It’s been a dream of sci-fi fans for years: the flexible, semi-transparent digital newspaper that can fold up and be placed under your arm. That dream is a tad bit closer to reality today as Chinese researchers have released a video of their recent developments in creating the necessary materials for further developing flexible and transparent silicon semiconductors. The best way to wrap your head around it? Imagine if a sheet of Jolly Rancher was turned into Cotton Candy.
Repurposing existing industrial products into a static sculpture is a beast to tackle in itself, but what about creating kinetic sculptures that actually…play decent music…and have a social message behind them? Artist Pedro Reyes has done just that with his collection of eight new instruments created from repurposed firearms. Built in collaboration with several musicians and media studio Cocolab of Mexico City, Disarm aims to find a meaningful purpose in objects previously used to create destruction in various Mexican drug cartels.
To say that your trilogy of design-centered documentaries are all available on Netflix Streaming is no easy task—especially considering that the intended audience is in no way attracting the same crowds as say, Arrested Development. Yet director Gary Hustwit has earned those bragging rights and has also—to some degree or another—given mass audiences a peak into the world of design that has otherwise been something that happens ‘behind-the-scenes’. Helvetica, Objectified, and Urbanized are Hustwit’s three documentaries focused on typography, industrial design, and urban planning. In each of his movies, he interviews industry pioneers that are oftentimes camera-shy otherwise (Jony Ive?) and gives the viewer a peak into the unique creative processes of each. Sadly, only 3% of his extensive interview content actually made it into his films, however he has blessed us all with the power of Kickstarter to help launch the interview transcripts in Helvetica/Objectified/Urbanized: The Complete Interviews.
It is no secret that high-fashion is like history; it is known to repeat itself. While the latest fads might not always be carbon-copies of their predecessors, the roots of modern style are often painfully obvious to those with an observant eye—and eyeglasses themselves might be the perfect example of this. With the recent rise in demand for make-a-statement spectacles, it seems that every major clothing label has produced at least one or more lines of à-la-mode eyewear in the past decade. But for those of you fellow four-eyed fashionistas who wear their nerd-knowledge proudly, there is a new solution to vision vogue, and one that might make you think twice before buying another pair of wayfarers with your tax-backs next spring.
Stepping back into the school routine after a summer of endless squirt gun fights, milk chugging competitions, and road trips to obscure Route 66 destinations can be hard…we’ve been there. Or perhaps you’re not a student but the first sight of a big yellow school bus and lunch box displays at your local Whole Foods in September make you feel like you’re in school again. Fear not earthlings! Autumn (like Spring) is the season of new beginnings for everybody and we’ve rounded up a collection of a few or our favorite free resources to help with the Autumn ‘refresh’ season. We’ve included resources that include everything from industrial design sketching to taking better photographs and building a website for your portfolio to tips for networking better with other designers. Whichever tool you end up relying on, it is always going to be worth looking into internet providers that provide that strong and stable connection. So go tell Grandma Betty you’re busy and can’t mow the lawn this afternoon, grab yourself a plate of Bagel Bites, and prepare the bookmark tab on your favorite web browser.