Tom Noddy Bubble Magic!

Interesting lesson on multiplication!

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Deck the Halls - Fur Style

Hope you get a chance to check out this holiday video, it's pretty cute.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0WVfj76bo

Modern Day Nativity

What would have happened if the internet existed all those years ago...

Happy [Journal] Holidays

While traveling to my parents' home to assist with Christmas decorating and baking, I decided to pass some time wrecking the journal. Naturally, I chose sew a Christmas tree (loosely interpreted as waiting in the woods for its big moment). 

And now I pass the book-shaped baton to Heidi!

Incredible Weather Photography

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1334672/Jaw-dropping-image-enormous-supercell-cloud-Glasgow-Montana.html

Not a whole lot to say in this post, other than this photograph is amazing. The photo was taken by Sean Heavey in Glasgow, Montana. Click on the link above to see more images by Sean.

Super Mamika

Meet Super Mamika.

She's a real-life grandma.

And a photoshoot superhero.

A French photographer (Sacha Goldberger) came up with this idea when he heard his 91-year-old Hungarian grandmother (Frederika) was feeling depressed. He told her his idea, she agreed, albeit reluctantly, and the viral web sensation was born. They came up with the poses and shots together, and she ended up enjoying every minute of it!

She now has a Myspace site with over 2,200 friends. Her depression is gone.

Go, Grandma!

Find more pics here and here.

What are the Chances?

Talk about being in the right place at the right time with a camera! I received this in an email titled, "A Smile from God."



Source: unknown

Dalton Ghetti

A friend of mine introduced me to this artist on Sunday. He carves standard pencils using a razor blade, sewing needle, and sculpting knife (notice I didn't include a magnifying glass in that list).


"I don’t make money from it but I would love a gallery owner in England to fly me over and put on a show."



It takes Ghetti anywhere from a few months to a few years to complete each project, depending on the complexity.

The carving below of the 2 pencils connected by a chain is the most impressive to me, but the detail of all of them are astounding.

Did you think to yourself "what happens to the broken pencils"? I did. If a pencil breaks when he's near finished, it becomes an addition to his "Graveyard" piece:

The Importance of Drawing

Taken from The 99 Percent interview with James Victore:

"My third students [at SVA] aren’t allowed to use computers. It really frustrates them because they don’t know how to use their hands. But I say listen, I know how much time it takes to boot up a computer, and open InDesign, and you get a box, and you type a letter in it. And you make it this big. Then you make it this big. Then you make it this big. Then you make it this big. Then you move it over here. Then you make it red. Then you make it this big. And it’s like: You’re not designing! You’re organizing. That’s easy. Worry about that later.

And this is stuff I learned from heroes. It’s the work you do before you ever put pen to paper. That’s the important part."

Read the rest of his "Don't Become a Design Zombie" interview for a peek into his approach to design (including ordering a dozen baby chicks for a book cover).

Distruction of the Journal

It has been a while since we created a post about the actual Wreck this Journal, and since the last post it has been through a lot! For my turn with the Journal I chose to tie the book to a string and take it on a walk with us around the lake. It went thorough puddles, ant hills and mounds of dirt and by the time it got back home it had leaves and brush sticking out of the pages.

Needless to say, I did my assignment!

Who's next?

Back in the Ol' Days

Does anyone remember Letraset? I, for one, am glad that I don't. Read this article by Gene Gable explaining the process of creating comps with Letraset, and you'll be glad, too! Modern technology is truly a beautiful thing.

Marcel Loves Fridays

Just in case you missed him on Twitter, he came to the blog to say "hi" and make you giggle.

At least that was his effect on me.

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Falling in love with color!

I saw these images from one of my favorite blogs Design Sponge and I got a little excited, because it is a sign that fall is almost here!! I love how these rich colors start showing up this time of year, from clothing to flowers to food!

Things I love about fall:
- scarves
- hoodies
- still being able to wear flip flops
- turning on the heat for the first time
- the smell of spices
- Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks
- changing of the leaves
- rearranging my closet so sweaters are in front
- first batch of chili
- blooming of mums

What are some of your favorites about this time of year?

Create your own Pop-Up Book

Found this on an internet bunny trail! A blank pop-up book just waiting for your creative touch! You can purchase this here.

Try This...I Dare You!

Whose Ad is This?

Saw this ad on the sidebar of my email client, and got a little confused.

Whose ad is this? It's Progressive, but State Farm wins the quote war. Guess that's the chance you take with variable marketing? Or do they hope you ignore the highlighted company and remember the overall appearance of the ad and assume the best was Progressive?

If Dogs Were Fonts

But what of the retrievers and labs?

image source

Book Notes

Sometimes we don't need new information as much as we need to remember what we've already learned! Thought it would be good to revisit the notes from this book.

The Trendmaster’s Guide: Get a Jump on What Your Customer Wants Next
Robyn Waters

p. xviii Management laid out a clear vision as to how we were going to make that happen. We were going to be “trend right,” customer focused, and design driven.

A is for Antennae
p. 2 …tune in to the little things, the trivial nuances, and the irrelevant data that everyone else misses. On its own, each tidbit is meaningless; strung together, they are ahas waiting to be noticed.

B is for Big Picture
p. 6 We can’t see the proverbial forest for the trees. Big Picture = Big Opportunity
p. 7 Ask yourself if you’re asking the right questions. Test your assumptions from every angle. The most important thing is to look at the problem through the eyes and lives of the end consumer.

C is for Connect the Dots
p.10 An interesting fact catches your attention. A related tidbit pops up out of nowhere. A random comment reinforces a budding thought. Hey … pay attention! Taken individually, each “dot” may not mean a lot. Connected, a pattern emerges that often points to a developing trend—in time to do something about it.
Take note of the small details that catch your attention, even if at the time they don’t seem to make any sense.

D is for Design
Design is the tool used to translate an idea into an actual product.
p. 17 It’s important to realize that good design is about more than function and aesthetics. Good design can infuse your products with soul as well as deliver beauty to the bottom line.

E is for Edit
p. 20 … too much information without editing is toxic.
p. 21 Force yourself and your team to edit to a top ten list, or even better, the three big ideas, or more perfectly, the one really important thing that will make a difference to your customer. Edit, focus, maximize!
Too many options or choices can be confusing, which can turn your customers away.

F is for Fusion
p. 24 Trends with real staying power are often a series of smaller trends fused together. Trends that intersect and complement each other are more likely to be embraced by the consumer.

G is for Grace and Guts
p. 24 It takes guts to be first, to be different. It takes courage to stand for your convictions.
p. 25 My advice is to err on the side of elegance, refinement, and class. Yes, there’s a lot of bad taste out there that sells just fine, but is that what you want to be known for?

H is for Head, Handbag, and Heart
p. 32 3H Design Theory: Head is about need – I’m out of toothpaste, time to buy. Handbag is about value and price – It’s on sale, so I’d better stock up. Heart is about desire – I love that and I have to have it.
p. 34 Connecting to the hearts of your customers will help you deliver products that WOW! … Aristotle said: “You don’t persuade people through intellect—you do it through emotion.”

I is for Instinct and Intuition
p. 38 Einstein was a pretty smart guy. He believed that “not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”

J is for Just for Me
p. 40 Customization is the name of the game. Self-expression is key.
p. 43 Offer options and ideas for customization. Help your customers creatively express their inherent individuality.

K is for Keep is Simple
p. 46 I don’t know what it is about human nature that makes us think that if something is complicated it must be better.
p. 47 Step back and ask if whatever it is you’re trying to present could be made simpler, less complicated, more streamlined. Your product or idea will be sure to stand out in a crowd by virtue of its very simplicity.

L is for Lighten Up
The trend trips and product-development meetings that were the most fun usually resulted in the best products.
p. 52 When you’re stuck in a dark place void of ideas, lighten up! Have some fun. Do something crazy. Deep-six your standard procedures and try operating with a little humor.

M is for Magic Button
p. 54 A good trend tracker is always on the lookout for what pushes his or her “magic button.”
p.56 Make it a habit to notice, really notice, what takes your breath away, stimulates your senses, ignites your passions, inspires awe, and delivers delight. Keep track, write it down, make a sketch, start a file, but whatever you do, don’t lose it.
If it lights you up, chances are it will work the same for others.

N is for No Secrets
p. 60 today’s consumers are savvier than ever. Give them their credit, and always tell the truth. You have to move fast. Spend less time worrying about who’s knocking you off and more time learning who your customer is.
When there are no secrets information is ubiquitous and great design has gone democratic, the challenge becomes how to be unique.

O is for Observation
TMI: Too much data can sometimes get in the way of our seeing the reality of the situation.
p. 63 Learn to let go of your preconceptions. Practice unlearning. Stop looking for the answers you expect to find, and instead, identify and pay attention to the signposts and the indicators. Let them lead you to where the minute is going.
See the “F Test”
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY YEARS.

P is for Passion and Possibilities
P. 67 There’s no one right answer, no on-size-fits-all trend. Be the Cheerleader of Possibilities for your team. Encourage input and participation from everyone. Stay open to new ideas. Think about it: nothing dampens enthusiasm faster than can’ts and nevers.

Q is Quintessence
There are things...and then there are Things. Don't be so focused on the next big thing that you forget about those Things that are always in style.
p. 70 Quintessential products have an aura of “rightness” and authenticity that transcends trends. Think of Swiss Army knives, Mont Blanc pens …. It is important to realize that when the world seems a little out of control, or it feels like our values have gone askew, the opposite of trendy can be very trendy.

R is for Resonate
In order for a trend to resonate, it has to connect with what your audience considers important - it must be consistent to their core values.
p. 77 Whether you are designing a collection of clothes or creating the ultimate service experience, it’s important to realize that each note you compose has to ring true to your audience. Even one false note can damage the overall impact of your brand.

S is for Soul
p. 80 Trends with soul have an element of energy, excitement, excellence, and desirability that connects on a special level with customers. Products with soul are easy to fall in love with, and much sought after in a marketplace awash in mediocrity.
Products with soul mean more than just what they are.

T is for Translate
Listen to your costumers - the signals are there; you just need to tune in and translate them effectively. If you do that, your customers will be singing your praises.
p. 85 Avoid literal translations of any trend concept or hot idea. It’s hard to differentiate yourself when you merely copy what’s already out there.
p. 86 There are a limited number of notes, but musicians have been arranging them into endless versions of original music for centuries.

U is for Unabashed Enthusiasm
P 88 If you can’t get excited about your own products, just imagine how uninspired and unenthused your customers must be feeling.

V is for Voracious Appetite for Knowledge
p. 96 Read, learn, do, explore, experience, but most of all read.
Take notes, highlight, underline, circle, draw, doodle what you find interesting and important.

W is for Walk in Other Worlds
p. 101 Find the fringe! Embrace deviance! Habits are ruts. If you’re reading the same magazines, shopping at the same stores, ordering the same thing from the menu … stop! Head for uncharted territory, and brace yourself for an eye-opening, off-road trend trip.

X is for (e)Xaggerate
p.106 Once you have perfected your product, don’t stop there. Exaggerate the obvious and carry the trend story out to the nth degree with incredible visuals, seductive signing, and clever, well-designed packaging.

Y is for Yum, Yuck, and Yawn
p. 108 Yum, yuck, and yawn [are] … descriptions of how our gut feels when we are struggling with an imminent decision. It’s been proven that in the realm of complexity, good decisions come from the informed gut. In other words, once you’ve done your homework and something feels right, that’s your intuition saying Yum—go with it! If it doesn’t feel right, that’s a Yuck—forget it. And a yawn? If you’re bored, don’t you think your customers will be too?

Z is for Zen
p. 112 For every yin there is a yang. For every trend there is a countertrend. In true Zen fashion, embrace opposites. Celebrate duality. [Two sides of a coin. Completely different.]
p. 113 Don’t get caught up in absolutes. Learn to be comfortable with utterly opposed trends.

A Matter of Taste

I love food & photography and really love when they are combined in a fresh way! Check out this photographer Fulvia Bonavia, he uses food in a fresh & creative way.

A sardine belt, anyone?

Java Jive

image by Plaid

It's Monday, so not only do many of us need coffee, it might be more difficult to decipher the menu today (I know I struggled this morning!). Enter helpful infographic! Lovely in its simplicity, but perhaps not complete in its accuracy. Oh, well. 

Colorful New Campaign

Have you seen the new ad campaign for Sherwin Williams paint company? The campaign uses paint chips to create colorful sculptures, making the often difficult task of selecting the perfect color swatch for a room to creating a fun and exciting experience.

The campaign also consists of an animated commercial that shows the paint chips in creative environments! How cool?!

Solving Unspoken Problems

This saucer is great. It's creative, and it's clever. But it has me thinking ... why is it clever? I mean, have I ever sat down with a cup of coffee and thought, "if only I had a terrific saucer under this cup"? No. Which,  I'm wondering, may be the reason it's clever.

It solves unspoken problems such as 1) saucers are boring and rarely used, 2) your coffee drips generally just pool around the center ring and dry, 3) sometimes you need some entertainment while relaxing with your cup o' joe. Truly, creative solutions come about by asking the right questions.

So what unseen problems are around us that we're not solving?

Ice Cream Anyone?

It's the dog days of summer and what sounds better than a bowl full of delicious, cold ICE CREAM??

Well, these flavors might change your mind!

Ranging from Sweet-Corn to Caviar, this site has got some unique flavors that will make you go running to the traditional bowl of vanilla!!

Enjoy (or not!)

A-Mazing!

Check out this maze! Let me know if you get through it to the end!

Glasses Make the Man

Here is a great ad campaign from Oogmerk opticians. What a change can be made in perspective with the right pair of glasses!

The small print reads: Get the Respect You Deserve.

Amazing Animation using Fire

I'm flying to outer space! Wanna come?

NASA has invited the public to join them on either of their next flights to outer space! I've signed up and thought, "hey, I bet my friends what to go too!" Here is the application. By the way, to sign up you need a current picture. And it is free!!
Image Source

Can I Get a Nerd Badge?

It's official. I'm a design nerd.

After studying Tufte in college and learning about the world of "information architects," I couldn't resist a book written by one of his students. And who could resist a book full of creative exercises?

Obviously not me.

Thanks to a wonderful birthday present from my parents, they are now a part of my personal collection of books. Yay!

Did I mention how excited I was when I opened the package and the confused, also amused, look I received from my hubby? Yeah. That makes it official.