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.