Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’

my father the designer ///

by trade my father is a farmer.
an independent farmer.
just like his father and his father’s father.
you get the idea.

this past weekend i went with my father to a bull sale. on the ride up i was reviewing the sales booklet — which has pictures of the bulls and breeding information for possible buyers. while flipping through the livestock i began to notice aspects of design that i’d never put together before.

i’ve recently been trying to connect these two worlds i’ve lived in. one being the life i was born into – farming // the other being this creative journey i’ve chosen as a kid who had the talent to doodle and think. by blind observation one would put these two things as polar opposites. now as i have the opportunities to weave these two directions back into my daily life — i’m beginning to see overlaying patterns and language that bring them together.

is it ridiculous to call a bull a website design // perhaps.
but if you pay attention to genetics, intention and the perspective that both are living things — well the lines begin to gray.

first, both are means to an end goal – a producing medium for an end product. these products must both meet the needs for the current consumer market.

second, the genetics or content must be true to your land and local markets. you have to look past the site or bull to understand which aspects are needed for your idea to grow and reproduce a bottom line to keep making your product.

third, both bull and site have to answer to an aesthetic line, form, color and brand to your herd or company. a bull or site design is the keystone to your brand voice and style of finding a niche market approach in the local and global markets we are all now affected by.

vigor hybrid // cross platform branding are almost one in the same — one just has more twang than the other.

forth, as i begin to understand this cross vigor approach to design and farming an abstract form of thinking and lessons to grow in both areas opens up. this is crucial for a curious mind of a designer and son of a farmer. i’ll keep you posted on other observations to come as i continue to visit the farm over the next few months — hopefully years.

Deus Ex Machina // the temple of inspiration

Deus Ex Machina – Temple Of Enthusiasm, Bali from Deus Customs on Vimeo.

Robert :: a hard rain

thank you :: Chuck Close

While tooling around the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts last week — waiting to go into the Pablo Picasso Exhihibit, I remembered that it was in the original building that I think I first realized I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. The painting that did it for me was by Chuck Close. I think I was in eighth grade on a field trip to the state capital – Mrs. Norcross’s Art Class – when I was first introduced to chuck. Well to be able to see a hero’s artwork on a wall as a child is a magical thing.

What was just a guy in a book or a video was now 2-3 feet from my face. Though I couldn’t touch the art, I could share a moment in my day with him that isn’t available in a book or a tv screen. Chuck continues to inspire me to this day. The bummer was while tooling around the museum- the painting that I am refering too from my childhood wasn’t on the wall this trip. I was bummed but on my last day in town I stopped by Mongrel, another great shop in carytown to drop in if you get a chance. On one of the shelves was this 12 block, 6 puzzles set from Chuck for the kids.

I had to pick it up – for my kids of course and also for the kid who still wishes to be an artist when he grows up…

My new Hero :: Mike Meire


The other day I spent a little time at Barnes&Noble. I have to admit I’m a sucker for glossy mags. With tight times I try to stay away from my weakness, but last week I found a magazine that I had to bring home : Elephant.

The magazine is awesome, but to be honest I found a new hero that day on page 102 of the current issue : Mike Meiré.

“Officially, Meiré divides his lack of time between ‘Brand Coding,’ ‘Art Direction,’ ‘Architecture,’ and ‘Culture Projects.’ But into the second hour of our conversation, Meiré tells me: ‘I used to find it embarrasing when people asked, “What is your profession?” This was always my struggle.’
Why ‘struggle?’
‘Because I like to do logos and I love making magazines and sometimes I’m not afraid to do architecture, a house, whatever. These days, it’s somehow easier for me to talk about this: I am what you like; call me what I should be for you. But when I was twenty-one, twenty-two, I was one these, well, “whiz kids in the German design world.” We were quite radical. But there tends to be this limitation in Germany — either you’re a designer or you’re in advertising. We’re too big to be a small design studio, so they call us an advertising agency. My question is: What is advertising these days, anyway? So, at some point, I stepped away from trying to find who I am, or — a better word — what I am.’

That night after diner I showed my wife this new find — “I think I’ve found what I want to be when I grow up – here read this.” She smiled and read on to say “This is pretty cool – I’ll read the rest later…” Well, I have to say I shared while I could.

Check Mike out – go pick up the newest issue and a back issues. Maybe we can build a factory toghether…

Cornel West :: the awareness of Change

A Look Inside the Sketchbooks of 12 Top Designers

fast co design sharing another great inspirational posting.

Frank – Frankly Genius Idea

Wow that was bad. Frank Chimero — please don’t take the headline personally…
check out the rest of this doodle and his work here.

Making Future Magic : ipad light painting

Making Future Magic: iPad light painting from Dentsu London on Vimeo.

Colin Hesterly is SICK GOOD

Demo Reel 2010 from Colin Hesterly on Vimeo.

World Of Motion from Colin Hesterly on Vimeo.

March Into The Sea from Colin Hesterly on Vimeo.

Colin’s Website