BEFORE:

AFTER:

I found these before and after interior design images at my new favorite design blog, Design*Sponge. It is one of the best sections of the blog, in my opinion. I think it is important to make design part of our daily lives, in order to improve our surroundings and the way we handle day-to-day tasks, but also to empower our own mind and to think more creatively.

The transformed room shown above is totally my taste. I think it is light, livable, and FUN! You can tell that the main problem, or shortcoming of the first room was the way the original designer (or homeowner) looked at the room. The space is used so much more effectively in the new room, while also incorporating bright colors to contrast the white polished aspects of the room.

TOO FUZZY

Here is an example of when designers get a little out of hand.

Along with this cell phone, designer Manghild Disinngton of Denmark, created a furry USB chord which is to be worn around one's neck, almost as if it were a new age mink. She says that we too often forget our relationship with our technological devices, and that this is a way for us to incorporate them into our lives better. I do not agree. I do not need any more reasons to cuddle up with my cell phone, and to be honest, if I saw someone actually use this product, I would officially lose all faith in humanity. Creative yet unappealing.

Battle of the Chairs

The design website yatzer holds a section of its blog for the readers' opinion on similar products, called yatzer fights. I selected one of these featured debates, involving covered chairs. The products are all very different, ranging from space aged, to porcelain Victorian perhaps. I've always sided with the girly choice, making Jaime Hayon's white covered chair my personal favorite. From the backside, the chair is sleek and shiny like a waxy egg. On the inside however, the chair is much more plush and inviting. While I might become a bit claustrophobic by the overhang, it is certainly glamourous, and deserving of a glamorous home.

Isn't this stunning?

I have always been interested in the mose simplistic forms of art. That is why my last post, with the paper lamps, was so beautiful to me. For the most part the work is monotone, created out of one of the more simple mediums. This brings out the same kind of reaction from me, strong yet simple, pulling from this seemingly 3D imagery and ending up somewhere in the artists head.

The artist, Kazuki Takamatsu mixes traditional and modern techniques, to create this totally unique, almost surrealistic method. From one hand he uses a method called gouache, by using hand painted monochromed based objects. He then incorporates a “Depth Map”, which is a technique where every pixel on the object is a shade of gray that is proportional to its distance from the object looking at it. Fascinating! I love all of his work and I recommend that everyone looks into the artist's future projects.

New beauty in paper

These fascinating, awe inspiring, paper works are by Dutch artist Paula Arntzen. After studying and observing paper and its characteristics she managed to obtain a deep knowledge and understanding ,which allowed her to create such seemingly flawless work out os such a simple medium. Paper is a wonderful medium for artists if you have the patience and delicate touch needed to construct the work, because it is so inexpensive, and its possibilities so limitless.

Marc, oh Marc! You never fail to amaze me!

I was so happy to find this blog, as it only further instills in my mind that Marc Jacobs and his team know how to do it right. Not only is his clothing pure perfection, but his stores are apparently equally as attractive and unique. Above is an outside look at his Los Angeles Store. This is all thanks to Marc Jacob's architect for all of its locations worldwide, Stephan Jaklitsch. Beautiful! I also included another image of the interior of the shop. Everything is so classic and surprisingly understated compared to some of his contemporary designers.

Garden Table

Above is a stainless steel "dining room table", created by DeCastelli to inspire the interiors of our homes with a neat interpretation of the outdoors. While I don't believe this table is actually used as a dining room table, this example, and other variations, are surely a new take on the standard flower pot. At the same time, this particular table does away with any need for a center piece. While not something I would pick out for my own home, I think these tables are beautifully crafted and very interesting.

Light Touch interactive projector turns any flat surface into a touchscreen

One of the truly revolutionary designs I have come across while writing this blog, is the “Light Touch” from the house of Light Blue Optics. The light touch was a CES Innovations Honoree in both the Media Player and Personal Electronics categories, for good reason. Other images show in the Designblog website include depictions of friends ordering their dinner at a restaurant by using a touch light screen that is projected onto their table. In this example, each individual had their own tough screen to scroll through and select their desired entree. The novelty of it would surely make for an entertaining meal, not to mention a great discussion piece!

Neat! Naptime

Behold! The greatest invention EVER!

If you can't tell from just looking at it, the cocoon surrounding this sleepy woman is a "sleep suit" inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s practice of Dymaxion Sleeping, which involves four 30-minute naps over a period of 24 hours. The “Sleep Suit” was designed by Forrest Jessee and acts as of portable sleeping bag that allows the working professional some much needed down time during a stressful day at the job, or for that matter anywhere. I must have one. The interwoven paddinf is made of EVA foam, which is often used for sports padding or sleeping bags. I personally like the idea of free air flow between the pleats, for a truly relaxing power nap.

New Words, New Fav

One of my new favorite websites from the Time top 50 websites of 2009 is VisuWords. Personally, I recommend using the random function to see what random word connections will come up on this inspired online thesaurus. At the same time, it can certainly function as a useful tool when searching for that perfect word to sting an ex or to impress a future employer. Above is an example of the frozen visual you might see.

YUMMY!

How can you disagree...or resist for that matter? Above are the designs for Yummy Ice Cream by a student from Portugal. I love the whimsy and boldness of the Joao Ricardo Machado's design. I like that they rely on our own recognition past the brand name. They would be easily recognizable by children seatbelted into their parent's shopping cart, as well as men and women of all ages searching for the perfect treat. I would love to see marketers go in this direction and really pushing what will satisfy their consumers.

from dieline

THE Curule

above: can be identified as an x-stool, a curule, a Dante chair,

Savonarola chair, a Faldistorium or even a scissors chair

In fact, the curule has bee a part of home decoration for thousands of years. This classic piece began in Ancient Egypt, and was made of wood ; It reappeared in the ever so fashionable Ancient Rome, and twenty four centuries later it reappeared in our living rooms.

As you can see. the curule, or x-chair, has taken on many forms. I myself am all about grass-like velour, or in this case maybe even real velvet. Maybe someday I will have a curule of my own...

After further inspection, I found an empowering while still characteristically lovely component of Design*Sponge for business women called Biz Ladies. I couldn't believe how many entries were applicable to my not-so-distant aspirations as a future business woman myself. I started by reading an article by Nikko Moy, about selling fine art online. Many good articles in the future, all in one place thanks the strong arm at the Sponge.

Bay Bridge to go Above and Beyond

In an article found at Core77 about an obsolete reconstruction designs (to say the least) of San Francisco's Bay Bridge. So first I started by refreshing my word bank.

OBSOLETE: –verb (used with object)

to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate. Automation has obsoleted many factory workers.

The utilization of this theoretical bridge would surely make modern bridges obsolete. At least in major

cities such as San Francisco, which has been on the cusp of cultural revolutions for decades. If you can handle your fear of heights, this is prime

real estate. Ideas like this are absolutely mindblowing when it comes to the

speed of technology and innovation. Aside from our cityscapes learning how to adapt to these seemingly

nearly approaching novelties, societies will have to adapt to the reality of suspended

housing, indoor farms, and the likes.

50 best websites of 2009!!!

I found the Time article listing the 50 Best Websites of 2009 to be of the more fascinating quick-read blogs I’ve came across while creating my own. I am not particularly technologically affluent, nor am I particularly interested; however I have been enjoying a deeper look into what the internet has to offer. That said, here are my observations and of course my favorites from 2009’s list:

I was surprised to see internet giants?.... for lack of a better word, Google and YouTube, respectively at number 11 and 12.

1. Flickr

2. California Coastline

3. Delicious

4. Metafilter

5. popurls

Wikipedia, a personal favorite, came in at 25^th .

Also, I plan to check out PHOTOSYNTH in greater depth.

While once a skeptic, I suggest checking out all of these websites, as they all offered me information I had not gathered anywhere else before.

Microsoft takes promos to the next level!

Funny Microsoft Word Video

Commentary

future of ad design

three common characteristics: economy, expediency and focus; financial crisis or not, great design criteria to strive for at any time.

you do the math

Nearly everyone would agree that flowers are inherently beautiful. They are colorful, delicate, diverse, and alive. Flowers also carry the weight of certain connotations, depending on the fower, the color, the arrangement, or the occasion. Recently on Design*Sponge, a home design blog, I found an article about applying trigonometry and geometry to flower arrangements to make then scientifically aesthetically appealing.

Two women who write for the blog, also own their own flourist school, called the Little Flower School. Here, geometry and advanced spherical trigonometry are required! To sum up the requirements for a pleasing floral arrangement without taking out my calculator, they suggest arranging these "floral moments" in groups of odd numbers, as it is scientifically easier on the eyes.

Last week Dubai opened the world's largest building to the public with quite a bang. The building, named Burj Khalifa, after the neighboring president of the United Arab Emirates, reaches an astounding 2,717 feet! The building is one of many firsts, with its mix of nightclubs, mosques, luxury suites and boardrooms. It will have the world’s first Armani hotel; the world’s highest swimming pool, on the 76th floor; the highest observation deck, on the 124th floor; and the highest mosque, on the 158th floor.

The building and its elaborate opening celebration is a curious move by Dubai, as they were nearly bankrupt just this past year. The New York Times reports, "The glittering celebration may have been an attempt by Dubai’s ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, to shift the focus from Dubai’s current economic troubles to a future filled with more promise." Regardless, the building is truly beautiful and complemented even more by the pools and fountains surrounding it.