Alexx Swanson: Chai Tse IAPC 2007 Award

David Barkworth has submitted this good news for posting.

Congratulations go out to Alexx Swanson, a student in the final semester of our AGD program. Alexx was awarded this year's Chai Tse IAPC Award for excellence in pre-press.

To quote David:

"Alexx is a very dedicated and accomplished student who achieved one of the highest grades ever awarded in our pre-press class. She is professional, eager to learn, happy to support her colleagues, and a complete asset to the classroom. There is no doubt in my mind that Alexx will ultimately be a leader in our field."

PRI’s Peabody Award-winning "Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen" from WNYC is public radio’s smart and surprising guide to what's happening in pop culture and the arts. Each week, Kurt Andersen introduces you to the people who are creating and shaping our culture. Life is busy – so let "Studio 360" steer you to the must-see movie this weekend, the next book for your nightstand, or the song that will change your life.

Kurt Andersen – novelist, journalist, and co-founder of legendary "Spy" magazine – gets inside the creative mind through conversations with guests such as Yo-Yo Ma, Zadie Smith, Sean Lennon, Sean Penn, Walter Mosely, Dolly Parton, Ang Lee, Dave Eggers, Frank Gehry, and Tori Amos. "Studio 360" is also the place where a Freudian shrink can analyze a videogame about bunnies and astronauts play piano on the International Space Station.

Spend an hour at Coney Island with the band They Might Be Giants, walk through steel monoliths with sculptor Richard Serra, and hang out with indie rock stars in an Omaha basement. Let "Studio 360" be your cultural guide.

BeatBearing Music Sequencer

Clearly, this is a day of ultimate coolness in design and innovation. Check this out. Whoa. On the announce date of the MacBook Air, I am shocked to find myself finding something else in the running for the most fascinating example of great design I've seen today.

Wow.

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/01/simple_music_sequencer_uses_ba.php

Quote:

We've seen music sequencers in the past, but nothing that rivals the BeatBearing for simplicity and number of balls. The unit was designed by Peter Bennett during his studies of new techniques people can use to interact with musical instruments. Sequences are composed by placing the metal orbs in a grid of receptor cups which represent the different rhythm tracks (kick, snare, hi-hat and cowbell) along the vertical axis, and beats along the horizontal. So it works like any other sequencer, but with balls. And let's face the facts people: balls make everything awesome.

Demo seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wreP8FMupyM&

Wow. Macbook Air. Announced today.

Check this out. Beautiful, integrated design.

Inspiration: Theo Jansen

This is amazing.

Theo Jansen, a kinetic sculptor from the Netherlands, makes these incredible structures that move by the power of the wind. They are hauntingly beautiful and elegant. To quote Jansen, "the walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds".

BMW have harnessed his brilliance here in a South American ad. Youtube has a number of videos posted. Jansen's own site is here.

Push the boundaries.