Why do we love 2007? Because so many kick ass illustrators like Chuck Anderson are getting work as art directors. Wait, you say you’ve never worked in an agency before? What exactly does an art director do? That my friend, is a very good question.
Old school Art Directors like to come up with what’s known in ad lingo as “The Big Idea”, then work with a team of artists (designers, illustrators, photographers, commercial directors, etc) to bring that idea to life. You can’t really appreciate the irony of this until you’ve had said Art Director hand you his “Big Idea”, drawn out on a lined noted pad in pencil with stick figures. This person doesn’t know how to use Photoshop or draw stick figures per say, but he does know Jay Z from a commercial they shot last year, and can name drop like nobody’s business. It’s now your job to make that into something that will sell through the roof and win awards. Ready, go!
Then there’s Art Directors like Chuck Anderson who are actual artists. They make art, like really good art, around a product (like Absolute Vodka, Reeboks, or Mountain Dew). In fact if you remove the product from the picture, you’d have a piece of art you could sell as a print, and lo and behold, Chuck Anderson does just that.
Art Directors like this challenge the other artists they work with. Instead of trying to make the idea in to something worth looking at, your job is to make something that can stand next to a Chuck Anderson piece and add another dimension to it. This might take a while, you’d better go make some coffee.
3D printers provide a way to “print” objects by stacking tiny layer upon tiny layer until the object is complete. The finished models can be used for design review, mock-ups for form and fit testing, and for casting applications.
While the price tag is kind of high for personal use ($40k for the model shown), there are less expensive, less full featured printers out there which are cheaper. Also consider that if a person needed to have an object produced in small quantity or as a one off, they could pay for the service of having it printed.
This is a technology which takes the production of objects as one offs and puts it in the hands of everyone. More information on the printer shown can be found here. Thanks for the tip Pilot.
The work of Juvinetino Mateo, a Switzerland-based photographer, has the crispness and inventiveness that we crave in an artist. While his portfolio includes a variety of subjects, from fashion to architecture to documentary, his talent shines most brightly in the beauty shots on display on his website.
Led by Noiz-Davi (Yoshiaki Kusunoki) and Daisuke Yamamoto, the Rinpa Eshidan’s main activities are performing in live painting events and creating videos of art in action. Instead of focusing on the finished project, the Rinpa Eshidan believe the process of creation itself is where art comes to life and their videos aim to engage the audience in that process.”Rinpa” is a word created by the founders of the group meaning “to bring people together, while “Eshidan” essentially means “art crew.” The Rinpa Eshidan is a team of artists brought together by a common creative expression.
In what has to be the slickest way to set the mood, this miniature fireplace is portable and can be set up virtually anywhere. The lamp burns oil and is made of 18/10 stainless steel with a 10″ x 14″ slate base. You can pick it up for $340 here.
If you’re wondering whatever happened to your rock and roll, Rock & Republic found it, brought it out of your closet and turned the volume up. If you’re into the Hollywood scene you probably already shelled out half a months rent for pair of Rock & Republic jeans and never stop getting oohs and ahhs. If you’re looking for something to wear for a Saturday night of hanging with beautiful people, Rock & Republic should be able to hook you up quite nicely.
If you’re looking to up the bar on stylish accessories, consider iWood, an iPhone case made entirely of wood. Available in five woods (oak, padouk, cherry, mahogany, and walnut). Now your iPhone can match your mid-century credenza. Prices vary based on material ($85 to $105) and they can be purchased on the Minot website.
Laminated wallets with retro patterns reminiscent of faded kitchen taletops? Count us in. We recently became aware of Orla Kiely’s designs and were struck by the graphic patterns and nostalgic feel to her clothes and accessories. Her philosophy is that “good design is not over designed and functionality is king”. Be sure to check out her handbags as well. The dandelion print canvas tote is a favorite.
Some people can just seem to do it all, or so we thought when we found Artist/Art Director/VJ/Illustrator Mate Steinforth’s mateuniverse. Usually when people talk about being able to do so many things well we take it with agrain of salt, but in this case, dude a site to prove it to the whole world.
Mate is yet another impressive creative talent coming out of Madrid (Is there something in the water over there?) and now works at Psyop in NYC. During his off days he makes experimental music videos and tours around the world VJing. Does this guy make you sick or what? Anyway, his site is great, check it out.
Thanks to Dustbowl for the tip
Founded three years ago in Vancouver, Red Flag Design has some designs which deserve a mention. Their Alternate Use Material (AUM) line takes materials which are about to be discarded such as Spectra sailcloth and Hypalon rubber and gives them a second life in the form of bags, wallets, and clutches. Unique and released in limited editions, each has a story to tell. Elements like the numbers on the sails become graphic abstractions finished bags. The reuse of sail materials as bags is especially appropriate given the materials’ inherent strength.
Duffle bags such as those seen above go for $250 (not sure if that’s Canadian dollars). Totes like the ones seen below go for $175. They appear to be well constructed based on some of the product detail images on the website.
