Australian gas giant eyes partnerships in Canada to tap rising Asian demand
Australian gas giant eyes partnerships in Canada to tap rising Asian demand natpo.st/WaQxab via @financialpost
Danish Bjarke Ingels on the Architect as Midwife
Danish Bjarke Ingels on the Architect as Midwife nowness.com/s/luwvfa via @NOWNESS
Interactive Installation “In Order to Control” by NOTA BENE Visual
Typography and Digital Technologies Question Social Morality
NOTA BENE Visual, a multi-disciplinary studio based in Istanbul, features this text in the installation:
'To do nothing is sometimes the worst thing you can do. Whenever you know but don’t act upon, you are committing crime as well. Are you really the one to distinguish the moral from the immoral?'
Breaking the Mold – Dutch-trained Chinese designer Xander Zhou heads to London Fashion Week
Breaking the Mold - Dutch-trained Chinese designer Xander Zhou 周翔宇 heads to London Fashion Week: http://t.co/epsAip8b

Xander Zhou at work in his studio (By Tim Jenkins/WWD)
Furniture Design Adapts to Technology
Furniture Design Adapts to Technology: http://t.co/Mb2l35Ow

For many people, computers have all but eliminated the need for paper file storage. The Dyvel Table by Silva/Bradshaw does away with drawers altogether. (From The New York Times)
The beauty of the natural world revealed through breathtaking timelapse videography
If you haven't seen this video yet, do check it out on HD full screen with sound. The creator, Phoenix-based Dustin Farrell, used a Canon 5D2 DSLR (along with some specialized dollies) and processed the images with Adobe software. In his own words:
I would now have to say that my timelapse skill set is very complete.
Perhaps an understatement?
Source:
The Infinity Room: French concept artist blends East and West in a stunning installation in Shanghai
French concept artist and theorist Serge Salat has created "Beyond Infinity", a multi-sensory installation that uses mirrors, light, music, and fractal art in a blend of Eastern references (the I Ching and the Suzhou gardens) and Western perspective.
Here's a description in Designboom.com:
Internally, the space is designed around the trigram of the yi king, utilizing spatial techniques traditional of Suzhou gardens as a means of framing the visitor experience as a 'mystical journey' through abstracted Chinese courtyards. Painted wooden grids and steps lend additional structure, while the fractal objects are composed of wooden frames covered with punched aluminum anodized panels.
Inside the installation, as music plays, the lighting pulses and shifts as visitors move through a series of room-like spaces whose dimensions are almost indiscernible as a result of the infinite reflections cast by the mirrors. On a 9-channel system, the lighting varies from ultraviolet blue to white, traversing each minute a complete cycle that recreates the effects of dawn through sunset and night. Visitors pass first through a blue lattice grid with a darkened section monikered the 'vertical infinite fault' that seems to eliminate the space where they walk.
This was exhibited in Shanghai in a few weeks ago. According to Salat, "entering the work is also entering the world of the Dream of the Red Mansion transposed to the 21st century", referencing the classical Chinese novel. That's definitely one reference I would never have picked up on.

From Designboom
Source article with more photos:
- serge salat: beyond infinity immersive installation (Designboom.com)
Breathtaking ocean views of the Southern Skies
Australian astronomer Alex Cherney took his first long exposure photograph of the night sky in 2009, and was so thrilled with the results that he dedicated entire weekends after that to photographing two things he loves the most in nature - the night sky and the ocean. By combining images taken during six nights over 31 hours into a time lapse video sequence, Cherney created this spectacular video of the sea and sky off the Southern Ocean Coast in Australia. The result of almost 1.5 years of work, this video - Ocean Sky - was awarded the overall winner prize at the 2011 STARMUS astrophotography competition.
A reminder of the celestial wonders that those of us living in large cities have often forgotten.
Some lessons from IDEO, the international innovation and design firm
In a blog post by Edward Boches, the Chief Innovation Officer of Boston-based advertising and marcom agency Mullen, he describes what he learnt during a visit to IDEO, the renowned global design consultancy. While he feels these are lessons for ad agencies, I believe they are more broadly applicable. Here are the key points, read the post for more details:
- Design can have a huge impact on the world around us
- Magic happens through diversity of experience and perspective
- Inspiration can be found in many places and in many ways, but you have to get out there
- You get to great by experimenting
- Knowledge across categories and industries yields better ideas
- Success comes from vision and action
- We’re most successful when we work with not for a client
Boches's favourite quote: “There’s no such thing as a boring brand or assignment. Just un-exciting people. We strive to work with exciting people.” If only all of us could have more choice in the matter!
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