Archive for October, 2008
Majora Carter: Solving Inner City Issues With Sustainability
Majora Carter started Sustainable South Bronx (SSBx) and The Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training (BEST) program developed to clean up the neighborhood while creating jobs which in turn lowered local crimes rates.
Majora came to understand that crime, poverty, and unemployment were all inherently connected to poor environmental conditions and that police did little past dampen the crime rate. Nothing was addressing the underlying reasons why people were behaving in such self destructive manners. So in 2001 Majora began SSBx along with the job training program BEST. BEST trained local residence (some ex-cons) for local green jobs. Quickly after these program began she noticed how badly locals had been urning for a clean and green neighborhood. It boosted neighborhood moral and encouraged healthy living habits. To date BEST has trained nearly 200 people, 90% whom have gotten jobs. And what about all the ex-cons? Everyone of them has remained out of prison and has kept their job.
This program really caught my eye because it deals with an inner city issue solved through sustainable practices. Rarely do those two things converge. Also because it’s financially self sustaining. It should be noted that good green intentions are fine but they won’t go any where unless they’re grounded in economic reality. This is a terrific example of where it all harmoniously came together and made cents.
Abraham Obama
This is some of Ron English’s new work where he fused Obama’s face onto a Lincoln body in his very robust illustration style. This New York based artist first got famous for doing street art where he’d manipulate billboards to give them a new meaning. Usually to attach some sort of anti-establishment/political message. He recently finished a nation wide tour exhibiting his Abraham Obama prints in Denver at the DNC.
Source Popaganda.com
I got into INSEAD!
Last Friday I got the good news that I’ll be participating in the study aboard program at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France starting in the beginning of January and continuing until the end of April. INSEAD is world renowned graduate business school and sister school with the Wharton School of Business. This program was designed to bring together creative Art Center students with business minded MBA students in a collaborative group project. I can’t wait!
Matthias Pliessnig
I just discovered this incredible furniture designer. Known more for his work in metal, he recently began working with wood and uncovering it’s mendable characteristics to create powerful organic forms. His work reminds of something in between Santiago Calatrava and Zaha Hadid.
“My current work is exploring combinations of boat building and furniture building skills to create objects that celebrate wood as a material and asks questions of function.”
Source Matthias-Studio.com
Powell Endorses Obama
Yesterday on ‘Meet the Press’ Retired General Colin Powell announced his endorsement for Barack Obama. This coming at the tail end of the election with current National Gallup polls showing Sen. Obama with a 10 point lead over his rival Sen. John McCain. Even if you add in the Bradley effect it’s still a 5-6 point lead.
Given that some of last weeks national polls already had Obama up by 12 points, Gen. Powell’s endorsement was another swift kick in the stomach for the dissolving McCain campaign. In his explanation for the endorsement, Powell laid out clear reasons which included Palin’s lack of qualifications to the sour shift the campaign has gone attacking Obama on the obscure affiliation with Aires while not addressing the real issues Americans are concerned about. Powell also expressed his admiration for Obama’s righteous tone and demeanor during the financial melt down and campaign. He spoke about Obama’s vision of a united country and his intellectual capacity to lead. I think the McCain campaign just lost the last leg to stand up on.
Source MSNBC
Aston Martin One 77
Aston Martin sort of revealed their quintessential car at the Paris Auto Show earlier this month. The One 77. It’s called that for three reasons; one, it’s a 7.0 liter V12 two, it’s has a hefty 700 bhp, and three they’re only making 77 a year. This thing is absolutely gorgeous. The front end proportions remind me a little of the Corvette but the roof line is a lot more slip stream. The large side metal light catcher works well following the muscular rear shoulder.
Source Motor Authority
Lewis’ Big Win in China
After the disaster in Japan last week and added pressure from the media and fellow drivers, Hamilton needed a strong race to get back on track toward the championship. He did just that in a sweeping victory fitting of true champion in China.
Source Formula1.com / Sutton Images
My New Watch!
Well I guess I’m going through my Muji phase as a designer cause I fell in love with this Nixon watch. And since it has a canvas band it only cost me $60. Sweet.
A couple terms ago I did a project where the branding followed Nixon aesthetics. The project was a mobile phone for which I designed an interface. I took graphic reference from their site even though I wasn’t a huge fan of it. But recently when I went to their site I was pleasantly surprised to see they’d changed the brand’s graphic image. The new san serif logo type is refined and more fitting for the type of company they are. Here’s an image of their new homepage.
Source NixonNow.com
Shades of Greige: Spring/Summer ’09
I’ve been a fan of Shades of Greige for a while now. They have a very tailored look while still retaining a fresh and youthful feel. Recently they announced their Spring/Summer line for ’09. Here’s a preview.
Source Selectism