Concept Cafe

I found this brand pretty fun and would love to go try it out just to see more of the design!

Pixels | Passion Pictures

Pixels from Passion Pictures on Vimeo.

Amazing video with pixels! It brings back a lot of classic games and just makes it interesting.

The Trons - Robot Band from New Zealand

Just found it rather unique, not everyday you see a robots band playing. What I find even more amazing is how they were made.. with mainly junk and salvaged electronics.

Japanese create teddy bear robot nurse

Japan is always coming up with new technological advances.. now they are making them cuter in the process. They introduced Riba who can lift patient (up to 134lbs) from wheelchairs and beds. While they won't be doing everything nurses would do, they would help be helping them.. and i'm sure having a giant cute teddy bear lift you up will bring a smile to the patient's faces.

That's going to be a very big robot..

...statue


South Korea is planning to build a 364ft Voltar the Invincible in a robot-themed theme park. It would be a sight to see as long as it doesn't start moving on it's own.

Guest Lecturer

Two weeks ago, had a guest lecturer come in to class to speak to us about branding and look at our semester's work and give us feedback. I found his lecture rather informative and realize it's not just how you portray the brand but how will people react to the brand; What message are you sending out. He mentioned that one of the best ways to grab your audiences attention is to find a point of engagement, something they can connect to. He also did individual critiques for our brand and I found that very helpful as well. My project was still going redesign and I knew that it wasn't attractive enough yet I did not know how to proceed. Liad gave me direction and that helped a lot. 

Winemakers Of Rutherglen

While browsing for typography on the site, I came across a logo I found very successful. It's a very well made logo and really just brilliant in my opinion.

Bottle Of..

While browsing some of the sites that Liad gave us, this packaging design caught my eye. Really do like the type treatment on the bottle. Bottle Of..

Cider

Typographic treatment on packaging is something that really interests me so I found the packaging very successful. Cider

Tiger Stone brick printer lays road like carpet

Wow, that'll make making roads much less tedious and much prettier too I think. It'll also be a lot faster than having it done by hand. It really is nice how we are making it easier for us with all these advancements but sometimes I wonder if it's a good thing.






Tiger Stone brick printer lays road like carpet

"I don't have any good ideas"

I'd have to agree with Seth's post on this one. I believe everyone has good ideas, whether they take longer to solidify or expand but it's there. But what good is a good idea if it's not put into use? It'll just stay an idea. So do something with it!

J-Pop Star (and 3-D Hologram) Hatsune Miku Sells Out Stadiums

I found this article really interesting. A generated avatar having sold out concerts and stuff. It's interesting how technology isn't limited to only certain things nowadays and is reaching all kinda of industries and while this avatar probably wont have the same effect here in the US, in Japan she is a hit.

ROAM Colors

Do More vs. Do Better

Seth writes that

The easiest form of management is to encourage or demand that people do more. The other translation of this phrase is to go faster.

The most important and difficult form of management (verging on leadership) is to encourage people to do better.

Better is trickier than more because people have trouble visualizing themselves doing better. It requires education and coaching and patience to create a team of people who are better.

While doing better would be ideal, it is not always possible with the team you, right away.. so in that case, doing more may be a better option as it will lead to doing better, I think. Leads to the same result, just a few more steps.

Brand Platform

• MOOD BOARDS: My mood board evokes go,being online and knowledge (green), observing and watching (grey) and being active and bright (yellow). The images start with a light bulb, a cat in wait and a spy, and move to more calming images of the apple for knowledge, writing and the sun rising to symbolize that we are gaining knowledge and moving forward.

• SOUNDSCAPE:

• THEME: ROAM Network is where the general public is be able to keep up to date with technological advancements regarding ROAMs (robot on a mission) as well as see the status of them around the world.

• FEEDBACK: The most important feedback I got from my social network that when I was leaning towards a more negative image of these decision-making robots, the audience responded.

Motion Design - Animation

So this week, we had to read a chapter on what is animation and a bit of the history of it. I found the history rather interesting. I did not know that there were so many types of animation and how they were done so it gave me some insight. I watched Megamind recently and it's amazing to see what animation is now compared to when it first started.

ROAM Stop Motion Video

Childish vs. childlike

In Seth Godin's post of Childish vs. childlike, he makes a very interesting observation. There is a difference.. never really thought about it.

This Just Inbox: Studio Ve's Clever Bookshelves Reposition Convention

Pretty creative stuff

I like how these designs are just simple yet visually appealing and something different.

Just because he's angry

Seth writes that just because a person is angry, does not make the person right or well-informed. Vivid emotions are just animated, not necessarily the truth although it may seem like it.

If one is telling the truth, why is there a need to be angry?

Timeline

Two Year Old Robocop says Happy Halloween

Pretty awesome costume! Happy Halloween!

Two Year Old Robocop says Happy Halloween

Two problems with whining

I'd have to agree with Seth saying that whining doesn't work. It's just annoying for you and for the other party. Like, I don't mind people venting as the job will still get done and you just need to let it out sometimes but whining is different. It's just annoying for you and for the other party. Nothing does get done and it's just wasted time. 

And if you do manage to whine your way into someone else doing it, they won't appreciate that too much either.

Brain imaging reveals how we learn from our competitors

I find this interesting, in the article, it tells us that we learn more from our competitors mistakes than their successes. It keeps us from making the same mistakes.. or what went wrong to cause that mistake. If your competitor is on a computer than the brain would activate as if you were making the moves. I feel that may be the case as I think we are more likely to think what ourselves would do when there isn't a physical being in front of us. 

SolTech Energy integrates solar, beautifully

The Swedish company SolTech Energy makes solar look good on roofs by making the original glass the same shape as roofing tiles. 


It's a really nice idea and i'm surprised no one has thought of it. It reminds me of the 3D TVs that are on the market.. Instead of wearing glasses for them why not have the layer attached to the screen of the TV so that way no one has to wear glasses to watch tv? 

Gap Logo

While this may be old news as Gap has already reverted back to their original logo, I do find it interesting that they tried such a drastic change of their logo. I feel that Gap's logo is very recognizable and if they wanted an update, they could just change the font. What I feel they tried to achieve was to update their logo for a younger group.. It wasn't very successful, as it ended up looking like something more for their sports branch than their whole brand. 

Poll: Do you think robots should be given the ability to deceive?

Poll: Do you think robots should be given the ability to deceive?

inter:deception

How ink is made

In the video How Ink is Made, I learned that it takes a lot to make ink. I didn't realize there was so much going on and how many tests it had to go through before the final product. Since a lot of things are going digital and we just pick the colors from the color pallet in the program we use, it's interesting to see how the process of making those colors for printing is. The video was a bit long but worth watching.

Ubiquitous distribution is overrated

In this post, Seth talks about some industries believing that products that are available everywhere serve their audience best. Seth doesn't totally agree with this and states that by limiting choices, one can create value. 

While that is not always the case, I can understand both views. I feel that this depending on the product/service/etc. For example, Seth says you can't get Pepsi at McDonald's, but you can get Coke, and so while it isn't Pepsi, it is a substitute. If certain companies dont have their product readily available, then they would just get substituted. Other items like a painting by an artist would be more valuable if it is not replicated.

Body organs can send status updates to your cellphone

Wow, what other apps are they going to come up with next! That was my first reaction, as I read the article, I see that it will be pretty beneficial for those with heart problems or other types of shock. It amazes and alarms me how fast technology is moving nowadays.. or maybe it's just that i'm reading more about it now!

Ning

interdeception.ning.com

the buddy system

Seth made a post about having someone else write your resume. I find this a good idea. It's hard writing about yourself and it'll be interesting to see what you think people see and what they actually see.

Emotional robot pets

Researchers at National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan are using artificial neural networks in developing a vision module that might one day help robot pets recognize human facial expressions and respond appropriately.

Having and pet that'll behave according to your mood and not having to clean up after it sounds like a sweet deal!

Women’s study finds longevity means getting just enough sleep

Through studies based upon questionnaires, it was originally believed that for best survival, sleeping 6.5-7.5 hours ideal. In this article, it says that women getting between 5-6.5 hours of sleep have the most consistant evidence of excellent survival. I can understand where too little sleep might lessen one's life span but too much sleep as well?

Note to self, start sleeping less!

Japan takes another step in replacing humans with robots

On kurzweilai, there is an article that talks about Japan creating a robot that will replace humans in repetitive manual labor. Their reasoning for these robots is

It is Japan's urgent task for the early 21st Century to develop robots that could carry out simple, repetitive works ... in a bid to complement the workforce in a country that is rapidly ageing with fewer and fewer children.

While that may be a reason, I feel that the robots will eventually be abused as companies will eventually be replace human workers with the robots. The only positions that the robot won't take over would be the ones that require higher knowledge.. and even then with time they might take those over as well.

As I read some of the posts made regarding the article, one of the posts made an interesting point where humans could buy the robots to send them to work while they stay at home and pursue different things. While this may be a interesting idea, it is still abuse of the robots and I feel would lead us down a path we see so often in movies and such.

The problem with putting it all on the line...

What Seth says is very true. While putting it on the line might not always reap reward, never even trying will never change anything. If you want to get ahead, you have to take that risk.

i need you to see things my way

Seth Godin makes a good point.

Focus on those that want to celebrate the work you do instead.

If we obsess with making everyone accept your work then you will get stuck. Times are always changing, so we have to keep ahead and make your mark. For those that don't get your work, they will in time or they lose out.

future senses

In this article, it talks about how companies are working hard to provide artificial aids and prosthetics for people that need them, but what about the new or enhanced senses? Some people are working on that too.

I understand the need to provide artificial aids as then it'll make those people that need them feel a bit more.. normal would be the word I guess. While enhanced senses would be a really cool thing to have, I feel it's not a necessity. The article mentions human evolution, that means we will evolve ourselves by means of nature, not necessarily technology. I can see the benefits of these enhanced aids but would it be too much for us to handle?

Theme Colors

better than nothing

In Seth's post, he tells us to worry about ourselves before worrying about the competition. I feel that that's the way we should look at it. We are always so into thinking about who we are up against, we forget to think about ourselves.

AIGA - Designer of 2015 trends

This article talks about certain challenges that designers are facing now, or will be in the near future. It tells us that while we may specialize in one area, we should some knowledge or more than that. A few trends that I found interesting were "expand scope" and "targeted messages". It is to my understanding to ever design question there is usually multiple successful solutions but during the process from point A to B, other questions may arise. I feel that that "expand scope" is telling us to anticipate those other questions, as they might not arise but it's always good to be prepared. "Targeted messages" is of interest to me as well as it's telling us to narrow down our audience as opposed to broadening it. It struck me as odd when first read but as I finished, I understand why they do this and realize that it's already happening and it is an more effective solution for specific messages.

purify the air

"Some indoor environments turn out to be 5 to 10 times more polluted with all kinds of toxic chemical compounds than the heavy traffic outdoors."

I was stunned when I read this line. I did not realize that just because we are away from the pollution of cars and others, that we are in the presence of even more pollutions indoors. I can understand how it is happening but it still amazes me to hear this. 


Next on my to-do list: Buy a plant for my desk.

Why jazz is more interesting than bowling

In the short post by Seth Godin, he writes that between bowling and jazz, jazz is more interesting yet when it comes down to it, most of us choose to bowl.

It's a sad but true fact. We go through life experiencing many things, not all being perfect, yet instead of trying to perfect it, we would usually choose to just get it done one way and move on to the next thing,

Theme for Brand Platform