The Magic of Recent Relics

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Cruise through any form of media and you’ll notice an obsession with the past. From #throwbackthursday and #nationalsiblingsday to any other communal hash tag, we all love a walk down memory lane. As the babies of the 70’s and 80’s find themselves getting married and having kids, balancing rising careers within the confines of the recession, there’s a wash of nostalgia and yearning for simpler times.

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We look back to the days when the Internet was in its infancy and social media didn’t yet weave through our lives, before iPhones and Google, before Wii and Playstation, when life was more “simple.” Pixels were big back then and we liked it that way, because that was The Future and in The Future, anything was possible – at least, that’s what we were told. In Hollis Brown Thorton’s The Land Between Solar Systems, he elevates our simple things, our recent relics of the past, into art. Click here for event info.

Linda Warren Gallery: 327 N. Aberdeen Suite 151, Chicago, IL. 60607

April 11, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Jewelry: Complex Minimalism

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Alissia Melka Teichroew is known in both the jewelry and technology worlds. Using 3D printing to create jointed necklaces in 2010, she continues to craft modular minimalist pieces with her latest quilted collection. Also firmly footed in the art and product design arenas, her process is fascinating to observe, as her concept takes a playful, sophisticated approach to a familiar texture. If you’re in Milan this month, be sure to visit her showcase, you won’t be disappointed.

April 2, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Screen Grabs & Glitch Blankets

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Every time my screen freezes, I wish I were faster to capture it. The patterns are so unexpected and beautifully frustrating. As brands have woven the concept of technology into their products, the transition’s been interesting to observe. From McQ’s and Mr. Hare’s paralyzing ads last year to Phillip Stearns’ more recent glitch blankets, the concept celebrates our utter lack of control- and a visual acceptance of the future.

March 26, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Animating Life's Little Moments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aTLySbGoMX0#!

While this looks like an old Disney feature, it’s an example of the newest technique in film where computer and hand drawn animations are seamlessly merged. Directed by John Kahrs, Paperman is a short about destiny, chemistry and New York City. I spotted it on Heart Explosion. Enjoy!

February 14, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Cross-Pollinating your Gradients

Finding a connection between the digital and physical spheres is a never-ending hunt for today’s forecasters. Whether you’re comparing the symbolic differences between RGB or CMYK or simply finding inspiration in either execution, important observations can be made when considering how one medium influences the other.

Here we have a pixelated display at the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore. A blurry screen becomes textured art and the type conjures up early 90’s atari. If you follow our line of thinking and view Benjamin Moore’s paint chips immediately after, it’s easy to make a connection- they’re strikingly similar, but hold opposing conversations (and purposes).

Now let’s move to the commercial realm. This is window display from the GAP on Fifth Avenue. It’s extremely economical- paper’s been folded and arranged in a grid. The gradient is the storyline and compliments the clothing.

Moving along to packaging, this method was recently the result of Sephora’s beauty collaboration with Pantone Universe. Pixels are again the focus. Mimicking the diversity within skin tones, the packaging amplifies the face and focuses on color, making us wonder if CMYK really wishes it were RGB.

February 13, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

When Art & Technology Go Social

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=twdmps0UCDE#!

I get thrown on countless marketing teams throughout the year- that’s the gig when you’re freelance. Sometimes I’m tasked with brainstorming creative strategies for social media content, other times I play matchmaker for brands and artists. Though a majority of the time, I’m behind the wacom tablet designing digital campaigns, collaborating with UX and UI designers, trying to redesign branded platforms that are cool, useful and fun to explore.

Generally, between meetings, jokes and nerdy design tips, we’re all trying to make something as cool as this new app from The Creators Project. Using three artistic styles, the app mines your friends and newsfeed to build a unique piece of art specifically tailored to you. If you’re so inclined, you can have it 3D printed, very cool, right? Have a look, explore, and update your profile pic already.

January 31, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik