I was just reading the terriffic blog of Ashworth Graphic Design Instructor, Mike Nelson. The blog is called, The Ideation Phase, and it’s is a great resource for all of our graphic design, web design, interior design, and photography students.
Mike recently profiled a couple graphic designers that should definitely inspire our students. Check their sites out and be sure to drop in and say “hello” to Mike when you get a chance. Thanks Mike!
Greg Lamarche uses a collage to create his work and does a great job.
Hornall Anderson is a Seattle based graphic design firm that is simply phenomenal.
With their latest groundbreaking video, created from 3-D data captured by the latest in laser scanning technologies, Radiohead continues to close in on the singularity many of our childhood friends may or may not be sleeping through. The video speaks for itself, so my story ends here. I’ve included a link to the “making of the video” as well. These features are usually boring, but this one is actually cool. Check it out…
I am sad to say that there are a tremendous number of beautifully designed and perfectly installed landscapes that look terrible! On the other hand, I’ve seen landscapes that were not professionally designed or installed, but which have been well-cared for, that absolutely sparkle! Quality maintenance is an essential ingredient for the long-term beauty of any landscape.
Here’s the key point I want you to understand when your design is created. If the client asks for low-maintenance, then a low-maintenance design should be implemented. There is no way that a high-maintenance design can be “transformed” into a low-maintenance one after it is installed. The designer needs to determine what level of maintenance can be expected and use this as a criterion for the design. A design and installation that looks great five years after it is installed is a living marketing tool for your business!
There is another reason why you should consider offering maintenance services to your clients. It is the bread and butter of many successful landscape companies. In fact, many new design and installation opportunities often come from the maintenance side of the business. If a particular landscape looks great, folks ask the owner who is doing the landscaping, and if it is you, this is an instant referral! Also, by maintaining the landscape, you have ultimate control over your designs. If you offer a guarantee on the installed plants, it is very easy to keep an eye on the installation and make sure it is receiving adequate care. If a plant happens to die, you are right there to replace it as you complete your regular maintenance activities.
One more note about this part of landscaping is that the term really should not be landscape maintenance but landscape management. The difference is that someone who maintains plants hopes to keep them looking about the same from one year to the next. A landscape manager, on the other hand, works to improve and enhance the landscape from one year to the next. This is a perfect role for the landscape design professional, as it allows for new design activity to continue virtually forever.
Thanks to Starck Ting for permission to use this Photo.
Throughout his career, Philippe Starck has positioned himself ahead of the design curve, practically ignoring it, but not through the prescient recognition and/or early adoption of trends. Starck instead relies on ingenuity to reinterpret the concept of design itself, reworking the most mundane of objects (clocks, silverware, computer mouses, etc.) until they are capable of being perceived in different contexts—with new meaning and functions. In this conceptual sense, one can detect traces of Marcel Duchamp and his influential readymade objects. The following video offers a fine introduction to the vision of Philippe Starck. Starck’s vision will inspire you. Click on the image above to watch this video. Let us know what you think.
Ryan Rode
Interactive Services Manager
Ashworth University
Feng shui (“wind and water”) is a well known ancient Chinese art of placement. According to this art, the way in which energy flows through a garden or a home has a negative or positive effect on the owner of the place. Nowadays, according to modern feng shui theory: marital bliss, business success and even fame can be a part of one’s life if the furniture is placed properly in the house and there is a balanced Feng Shui
Garden landscape design.
Deborah Gee, an expert in the art of using feng shui has made a video to aid people tie together and use chi, the “life force” properly. The concept of chi is central to the principles of Feng Shui. To correctly handle and apply chi in a garden requires handling of three basic elements:
Water – it is represented by ponds, streams or fountain in feng shui, (feng shui fountains) or also a river of stones; and symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
Mountains – it can be symbolically signified by planting beds that are raised, shrubbery and tall trees and symbolizes energy.
Greenery – this can be represented by the green grass and anything which is green around.
One of the key factors that need to be considered with feng shui is balance. The three basic elements of water, mountains and greenery should be placed close to each other. Sharp items should be placed near pathways. They direct sharp chi at people who pass by and disrupts the internal flow of energy, in turn causing a lot of stress and tension. Circular or meandering pathways in the garden are much better; straight ones and the latter create a wave of fast moving chi that may be the cause of feeling uncomfortable. Making the garden flat is a common mistake that most garden designers make. A flat garden does not encourage chi flow. Different levels and layers make chi flow smoothly in the garden. Additionally, curves in the garden help in improving the chi flow. (more…)
The Mana Collection by TOUCH features one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that cleverly string together social design and environmental responsibility, not to mention recycled treasures from the streets of Brazil. This LA based art/design collective recently introduced a stunning line of artisan made products including furniture, home décor items, ceramics, tableware, jewelry, and limited edition items.
They wisely brought on board Mana Bernardes, a young jewelry designer, poet, and visual artist from Rio de Janeiro, to oversee their hip jewelry creations. Detritus and discarded plastics never looked so good, as the Mana Collection is proof that one (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure. These are, for sure, the eco-sparkly jewels of creative re-use.
Multimedia artist and designer Mana Bernardes finds pure poetry in the flotsam of our lives and consequently is able to incorporate seemingly unusable materials such as PET bottles, phone cards, toothpicks, hair clips, plastic netting, pearls, silver, and gold into Mana’s handcrafted collection.
Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies is the perfect holiday gift for those of us who are interested in green building, but need a little expert help. Admittedly, the For Dummies® books are a smart start for anyone wanting to pick up a new trade or just learn the overall basics on any particular subject. With more than 150 million books in print and over 1000 topics, this new release by Eric Corey Freed of Organic Architect may be the best evidence out there that green is mainstream.
“Green building” involves designing and constructing buildings and homes to reduce energy use, conserve water, improve indoor air quality, and reduce reliance on nonrenewable natural resources. Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies provides an introduction to every facet of green building, from start to finish, including the materials, architecture, and construction methods of green building and remodeling for both homeowners and professionals such as architects, interior designers, and contractors. (more…)
Inhabitat is excited to announce the Greener Gadgets Conference!
On February 1, 2008 industry leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, and product designers will gather in New York Cty to discuss the growing need to green the consumer electronics industry. This one-day Greener Gadgets Conference will take place at the McGraw-Hill Conference Center in midtown Manhattan.
Why are we doing this? . The green movement has taken off significantly in virtually every industry. Visible examples include the success of hybrid vehicles, alternative energy, and green building. The fashion, food, and building industries are all embracing sustainable design with fervor, so why is the $150 billion dollar consumer electronics industry lagging so far behind? We believe that the consumer electronics industry is poised for rapid transformation, and we want to help usher in this new era with smart and innovative product design.
Sure, you could pony up for a geeky/techy solar powered backpack, but does solar power get more stylish than these hot eco handbags from Noon Solar?!
The Chicago company’s new line has just been released, consisting of three amazingly stylish bags that can charge everything from your cell phone to iPod while you strut. (more…)
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