Japanese Modern

Look at these structures. Beautiful in their simplicity. I will be teaching a Sustainable Architecture course and was wondering what we could do with cardboard rolls and then I saw this. These structures remind me of rolls of cardboard or squished toilet paper even but they really are great. Nestled within the trees you can just imagine how quiet it is in this area. These buildings ooze elegance. the gentle slope of the wooden stairs, the tall windows and wide open spaces within are all features that make one wish this was their home. There is a balance within this setting that allows one to explore both soft and hardscapes. Imagine how much could be created in this setting of whites, browns and greens.

Urban Echo: Sustainability Think Tank

At the Urban Echo Sustainability Think Tank we have been looking at sources of inspiration. One of the areas we are looking into is the art of innovation and design. We found a great video on HULU called Billions in Change. Leading the way to developing for those in need Manoj Bhargava (creator of 5 Hour Energy) and his small team of designers, developers and tinkers are looking to change the world. No area of study is out of their reach. They look to bring electricity to those in darkness, health to those in need of it and water to those who thirst. Though a bit daunting(few people have the bucks they have to bring their designs to fruition), this video is a must see.

Sustainable Archtitecture and Design

Look at this structure. They put the nature right within the building itself. The idea of placing a park right in the midst of an urban setting places this concept on another level.



Small spaces are the rave right now. Their size alone make them incredbly green. They take less energy, less build material and can be placed in small areas.

Some do's:
These are some ideas that really make a difference in design and the feel of a sustainable home.



Heating and cooling are huge parts of sustainable design. Now that fuel is no longer as cheap as it used to be, builders must look to consciously build in ways that conserve energy.Window placement, landscaping wall thickness and building materials make a difference.

The 606 Bridges Communities

Chicago is at it again. The 606 is one of its newest undertaking and it bridges neighborhoods for miles. At one end there is a spiral that marks the solstices. The trail, built on a former train tracks undulates it way through the city. It was the goal of the design team to reuse as much of the materials they could in order to build sustainably.

West of downtown, in a neighborhood that was already walk-able the 606 give people the opportunity to sit, linger and enjoy the space in which they live. The 606's neighborhood is densely populated so it allows for a place to slow oneself, it is a place to breathe.


The greenspace allows for walking, biking, running or just sitting in nature. It is a wonderful addition to the city.

Designing for Children

The most fun and my greatest passion is designing toys and books for kids. It amazes me how much we can use our imaginations in this endeavor. You can literally go anywhere your creativity will take you and try to see if what you imagine is doable. This, to me is living. I have been on this journey towards creating which has brought my to the realization that making up crazy words and crazy looking characters makes me smile and make me extremely happy.

Here are some examples of works I have created or am in the midst of bringing into the world.

Monsters in a Box! Love it!
Stick Puppets

Stories: Said The Fig Tree To The Stream

Creating for kids afford the most use of one's imagination. It really is the best.

Design in a Bottle

Have you seen them, short, squat bottles made of thick glass and sporting a cork stopper? Of course you have. The bottles of which I speak are Patron Tequilla bottles. I love anything that is different. Oddly shapes items catch my eye. As I walk around I see these bottles everwhere. I have a collection of them. I don't know what I will do with them. For now I just like admiring them and wondering how long it took the designers to hit upon the squarish shape as a winner.

 It's a beauty! The soft curves, clean label, even it's size makes this an outstanding bottle. It might seem insane to gush over a bottle but it is an ingenious marketing ploy. Many buy the tequilla because of the bottle. Though they throw it away, it does capture them and get them to buy. It makes them think different is better.

Hispanic Business Expo- Innovation and Digital Branding

In today's marketplace what matters most are innovation and branding. There are many ways to achieve both. Today I had the great fortune of attending the Hispanic Business Expo in Chicago. This fantastic gathering of people from all over the Hispanic world offered lessons in business development and the designing of prosperous endeavors.

When innovating:
1. Remember to do good- involve an aspect in your work that helps society or other people on their journeys

2. Be creative in every aspect of your business

3. Customize your products and make them as interactive as possible

4. Listen closely to what your customer wants and give it to them

Digital Branding:
1. Be consistent with your messaging and marketing materials

2. Be specific about your information

3. Engage: consumers, employees and influencers in your business. People who are excited and engaged will serve as direct marketers.


Business today is about establishing expertise and understanding analytics and innovation.

1960's Graphic design Posters

Some of my favorite posters come from the 60's it was a time of saturated colors, acid based palettes and imaginations that looked to the future. And in instances when muted colors were used, composition took center stage. The sixties was a time filled with great social intensity but also a great deal of hope. Here are some examples of my favorites.

 


 

No Littering Campaign Graphic Design and Society

    

Litter is on my mind. In the west it is as though people within cities have a pact with each other to throw away their trash. They don't unwarp something and just throw it is the street. In the city in which I now live that is not the case. People will be standing beside a trash can and still throw their wrappers and other items on the ground. It makes the city seem dirty and unhealthy. It makes me question, does this lack of carrying translate into not carrying about others things, like life in general? I don't have an answer to that question but I do know there needs to be a campaign teaching people that clean=healthy, healthy=vibrant. I am in the midst of designing a poster and in taking a look at what is out there I found some that I think are graphically engaging. But what works with people? That is the question. As a kid I saw the Indian with the tear in his eye telling us not to litter and took that to heart.

Each time I go back to the West, I see what a difference it makes when the city is clean. It lifts ones mood and makes it feel as if things are being taken care of, not by the government but by each citizen in the city. Not littering is a priority for the town, it is a pact between the people who wish to live in a clean space. It is rare to see people littering in the towns in which I have been. I don't think anyone even has to say. "Don't Litter" anymore, it is simply a given.

modern kaeseki : the design of food philosophy

One of the most amazing restaurants around in Chef Niki Nakayam's place in Los Angeles called n/naka. She is dedicated to the art of cooking. Her style is that of Modern Kaeseki a Japanese way of presenting food. Niki mixes structure with creativity. This multi course way of eating allows the dinner to eat food that is honored. The Kaeseki chef is supposed to represent the area in which they live with the ingredients they use in the food. They are also to take into consideration what nature has given and how long each item has taken to grow and the ingredients are to be treated nobly.

The meal starts at a mellow point and builds. Sashimi is served before grilled, steamed or fried dish, A grilled dish is served before a steamed dish, a steamed dish is always served before a fried dish and desert served lastly brings the meal back to the starting mellow point. Kaeseki

I'll Take Two Please

Imagine a bob, a weave, a sway. Taking a moment to be enjoy the scenery from above. Fly as the crows would, interact with the leaves, feel the breeze flow through and around you. That is the feeling you get from this these designs.

Architecture as Sculpture

Clean Lined, white washed, leaning, free formed structured, elevated hard and soft. Amazing in its essence. Poetic in form....

What??????? Edible Architecture

An Incredible Edible House



This is a design that baffles the imagination and bids you to try to bring it into fruition. Image tomatoes growing on the side of your house or arugula, chick peas, carob and a number of other edibles. Fruits and veggies on your home? Harvesting would be an interesting undertaking. This design makes you want to try something new.

WOOD

ABUNDANCE:

Wood makes me think of abundance. Perhaps it is because my office overlooks trees that are tall, aged, seasoned by winds, rains, sunshine and snows. They are many. Some bear fruits others grow wildly reaching towards the sun, their canopies overshadowing and casting shadows over the land beneath.

It is a material for which I have great reverence. For as long as I can remember I have been enamored by this renewable resource. Trees help us breathe, offer themselves for our homes and chairs and cabinets. We are beholden to each tree with which we partner.

Look as these products how they are created how the wood is used in an honorable way.

What is Eco-Design? This is a question that I have been meditation upon for quite sometime now. Is it the materials used, the distance material has been transported, the intent of the designer, or the market to which the product is sold. I think it is all of the above. For me amazing design trumps all and eco design really trumps everything. We are in an amazing time in history where we can move in directions that will help us all be better and interact in more thoughtful ways with nature. So many people balk at the changes we must make because most people do not like change and there in is the rub. Instead of being a negative, I see Eco-Designing as real positive and a real opportunity.

I am in love with this bike made of wood. The design is classic but not. I like how the designer has taken style and functionality into consideration. Look for instance, at the fork over the back wheel. Since the bike is made of wood, the forks have to be thick but also elegant. The thickness of the wood helps in making it sturdy. I also take into account the hardware the designer used to attach the parts together, everything is flush and simple. You can see that the bike is held together with six metal pieces of hardware. The handlebars are really sensible for city riding. This bike was shown at Feria Puro Diseno in Brazil, a Latin American Design Festival.

Paul Smith's Children Villiage

Recently, I had one of the most incredible experiences. A friend of mine took me to the Paul Smith Children's Village and it was amazing. It is this place in Cheyenne, Wyoming built for kids. It is an educational center where one forgets they are being educated. There are areas to learn about water conservation, solar capabilities, and gardening.



There are places to run and play. There are also areas to sit in and even areas in which to hide.



Overall, it is a great place to be. It is also one of the best designed play/learn areas I have seen in my travels. It mixes history with technology and science and makes the learning experience a truly dynamic one. It is a great place to study if you are looking into designing an educational center that wows both kids and adults.

Tesla, Oh my God I Need One

So, it has been done. Tesla Motors has created incredible autos for the modern age. Think sustainability, think electric sports car. I am so in. They made their car beautiful, fast, and ecologically sound. Unfortunately, the cars a incredibly expensive. This will change in time and as more companies get into the game.

Here is the skinny on them. Their website: www.teslamotors.com, peruse and be prepared to be amazed. I will give a summary. Seeking to create a better car, a number of engineers in Silicon Valley pooled their exceptional acumen and started to design, their goal, to produce an electric car that was better than a gasoline one. The year was 2003. In twelve years these folks were able to design, manufacture, and sell these cars. They used old school technology to create their new school cars. They reached all the way back to Mr. Electricity himself, Nicola Tesla. "The resulting Tesla Roadster was launched in 2008. Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and achieving a range of 245 miles per charge of its lithium ion battery, the Roadster set a new standard for electric mobility. Tesla [has sold] more than 2,400 Roadsters, now on the road in more than 30 countries. " According to their stats, Tesla Motors has 50,000 vehicles on the road worldwide. This is amazing because it is incredibly expensive to get into the auto industry game.

Imagine never having to go to a gas station again. Imagine plugging your car in at night. This is what Tesla has brought to the auto consuming public. In addition the cars a manufactured in the USA, providing jobs for lots of needy people. I have been watching this company grow since its inception. I have been impressed with their focus, mission and products. Their cars are a great example of designers who created an outstanding product by re-designing a product which is pretty much obsolete. It is true that people still by cars by the thousands or millions but cars with combustion engines are on their way out. Once the price for electric cars decrease more people will move to them to fulfill their transportation needs. If you would like to see a great film about eraly electric cars made by GM watch Who Killed The Electric Car.

Zine Fest Update

 

 

500 × 510 - chicagoquarterly.com

The Fest was Unreal.

 

 

 

 

 

I was so inspired that I went home and created two Zines on my own. I had an incredible time. They had a room where workshops occurred. I went to three "shops" one was on creating cartoons. They showed the basic differences between American, European, and Japan. Then we made a cartoon using a scenario they offered. I also went to one where we "erased" words we did not want in writing that was produced by another author. For instance, Marx's Communist Manifesto. You blacked out the words and created a poem from the ones that were left. It was profound. Then a very controversial "shop" went down. The girls running it kicked all the white people out. WTF? They must have been thinking. Turns out the shop was for POC's or People of Color as they called themselves and others. They wanted a space where folks could speak freely about their frustrations of the groups they are in or work spaces. It was quite interesting. Seems people really needed this and the girls who led it were punk and unapologetic. Lastly, I went to marketplace the conference had. Amazing how much work people had created. I bought some Zines and felt great about it. I will return next year.