In the time that this blog has been active I have spent more time than I would like to admit dealing with Spam commenters so no more ‘discussion’ will take place here, which I find somewhat unfortunate. It’s not like there were sick active threads going so I doubt it will be missed. I apologize to everyone who was actively attempting to post links to illicit strange shit from ‘.ru’ addresses although I question your motives.
Monthly Archive for August, 2009
Combine stainless steel springs, rubber joints, months of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering efforts and the result is what must simultaneously be one of the coolest and most useless inventions I have ever seen. It is a much better use of time than giant movable Gundam statues though. This thing moves wicked fast which was definitely unexpected from my standpoint yet still looks remarkably fragile. No idea what any of the content on the video actually says but wish I did. Via Giz.
http://www.vimeo.com/6209117
This spot was created for the main energy supplier RWE in Germany. The firm was asked to create an energy giant to be presented as the spokesperson for RWE. Nice response to the brief, no? Great texture mapping and lighting that keeps things playful and one step above being cartoonish, which makes it a perfect fit for it’s purpose. From killer creative firm Happycamper.
And definitely has a sense of humor when it comes to it’s use, or rather misuse, as the case may be. One example of which is a promising book titled ‘Twitter Wit,’ which chronicles a broad cross section of interesting tweets that have resulted in the system’s use and happens to have some editorial content written by Twitter co founder Biz Stone. What’s impressive to me is the meatspace turnaround on published critiques of online media and social networking which goes to show that there is indeed tangible value attributed to this space (even if it’s difficult to establish a revenue model) after all. Available on Amazon for $10. Via Uncrate.
Another example of this is a website that you need to visit if you haven’t had the opportunity to as of yet aptly called ‘Tweeting Too Hard.’ It’s about what you might expect at first but once you get on there and check it out it’s much funnier than you would anticipate. Once sites are set up devoted to poking fun at the source you know the original service has a bit of staying power. Speaking of which, when is the right buyer going to come along to snatch up Twitter anyways….they can’t run on venture capitol forever–or can they?
About time Threadless reprinted this classic GlenZ design. Embrace your childhood today and get it here for $18.
Like almost every other male between the ages of 18 and 40 I have to admit I have an inflated sense of admiration when it comes to Aston Martin. It’s not due to much other than the fact that they were the car of choice for 007. It’s not like I will ever own one, because if I could afford one I think I might spend that much cash elsewhere, like the purchase of a small country. But I digress…What I want to lament is the company’s current strategy (or lack thereof) in developing the Cygnet.
In broad strokes Aston Martin purchased a few thousand cars from Toyota subsidiary Scion in order to retrofit the interior and exterior to create a smartcar offering by using their iQ as a platform. In theory it’s not a bad move–it gets you to market quicker by reducing the R&D time and keeps your designers constrained to some very real limitations, which in theory reduces ‘what if’ manufacturing questions. Plus you get to expand your fleet without making an overzealous financial commitment to expensive tooling, not to mention ramp up production costs to add a new production line or two.
It also allows you to take advantage of the stagnant upper tier offerings for tiny urban vehicles which is dominated by the Mini. BMW seems a bit confused and schizophrenic when it comes to this space, instead of sticking with it’s core competencies and reviving the Mini Cooper brand they diluted it’s essence by releasing the questionable Clubman which smacks of creative compromises. Of note is an oddly timed bit of internet buzz yesterday about their new coupe concept here.
Lets face it, some things aren’t as elastic as business would want them to be and the only answer is the market response. One doesn’t need to go much further than the ill-fated Phaeton to see how gambles can fail very publicly and in a costly manner considering the time and resources that are required to sculpt steel and engineer internal components, even when working off of a common platform. Which brings me back to the Cygnet, little more than an ill-fitting and expensive body kit.
blurred designers must mean they are working faster than you can imagine while a 3d CNC machine hangs menacingly overhead to punish them if they slow down, even for a second
If you don’t change the internals it’s hard to justify charging more for Corinthian leather and the resizing of Aston Martin’s signature grill. Plus I don’t understand the need for venting the hood if you aren’t adding anything below. For the savvy consumer it might benefit you more to snap up a little-known European brand of vintage urban car or spend money on up-converting an existing Mini. Better yet, shop some Coachbuilding outfits to take an iq in a different direction entirely since Aston Martin plans on charging ‘up to twice the cost for an iq.’ Ouch.
I have blogged about how the iq should already be on US soil but my guess is that it will only become a matter of time. If I had the money and was dying to get something into the parking lot of my expensive loft space in a city I rarely visit my pick would be the Fiat 500. It goes to show how someone can apply classic, simple styling to a vehicle of this size without compromising it’s brand. At least it doesn’t look like someone took existing signature elements and squeezed them onto a smaller frame just to say they have a diverse fleet. The more I see this Fiat and it’s seamless windshield/roof line the more I would trade it, hands down, for an Aston Martin that is a sheep in wolves clothing. Via Jalopnik, Chicago Tribune.
Anyone else sick of seeing marketing-driven ‘Starbursts’ on every package and label in the store? Also happen to be sick of seeing the Absolut bottle dressed up in millions of ways, but not particularly caring since you don’t normally purchase pink lemonade flavored vodka? Absolut’s latest project has their bottle completely unadorned and I heart it because I think it could be the first in a wave of non-packaging due to a ‘Muji-effect.’ Instead of greenwashing the hell out of this effort, the “No Label” bottle is part of the company’s initiative “to challenge labels and prejudice to make the world more diverse, vibrant, and respectful.” And if you drink enough you won’t care anyways so it’s a ‘win-win.’
http://www.vimeo.com/1448724
I definitely don’t usually blog about stuff like this. Sure, it sounds like the start of a terrible joke but ends up being about the damn cute-weirdest thing I have ever seen.
Hiroshima architects Suppose Design Office have finished an installation at the Diesel Denim Gallery Aoyama in Tokyo, Japan. Called Nature Factory, the installation uses plastic pipes and joints to create a series of organic tree-like forms that cling to the walls and ceilings of the store. If you happen to be in the neighborhood the installation opened last week and runs until 31 January 2010.
The theory and inspiration behind the installation/interior treatment is described in this artist statement: ‘Denim as recognised work clothes formerly had, at times, shown different expressions as fashion items to the people. Equally, a group of plumbing, usually unnoticed, shows completely different expressions with a given name “Nature factory”. The complex plumbing, trailing by the wall in all directions will cover all over the space, It is like a tree grown over a long time. An atmosphere like a natural arbor is created in the space covered with artificial plumbing.’
I love the way that it plays on being a living element with it’s exterior integration. The careful tapering of the tint on the window glazing evoking a blue sky, for example. The way the shapes cluster toward the glass drop ceiling but the pipes on the perimeter reach all the way to the top of the building is genius. Since it’s white on white it retains it’s modern credibility but must be a bitch to keep clean regardless. Killer craft skills must have been involved in keeping the angles of the joining neat and tidy too. Via Dezeen.
This is one of the top five scariest movies of all time in my opinion. I had to re-watch it last night since that new Fourth Kind is coming out soon. By the way this is still scary as hell, and I highly recommend watching it if you haven’t seen it in a while.