Stimulacra™

The Hunger Games: Full Trailer

2011-11-15T15:18:00.003-06:00

First full trailer for the upcoming film, The Hunger Games. The visual look of this film is quite intriguing and presents a vision of the future that reminds me of George Orwell, Aldous Huxley and William Golding.

Some of my favorite stills below.

Metronomy: Everything Goes My Way

2011-10-19T17:04:00.000-05:00

My anthem for the week. Their latest album The English Riviera is a gem of indie electropop music.

Stella's First Year

2011-06-14T15:01:00.002-05:00

Celebrated my daughter's first birthday this past weekend. Above is a montage of moments and highlights from the past 12 months.

Music Track: The Perpetual Self or "What Would Saul Alinsky Do" by Sufjan Stevens.

Sexual Camouflage

2011-04-14T21:16:00.001-05:00

My good friend from UH, Brian Gossett, recently asked me to be a guest mix on his blog. Anyone who knows me would have heard these songs quite a bit over the last few months or so. The original title was going to be "The Vernal Equinox" but March was quite a busy month and the equinox came and went. The current title came to me while watching an episode of Nova on cuttlefish. Enjoy.

Download the mix here.

Intel Visual Life: The Sartorialist

2011-01-06T22:11:00.001-06:00

Great behind the scene look of Scott Schumann, The Sartorialist, and his insights into the process that goes behind his blog and photographic approach to style.

Wenger EvoWood 10

2010-10-14T15:18:00.000-05:00

While normally I'm partial to Victorinox Spartan, the Wenger EvoWood series is an interesting take on the Evolution series created by Wenger in 2005. With a new emphasis on sustainability these pocketknives are constructed from top quality walnut that would normally be considered waste material from other production processes.

For my money the EvoWood 10 has all the basics you would need for day to day life almost identical to the EvoWood 11 but it swaps out the Phillips for a corkscrew.

County Fair Field Notes Notebooks for All 50 US States

2010-07-27T23:05:00.002-05:00

For Field Notes collectors. A special limited-edition complete set of 50 individual notebooks, one from each state, packaged in a custom box along with a 6 pack of Field Notes Clic Pens. Only 200 sets are available at $99 each. A great gift for kids, for recording your travels or just learning about the U.S.A.

$9.95 for three, $99 for all 50 at Field Notes

Yourstru.ly Presents: The Morning Benders "Stitches"

2010-07-02T15:45:00.002-05:00

If you haven't had a chance to check out The Morning Benders, I highly recommend giving their first two albums a listen.

Bathys Bomb Timer

2010-06-03T02:15:00.001-05:00

Been following this project over at Bathys for six months now and am very excited with how it's been turning out. For those of you not familiar with the Bomb Timer, it is inspired by the WWII era console mounted clocks made by Hamilton Watch Company that were used to time bomb runs. They were installed in the turrets of bombers and the hacking movements allowed bombardiers to track the elapsed time between the bomb release and detonation. After WWII many air crewman took these timepieces with them and in many cases crafted straps to transform them into wristwatches.

The updated Bomb Timer seems to be a scaled up and more robust (316L Steel Case) version of Hamilton's original and features an ETA 6947 movement and water resistance of 100 meters. Some versions will feature PVD coating.

Price: $1800 - 2000

Below are photos of the original watches. They are rapidly becoming hard to find on the secondary market.

Michael Gillette: 007 Commemorative Book Covers

2010-05-23T12:34:00.004-05:00

For the 100th anniversary of Ian Fleming's birth, Penguin UK commissioned artist Michael Gillette to create new covers for a set of centenary edition James Bond hardbacks. I'm still waiting for these to surface up in the US but you can order them from the UK here.

Dazzle Camouflage Battleships

2010-04-17T01:52:00.010-05:00

Stumbled upon this little gem of naval camouflage while reading about U-boats in WWI. When the Allied fleet came under constant submarine attacks Dazzle Camouflage was developed early during WWI by Norman Wilkinson when it was found that traditional camouflage failed to conceal ships in all weather conditions. Since at the time most ships were spotted with optical rangefinders, through which the viewer artillery and torpedoes can be targeted, the primary objectives of Dazzle was to visually disrupt and confuse the viewer as to the size, heading and speed of the ship. By using bold clashing patterns that intersected the lines of the ship it became hard to determine what type of ship you were looking at, how fast it was going and even if it was heading towards or away from you.

Because the widespread adoption Dazzle Camouflage also coincided with adoption of convoy grouping tactics there is some debate as to how effective the painting scheme ultimately was as a single variable, with that said it was a huge morale booster for the crews of the ship and also for the civilian population at the time in port and dock cities.

During WWII, with the invention of radar and dive bombers Dazzle became less effective but was still utilized to a certain extent against submarines that still relied on rangefinders.

The images below are from RISD's fleet archives of Dazzle paint schemes, you can view more of the collection here.

Alice for the iPad

2010-04-15T14:25:00.000-05:00

She & Him: Volume Two

2010-03-25T23:07:00.003-05:00

Perfect spring album that's on heavy rotation on my playlist. Retro pop duo She & Him release their second album and it doesn't disappoint. Catchy adorable happy-sounding sad songs. Download the album from amazon for $4.99 while the deal lasts.

Tron Legacy Trailer

2010-03-24T22:50:00.004-05:00

That I've waited 85% of my life for a sequel would give one pause. Hopefully this movie and the soundtrack by Daft Punk makes up for it.

Check out the awesome trailers here.

The 2009 Feltron Annual Report

2010-02-02T23:41:00.007-06:00

Nicholas Felton spends much of his time thinking about data, charts and our daily routines. He is the author of several Personal Annual Reports that collate countless measurements into a rich assortment of graphs and maps reflecting the year’s activities. He is the co-founder of Daytum.com, a site for counting and communicating daily data, and frequent designer of information graphics for numerous corporations and publications. His work has been profiled in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Wired and Creative Review.

Check out his latest Personal Annual Report.

Lucha Loco

2010-01-28T10:41:00.009-06:00

If you like lucha libre than you'll dig the new book Lucha Loco by Malcolm Venville.

With his collection of over 120 portraits, Malcolm intimately observes the complexity of the Luchadore by capturing both the human element and stage persona of each wrestler, through direct uncluttered photography.

Also check out these nifty wallpapers here at his website.

Axiom: Creative Energy | 2010 Demo Reel

2010-01-19T21:27:00.005-06:00

Just updated the new demo reel at Axiom. Seems to be resonating with my coworkers and other folk.

View the HD version here.

Track is "One World Extinguisher" by Prefuse 73.

Kazuki Takamatsu

2010-01-11T23:40:00.004-06:00

Some very arresting gauche paintings by Kazuki Takamatsu. Very cool use of grayscale topography.

Check out the rest of his work here.

The Bridge of the USS Enterprise

2009-11-21T21:42:00.005-06:00

Just saw Star Trek on Blu Ray. Unbelievably fantastic but one camera move really gave me pause. At one point the camera pans out from the bridge of the USS Enterprise, through the viewscreen/window and over the front bow of the ship. I'm no military strategist, but that would be the last place where you would place the command/nerve center of your starship. Worse still is having a well lit window letting everyone look in. Hopefully for the next movie they can invent some form of CIC. Take advantage of the reboot.

AIGA Houston Presents: Pecha Kucha Houston Volume 1

2009-11-05T00:03:00.001-06:00

Pecha Kucha (Japanese for “the sound of conversation”) is a fast-paced event where designers get to meet, network, and share their work. A forum in which creative work can be easily and informally shown, Pecha Kucha Night has become a global phenomenon, spreading virally to over 200 cities around the world.

Come join the conversation–creative people talking about creative things.

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Domy Books
1709 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX

Doors open at 6p for drinks and chit chat. Talks start at 7p.
The event is free and open to the public. Cash bar.
Space is limited so get there early.

Scattered Pixels from Visual Systems

2009-10-23T14:56:00.004-05:00

Interactivity meets urban environments. Artists; Oliver Pasquet, Djeff Regottaz, Bastien Ribeiro and Valere Terrier.

Adobe Kuler

2009-10-11T12:16:00.003-05:00

Explore, create and share color themes

Discover Adobe® Kuler™ — the web-hosted application for generating color themes that can inspire any project. No matter what you're creating, with Kuler you can experiment quickly with color variations and browse thousands of themes from the Kuler community.

2009-09-21T22:57:00.002-05:00

AIGA Houston presents

Jack Gernsheimer

and his new book Designing Logos:
The Process of Creating Symbols That Endure

This essential book for all graphic designers looks at the process of logo design and the criteria used to determine whether or not a logo stands a good chance of being here down the road. Whether you’re an educator, a student of design, a CEO recognizing the need for a corporate identity change, or just a fan of strong design, this book will help you make a more well-informed decision about the quality of logos.

Designers, educators, students, marketing specialists, and fans of design need look no further than this invaluable sourcebook for answers to these questions and many more. Packed with tips and lavishly illustrated, Designing Logos is an accessible reference for the design and implementation of a logo — from the initial creative thought process, through the presentation of logo alternatives to a client, to final implementation, with valuable, practical information.

About Jack
Jack received a BFA in Advertising Design from Syracuse University in 1968 and began his career at J. Walter Thompson in New York. He founded Partners Design with his twin brother Jeff in 1971 and continues to be actively involved in design and creative direction. In 1978, Jack worked in Oslo with internationally acclaimed designer Bruno Oldani. He has designed nearly 500 logos for businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to one-person startups. His work has appeared in Communication Arts, Graphis, Print, Novum, and other prestigious international publications. He has lectured, written about, and taught graphic design at Pennsylvania School of Art and Design, and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE
closes at 5pm, September 23

Door prize for AIGA members!
Snacks and Complimentary Drink Ticket.
Copies of Designing Logos will be available for purchase.

Date & Time:

Thursday September 24, 2009
6:00pm – social & book signing,
7:00pm – presentation

Location:

River Oaks Theater
2009 West Gray
Houston, Tx 77019
view map

Pre-Registration Pricing:

$10 AIGA Members
$20 Non-Members
$5 AIGA Student Members
$10 Student Non-Members

Pricing at the door:

$15 AIGA Members
$30 Non-Members
$10 AIGA Student Members
$20 Student Non-Members

For more information or questions, email:
Robin Parrish
Programming Director
events@houston.aiga.org

Retro Album Covers from Flickr

2009-09-16T21:12:00.003-05:00

Stumbled across these photos from Flickr. Pretty cool stuff.

The xx: Basic Space

2009-09-12T20:56:00.007-05:00

The xx's self titled debut album is a great album for the fall. Moody furtive boy/girl duets is the new black.

If you can't wait till October for it to hit U.S. stores click here to download through Amazon.

AIGA Houston presents DRAW OFF

2009-09-04T10:45:00.002-05:00

Thursday, September 10, 2009
Time: 7:00pm-9pm
Location:
Rudyard’s
2010 Waugh Dr
Houston, TX

Teams of 2 will battle in the ultimate game of Pictionary!

This isn’t some typical Pictionary game we grabbed off the shelf at Target, it’s our own concoction of design related objects, people, actions, places, or the dreaded “difficult”.

Word cards are randomly selected, the timer is activated, and players begin scribbling frantically as they race to beat the clock in 60 second intervals. Correct answers are rewarded with a point. First team to reach 10 points advances to the next round and competes to the CHAMPIONSHIP round.

Championship Prize:

Bragging Rights
Free Entry into AIGA Houston’s next paid event
Secret Prize

Please arrive between 6:30 & 6:50 pm to sign up with a partner or we will provide a partner if you’re flying solo.

Everyone is welcomed! Bring business cards as always because you never know who you are going to network with!

For more information or questions, email
April Guzik
Member Activities/Volunteer Chair
memberactivities@houston.aiga.org

Photos from Paris Trip

2009-09-01T23:45:00.007-05:00

Below are some recent photos from our Paris trip last month. Had a marvelous time there.

Big thanks to Arizona for loaning me her rig.

Brad Pitt, Personal Valet

2009-08-29T22:53:00.004-05:00

Latest commercial for Softbank by Director Spike Jonze starring Brad Pitt.

Monster Milktruck!

2009-08-21T16:54:00.009-05:00

The map is not the terrain, well, unless you are inside a Monster Milktruck!

Today I had to research some features for Google Earth and came across this site. You can enter virtually any location on Earth and Monster Milktruck will teleport you there and you can drive around the terrain. I got a chuckle simulating my daily commute and visiting some old haunts. I wish more people would upload more building models.

Below are some images of virtual H-Town.

Bob and Weave: Houston's Creative Showdown, August 25, 2009

2009-08-19T22:44:00.003-05:00

The Fall 2009 Networking Social Event

Join H-Town's top creative professionals as we come together to mix it up.

AD2 (AD2)
Crystal Land, President

American Advertising Federation Houston (AAFH)
Natalie Gonzalez, President

American Institute of Graphic Arts Houston (AIGA)
Robin Tooms, President

Art Director’s Club of Houston (ADCH)
Alex Barber, President

Only in Houston (OiH)
Dwight Cook, President

University of Houston Graphics Alumni Partnership (UHGAP)
Daniel Bosse, President Elect

When and Where:
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
5:30pm - 9:00pm
Continental Club
3700 Main St

Video of Lisztomania off of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

2009-08-17T16:12:00.002-05:00

The new album from Phoenix is currently on constant repeat on my playlist at work and in the car. It's one of those rare albums where I don't have a favorite track; every song is a highlight.

BBDO Dusseldorf in Die Haus

2009-08-05T17:55:00.003-05:00

Interesting recruitment ad from BBDO Germany courtesy of the missus. Although it will be hard to get a passport and work visa with all of my felony convictions. Sigh.

TRON Legacy

2009-08-03T23:25:00.008-05:00

Woah, I've waited 28 years for this. Disney is releasing a sequel to Tron with soundtrack by Daft Punk due out in 2010 from Disney. Pretty sweet combo all around.

Click here to view the HD 1080p trailer.

Toyota IQ Typeface

2009-08-02T21:42:00.009-05:00

A pretty cool new typeface utilizing the new Toyota IQ to create the letterforms.

Two typographers, Pierre & Damien, and a pro race pilot, Stef van Campenhoudt collaborated to design a font with a car.

The car movements were tracked using a custom software, designed by interactive artist Zachary Lieberman.

Click here to down load the typeface.

HP iPhone Calculators

2009-07-24T00:17:00.004-05:00

Feeling a little nostalgic and craving some Reverse Polish Notation? Indulge your inner old school CPA with these two retro iPhone Apps from HP; the HP-12C Financial Calculator ($15) and the HP-15C Scientific Calculator ($30). My mom's HP-12 got me through most of middle school and although the new incarnation won't necessarily fit in your shirt pocket for the price they're pretty jazzy.

555 KUBIK

2009-07-23T20:56:00.003-05:00

“How it would be, if a house was dreaming”

This project from Urbanscreen is a pretty cool merging of architecture, video mapping and motion graphics.

Reverie Sound Revue - An Anniversary Away

2009-07-19T00:43:00.005-05:00

Amazing video and song from Reverie Sound Revue.

LP by Discovery

2009-07-19T00:17:00.003-05:00

Discovery, the side project featuring Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot's Wes Miles, has released LP. While somewhat of a misnomer, the album clocks in at just under 30 minutes, it is probably the perfect summer electro pop album. Favorite tracks include "Orange Shirt", "Osaka Loop Line", "Carby" and the a cover of The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back".

Josh Keyes

2009-07-16T23:44:00.005-05:00

There is something wonderfully absurd and absolutely meticulous about Josh Keyes' paintings. His diorama fusions of the natural environment intersecting with the modern urban landscape is all at once delightful, awkward, poignant.

Metamorphosis

2009-07-12T13:06:00.004-05:00

Gorgeous video by Glen Marshall done entirely in Processing.

New Deal Typeface by Neville Brody

2009-07-04T13:24:00.007-05:00

We saw the new Micheal Mann film, Public Enemies, earlier this week. Great film no doubt but one thing that really caught my eye was the typeface they used in all of the promotional materials and film title for the film, I couldn't identify it at first but it was definitely bold, concrete and masculine, totally fitting with bank robbers, 1930's depression era backdrop, and the birth of the FBI. Later on I discovered that Micheal Mann had commissioned the typeface from one of my all-time graphic design heroes, Neville Brody. It's a gorgeous typeface and I can't wait till it becomes available commercially.

Reverie Sound Revue: Arrows Video and Self Titled LP

2009-06-24T05:26:00.011-05:00

I purchased Reverie Sound Revue's self-released EP years and years ago after seeing Lisa Lobsinger with attendant hairdo perform with Broken Social Scene. Recorded or live she simply has a gorgeous ethereal voice.

It's been a long while but they've finally released their first studio LP and the first of a series of online video blog tours from www.boompa.ca.

Check out the first video of their acoustic rendition of Arrows here.

Note: I'm patiently waiting for Boompa to disable their non-embed Vimeo code so I can repost all the vids.

Guy Starts Dance Party

2009-06-24T04:03:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of Andy Polaine blog.

"I've just finished up a chapter in my PhD about social play. Most of it is about online interaction, but quite a bit is about how to bring strangers together to make connections in public spaces.

Serendipitously, Iain just posted this clip thanks to Knotty's. If you don't get why social networks work, watch this."

You Had Me at Prairie Dog

2009-06-18T21:45:00.003-05:00

Found this random image while researching rodents in Texas. One colony in Texas got up to 400 million individuals. No wonder.

Real G: Life size Gundam.

2009-06-16T23:42:00.006-05:00

This is pretty sweet. Green Tokyo Gundam Project have decided to build a life size Gundam model in a park in Tokyo to celebrate Mobile Suit Gundam's 30th anniversary. Big thanks for my buddy Matt Stoffel for sending this my way.

You can view more photos here.

The Go! Team - Milk Crisis

2009-05-31T16:58:00.002-05:00

Just came across this gem of a music video from The Go! Team. Great song to get the day started.

Dan Ariely asks, Are we in control of our decisions?

2009-05-20T14:59:00.002-05:00

Informative video from the TED channel on Youtube.

TED Talks Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the author of Predictably Irrational, uses classic visual illusions and his own counterintuitive (and sometimes shocking) research findings to show how we're not as rational as we think when we make decisions.

Four Minutes from Terminator Salvation.

2009-05-12T20:11:00.003-05:00

Growing up I used to wonder what the war against Skynet would look like. In two weeks I find out. Till then.

Takashi Murakami For Louis Vuitton - Superflat First Love

2009-05-07T07:48:00.001-05:00

Not really a fan of LV but I am loving this new launch animation for the brand.

Paradigm Unconflicted Commercial

2009-05-05T22:09:00.003-05:00

Old project I animated at Axiom last year for Paradigm, but recently I got it uploaded in HD 720 on youtube. Click here to view it full size.

AIGA Houston Presents: Chip Kidd – “B__, I D_ K_ L_!”

2009-05-04T22:04:00.002-05:00

Wanted to let everyone know about the Chip Kidd event this Thursday at Domy. Place will be packed and I really looking forward to it. Also loving the postcard from my coworker Banks Noel.

More info below.

AIGA Houston Presents: Chip Kidd – “B____, I D___ K___ L___!”

PRE-REGISTER FOR BEST PRICING: http://www.aigahouston.org/kidd

http://www.goodisdead.com

Chip Kidd is a graphic designer and writer living in New York City and Stonington, Connecticut.

His first novel, The Cheese Monkeys, was a national bestseller and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. His first book, Batman Collected, was awarded the Design Distinction award from ID magazine. He is the co-author and designer of the two-time Eisner award-winning Batman Animated. He is the editor-at-large for Pantheon. He has also written about graphic design and popular culture for McSweeney’s, Vogue, The New York Times, The New York Observer, Entertainment Weekly, Details, 2WICE, The New York Post, ID, and Print.

His book jacket designs for Alfred A. Knopf (where he is associate art director) have helped spawn a revolution in the art of American book packaging. His work has been featured in Vanity Fair, Eye, Print, Entertainment Weekly, The New Republic, Time, Graphis, New York, and ID magazines, and he is a regular contributor of visual commentary to the Op-Ed page of The New York Times.

His designs have been described as “Monstrously ugly” (John Updike), “apparently obvious” (William Boyd), “Faithful flat-earth rendering” (Don DeLillo), “surprisingly elegant” (A. S. Mehta), “a distinguished parochial comic balding Episcopal priest” (Allan Gurganus), “Two colors plus a sash” (Martin Amis) and “not a piece of hype. My book was lucky.” (Robert Hughes).

Mr. Kidd is also the lead vocalist, percussionist, lyricist, and co-songwriter in artbreak, a new band described as “The New Pornographers meet The Cars” (Unbeige).

Date: May 7, 2009
Location: Domy Books 1709 Westheimer Houston, Tx 77098
Time: 6:30pm - social & book signing, 7:30pm - presentation

TO REGISTER, GO TO: http://www.aigahouston.org/kidd

Pre-registration pricing (closes at 5pm, May 6):
AIGA members - Professional Members: $10- Student Members: $5
Non-members- Professionals: $20- Students: $10

Pricing at the door:
AIGA members- Professional Members: $15- Student Members: $10
Non-members- Professionals: $30- Students: $20

**AIGA members-only door prize at the event**

Department of Eagles: No One Does it like You

2009-04-26T21:51:00.004-05:00

Patrick Daughters' last two music videos for Feist are among my favorites in recent memory. His newest music video for Department of Eagles song “No One Does it like You”, co-directed with Marcel Dzama, is an eerie green screen montage of colonial desert warfare, choreographed dancers and spooky singing ghosts. Great video.

View large quality version here.

Nike Presents Onwards by James Jarvis

2009-04-23T21:59:00.004-05:00

Starts off slow but wow. This wonderful animation from illustrator James Jarvis makes my day.

Click here to watch the large version.

Objectified: A Documentary Film by Gary Hustwit

2009-04-22T18:35:00.005-05:00

I really liked Gary Hustwitt's previous film Helvetica and am excited about his new film, Objectified, coming out soon. I have a huge interest in industrial and product design and am very curious to see what insights to the creative process he can shoehorn into the documentary. Plus it features a lot of my more recent design heroes.

Description from the site:
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.

Through vérité footage and in-depth conversations, the film documents the creative processes of some of the world’s most influential product designers, and looks at how the things they make impact our lives. What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?

TEACLOUD: UH Graphic Communications Senior Exhibition

2009-04-22T02:04:00.007-05:00

I look forward to checking out the senior exhibition of my alma mater next month. Congratulations to Senior Block!

TEACLOUD
UH Graphic Communications Senior Exhibition
http://www.design.uh.edu/shows/2009

May 8th, Friday
Winter Street Studio
2101 Winter Street,
Houston, TX 77007

For more info on the exhibit.

Winter Street Studio

Godiex { - } / Diego Gravinese

2009-04-09T20:58:00.005-05:00

Paintings and photos by Diego Gravinese a.k.a Godiex {-}. It took me a couple of minutes to figure out these first three images. Startling work.

Honda Let It Shine Commercial

2009-04-09T01:04:00.001-05:00

Awesome spot from Wieden + Kennedy's Amsterdam Office.

Cool looking Gaming PC Design Concept from BMW Group Designworks USA

2009-04-03T22:20:00.004-05:00

Awesome looking design concept for gaming tower prototype, the Level 10, from BMW Group Designworks USA designed for Thermaltake.

AIGA Presents ::CRONAN:: Elegant Questions/Simple Answers Thursday April 2nd

2009-03-31T23:03:00.004-05:00

Looking forward to the CRONAN event this Thursday at Bering & James Art Gallery. Please do check it out. More info below.

Elegant Questions/Simple Answers

Thursday, April 2, 2009

AIGA Houston Presents
Speaker – Michael Cronan and Karin Hibma
view website: www.cronan.com

Yes / No IGNITE
“One of the time saving tricks we learned during 20 years of teaching was the Yes/No answer. To avoid endless email writing and phone time, answering student questions, we requested that students frame their questions so we could answer with a simple ‘yes or no.’ We saved time and also noticed that the students’ questions became much more interesting and at times, elegant. From that realization and a number of others we began to realize that the questions in Design are far more important than the answers. It was a major Ah-Ha for us.

Since then our design practice has switched from looking for the right answers to looking for the right questions to ask.”

Michael Cronan and Karin Hibma will share thirty-five years of their Ah-Ha’s (and some Ha-Ha’s) with you and will offer some thoughts on the future of design.

CRONAN :: designs and creates internationally known, innovative, successful names, identities and brands for companies, products and organizations.

Led by partners Michael Cronan and Karin Hibma, :: CRONAN :: has a wide spectrum of engagements, from developing business concepts thru start-ups and new product launches to re-energizing well-established companies and brands. ::CRONAN :: creates world-class names and visual brands for game-changers, like TiVo and Amazon Kindle.

Michael and Karin invite you to visit FORA.tv one of their latest projects.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Date & Time
Thursday, April 2, 2009
6:00 pm - social
7:00 pm - presentation

Location
Bering & James Art Gallery
805 Rhode Place #500
Houston, Tx 77019
view map

Pre-registration pricing
closes at 5pm, April 1
$10 AIGA Members
$20 Non-Members
$5 AIGA Student Members
$10 Student Non-Members

Pricing at the door:
$15 AIGA Members
$30 Non-Members
$10 AIGA Student Members
$20 Student Non-Members

Where the Wild Things Are Movie Trailer

2009-03-25T22:36:00.006-05:00

I've waited my whole life for this.

Grab the 1080p version of the trailer here.

Sophie Madeleine: Love. Life. Ukulele

2009-03-23T22:45:00.003-05:00

Looking for the perfect spring album for 2009? Check out Sophie Madeleine's Love. Life. Ukulele. It's the dreamy blend of charming female vocals, knowing lyrics about love & life and laid back ukulele arrangements.

Also check out her single The Stars.

Price: $5

Cool Time Lapse of Photo Weaving

2009-03-15T09:58:00.003-05:00

Fascinating time-lapsed video of Todd M. Duym weaving to photographs together. The clip shows 20 hours of prep with 14 hours of weaving.

Röyksopp: Happy Up Here

2009-03-08T22:06:00.004-05:00

What do you get when you combine Röyksopp and Space Invaders? Total nerdgasm.

Interact: Watch 24 Brilliant Hours of U.S. Flights

2009-03-04T23:10:00.005-06:00

Using FlightView and Google Maps, visual artist, Aaron Koblin, creates a haunting and beautiful interactive map displaying all U.S. air flights over a period of 24 hours.

Also be sure to check out the quicktime video of the same data set.

Cool Helvetica Trade Ad from the 1960's

2009-02-27T20:26:00.000-06:00

Cool retro ad post from IwasFramed.

GMUNK 2009

2009-02-24T21:15:00.000-06:00

GMUNK's latest demo reel is awesome. Lot's of inspiration.

TAD Gear Titanium Skeleton Key

2009-02-20T20:12:00.000-06:00

Not sure if the TAD Gear Titanium Skeleton Key belongs in my other blog since it is a quasi every day carry item but it's a pretty cool looking work of art in it's own right. Machined out of 6AL-4V titanium billet and rocking a laser engraved TAD Gear Terminator Skull graphic the Skeleton Key features the following goodies; flathead screwdriver tip, pry tip with nail puller, bottle opener, and a spanner wrench tip that fits all regular Strider Folding Knives. This would be a cool addition to any key ring.

Tip of My Tongue

2009-02-19T20:02:00.003-06:00

Tip of My Tongue is a cool useful web application that has helped me guess words that were on the tip of my tongue. While not the be-all-and-end-all to the phenomenon it's a pretty handy tool.

Quality Goods Inc.

2009-02-17T23:44:00.000-06:00

My old college buddy, Brian Michael Gossett, just launched his new online boutique Quality Goods Inc. Check it out if you're looking for some unique posters and t-shirts.

WhatTheFont for iPhone

2009-02-16T20:19:00.000-06:00

WhatTheFont is the perfect iPhone app for designers. You can use the camera or browser to submit any graphic of a font you would like to identify by submitting via WiFi or 3G to MyFont's identification database. Never be stumped or get caught tearing off a piece of print again.

Lily Allen: It's Not Me, It's You

2009-02-10T20:08:00.000-06:00

Just downloaded the new Lily Allen album from Amazon. It's a great album although I really wish Amazon would state the fact that the album available was the edited clean version. There was no mention on the product page and it took me wondering past the first few songs why the lyrics were getting bleeped. I'm going to have to repurchase the album later on today at Soundwaves. Tisk tisk.

Jessica Hische

2009-02-09T23:53:00.000-06:00

Fantastic work from Jessica Hische, I love her sense of typography and hand-lettering. You can check out her portfolio here. It's very precocious.

Typewriter Cufflinks from The Weekend Store

2009-02-06T21:16:00.000-06:00

Torn between your inner book/lit dork and being a serious business professional type person? Let some of your word fetishism peek through with these jazzy cufflinks from the Weekend Store.

Made from the keys off of vintage Smith Corona typewriter these cufflinks really add character. Sorry, I really couldn't resist. Really.

Price: $46 - $54

Psychogames

2009-02-05T00:38:00.005-06:00

Psychogames is a compendium of picture tests, games and questionnaires that reveal a great deal about your inner self. Fun, surprising and engaging.

In the box…3 card sets; The Abstract Image game; The Little Devil Word Game; ‘Wild Cards’ about sex, fears and phobias; Adam Dant’s House of Personalities; questionnaires about your personality, social life and anxieties, and an introductory text on personality types.

price: £17.95

The HAL Project: HAL 9000

2009-02-04T12:52:00.002-06:00

The HAL Project is great recreation of the iconic HAL 9000 interface from Stanley Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968). I especially like the Jupiter Mission Report and screensavers. A fantastic homage.

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band

2009-02-03T12:00:00.004-06:00

Although they're not really from Vietnam, not even close really, this band has a pretty cool sound. I'm definitely looking forward to when their LP debuts in March.

Screenshots from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen HD Trailer

2009-02-02T08:07:00.000-06:00

Awesome HD trailer for Transformers 2. There's a youtube version floating around but I love scrubbing through the 1080p version from Apple.

Click on the images for the fullsize screenshots.

Lykke Li – Tonight

2009-01-30T19:36:00.000-06:00

Lykke Li - Tonight from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

Gorgeous video. Click here to see the full size version.

Villian Chair

2009-01-29T18:53:00.000-06:00

Suck UK presents the Villian Chair; a super luxurious oversize lounger chair on a swivel base. For, you know, when you're planning world domination.

Price: £4500

AIGA Houston Social Tonight

2009-01-29T16:13:00.005-06:00

Gonna have a few after work and see what all of the other designers are up to. Please feel free to come out and meet the other board members of AIGA Houston Chapter.

Vespa GTS 300 Super

2009-01-28T18:18:00.000-06:00

I'm finally starting to see more and more scooters in Houston (although strictly inside the 610 loop). This jazzy update to the popular GTS 250, the Vespa GTS 300 Super is the most powerful Vespa yet. It offers a 22-hp 278cc four-stroke single cylinder, liquid-cooled, electronic injection engine, top speed of 80 mph and a fuel economy of 70 mpg.

Price: $6,199

69 Sexiest Rap Song Titles

2009-01-27T14:29:00.002-06:00

Dimesdaily.com presents the 69 Sexiest Rap Song Titles of all-time, featuring romantic ballads including 2 Live Crew’s “Face Down, Ass Up”, Kilo Ali’s “Love in the Mouth”; charming titles such as CB4’s “Sweat of My Balls”, 10 K.A.N.’s “U Need Dick In Your Life”; and the downright enchanting “You Bitches Love to Get Fucked in the Ass” by Necro.

Borderline NSFW.

Leica M8.2 Safari Edition

2009-01-27T05:58:00.000-06:00

Limited to only 500 units ($10,000), this Leica M8.2 Safari Edition is olive green with the silver anodised finished LEICA ELMARIT-M 28mm f/2.8 ASPH.lens, an exclusive Billingham camera case and an elegant carrying strap.

Bottom line; it is sick.

Obviously I can't really afford one but it will be mine someday.

This is Indexed

2009-01-26T06:24:00.000-06:00

This blog is simply awesome. I've waited my whole life for DIY metrics, this is one of the few times I clicked through an entire archive in one sitting. Venn Diagrams have never been so cool or funny.

Content Removed

2009-01-22T07:57:00.000-06:00

This post has been deleted by the author.

Who Tall Are You Mirror

2009-01-20T07:32:00.000-06:00

This cool mirror allows you to compare your height with 120 celebrities past and present. Make sure you follow the mounting instructions carefully though.

Jean-Yves Lemoigne

2009-01-18T19:13:00.000-06:00

This photo series, PIXXXEL, by Jean-Yves Lemoigne for the latest issue of Amusement Magazine is both stunning and surreal.

Shirobon: Gameboy Inspired Music

2009-01-18T18:29:00.004-06:00

Shirobon's music brings back a wave of memories. Mostly of me age 12-15 slouched back wherever I happened to be killing time on the first gen Nintendo Gameboy with an extra 4 pack of AA's in my Jansport.

Basic Energy Services: Tradeshow Video

2009-01-16T09:41:00.008-06:00

Finished this trade show video a while back at Axiom in Houston but couldn't figure out a way to host the HD version of the final project until now. I'm really digging Vimeo's HD storage ability. Kudos to Eduardo Castro on bringing my boards to life and finessing all of the small details to perfection.

Click here for the HD 720p version of the project.

Kensington SlimeBlade™ Trackball

2009-01-15T22:36:00.004-06:00

Before clog-free optical mice became commonplace, I used to prefer Trackball mice so much more than the clunky mechanical ball mouse design that got clogged up with lint and dirt. They took some getting used to but for a huge chunk of the 1990's they ruled most graphic design and motion graphic workstations with their precision tracking multitude of buttons and superior reliability. Seeing the new SlimBlade design from Kensington almost has me wanting to trade in my Mighty Mouse for one of these bad boys.

Kalle Gustafsson

2009-01-14T07:12:00.000-06:00

Been noticing Kalle Gustafsson's work in a lot of ad campaigns I've been admiring, but never was able to put a name to it all until recently. His work is simply amazing, with a ton of tiny otherworldly details to fall in love with; a textural decadence that's really hard to define but permeates a lot of his tableaux shots.

Gorgeous Vintage Russian Ads

2009-01-13T06:17:00.000-06:00

A great online collection of vintage Russian advertising can be found here.

Shopping for Sunglasses after Work

2009-01-09T22:44:00.005-06:00

I tried to post these via iPhone but it didn't pan out too well. Anyhoo, shopping for sunglasses before dinner with the missus.

Metropolis @ Rice Cinema, January 12th 2009

2009-01-09T22:18:00.003-06:00

One of my all time favorite silent films playing at Rice Cinema on January 12th 2009.

Open Street Map 2008: A Year of Edits

2009-01-05T22:15:00.005-06:00

I'm a huge fan of visualization projects. This one by ITO shows the collaborative edits to openstreetmap.org for 2008. The track by Vincent Girès (aka Silence) is pretty sweet too.

Lily Allen: The Fear

2009-01-02T11:32:00.004-06:00

So glad it's Friday. Pretty busy but quiet in the cubefarm. This song has been on my playlist non-stop for the past week or so, makes me want to skip and spin down the sidewalk if it wasn't so foggy out.

Craving Casio @ The Nerd Watch Museum

2008-12-31T22:16:00.009-06:00

Casio Databank DBC-610G-1DF

Casio Telememo Databank DB310-GA

I've always had a soft spot for Casio digital watches, cheap and high tech (back when I was a kid) my calculator watch got me out of some tough binds in grade school, although it probably delayed me from memorizing my multiplication tables till college. Whatever, that's why they invented these things to begin with.

Plus it was fun showing my friends and church-mates how to spell BOOBS on a calculator (hint: 58008 and turn upside down)

Now as an adult I oscillate between retro/vintage timepieces from the 80's and exotic Swiss horological pieces that I probably can't afford. Recently I stumbled onto this cool site filled with awesome images and trivia of all types of digital watches.

I'm really digging these gold Casios right now since they appeal to both sides of my personality, the dorky retro geek and the luxe snob.

I'm also digging this badass Casio below from the movie Blue Thunder. I also have a soft spot for movies and tv shows built around a high-tech super vehicle but that's like a whole other topic completely.

Casio AA-85

Don't Fear The Reaper: New Work by Mark Hesterlee

2008-12-30T22:59:00.005-06:00

I had a chance to check out this new exhibit at Domy Books in Houston over the break in between some Chai and toy shopping. It reminded me of vague childhood nightmares I would have after watching 2001: A Space Odyssey. I highly recommend it, both the exhibition and having nightmares set in outer space, it makes you appreciate life on Earth so much more.

PENTAX Limited Edition White K2000 Double Zoom Digital SLR System

2008-12-17T00:14:00.009-06:00

I haven't used a Pentax since college but I still have fond, almost
fetishistic, memories of my all metal K-1000 from high school and the mostly polycarbonate ZX-M manual that got me through my fundamentals. When I saw the new Pentax K 2000 Limited Edition today, I was immediately smitten.

While in real day-to-day life I'd probably veer towards the all black color scheme of virtually every other DSLR out there, something about the black and white contrasting edition brought back a mad rush of memories of my early shutterbug days. I can't wait to check this out in person come February.

iPhone Holidays Wallpapers 2008

2008-12-09T00:16:00.005-06:00

Needed some new wallpapers for my iPhone 3G so I decided to create and/or repurpose some from past promotional projects and desktops. You can go here to check them all out. I'm in the process of field testing them so I'll definitely be updating this page constantly. Not sure if they work on the other multitouch phones like the G1 or Instinct, if so please let me know.