Stairs

Check out these awesome and scary and weird staircases.
Click.

The Hollywood Sign

There has been talk of getting rid of the infamous "Hollywood" sign way up in the hills of Hollywood, California. However, there is a huge group of non-supporting protesters, hoping to keep the sign because of it's meaning and significance. Core77 posted about a designer's new idea for the sign.
"As far as I know the original "Hollywood" sign isn't anything close to the size depicted here, but you've gotta love Danish architecture firm Bay Arch's concept of turning it into a mixed-use commercial complex. The chief draw would be a 300 room hotel in the facade, but the nine letters would also house a wellness center and spa, a nightclub and of course, a movie theater."
Check out the links, they are worth a peek!

Phone Locked when Driving

NYTimes posted an interesting article about the solutions to the danger of texting and calling while driving. There is an obvious problem of too many people using their cell phones while their car is in motion, even though they know how high risk it is, and yet, we all keep doing it. New apps have come out to try and change the game.
They lock your phone while the car is in motion. it detects motion by the car's GPS. The phone literally shows a "phone locked" sign on the screen and doesn't all you to do ANYTHING except call 911. the texts and calls go straight to voice mail, not even making a sound to tempt you. the one problem is what if you're not the one driving? some of the apps set up a puzzle to solve in order to unlock it. if you're a passenger, that is totally possible.
This idea is really good, except no one is really going to buy the app. no one is going to set a parental restriction on themselves. It is a shame, because it could be really helpful. But, I don't see this succeeding.

David Carson

David Carson is a Texas born graphic designer mostly known for his use of experimental typography. During his early years Carson worked as a sociology professor but put most pride in his professional surfing career, ranking ninth in the world during his college days.

In the early eighties Carson worked as a teacher for the Torrey Pines High School in San Diego but soon he found himself attending a two week course in commercial design. Carson had found his new calling and spent a bit of time as a part time art director for a surfing magazine and then part time at a skateboarding magazine called Transworld which allowed him to experiment and create his signature ‘grunge’ style dirty type combined with unconventional pictures.

Carson became the art director of the magazine Beach Culture in 1989 and even though the journal only produced six issues until it folded Carson received over one hundred and fifty awards in design. David Carson was hired as the director of Ray Gun Magazine in 1992.In Ray Gun, an American alternative rock and roll magazine, Carson’s “layouts featured distortions or mixes of 'vernacular' typefaces and fractured imagery, rendering them almost illegible. Indeed, his maxim of the 'end of print' questioned the role of type in the emergent age of digital design” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Carson_(graphic_designer). Within three years the circulation of Ray Gun tripled thanks to Carson’s innovative ideas. David Carson has been named ‘the father of grunge’ for the work he had done with his dirty type. He was immersed in the hippy bohemian culture of California and had found his bliss.

After taking leave of Ray Gun in 1995 Carson founded his own design company which holds offices in both California and New York. This is also the same year that Carson publishes his first book the “End of Print” selling over 200,000 copies and printed in five languages this became the best selling graphic design book in the world. The “End of Print” features various one-man exhibitions throughout Europe and Latin America, Asia and Australia.

In 2000 Carson opened a small private studio in South Carolina and only four years later became the Creative Director at Gibbes Museum of Art located in Charleston, South Carolina, the same area as his studio. Carson’s design firm continues to flourish and has had major clients such as Ray Ban and Pepsi Cola. He is attached to his creations; his work is different from other designers at the time. Carson created a type of work that allows the viewer to become immersed in the art, “ I.D. magazine chose Carson for their list of "America's most innovative designers", a feature in Newsweek magazine said of Carson "he changed the public face of graphic design"” (http://www.davidcarsondesign.com/?dcdc=top/s).

Carson has achieved numerous design awards including Designer of the year and Master of Typography. In 2004 Carson received the great recognition of being the most famous graphic designer on the planet by the London Creative Review magazine. Recently Carson has decided to branch out into film and television, directing commercials and videos. He made a short film with the same title of his first publication, “The End of Print”. He appears in others work and continues to keep his firm running. There is a documentary on Carson that is currently being filmed and looks to include much of Carson’s work along with a pleasing soundtrack.

Looking at David Carson’s work is truly an experience. Your eye focuses on what is most important, like the product brand name, and then moves around the work to focus on the other aspects of design and color. Posters created for the tsunami benefit in 2005 has you center on the text which is separated to seem like a letter is missing in the word help. Its quite creative, youre eye visually adds an extra ‘l’ to make hell .Carson’s posters made for the Obama campaign convey all the hope and change Obama had hoped for in the campaign. His text and placement makes the poster easy to look at but also incredibly fascinating to the viewer with letters that can interchangable with a consistant organic style.

Personally I believe that Carson’s work with Ray Gun Magazine is his most successful and creative pieces. The grungy text that jump started an era of design still stays as a common design technique today and I think it is beautiful. The text conveys a feeling which is what I believe a lot of designers try to achieve. Ray Gun not only started David Carson as a world phenomena but shaped Carsons work. Carsons designs at that time were new to people and really sent an image of grunge eighties style simply through text. Everyone else is simply trying to attain what Carson was able to do and still does today.

A world without texting

NYTimes posted a really fantastic article about how huge texting has become. It talks about a school in the Bronx who decided to do a project on not using texting for 2 whole days. This article really grabbed me. It is so hard for people to abstain from texting, facebook, chatting constantly through any kind of social medias. For me, it isn't hard at all. I do not have a facebook, I text very rarely, and when I do want to interact, I do it the way it should be done--call, meet up.
Kids these days are getting to used to communicating through technology and sooner or later, it will effect their social skills. Fathers can't put down their blackberries because they have so much work. Kids can't put down their phones because they feel they have to, want to be in constant touch with everyone, who ever it is that is messaging them. It takes up so much time! They've forgotten what it is to go outside, have a day out, be with their family, etc. I hate that this message isn't being screamed louder, I wish it was. I wish people would stop and realize.
get outside and live, interact face to face.

Solar Beats

Coolhunting wrote this article about this new music box. "UK-based Luke Twyman's Whitevinyl recently released Solar Beat—a music box looped using the orbital frequencies of our own solar system. It's one of those simple concepts where astrophysics is translated into a pleasing ambient loop soundtrack more profound than your average web diversion."
("Oh, and while it may take 248 "earth years" for Pluto to chime in, it's totally worth it.")

This reminds me of Apple's visualizer--starring into weird graphics and shapes and colors as your music plays.



Check em out-- white vinyl.

Evolution of Apple

This new site I found is reporting on the history and evolution of Apple.

Check out delicious.com

new USB

According to Core77 the newest memory stick allows you to see the data in the actual sick because it is CLEAR!
Designer Mac Funamizu's clever prototype, the Funny USB Memory Stick #6, allows users to physically see the digital contents contained on a mini flash drive.

The clear glass device uses lights to indicate the amount and type of data stored. A fully lit stick means it's at capacity with different colors representing file contents, like blue for images and green for documents.

The idea is that lights of different colors--pink for images, blue for documents, green for movie files, for example--would accumulate as you added files, letting you "see" how much data, and what sort, you had on the thing.

No prices have been listed yet.

Ford Sync

Coolhunting is reporting on this new app that allows your car to control the apps on your phone. Cool and safe!

Ford calls this new product Applink.

"The new addition to the system allows drivers to navigate mobile apps on a device using Bluetooth (no data plan required) to connect to the vehicle's controls or voice commands—starting with the 2011 Fiesta, with all Ford and Lincoln models to follow eventually. While the initial launch supports programs developed for BlackBerry and Android platforms, a version coming this fall will include Apple's too."

I don't know what apps you can control exactly besides the mentioned Pandora, Stitcher, and OpenBreak, but it is a start. This new piece of technology will improve and it will be available everywhere in no time. The sync system starts at $395 and can be an add-on to your new Ford.

Steampunk Keyboard

Everyone has heard of steampunk by now.

Here is something really really REALLY cool by these guys.

The victorian keyboard/computer.

I first read about it on designobserver.

These guys decided to take the computer look to a whole other level--something that wasn't the typical PC or Apple. While I am a die-hard Mac-Head, I would definitely convert the iMac to this style. It looks so unique and awesome and still totally technologically advanced.

This is great design and innovation. Cheers, steampunk nerds.

Evan Roth

Evan Roth came to Hofstra to speak. What a treat!

According to Google, he is the "biggest bad ass motherfucker on the internet."

Hearing such a famous, talented, and successful speak in such a small, relaxed setting was really something. He showed us his latest--the video for Jay-Z "Brooklyn We Go Hard."

His work is posted on his website, and he really likes art that involves the most brilliant piece of technology--the internet. I can't blame him. In fact, I totally agree with him! He utilizes the internet to make his art, spread his art, and spread messages. He showed us a video he did with skewing the USPS and bashing Bush. That idea, so simple, but so loud and intricate.

Music Posters

This article posted on coolhunting talks about Jason Munn and his really cool and simple music posters. His new limited edition book "The Small Stakes" (named for his studio) shows off his skills as a thoughtful and conceptual poster designer, including over 150 of his works. Included in the SFMoMA collection (where his book sold out in an hour at the recent signing), the Oakland-based illustrator has admirers the world over, creating works for magazines from ReadyMade to Wired and enlisted by almost every in-demand band to personify their album with one of his minimalist illustrations.

They include really bands; and the design is incredible.

Buy it at San Francisco's book store for $25.

Phones for the rich

Just skimming over the NYTimes, I find this article about the most expensive cell phones. Frank Nuovo is chief of design over Nokia, the world's largest producer in cell phones. Personally, I think their style is by far the best--the sleekness and yet simplicity of their phones are like Apple computers, except sexier.

The article talks about Nuovo's latest endeavors. He is upping the anti and making the most expensive phones. The Vertu. The phones are made with gold, titanium, platinum, stainless steel, and some even are covered with ostrich skin and diamonds. The phones range from $5,000-$25,000. The special editions, however, start at $80,000 and go all the way to $325,000.

I just want to emphasize that number. The cost of that phone isn't even a salary for the majority of America; and yet it is the cost of a freaking cell phone. These phones are just so the rich stand out even more. That 1% of the population that can afford this phone are the only people this phone is aimed towards. So, this guy is going though all this trouble for such a small group of people. To me, it seems absolutely ridiculous. Stop wasting your time. You are obviously a talented designer--use your skills for real use. Luxury is nice, but there is a limit. These phones have crossed that limit.

*Notes--Logo

Phone Speakers

New gadget posted by the NYTimes are the new speakers for your smartphone. LiveSpeakr makes them for the iPhone, but now they expanded and are selling them to the Google Nexus One, the Driod, and Palm Pre.
It connects with a 3.5 mm jack, that won't show up in ads.
"Livespeakr has its own lithium-ion battery and the company says it will last 16 hours on a charge. The battery recharges through a mini-U.S.B. plug, but it must be connected to a wall socket to charge the battery; it can’t charge through a computer U.S.B. slot."
It even rotates!
The sound, according to reviews, is supposed to be very nice and clear.
These bad boys will cost you $80 and can be found online anywhere from Amazon to Urban Outfitters.

Back-up battery

This article in the NY Times is about the latest slim back-up power device to power your iPhone longer. It sucks when you're stranded without a charger; but it also sucks that most back-up systems are so bulky, it deters you. This one, however, is slim and sleek.
"The $60 Jump Start, from DLO, doesn’t cover the entire back of an iPhone or iPod. Instead, the device, black and rubbery, slips over about the middle two-thirds of the phone, allowing it to maintain its sleek shape. It holds on to the phone with 12 tiny suction cups."

It still fits in your pocket. Another nice feature is a button on the back that illuminates an LED status light. Blue means charged, flashing blue means charging and red indicates it’s time to charge.

Definitely worth it.

David Carson Paper

My intro thus far:

David Carson is one of the best graphic designers of our generation. He’s American to boot—born in Texas! His highest reign was during the nineties, but he is still popular, influential, and going strong today.

David was born September 8, 1952 in Corpus Christi, Texas. But, the big, bad Texas didn’t get the Carson’s for long because they moved to New York City four years later. His father had a job that permitted them to travel the world. They visited places like Puerto Rico, the West Indies, and all over America—but they have maintained a base in New York.

He studied at San Diego State University and Oregon College of Commercial Art in the late 1970s to get a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. In 1980, he went to a graphic course at University of Arizona that lasted for two weeks and greatly affected him. Nothing happened yet until 1983, when he went to Switzerland to take another graphic design workshop as part of the degree. There he met Hans-Rudolf Lutz—the teacher of the course and his first great influence.

Wrap and Protect

Coolhunting shows us this new thing called SkoobaWrap. It is a wrap, protecting anything from a laptop to a nice big expensive camera. It comes in 3 sizes.
This fun item starts at about $13-$40.
I think this is a quick way to wrap something up and just go. It is for the college student on the run, the photographer who is always carrying his naked camera, but this is a way to keep things protected and safe and comfy even.

Tegra's tablet

Every single blog is blowing up about the release of the iPad. So, instead of reporting on that same old bit, I'm reporting on Tegra's new tablet, that Engadget says is better! The iPad sales are through the roof, but all the blogs are not impressed. I think it is because they put too much pressure on Apple. This Tegra plays flash!!! That is the catcher, because the iPad does not.
There are a bunch of really nice specs, but unfortunately there is no word on when this is coming out, or for how much...

HA! Cool shoes

Core77 presented me with this article that put a smile on my face. "Shoes that make everyone the same height" is about a party thrown by German designer, Hans Hermmet, where he measures everyones height and then they get blue foam heeled shoes so everyone is the same height so avoid awkward party socializing based on heights. It is pretty hilarious. Check out their sites to see what other fascinating stuff they do... with balloons and things.
I would love to attend a party where this was a requirment. It is very intersting in its meaning, plus it is really funny to look at and play with!

@

NYTimes wrote a really interesting article about the "@" sign. It is recently being noticed and held in high design esteem. The Museum of Modern Art in New York has deemed it to be such an important example of design that the @ has been officially admitted to its architecture and design collection. That’s as good as it gets in the design world, rather like bagging a Tony on Broadway or an Oscar in Hollywood.
No one knows when it first appeared. It's history: Whatever its origins, the @ appeared on the keyboard of the first typewriter, the American Underwood, in 1885 and was used, mostly in accounting documents, as shorthand for “at the rate of.” It remained an obscure keyboard character until 1971 when an American programmer, Raymond Tomlinson, added it to the address of the first e-mail message to be sent from one computer to another.
Timeliness matters to MoMA too, and the new @ is timely.
The design is pretty sweet!

iPhone bike mount

Another apple accessory! Coolhunting wrote about the BioLogic iPhone Bike Mount. This case is waterproof and is meant for cyclist who can't hold the phone or ipod while riding. It mounts to any handle bars and is very convenient. Dahon, a bike company, makes it. It also allows for tracking of speed, GPS, and distance. The silicon liner keeps the phone in place, while a hard outer shell protects it from bad weather. Buy it for $60 on their website.

iLuv

Coolhunting reported on the latest iphone/itouch accessory. It is the iLuv iMM190. An alarm clock, digital photo frame, portable movie display, and Skype station all in one, while charging! Buy it here for 90 bones.


I think this is better than the popular iHome because it looks better, it works with the iPhone and iTouch, and the design in sleek.

But, there is too much competition for apple accessories! We need to slow down just a nip.

Movies on Demand

Everything is going wireless, untangible, anything. Movies being rented from Blockbuster is a thing of the past. Netflix is the new hit. But now, Cable and Studios unite to make movies on demand the #1 choice accoring to the nyt.

Blockbuster is seriosuly declining. But Studios like Warner Bros don't want to upset retail partners like Walmart and Best Buy by promoting this new way to watch. "On-demand usage soared 20 percent last year. On-demand rentals are also more profitable for studios than traditional rental options. Blockbuster gives studios about 25 cents of every dollar spent on movie rentals; on-demand services deliver as much as 65 cents of every dollar to the studios."

Participating studios include Warner, 20th Century Fox, Focus Features, Lionsgate, Rogue, Sony Pictures, Summit Entertainment and Universal. Notably absent are Paramount and Walt Disney. Cable partners include Armstrong, BendBroadband, Brighthouse, the iO digital unit of Cablevision, Comcast, Cox, Insight and Time Warner.

Home Auto System

Thanks to coolhunting: A company called Savant created a new remote that organizes the many things that make a home--light, security, A/V, Internet, sprinklers, etc.

It's the only Apple-based netwroking program like it on the market. You can adjust these things through your iPhone.

They have a product called TrueImage Control--a wireless touch panel that makes it even easier.

"Other future-thinking features include the ability to turn any HD television into a portal for content stored on optional servers or anything (Hulu, YouTube, etc.) online. In addition to such high-tech convenience, Savant helps conserve energy by using motion sensors to switch off lights, closing blinds at midday, and regulating heating and cooling systems based on outdoor temperatures."

This amazing system starts at $5,000.

Protofarm

From Design Indaba, I saw this: Protofarm.

Protofarm 2050 is from Design Indaba. Farming is the primary source of our food supply and lately, it hasn't been treated that way. Large-scale corporate owned industrialized farming has caused concentration of power at various points in the food chain, making the individual helpless.

Over the next 40 years, a more environmentally friendly and efficient way to feed people must be developed to meet the needs of the 2050 world population, estimated to be 9.2-billion. Rising economies such as China and India will continue to place higher demands on lifestyle food choices such as meat and dairy, while the production of biofuels could reduce the amount of agricultural land dedicated to food. Climate changes also threaten to redistribute fertile and arid land, as well as put stress on the supply of fresh water.

"Yet, by reviewing the notion of farming as primarily for food and sustenance, and adding environmental and energy resources into the equation, farming can form the basis of a sustainable globe. Instead of large-scale carbon emitting farms, small and medium-sized farms can be designed as self-sufficient, off-the-grid ecosystems. With organic methods, biochar activities and other farming techniques deployed, farms could in fact become carbon sinks rather than emitters. For instance, returning to the practice of feeding livestock on grass, reduces the methane output and allows for the manure to be used as fertiliser. More distributed and integrated farms would also increase food accessibility, while intra-urban farming areas would reduce food miles and offset urban environmental issues such as heat islands.

Covering this highly topical pasture of food, energy and resource security, Protofarm 2050 features five designers looking beyond the possibilities and predictions currently in the public domain. Based on a 2050 of increased urbanisation and population, limited natural resources, climate challenges and digital-biological integration, these unique design scenarios envision the sustainable cultivation of renewable resources."

South African Design

Snooping around coolhunting lead me to this article.
It's a post about a feature at the Design Indaba Expo.
It is a collection by Snapp.
Founded by industrial designer Jonathan Fundudis and mechanical engineer Renko Nieman, the Johannesburg-based firm aspires to lead the field in contemporary South African product design and manufacturing. The brand fabricated their inaugural collection entirely from Corian, which they selected for its ability to be machined, thermoformed, laminated and finished using both new technology and traditional production techniques.
Since Corian is a notoriously expensive material, producing these pieces in small batches could be quite costly.

Check it out for yourself since the pictures won't load on here.

Art + Video

I'm taking two art histories: renaissance and contemporary. Professor Price has showed us many pieces from DaVinci to Matisse. This video by Hold your Horses! depicts many popular art paintings that come to life. I have to share because it is so well done and it shows how good it is to know art and history and feel cultured!

Neat Vid!

The latest youtube sensation is OK GO's "This too shall pass."


The video is a giant "Rube Goldberg." The masters of this are Fischli and Weiss, check out this 1987 video made by them.

OK GO's video took over 60 tries, 2 months, and 30 people to get done. It is absolutely amazing.

Light II

I guess I'm really into light today. Another post having to do with light by coolhunting caught my eye. It is an interactive installation called "Night Lights" where hands, bodies, and cell phones bring the light to life. It is at the Ferry Building in New Zealand for Telecom New Zealand. The software they use is called openFrameworks by YesYesNo and the scene changes every hour (6 images total) for five days.

YesYesNo (company making interactive projects) is very interesting and worth a look:

This is another project they did called "Lights On!"

Let there be light!

Weheart posted about Roso, a design studio, and their latest work. It is an installation at Clark's Somerset headquarters. (Clark the shoe company.)

This light installation is a bunch of discs that cast reflective light, hung by thin suspended wire, and it goes from one side of a building, through the courtyard, and back to another side of the building. It is magnificent in sight and the light it casts gives a unique look at the everyday objects around.

Assignment 2 NOTES

Not all artists are starving

I attended the "Not all artists are starving" event on Tuesday.
It was at the university club, with 7 or 8 speakers in the art world, most Hofstra alumni. I was really excited to hear what artists today had to say about getting jobs, graduating Hofstra.
They all spoke about the last 5-10 years of their life and it was very scary, but inspiring. They all have about the same message: don't give up on your dreams, stay determined, take the unexpected opportunities because you never know where they may take you.
I got to meet and speak to the two Amy's that attended. Amy, Rick's wife (I forgot her last name) but she works for getty images and studied photography at Hofstra. She deals with getting the advertiser and the artist together to get a great ad or image. Her job sounds like something I'd like to do. Amy Dresser, who is now in LA, is an amazing photo retoucher and is very popular and talented. She was really cool and down to earth, and a pleasure to meet.
I look forward to the next decade of my life because of all the crazy, unpredictable things that will happen to me as an artist.

Overall, the event was a hit. More of these things should take place at Hofstra.
Thanks Emily!
Newsday posted an article

Facepainting

This is a new line of artistry I stumbled upon on youtube this morning.
James Kuhn is a facepainter. And a darn good one.
He paints his face into elaborate paintings that resemble a cartoon or something and moves his face muscles to make the image move. It is crazy and unbelievable but very very neat.
Check out his many youtube videos.

Sounds

We humans are filled with memories. Memories can and most likely are triggered by a sense--a scent, a taste, A SOUND.
FastCompany did a survey of the 10 most addictive sounds--branded and not.

Some examples are Intel, T-Mobile, and McDonald's. Check it out to see the top spots, and if you actually recognize them.

Vending Machine

Weheart posted about the latest in vending machines. This machine in Berlin spits out design things, not junk food. The animated touchscreen interface presents detailed descriptions of all 42 Berlin designed products, ranging from clothing accessories and travel essentials to gifts and even a pepper mill.

Snackbot

NYTimes posted the greatest post I've seen by them in a while: a cooking robot. Snackbot cooks and serves. Better than a husband. It cooks and serves.

Snackbot is a mobile autonomous robot, intended for both fully autonomous and semi-autonomous operation, built by an interdisciplinary team at Carnegie Mellon University. Snackbot has two jobs. One job is to serve as a research platform for projects in robotics, design, and behavioral science. We welcome new partners orsponsors for this work. Snackbot’s other job is to serve snacks.

-Snackbot.org

The long article goes into a lot of unnecessary detail. Check out the video for a quick preview.

Germany Architecture

Coolhunting posted about architecture that caught my eye recently. Herzog & de Meuron, a Swiss architecture firm is credited for the new Vitra Haus (The original campus idea).

This is a new thrill: stacked houses. Above is 12 houses stacked, 5 on the bottom, and the rest precisely plat-formed to coordinate with its neighbor. Each house within the stricture serves as a unique showroom for the Virtra home collection. This can be found in Germany. Click the link above to see pictures of the inside. Sure to blow your mind.

Art in Movies

Cool Stuff posted by /Film let us in on Brandon Schaefer's latest: here.

He is a 25 year old graphic designer from Massachusetts. SO YOUNG and already so successful! His most recent work are the posters for the new Ghostbusters movie.

I really like his style; plus it reminds me of the things teachers like to teach. He executes very cleanly. He is a big inspiration.

His other stuff is posted here at inPrint.

Barbie Will Never Die

Coolhunting is full of good stuff, including this article about the latest Barbie.
This new barbie is the "Barbie Video Girl," a doll with a built-in video camera. The Barbie Video Girl features a camera lens in the (standard size) doll's front and a color LCD video screen on her back for an all-in-one shooting and screening experience.

After being around for 50 years, always coming out with the new barbie based on a new career, this is just another example. This new tool can help kids achieve their goals. Barbie Video Girl doll integrates the educational element. It comes with online editing software where young girls can create and edit their own movies.

The camera records up to 30 minutes of footage, while the software allows for adding music, visual and other sound effects. Barbie Video Girl will be available July 2010 for $50 from Mattel.

Talent

Kseniya Simonva, "Ukraine's Got Talent 2009" winner is an artist, and a very talented one.
She does SAND ANIMATION.
Her performance that won her the title is posted on Youtube.
Simonova is 24 years old. She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret Germany's invasion and occupation of Ukraine during WWII. Her work and performance was seen by 13 million and counting. Simonova won 1,000,000 Ukrainian Hryvnia (approx. USD125,000) for her first place in the show.
More videos here.

The New Gugg

Just opened is the Contemplating the Void: Interventions in the Guggenheim Musuem. Coolhuting reviews: the museum in NYC invited about 200 artists, designers, and architects to sbmit their dream proposals for interacting with FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT-designed building's central rotunda, or "void."

The results are out of this world! The approaches to the space reinforce the potency of the Guggenheim's organic architecture, by Wright in 1959.

Art in NYC

Mr. Brainwash is a filmmaker turned street artist and his latest exhibition "Icons" is open in NYC now, in the Meatpacking District. It features paint-splattered portraits of famous fashion designers, musicians, and other public figures. The art is controversial, over the top, and loud. It is not for everyone.

He said he's used krazy glue to attach his art to public walls so people can see art, whether they like it or not.

Definitely click to see more images of this crazy dude's stuff.

It reminds me of a modern Warhol.

Let there be light! No, not that much...

This post by Coolhunting is showing this very simple yet genius new design for a light.

It is called Box Light, by Design House Stockholm. It works like a drawer, pulling it and out of the shell to adjust how much light is emitted. Touch the surface to turn on/off.

Finnish designer, Jonas Hakaniemi, is to be credited.

It comes in black, gray, or silver for $275 and is available online for purchase!

I just love the simplicity of this product.

Green to the 10th degree

Asif Khan, a young London designer and architect recently debuted his latest work entitled, "Harvest Project." Coolhunting reviewed. Harvest Project is a small collection of chairs and a table. Not just any old table and chair--these are made from Baby's Breath, a local plant. Yes, raw green material for FURNITURE.

The plant has to go through some phases in order to aggregate and lock together. They mold, freeze-dry, then they are sculpted with a linseed oil-based resin.

They aren't cheap or durable, but... it is an interesting concept!

Here is another 'grown' product, presented by Core77. It's Tokujin's Yoshioka's 'Venus Chair.'

Fancy Stuff

One of my favorite, most thorough blogs, Coolhunting, posted Jaime Hayon x Gaia & Gino: Valencia Collection. A spanish designer, Jamie Hayon, created this Valencia collection for the brand Gaia & Gino. It is a collection of candlesticks and tea-light holders in crystal that are very unique and fancy.

The pieces are handmade that play into the style of 'affordable yet rare.' They are designed to maximize light reflections and crystal's shine--by way of sandblasting!

They go from $55-200 and debut in May 2010.

Hayon's designs are modern and bright. Check out his other works.

The Sagmeister

Abduzeedo is a graphic design site made to inspire and tutor, showcasing artists and their amazing work.
They recently featured Stefan Sagmiester.
Here is the interview.
For those who don't know, he is a Austrian designer working in New York City whose work gets attention worldwide. He's done projects for clients like Adobe, the Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, Aerosmith etc. Sagmeister got awarded with the Lucky Strike Award 2009 which made him $50,000 richer. And, he got nominated for the Grammy because of his awesome CD cover designs four times and got awarded once, for the cover of the Talking Heads album "Once In A Lifetime" in 2005. Since 1993 Sagmeister runs a small design studio in New York City.

A good line from the interview, in my opinion:

"I think we are responsible for anything we do, walking down the street, climbing a mountain and selling a product. We can do all three in a wonderful, sweet and elegant fashion, or we can fuck it up. It’s all up to us."