Over the weekend I took some time to check out two of Gary Hustwit's films which are Helvetica and Objectified. Helvetica was a documentary film that looked at the world of typography and graphic design, and their impact on our visual environment. Objectified was another documentary film about industrial design and product design and our relationship with the manufactured objects that we use every day. Each of these films were an interesting watch. They each took an in-depth look at the way that the human culture looks, feels, and categorizes design on a daily basis and most of the time we don't realize we are doing it. If you are like me and you were done watching them going I want more than I think you're in luck.
Hustwit is currently in the process of working on the third installment of what he calls the "Design Trilogy". The third film to join this trilogy is calledUrbanized which will look at the issues and strategies behind urban design. It will feature some of the world's foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers throughout this film. Urbanized which is currently in production will not premiere until sometime in 2011. So you will have to wait but if you want to be kept in the know about the upcoming film then you can join Hustwit Twitter feed.
I have been in the market for a while now for a new keyboard and mouse combo. The one I'm using now is just not cutting it. The fact that the mouse and keyboard are separate is a pain and it's taking up space. So when I was in Daytona a friend of mine showed me the combo of choice the Logitech diNovo Edge keyboard. This is a sleek, wireless keyboard that gives you the edge with a touch pad and media center controls. This slim keyboard is laser cut from a single piece of semi-translucent, black Plexiglas and set in a brushed aluminum frame for a sleek addition to any office or living room. It connects via Bluetooth Wireless and is powered by a Li-lon battery and comes with an elegant charging base and has back-lit controls on the keyboard. This keyboard also gets about 2 months worth of usage off of just a two hour charge. This keyboard has so many features that it's bound to impress while still providing optimal usage for your computer needs.
This keyboard/mouse combo is definitely what I have been looking for in a keyboard. So with the purchase of this keyboard it will complete my media center for my living room. So old keyboard and mouse its time that you found a new home because the Logitech diNovo Edge is about to take your place. Sorry you had a good run.
300 post later and this blog is still going and getting better all the time. I want to thank each and everyone of you that comes to my blog and reads, shares and enjoys what I'm doing. I appreciate your support and also don't be afraid to leave a comment or two. I'm always interested in what you have to say as a reader.
So now that I'm done being sappy let get into the new release of Playlist-17. I decided to mix together a short mix of some ambient style tracks this time around. I haven't done a mixed playlist in a minute so I thought it was appropriate.
In this mix I used Shigeto's sample of "Grandmas Words Rise Out of the Stone" in the beginning and end of this mix. Shigeto, I have to give you props on this sample and the track. So with that said, if you want to hear more Shigeto then head over to his site where you can download his NEW EP What We Held On To for FREE. If you also get a chance check out some of the other artist like Aether, Solvent, Flying Lotus and Gold Panda. All great artist. So go ahead and have listen or download or if you want share this mix.
Cover art by: Damion Schweizer
Tracklist
1. Grandmas Words Rise Out of the Stone by Shigeto
2. Intro/A Cosmic Drama by Flying Lotus
3. Dajame Dormir by Aether
4. Solar Fields by Sky Trees
5. Ketto by Bonobo
6. After the Smoke by Shigeto
7. Built in Microphones by Solvent
8. How to Dress Well by Ready for the World
9. Dances and strategies by Solvent
10. You by Gold Panda
11. Cremona Memories by Keep Shelly in Athens
In the film they follow González through scenes shot during his time working on his second album In Our Nature. They use his voice recording diary to follow his everyday reflections from struggling with writing songs to his everyday thoughts on life. The film also explores universal themes such as loneliness, boredom and isolation, The Extraordinary Ordinary Life of Jose Gonzalez gives us insight into one person's attempt to manage and understand his own existence. It was shot over a three-year period on location in Sweden, Japan, Singapore, United States, South Africa, England, Chile and Argentina.
Being one of the more enigmatic and thought-provoking musicians of the last decade, González is one of Sweden’s most successful exports. He has sold almost one million records worldwide and has received accolades from the media in every country in which he has performed. So I can see why they would want to do a documentary on such a talented musician. I hope I get a chance to see this documentary.
Johan Loekito and Samsung worked on a concept project to make sure that you don't lose your mobile phone ever again. Cause I'm sure in this day and age we don't watch our phones like hawks. It's called Samsung Proxima and it's a concept that involves a cellphone with a wristband acting like a docking station. This watch also has a proximity sensor on board making the wristband emit a tone or vibrate if the phone is too far from it. This also helps the user find the device with a single button press. The Proxima also is able to detect other users with the same phone in your area and lets you contact them. I'm sure that with something like this you can change the settings to turn this feature off if you wanted. I think the design on this concept is slick but for the other uses I'm not really sold on it. What do you think of this concept design?
Tham & Videgard architects were looking to build a hotel in the trees and that is exactly what they did. This hotel covered in mirror's was recently opened in Sweden. It was designed to be accessed by a rope bridge, this amazing Mirrorcube suite doesn't leave you hanging there. It comes with a double bed, small bathroom, and a terrace on the roof with a modern decor. If you were wondering well what about the birds running into the mirror's? Well don't worry they have installed infrared film that only birds can see so that they don't run into the glass. I personally don't know if I would want to stay in something like this but it would be cool to check out. So if your planning a trip to Sweden and you want to stay in one check out their site and book your mirrorcube.
Before I begin I want to give a big thanks to Tycho/ISO50 Blog and FITC for giving me the chance to see him perform with his band in San Francisco. The FITC event was a private party so to be able to attend you had to attend the FITC Conference or be one of the lucky winners on ISO50's giveaway guest list spots. Although I didn't go to the conference I would have liked to have seen Scott Hansen's seminar on his background, processes, and theory's along with some walk throughs and presentations of his recent work. I did however get the next best thing and that was seeing the new band play out. Tycho's band did a great job of capturing the sound that is Tycho but also giving it a different yet more unique feel to the music. Each member of the band gave off the right energy and vibe to keep the crowd moving while satisfying our ears with great music. Overall I have to say that I was very satisfied by the end of the night with the performance and the presentation of Tycho's music and visuals. I hope that many of you will get a chance in the future to check out his band's set. Lastly, I want to give another big thanks to Raoul Ortega who I meet last night for allowing me to use his photos from the event. Raoul has done work with Dusty Brown and Tycho before so it was cool of him to allow me to use his photos. My camera was not taking the best of pictures last night, however, it did do a good job on the videos that I took which can be viewed below. I used my Samsung TL220 camera. If you want to check out more of Raoul photography which you should then check out his Flickr account and his Website.
I found this on Behance and had to share this concept of exploring the future of mobile computing. It was done by Mark Law who is a creative designer working in all sorts of fields from industrial design to interaction design, branding and graphics. He Completed this for Intel, Oregon. I agree with a lot of this video in that the world of computers and smart phone interaction should be developed more and the concept might not be to far off.
The use of wood can bring out the warmth of a home. In this design the CplusC Architects were going for the idea of “good wood.” Displaying the firm’s love of wood and how it inspires a warm flavor of architecture, this timber home design welcomes residents and guests with an entry sequence leading to a recycled Jarrah door. Inside, the main hallway can be compared to a tree trunk, lined with a rich wood floor and ceiling, and the home’s various rooms branching off it in succession. The hallway leads through the structure and into the heart of the house – an open-concept kitchen, living and dining area – and out onto a rear courtyard, where a wood deck encircles the pool. The architectures who built this home put some detail in the different shades of wood as well as using different angular designs to give the home a more warm modern feel to it. photo credit: Murray Fredericks
