Period.

I wish I was more productive.
Period.

nano-chromatic

Wow!

Life Goes On

I take the good with the bad, smile with the sad, love what I've got and remember what I have, always forgave but never forget, learned from my mistakes but never regret. People change. Things go wrong. But I remember: life goes on.

Things TO DO:

-Continue this blog.
-Work.
-Clean workstation/basement + Organize
-Clean out iMac
-Look for internship opportunities (abroad - AUSTRALIA :) *crosses fingers*)
-Eat healthy + decrease size (lose weight)
-Organize portfolio
-Re-touch + Re-work portfolio pieces
-Learn illustrator pen tool!
-Play video games + watch movies + chill + shop
-Grow up :)

20/20

2o posts.
Even though I was afraid at first and had little or no blog experience I did it!
Looking back I'm glad I blogged-it's such as great way to get things of your mind.
Three cheers for blogging - hip-hip hooray! Hip-hip hooray! Hip-hip hooray!

Q & A

Q: To be a successful communication designer, do you need to know what is happening in the world around you?

A: Yes. To an extent all we do is communicate. It's in our blood and our social-responsibility. We tend to design for a purpose and that purpose is to get across a certain message. Our grasp on knowing what is happening in and around the world - be it media trends, local news, and world news enriches our ability to design further. As designers we are able to make something good out of something bad.

More Than Meets the Eye

Software.
Such a good thing.

Blaise Agüera y Arcas is the man behind Seadragon and Photosynth.

Seadragon [acquired by MS] changes the way we use screens, from wall-sized displays to mobile devices, so that visual information can be smoothly browsed regardless of the amount of data involved.

Photosynth takes large collections of photos [of a place or object], analyzes them for similarities, and displays them in a reconstructed 3-Dimensional space. The interface is awesome. Photosynth lets you:

• walk through a scene to see photos from any angle
• zoom in or out of a photograph even if it's gigapixels in size
• see where pictures were taken in relation to one another
• find similar photos to the one you’re currently viewing
• explore a custom tour or see where you’ve been
• send a collection to a friend

As much as an Apple enthusiast as I am I'm hoping to possibly see these to applications for Mac in the [near] future. Never say never.

Design is...

type, info-graphics, problem-solving, thinking, circles, triangles, squares, emotion, colour, form, structure, details, deadlines, caffeine, mounting, printing, stressing, struggling, procrastinating, making things look nice, communication, differentiation, remembering, making a difference, making a mark, personal branding...whatever you want it to be.

I recently came across an online poster competition where designers had to define what graphic design is. It's really awesome to see how the meaning of design changes from person to person - for you this, for others that.

Here are a few of the poster designs:

For more posters click here.

Packaging

Do you see yourself wanting to buy something because of the way its packaged? I do.

I don't think I've realized how much of a package noob I've become. I love me some packaging. Package design has evolved since the days of the cardboard box. Our love for type, colour, and form spice things up and give the overall design pazazz.

Here is a showcase dedicated to fine [food ]packaging:




Enjoy!

Ruined iPhone

What do you get when you cross a phone with an iPod?
An a sleek, innovative, tech-savvy gadget the iPhone.

Ever since I can remember I've longed for an iPhone. It's no ordinary phone. It's a smart phone that doubles as a camera and a portable media player a la iPod. In addition to visual voicemail and text messaging it includes services such as e-mail, web browsing, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

When it [the first generation one] launched June 29th, 2007 in the US I was disappointed to find out that it wouldn't make its way down here. Almost a year later on June 9th, 2008 at 2008 WWDC my prayers were answered and it was announced that the iPhone 3G [a second generation faster iPhone] would launch in Canada July 11th, 2008.

So what's my point?
What do you get when you cross two big corporations?
A really big mess.

Apple's iPhone will finally see the light of day in Canada in 3 days and from the looks of it over 45,000 people are saying no to the iPhone. Why? Because of its cellular provider Rogers. I'm a long-time Apple and Rogers' enthusiast. I own a fair share of products from Apple including my Mac and shuffle and am signed up to quite a few services from Roger's including cable, and wireless internet.

I don't understand. If our dollars are on par why can't the pricing for our cellular service be? The plans are outrageous. Roger's has to think of something fast. I really don't want to re-consider my decision to buy an iPhone.

A Tie Thing

Ever since I can remember I've always had a thing for neckties. Weird? I know. But its true.

The most expressive article in a mans wardrobe, a necktie is one of the few items through which a man can revleal his personality. A fine looking tie is a statement of confidence, style and maturity.

The suit makes the man. The tie [design wise with its different compositions, colours, and patterns] gives it that oompf.

Fun with Brands

Brands. They're all around us. Every nook. Every corner. North. South. East. West. There is no escaping them. We encounter them every second, minute, hour. From the computer we use, to the clothes we were, the food we eat, and the transportation we take. Everything is branded. We too our brands ourselves. Though we are aware of this [to an extent] we really don't pay attention to how brands affect our daily lives.

Recently I came across:

(click for full view)

I thought this information design graphic was a really neat way to map out the amount of brands we come across on a specific day [from the time we awake to the time we fall asleep] . Like a journal this visual timeline portrait gives individuals a better understanding of themselves by showing how much impact brands have on their lives.

This is something I look forward to trying. I'm hope you do too.

You Thought We Wouldn't Notice

Oh my god. Where have you seen that before? Do you see yourself asking that question when you come across certain things?

So which came first? The left one or the right one? Okay, okay I'll tell you. The right one (2006) and than the left one (2008.)

Awhile ago I came across this: http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/

An online blog 'You thought we wouldn't notice' is a website dedicated at pointing out those things that give you that feeling of "haven’t I seen that somewhere before?”

Check it out for yourselves. You'll be glad you did.

How I Communicate

How do I communicate?
E-mail. MSN. Facebook. Text Messaging. Emotion?

After stumbling across the notion that emotion is considered a form of communication in my psychology gned I've come to the conclusion that after all those tech savvy ways to communicate I have a tendency to communicate more through my emotions.

[Our] emotions enable us to communicate [our] feelings, intentions, and needs more effectively than just words. Basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, and disgust make it more likely that others will respond to us.

How do you communicate?

Hello I'm a Mac...and I'm a...

PC.

Get a Mac ads. We've seen them on television. Over and over again.
But, have you ever tried to take one apart...semiotic-ly?

Me neither. But, I guess there is a first time for everything. Lets take a look at 'Sad Song Long.'

Set behind a white background (a pun on Apple's uncluttered simplicity) we are introduced to two individuals: Mac guy (Justin Long) and PC guy (John Hodgman). Both personify the computers they represent and bear a slight resemblance to their founders. PC is so Bill Gates (its the glasses) and Mac is a youthful Steve Jobs.

At first glance Mac guys seems to be a friendly, fresh, attractive, practical, confident, young metrosexual who sports a stubble, dresses casual and has his hands in his pockets. PC guy on the other hand looks like old, bland-looking, idealistic, stern, uptight, insecure, pudgy shroom in traditional, formal clothes (suit after suit).

The central message:
PCs are unstable, hard to use, vulnerable to viruses and speak to an old[er] audience.

Macs are stable, easy, safe and speak to next gen-ers.

Internal Design

Design isn't always about what's outside.
Internal Design is just as important as External Design and vice versa.
When it comes to thinking about internal design many things come to mind. Especially Apple products: iMac, iPod, iPhone.


Externally they're great. Internally they're even better.
You'd never think such products would pack so much punch: speed + performance wise.

The Media & Control.

Do media moguls control us?
To a degree/extent they do (and that's only because we let them).

For example: 9/11.

When 9/11 occurred news papers, television stations, the radio and other media reported what they had to report (I rather not get into everything because I'm sure we all know).

People would make general assumptions (from what they heard). Everything from being Muslim, to (my) name, (my) appearance would all be associated with the attacks of 9/11. Not knowing all the facts the media chooses to present information in a way it thought was important.

Terrorism is not what Muslims are all about but at the time people believed what they believed because of how the media chose to portray the story (without knowing all the facts). This only happens as a result of how the media presents its information.

Favourites

Below is a list of two things: my ten favourite things in the grand scheme of the world and my five favourite items.

Ten.
-Text messaging
-Laughter
-Caffeine
-Facebook
-Designing
-Playing videogames
-Bollywood movies
-Rain
-Photography
-Dinner with the family

Five.
-My Emo glasses (the thick framed black ones)
-My Nikon Digital SLR
-My Mac
-My iPod Touch
-My Nintendo DS

A Blog About Lindsay (Media Related)

Media Symbols:
1. Metro Paper (Entertainment, Horoscope, & Crossword)
2. Television (Heroes, South Park, & Ugly Betty)
3. DVDs (too many to m)
4. Cell Phone (less talking, and more texting)
5. Google Video, Youtube, Sidereel

Visual Symbols:
1. Planner (noting down when what is due
2. Glasses (on/off)
3. Sketchbook + marker (crits)

Other:
1. Stress (to a certain degree)
2. Sleepy (to a certain degree)
3. Punctual
4. Supplies (always has something)
5. Bottle of Nestea

An Exterior to Die For (External Design)

The above picture is taken by yours truly. It's of the entrance to the Renaissance Room at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex at Exhibition Place. I thought this is a great example of external design. The mimic of the sky on the glass is just to die for. The carved arch with the draped statues gives off a very Renaissance-ish feel that goes along with the interior of the ballroom (which features columns, marbled floors, French doors, and draped windows).

Double 'Oh' Wow

Whoever said you can't judge a book by its cover?

Fourteen iconic covers were recently commissioned by Michael Gillette to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Ian Fleming's birth.

Labeled as the "2008 CENTENARY EDITION" all fourteen hardbacks feature painted illustrations of women, rich, vibrant, retro colours and big type. The compositions with their set type and drawn image have that 60's inspired look.

After examining each cover I've come to the conclusion that the designs are conceptually fun yet at the same time serious. They draw you in and there is no reason why they should look like they are not worth owning.

Hopefully the books will make it here. I'd love to buy (all fourteen) just for their beautiful art. The new Bond hardbacks will be published by Penguin Books in the United Kingdom on May 29th. Click for more information.

Me and the Media

So over the week, I was to keep track of how much time I spent on certain activities. Here are my results:

Reading
Books - 3 hrs
Magazines - 0
Newspaper - 2 hrs

Music
Radio - 0 hrs
iTunes - 10.5 hrs
iPod Touch - 2.5 hrs

Electronic
TV - 10 hrs
Movies - 1.5 hrs
DVD - 30 mins

Web
Checking E-mail - 2 hrs (# of e-mails sent: 2)
Facebook - 7 hrs
Surfing the Web - 5 hrs
Video games - 0

Mobile
Talking - 2 hrs
Texting - 10 mins (# of texts sent: 2)

Beautiful Design Pt.1

They say two minds are better than one.

How about two screens?

Dual Screens did for Nintendo what Mac did for Apple.
Revolutionalize.

Nintendo has been in the handheld gaming market forever-dominating it with its Game Boy line. So when Sony decided to take the plunge and introduce its pocket size PS2-Sony Playstation Portable Nintendo wasn't going to just sit and watch.

Enter Nintendo DS. Created as a direct response to the PSP the Nintendo DS was more than what people bargained for.

*Dual Screens (twice the action, twice the colours, twice the fun)
*Touch Screen Technology (control action, access menus using finger or supplied stylus)
*Backward Compatibility (opens up library to Gameboy Advance Games)
*Microphone (interaction with friends or favourite game)
*Wireless Communication (play with friends on a network)

Though many people were skeptical including yours truly today I can honestly say that the Nintendo DS is an example of a beautiful design. I've played with Sony's Playstation Portable and its just not the same. Yes, yes I know they are different but I'm taking in terms of environment/atmosphere. The PSP wears Sony around its collar-so it has to look good. But, the DS is different. Nintendo's thinking has revolutionalized and redefined handheld gaming. Game design is no longer just about pretty high-definition graphics. Today game design is about creating an experience and thats just what the DS does.

IDUNO

This week I came across different situations were I was asked different questions that I really didn't have the answers to-like the difference between a raven and an eagle and my job title in 5 years. It was all unexpected. I hadn't the clue. I paused. Thought of something quick to say and then said out loud, "I don't know." My heart skipped. There was silence. I was scared.

While watching an info design related video this week I learned that sometimes its better to ask than answer and not know than know. If we were perfect we wouldn't be where we are today. Think about it. Its true. If I excelled at design I wouldn't be in design school.

Who would have thought saying three words: 'I,' 'don't,' 'know' would be okay after all.