Is this art?

How to define “Art”? if we can’t see it.
This is an exhibition created by Irina Blok, in this series of painting, artist is trying to convince us that art is all in our head, in my opinion, I agree with this idea, but I don’t agree with the manifestation, because I still believe that artworks should have support by visual or other media, without the unique elements which is the most precious part of art, as a result, how to define “Art”?

[ via swissmiss ]

Wassup 2008

Original version


Interesting “copy” idea from classic TV commercial, and the concept is perfectly the same, smart work!

[ via designyoutrust ]

Jeff Koons on the roof

Exhibition: ” Jeff Koons on the roof” in Metropolitan Museum of Art
Balloon Dog (1994-2000) is made by high chromium stainless steel with transparent color coating, height 121 x 143 x 45 inches, and it has 5 unique versions (Blue, Magenta, Yellow, Orange, Red. ) The artwork is extremely simple, but it has great challenge in materials and technique of creation, because artist try to make the enormous sculpture which made by stainless steel looks like balloon in enormous, therefore, Koons cooperated with physicist and chemist, and spent several years to simulated the texture, then created the beautiful artworks. It looks simple, but extremely complex, isn’t it?

In addition, there is a critical article by Kelly Devine Thomas (ARTnews), she mentioned that there are several points in Jeff Koons’s artwork.
1. Koons always created enormous artworks, and only rich people can buy it, because of their mega-mansion.
2. Great feels of works, and makes people want to buy it.
3. Koons’s works can touch the lonely of people, especially rich people.
4. Koons promoted himself to be like famous people, and created a lot of topical subjects.
5. Koons just like an advertizing star, more than artist.
I like the honesty of Jeff Koons, he didn’t hide the desire about money and reputation, and he also has great talent in art field. Moreover, I believe that he has good concept of advertisement, as a result, he can keep increased the value of his works, and create Incredible price.

Assigment #3

National Geographic Channel: Think Again

SONY bravia!

Carcade!

"Augmented reality in-car videogame" designed by students at the Berlin University of the Arts.
The webcam projects buildings, trees and other objects outside the car window onto a computer screen, and the player has to steer a "ship" around the obstacles on the screen without crashing into them. The faster the speed of the car, the faster the ship flies and the more difficult it is to keep from crashing.

This is an interesting idea! I always want this game when I was a kid, because back seat is one of the most boring places in the world!

[ via Edmunds ]

Waiting until the last hour!

I figure that the cliche was never, "the last hour," but for a long time, it was, "waiting until the last minute." In our ever-faster society, now we wait for the last second.
Of course we do. Why shouldn't we? The last second eliminates the need to make a decision, most of the time, because the last second doesn't arrive, thus saving us the angst. And when we do take action, there's no penalty (usually) for waiting.
Airlines and others penalize people for planning ahead by instituting non-refundable fares. We don't get treated like royalty for signing up early, and the penalties for waiting often seem fairly small.
In Florida, on the other hand, where dinner is half price before 5 pm, the restaurants are often packed.
Every time I've posted a job or an offer with a deadline, I get amazingly well-written and thoughtful notes one day after the deadline has passed, begging for another chance, or quoting time zones or some other sort of nonsense. Of course, it's all because we've persuaded ourselves to wait till the last second.
With less than two weeks to go, my event in New York has officially reached the last minute. If you want a seat, today is the day, as there are only 38 left. The first five people to buy a seat today (here's the link) get a free copy of my DVD set. Early bird special, you know.

People always waiting until the last minute including me, I think the most difficulty element of design process is making decision, you never know when will be the best timing that should stop change your works, the inspiration always pop up in a unpredictable mo moment, so even I try to prevent the situation like this, but it always happen, again and again..

[ via sethsblog ]

Useful Bad, Useless Good

“Lack of utility and rarefied exquisiteness are seen as the shortest paths to being art.” - Roberta Smith of The New York Times recently reviewing a show at the Museum of Art and Design in which many artists use everyday objects in their work. She doesn’t agree with the statement and by paraphrasing it, she doesn’t mean it as a compliment.

I would argue that art does, in fact, have a utility, but not always in the obvious functional way that, say, my bike racks for NYC do. Of course in Asia, functional objects like screens, teacups, tea wisks and other paraphernalia have traditionally been the closest to our notion of fine art, but they are also utilitarian objects. They are a version of a household item that is also a tool to focus and refine attention — a changed awareness that then resonates out into the world. And the objects are completely utilitarian, which makes the mundane daily activities they are associated with into small focused performances, little rituals. Tea ceremony is a refined example, but many more ordinary practices and activities are focus pullers as well. One performs the act, and is aware of performing the act at the same time.

While viewing art, at least in the western sense, is not the road to self-improvement some still claim — art is not “good” for you — it still has practical and psychologically positive functions. Making it, performing it (in the case of some art forms) and the various social links and connections that arise (or don’t) in the whole world of surrounding activity are where much of the usefulness comes from. Participation (whether making it, dancing it, singing along or being together) is so obviously psychologically cathartic that it’s hardly worth mentioning. It facilitates talk, flirting, hanging out, travel, and money exchange. Isn’t that useful? The object itself might be useless, but, like paper money, it has a kind of agreed upon exchange value — it’s a kind of social currency.


I agree with the author, “art” has practical and psychologically positive functions, it doesn’t offered an actual service for people, but it communicated with people, and produce unexpected feedback for them, I believe that this “invisible function” has more value than functional product!

[ via David Byrne Journal]

Assignment# 2

A Gizmo is Your Best Friend!

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Great Marketing Weapon

"Product is the ultimate communication tool," Winsor explained, "To me, branding and ID are different sides of the same coin. We're both satisfying the needs of the customer."

I think product and branding are depending on each other, branding can’t easy extend without an appropriate function of product, and product also have use branding to increase market. Moreover, the relationship of product design studio and a branding agency become more and more close, I believe it’s the trend, combine the advantages and opinion, created the new opportunities.

[ via core77 ]

"Project 10 to the 100th"

"Project 10 to the 100th" is a new call for ideas sponsored by Google to change the world by helping as many people as possible.

Interesting project, helping people is the most important thing of design, every concept should follow it, and make the world better!



[ via core77 ]

How to create a great website?

Here are principles that Seth Godin think Designer can’t avoid:

1. Fire the committee. No great website in history has been conceived of by more than three people. Not one. This is a dealbreaker.

2. Change the interaction. What makes great websites great is that they are simultaneously effortless and new at the same time. That means that the site teaches you a new thing or new interaction or new connection, but you know how to use it right away. (Hey, if doing this were easy, everyone would do it.)

3. Less. Fewer words, fewer pages, less fine print.

4. What works, works. Theory is irrelevant.

5. Patience. Some sites test great and work great from the start. (Great if you can find one). Others need people to use them and adjust to them. At some point, your gut tells you to launch. Then stick with it, despite the critics, as you gain traction.

6. Measure. If you’re not improving, if the yield is negative... kill it.

7. Insight is good, clever is bad. Many websites say, “look at me.” Your goal ought to be to say, “here’s what you were looking for.”

8. If you hire a professional: hire a great one. The best one. Let her do her job. 10 mediocre website consultants working in perfect harmony can’t do the work of one rock star.

9. One voice, one vision.

10. Don’t settle.

All of these elements are simple and direct, I think it’s a good opinion that I should keep in mind. Here are more advices:

Launch Faster: 12 Tips for Avoiding Web Project Delays

The 10 Commandments of Web Design.

[ via sethsblog ]