Creo Magazine

Sorry, We're Open

noreply@blogger.com (CREO magazine) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:34:00 +0000

With a new year comes a new look and format for CREO Magazine! Twenty-ten proved to be quite eventful with a summertime move from sunny Florida to wet (but green) Washington - thus, the reason for our long absence!

But don't fret...great things are in store to inspire young creatives such as yourself. Stay tuned for a redesigned site, online classes and the usual tidbits of visual culture. For the time being, we'll keep CREO 1.0 open for business (our geeky name for this site) until 2.0 is alive and kicking!

{image via 35th Avenue Skate Shop}

For the super paranoid

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer.Thomas) — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:29:00 +0000

For those who store confidential information on their external hard drive and have a fear of someone seeing it, this new product is perfect for you. LaCie's new Rugged Safe HDD offers 128-bit AES hardware encryption, biometric fingerprint access and a shock-proof enclosure.

The product is made out of drop-proof metal and comes in either a 500GB or 1TB variety.

{via trendhunter}

The World Cup and Art

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:14:00 +0000

As I am sure all you sports fans out there know already, the FIFA World Cup begins two weeks from today in South Africa. While the sporting event captures the attention of citizens across the globe, it is not just soccer that captivates people. For the second time in World Cup history there is an officially licensed art project to accompany the sporting event. 17 international artists participated in the project in which each produced a work of art based on football to be printed on posters. The artists, 12 of which are African and 7 or which are from South Africa, made pieces featuring everything from the red elephant seen above to villages of colorful people and sketches of players. The posters can all be bought online here.

{via sitepoint.com}

Shooting Blanks

noreply@blogger.com (Brie Hiramine) — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:12:00 +0000

Finals time is fast approaching at my school and, since I don't like writing in my books, I've been peppering them in Post-it notes. Shooting Blanks is a series of photographs by Gina Osterloh that reminds me a little too much of my Statistics textbook--a flurry of paper and colors that I can't escape from.

{via Design for Mankind}

Unusual Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer.Thomas) — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:02:00 +0000

Andrea Galvani is known for his unusual balloon and smoke photography. His incredible photos have a mysterious and surreal vibe to them. His compositions appear to be quite random but extremely fascinating to look at.

{via trendhunter}

Colorful Keys

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:46:00 +0000

After studying at a liberal arts college for four years and writing more papers than I care to count, I appreciate how dull the process can be. The ordinary black-and-white keyboard I was forced to stare at for hours, however, can now look much more uplifting! Openandclose Mac Decals, now available on Etsy, brighten your keyboard and personalize your computer by transforming the original keys into a field of color. There are several different decals, including the rainbow keys seen above, as well as Lego and candy themed keys. Adding color is a great way to personalize your computer, and maybe find a little inspiration as well!

{via trendhunter}

Not Just for Cowboys Anymore

noreply@blogger.com (CREO magazine) — Wed, 19 May 2010 23:13:00 +0000

Are European cowboys more hip than American ones? You be the judge - compare the marketing style of the U.S. Wrangler Jeans website to the website of Wrangler Europe across the pond. I particularly like the Blue Bell campaign.

Issue four is here!

noreply@blogger.com (CREO magazine) — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:34:00 +0000

Grab a little inspiration before you head off to summer. In this issue find interviews with Chrissy Angliker and the artist known as Danita Art, take a look at a study abroad program, see how two cities use art and culture to give youth a voice, and consider how pop culture collides in our global economy. Where, oh where will your head and heart wander?

"Better Together"

noreply@blogger.com (Brie Hiramine) — Tue, 18 May 2010 05:48:00 +0000

"Better Together" for Match.com from FriendsWithYou on Vimeo.

Let's be honest. I haven't really had much experience with, um, dating websites. But I do watch TV, so I've seen some of the commercials. With white backgrounds and smiling, playfully shoving couples, they all kind of blend together. Surprisingly, this animated video made for Match.com bucks that trend. In a word, this video is adorable. Not only is the song catchy and cute, the animation is totally cute in the vein of talking fruit and playful coloration.

{via ShareSomeCandy}

A Biker's New Best Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer.Thomas) — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:33:00 +0000

Biking late at night is not always that safe, especially if you’re riding without any reflectors or lights. Now you can bike at any hour without the chance of having a close call. ‘Ferris WheeLed’ from PIAA is a flashy light that clips on to your bike spokes and ensures that drivers (along with everyone else in the city) will be sure to notice you. The light cost $25 and very well worth it. After all, medical bills are so expensive these days. Why take the chance?

{via trendhunter}

The Portrait Machine Project

noreply@blogger.com (Brie Hiramine) — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:38:00 +0000

Some people specialize in landscape photography, others in still life. Given the choice, I would only shoot people. Maybe it's the writer in me, but I feel like there is something extra special about capturing personalities and hidden vulnerabilities. Carlo Van der Roer's Portrait Machine Project may take away a bit of that mystery. (Or at least offer an off-the-wall perspective.)

Using a camera that measures biofeedback and expresses it as auras of colored light, Van der Roer is bringing back "spirit photography." The look is completely trippy, and each person's aura reading is unique. With each picture, there is an accompanying description of how a psychic might analyze the subject based on his or her aura colorings--so you can truly see how your perceptions match up with what may lie underneath the surface.

{via today and tomorrow}

Ballpoint Realism

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer.Thomas) — Sat, 08 May 2010 02:24:00 +0000

This isn't a photograph, it's actually a a drawing by artist James Mylne completely drawn with a Bic^® Cristal pen. The reproduction of the "Girl with a Pearl Earring" by Johannes Vermeer took James approximately 90 hours to finish. James completed this drawing for the Challenge Bic contest to celebrate Bic's 60th anniversary.

The shading and amount of detail in this portrait is amazing. It's hard to believe that the image is completely drawn with pen.

{via blackbookmag}

Toy Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Having two younger siblings, I understand how painful it is to step on small toys that are left lying around. Robert Bradford, British visual artist, has found the solution. Bradford felt that there was a deeper history behind his children's forgotten toys, and started turning them into sculptures like the dog seen above. Old toys, pieces of plastic, buttons, and similar objects go into the works of art, which are usually in the form of animals. While the sculptures are very life-like in form, their array of colors maintains a sort of child-like exuberance that really makes them stand out!

{via trendhunter}

Design Currency

noreply@blogger.com (Brie Hiramine) — Mon, 03 May 2010 23:38:00 +0000

This year's Vancouver's Design Week has already passed, but this promotional video was just too cool to ignore. It's the ultimate 'commercial' for design nerds: flip book imagery with gorgeous typography and movement. And the best part? It isn't hawking the latest cell phone or energy drink. It's promoting design--and asking you to question its definition.

{via BOOOOOOOM!}

Portable Picnic

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer.Thomas) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:55:00 +0000

Picnics are fun however not always. Sometimes you’re stuck in the middle of no where with harassing bugs, birds who expect sharing, winds that blow your napkins and plates away, dirt that gets everywhere and the unexpected rain shower. What if you could still have a picnic and avoid all those annoyances?

Paige Russell had a great idea. She came up with the DIY ‘Green Space Travel Case’. By bringing the outdoors indoors, you can still have a perfect picnic instantly, no matter where you are.

The best part about this product is that Russell used old materials to make it. She also offers instructions on how to do it yourself.

{via trendhunter}

Design and DNA

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:24:00 +0000

The new double helix bridge in Singapore appears to be the perfect combination of inspiration from science and design. The 280m bridge that crosses the Marina Bay even has remote control lighting, a beautiful addition to the scientific side of art!

{via trendhunter}

Walking Sustainable Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Silvia Viñas) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

This chair might not be the most flattering of fashion statements, but it will always be with you when you are too tired to keep walking. The chair inflates as you walk, but only lasts inflated for about 5 seconds when you sit on it.

A video demonstrating how it works shows a model walking awkwardly, followed by the noise of the inflating bag behind her. Needless to say, the model looks incredibly uncomfortable.

Aside from how strange and uncomfortable it looks, it makes no sense to sit for 5 seconds and then have to make the effort of standing up from the floor to keep walking –how much rest can you really get from that?

{via Webecoist}

Make Your Own Spoon?

noreply@blogger.com (Brie Hiramine) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

With Hot Pockets, breakfast bars, and heat-and-go macaroni and cheese, convenience is the name of the game of our food today. So is Yael Miller's idea. And even though you could technically just grab a Go-Gurt, her concept is a much more, well, refined way to consume your yogurt.

Though this packaging is currently just conceptual, the Spoonigami idea is that a yogurt container lid could be folded up a spoon; you'd never have to worry about forgetting one. The only downside is that if you're not too great at paper-folding, making your spoon may negate any time you'd save from foraging for a proper utensil.

{via ShareSomeCandy}

Pushpin Art

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer.Thomas) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:23:00 +0000

This is no ordinary portrait. The beautiful pixilated image is made up of thousands of colorful pushpins. Artist Eric Daigh takes red, yellow, blue, white, and black pins and inserts them into a corkboard to create multicolored portraits. Some images require up to 25,000 pushpins which Daigh inserts by one at a time. His pushpin art has earned him a place in the Guinness World Records for “Largest Pushpin Mosaic”.

I wouldn’t even know where to start with a project like this. With a minimum use of color, it’s very impressive how detailed and realistic the images appear. One must have a tremendous amount of patience to attempt this technique.

{via aolnews}

A new way to "weave through traffic"

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:42:00 +0000

Ann Conte and Jeanne Wiley have taken the roadster to a whole new level. They turned a 1960's model MG midget that was being used to store firewood into a new and interesting twist on the original car design. Although the car cannot be driven, it is quite interesting to view. It is currently on display in Cohasset, MA.

{via trendhunter}

A Science Project You Can Sleep On

noreply@blogger.com (Silvia Viñas) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Designer Heather Lins created a collection of pillows inspired by science projects. The fabrics are eco-friendly; as she explains on her site, for the appliqués she used Sensuede, a fabric made from recycled polyester fibers, and wool felt for the background. The collection features three designs: "Anatomy Pillow", "Botany Pillow" (a flower cut in the middle) and "Geology Pillow" (a volcano, also cut down the middle).

{via Design-Milk)

How Do You Like Your Magazine Covers?

noreply@blogger.com (Brie Hiramine) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

I love magazines, but sometimes it feels as if you always see the same 'ol, same 'ol on the covers. Bright colors. Airbrushed. Headshot. The same celebrities over and over again...

Well, British Elle is trying something different. Their latest cover was illustrated by infamous fashion blogger and photographer Garance Doré. Like the sketches she does on her blog, this cover is stark and minimalist, but unfortunately, it is a collector's edition (and the newsstand cover is nice, but more like the typical look).

Still, I think it's pretty refreshing--and way more interesting--to see a different type of cover pop up. Would you like to see more unconventional magazine covers on newsstands?

{via vanguardink.com}

Puma Goes Green.

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer.Thomas) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:18:00 +0000

Most of us can agree that shoe boxes only add to clutter and waste. Jochen Zeitz, chairman and CEO of Puma, says in a press statement that “Boxes are everywhere, boxes have been around longer than the wheel, our lives are filled with them, we work in boxes. For a long time boxes made our lives easier. But at some point boxes became a problem. For a long time our mission has been to become the most desirable sportlifestyle company. With this next phase of our sustainability program we have evolved our mission to be the most desirable and sustainable sportlifestyle company in the world.”

Puma decided to pair up with Industrial designer, Yves Behar to come up with a better packaging solution to replace their standard shoebox. Twenty-one months later, the problem was solved. Ditch the box. The company is calling the new carrier the “Clever Little Bag” and will be wrapped in cardboard frames and placed in a reusable bag. The new packaging will reduce cardboard usage by 65 percent.

I really like the clever design of the eco-friendly packaging, especially the free bag part. The new changes aren’t due to be out until mid 2011.

{via softpedia}

Art and Politics

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:40:00 +0000

The subject of politics in Venezuela has been a flash point for political scientists for years. Today the politics are affecting artists as well. Street artists, who dislike being associated with graffiti artists, are taking to public buildings, bust stops, and any other surface that can be seen to speak their mind about the government and social issues in the country. While much of the art is pro-government and almost by default anti-American, the street art appearing around Caracas is the latest example of political art making a loud statement to the masses.

{ via The New York Times, picture Meridith Kohut The New York Times}

Postcarden: a Garden in a Card

noreply@blogger.com (Silvia Viñas) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:00:00 +0000

The designers at A Studio for Design in London came up with a great idea: Postcarden, a card with a garden inside. The card -which comes with the seeds- opens up to a background in 3D. The cards come in three designs: Allotment, Botanical, and City. The white scenes in the card help focus the attention on the beautiful colors of the mini garden.

This is how it works:

{via Cool Hunting}