character and its history. The building, between Maryland Ave. & Howard St., contains 24,000 sq. ft of space on 3 levels with 14 ft. ceilings and original maple floors throughout. There is an 8’x15’ freight elevator that makes moving big stuff relatively easy. But, the best thing is the large warehouse windows that let in tons of natural light. And check out the back alley which has some of the best graffiti in the city.

For most of its existance the building housed some form of automotive related business, hence the vehicle sized freight elevator. The property was built sometime between 1906 and 1914, when it was occupied by Eastwick Motor Company, Garage, Sales and Auto-Repairing (Ford Dealer). Other owners sold Graham Page automobiles, De Soto, Plymouth and Nash automobiles. From l978 to 2005 the property was owned by Lombard Office Furniture. Read more about the historic significance.

Ironically, there are no more car dealers on this busy strip… hopefully we will revert back to the street cars that used to run through here. Either way we are happy to be a part of this new history.

Stop by and visit us!

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?