While it hasn't happened yet, getting dropped to 4 days a week, is making me feel like it's getting close. Yup, beening laid off. Sucks, right? Yup, but somehow through all the pain and humiliation of a jobless existence, Odd Todd has managed to stay positive and even slightly productive, in the form of a 'top ten tips for livin' laid-off' video series.
Wow, this video off the chain! While I'm not the biggest fan of this song, this video is something I have been dreaming about.
As long as it's not right before a game winning goal in a soccer game, I love seeing digital static. Whenever I have the chance I take screens caps of it but I haven't figured out a way to use the effect yet.
Then I saw this video... wow, that's all I can say, they fucking nailed it.
Artist: KANYE WEST feat. Kid Cudi Song: Welcome to Heartbreak Director: NABIL nabilphotography.com Editor: Ryan Bartley Post: Ghost Town Media Producer: Kathleen Heffernan Label: Island Def Jam Production Co: Partizan
Here are a few static shots I found on flickr. I can't seem to find the one's I have taken...
Oh yeah! ha, I remember. I found one of the ones I have taken, this was actually a picture taken on an iPhone though, not video. The funny thing is that the photo, by sheer coincidence, was the 420th photo and was of me and my girlfriend smoking a joint. Not only that, but it seemed to crop in on my stoned eyes, the joint, and my lips blowing smoke out perfectly, while leaving other parts indecipherable. Crazy Right?
The photos taken before this one and after turned out fine and I don't think there is a photo scramble function on the iPhone, although it may a good idea after seeing these results. Much like the pixelated scrambles from digital reception, I find the image rather pleasing.
But, I got a little curious, so after a little photoshop puzzling we can know see what the picture was supposed to have looked like.
The first eye-watering inspiration source is Scene 360, a 9 year old online film and arts magazine that is a must bookmark. They conduct interviews and profile some of the best artists and filmmakers in the business, and they feature some crazy-dope videos. I found their video channel on Vimeo via Design You Trust.
Here are a few videos that have been featured recently. This first video is an ad for ASICS shoes. It tells a story with origami about how the founder of the company used biomimicry to come up with the idea for suction cups on the soles of basketball shoes.
The second site I want to highlight is Motionographer a motion design blog that is also a must bookmark. It has been one of my main eye-gasm inspiration sources for the last couple of years. They find the best motion graphics on the internet and give them to us with consice, well written blurbs about each.
here are a couple of their latest features
Capacity in LA just completed a huge rebrand of the Cartoon Network with a genius concept of using the new fad of customizable blank vinyl dolls juxtapozed with Mac like white space and focused color bursts. Just check out the video you will understand.
This next video is a powerful ad for Amnesty International and basic human rights. Another one you should just watch. http://www.academyfilms.com/
It's a showdown in the little town of Portland, Oregon. While San Francisco and New York get the most design press in the US, Portland's has been making a big splash for small fish. Wow, sorry for the rhymes, ha!
ID Branding The first firm I want to highlight, ID Branding, has been around since 1979 yet I just recently found their award winning work plastered all over the internet and in design mags.
Sandstrom Partners The other firm I want to showcase is the packaging powerhouse, Sandstrom Partners, they could be considered to be the king of Portland with amazing branding projects for Tazo, Converse Miller and more, but I haven't seen as much from them lately. Except for their cool monthly color scheme and this, St. Germain Packaging, wow, it's stunning! This may not actually be new but I am just now noticing it at least.
Of course you can't forget about Wieden and Kennedy, but because their website is so rad, I will just let you check out their work for yourself wk.com.
In the last 3 years I have become fascinated by ambigrams, and they often takeover my sketch pad. An ambigram is a word that can be read forward and backward, like the Nine Inch Nails logo. I especially like the Blacksmith logo designed by John Langdon and all of the Angels and Demons ambigrams, I believe also done by John Langdon. While searching for ambigrams I noticed that Dan Brown's book is being made into a movie and it's being directed by Ron Howard. Should be a good one.
Earth Air Fire Water by John Langdon
Illuminati by John Langdon
And here are a few that I have made in the last couple years. Revolution
Believe
This post was inspired by one of David Airey's posts on ambigrams at Logo Design Love
B:løk The first firm I want to highlight, Blok, hails from Mexico and was founded in 1998 by Vanessa Eckstein. I am absolutely blown away every time I look at their portfolio and I felt like I should share. Some of my favorite work of their's is the identity systems, the use of colors, patterns and typography is stunning. With over 180 awards from such respected companies as Communication Arts, Applied Arts Magazine, ID Magazine, Graphis, Type Directors Club of New York, Print Magazine and many more, it's hard to not to jock. This firm is definitely bookmark worthy and good for continuous design inspiration. Enjoy... Communication Arts has an excelant article on Blok that is viable online at http://malaletra.com/blokarticle/u01t01.html HOW Design has a short interview with Vanessa here.
