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The design of everyday things

Kristin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:53:07 +0000

I finally got around to get this classic design book by Don Norman. I attended his presentation at the From Business to Buttons conference in Malmö in 2008. He’s an inspiring speaker, and I recognize his enthusiasm through the book pages as well. Even though the book was written way back in 1988 (my edition is from 2002), it’s still a relevant book today. It reveals the battle of man vs. machine in everyday life by great examples, explains why design-thinking matters, and gives us the mindset to help us prevent design mistakes in the future. The book stresses that when things don’t work the way you thought they were supposed to, it’s generally not your fault. Most times you can blame the unfriendly design instead. This is quite obvious (to me anyway), but it’s still nice to get a reminder with models and brilliant examples to back it up.

Galgeberg Kino

Kristin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:23:52 +0000

I watch movies at a much faster pace than I blog about them. Which means that I will make a little list here. But this list isn’t just a list of movies. This is a list of the movies I have watched the last Sundays at Galgeberg Kino (Cinema Galgeberg). This is a very private cinema in the flat of my friend and former colleague Kjartan B. Michaelsen. And although we watch serious movies with a following debate and everything, it’s the atmosphere in Galgeberg Kino that makes me return every Sunday. Good friends catching up while voting for what movie to see, recovering from a slight hangover in a deep couch with a hot cup of tea and some delicious cupcakes. This is simply the perfect Sunday evening for me. The yummy cupcakes above were made by Kjartan’s lovely girlfriend Thea.

The latest screenings at Galgeberg Kino:

Law-Obiding Citizen
The Informant
Up In The Air
Creation

Oh, and this little thing just to make us laugh:

Toilet in living room

Kristin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:49:21 +0000

Renovating bathroom means not being able to take a shower in own house the next month. I am aware of that. It apparently also means toilet generally is nicely placed in my living room although I was promised to be able to use it most of this period. For some reason I don’t feel like using the toilet when it is on my living room floor… So. I am a nomad at the moment – sleeping wherever someone can offer me decent bathroom facilities.

The life of a nomad is one thing. All the choices to make when renovating is another. Although my main concern is to get a bathroom that is not leaking, all of a sudden I have to choose things within the world of tiles, sinks, taps and mixers, toilets and shower doors. I really thought I couldn’t care less about what to fill my 2,4 m2 bathroom with. Now I am very enthusiastic when it comes to my Damixa Tradition basin mixer and my Porsgrund Seven D toilet with a black “Slow Close”-seat.

My dad is worried that I am more enthusiastic about basin mixer choices and tile patterns than making sure the carpenters do their job right. I definitely want them to do everything by the book. However, I haven’t read that exact book, so how am I supposed to point out any mistakes they might make? I guess I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed while reading a book I actually want to read – The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman.

By:Larm Saturday

Kristin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:57:46 +0000

Third day of the music marathon. Efterklang (DK), Death by Unga Bunga (N), CCTV (N), Susanna and the Magical Orchestra (N), Monzano (N), Moto Boy (SWE), [ingenting] (SWE). I was so tired that it should come as no surprise that the concert where I got to sit down became one of the best experiences from this day. But seriously, Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, was amazing. Their cover of Hallelujah almost made me cry. Listen to the magic.

By:Larm Friday

Kristin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:25:11 +0000

My best friend, Veronica, and I were running from concert to concert yesterday too. But this post is mainly about glasses and a hot dog. I wore my glasses yesterday. I see better with them. That’s why I have glasses. My sight is not that bad, so I don’t have to wear them to function in society, but I should use them permanently. Still I generally try to avoid wearing them around drunk people. I always get some weird remarks from people who think they are just a fashion statement and have no real function, and it annoys me. But since yesterday was all about music, and I like to see as much as possible at a concert, I did wear my glasses. Confident.

When lounging for some minutes after a bunch of concerts I told Veronica about these remarks I usually get. We agreed that these drunk people are stupid, and that my glasses are really nice and frame my face in a good way. Then she went to the ladies’ room, and I went to buy us a hot dog to share. A minute later I come running into the ladies’ room with a hot dog in hand to tell Veronica this story through the walls:

Hot dog guy: What do you want?
Me: Well, I want a hot dog – I will just check if I have enough cash.
Hot dog guy: I will give you the hot dog for free. Just because you have such nice glasses.

If I get free stuff, then I can handle the stupid remarks.

Veronica and me at By:Larm last year. I am the one with the glasses, obviously.

Yesterday’s concerts:

Hafdis Huld (ICL). She needs to practice her English pronunciation, but a funny girl, cute songs.
Humming People (N). Charming, energetic boys. Straight forward rock.
Forza (N). They made two very hungover girls dance, scream and shout at an early hour. Highlight! Hip Hop/Balkan/Folk/Latin.
Kathinka (N). From what I heard – very good. Glasses no help when tall people are standing in front of me.
Manna (FIN). Charismatic vocalist, very enjoyable concert.
The Pink Robots (N). “Hello. My name is Macintosh”. Fun!
Asha Ali (SWE). Talented girl with a great voice and some catchy tunes made Mono extremely crowded and hot hot hot.
Cacadou (N). Crazy ol’ Norwegians with clarinet, accordion, banjos++. Made me dance funny.
[ingenting] (SWE). We saw [nothing]. We ate hot dog instead.

By:Larm Thursday

Kristin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:51:22 +0000

Maria Due (N) @ John Dee – definitely a highlight through yesterday’s endless line of 30 minute concerts. Catchy “bossapop” tunes that really get stuck in you head, and a cute, relaxed girl performing them. Check out Haggerty Square, Better Soon, Where The River Is Slow, Kissing In Public on Spotify. Or visit her MySpace page.

Oh No Ono (DK) @ Samfunnsalen was a pleasant surprise. I had not listened to any of their music, but their weird pop harmonies and nasal voices really impressed me. I will definitely get to know them better now. Starting here.

Casiokids (N) @ Rockefeller. Yeah. They’re big in Norway. And lots of tall people like them, and love to jump very high to express their joy and love for songs like Finn Bikkjen. Me and my small friends had to step away from the fun to survive.

Seabear (ICL) @ John Dee. I guess my very high expectations made me disappointed… For some reason I did not recognise any of the songs I had listened to lately in the set they played. Songs like: I Sing I Swim and Arms. Oh well.

Montée (N) @ John Dee. Another good thing late at night. If it wasn’t for my tired, hurting feet, I could have travelled back to the 80’s and dance the night away with this pop band. I ended up in a more static position through this last concert instead – while admiring this angle-like girl for her guts to show up on stage without pants. Dreams Too Modern and Isle Of Now is a good place to start.

By:Larm 2010

Kristin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:01:54 +0000

Okey. I am going. I thought I would skip it this time, because it is so demanding. So much to see, so many choices, so little time. I end up running back and forth, from stage to stage, cutting corners, freezing, falling in the snow. But then I remember the music, the discovery of new music, the laughter, the beers, the friends. And now the festival ticket is payed for, and I just have to remember to breathe in between every concert. While running to the next one.

Any must-sees here? Let me know:

* [ingenting] (S)
* A-Laget
* Alit Boazu
* ALTAAR
* Anchor
* Anna von Hausswolff (S)
* Asha Ali (S)
* Audrey Horne
* Bjørn Hellfuck
* Blood Command
* Bushman’s Revenge
* Cacadou
* Casiokids
* CCTV
* Children and corpse playing in the streets
* Chimes & Bells (DK)
* Chrome Hill
* The Cumshots
* Daniel Gilbert (S)
* Danny & Pumba
* Death By Unga Bunga
* The Deer Tracks (S)
* Denga Denga
* Diskjokke
* Donkeyboy
* DUNDERBEIST
* Dunderhonning
* Easy & Toshybot
* Efterklang (DK)
* Elephant 9
* Emmett Brown
* Eplemøya songlag
* Filmvisning: All Tomorrow’s Parties
* FINAL
* Fontän (S)
* For a Minor Reflection (ICL)
* Forza
* Giana Factory (DK)
* Goat the Head
* The Good The Bad (DK)
* Haddy N’jie & A Few Good Men
* Hafdis Huld (ICL)
* Haust
* HOWL
* Humming People
* HYPERTEXT
* I See Horses
* Ingrid Olava
* IZAKAYA HEARTBEAT
* Jabaman
* Jaga Jazzist
* Jens Carelius
* Jesse (FIN)
* Jesse Jones
* Joensuu 1685 (FIN)
* Jonathan Johansson (S)
* Julie Stokkendal
* Jóhann Jóhannsson (ICL)
* KAKKMADDAFAKKA
* Kathinka
* Katzenjammer
* Kavaleriet
* Kira Kira (ICL)
* Kollwitz
* Kristian Skaarbrevik
* Kråkesølv
* Lady Moscow
* Lars Vaular
* LidoLido
* Line Larsen
* Lise Karlsnes
* The Little Hands of Asphalt
* Manhattan Skyline
* Manheads
* MANNA (FIN)
* Mari Persen
* Maria Due
* Markus Krunegård (S)
* Masselys
* Mathias Eick Quartet
* The Megaphonic Thrift
* Mhoo
* Moddi
* Montée
* Monzano
* Moto Boy (S)
* Munn til Munn Metoden
* Murmansk (FIN)
* Narum
* Navigators
* Negash Ali (DK)
* Nephew
* The New Wine
* Nils Bech
* Noora Noor
* Obliteration
* Oh No Ono (DK)
* Phone Joan
* Pica Pica
* Pow Pow
* Premierevisning: Athletic Sound 25/ Live fra Halden
* Proviant Audio
* Purified in Blood
* Ragnhild Furebotten og Tore Bruvoll m/ Hekla Stålstrenga
* Rakija
* Razika
* The River Phoenix (DK)
* Rubik (FIN)
* The Rumour Said Fire (DK)
* Samsaya
* Seabear (ICL)
* Serena Maneesh
* Serenity Trace
* Shining
* Shot At Dawn
* Sigrid Moldestad
* Siri Nilsen
* Skatebård
* Skjelvekommode
* Social Suicide
* Solveig Slettahjell
* Supersilent
* Susanna & the Magical Orchestra
* Susanne Sundfør
* SVER
* Svermere
* Sweat Shop:Oslo Break Fest (OBF)
* TBA
* Therese Aune
* Thom Hell
* Thomas Eriksen
* Thus:Owls (S)
* The Tiny (S)
* Todd Terje & Dølle Jølle
* Twins Twins (DK)
* Ungdomskulen
* The Urban Blues Band (Union Blues Band)
* Urban Tunélls Klezmerband
* Valkyrien Allstars
* Vinnie Who (DK)
* Vinter in Hollywood
* Vreid
* Wardruna
* When Saints Go Machine (DK)
* Zoomvinner 2010: Jack Dalton
* Årets Urørt: The Pink Robots
* Æ

Argyle curling

Kristin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:41:13 +0000

There’s actually no rules against the pants – but there probably will be after this…

I couldn’t care less about the Olympic Games and I was planning to stay away from all TV-sports the next weeks. Until I remembered that curling is a part of it. I discovered this weird sport when zapping through the channels back in 2002. Equipped with teflon shoes and brooms Norway swept their way to the final in the 2002 Olympics, and ended up bringing the gold medal back home from Salt Lake City by beating Canada in the final.

Norway met Canada again yesterday in their first match. This time the Norwegian team was armed with more than shiny shoes and brooms. They were dressed in clown-like pants, designed to draw everyone’s attention away from rocks and brooms, and onto disturbing red, blue and white argyle pattern. Why? WHY?! Would anyone comment on the huge elephant in the room? Had I missed out on a sarcastic remark by the commentator? Or did everyone else find this outfit perfectly normal? My questions were many, and although the race between Norway and Canada was quite close, I could not really pay attention to the game until I got my answers.

The elephant has been noticed. The Norwegian Olympic Curling Team’s Pants fan page at Facebook has reached 30.000 fans – and the pants made their public debut on the TV-screen just about 30 hours ago! I found the WHY there:

It’s just that it’s Norwegian colours and our shirts weren’t that bright so we just figured we would spice it up a little bit with some colours. It’s really nice fabric! [...] There’s actually no rules against the pants – but there probably will be after this.
Christoffer Svae, The Norwegian Olympic Curling Team member

Do you want some fancy pants too? Buy them online!

—
UPDATE (Feb 28th 2010):
The fan page on Facebook has now 545.116 fans! The pants made it to the final where they met Canada once again. Unfortunately the magic pants’ power wasn’t enough to bring the gold medal home to Norway. But we like silver. It does match the argyle pattern much better anyway.

The Top Dog

Kristin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:54:51 +0000

I made my first vector illustration some days ago. The occasion was the birthday of a friend of mine. He often goes by the name Den Toppeste Hund (The Top Dog), and we thought he needed a t-shirt to confirm this fact. The illustration isn’t fancy, but the shirt was still a great success amongst all the guests at the birthday party! Rumor has it that there will be produced buttons in the near future too. Yay!

Watch the full-size image with all 28 happy party people here.

Where the wild things are

Kristin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:26:36 +0000

There must be something wrong with me. I fell asleep in this movie. At the cinema! From the parts of the movie I actually saw, I can report that the creatures are extremely cute, the performance by child actor Max Records is just amazing, and the soundtrack by Karen-O and the kids really suits the movie – and is a great listen on its own too. Although my eyelids fell down just about the same time that Max and the creatures curled up in a pile to sleep somewhere in the middle of the story, I think I can recommend this movie. Judging by this Rolling Stone review, I should, anyway.