"Fabulous" from Seth Godin

Just an exceptionally inspiring post from Seth:

"Fabulous"

This is so cool: because we only look at things we want to look at, only talk about things worth talking about, the amount of fabulous in the world continues to rise exponentially.

Even though we're at the tail end of the great recession, think about all the cool stuff in your life. Not just stuff you can buy, but experiences, works of art, innovations of all kinds... the bar has been raised for what you need to do to be noticed, and the market is responding.

Not only do I notice more fabulous, but it sure seems as though the creators of it are more engaged, dedicated and yes, joyful, than I can remember. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do work that matters, this is it. You can't say, "but I need to make a fortune instead," because that's not happening right now. So you might as well join the people who can say, "I love doing this."

There is certainly something to be said for seeing more "fabulous" in the design world today. It's very true that in this market, you can't simply put out a mediocre product and expect to reap fantastic fortunes. You have to be innovative. You have to be visually striking. You have to have something so unique that it is simply impossible for people NOT to want what you have to offer.

Words to live by even in a normal economic climate...

via Seth Godin

"Don't treat people the same, find the ones that matter more to you, and hug them"

From "Some people are better than others" by Seth Godin

"1. Kindle readers buy two or three times as many books as book readers. Why? I don't think it's necessarily because using a Kindle leads someone to read more books. I think it's because the kind of person who buys a lot of books is the most likely person to pony up and buy a Kindle. I know that sounds obvious, but once you see it this way, you understand why book publishers should be killing themselves to appeal to this group. After all, the group voted with their dollars to show that they're better.
2. Walmart and other mass marketers are now offering top bestsellers for $9 or less each, about $5 less than their cost. Why? Why not offer toasters or socks as a loss leader to get people in the store? I think the answer is pretty clear: people who buy hardcover books buy other stuff too. A hardcover book is a luxury item, it's new and it's buzzable. This sort of person is exactly who you want in your store."

This sort of research has always interested me. The way in which certain people's specific behaviors will dictate a thousand other set behaviors. Some of these seem like the golden key for marketers. I also love that quote... "Don't treat people the same, find the ones that matter more to you, and hug them."

Applies just about everywhere in life.

via Seth Godin

DEATH BY POSTERIOR PAPERCUT.

This is an awful idea. And so totally not "green."



Yes. This is like a giant Post-It chair.

via core77

Bauhaus

I've always heard the term "Bauhaus" thrown around and never really known what it means. This NYT article on Margarete Heymann piqued my interest and sort of led me down an interesting path.

(From Wikipedia) Staatliches Bauhaus was a craft/fine arts school in Germany founded by Walter Gropius. Protoges of Gropius would go on to define "Modernism" in the 20th century, especially when it came to architecture (Mies van der Rohe led the Bauhaus for a time. See earlier posts on Philip Johnson and van der Rohe). One driving concept behind the "Bauhaus style" was the desire to unify craft, art and technology. One need only look at the skyscrapers of the 20th century to see the extensions of this concept.


Now I know!

via NYT

Amazing Wine Cellars!

As an aspiring oenophile, these make my palette water. I am in complete agreement with the original blogger on this one... I don't care that they're indulgent, I would want one if I had enough cash! They also bring up some interesting points about use of basements in the human race's imminent space problem.

(click)


via core77

Unstated Statements

Things like this make me a little angry sometimes... I understand the need to make a statement, but sometimes creations simply for the sake of irony really get my goat.

Femke DeVries' "Unstated Staments 02"



(Yes, these are blank gold and silver plated name tags.)

via core77

Obit: Lawrence Halperin

Here's the NYT Obit for Landscape Architect for Lawrence Halperin. I've always been interested in what a landscape architect does. This reminds of a book I read over the summer called, "The Devil In The White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that changed America" about the Chicago World's Fair. It was interesting to read about Frederick Olmsted and the design of NYC's Central Park.

Lawrence Halperin: Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial



via NYT

Verb

Multi-function? Amazing. It's a chair, a lamp, a bookshelf, a table and a modern sculpture.



via core77

Image Qualities

Highlights-Brights
Shadows-Darks
Midtones-Gradation of tones

*all looking for DETAIL.

RGB
CMY

Red filter absorbs cyan- makes daytime look like night.

"Distressed Peasant"

I am fascinated by the way in which artists and designers will take existing art and turn into an entirely new piece of art. (See previous post on Carla Gannis. She spoke about "appropriation art" in her lecture.) E.V. Day has taken costume pieces from the City Opera's archives and turned them into suspended sculpture, representative of the characters and her own interpretations of their grand stage personas. This article in the New York Times speaks about the power of taking pieces that might not have seen the light of day ever again have been imbued with new life. (Also, see previous post of Philip Johnson and his collaboration on the design of the -now- David A. Koch theater where the exhibit will be on display.)



via NYT