to move up and down
6 Principles of Design
• Principle of Proximity – Things that are visually close to each other are related
• Principle of Similarity – Things that look like each other (size, color, shape) are related
• Principle of Enclosure – Things that are enclosed by a shape are related
• Principle of Closure – We see incomplete shapes as complete
• Principle of Continuity – Things that are aligned are related
• Principle of Connection – Things that are visually connected are related
(Source: perceptualedge.com)
Daniel Weil from Pentagram, “Drawing is a designer’s most fundamental tool.”
“Like many designers, Pentagram’s Daniel Weil uses sketching to visualize, generate and refine his ideas. Weil has, by his estimation, more than 375 sketchbooks, going all the way back to 1978. In a new short film directed by Nicolas Heller, Weil shares some of his recent notebooks and talks about how drawing helps him link ideas from subjects as wide-ranging as Kandinsky and vacuum cleaners, inspiring new forms and objects like his recent Clock for an Architect. Seen in the film are sketches for Weil’s work forMothercare, Benetton, the Israel Museum, United Airlines and the Savoy Hotel.”
![SmARTpower, a new program for the U.S. State Department, is looking for visual artists to work with communities around the world to create community-based projects. Artists will collaborate with local talents and young people in China, Ecuador, Egypt, India and many other nations on projects that encourage dialogue, experimentation and creativity. The program is designed to stimulate discourse around local or global issues including the environment, education, health, freedom of expression, and girls’ and women’s issues. The program will kick off in spring/summer 2011. Applications are available online until Feb. 28, 2011. [LS]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lf8rx4MNTs1qej2b8o1_1280.jpg)
SmARTpower, a new program for the U.S. State Department, is looking for visual artists to work with communities around the world to create community-based projects. Artists will collaborate with local talents and young people in China, Ecuador, Egypt, India and many other nations on projects that encourage dialogue, experimentation and creativity. The program is designed to stimulate discourse around local or global issues including the environment, education, health, freedom of expression, and girls’ and women’s issues. The program will kick off in spring/summer 2011. Applications are available online until Feb. 28, 2011. [LS]
Status update
Yesterday we marked a milestone in development, getting about a third of the application data entered into the app XML. Some minor tweaks to the DTD and we are one step closer to having an installable app! It’s close.
Once again, if you are interested in signing up as an early beta stage user, or if you just want to keep on top of our progress via email, you can sign up here.
NYT: Japanese Universities Draw Foreign Students With Manga
When Zack Wood produces his illustrated stories online, his Japanese classmates say they look like American comics while his American friends say they look decidedly like manga, the popular form of comics that originated in Japan. Read full article here.
Interesting way for Universities to maintain relevance: find a niche and go full bore.
Gorillaz - The Fall, created 100% on the iPad
The Gorillaz built their latest album, The Fall, 100% on the iPad. Here are the apps they used:
All tracks written and performed by Gorillaz using the iPad and additional instruments: Korg Vocoder, Ukelele, Microkorg, Omnichord, Moog Voyager, Melodica, Guitar, Piano, Korg Monotron. Except track 13 written and performed by Gorillaz and Bobby Womack. Recorded between Montreal and Vancouver over 32 days on the Gorillaz North American Tour 2010
(Source: twitter.com)
App status update
We are all enjoying a little break with family and friends this weekend, but there is good news to share on the status front.
Dale has is on the brink of having the first installable version of the app for the team to fiddle with. This is an important first step as we it will allow us to test the overall user experience, and give us a starting point from which we can evolve the UI.
Julia is on the Japanese version of the winter break, so will be redoubling on the Draaw exercises. If all goes well she’ll be able to turn out the whole thing within a week.
I’ve been gathering examples of kickass app visual designs. With the skeleton Dale’s working on, I’ll be able to start working through some mockups for the next rev.
This is awesome and exciting news for all of us. Soon we’ll have pics for you to check out. In the meantime, why not sign up for email updates? We’d love to have you as a beta tester!
- People often over-estimate their needs. Much like the history of the VW Beetle, doing the core things people need very well is rare. And if you can market it right, as VW did for the bug in America, you can dominate markets with simplicity.
- A set of small inefficiencies can create a larger efficiency. The Super Cub doesn’t have the best engine, or tires, or handling. But because those things are simple designs, are easy to repair, and simple to use, the gestalt of the overall product is efficient to use and manage.
- Small markets can provoke designs that do well in large markets. The history of OXO Good Grips is they were trying to design kitchen tools for people with arthritis and other co-ordination issues. Turned out their designs were valuable to everyone.
(Source: twitter.com)
One out of every five Americans plans to own a tablet by 2014, according to a survey conducted in November by Harris Interactive… Read the full article here.
(Source: twitter.com)
