Heckboy II

This weekend we watched the movie Hellboy II. I will say that it was fantastic. The story was a little drawn out at times but it is all made up for in action and visuals. And if you haven't seen the first movie you need to see that also. I could continue to tell you why to go and watch these movies but I don't need to they speak for themselves.

Go see this movie!!!

New DSi

Come on be for real Nintendo. This is you upgraded DS. How dissapointing!!!

With silly upgrades like a new camera and internet and downloads you might as well realease a new DS every year just like Apple does. We have waited forever for a new DS and this is what you give us... nothing. When the PSP and IPhone gets an upgrade at least the people that bought the previous versions can upgrade their software. Lets face it the dual screen and stylus were cool when it came out but can't we get a little more innovative now Wii expect more from you than this pathetic showing.
Let's face it we were all expecting something more like this!!!

Just one of the girls... ???

Are men really capable of designing quality products for women? The easy answer to that question is, NO. Men are not capable of designing products for women. No man no matter how feminine they think they are is able to design to women specifications, tastes, comfort and so on. Take the above picture a design by Jean Paul Gaultier. This article of clothing is not wearable to the everyday woman (not speaking from any kind of personal experience). But my wife enjoys watching the catwalks and time after time she says; “ that’s not wearable but it looks cool”. Women designers design much fancier items that are usually wearable.

If you look at product design and take the MotoRazr for example. Geoffrey Frost was the marketing man behind the Razr and it sparked a new wave of design in the mobile phone industry. It’s compact size, hard lines and metal casing are clearly the mark of a man. Now women loved the Razr also because it was a status symbol at first. But after Motorola realized that it was such a hit the only thing they did to the phone to make it more appealing to women was make it hot pink (and later gold). They could have totally retooled it made it look more feminine or anything but being a bunch of men they decided… “Oh lets change the color!”.

While most trends won’t change from being a male dominated perspective we should give it up for the women designers. They are much more adaptable clearly designing in a male world they hop between designing girly and manly all in the same day. I know I couldn’t design a purse without a place for a hammer or screwdriver.

surfin safari

Here is a sweet website for any designer that is looking toward the latest trend. Emil Kozak is a skateboarder and surfer that started designing his own products. A lot of the designs are sharp clean and colorful. Most of all his website is updated regularly with new products and new blog entries. Be sure to check it out.
http://emilkozak.com/

video games ART???

There have been many recent discussions of videogames if they are art or not. In plain terms they are "art" and the answer is yes. The problem is anything that is mass produced in this nature is considered not to be art by the "art world". But my argument is that if movies can be considered art then so can videogames. But if you think about it videogames are even more so art than movies. Because in art it takes someone to create something out of nothing be it on a canvas or some kind of media.
So if we look at creating and designing things we can look at character creation, costume design, weapon creation, city architecture and planning, landscaping, graphic design, industrial design, recreation of art in real life and many other things that "real world" artists would do in everyday life. Not to mention the really good people that design these games usually have classical art training even before they design and build their first game.Lets look at movies again actors and directors consider themselves artists. But Movies are not really considered art films unless they are done independently on some film students home movie camera. The same should ring true for games but it does not. You have the big blockbusters like Halo and Grand Theft Auto, there are also recurring stars like Sonic and Mario. And the smaller produced games like Okami, Psyconauts and Beyond Good and Evil are considered arty games, at least in the gaming world.So as a graduate from art school with a minor in art history I can surely say that videogames are in fact "art". Because lets face it once a urnal was hung in an art gallery and considered art pretty much anything goes after that point.

The New AB-Inbev and what it means

The new merger between AB & InBev is crap! This is a slap in the face to American business owners everywhere. I think I am in agreement with all the Saint Louisins as we watch as the largest beer maker is slowly ripped apart piece by piece we beer drinkers will slowly stop drinking your crappy European owned beer.

Super Paper Engine that could

You owe it to Henry Ford to check out this Origami V12 Engine. It really runs too! It works off of 2 AA batteries and is made out of paper. If it was made from recycled paper it would be the greatest hybrid engine ever.

Check out the link for detailed clips on how to build your own or watch the vid.

V12 Engine Paper Model

Check out the true cost of your iPhone

And this is why I will not own an iPhone. I mean really who can afford this. Or does the cost just not matter to some? I have better things to spend my hard earned money on.

Overall, it will cost a minimum of $40 more for the new iPhone and contract, compared to the current pricing. A customer with the new 8-gigabyte iPhone will spend $1,878 over the life of the contract, compared to $1,838 for the current 8-gigabyte phone and agreement. A customer with the new 16-gigabyte iPhone will spend $1,978 over two years, compared to $1,938 for the a first-generation, 16-gigabyte iPhone and contract.

Check out the rest of the story by the link below

New iPhone will cost a bit more, not less - Wireless- msnbc.com

New cafepress site order your shirts now!

Please visit my new site at http://cafepress.com/fischpress to hook up cool custom designed shirts.

Proof of Apple Touchscreen computers

If you needed any more proof that Apple is developing touchscreen computers this is it brothers and sisters. Not one but two job openings for Senior Hardware Engineer—Touch Technology and Touch Technology Instrumentation Software Engineer . They had the same jobs listed under the iPod catagory just before they released the iPhone.

booya!

Nintendo DS 3rd Generation

Meet the newest Nintendo Handheld gaming system. If you count the DS Lite as the 2nd generation this is the 3rd. The new Nintendo Gameboy Super Duel Screen System. The Nintendo SDS is superior to every handheld device now. Using all the latest technology it has the power of the DS, the Wii and the iPod Touch.

Now for the good stuff.

It uses two wide screens and the entire unit is the same size as the DS Lite.

It has one small outside screen for playing MP3's on the go.

The screen on the bottom is a touch screen interface which leads to many more possibilies than using the stylus.

The ingame buttons can be customized per game because they are on the screen.

The new Finger Stylee gives new freedom from the sometimes hard to use stylus and play control like the Wii.

New graphic capacity lets you play Wii games right on your handheld system.

A full touch keyboard lets you surf the internet and chat easily.

Movies are easy to view in the top with your controls on the bottom.

Use SD cards to expand your memory.

Volume control slider has been removed and is now controled in the touch area.

It has a 8mp camera

It has a microphone.

It has stereo speakers.

The 4 bottom buttons Home, Media, Start and Select.

Are you listening Nintendo this is your new DS system.

New Power iPhone 2.0

I combined the awesome power of the Power Glove and the iPhone.

This will allow you to control everything!

New iPhone 2nd Generation

It's the new iPhone! Now with all the features that it should have had the first time.

I say because if I am paying that much for a phone it should be able to walk my dog!

My concept iPhone 2G is simple. I took every possible feature that was left out of the first generation iPhone and kicked it up a notch. I think it would be sweet if you could play motion controled Wii games on it. Not only that have a TV tuner and kickin screen res. But let's be honest if I am paying that much for a phone I think it should be able to walk my dog, do my work and make me breakfast in the morning. I'm just saying, Apple you need to take some notes on these upgrades.

New SuperCAR

Check out this new supercar it puts the Mach5 to shame.

http://www.spadaconcept.com/

Spada Codatronca by SpadaConcept

TREX

Because legos are rad!

Economy and design!

It is time to wake up and smell the recession people. Rising gas and food prices are just the begginning of this wonderfull thing that is going to put a hurt on everyone. What happens to design in times of economic crisis it no longer has a place in anyones mind. Whom is going to care what the next shoe or car looks like when they are trying to put food on the table. So will designers be the first casuality? I hope not but history tells us that great design (of all kinds art, theater, product) all come from times of good economic growth.
So what should we as designers do about this.
Protect your job, by diversifing what you can bring to your company. By volunteering for jobs or letting the boss know that you have more skills than just a desk jockey. I myself have taken on the roll of IT support for our office and other odd jobs around the office.
Work harder not smarter, don't take all day on projects anymore get your stuff done and turned in ahead of schedule.
Get more work, while it's out there get as many side jobs as you can now and stock pile money or get your bills paid now. Side jobs may be the first to go when people have less money they will be slower to part with it.

To be continued...

I have updated my coroflot portfolio today. With new products and concepts.
Check it out @ http://www.coroflot.com/fischfolio

Upcomming Articles

Here are a list of articles that I am pondering as of now.

*i-Pood - Is it really great tech or really great marketing or really great trash.

*Economy - Made in Country (P4) discusses how the need for a global economy is becoming more clear.

*Aid - Made in Country? (P5) Why can't people donate to their own country in need?

*New Design - Is there room for new design in the world or are we rehashing everything?

Plus many more!

Also look for other new blogs from me!

SPOONFORK

There is a website that has been around for a while now and if you haven't checked it out yet, you owe it to yourself to do so.
GOTO -> http://www.spoonfork.de/
The site is in dutch but who cares? In my opinion it is the best designed online magazine site on the internet. They feature music and art and it's all in flash. Every issue has music and wallpaper you can download.

To Sketch or Not To Sketch

There was a recent board posting on coroflot that asked the question, "is it important for a designer to know how to sketch".

My answer to this is a resounding yes!

No matter what dicipline of design you are involved in sketching is the most important thing that you should know how to do. Even in the age where everything is translated onto the computer.

*Sketching gets your mind thinking in the correct direction. Sketching to me is like in the sixth or seventh grade when you first started writing short stories. The teacher always had you write a free thinking story before you began the big story. So without sketching you may actually get lost in your own thoughts.

*Sketching makes you to think in 4 dimensions. When you only work on the computer you are limited to the constraints of the program. I know there are people that say, "I know Illustrator (for example) so well that I can make it do whatever I want. But if you could really make Illustrator do everything then why do companies bother making other programs like Photoshop, AutoCAD and SolidWorks. They all do something different and your mind has to be focused only on that program you are using or how you are going to make it work with the other programs. Sketching the only thing you have to worry about is if you are going to need to use another piece of paper to finish you thought.

*Even cavemen sketched. Need I say more?

Made in (insert your country here)??? Part 2

I posted my questions on a few boards and I did not recieve any feedback. One said because my questions were too random that it was not understandable what my question was. I guess what I am getting at is... Why do people find other countries more facinating then their own?

Middle class America only used to want to buy stuff that was "Made in the USA". And then Walmart changed all that when they started importing EVERYTHING they stocked from China. And there was a small backlash. But soon everyone was like, "oh well, if it's cheaper I don't care".

And then there are other items that come from European countries like handbags and fancy shoes that are always super expensive. And people use this high expense as a fashion or status symbol. And again people just don't seem to care.

Does this apply to the countries that the product comes from. Do people in Italy have the same regard for the ultra shiek as Americans seem to? Or do people in China want to buy the products that are made from Chinese factories? Does "Made in America" even matter anymore?

I will contiue to ponder this and continue this discussion further.

Do You Need Help with Fantasy Baseball?

I know this post has nothing to do with design. But I love playing fantasy baseball. And even better I love helping people play fantasy baseball. If you are a newbie or would just like some tips email me and I will help you out. I may start another blog for it but we will see.

Tip of the week: Don't pick up David Beckham (he's a soccer player)

Try out sketchcasting

80 graphics are fun with techno music!

This vid also posted at core77.com is flippin 80's style sweet!

Saul Bass Star Wars Theme

Saul Bass is one of the great designers of the 21st century.

This vid is a great representation of what the opening sequence to Star Wars would have looked like if he did it.

Made in (insert your country here)??? Part 1

As a designer and regular American I look to other countries for inspiration constantly. Partly because we as Americans are bombarded with the same of everything over the TV airwaves. The Internet is a good way to view other sources. It is also fascinating because I have never been anywhere else but USA.
So I ask the question is really cooler to have products made in another country? This does not just apply to Americans it applys to everyone in the world. What makes handbags from Italy with fancy Italian leather so much better than one made in Germany or Canada. Are the cows really that much more "leathery" in Italy than the rest of the country?
This also goes beyond design and fashion. Think of everyone in the world that could use our assistance. Why do we instantly think of (so called) "third world" countries, like Africa? I think that it's great that everyone wants to "Go [RED]" and give nets. BUT what about your own country or your own neighborhood? I bet instead of buying that "product" or donating to a child in some foreign country you could find someone to help (that may need it more) in your own backyard.
I will address these thoughts and more in the upcoming days. Please stay tuned.

The new way to travel

If you read this article it is an interesting insite into the greener side of what it means to "go green". I think that we are still a long way from a paperless society or even just using less paper. For example a company I used to work for implimented the "almighty" Oracle system and they claimed that it would make a "paperless company". But the fact was that it ended up producing more paper documents than anyone would have ever imagined.

I'm just sayin...

Pushing Paper Out the Door - New York Times

take-g toy's

Here is a very cool website. For all of you that can appreciate a well made toy. These toys are made of real wood not that fake stuff or plastic or metal even. You owe it to yourself to check this out.

http://take-g.com/

Because making fun of Tom Cruise is funny

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3f716ffebe

Just watch this! You will not regret it! KFC!

Steven Poole: Trigger Happier

Here's an interesting book about the real work behind video games and how much art their really is to experience in them. You can download the book for free right now from his site. Happy Reading.

Steven Poole: Trigger Happier

New Year New Design

While 2007 was a good design year in the technology industry, what happened to everyone else? Is everyone so facinated with technology that all other design gets pushed to the side? Or are we relying on technology to push design? Certianly everyone was excited about the Wii or the iPhone. But what about simple things that don't get the play like the new secure folder from Globe Weis. A 100 year old product got a simple addition and it's all new.

.... more later ...