Archive for August, 2008|Monthly archive page
Bombay Sapphire
Leave a CommentBombay Sapphire has always been somewhat the Patron Alcohol of the design scene – you can see their presence in virtually every major design show. Traditionally they’ve also organised an annual design competition with the theme of designing a martini glass to contain their liquid in. This year, however, it seems like they’ve taken on a different subject.
‘Glass’ was the focus – not just the vessel holding the gin – but the material itself.
Glass is an everyday material that in the hands of a talented artist or designer can be transformed in countless ways to produce stunning results. To spotlight contemprorary glass and to reward the creativity and expertise of artists, designers and architects working with glass, the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Foundation launched the world’s biggest annual glass award.
And here are the winners (there are two! They will be sharing the top prize):
‘Untitled (Chandelier VII)’ by Yuichi Higashionna, Japan is composed of various sized circular fluorescent lamps. In Japan, unlike Western countries, people prefer lighting their home very brightly with fluorescent lamps, favouring the very white light that is emitted from these lamps. Mystified as to their popularity, Higashionna takes this mundane everyday lighting product and creates an elegant chandelier with an extravagant industrial twist. The assembled circular lamps and electric cords are left exposed, giving the piece its rawness. The chandelier is an artwork rather than a lighting appliance, a handmade object, not a product.
The inextricale link between the making process of, and what it represents, is at the root of ‘Capacity’ by Annie Cattrell, UK. It is made by blowing air into malleable glass; therefore the act of breathing creates the organ of breath, the human lungs. Working with borosilicate glass and lampworking techniques traditionally used by laboratory glassmakers, Cattrell constructs and models the overall structure; elegantly assembling and fusing hte blown glass trachea, arm and fine outer branches together to create the human lungs.
The structure’s light aesthetics, suggestive of the breath and the paradox of the fragile yet resilient qualities of glass intensify the connection between the complexity of the body and the transitory nature of life.
I prefer the second one. But if you want to see more finalist, head on to the Gallery at Bombay Sapphire.
[Pet peeve - I know it is required by law, but it's really irritating (not to mention ineffective) that liquor sites have to have this 'Are you under 18' check on their website. As if it's ever effective in any way. Just simply a little hypocritical device that everyone knows doesn't work, and everyone still has to put it up for politically correct reasons. Gah.]
Alter-Ego Face Animations
From TechEBlog:
Called Alter Ego, this software basically takes advantage of blend shapes to copy facial idiosyncrasies and produce emotive life-like 3D character animations. Its flexibility allows for the software to be used in real-time game cinematics, pre-rendered projects, and even game trailers.
This would be a bit like Poser (for those of you who’re familiar with this program) but in rendered videos instead of simply character poses. Nifty!
Liquid Sculpture
Here’s a nice coverage of an interesting ferrofluid art by Sachiko Kodama:
While most visual artists prefer traditional materials such as oil, acrylic, bronze and ceramic, Tokyo-based SACHIKO KODAMA prefers FERROFLUIDS. Composed of magnetic nanoparticles, ferrofluids often contain high levels of iron and, as such, are deeply affected by and responsive to the presence of magnetic fields.
While the NASA-developed ferrofluids are being used increasingly for commercial applications – on everything from compact disks to weight-responsive car suspension systems – Kodama is revolutionary in applying their widely dynamic qualities to the fine arts arena.
Using a computer to manipulate electro-magnetic fields in the sculptures, Kodama coerces her stunning ferrfluid pieces to grow and disintegrate, flower and shed, and constantly reinvent themselves without the aid of animatronics or video wizardry.
Alphabet-Vegetable Book
Find it difficult to get your kids to munch their vegetables? Maybe transforming it into a fun learning process helps? In comes Great Big Veg Challenge:
From artichokes to zucchinis, broad beans to yams, every aspect of this family vegetable adventure is lovingly chronicled in Charlotte’s book “The Great Big Veg Challenge”. As well as being highly practical containing over 100 delicious child-friendly recipes, this fully illustrated book is also the funny and touching story of how a mother changed her son’s eating habits for good.
Not sure if it’d work – but if you’re interested you can always give it a try?
Camp in the City
If you’re in a crowded city with a minimal budget (say, in the finals of a World Cup or something) and you don’t mind just camping it out, here’s an interesting solution of a tent masquerading as a covered vehicle. Blend into the urban landscape while surreptitiously having a good (and cheap!) night’s sleep right in the middle of the city!
Britain – Seen from Above
Privacy issues aside (I don’t suppose these were very much private data anyway in this day and age – particularly in Britain where surveillance is really part-and-parcel of life), this is some amazing infosthetic video showing the pulse of a nation – through its land, sea and air traffic channel, as well as phone communications. I’d look forward to the actual documentary (if I could watch it).
Days with My Father – Philip Toledano
The portrait photos are great, the navigation style is interesting – but I feel shallow if I just commented on the design of Philip Toledano’s site about his interaction with his dad (age ninety-eight) who has no short term memory. It is an ongoing chronicle – do head on and be touched.
(Move your mouse to the bottom right corner for the next picture; towards the left of the screen for the ‘overview’).
Green = Cute-sifying?
Must you cute-sify your logo if you want to show you’re green? For instance, major corporations like BP and Monsanto have ditched their stodgy and serious logos in favor of cuter and more ‘down-to-earth’ ones. Nicole Peterson (who has a very interesting research going on – the usage of cute in contemporary design) ponders in this article. Excerpt:
Environmental awareness has been around for decades, but increasing alarm about global warming has put it on the forefront of the public mind. It is no longer only in the realm of hippies and tree huggers; the average American consumer can also be an environmentalist! But since the issue of environmentalism is so vast and complicated, many newcomers to the green movement may feel unsure about where they can start. Cuteness is an effective way to make novel, complicated ideas and technology easier to understand by taking away uncertainty and allowing empathy. For example, when introducing the iMac G3 in 1998, Apple focused on the computer’s cuteness and ease of use rather than its technological capabilities. Television commercials playing the Rolling Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow” emphasized that the G3′s rounded, approachable design came in a variety of bright colors. Similarly, the green movement is now focusing on easy, feel-good ways consumers can help the planet.
