Luciano Bove

Make your own Jackson Pollock

2008-07-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

Seen on http://poppypetunia.blogspot.com/ for you! Today you can visit the site www.jacksonpollock.org and try to make your own artistic composition.

Click and try!

Image and info via www.poppypetunia.blogspot.com

Chair and feet-rest "Dolce vita" by Stefano Bigi

2008-07-15T02:31:00.000-07:00

Designer: Stefano Bigi, Italy

www.helldesign.com

for

La Cividina srl progetto 2008

Source: www.youngdesigner.it

Marketing, Trends and Design

2008-07-07T07:01:00.001-07:00

Some years ago (about 15) in Italy’s car design centers we started to pronounce words like « benchmarking, marketing, trends, future scenarios ».
At that time, I just came back from the States (late 1989) and I heard the same words 5 years earlier in California at school.

During 90’s the Design community was starting to follow and learn how to really work with those “Styling tests, Marketing surveys, Benchmarking studies, Statistic population analysis at so on”.

It was the beginning of potential client Designs versus emotional Designs.

Today all this is a lot amplified due to global markets. In 1997 the Fiat Palio was named “the world car”, 10 years later the Renault Dacia Logan is the “world low cost car” in a completely changed contest.

Client tests are very commons; ethnic studies are often proposed, interpretations of future scenarios, too. The question is: can Design exist without Marketing? What is the real advantage for designers to listen and follow what marketing studies tell about a product or project development?

Personally, I never liked to follow too much all this Marketing and Trends stuff simply because I come from a school where “Emotions and talent” drive the project. In other words; to make a product to get the wanted success we designers should follow our talent and emotions and make proposals that at the end do provoke similar reactions by potential clients (I wanted…yes I love it..)
Naturally, there must be coherence between Design and real product cost. The market will never by something extremely good if out of price.

So this is not easy to reach, not every designer will be able to do it, but it is important not to create a stereotype of client Design culture that follows only the recipe of today’s picture! This would work against design progress.

All the studies and reports produced are only about today’s people reaction, the future scenarios are predictions made by analysts. However, nobody can certify that it is the only true story! I think that the designer with talent and good knowledge (who follows life changes) is able to make such type of prediction better than a specialized marketing and trends’ studies team. To me it is a question of emotional feeling about how life goes through, about how people change and try to anticipate them by following their emotions.
It is not about a cold report that puts together all sorts of statistics, photos, habits questions at so on…

We must follow ourselves by using our talent and culture; we will read and learn about marketing and trends’ studies knowing that they are not the only way to solve the problem.

Photo via: www.interactivemarketingtrends.blogspot.com

Dynamic Tower by David Fisher

2008-07-02T02:29:00.000-07:00

Over Architecture limits with this creation by David Fisher.

Black & White photography by David James Williams

2008-06-28T02:21:00.000-07:00

Great photo made by David James Williams and discovered on Flickr. Here his gallery:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78337738@N00/

Go check it out!

It is official: Art Center Pasadena looking for a new president.

2008-06-25T03:05:00.000-07:00

This blog followed with a lot of interest the Art Center controversy and today is ready to give you the good news: the school is looking for a new president!

The Board of Trustees of Art Center represented by John Puerner made an official statement announcing future programs for the school including the search for a new president.

Here a part of it:

Statement from John Puerner

June 24, 2008

On behalf of the College’s Board of Trustees, I want to bring you up to date on some important matters at Art Center. Over the last few weeks, the Board received considerable input in the form of letters, petitions and emails voicing concern and comment on various subjects. First and foremost, the Board and administration remain firmly committed to continuing the high quality of education that Art Center is known for worldwide. It has always been our most important priority. As trustees, our primary responsibilities are to provide governance and oversight as we work closely with the administration in charting a course for the future. A key role of governance is to provide for the proper leadership and organizational structure to best lead the College. Over the last nine years, Richard Koshalek has exhibited dynamic and original leadership of Art Center, and we look forward to and support his continuing leadership. His efforts have been of great value to the College, the communities it serves, and we are very thankful for his contributions, which include the following: * Increasing the College’s scholarship endowment from $16 million in 1999 to $43 million, resulting in $7 million in scholarships in 2008; * Opening South Campus as the home of Public Programs and Graduate Education, with recognition as the first LEED-certified green building in the City of Pasadena; * Expanding Graduate Education with new advances in technology for Graduate Media Design studios at South Campus; * Launching the Art Center Design Conferences and Designmatters, positioning Art Center as an advocate for the importance of design and the value of creative contributions to various fields. Importantly, leadership must continue to evolve to meet future challenges. Therefore, the Board has decided to start the search for a new president...

To this statement follows another from Richard Koshalek, too.

To read the all document please click the following link:

http://www.artcenter.edu/forum/announcements.php

Source: Art Center Forum

Art Center College of Design final act? (Maybe yes).

2008-06-23T00:05:00.000-07:00

It looks like that after several months and weeks of civil protest by Art Center students and some members of faculty and staff against the ACCD President strategic plan about school's future something is shaking!

The on-line petition gained untill today 1455 l signatures with a lots of interesting and serious comments from all over the world.

The american local and national press started to look closely to this affair and wrote interesting articles with very precise analysis and details about what was happening untill the latest article published by the "Pasadena Starnews" entitled:

"Contract of High-profile president of Art Center won't be renewed" written by Janette Williams.

Here for you some lines of this article that explains what is happening now up in the hills of pasadena to save the school future and honor.

"PASADENA — Richard Koshalek, the high-profile, hard-driving president of Art Center College of Design since 1999, will not have his contract renewed when it expires in 18 months.
John Puerner, chairman of the college's 16-member Board of Trustees, speaking from his home in Santa Fe on Saturday, said the college was in the process of "crafting a communication to deliver to the Art Center community" in the next few days.
"We will provide communication ... using a new forum created by Art Center, a new on-line forum created to speak to students and faculty," Puerner said while declining to comment until Art Center staff and students are informed of the board's action.
Puerner later said he was not confirming Koshalek's contract would not be renewed."

Please continue reading at: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/rds_search/ci_9661295

Russian designers are coming

2008-06-18T04:06:00.001-07:00

Hi friends, this young designer Arseny Kostromin comes from the Design school MAMI International in Moscow. It is a good example of how talented are russian design students and how good is this school.

Soon I'll make a post dedicated to the visit I made to MAMI International school.

Check out his blog to look at more work, here is the link:

http://senjadesignwork.blogspot.com/

Art Center controversy: some interesting details.

2008-06-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

LA Weekly published a complete article about Art Center controversy giving new details about the problem that school management and students are currently living.

Here a small part of it:

Nathan Cooke* isn’t a miscreant. He isn’t a troublemaker or a misguided teen. He is a 26-year-old industrial design major in his final two trimesters at the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Cooke’s a good student too — a rare Art Center scholarship recipient and an active force on campus. He’s the president of the EcoCouncil, a student organization designed to promote environmental responsibility on campus and beyond.

It started with Styrofoam.

Despite branding itself as a world leader in sustainability education, Art Center’s cafeteria uses disposable Styrofoam dishware. For nearly two years, Cooke says, EcoCouncil, fellow students and even some faculty lobbied Art Center’s administration to ditch the Styrofoam in favor of something more environmentally friendly. Some recycling bins around campus wouldn’t hurt, either, they argued.

“But, we were consistently told there wasn’t enough money,” Cooke says.

One day after Cooke’s post, Art Center’s Chief Academic Officer Nate Young resigned under curious circumstances — with Koshalek hinting it was due to Young’s handling of a $1.1 million educational budget deficit. A short time later, Young’s assistant, Rachel Tiede, fresh off maternity leave, was fired after speaking up for her former boss at a student government meeting.

Please read the rest at:
http://www.laweekly.com/art+books/art/
is-art-center-gehry-rigged-richard-koshalek-says-no/
19093/?page=1

http://futureofartcenter.blogspot.com/

LA Times writes about Art Center controversy

2008-06-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

I think it is important to come back on the Art Center issue after what is happening on-line with the petition, the LA Times wrote an excellent article that explaines really well what happened and what students are asking for.

So for those that are interested and did not read here a small part of it:

Dissension at Art Center College of Design

Some students and alumni want money to go toward education and scholarships, not new buildings.

By Mike Boehm, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 11, 2008

Concerned that Art Center College of Design is putting too much money and energy into expanding its campus and promoting itself to outsiders -- and not enough into scholarships and instruction -- hundreds of students and alumni of the elite private college in Pasadena are petitioning its trustees to suspend plans for a $50-million building by Frank Gehry.

Art Center graduates have been weighing in over the Internet from as far away as France and South Korea, adding their names and comments to the "Education First!" petition that some students posted on the Web.

Art Center Petition: Education First

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/educationfirst

The rest of article you will find here:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-et-artcenter11-2008jun11,0,7266639.story

New article today 12 June: http://blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/arts-news/controversy-surrounds-yet-anot/

New article toda 12 June: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_9546872

BMW Gina Concept presented by Chris Bangle

2008-06-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

Education first! Art Center controversy part 2

2008-06-09T04:26:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,

several times I have written about Design schools and how to choose for a good one. Many times I wrote about Art Center in Pasadena - California as one of the best Design school on earth.

Actually there is a controversy going on at this school and it looks like a lot of people are mad about latest management strategy. In a few words , really few people understand and support the strategy applied to school's future vision.

Another element that is creating friction between the school management and students / alumni is Nathan Young's resignation (ex N°2 in school).

At the end the debate is : better big business or first education?

I met Nathan Young about 20 years ago and since then we had the chance to meet sometime and talk about Design, Education and naturally Art Center.
I know this guy well enough to say that he is probably the best and only resource today for such important school in order to get it back on track and produce again quality work and quality young designers.

Education first! Yes, it is all about good education at a competitive tuition fee. It is about spending the money on strategic projects with the right people on the boat like Nathan. It is about raising money to lower tution especially for those students that do not have a lot of money but that deserve a chance to make it.

Now I do not know if the resignation has been already accepted, I only hope that there will be a way to reconsider all this with a happy end in the main interest of students' education and school image.

This is my hope as Art Center Alumni!

If you want to sign the on-line petition click here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/educationfirst

The story is on the body, Art and Photography by Marco and Yasmina

2008-06-03T04:33:00.000-07:00

Marco Guerra takes artistic photos of naked bodies representing their elegance and Yasmina Alaoui , on those photos, puts her color and texture artistic touch.
It is about an art project done by four hands and that starting the 5th of June will be exposed at the Opera Gallery in N.Y. USA.

For more info: http://www.operagallery.com/catalogues/alaoui.pdf

MIROSLAV DIMITROV Rendering technique

2008-06-02T02:19:00.001-07:00

Miroslav is a 23 year old designer with a BA in Automotive Design from Coventry University. His strong passion for design has led to running his own business as a freelancer in...check out the complete article with all images to learn...Enjoy!

read more | digg story

Erotic italian comics by Cristina Fabris

2008-05-27T00:23:00.000-07:00

Cristina Fabris' drawings for new erotic comics, the story by Luciana Del Re and Elisabetta Conti for edition Coniglio.

This is an erotic italian comics completely realized by girls! Not bad at all...

Info and images Via: www.corriere.it

Argus 7th European Design Competition

2008-05-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

On next 21 June 2008 French magazine 'L'argus de l'automobile' will launch the 7th edition of its Design Competition, open to students of European design colleges.

This year the goal is to come up with original, innovative and useful concepts for the movement of goods and people with the theme: “Invent a vehicle that is useful for society”.

For more detailed info please go to: http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2008/05/19-l-argus-7th-european-design-competition/

or contact via mail : concoursdesign@argusauto.com.

Image and source info: www.carbodydesign.com

Stile Italiano Giovani 2008 competition

2008-05-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

Anfia Car Coachbuilders Group has announced the launch of the 2008 edition of the Stile Italiano Giovani design competition. Participation is open to non-professional designers under 28 and the submission deadline is 30 June 2008.

Those interested in participating in the competition (the “Competitors”) shall send the application form, duly filled in, not later than 30th June 2008.
Drawings must be accompanied by a descriptive report (not more than one typewritten page) with motivations and characteristics, in English or in Italian.

For more info: http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2008/05/23-stile-italiano-giovani-2008/
http://www.en.anfia.it/index.php?modulo=view_eventi_corso

No Quarter - Vancouver Film School (VFS)

2008-05-21T02:09:00.000-07:00

Created by Vancouver Film School student Michael Trent through the VFS 3D Animation & Visual Effects program.

By VFS on www.revver.com

Serious Trash - Art Center Pasadena controversy!

2008-05-18T01:14:00.001-07:00

Serious Play was the latest in a series of bi-annual conferences hosted by Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, around the theme ‘Stories from the Source.’ It is part of an initiative from the top brass to position Art Center as a forward thinking school...

read more | digg story

Ford T Design Challange

2008-05-14T00:25:00.001-07:00

For all design students. Here all instructions to partecipate...Click and read

read more digg story

Car design future.

2008-05-12T01:42:00.000-07:00

The automotive future is here, at least in theory. Each year, car enthusiasts from across the country attend auto shows to check out the latest designs. Concept cars are the most popular -- with a wide range of varieties shown. A futuristic prototype with unique layouts, they are made to showcase new styling, technology and more. One of this year's concepts, GM's Denali XT, is a car-based pick-up truck. With the handling and fuel efficiency of a car, it also has a handy pickup bed that can be extended into the backseat for more room, through a unique midgate. Showing the hybrid at auto shows is an opportunity for the manufacturer to gauge customer reaction.

Video and post by: mdk on Revver.com

Craig Mullins' Art and Illustration

2008-05-07T00:26:00.001-07:00

Craig Mullins is an american artist and illustrator with a great talent, in these images you can admire his ability and on his website www.goodbrush.com you will find the full Art gallery and infos about him.

Craig studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and graduated in 1990, in 1994 he decides to express himself with digital media becoming one of the best in this speciality.

I would like to remember to all students watching Craig's Art work that the strong points are: proportions - composition - use of color - use of light - feeling in the brush stroke - attention to details - expression - dramatic effect - deep field effect ...have fun and try to learn from him!

Images and info: www.goodbrush.com

Erotic Advertising in Naples, Italy

2008-05-05T02:13:00.000-07:00

This is a huge advertising pannel in the middle of Naples in Italy, now are we going to remember the product of this commercial? I guess YES!

Photo Via: www.corriere.it

Alias Design car sketching tutorial

2008-05-03T04:54:00.000-07:00

Kyle Runciman shows us his technic to make a nice illustration in car styling starting from a quick blu pencil sketch.
He used Autodesk AliasStudio and a Wacom Cintiq 21 UX tablet.

The final result is very good (even if some proportions are forced a bit), composition, colors, contrast, drama and energy are there.

To find the all tutorial go to: http://aliasdesign.autodesk.com/learning/tutorials/details/Digital%20Painting_133056/

I hope, as Kyle Rounciman says, that it might be of help to someone...have fun!

Photos and tutorial by Kyle Rounciman via Aliasdesign.autodesk.com

Indonesia signs of colors

2008-04-30T04:13:00.000-07:00