metajunk » Design

(Infographic) The Colors Of The Top 100 Web Brands

Dan Gould — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:10:02 +0000

COLOURlovers looks at the distribution of colors across the most prominent companies on the Internet.

competition | HONGMEN ART is giving away RMB 10,000 every month for YOUR t-shirt designs

Adam J. Schokora — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:19:30 +0000

Hongmen Art (红门创意) – a NeochaEDGE partner company – is a new online platform in China that does monthly t-shirt design competitions that provide Chinese artists and designers an opportunity to showcase their work and win money – up to RMB 10,000 per month! The company’s Chinese name “红门创意” was chosen as a metaphor meaning: Chinese (红) opportunity (门) for artistic expression (创意). Hongmen’s competitions are open to anyone who wants to join. Participation is simple – just review the competition details, create your design, upload your artwork, and wait for the results. Winning designs are selected with the help of an open voting system with votes coming from Hongmen Art members (registration is free). Four winners are chosen per monthly competition with a total of RMB 10,000 in prize money given away! First place gets RMB 5000, second place RMB 3000, third place RMB 1500, and fourth place RMB 500. Winning designs will be made into t-shirts and sold with profile cards promoting the artist / designer and their vision / inspiration for the artwork. See below for a few of the leading “vote-get’ers” for Hongmen Art’s current competition. Do you think you can design a better graphic? If so, get registered and submit your work! Go, go, GO!!! For more from Hongmen Art on NeochaEDGE, link here. For more creative / design competitions on NeochaEDGE, link here. /// AjS

(Pics) A Creative Look At Global Population Data

Jackie Rangel — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:21:45 +0000

A set of histograms visualizes latitudinal vs. longitudinal distribution.

Working with Design People

frank — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 07:45:23 +0000

I think design concepts are interesting and getting to work in this space is pretty cool, but in the back of my mind I suspect there’s more than a few people in this industry like the guy in this video below, explaining design. Conceptually, he’s pretty far out there and first word that comes to my mind is ‘asshat’, but that’s not fair to him or others like him since I don’t have firsthand experience with the type. However, from another Core77 reference this week, a study of the links between mental illness and creativity might explain why I’m not at this guys level. These examples make me appreciate working with analytical hard-asses with unrelenting drive for delivery of facts and figures. Refer to the original Core77 link for background on this video, but it’s funny even without.

Recycled Alien Queen Is Deadly Yet Eco-Friendly [Sculpture]

Cyriaque Lamar — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Ever wonder why Ripley had such a hard time offing those damn aliens? It turns out Xenomorphs can recycle their bodies using old appliance parts. Meet Robosteel's Alien Queen. She's good for our planet but a threat to the Earth.

Tipping the scales at 1,213 pounds and looming a good 8 feet, this Alien Queen from the Irish sculpting firm Robosteel is literally a killing machine - the sculpture contains approximately 4,000 recycled car, boat, dishwasher, motorcycle, and other sundry appliance parts. And for the bargain price of $6,128, this cold drink of polished tungsten will scare away all unwanted solicitors, something your lawn jockey could never do.

[Robosteel via Eco-Friend]

Microsoft’s dual-screen Courier booklet emerges, isn’t near production

Darren Murph — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:47:00 +0000

We know, we know -- you're probably still waiting for the Apple tablet that'll never come, but how's about a prototype alternative from said outfit's arch enemy to tide you over? Gizmodo has just let slip details surrounding what was previously a top secret project deep within the lairs of Redmond, but given that this is more of an advanced proof of concept than anything else, we're doing our best to curb our inner enthusiasm about a near-term release. We're told that the folding device could eventually ship with dual 7-inch displays, both of which support multitouch gestures and can also be controlled via a stylus. It should too boast a camera and possibly an inductive charging pad on the rear, though we can't help but be a wee bit frightened by hearing that the user interface is "complex." Essentially, the Courier is a touch-friendly, two-screen tablet that can't let go of the tried-and-true pen input method, and your guess is as good as ours when it comes to purpose. Though, something tells us ASUS might just have the answer. Video's after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft's dual-screen Courier booklet emerges, isn't near production

Filed under: Handhelds, Tablet PCs

Microsoft's dual-screen Courier booklet emerges, isn't near production originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stunning Shanghai Corporate Pavilion Made From Used CD Cases [Architecture]

Sean Fallon — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:00:00 +0000

With the Shanghai World Expo 2010 fast approaching, architects are jumping in on the "Better City, Better Life" theme with concepts like this Shanghai Corporate Pavilion. The plans include many green features, including a structure made from recycled CD cases.

Technological Detail and Environmental Protection

1. Solar Energy System

The Shanghai Corporate Pavilion features a 1600m2 solar heat-collecting tube on the roof. These solar tube can collect solar energy to produce hot water up to 95°C. Ultra-low temperature power generation techology, a novel way to generate electricity through solar power. The power generated using this technology can be used for both the exposition and for every day.

2. Recycled Plastic materials
Shanghai produces nearly 30 million of waste CDs every year, and only 25% of them are reclaimed and recycled. If these CDs were reclaimed and washed, they could be used to produce polycarbonate granules and manufacture more polycarbonate plastic products. The external facade materials of the Shanghai Corporate Pavilion will use polycarbonate transparent plastic tubes to create its dreamlike appearance. After the Expo, also plastic tubes can be easily recycled to reduce social wastage.

3. Water/mist System

For the Shanghai Corporate pavilion, rainwater will be collected and recycled. After such treatment as sedimentation, filtration and storage, rainwater can be used for daily purposes at the pavilion and for the "mist" in particular. The mist can lower the temperature, purify the air and create a comfortable climate in pavilion. The spray can also be used to form various patterns under ceiling of entrance hall and make the overall appearance of the Shanghai Corporate Pavilion fresh and elegant.

[Arch Daily via Inhabitat via Boing Boing Gadgets]

BMW Reveals New Plug-in Hybrid Sports Car Concept

Dave Pinter — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:05 +0000

There are still a few weeks before the 2009 Frankfort Auto Show opens but BMW released images of a new concept car it will feature over the weekend. The Vision EfficientDynamics is a plug-in hybrid sports car with a new dynamic exterior and interior design language. But underneath the eye catching design is a smaller and more efficient engine BMW is… Continue reading BMW Reveals New Plug-in Hybrid Sports Car Concept

The $7 Million Inkjet Counterfeit Scam

Matthew Newton — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:56:31 +0000

Making counterfeit money, it turns out, may not be as difficult as it seems. Albert Edward Talton, a man from Lawndale, California, figured out how to generate $7 million dollars in bogus currency using nothing more than an inkjet printer and supplies from Staples. Leader of a five-man counterfeiting ring busted in May of 2008, Talton, a man with… Continue reading The $7 Million Inkjet Counterfeit Scam

China Pushing Forward Creative Industry Zones

Sean Leow (PSFK Shanghai) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:16:29 +0000

One of the major ways that the Chinese government has been pushing forward creative industry in China is through the development of creative industry parks or zones. According to Eugenie Birch, chair of the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of City and Regional Planning, “China’s investing heavily in the knowledge worker writ large, and this has become another part of that investment…And when China does something, it does it at full force.”

The most common creative industry zones consists of an old factory or warehouse converted into an area designed for art galleries, entertainment venues and offices for designers, architects, artists and other creative types. Beijing’s 798 Art District stands out as the most well-known archetype that many developers attempt to replicate.

There are still many obstacles that creative industry needs to tackle before reaching a level of maturity seen in other countries. One of the central challenges is understanding how to foster grassroots creativity, starting with students and young creatives who all too often lack the means to develop their talent. However, the 20+ zones in Beijing, 70+ in Shanghai and many more scattered throughout the country are a welcome development for creatives looking to become a part of China’s creative industry.

Related PSFK Post: The Rise of Creative Industry in China

By Sean Leow (PSFK Shanghai) | © PSFK, 2009. | Article Link | Comments | More stories in: Advertising & Branding, Architecture, Arts & Culture, Design, Trends In Asia and china, creative industry, Guangzhou