design

Pop!Casts: Van Jones

Posted by _tango! on December 15, 2007
Posted in: brand, design, entertainment, experience, ideas, information, inspiration, me, Poptech, tech. 2 comments

I mentioned a bunch of incredible speakers during my safari over to Pop!Tech2007 …and now a few of those lectures are available for watching at Pop!Casts here.

Above is the lecture by Van Jones who is an activist in urban poverty and environmental peril…a must watch!. He’s incredibly talented, smart, funny, and great at speaking that all should learn from!

A few other videos released:
– John Legend: his music and his campaign on global poverty.
– Jessica Flannery: Kiva.org, a must do Micro Funding site.
– Chris Jordan: Photographer on consumerism
– Christian Nold:Bio Mapping/ Information Visualization
– Steven Pinker: The thinking behind conversation and language.
– Louann Brizendine: The emotional behavior of the brain, men and women.
– Daniel Pink: Insights on business and how Artists rule the future!!! (awesome for us creatives 😉 !)
– Caleb Chung: Pleo, Furby, and otehr fun inventions!

I’ll post the videos after the jump!
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Adam Kalkin

Posted by _tango! on December 11, 2007
Posted in: art, brand, design, experience, fun, green, ideas, inspiration, materials, style, tech. Leave a Comment

This past year I’ve been incredibly fascinated and inspired by Adam Kalkin’s disruptive, poetic, rustic, and rather playful spacial creations redefining what things could and perhaps should be. His projects show exploration, curiosity, and an incredible sense to imagine like a kid again while being stuck in an adults body which I love.

Check out this great video summary of Adams work and personality via Dwell Daily Blog. For a peek at some of his other whimsical creations:

– 12 Container House
– Push Button House, NY Times or TheCoolHunter.
– Bunny Lane House via ApartmentTherapy
– QuickHouse via inhabitat

Adams work reminds me of one of my other favorite sustainable architectural firms: Lot-ek (video, Recycled Airplane Library)

Weekend Links

Posted by _tango! on December 8, 2007
Posted in: design, entertainment, fun, ideas, information, inspiration, style, tech, wacky, weekendlinks. 1 comment
car parts

Thought of the week: Sometimes ya gotsta take 2 steps back to go one step forward!

– Image: “Car Parts“.
– Video: Train runs through Bangkok Market Place.
– Cool adjustable emotional stamp.
– Video: Chimpanzees smarter at memory games than humans?
– Odd: Born with feet backwards!
– Article: Who clicks on Ads!
– Tech: NEC develops first translation phone!
– Product: Self Balancing Tray
– Web: Online Word Processor, BuzzWord!

Reuse: DIY Paper Logs

Posted by _tango! on December 7, 2007
Posted in: art, design, experience, fun, green, ideas, inspiration, materials, me, thoughts. 3 comments
Paper Logs Log

Here’s a pretty nifty way to be a bit more sustainable. Take all that paper you waste daily and mash it up into usable paper logs for bonfires during the frigid winter. I’ve always made knots out of newspapers to start up fires, but this ideas pretty cool if it works. Reminds me of those can crushers for recycling, but now ya just mash up layers of paper, and you get “paper logs” for usage 😉

via ApartmentTherapy
DIY Source: two3five.com

update: A Newspaper Brick Maker! Buy Here!

Philippe Starck: Why Design?

Posted by _tango! on December 5, 2007
Posted in: design, entertainment, experience, information, inspiration, style. Leave a Comment



I’ve mentioned previously one of my favorite quotes during my journey over to TED2007 and it’s finally on TEDtalks here.

World famous designer Philippe Starck states “I believe in general that my job is absolutely useless; but now, after Carolyn(Porco) and these guys, I feel like shit”.

Watch the video… it’s somewhat funny to watch him, and charming. I’m not sure if what he says is anything new to the design community, but hey, it’s always great to hear it from icons such as himself.

Lots of his books to buy here.

EG conference blog

Posted by _tango! on December 3, 2007
Posted in: art, brand, design, entertainment, experience, food, fun, ideas, information, inspiration, materials, tech. Leave a Comment
EG Conference Entertainment Gathering

Being a bit bummed I couldn’t make it over to this years wonderful EG conference gathering (the Entertainment Gathering) which started last night, I’m glad to see that their (matt) live blogging it. It’s very textual and less visual but hey, it gives the scoop on the awesome line up of speakers and hopefully they’ll release some kind of video archive if they jump on the bandwagon of conferences alike. I think Matt’s going to add pictures and videos since he’s live blogging like a mad man with spell checks then fixing it all up in the later hours enhancing his posts with images etc.

If your at EG, send me some updates, otherwise, I’ll be reading up on the live blog and searching for any incredible stories for the next 2 nights!

Christophe Huet

Posted by _tango! on December 2, 2007
Posted in: art, design, ideas, inspiration, style, tech. 2 comments
Christophe Huet big head design process

I’ve been clicking around Christophe Huet’s mesmerizing and inspirational webpages full of photoshop creations and ads, including a great “Making of” section that goes through the many layers and process of each creation which I love! It’s one thing to see the final work of a designer but it’s another story to see the thinking and design process into creating each magical piece.

I’m really diggin the big head creations and will make my own for web apps soon. Check out his webpage, turn up the sound for the soothing piano music and click through his “making of” section!

The design process of his “Big Head” piece above after the jump!

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Weekend Links

Posted by _tango! on December 1, 2007
Posted in: design, entertainment, food, fun, ideas, information, inspiration, style, thoughts, wacky, weekendlinks. Leave a Comment
on off coffeee mug

Thought of the week: If pennies did not exist, would we be more productive hence actually save more money?

– On/Off coffee Mug– color changing Mug from off to On.
– Procrastination Flowchat
– Behind the Scenes: A look into tricks and tips of the industry
– ElfYourSelf: The classic ElfYourSelf web card I sent out to friends last year!
– The naked teddy bear suit.
– Severn Suzuki giving an incredible speech on the environment at age 12 in 1992!
– 10 most expensive cities to live in. Tokyo drops out of top 10!

Mini, Clubman, Cube, xb, wat what!

Posted by _tango! on November 30, 2007
Posted in: brand, design, experience, fun, information, me, style, tech, thoughts. 8 comments
bmw mini cooper clubman 2008

I’ve been craving a new car for some time, waiting on the Nissan Cube to hit the states (2008) while hopping on the hybrid fuel Toyata Prius bandwagon, as everyone should, but the soon to be released Mini Clubman (stretched mini) has really caught my attention, being small, a bit boxy, and oddly cute like the other cars that I’ve pondered over such as the Scion Xb, Honda Element, and the o so small Smart Car. Of the bunch only the regular mini, xb, and Element are out. I think I can wait as the Mini Clubman (spring 2008) seriously rocks, but I’ve heard rumors that the Nissan Cube (late 2008) is suppose to be a hybrid, as it’s also a 4 door which I like… but the Clubman has this odd 3rd door on the passenger side, much like a secret VIP door to the back seat and some cool barn yard like back doors.

So what does it come down to for me and my next ride?…hmm, fuel economy, cool-oddness, space, fun, comfortable, and some sweet unusual extras.(yes, I know I’m kinda into this boxy pixel thing) Anyhoots, I thought I’d just share my thoughts with ya’ll, perhaps getting some input on what to do or any other thoughts on oddball sweet rides… ooo..Regular mini, Mini Clubman, xB, Cube3, Element, Smart, or I could always just settle with the square “Modular Car“!

Some pictures and links after the jump!
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Portfolio Day Tips!

Posted by _tango! on November 27, 2007
Posted in: art, design, experience, information, me, style, thoughts. 13 comments
risd portfolio day nyc

For the past 5 years I’ve been reviewing portfolios for RISD in Boston and now New York City every fall during National Portfolio Days, giving students tips, and digging a bit deep into who, what, and why they are. Every year thousands of students throughout the world wait in mile long lines in the frigid air seeking reviews and tips from schools in all corners. RISD tends to get several tables being one of the largest schools in the nation and many individuals wait for hours just to get a few minutes with us. I went through this experience throughout high school, so I know how disgruntling it can be.

I try to talk to each individual as much as possible, but with hundreds waiting in line it’s tough to dive deep into students personal passions, directions, and experiences without going straight to the basic tips. Many don’t get to see us, hence I thought I’d post some basic points from my experience in what design/art schools seek for incoming students. The tips after the jump!

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Weekend Links

Posted by _tango! on November 26, 2007
Posted in: art, brand, design, entertainment, experience, food, fun, information, inspiration, me, style, tech, thoughts, weekendlinks. Leave a Comment
weekend links

What an exhausting fun filled thanksgiving week/end! I was out in the Vegas area with family and friends pounding out hours of non-stop eating, mahjong, wii-ing, casino visits, shows, shopping, and many goofy hours with my many cousins in arcades (punch the duck game above) and everything else. Good times!

I’ve only returned to find out that a parking ticket I appealed 3 months ago got declined for no reason. I had pictures etc supporting the wrongful ticket, yet they will only let me dispute it in court, meaning take a day off from work, or pay the crummy $50. I really don’t understand why they don’t fix their system. Sure this system makes people pay more tickets, but when a wrongful ticket is given, the only choice is to pay rather than take a day off.

Design Note: Making money can be a sign of a great business, but sneaky tricks will lower the brand trust and the longevity in a business. Users come first in my world… always! Don’t you love those brands that just fix things without asking questions, then hate the ones that do ask!
Now for the links:
– Pancaking a truck video!
– Amazon.com launches “kindle”, their e-book/ink reader.
– Cool Torn graffiti work by Alexandre Farto
– Creative IKEA ads… I wonder if these layouts would be good?
– Swims: Rubber slip-on booties for your nice shoes.
– Popcorn Fork!
– Cool origami folds using bills!
– What hundreds of thin paint layers look like stacked!
– An Interview with Jim Gromen on the rebirth of MadBalls!
– Another Eco Friendly Powerstrip!
– Google Android (G-phone) emerges!