'Tis The (holiday card) Season!

Ok, so I might be getting back into the blogging spirit.

Here are some Holiday Cards we just got back from the printer. I had them printed on columned paper, so they look like corrugated cardboard. The client is a children's toy distribution company, so we wanted to do something a little playful and cute for their customers.

Jumping on the Square Bandwagon.

This is also making its way across the WWW this morning, but for those of you who haven't seen it....Check this out.

Square.

Read payment cards from any device with an audio input jack, including your mobile phone. Accepting payments has never been faster or more convenient.

Square will donate a penny of every transaction you take to a cause of your choice. Working together to better the world, one small step at a time.

As a payer, get your receipts sent to your email or mobile phone instantly and access them securely online. You can also use a text message to authorize every payment in real-time.

I have questions. But I find this very interesting. I guess it was only a matter of time before something else became more convenient.

Just a Girl.

Hi!

Yes that is a No Doubt Reference in the title.

Here is a pretty powerful little video to get you thinking this morning.

Let's do it.

Telic & Neen: The Internet and/is Art.

“Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extend they dictate the languages in which we speak and think. Either we use those languages or we remain mute”. JG Ballard

"The Web is nothing more and nothing less than what the World has always been: unvisited and unfriendly territories that are gradually transformed into a domestic landscape. From the Alps to the Japanese garden, this is the scenario: the illusory promise of order and system. But still, the simple rocks and sand in the well-arranged composition of a Japanese garden, for a better-trained intellect, are black holes and chaos.

The Web came from this chaos; in a certain way it came directly out of the Trojan Horse described in Homer’s Iliad and now we are all Ulysses, lost in the ocean all over again. But we are not traveling alone: there is a special spirit that helps us navigate and that is the spirit of Telic.

Telic is our relationship with the tools that help us to design the World and to see things in a perspective. It is in mobile phones and computers, but it’s even in the way our houses and clothes are made. Our times are Telic."

Read this essay this morning by Greek Painter Miltos Manetas. Far out there (or is it?) but definitely an interesting read. I suggest he dive right into the Science Fiction world.

When life hands you a pink slip...

The trailer alone is emotional to watch. I've been fortunate enough to hold on to a job in a field where a good deal of my peers have been let go, but I do know what it's like to have to leave something you love because it's not financially sustainable. But, as demonstrated in this film, maybe sometimes moving on is the best possible thing you can do to find happiness. Cheesy? Just the right amount I think.

"Lemonade is a documentary about a few of those 70,000 people in the advertising industry who have been handed a pink slip and gone out to discover who they really are and do what they really should have been doing."

Utilitarian & Recreational Biking by Design

"Recent years have seen the local interest in cycling increase dramatically. The interest comes both from citizens seeking a healthier lifestyle and from planners and analysts seeking solutions to organizational, environmental and transportation issues in a rapidly growing population.

Residents who enjoy cycling for fun or use their bikes for transportation are invited to get more information, share their thoughts on the city’s existing cycling routes, trails and facilities during two public information sessions this Saturday.

The first session will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Kitchener Market; and the second session will run from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Activa Sportsplex."

Received this little gem in the inbox today.

Music Videos.

Do people still watch music videos?

I really don't know. I'm genuinely asking. We nixed cable last year and I've actually weened myself off of watching MTV online. Not that they played music videos anyways. (Sidenote: has anyone noticed that mainstream shows are actually playing good music now? Like Metric on Grey's all the time and Midlake on Fringe...I kind of hate it. Why do I hate it?)

Music videos are cool. And I like how bands have gotten away from just shooting themselves 30 000 different ways and are actually commissioning artists and seeking out super creative directors to conceptualize videos that perfectly depict their music. As a viewer we get to experience a song not only sonically, but visually. Double score. That Land of Talk video I posted last week is a good example. Stunning. It's just strange to me that as videos get better (more artistic, creative, innovative, etc etc), there are less mediums to view them. Thank goodness for the Internet.

Anyways, I digress. From my understanding this is what it would be like to take Salvia:

Ready, Able - Grizzly Bear

Directed/Created by Allison Schulnik.

Flashy.

So I normally don't like flash-heavy websites, but interior design firm Wonderwall's new site is pretty dope.

Here are some screenshots, but check it out.

Typography, Tel Aviv, Kinetic Processing.

Telefon Tel Aviv — Stay Away From Being Maybe

“You’re Just My Type” is a project by Jonathan Brandel. He was inspired by the typeface pyramid by Formconspiracy and turned it into a kinetic Processing sketch. The music in this video is “Stay Away From Being Maybe” by Telefon Tel Aviv, you might want to see it fullscreen. 

Effective Advertising?

A Good Day.

Always a lovely surprise to come home and find the latest Good in my mailbox.

This issue in particular has a really great breakdown of COP15. The who, what, why, when and how. In layman's terms. Which is nice sometimes. For blondes like me.

I implore you to pick up a copy, or come by the office and borrow mine. With a coffee. 

Photoshop Me Out of a Job

This came across my desk this morning and I'm not sure what to make of it. Actually, I'm fairly sure it means my job will be obsolete in the coming months.

PhotoSketch is an internet-based program that can take the rough, labeled sketch on the left and automagically turn it into the naff montage on the right.

Technology, why you got to be so cruel girrrrl?

Thanks Steve!

Interior Design Swoon

New & Improved.

Matte of Taste has been doing some minor renos lately, and to add to the enjoyment of my double americano this morning, I had the chance to check out their new sign!

It looks like this. I think it looks great. A little small but a lot more modern and clean. 

Stop by and check it out if you are strolling the downtown streets today! 

Instant Love

Warhol's

Last June the world kind of ran out of Polaroid film. I have a special place in my heart for Polaroids. They are so candid and honest and immediate. A little hobby of mine is purchasing old cameras at flea markets and antique stores. Great in theory but I run into issues when I try to find film for them, which these days, is usually impossible. Ironically, in the case of my 1983 Polaroid Sun 600, Impossible may be the answer.

Polaroids of my parents from the mid '70s. They are about my age here.

First off, let me quickly explain why Polaroid film is unavailable now:

Polaroid made negatives. Every Polaroid has a negative and a positive. The negative material was made in Boston and the equipment they used was decomissioned years ago. Before the equipment was decommissioned, the company produced miles and miles of negative and put it in cold storage. So once that negative was gone (last june), there really wasn't anybody to make more of it.

Enter: SavePolaroid & The Impossible Project. Essentially, one man (Dr. Florian Kaps, Impossible Project founder) purchased the last Polaroid factory, hired some of the staff and is working to produce a new type of Instant Film by early 2010. At this point it is undecided as to whether he will keep the Polaroid name or not.

I find it interesting that we've come so far with digital photography, and live in a world with such advanced technology, but trying to recreate instant film is deemed an "impossible" project.

Perhaps the secret of creating successful instant film died with this guy. 

Or maybe there is just not enough interest/money/materials?

I for one hope Polaroid film comes back, and for less than $100 a pack. 

Absolut Balls

It's pretty brave (and awesome) when a company launches a 4 month campaign removing all labels from their product. Unfortunately, you won't see this in your local LBCO. The campaign is exlusive to retail store Nuance in Sweden, but I'm curious, if it was available in Canada, do you think  you would  have been able to recognize the brand? Of course you would. This company has such a strong, well established brand identity and bottle shape that they can easily do stunts like this. Props.

The Absolut Company global travel-retail director Anders Olsson says: In an Absolut world there are no labels. No one is judged on the basis of prejudice, and everybody is encouraged to be who they really are. Seeing beyond stereotypical labels makes the world more vibrant, diverse and respectful.

Tuesday So Far

Goodmorning Goodmorning.... Well, it's 11.

My day always starts with checking emails and perusing various blogs. This morning I came across this and laughed, and then agreed:

In other news, Fran is on her way to Pandora to pick up the new sale post cards we've created for a sale at Just Between Us. Excited to see how they've turned out!  We went with a 1950's concept entitled "Summer's Revenge", 'cause, you know, it's August and NOW  the summer has decided to come with a vengeance. We chose a thick matte stock to make it look and feel more authentic. Check it out below:

Hope you like it. Coffee time!