In this short animation by Andrea Stinga and Federico Gonzalez, architectural marvels from past and present greats are simplified and animated aptly to melodic beauty of The Butterfly. The works of Louis Kahn, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Luís Domènech i Montaner (pictured below) and twenty-three others, may have been stripped down but they all retain the signature essence of their creators.
Antoni Tapies Foundation in Barcelona
Antoni Tapies Foundation in Barcelona, from ABCs of Architecture
I’m so glad I was paying attention this morning when @Jake_Barton from Local Projects posted this on twitter. This video uses 3D modeling do demonstrate NYC’s carbon dioxide output in volumetric tons in real-time. The dataset is from 2010, the latest available, but one can only assume that the startling rate of 1.72 tons a second has only increased.
As an avid cyclist and large proponent of commuting via bike, I feel that this type of visualization is a powerful argument increased bike infrastructure in cities across the country. Here in Chicago we are increasing the amount of bike lanes each month, and in some cases even installing protected bike lanes (so that the cars are parked in a way that they protect the bikers instead of the other way around). This is all well and good for us who already bike to work, but I do wonder if it is increasing the amount of daily commuters? I know plenty of people who live within riding or walking distance to their offices, and still opt for a cab to work over even public transport. Perhaps this will be a generational thing where the kids of bike commuters will be exposed to safer bike infrastructure at a young age and feel more inclined to commute via bike.
I acknowledge that biking to work is not for everyone. No worries, but our dependence on cabs has got to be curbed. Nothing against people trying to make a living. But you have to ask yourself, am I a part of the problem, or a part of the solution?
This video was produced by Carbon Visuals, a business dedicated to communicating carbon data more effectively. They help draw attention to emissions, enable people to understand the quantities involved, and thereby feel better informed to make decisions. Check them out when you get a chance.
Before you press play, please mentally commit to watching this through to the end. It is worth it. I see problems solved everyday. Shit, I’d like to think I solve a few myself. This is different. If the product of these two students turned entrepreneurs comes to fruition, it could really change things.
I commute to work everyday on my bike. Any errand that needs running, bike. I’m hungry, bike. “Meet you at the bar in 5,” bike. And regardless of distance, destination or time of day, I strap on my helmet without a moment’s hesitation. But I know that I’m not in the majority, at least not in Chicago. I’ve heard horrible excuses—none dumber than “carpe diem, man” (Miss do you know what that means?), but none more common than “I don’t want to mess up my hair.”
And this idea, this sweet little nugget of practicality, could head on address it. Awesome. My only real question, what does the summer time version look like?
If you are in NYC before October 23, go check out the IBM THINK Exhibit at the Lincoln Center and let me know what you think. While no one is sporting a ThinkPad anymore, (or having any conscious interactions with an IBM branded product), they have remained high atop my own list of brands I’d love to work on. Whether it is the gorgeous work that VSA does with visualizing their data or their utopian rally cry of “Let’s Build a Smarter Planet” — there’s something about this brand that always leaves me asking “what will they do next?”
Check out the video above for footage for their interactive exhibit that helped celebrate their 100 year anniversary.
More information on the exhibit can be found on IBM’s site.
Karloff is a rather bio-polar new font from Typotheque which, according to the maker, “explores the idea how two extremes could be combined into a coherent whole.” To launch the font, Typotheque put together this gorgeous black and white piece which cleanly proves that all three versions of the font, positive, negative and neutral, can work in harmony together. I think that this is a brave idea, that has actually be realized in a font that I can’t wait to use. My favorite part of this promo piece is listening to the voiceover artist Harvey Gold pull a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when describing the polar ends of the font. You could hear the smile on his face. Great piece.
Animation: Thibault de Fournas & Christopher Wilson, Screenplay: Peter Bilak, Voiceover: Harvey Gold, Music: Nicolas Jaar.
Checkout this great hole puncher at the office. It was just begging to have eyes added to it. Would you say that they look more like alligators or crocodiles?
Check out this awesome little treat from Chris and Kristen Barker at wearethebarkers.com. Between the yellow of the lemon and the green of the grass—this fun little box just feels like summer.
I watched Big Easy Express over the weekend. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to see Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Old Crow Medicine Show or Mumford and Son this will really be up your alley. They did from San Fran to New Orleans with five or six stops on the way. It’s a treat to see the interactions of such a talented bunch of musicians. The cinematography is tasteful and the documentary steers clear of trying to shove a narrative down the viewers throat—which I appreciate. Check it out, on iTunes now, or I’m sure it’s on its way to Netflix in a few.
Watch Buro Destruct craft a new typeface that is inspired by Edding’s 850 permanent marker (which is fatter than a Sharpie Magnum). I love the subtle animations in this clip. They really help the flow of the narrative and they are a neat way to show the work, outside of the monitors.
You can also play with the font and download for free right now at their site.
