Olympic Logo Causes Seizures

....And not just because it is UGLY!

Olympic logo launch beset with problems
Associated Press
June 6, 2007

LONDON -- An animated display of London's jigsaw-style 2012 Olympics logo, which has drawn an unfavorable public response, was removed from an official Web site Tuesday following concern it could trigger epileptic seizures.
Epilepsy Action, a British health charity, said 10 people had complained about the animation and some had suffered seizures from watching images depicting a diver plunging into a pool.
The Olympic group said it has taken steps to remove the animation from the Web site and will now re-edit the film.
The design is made up of four jagged pieces that form the numbers 2012 in a variety of colors. It cost $796,000 and was targeted at young people. The logo was unveiled Monday and within hours an online petition was established asking for a new design.
London's Design Museum founder Stephen Bayley said the logo was "a puerile mess, an artistic flop and a commercial scandal."

BELOW IS THE ACTUAL SPOT- DO NOT WATCH IF YOU HAVE EPILEPSY!

I am not responsible for any reaction to the post.

Anyone Seen An 18k Gold Bathtub Wandering Around?

Japanese Hotel Loses $1.2 Million Gold Bathtub



On May 30th, A glittering bathtub made of gold, worth Y120 million ($A1.21 million) was stolen from a resort hotel near Tokyo.

A worker at Kominato Hotel Mikazuki in Kamogawa, south of Tokyo, notified police the fancy tub was missing from the hotel's guest bathroom on the 10th floor of its building, according to a local police official.

The round tub, 1.21 metres in diameter and 71 centimetres tall, was made of 18-karat gold weighing 80 kilograms, the official said.

The tub, flanked by two crane statues, has been a main feature of the hotel's shared bathroom.

Visitors can take a dip in the tub, but it is only available a few hours a day "for security reasons," the hotel's website said.

Someone apparently cut the chain attached to the door of a small section of the bathroom where the bathtub was placed, but not riveted, and made off with the tub, the police official said.

The cranes were left untouched.

"We have no witness information and there are no video cameras," the official said.

Direct from tokyo:


TOKYO, May 30 (RIA Novosti) - A gold bath worth an estimated $1 million has been stolen from a luxury hotel in the Japanese town of Kamogawa, near Tokyo, local police said.

They said a hotel employee discovered the theft during a routine check Wednesday, but when the theft took place remains a mystery.

According to investigators, it most likely happened early Wednesday morning.


An image from the hotel's website touting the 18k gold bathtub

The tub weighing 80 kilograms (approximately 176 pounds), stolen from a gentlemen's bathroom on the tenth floor, was one of three gold baths in the hotel chain. When not in use, this bathroom is normally locked.

Anyone seeing a gold bathtub being lugged around the streets of Tokyo, is urged to contact local authorities immediately...;-)

Corian®: 40 years, 40 Designers

above: David Rockwell's Golden Grain, made of Corian®

DuPont, the manufacturer of Corian, has marked the composite material’s 40th birthday by commissioning 40 designers to create products using the material.

Solid Surface Innovator Marks 40 Years of International Design Excellence

WILMINGTON, Del., May 15, 2007 - To mark its 40th anniversary and its continued leadership in innovative and contemporary design, DuPont™ Corian® presents the exhibition, “40 Years/40 Designers.” DuPont invited 40 multinational designers to create an original, functional ‘objet d’art’ for the table or desktop that reflects their imaginative vision and demonstrates the endless possibilities of Corian® .

After being unveiled at the 2007 Milan Salone del Mobile, the exhibition will be shown at Design Within Reach – Chelsea in New York City from May 19 – 31. Additionally, several of the objects will be showcased at the DuPont booth during the upcoming International Contemporary Furniture Fair® (ICFF), North America’s singular showcase for contemporary design May 19 – 22 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Some of the featured designers include: Werner Aisslinger, the duo, Laura Aquili & Ergian Alberg, Harry Allen, Matali Crasset, Jeffrey Bernett, Christian Ghion, Arik Levy, Ximo Roca, David Rockwell, Martin Ryan, Katrina Olina Young.


above: Luca Casini's mirror fruit bowls made of Corian®

“Since the 1967 introduction of the solid surface category by DuPont, Corian® has earned trust and respect as a proven design material with an ever-increasing variety of innovative uses,” said Tom Powell, vice president and general manager – DuPont Building Innovations. “This exhibition demonstrates how Corian® enables designers to push the boundaries of how we use and see objects.”

“Our contribution to this exhibition merges fine craftsmanship with advanced technology to create a rich, yet subtle metallic wood grain pattern. The end result – Gold Grain tabletop objects and occasional tables – are a sophisticated and glamorous play on the natural and the manmade,” said David Rockwell, of the Rockwell Group. “Due to the Corian® high tech material and the organic feel of the decorative tabletop design, we were able to evoke both glamour and wit, mimicking nature with subtly glittering man-made materials.”


Above: Katrina Olina Young's Demons and Daises placemants made of Corian®

The genuinely functional objects highlight the inherent characteristics of Corian®, such as its formability, its expansive range of colors, and its ability to be routed, lighted and engraved. Non-porous Corian® is a high-performing, easy to clean, stain-resistant solid surface material that is durable and renewable. Scratches are easily removed without marring its beauty and uniformity of color. Available in over 140 colors, Corian® can be thermoformed or shaped into virtually any conceivable design, as well as sandblasted, routed, carved, laser-etched and backlit.


Above: Monika Kobiakov's desk set made of Corian®

DuPont Building Innovations is a strategic business unit of DuPont that manufactures and markets Corian® solid surfaces and Zodiaq® quartz surfaces. DuPont™ Corian® is a well-known global brand in the solid surface category.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.


above: Harry Allen's Tic Tac Toe, made of Corian®

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of DuPont™ Corian® solid surface material, DuPont has presented in Milan (April 18 to 23, at the new “Corian® Design – Milano Store” showroom of DuPont), “Corian®: 40 Years - 40 Designers”, a travelling exhibition consisting of new creations by 40 designers (individual professionals, design studios or design teams) from around the world. After having been exhibited in Milan, the exhibition will be moved to other locations in Europe and in the USA. A selection of these objects will be produced in limited edition and commercialized.

The 40 designers participating in “Corian®: 40 Years - 40 Designers” are:
01) Aquili Alberg, Italy
02) Arik Levy, France
03) Atrium (Anton Nadtochy & Vera Butko), Russia
04) Beat Karrer, Switzerland
05) Christian Ghion, France
06) Christine Van Gemert, The Netherlands
07) David Rockwell, USA
08) Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, Austria
09) Demet Bilici, Turkey
10) Emma Lewis, UK
11) Francesco Draisci & Paolo D'Ippolito, UK
12) Gamze Güven, Turkey
13) Graft, Germany
14) Hans Schoonemeijer (HP Design), The Netherlands
15) Harry Allen, USA
16) Igor.MarQ arquitectos & Pedro Nuñez, Spain
17) Imogen Lawson, UK
18) India Mahdavi, France
19) Ingenhoven Architekten, Germany
20) Jeffrey Bernett, USA 21) John Sebastian, Denmark
22) Katrin Olina Young, Iceland 23) Luca Casini, Italy
24) Marie Garnier, France
25) Martin Ryan, UK
26) Matali Crasset, France
27) Matteo Ragni, Italy
28) Miguel Milá, Spain
29) Miriam Mirri, Italy
30) Monika Kobiakov, UK
31) Nils Kjeldsen, Denmark 32) Noé Duchafour-Lawrance, France
33) Nucleo (Piergiorgio Robino, Stefania Fersini), Italy 34) Piers Mansfield-Scadden, UK 35) Savinkin-Kuzmin project group (Poledesign), Russia 36) sieger design (Benedikt Sauerland), Germany
37) Tanju Ozelgin, Turkey
38) Werner Aisslinger, Germany
39) Ximo Roca, Spain
40) YES Architecture (Ruth Berktold), Germany

See all the work here.

Product Pick Of The Week: Self-Standing Umbrella

Spotted at Charles and Marie, this handy functional umbrella is genius.

below is the description from their site:
The last time we checked the weather here in California it was bright and sunny and there was no sign of rain. But we have been told that it is still raining in quite a few other places around the world and so we thought it would just be appropriate to tell you about this pretty nifty accessory for those rainy days...

Now granted, it's not rocket science as it is nothing more than an umbrella, but the beauty lies in its pretty neat feet. Yup, feet. Umbrellas of yore have a point and are placed into a corner to stand when it's closed. Not this little fellow here, it comes with 3 little feet that add impressive stability and make it stand on its own, so whether dry or wet, he needs not lean against anything to prevent him from falling into the dirt.

Also in black.
buy it for $60.00 USD here.

Street Level Google Brings Some Serious Fun

A few days ago Garret Rogers of ZDnet wrote that Google would be launching a “street view” after he spotted some suspicious domain registration activity (see paragraph below):

On may 25th, Google registered several variations of the domain “googlestreetview.com” — normally Garret would think the feature would be months away, but given Where 2.0 starts on Tuesday, it will likely be available (or at least announced) by the end of the month. This functionality is likely in addition to the 3D buildings they are expected to announce at the same conference.

Below are the domains that were being snapped up by Google.

GOOGLE-MAPS-STREET-VIEW.COM
GOOGLE-MAPS-STREET-VIEW.NET
GOOGLE-MAPS-STREET-VIEW.ORG
GOOGLEMAPSSTREETVIEW.ORG
GOOGLESTREETVIEW.COM
GOOGLESTREETVIEW.NET
GOOGLESTREETVIEW.ORG)

Well, — indeed, that is what happened.

On may 30th,at the Where 2.0 conference, Google announced a feature in Google Maps that puts you in the drivers seat for 5 US cities including: San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, New York and Miami.




Those cities do not have complete coverage by any means, but the data provided by Immersive Media is sure to grow and improve as time goes on. It will be interesting to see if 3D buildings will be announced at the Where 2.0 conference tomorrow too.

OKAY, so now that Google has launched this, sites are popping up everywhere with street level images. It's clear that there are some bugs...but if anything, they make viewing the images even more amusing.

here's a few from Stan Schroeder, found on that awesome site, NOTCOT:
Top 15 Google Street View Sightings, May 31, 2007 — 11:05 AM PDT — by Stan Schroeder

Google’s Street View feature for Google Maps, which enables users to see certain parts of several big US cities through panoramic images, has caused a new trend: StreetSpotting (we just invented that). We’ve gone through the avalanche of reports about funny, weird or even sexy things spotted on Street View, and chosen 15 that we like most.

15. The Woz

Street named after Steve Wozniak. OK, it’s not such a big deal, but this is number 15, we’re just getting warmed up here, OK?

14. Speed Limit

The laws are there to be broken
Well, at least he’s not speeding by much.

13. The Void

And to your left, you can see the endless void that consumes all life. Please stick to the right side of the street.

12. Your face called…
…it wants its left side back.


11. He sees things we cannot see
The cameras that Google is using for this aren’t really working all that well.


10. Giant Pumpkin
It’s a giant pumpkin. Right there in the field. Turn the image 180 degrees for a weird pink smoky…thing, too.


09. The guy with no head.
This guy shouldn’t complain, at least it’s hard to identify him.


08. Semi-naked babe
We could open our web browser and find zillions of pictures of hot babes within seconds. In better quality. And more naked. But, there’s something about finding a blurry pic of a semi-naked babe drawn on a truck on Google Maps that makes our heart race.


07. The Internet sucks
“The Internet sucks, come here for your erotic needs”, they say. Well, is Tera Patrick being all naked and naughty in there? Is she? Didn’t think so.


06. Cornelius and his dog
There’s a sad background story to this one. Read it here.


05. Girls sunbathing
A couple of girls sunbathing on a lawn isn’t exactly spectacular, but it’s better than the blurry picture of the semi-naked babe on a truck.


04. Guy getting into the adult book store.
Hey, it could have been worse. He could have been going out of a strip club, or something.


03. Guy getting out of strip club
We’re gonna have to be honest here: the guy looks like he’s merely paying for parking. But, that’s a strip club behind him, and we will, of course, assume he just spent some sexy time with Mimi and Peaches. Is that a happy grin on his face? Sure it is.


02. Crime in progress
Maybe the guy just forgot his keys. Or he’s practicing for the free climbing contest. Hey, is that a lockpicking set dangling out of his pocket?



01. ET
Some might say it’s a lens flare. Some might argue it’s a camera malfunction. It’s the sunlight reflecting off the…lamp post…and a lens flare….and a camera malfunction, skeptics will yell!
But deep in your heart you all know it’s ET. Phooooone. Hooooome.


Another reader brought this link of photos to our attention:

As you see, technology doesn't only bring about conveniences and innovations, but online amusement as well.
Enjoy! And keep your eyes on the road!

Summer Fun: the Best New Outdoor Furniture

It's June 1st! Time to upgrade that ratty outdoor furniture from last year.
Below are just some of the cool new products on the market.

Just click on the pic below to see more photos, for more information and/or to purchase.

I've come across some beautiful some fun, and certainly some unusual outdoor furniture for this summer. Whether it's the funky Dutchtub (a portable wood burning jacuzzi) or the brilliant Obelisk (four outdoor chairs and table that stack to form an outdoor sculpture) or one of the stunning outdoor daybeds and tea houses on the market, you can simply click on the image to learn more about them and where to purchase.

Graffiti Art Becoming Hot Property

Graffiti art- From the street to the museum [May 07]

This article has been reprinted from artprice.com, the leader in the art market:

Historically, graffiti was a underground movement, born to the Hip-Hop rhythm in the American ‘hoods of the 1970s. It is people’s art, rough and ephemeral. Rough because it was created illegally in public spaces. Ephemeral because its lifespan, subject to external constraints, is necessarily limited. The prohibitions which hit this urban art right from its beginnings in Europe could not stop its expansion during the 1980s. At the end of the decade it had become a veritable fashion phenomenon, in the press and on museum walls. Aside from urban buildings, street furniture and public transport, the graffiti artists created works on canvas, paper or street hoardings which are now prized by a growing number of collectors.

The pioneers

above: A Basquiat serigraph

The unquestioned star of the genre is Jean-Michel BASQUIAT who is racking up million-ticket sales (more than forty). On 15 May last, a mixed-medium 1981 work smashed the artist's record in crossing the 10 million dollar mark! Initially estimated at between 6 million and 8 million dollars, the hammer went down on the lot at 13 million dollars (more than 9.6 million euros, Sotheby’s NY). Warhol’s friend with the fleeting destiny (he died at 27 years) signed his first works in the street under the pseudonym Samo. Today a small pencil or graphite drawing changes hands for between 10,000 and 20,000 euros on average and you'll need between 50,000 and 100,000 euros for a paper-based work in crayon. Prices are higher still for large formats in ink or oil pastel.

above: A Keith Haring silkscreen

Another Warhol accolyte, Keith HARING, is also a key graffiti name. He doesn’t reach the heights of Basquiat but has shown steady growth over the last four years. On 8 February last, you'd have needed not less than £56,000 to secure a small 1984 acrylic (50x50 cm) at Sotheby’s London. The same day, Sotheby’s competitor set a new record of £440,000 for a 1983 canvas (Christie’s London).

The more affordable FUTURA 2000 is one of the pioneers of urban painting which he created instinctively on the walls of Brooklyn as of the 1970s. Only 3 works from the graffiti artist have been put up for auction in ten years! The latest, an untitled acrylic and aerosol painting on a plank of wood, found a buyer for 4,000 euros in October at Artcurial who will auction a spray-painted graffiti canvas entitled Bar code (1983, 137 x 181 cm) for an estimate of between 4,000 and 5,000 euros.

above: A 1963 John Perello acrylic painting, All Are One

Graffiti art becomes sought after in France

The auction house Artcurial will auction around twenty works by American and French graffiti artists on 6 June. The sale catalogue lists the works together in a section called ‘Graffiti and post-graffiti art’: never before has a French auction house given the genre so much credit! The sale’s headline piece is the large-scale Match Point, Ephemeral Hospital, 1993 (214.5 x 190 cm) by John PERELLO, aka Jonone estimated at between 15,000 and 20,000 euros. Highly vibrant and colourful, this work takes liberties with the masters of abstract art such as Kandinsky, Pollock and de Kooning.

With these twenty lots going for estimates averaging between 5,000 and 10,000 euros, the art lover can set his or her heart on the large canvases with cartoon references signed John Matos CRASH or ASH II. There is a wide choice of works for between 1,000 and 5,000 euros: a Jonone sized at close to a metre, the abstract graffitis by SHARP, Chris Ellis DAZE, KOOR or a surreal graphic canvas by Alex/Mac-Crew. For less than 1,000 euros, one might hope to secure the spray-painted canvases by Sonic or Hondo and for a low-end estimate of 100 euros an untitled work combining several media on a plywood panel signed Thierry CHEVERNEY.

In two years, graffiti artists have seen their prices double: is the street phenomenon moving to the auction room?

More DIY Stuff For All You Frustrated Artists!

Once upon time, the only creative DIY stuff available was for kids. Coloring books, mainly. But now, for those of us who fancy ourselves "creative", there are a million cool things on the market to which we can add our own sense of design.

And here are some of the latest to hit the market.. Just click on the pic for more info and to purchase

See more of my DIY stuff for Frustrated Artists list at ThisNext.

Help Beautify San Francisco: Pick Their New Bus Shelters!

If you're like many designers (or simply like those who notice and appreciate design), you may find yourself walking through cities complimenting or insulting public architecture like park benches, kiosks and bus shelters.

Well, here's your chance to be heard (by more than just the dog you are walking or by your best friend)and quite possibly, make a difference. You can actually help the City By The Bay (San Francisco) choose the latest design for their city bus shelters, both commercial and non-commercial. All you have to do is go to their site (http://www.sfmta.com/shelters) to see the candidate's designs and vote.


The SFMTA would like your feedback on the transit shelter models that they are considering. Go to their site to comment on any of the individual model shelters below in the spaces provided.

At the end, they will ask you for your most and least favorite designs.

Here are just a few of the options:







The SFMTA would like your feedback on the transit shelter models that they are considering. Go to their site to comment on any of the individual model shelters below in the spaces provided.

Meet Photographer Todd Baxter

So, I came upon a new talent today.
Photographer Todd Baxter was PDN's Guest Editor, Liz Miller Gershfeld's Pick.

In her own words, Liz states:

" -- Themes of taxidermy, disaffection and 70's era A/V equipment made me look twice at Todd Baxter's unique vision of the world around him. His vision is strong, but its execution subtle. I called in his book and there is more there: strong problem solving and a little more ferocity. All of it beautiful and in a palette that hangs together. His styling is quirky and smart and works really well. I love the woman with the skinned knees lying at the foot of a tree and the bird cupped in someone's hands. It makes me feel bittersweet, like Radiohead. I am excited he is in my own backyard of Chicago."

I took a look at his work ad he has the uncanny ability of combining the charming with the bizarre. Here are a few of my personal favorites:





To see his entire online portfolio, click here.
Some of Todd Baxter's clients are listed below:

Element 79
Energy BBDO
DDB
Cramer-Krasselt
AbelsonTaylor
Digitas
Jacobs Agency
STRATEGY.ONE
Kenya Airlines
I'm Smitten
Shawnimals
Taylor Cheng
Club Libby Lu /Saks Inc.
Chicago Creative Club
ACE Hardware
Condé Nast /GQ
Punk Planet
Pistil Magazine
Slam Magazine
Random House
Akashic Books

here's his contact info:
Todd Baxter
773.339.8281
todd@baxterphoto.com
workbook portfolio

represented by Somlo Talent
312.421.2229
somlotalent.com
carolyn@somlotalent.com