The Art of Printing, Imprimerie ARTE - Paris

Joan Miro' at the Imprimerie ARTE in Paris, France.
Simply a great photo and a beautiful artistic composition with a lot of energy...your reactions are wellcome!

Photo by Clovis Prévost
Website: www.maeght.com

Interior Design by Steven Holl, NYU

The 1890 corner building at 5 Washington Place in NY, the NYU Department of Philosophy, has been redesigned at its interior by Steven Holl Architects.

A full renovation that has been realised with great attention to a correct use of space and light, with a strong use of "white color" and delicate graphics.

Read the full article with more photos visiting www.yossawat.com a well done Interior Design website.

Info and photos Via: www.yossawat.com

Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain

10 years of heavy work to renew the Prado Museum in Madrid after 200 years of unchanged history and culture.
Today a new building is open realized by the architect Rafael Moneo and already called "the new Prado".

Info Via: www.repubblica.it Arte section

Canapé Nuptial by Laufer & Keichel

Paris and Berlin 20 years of art and culture together. To celebrate this event different German and french designers exhibits in Paris and Berlin.

The "Canapé Nuptial" is a good example, designed by Julia Laufer and Marcus Keichel is exposed in Paris (La boutique 107 Rivoli until the 11th of November) cost of this sofa is about 4,000.00 Euros.

Info Via: marieclaire

Kids Designs at ICFF in NY

Imagine a big Furniture Design show dedicated to kids needs in which you will find furnitures and smart solutions in production as well as concepts to come and populate kids stores...In may, this year, in NY the ICFF had many interesting stands with great Kids Design solutions for "bedrooms, play rooms and small office rooms.
The Design showed a good concern for a "modern Design look" attracting new generation parents (naturally).

Info Via: www.coochicoos.com and www.mocoloco.com

Domestic Landscapes by Bert Teunissen

Fantastic photographic work by Bert Teunissen about "domestic life", check all the photos at his personal site: http://www.bertteunissen.com

Getting a job: English TOEIC Test

The TOEIC English Test is very important to get a job today. It is strongly recommended for anyone planning to apply for a Design job if not American or English.

With this Test you get a certificate recognized internationally that demonstrates your ability in speaking the English language with a correct terminology to work.

In general, this test is recommended to all design students coming out of school or those designers that are planning to move from their origin country to go to work in a foreign one. For example I had to pass one some years ago...

You must know that it is not so simple because , depending where you would like to go, there are different levels of scores you can get and each one of them gives you the opportunity to access to a given company level.

Example: to be a Design Manager the minimum score required is (usually) 750 points, but for job positions less relevant also a score of 600/650 can be accepted.

In some car-companies it is a "must" to have a score of 750 points to be hired as designer, for this reason some Design schools (like IAAD in Turin, Italy) got the authorization to include this TOEIC Test in their scholastic program to ensure to students to get their Diploma with the Toeic certificate too.

So, please, do not forget about your Test. It gives you a better chance to find a Design job!

More info at: http://www.it.toeic.eu/ in Italian language, but you can change the country and language, too.

Harley Earl world's first car designer

I have read recently an article on Car Magazine about the myth of Harley Earl. The first innovator, visionary, the world's first car designer and inventor of modern America.

Harley Earl entered the relaunched family business in 1908 the "Earl Automobile Works" and in 1919 the Los Angeles Times noted his spectacular bodyworks at the local Autoshow. Soon actors like Tom Mix and Fatty Arbuckle became his major clients. Later on he went to work for GM creating the first Styling Departement and changing the vision and perception of World's Automobiles. He is the father of the Corvette and has been the first to force technological innovation to obtein "sexy cars shapes".

He was inspired by a lot of different sources (like planes) and soon understood that people would not buy cars just for moving, but mostly for their look. The dream of sculpting cars giving to them personality and sexy appeal became very popular and Earl was capable to influence advertising, too. The consumistic american society started to express itself thanks also to new GM Earl Design, he understood the importance of Women taste.

In 1934 he renamed his Departement inventing a new word "Styling". So the Art & Color studio became the Styling Departement and for the first time a real car design team was established with a main objectif: invent "dream cars".

I believe that all car designers should know Earl's story to better understand their role in society, to understand that without "emotions" it is hard to make good Design, if we do not provoke "the magic effect" we do not help this world to be a bit happier.

Photos and info Via: www.carmagazine.co.uk september 2007 issue

Fontana di Trevi, Rome today.

Few hours ago, in Rome, the famous Fontana di Trevi (Federico Fellini film "La dolce Vita") has been attacked by vandals and the all water became red!
The liquid used did not damage the monument and this is a good news, but the insane act opens a new cultural issue: how can we protect Art?

Photo Ansa via www.corriere.it

Art and Sex from Antiquity to Now Exhibit, London

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Fashion Design by Alcs Porras

Dear friends, as you know, this blog intends to promote young talents, too. I was looking at portfolios on www.coroflot.com and came across Alcs Porras works. I liked his creative touch and also his well thought presentation style, so I decided to present him to you.

Alcs studied Design in the States and created in Manila his own company named ALCSBYDESIGN; he is a freelancer, too. Main source of business is Fashion Design and Mechandising, his creations are for both men and women.

Via: www.coroflot.com (photos and info)

Energy Bucket bringing the "light"

Stefano Merlo designed the "Energy Bucket" to create a mutual service between the action of doing something (like getting water) and having back "energy" the light!
In a few words I use during the day my bucket, that thanks to a solar cell it recharges itself, and at night time I get light for free!
"I do something to get something", an honest exchange between human beings and Nature.
The Energy Bucket participated to the contest: Designboom "Bright Led".

Now anyone can think that it is good or bad, I believe that this Energy Bucket is an answear to act for a cleaner planet (yes the ecological issue!), at the same time it is "trendy", too. I see it more as an intelligent gadget to have, and you? Would you like to have one?

Via: www.youngdesigner.it more info at: www.stefanomerlo.com

Why is contrast so important in web design

Good contrast in your design goes hand-in-hand with your color selections. Contrast is the value difference between the colors on your design. Value is how bright or dark the color (ink) is.

read more digg story

Robocar 2057 future scenarios in Transportation Design

How is going to be the future way of transportation in the year 2057? In Los Angeles California 8 major car companies tried to answear to this topic by creating future scenarios (here in the photos: VW, Mercedes and Honda proposals) for the next International Motorshow.
For sure in 50 years there will be many and new problems to solve in order to transport people in a comfortable way; alternative and cleaner energies, a more populated planet and a always more fragile planet...is our future personal transportation device going to fly?

Via www.corriere.it article written by Marco Consoli

CSI Miami an appealing Design example

Have you watched this short introduction video? Did you like it? Do you feel like you can't resist by watching the film? Well I believe that all this is provoked by the well orchestrated scenarios, by their graphics, prospectives, shootings, dramatic photography and digital retouch, active-motion camera work, the new artistic video graphics effects and a great tasty creativity.

CSI Miami with those spectacular views and vibrant colors add a great amount of energy and passion to the film,there is a sense of dramatic action that involves us more than what we think. The great use of "graphic contrast" (always dark against strong light..) amplifies the real effect of scenes to the point we feel like we would like to enter to partecipate...to live it , to touch the intense bleu sea or the extreme green sourranding nature, or the colorfull architecture...the digital art work realized with the help of powerfull Computer Graphic Programs makes the rest.
All those Design motion techniques are well balanced to create strong "emotions" to involve us and they are very successfull at it.

CSI Miami I love it and everytime I watch it (here in France on Friday night) I observe and study the Design concept. Today I felt like sharing with you my impressions as designer, and what do you think about it? make a comment thanks..

2007 China Automotive Design Conference

The 2007 China Automotive Design & Independent Innovation Conference marked the first gathering of independent Chinese (vs. joint venture) automakers getting together to discuss automotive styling. Taking place at the end of August, more than 140 design professionals from First Auto Works (FAW), Dongfeng Motor, Chery,.........more to read at www.cardesignnews.com

read more digg story

The Car Design Portfolio...where to start?

In order to get a job we need a high quality Portfolio with which presents our skills, talent and professional capabilities. Today more than yesterday a book is extremely necessary.

A Portfolio has to “tell a story”, in other words it is a reflection of ourselves working for us, supporting us, showing what we are capable to do and how. It takes the scene capturing the attention and does not want to deceive anybody; the portfolio must be honest because its message has to be understood without any sort of problem. It does not have to lie! 
Experienced people would notice a liar portfolio very quickly and this would naturally be the worst thing that could happen to us. A good Portfolio has to be a mutual opportunity it has to work both sides.

Now I would like to tell you one thing that comes to my mind every time I check a Portfolio and it is….”I hope I am not wasting my time….or….always the same stuff!”
Every time I see a portfolio cover, I feel excited to discover what is in there…now the secret is to make sure that from first page to the last one I (or anyone else) can keep high the excitement given by watching such great stuff!

How to get all this really happen? Here few suggestions for you:

-Discipline (a sloppy book shows that you might be sloppy, too)
-Severe art work selection. Please do not put mediocre works. In general, we remember somebody always by his/her worst work! Do not forget it! So Quality better than Quantity, always.
-Think about your image corporate identity (portfolio+CV+Business card all same graphic image)
-Choose the best format according to your discipline (think about a format to send your portfolio via mail or by CD etc. etc.)
-Make sure your portfolio can be viewed by different people … so no binders or stuff like that. If you meet three persons at the same time for sure they will try to take a page and watch it while listening to you presenting yourself.
-Put the all thing together using your creativity without exaggerating; do not forget you are selling Design.
- Last but not the least is the order of your projects. This aspect is very important because with a correct use of your project’s order you can keep a good interesting rhythm made of a balanced “highs and lows” without falling too much on “lows”. It is like music, Jazz or Classical or Hip Hop in every type of music the rhythm is extremely important not to annoy people, not to be repetitive, not to be boring.

So now you have some suggestions to use (if you feel like) to make a cool good looking and professional portfolio, do not forget to make a good research before you finalize your work, too. It is important to see if what you are ready to realize is “trendy” or already old.

Good luck!

Photo via www.istockphoto.com

Light Tape demo

Light Stripes are illuminating advertising spaces. These products project a continuous 180-degree light, bright enough to be seen from up to 130 meters (426 ft) at night. The tape is totally flexible and can be wrapped around any surface as well as cut to any shape....watch!

read more digg story

Via the www.coolhunter.net

Naked photo session by Spencer Tunick in Miami, Fl

Spencer Tunick, considered one of the most innovative artists in Contemporary Art, is working on his new "naked photo session" shot in Miami, FL.
Here two pictures about it.

Photos and info via: www.corriere.it

David Lynch: The Air is on Fire Exhibit, Milan

At the "Triennale of Milan, Italy" there is an exhibition of David Lynch's art works named "The Air is on Fire" untill the 13th of January 08.

The movie director (here in one of his self portrait) presents a big part of his works put together to reproduce an environment made of a home lived by ghosts.

This art expression started a long time before he became a movie director, he used to sketch on about anything he came across with.

He also made sketches on post-it like this one on the photo called "Intitled". He would sit in a bar, order a coffee or milk shake and start sketching expressing a particular "mood" for science fiction with a tendence on horror stories.

Personally I like his works, the things I like the most are: the high contrast always present and the strong graphic effect that gives a "dramatic" feeling" to his art works.

Photo and info Via: www.corriere.it

Photo of the day, Ravello

During my vacation spent in Ravello I had a lot of time to take pictures, here a detail of the Church on main square.

RADO Watches Switzerland

Some nice photos of latest RADO Collection.

Here some watches made of famous "ceramica" a patent Design created by RADO Switzerland.

In those latest models we can see the "slow" but strong Design evolution where Graphics becomes more evident, The positive and negative spaces are equally important and confirm an always contemporary definition and perception of RADO
Watches.

Even if this Design evolution is adding new bigger elements to the Watches the "purity" of their trendiness is not lost but reinforced.

The RADO Design touch is better always preserving the high Quality of material use and identity message.

The last pictures are two female models.

The blu color one is a good example of RADO's Design philosophy.

The elegance is given by the correct use of "proportions" between material choice, its color and definition, and the size and placement of diamants gems.

The balance of all this makes of this watch a very beautifull and classy one without expressing banality.

Photos via: www.rado.com

DMP Concept on Coroflot.com Portfolios

Visiting the famous Design website http://www.coroflot.com/ I found this interesting concept designed by Kim Yong Seong a young Korean talent.

DMP stands for Dual Music Player it is a very practical and well designed MP3 and CD Player. Kim says..."DMP is a portable music player that supports cd and mp3 files. You can use it as mp3 player carrying as usual, otherwise it becomes a cd player by opening both sides. It is able to interact with bluetooth headphones. You don't need two devices to listen to your music anymore."

His personal website is http:// www.yankodesign.com

My opinion is that it seems to be functional and client minded, its Design is simple but very trendy, I could imagine an interesting use of materials and graphics to make it even more efficient and fun to have. For sure a good gadget!

Photos and Post via: www.Coroflot.com at portfolio section.

Mazda Taiki Concept Tokyo Motorshow

Mazda continues to develop the "Fluidity" with this sexy & elegant concept named Taiki (Athmosphere in Japanese).

Photos & original article via: www.caradisiac.com (in French language)

Suzuki Shared Coach Concept, Tokyo Motorshow 07

Suzuki is prosposing to solve future city traffic problems with their next concept that will be presented at the 2007 Tokyo Motorshow.

The SCC (Shared Coach Concept) is a family vehicle that incorporates a small three wheeler to commute in town (see photo), In this way we would have a chance to go in town without soffering traffic congestion.

Even if this is not the only concept of this type (Toyota and Opel already proposed something similar..) I am curious to see the concept to understand better how it really works.

Via: www.corriere.it