Generate random faces using an array of facial features and expressions in this amusing and slightly addictive website from mono.
Filed under: Things We Like, Funny on August 14th, 2007 | No Comments »
An inexpensive, non-toxic sample of a non-Newtonian fluid sometimes known as oobleck can be made very easily by adding corn starch (cornflour) to a cup of water. Add the starch in small portions and stir it in slowly. When the suspension nears the critical concentration - becoming like single cream (light cream) in consistency - the so called “shear thickening” property of this non-Newtonian fluid becomes apparent. The application of force - for example by stabbing the surface with a finger, or rapidly inverting the container holding it - leads to the fluid behaving like a solid rather than a liquid. More gentle treatment, such as slowly inserting a spoon, will leave it in its liquid state. Trying to jerk the spoon back out again, however, will trigger the return of the temporary solid state. A person moving quickly and/or applying sufficient force with his feet can literally walk across such a liquid.
Shear thickening fluids of this sort are being researched for bullet resistant body armor, useful for their ability to absorb the energy of a high velocity projectile impact but remain soft and flexible while worn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2XQ97XHjVw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYnZ5vNgDWw
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Newtonian_fluid
Filed under: Things We Like on August 9th, 2007 | No Comments »
Give me a Benny, “Benny”. Give me a bit, “Bit”. Give me a Bob, “Bob”.
What do you get?
Bobs, Bits & Benny’s,
EVENT
Bullet-proof squirrels. No, not really. But animals can be heroes too..
DESIGN
A design collective with an integrated approach. They call it collaboration. Potato. Potado.
WORK
A nice online ad for charity. ‘Hmmm’ and ‘nice’ are just two of the things you could say after seeing it.
BRAIN FOOD
Don’t believe the newspapers. They lie. Yep. It’s true. I read it somewhere.
ART
The force is strong with this one.
ONLINE
A docu-happiness-factory-mentary. Just in case it crossed your mind.
MAD SKILLS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5B5iB67Ld0
Yer byeee.
Filed under: Things We Like, Bits & Bobs on August 9th, 2007 | No Comments »
The other day, thanks to a good friend of mine, I had the chance to make a re-discovery of a great website.
The site is deviantART, and while some of you might be familiar with it, those who are not should definitely have a quick (or long) look at all that’s on offer. The community of users accounts for millions (yes, millions) of pieces of art in the form of prints, photography, digital art and paintings, all readily available for your personal viewing pleasure, as a source of inspiration, or as a starting point for discussing techniques and ideas.
The site also provides RSS functionality. Unfortunately only the title of each item is available from the feed. Still most definitely worth a click through…
Back to bookmarking then, I guess.
Filed under: Things We Like on August 2nd, 2007 | No Comments »
The Guardian recently published a list of their top 10 British dotcoms to watch, many of which I hadn’t heard of. It’s nice to see some good ideas coming out of this country. How many times have you checked out the latest cool web app and ended up thinking, “Yeah, it’s cool, but if only they had it with UK data.”
As someone looking to move house in the near-future, I’m particularly liking the GoogleMaps-powered ononemap.com and extate.co.uk
Their top 10 (in alphabetical order):
Extate
Intelligent search of property websites.
Garlik
Online identity management.
MindCandy
Alternate reality gaming.
Moo
Print on demand: cards, notes and stickers.
OnOneMap
Map-based property search.
Touch Local
Local directory services.
Trusted Places
User-created local information.
Zopa
Peer to peer lending.
Zubka
Recruitment 2.0.
Filed under: Things We Like, Industry Comment on August 1st, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Transform any personal music player + earbuds into a sculptural audio console through passive amplification alone.
Filed under: Things We Like on July 26th, 2007 | No Comments »
Check out petmoustache.com, a viral microsite created for Burger King that was supporting a TV ad’ for the new Western Whopper. You can upload a photo of yourself to grow and groom the cowboy moustache you’ve always desired, then send your mates a ‘Monty Python-esque’ mouth-moving singing telegram.
Good funny fun, but I had no idea it had anything to do with a new Whopper or that it had anything to do with Burger King, until I had someone point out the BK logo in the bottom right-hand corner. Got me to write this blog entry didn’t it though!
Another viral microsite which enables photo uploads of your face is one for Verizon, a US based broadband provider with the strapline ‘The Power of Verizon Broadband’ where you can upload your face onto a 3D generated action hero, to create a short action movie ending in you powerfully saving the day.
Today, I’m a hero… with a moustache.
Filed under: Things We Like, Funny on July 26th, 2007 | 1 Comment »
I’ve found a lovely little site which appeals to the Japanese-loving side of a couple of us in the office including myself. The site is called ReadyMech.com and is a small collection of downloadable PDF flat-pack designs for making your very own miniature ‘Mechs’.
Mechs are little boxy-type characters which come in many flavours, all ready for you to stick your fingers together with super glue trying to ‘pimp your desk’.
The series has been developed by Fwis, a graphic design group in Portland, Denver, Cupertino and Brooklyn, USA.
As you can see here, mine is already my bestest pal and I’m sure he’ll have a few more companions before the week is out.
In the words of ‘Art Attack’s’ Neil Buchanan, “Try it yourself…“
Filed under: Things We Like on July 26th, 2007 | No Comments »
That’s the question being asked (and answered) at DesignCanChange.org, a pro-bono site built by smashLAB, a Vancouver-based design firm.
There’s a lot to like at this site. Not only do they provide excellent visuals that explain the concepts of climate change, but they also candidly address the impact that design has on the world. They also gives tips on how to take action.
Inspiring stuff.
Filed under: Things We Like on June 18th, 2007 | No Comments »
On Friday we were invited to see the end-of-year show by the graduating students of the MMU (Manchester Metropolitan University) Faculty of Art & Design
Well, we took ourselves off with high hopes on Friday as we prepared to be impressed by this year’s MMU graduating students. The show encompassed many varying disciplines with a lot of ‘cross-pollination’ which made for a few very interesting pieces of work.
Among our favourites were a light/architecture installation that reminded us of Superman’s diggs, and a nice set of stuffed toys called the ‘Unglefor’ species.
We like to go to things like these because it gives us an insight as to where the new talent is coming from and keeps our ‘finger on the pulse’ as it were.
Importantly though, I feel that being subjected to creativity in any respect is like food for the soul and, as a team, reminds us of where we started, giving us a chance to reflect on where we are and why we decided to pursue a creative career.
There was definitely a lot to see, and in the couple of hours we were there we felt we only saw half of what we would have liked. So, if you are planning to take a trip yourself during the coming week in which the show is open to the public, I suggest allowing yourself a good amount of time to take in all that is on offer.
Filed under: Things We Like on June 18th, 2007 | No Comments »