.  Straws are such a funky and playful material, I guess the reason most of us like them is because it takes us back to our childhood constructions.  The three thousand translucent straws have been interwoven to form a dense, spherical lampshade.   The use of translucent straws is surprisingly beautiful despite the plastic clutter.  I guess what makes it so appealing is the transparency of the straws, as well as its size.  In any other case size wouldn’t be an issue, however, in order to construct this lampshade and interconnect the straws, it takes Fishlock seven days with a total diameter of 80cm.

Mercedes-Benz F800 StyleMercedes-Benz just released official news and photos of their F800 style concept that will debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. A unique feature of the concept is an all-new multi drive platform, which accommodates electric drives with fuel cells (enabling ranges of almost 375 miles) as well as the use of Plug-in Hybrids that can drive for up to 18 miles solely on electricity. This also might confirm the rumor that a Hybird CLS is in the works.

Version 4 for our Nuvist.com website design is coming soon… on-line ; see v4 here .

Superfad’s new in-store campaign for Sony is a startlingly beautiful and surreal homage to Sony’s global brand message of “make.believe” and a tribute to the pleasure of “Eye Candy”. Unfolding in three parts, “Birth of Color,” “Explosion of Color,” and “Release of Color,” the project was directed and produced by Superfad and will be seen in stores and trade shows throughout the world.

The concept was inspired by the idea that from one’s imagination anything is possible. Drawing from the theatrical world of fashion photography, Superfad chose moments of visual drama and magic, with spherical objects representing the dot in “make.believe” as a connecting through-line.

Superfad Director/Executive Creative Director Will Hyde captured a live action, slow motion narrative with imagery that would showcase the picture value of Sony BRAVIA high definition televisions including color fidelity and detail. The project’s effects and animation, completed in just under three weeks, was creative directed by Carlos Stevens.

The project keenly represents Superfad’s methodology; one that eschews a singular signature style in favor of applying project-specific creative approaches to reveal the unexpected. With Sony’s “Eye Candy,” the blending of live action and animation comes together in a seamless marriage of visual intensity and wonder.

Client: Sony Electronics
Video Program Manager: Lisa Gonzalez

Agency: chickINchair Productions
Executive Producer: Kim Tierney

Live Action Production Company: Superfad
Director: Will Hyde
Director of Photography: Martin Ahlgren
Production Designer: Jason Puccinelli
Wardrobe Design/Stylist: Heidi Meek
Make Up: Bryin Smoot
Line Producer: Scott Ludden

Design & Animation: Superfad
Executive Creative Director: Will Hyde
Creative Diretor: Carlos Stevens
CGI/VFX Director: Dade Orgeron
3D Artists: Tom Oakerson, Phiphat Pinyosophon, Andrew Butterworth, Yas Koyama,
Alex O’Donnell, Dimitri Luedemann, Billy Maloney
Compositors: Tom Oakerson, Paulo Dias, Loren Judah, Dorian West, Sohee Sohn,
John Stanch, Soyoun Lee, Dimitri Luedemann, David Holm
Editors: Ryan Haug
Flame Artist: Andy Davis
Head of Production: Chris Volckmann
Executive Producer: Rob Sanborn
Music: Matt Hutchinson

via motionographer.com

Zeitguised was founded in early 2001 by Jamie Raap and Henrik Mauler in an effort to channel their disparate interests in art, architecture, fashion and design, and explore and test the boundaries of them all.

Their high-gloss art school 3D punk blends complex geometries, surreal objects, artificial behaviours and the recycling of digital ready-mades into their distinct hallucinatory narration style.

With a repertoire spanning art films, 3D design, installation projects, tv commercials and music videos, they are perfectly suited to the diversified world of modern commercialised creative enterprise.

“Perpetics”, an amorphous architectural art extravaganza, received miles of amorous blog inches last year and toured film festivals and art galleries alike, while their commercial clients have included Toyota, Mercedes, and Napster and Vodafone.

2010 will see Zeitguised spreading their computer-powered love across the symbiotic universes of advertising, art, fashion, design and music.

To see more of Zeitguised’s work visit www.blinkart.co.uk

and also iphone vs stone

Wolf D. Prix presents ‘Energy Roof’ in Perugia, Italy

Wolf D. Prix, Design Principal and CEO of COOP HIMMELB(L)AU presented the design for the ‘Energy Roof’ during a press conference in Perugia, Italy, today. ‘Energy Roof’ is part of the research project ‚Walking through the History’ of the University of Perugia. Beside the archaeological study this research comprised also the creation of an architectural icon.

‘Energy Roof’ serves as canopy along Via Mazzini in the center of Perugia and at the same time creates the entry point to the archaeological underground passage leading through the history of Perugia. The passage connects the city center with the mini metro station Pincetto. Historical documents show the existence of the old Etruscan city wall in the area below Piazza Giacomo Matteotti which COOP HIMMELB(L)AU proposes to excavate as part of an underground public gallery space exhibiting the history of Perugia. Openings in the ground of the Piazza Giacomo Matteotti visually connect the underground passage with the ‘Energy Roof’.

COOP HIMMELB(L)AU developed the design of the roof with the goal to generate energy for the city. While the orientation of the west wing is optimized in relation to solar radiation, the east wing captures wind. The roof consists of three layers: the energy generating top layer, the structural layer in the middle and a layer on the bottom as a combination of laminated glazing and translucent pneumatic cushions. The top layer includes transparent photovoltaic cells to generate electricity and shade the sun. The orientation of the individual cells is generated and optimized by a computer driven scripting program. Furthermore five wind turbines that are placed inside the structural layer are generating additional energy. Both the roof and the underground passage are energy self-sufficient.

The new paradigmatic design of the ‘Energy Roof’ creates a distinctive and highly recognizable icon for the city and a statement for aesthetic sustainability corresponding with the ancient buildings of Via Mazzini.