Modern Desert Villa Retreat by Weinstein Vaadia Architects Brought to Life by Studio Aiko.

This Desert Villa Retreat was created for an architecture competition by Tel Aviv based Weinstein Vaadia Architects.











The project was then brought to life by Studio Aiko through 3D computer visualization.

Weinstein Vaadia Architect's general brief was to create a peaceful and calm surrounding in which the villa is located. This desert scene was created by Studio Aiko and merges the magical scenery of the desert with the modern architecture of the villa. With still frames supplied to them by the client, they added their own mystery - and a bit of humor- in the video below:



The most challenging task for Studio Aiko was to create a believable surrounding terrain with rocks and sand in order to achieve a realistic look. They used different types of scatter techniques on rocks and vegetation - a thing that caused them lots of RAM peaks. For the setup of this scene they used V-Ray sun and physical camera. This resulted in great exterior shots. The final achievement of the feel and mood was done in post which added a subtle and calm mood. V-Ray displacement gave them the ability to create the detailed terrain and the rock fence. It required some extra use of RAM so they needed to work efficiently and to optimize every aspect of the project.





About Weinstein Vaadia Architects (וינשטין ועדיה אדריכלים):
Weinstein-Vaadia Architects is a design-oriented Tel-Aviv firm that specializes in architecture, interior design, and landscape design. Founded in 1994, the practice's portfolio includes a range of public and private projects throughout the country. Our buildings celebrate the beauty of simple and natural notions of life such as light, air, vegetation, and movement. We strive to be both precise and relaxed like nature, not by imitating it, but by exploring the interplay between these two positions. Our work focuses on hospitals, such as the Childrens Hospital at the Sieff Medical Center, Tsfat; wineries, such as the Galil Mountain and Golan Heights Wineries; and educational projects, such as the Center for Environmental Education at Hiriya Recycling Park. The firm is led by partners Shai Weinstein and Gil Vaadia.
http://www.zwwv.com




About Studio Aiko:
Founded by Yair Alony and Meny Hilsenrad in 2005, Studio Aiko is a young & dynamic CG visual FX studio.

We provide high-end visuals and aim for excellence, while constantly renewing and refining our professional skills. The quality of our CG is very important to us - whether the project be a commercial ad, content for T.V., or an architectural visualization, Studio Aiko is committed to producing work of the highest quality for its clients.

We offer our services to a wide variety of companies, as well as focusing on our independent goals - to produce original content and ideas.
http://www.studio-aiko.com

Stack and Scare by Invisible Creatures. From Product to Packaging, Blocks Don't Get Much Cooler Than These.

Over a year in the making, Stack And Scare™ is a new series of 4 stackable wooden monster block sets designed by Invisible Creature and produced by the coolest toy blocks store ever, Uncle Goose.



Each of the four sets contains 14-18 pieces in various shapes and sizes. Featuring eyeballs, teeth, horns, arms, rounded shapes for shoulders and eyes, monster heads, hands, feet, legs, torsos, patterns and more. Mix and match shapes or combine with other Stack And Scare™ sets to unleash endless (and taller) creature combinations!

The Products:









How They Are Made:


The Packaging:




Beautifully and meticulously crafted by the folks at Uncle Goose in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the blocks are made from FSC certified basswood, using non-toxic inks.

The Commercial:
The folks over at Invisible Creature thought it would be fitting to create a short “IC Filmmercial” featuring their wooden critters in action, so they enlisted their friends in Portland, Beautiful Eulogy, to create a score using the blocks themselves and the result is pretty fantastic:


You can purchase Stack And Scare™ directly from the designers , from Uncle Goose or independent toy stores everywhere.

'Dumb Ways To Die' Characters Stay Alive As Plushies.

A marketing move to keep the momentum going for the award winning animated campaign, website and app for Australia's Metro Trains, has spawned a line of plush toys based on the cute characters in the twisted and lovable Dumb Ways To Die.



The public safety campaign, which went viral thanks to a catchy song for its PSA ads, online game and addictive mobile app, took home top honors at Cannes Lions and continues to collect accolades.

Metro is working with McCann Melbourne (the agency who created the characters and initial concept) on developing more content and seeking developers for the next version of its mobile game. "Obviously, if you go down the licensing road, you'll need more content to support it," said Ms. Waymark, Metro's General Manager of Corporate Relations. "We just see this as a way of keeping DWTD alive."



Licensed by California-based company Evolution Management Group and will manufactured by the Commonwealth Toy and Novelty, the plush versions of the characters range in both size (from pocket sized to over 30") and price (from $5.99 - $99).

© Metro Trains Melbourne, Dumb Ways to Die™

Related links:
URL: http://dumbwaystodie.com
Song on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/dumb-ways-to-die-single/id575962249
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/tangerinekitty/tangerine-kitty-dumb-ways-to
GIFs: http://dumbwaystodie.tumblr.com/

Inspired by Hefeweizen, Jelly Belly Introduces DRAFT Beer flavored Jelly Beans.

The following is the press release:
When candy makers at Jelly Belly Candy Company set out to create the world’s first beer flavored jelly bean, the question wasn’t how; it was what. Ale or Lager? Stout? Lambic? Pilsner? In the end, the company opted to pay homage to its German ancestry with a Hefeweizen-inspired ale flavor, and Draft Beer Jelly Belly® jelly beans took shape.



Beer has been a highly-requested flavor by consumers for decades. Jelly Belly is known as much for flavor innovation as perfection. The research and development team wanted to get it just right before announcing the new flavor to the world.



“This took about three years to perfect,” says Ambrose Lee (shown above), research and development manager for Jelly Belly Candy Company. “The recipe includes top secret ingredients, but I can tell you it contains no alcohol.”



The effervescent and crisp flavor is packed in a golden jelly bean with an iridescent finish. Beer connoisseurs will find the flavor profile to be clean with notes of wheat and a touch of sweetness. The aroma is mildly bready. While Draft Beer packs a flavor punch, it is alcohol free.


above: the new Jelly Belly flavor is slightly iridescent in color to emulate real beer.

“Usually the factory has a sweet and fruity aroma, but when we’re making this flavor it’s just like being in an ale house,” says Jeff Brown (shown below), vice president in charge of manufacturing for Jelly Belly Candy Company.



“Anyone who enjoys a good, cold beer will enjoy Draft Beer Jelly Belly beans for the simple fact that it tastes just as you’d imagine,” says Rob Swaigen, vice president of marketing for Jelly Belly Candy Company.

“I love the flavors in a good beer and Jelly Belly has managed to get that from brew to bean in an incredible way,” says Jackie Dodd, beer expert, cookbook author, and the voice behind the popular cooking with craft beer blog The Beeroness. “Jelly Belly found a way to fit 15 pints in the palm of your hand, they deserve an award.”



Draft Beer Jelly Belly beans are a wonderful gift for beer lovers for Father’s Day, birthdays, and even St. Patrick’s Day and Oktoberfest. The new flavor will be available at candy counters throughout the world in early 2014.

The Making Of:


Draft Beer is the latest in a long line of flavor innovations from Jelly Belly Candy Company. The company first created a non-alcoholic gourmet flavor in 1977 with Mai Tai. Since then, more flavors from Blackberry Brandy to Strawberry Daiquiri were developed, inspired by popular cocktails. Over the years, favorite flavors like Piña Colada (1983), Margarita (1995) and Mojito (2010) have helped carve out the Jelly Belly Cocktail Classics® collection of six cocktail flavors.

Flavor innovation doesn’t stop with the Jelly Belly bean flavor itself. Thoughtfully combining Draft Beer with other Jelly Belly bean flavors create “beer cocktail” flavors, a beverage trend among craft beer connoisseurs, including The Beeroness blog:

2 Draft Beer + 1 Peach = Beer Sangria
2 Draft Beer + 1 Red Apple = Beer cider
2 Draft Beer + 1 Lemon Lime + 1 TABASCO® = Michelada



The new flavor will debut at Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco and ISM in Cologne, Germany. The Beeroness will host a Tweet Up at 21st Amendment, 563 Second Street in San Francisco, on January 21 to introduce the new Draft Beer flavor to her beer-loving fans.

Jelly Belly beans contain four calories per bean and are fat free, peanut free, dairy free, gluten free, gelatin free, vegetarian and OU Kosher certified. For information, visit www.jellybelly.com.