Yes, the best sponsor reel ever made. (via)
Edition No. 1 in my Quotation Series
Steve Jobs (1955-2011)
“The world looks mysterious if you don’t know physics.”
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
Very encapsulating interview conducted by The Science Network with the astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History.
Watch the interview here.
Composed by Barcelona-based artists Tres Silencio and producer P.J. González.
“Love The Future” Free Ai Weiwei
I created this poster à la Shepard Fairey’s OBEY Giant poster in order to help raise awareness for Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. His recent arrest and incarceration on 3 April 2011 has spawned an outcry from not only other artists but the international community as a whole. Little information has been released as to his detainment and it is unclear as to when he will be released.
The Chinese text 爱未来, (replacing the omnipotent “OBEY”) translates in English to “Love The Future”, which has been adopted as the watchword, or rallying cry, in support of Weiwei because it is very similar to the Chinese spelling of his name 艾未未.
More information at ARTINFO and China Digital Times
Please help spread the word.
Thank you.
Andrew
Vivian Maier: An American Classic
A fascinating story of an au pair-amateur-street photographer’s recently discovered trove of over 3,000 prints and 100,000 negatives, depicting New York and Chicago city life throughout the 1950s and 60s.
Photography:
Vivian Maier (Self-Portrait) © 2011 Maloof Collection, Ltd. — All Rights Reserved
“Im-brewing their Brand Worldwide”
Starbucks siren gets a face-lift
When a symbol is as recognized and distinguished as is the Starbucks logo, the point comes in which there is not the necessity to state the name of the company as often as say, a fledgling or struggling organization might need to do. One doesn’t have to read the actual words “Starbucks Coffee” to know in fact, that it is the Starbucks brand.
The smiling yet elusive siren has become — over time — emblematic of what is known as the “Starbucks Experience”. The current streamlining of the existing logo and more importantly, the company as a whole, is to declare Starbucks’ expansion into different products and services; ones which have already been rolled out and those planned to be implemented in the future.
The word ‘coffee’ hinders that progression — especially going into wine and beer services, which they have begun experimenting with already. I emphasize the fact that it is not a new or different rendering. Only the text has been removed with the siren remaining, now with a green background (instead of black), the same green used in previous logos (keeping brand consistency).
This is not a restart or a restructuring of a fading brand looking to defibrillate itself back to life. Those examples not needing to be expound upon are the revamped logos of MySpace and the supposed-crowdsourced-FUBAR-kerfuffle that was the Gap redesign.
No, this a well-planned, thought out campaign manifesto by Starbucks, showing it’s outreach beyond the everyday hot cuppa coffee. Just as Apple Inc. continues to break through multiple media and communication platforms, Starbucks is crossing over into the myriad venues available in the food and drink industry.
This “new logo” is more about the definition and essence of the company moving forward; simply put, the logo now reflects that declaration. I guess one could call it an IPO for the new decade, but this time around it stands for International Public Opus. Adore or abhor, you have to admit, Starbucks sure does have their marketing cups in a row. So, beginning in March look for the new things they will be serving up, only question is, will you be lining up?
Andrew
To promote their “Couleurs” collection earlier this spring, Japanese clothing manufacturer Onward Kashiyama created a most preppy looking portrait using 2,070 shirts. I won’t give away the final image, (which is quite impressive) you’ll just have to watch. The work was on display in the lobby of the Marunouchi Building in Tokyo.
Two years ago, Honda pulled off a live TV spot in Spain — and they did so in style. The campaign “Difficult Is Worth Doing” was created by Wieden+Kennedy (which was just named by AdWeek as the 2010 agency of the year).
Andrew
Wishlist
The three books that are on my current wish list really excite me because they encompass a gamut of creative processes and exhibit many characteristics and feelings that go beyond their respected art form.
First, there is Philippe Halsman’s Jump Book which displays actors, artists and other celebrities at their most vulnerable state. Where great portraitists and painters capture the beauty or divinity of a subject, Halsman disregards that entirely and puts people in mid-air; where all inhibitions and doubts are forgotten for a split second, as people are focused not on how they look or if they are in the right light, but in the actual act of jumping itself. The result is an image of pure unbridled joy, enthusiasm and exposure.
The second book is Tibor Kalman, Perverse Optimist a collection of essays, edited by Peter Hall and Michael Bierut. Kalman, who is most famous for his work with COLORS magazine. Here is a great interview on the Charlie Rose show in 1998.
Finally, The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman. A plethora of photographs exhibiting the everyday movers and shakers of the fashion streets — from Los Angeles to New York, from Paris to Milan. You never know when you turn the corner who or what you’ll bump into!
Andrew
I really like the nostalgia and craftsmanship of this blanket from Australian-based Satara
and the beautiful leather strap and buckles that not only serve the function
of being able to transport the blanket easily, but it really is what defines the
overall look and feel of this quality item.
via flair to remember
Andrew
Italian design firm Palomar, for over fifty years has been creating some really wonderful — and completely functional — pieces of art. An innovator in optical instrument technology, Palomar really makes us look at the world a bit differently…
and in style!
