: milky way

This is quite beautiful. It was captured with a DSLR. Once again proving that the future of photography seems to be video.

: npr iphone app design

Here is a great peak into the process for designing the new NPR iPhone app. The article states. "…while the app's interface is simple, its creation was complex, involving dozens of contributors, from designers and developers to business strategists and communication specialists, all working together…" Amen! We know the importance of these integrated teams, but it is critical to remember this always.

Read the whole article here.



Its a great application. If you are an NPR or news junkie like myself, you should be downloading this now. The interface is simple, clean, usable and seems designed for exploration as well as finding news items that are relevant or interesting to you.



Read the whole article here.

: freemind - mind mapping software

A client of ours recently used this tool during a workshop session in real time. It was a great way to structure the conversation, cover all our bases, and walk away with a very distinct set of actions. It also made the process a little more fun than the usual "lets go down this excel spreadsheet column" features discussion.



And, like the name suggests, it is free! It is also cross platorm Download here.

Below is a list of common uses for this tool copied from their website.

• Keeping track of projects, including subtasks, state of subtasks and time recording


• Project workplace, including links to necessary files, executables, source of information and of course information


• Workplace for internet research using Google and other sources


• Keeping a collection of small or middle sized notes with links on some area which expands as needed. Such a collection of notes is sometimes called knowledge base.


• Essay writing and brainstorming, using colors to show which essays are open, completed, not yet started etc, using size of nodes to indicate size of essays. I don't have one map for one essay, I have one map for all essays. I move parts of some essays to other when it seems appropriate.


• Keeping a small database of something with structure that is either very dynamic or not known in advance. The main disadvantage of such approach when compared to traditional database applications are poor query possibilities, but I use it that way anyway - contacts, recipes, medical records etc. You learn about the structure from the additional data items you enter. For example, different medical records use different structure and you do not have to analyze all the possible structures before you enter the first medical record.


• Commented internet favorites or bookmarks, with colors and fonts having the meaning you want.

: color schemer

A bit more on the tactical side of things today. I was alerted to this color tool by team member Trevor Steinbacher. Its a great way to design and view color schemes for any design activity. It has a lot of the same features as Adobe's Kuler, but it's local and it has some extras like viewing colors through color blind simulation, work with RGB and CMYK in color managed environment, analyze contrast and readability, preview colors in layouts, and variations palette for finding similar color options. Also available for Mac and PC.



Download at ColorSchemer.com

: mtv rebrand

More re-brand work based specifically on digital. This time it's from MTV and their 2009 branding initiative. I hope you have noticed my emphasis on motion/video design recently. Hint, hint. Wink, wink.



MTV / International Rebrand Overview from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

: objectified

From the same filmmaker that brought us Helvetica, Gary Hustwit, this film deals with the design of all the objects that fill and in some cases clutter our lives. This may be old news to many of you, but I caught the last ten minutes of this last night and cant wait to go back to see the rest. That is in spite of a mixed review from a venerable and much respected source (Mark Badger) on these types of things. He actually owns a copy. Maybe we can convince him to bring it in for a brown bag lunch showing?

Even though it focuses specifically on industrial design, the issues facing designers of all sorts are common and shared. For instance, user/consumer assumptions based on form, anticipating needs or solutions, and long term effect and sustainability of the things that we use everyday.

Check the local listings and try to catch this if you can.

Also, try the "Which Object Are You" quiz. Apparently, I am a spork!! A little disappointing, but I can't say that I disagree with most of the explanations it gave me for the choice :)

:syfy

More great re-branding work. This time by Proud Creative out of London. This happened back in July of 09 so I am kinda late to this. It got a lot of press at the time, and not all of it positive. Apparently, even Landor has publicly distanced themselves from the actual naming work, claiming the client drove that part of it.

Still, it is worth taking a look at especially after our work here around the re-branding for Game Show Network. Seems like they have aimed to really shed any sort of geeky image they may have had before. The look is slick and modern. Not sure about the new name, but I dig the extreme 3d modeled effects that really on subtle shading and minimal clutter. Those who work with me know I like to strip away the junk. This is a great example.

Head on over to Analog for more views of the screens like the one below.



These station ID examples are quite stunning. Again, really great examples of how to make a brand come to life with motion concepts.

: aol video reveals

These are pretty cool. They were created as a series of films to help launch the new AOL branding. If you haven't seen any of that work, it is pretty innovative from a branding and design standpoint. I realize it has already been all over the usual blogs and design news sites including the NYTimes, FastCompany, and Huffington Post, so if you've missed this so far, you are, by the way, living under a rock :)

Nice article here if you want to catch up.

These films were produced by Universal Everything and are meant to be displayed on all sorts of screens such as mobile, computer, TV's, even large jumbo-tron type billboards. When you look at these, you understand how it just isn't enough to create static notions of a brand. Moving images whether it be video or motion graphics are becoming standard, and anything less will feel dated.

Commissioned by Wolff Olins NYC, Creative Direction - Matt Pyke at Universal Everything, Animation - Matt Pyke, Sound - Simon Pyke


AOL / Landscapes from Universal Everything on Vimeo.



AOL / Blow Painting from Universal Everything on Vimeo.



AOL / Ooze from Universal Everything on Vimeo.



AOL / Hypercolor from Universal Everything on Vimeo.

: bu.edu redesign

Great new site for BU. Check out the video and article explaining some of the thinking that went into the new site. Of particular interest is the statement that the new site is "switching from a model that warehouses information to one that gathers it". I love this idea of becoming a platform that curates content instead of one that pushes it. It allows for a potential on a much greater scale than a closed system would. It seems obvious, but the logistics and design to get that in place are not easy. That is something we work into our thinking here quite a bit, and it is nice to see it validated and in use locally, but with the global reach that a www.BU.edu has.

One other quick note. They placed the BU logo in the bottom right hand corner of the site. Strange. Maybe the new type treatment in the header is a new logo and they are taking the first step at a re-brand? It is more modern, and fits the site design better, but not sure it seems serious enough for an institute of higher learning. Thoughts?

: laurentina salema

Today would have been my grandmother, Laurentina Salema's birthday. She passed away two years ago now next month. We all miss her greatly. She was a pillar in our lives, and kept us all centered and honest to ourselves. I took this picture of her at our house in Vila Franca do Campo, Sao Miguel, Açores in September, 2006. We were collecting grapes to crush to make a very rustic wine. She was so happy to be reliving old memories and I will never forget this day.