About Face

Ever wonder what David looks like as a woman? Well, unless you live in SF and are able to hit the Trannyshack on Saturday evenings, you may want to resort to this nifty online tool. The face transformer allows you to upload a straight-on shot of a face and then alter that person's gender, age, race, or species.

Images should be a clear straight-on shot, RGB, and a decently sized jpeg or gif.

Link: http://www-old.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~morph/Transformer/index.html

More Paper Art

For some reason, I am finding more and more artists utilizing solitary tools and canvases as artistic expressions versus their traditional peripheral usage. Well, if carving crayons are not your thing, then perhaps shifting stacks of paper could be. I first noticed Schleeh Design when they came out with the "bachelor pad" (pictured) which was mearly a cool way to tear paper (little do they know that tearing paper cannot get any cooler!). They updated the portfolio with art pieces that showcase only the paper and it's natural reaction with gravity.

Further interest porthole: http://www.schleehdesign.com/

CG

Art Imitating the Meduim Making Art, or the Medium Making Art Imitating Art?

Peter Goldlust apparently retired his previous sexual cravings for 14 carat yellow stones for a much more interesting career path: carving crayons.

Eye candy here: http://www.petegoldlust.com/carvedcrayons.html#

CG

Color: quick sorts

Studies have shown that the average mind can focus on only three objects (even less for conversations:) at once. However research using color shows that the average observer following a soccer game can accurately estimate, within half a second, the numbers of players on the field by a quick scan of color hits. In another experiment, by psychologist Justin Halberda, an array of up to 35 dots in several colors were decoded in half a second with an 87% average accuracy. This indicates that the brain is capable of parallel processing of sets at lighting speed. Size, shape, and brightness are also under study. For now, color is the quickest official decoder. This can be used to argue for color fields for branding purposes or more interestingly using different colors in 1 layout architecture to help consumers differentiate not only from the monotony of some monolithic brands but between products. You can further add to weary festivities this holiday season by waging to guess how many objects of certain colors are on colorful gift-wrap or Christmas tree.

Some Serious Coffee Time

The Yunessun Spa Resort in Hakone, Japan, has 25 specialized pools you can bathe in. Some, like the Roman Bath, Turkish Sauna, the Deep Sea Bath are fine and dandy. The more infamous pools allow you to bathe in your favorite beverage. There are pools of saké, coffee, tea, and wine.

Yes, good morning: the world is strange.

Link: http://www.yunessun.com/english/yunessun.html

CG

Michel de Broin

Michel de Broin's sculptures and installation pieces unabashadly explore the subliminal realm. His portfolio is worth a quick look.

Link: http://www.micheldebroin.org/projects/index.html

More Jonathan...

Brittany reminded me that this would have been a funnier image of Jonathan to post.

Googled Birthday: Jonathan Warner

We are getting our fill of cake this month.

In the pond of Turnerducklings, there is a gray goose in our midst. Jonathan Warner has been working for Turner Duckworth so long, that (according to Google) he owned slaves in Portsmouth back in 1718. No wonder Jonathan has been able to crank out so much work for Coke, Howling Monkey (wait... we don't work on that... we just REALLY like drawing it), and Sparks: he's had servants to help him! A little known fact about Jonathan: according to Google images, Jonathan is a 24yo Asian woman at the College of Arts and Sciences in Albany. And here we just thought you were pretendonesian from dating Herdah.

Peter Callesen has Papercuts

Peter Callesen blurs the line between 2-D and 3-D art with his papercuts which rise out of their A4 sheets of paper into full sculptures.

Check out his portfolio here: http://www.oncotton.co.uk/peter/index.html

CG

Googled Birthday: Josh Michels

Happy MotoBday 91S00V Josh,

When Josh isn't busy giving life contextural relevancy, Google says this 30-something year-old can be found in the Illinois Junior Government getting very comfotable with male pages. In the meantime, Laura in Michigan, an avid fan of Josh's, expressed a feeling of bitter cold from Josh's shoulder in her French blog. Ce qui la baise, Josh? I went to Narniafan.com to further investigate the Laura-Josh drama. Josh, a repeating contributor to the site, had this to say:

Q: I've read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe I practically have the whole thing memorized. When I saw the movie poster for LWW I thought it was so cool. I then noticed in the top right hand corner a scene with Peter, Susan and Lucy climbing a cliff. I wondered what this was as I don't remember it from the book and there was no scene like this in the move. Do you know if this was a scene cut from the movie and will it appear in the Extended Edition, or was it just created for the movie poster? Thanks, and great job keeping up the site.

-Josh Michels aka Curious Corn


PERCEPTIVE corn you are, Josh. Happy birthday!

More winners!

When I'm not selling real-estate, sometimes I submit work to competitions.

This morning, I found out that TaB Energy will be featured in Step. This is the annual that only takes 100 pieces, and does a page write up on each.

Recently, we also learned that in the San Francisco International Wine Competition, both Bottleg and Root: 1 were honored with gold and bronze metals accordingly. (Our client submitted this for us)

Congratulations, everyone!

Lisa

Googled Birthday: Lisa Bennett

Such a busy week this last one was. So much so, we almost forgot to celebrate Lisa Bennett's birthday last Thursday. According to Google, Lisa Bennett is one of the fourteen members of the British element of an international cocaine smuggling network (pictured upper right). When Lisa is not being a superstar account manager or being jailed for 27+yr without bail; Google says she enjoys pizza, ice cream, knitting, selling real estate for RE/MAx in Greensboro, NC, and taking pictures of American flags in Alabama. Our land WILL heal, as long as Lisa Bennet is in our midst!

A Consumer Based Society

The Barcode Building in Russia.

CG

Around the World

I found these images on Flickr.com, where a short Photoshop tutorial was given. You take a panoramic image, flip it 180 degrees, and then use the polarize filter. I call dibs on using this in a concept!

CG

2016 Chicago Olympics Logo

VSA Partners, based in Chicago, are developing the identity for the 2016 Chicago Olympics campaign. The logo for the campaign is a torch that contains part of the city's skyline (the torch's flame) reflected in the blue water of Lake Michigan (the torch's handle).

Chicago will be competing against San Francisco and Los Angeles as the US representative city to foster the 2016 games.

Link: http://www.suntimes.com/94779,olymp101206.article

CG

I C UC's DAAP

It is often a challenge to explain the admirable campus of the University of Cincinnati; the alma mater of Jonathan, myself, and many of TDSF's interns, to those who, like most, assume there is not much worth any thought in the corn-fed [somewhat cold] heart of America. Since 1996, with the completion of the DAAP (Design, Architecture, Art and Planning) building, The University of Cincinnati has been on a roll with one internationally-reknown building after another. Michael Bierut, another UC alum, wrote an article this week on his experience with the changing aesthetic of UC. The article contains images of buildings on the campus from Peter Eisenman (DAAP), Michael Graves, Harry Cobb, Frank Gehry, and Thom Mayne.

The following link is from designobserver.com. Michael Beirut is a regular contributor to the site. Some of the articles on there are a bit esoteric and dry, but there are a few gems as well.

Link: http://www.designobserver.com/archives/018092.html#more

CG

The story so far...

We are in the middle of documenting this years work from London - there are about 16 more projects to follow...
Just thought you might like to look at what we've been up to!
SM

Pecha Kucha

TD London had a small outing to the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art) to watch Pecha Kucha.
The Japanese term 'Pecha Kucha' roughly translates as 'chit-chat.' Up to fourteen participants get to show 20 slides for 20 seconds each.
The speakers ranged from the average to the inspiring and downright crazy. It was a great opportunity to hear people from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines.

To understand you need to go along!

For those of you who haven't already heard or are interested to know more there is a Pecha Kucha at 330 Ritch on October 25th

"A synaesthetic experience" says Christian Eager.
"If this doesn't get any better I'm leaving at the interval" says Bruce Duckworth.
"An insight into how people get inspired to do their stuff!" says Sam Lachlan.
"A good mix" says Gavin Hurrell.
"Wow, Free Beer!" says Jamie McCathie.
"Who did that negative minimalist Nazi dictator think he was?" says Charlotte Hayes (WAG).
"An extremly interesting concept - great to see it being embraced" says Nicola Shellswell (WAG).
"erm...." says Mike Harris.

TD London are planning to host an event - watch this space!
SM

Painted Ladies

There are two commercials out right now that are worth mention for artistic merit. The first is a Jonathon Glazer creation for Bravia using massive paint explosions to sell a new LCD screen.

Link: http://www.bravia-advert.com/paint/thead/

The second ad is the latest installment for the Real Beauty Campaign hosted by Dove soap. SF is familiar with the near-naked models in the ads gracing the underground. The women posses what is debated to be regular body types that defy the fashion industry standard. This TV spot shows the transformation of one model as she evolves from the look of an everyday woman to a supermodel gracing the face of a billboard through the enhancement of makeup, hair stylists, and photo enhancement.

Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=uT4dpFpiTgk

CG

Takes the Cake

One often wonders what happens to a brand after you e-mail the guidelines to Coke with a mill of salt. Here, ladies and gentlemen, are images showing where the TaB energy brand has evolved. Sarah, if TaB energy was the brand you birthed, then these images would show your child in her mid-teens in a disco past final call, and trying to dance the mashed potato with a slight drunken limp in her left leg.

CG

More Googled Birthdays

Today is the birthday of our very special accounts person, Jessica Rogers. According to a quick google search of Jessica's name, Jessica was the illegitimate love child of Mr. Rogers and Jessica Simpson. When not managing Coca-Cola, Jessica enjoys competing in ladies' wrestling. This is no pub performance, mind you. Having trained under Man Mountain Dean Jr., Jessica received the 2006 Ladies Wrestler Award from the Cauliflower Alley Club. In her spare time, Jessica is a star highschool athlete, having played on the varsity bowling AND softball teams: what a slugger! Her photo is courtesy of Google image search.

We should not forget that Radu Ranga also had a birthday recently. If you google Radu's name, you will see that he has been quite busy as well. For instance, Fengmiansheji.com spotted him last weekend doing this:

每一款分析图表都为满足您的需要 而设计 助您驰骋汇市，无往不利
以先进过滤工艺获得洁净的高品质产品 马上联系升扬过滤,突破过滤工艺瓶颈

...and I thought you were from Romania, Radu. Seeing that Radu's full name is quite a rarity, I Google imaged his first name and found the above image. Looking good, Radu!

CG

MOTOVNDG (aka Motorola Vending)

Here's an article on the new Motorola Vending/Zoom machines in the airport:

http://sfgate.com/columnists/morford/

aj

Anti-Packaging

Beck's new album, "The Information", contains no cover art; yet. Aside from the cd, the contents of the jewel case contain grid paper and stickers. These are the tools for the consumer to use when creating the cover art for the album. There is a website where the consumers can upload their designs for a competion where the winning art will be printed for the second pressing of the album.

Link: http://www.designobserver.com/archives/018186.html

CG

Protest [made] Fun!

Currently, in Taipei, Taiwan, there is a million-person sit-in campaign outside the capitol building in order to rid the country of their president. Since the weather has been a bit rainy, there is an on-line version of the campaign for those who would rather sit at home infront of their computers while eating their yummy chicken feet. Members of this on-line protest may log-in with custom characters, and then do as they please (or do nothing at all). There are also mini games to pass the time and present a platform for political satire. For instance, every once in a while the president will step outside and anounce to the mob that he will not resign. Members then have the opportunuty to mob their president in response.

I don't think an American version of this game is too impossible (just kidding, AOL-Time Warner internet spies!).

English-Speaking Link:

http://www.zonaeuropa.com/20060911_1.htm

CG