Monthly Archives: May 2013

20130406-120240tree-1 tree-3A concept (soon to be put into production) sculptural chandelier from Hilden and Diaz entitled Forms In Nature, inspired by a genealogical ‘tree of life’ created by the German biologist and philosopher Ernst Haeckel.

…the roots are those elements of the forest that are the most visible. Thereby the sculpture is not only mirrored, but also turned upside down in Hilden & Diaz’ artwork. […] The shadows engulfs the room and transforms the walls into unruly shadows of branches, bushes and gnarled trees. Mirrorings are thrown out upon the walls and ceilings and provide weak Rorschach-like hints of faces, life and flow of consciousness. Dimming the lights transforms the installation and one senses a weak fire burning deep in the center of the forest.

Steady on.

colossal/caoine

U2's Bono Without Bill Clinton 'Universe Just Wouldn't Be As Friendly to Humans'Some of Bono friends have responded to the publication of Harry Browne’s non-music related book on the singer, which declaims him as a tax-avoiding, neo-liberal puppet who has got it wrong on Africa…

Rather than sue, Bono has authorised his closest associates to challenge the accusations levelled in the book.

Ex-president Bill Clinton said: “Few people have done more to mobilise a global response to the fight against poverty and disease than Bono. He is one of the most effective, committed advocates I have ever met for debt relief and aid for the poorest nations, and for increased funding to fight Aids and other diseases whose victims are overwhelmingly young and poor. We are all in his debt.”

…On the tax controversy, Mr [Jamie] Drummond [co-founder with Bono of Third World debt advocacy agency, One] says Bono is actively campaigning for taxation transparency. “Bono pays all taxes that he is due all over the world, including those in Ireland. He is campaigning for transparency in offshore financial centres. Bono is spearheading an anti-corruption campaign.”

 

The Martyrdom Of St Bono (Adam Sherwin, Independent)

Previously: I’m With Stupid

(AP)

zesty

No good at design, eh?

EH?

Philip Joyce of Dublin-based digital agency Simply Zesty and his acclaimed fantasy version of how Apple design chief Jonathan Ive’s new iOS 7 phone may look.

He got rid of the skeumorphism for a start.

Philip explains:

Skeumorphism is probably the most misused and overused word in tech over the past year or so. Everyone has said how Apple needs to rid their software of its visual metaphors, e.g, faux leather stitching in the iPad’s calendar and the ripped paper effect in the Notes app.
While skeumorphism is actually not always a bad thing, one thing is certain – Apples prized iPhone software is beginning to look a little stale.
I began with the iPhone’s famous app icons and stripped them of their gloss and sheen. They’re now reduced to simple flat colours and icons. While it’s now easy to think of Apple’s aesthetic as clean, bold and white, we forget how much they have integrated colour into their products and advertising.
Having this in mind, I tried to make the app icons a bit more fun and colourful.
Then there’s the apps themselves, like Music and Calendar – I kept the same idea, strip out the chrome, keep the content and visuals front and centre – hiding whats not necessary until you need it (for example, the extra options slider in the Music app)
While adding this new look and functionality to the OS, it still had to be iOS, which is simple, easy to use and familiar to regular iPhone users, not just the tech savvy users.

 

Fair play though, in fairness.

Simply Zesty