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‘Life is what happens to you while you’re looking at your smartphone’

one small seed — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 12:33:06 +0000

Eduardo Salles’ quirky and colourful illustrations do more than provide a good laugh. The Mexican illustrator and designer’s series entitled ‘Cinismo Ilustrado’ (‘Cynicism Illustrated’) uses satire to confront ideas of religion, politics, the environment, and popular trends in the 21st century.

One poster depicts what looks like a homeless man begging for facebook ‘likes’, another with the words: ‘Life is what happens to you while you’re looking at your smartphone’.

Salles aptly sums it all up with the poster ‘Icons that f**k up your day’: most of us know what it feels like to have one bar of wifi signal, or to wait for that double tick on whatsapp.

Another poster entitled ‘Run Pistorius Run’, depicts a blindfolded person carrying a sword and the scales of justice, running after a man with prosthetic blades for his legs. Enough said…

Here is what some imgur.com users had to say about Salles’ illustrations…

oh my what a wonderfully refreshing dose of true reality. dmj12

I don’t see a lot of cynicism in here….Social commentary is more accurate. Maybe social commentary by a cynic. Nolieolieolieoooo

sad how true most of these are… mrGrumps

What do you think? Comment in the box below…

Homophobia, sexism, greed & #instant oral: the dark truth about modern society.

one small seed — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 06:51:21 +0000

Make sure you do a double–take when you look at the illustrations by Spanish artist Luis Quiles (aka Gunsmithcat). There is a dark and shocking truth hidden behind the cartoonlike, and brightly coloured illustrations.

The messages are unapologetic and unsettling, putting modern society in the limelight for all to see! The animated characters depict scenarios that we see and feel in everyday life, including issues like homophobia, sexism, censorship, corporate greed and even child abuse.

What are your thoughts? Shocking, or just pretty pictures? Comment below…

Apple Cares About You (& Your Life Savings)

one small seed — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:03:44 +0000

Before you log onto Facebook today, take a look under your chair. Did you get an Apple product? Nothing? Yeah, these kinda apples don’t usually chill under chairs. While Oprah and her magic chairs might be a no-more with the show having come to an end, it hasn’t stopped Apple from showcasing why they remain in the forefront of electronics. Steve Jobs would be proud of his successor, current CEO Timothy D. Cook, on his ability to keep the momentum and general ethos of the organisation: ‘thinking differently to cultivate creativity’.

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Apple has been the focus of the electronic consumer industry for almost four decades, constantly churning out compelling and innovative technological goods. They managed to reinvent the wheel time after time through enhancing previously established products. Of course, mass marketing doesn’t hurt either as we’ve come to find. Watching Perspective, the video above, you can’t help but feel like the overpriced brand truly and sincerely cares about you, the customer.

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You will notice shifting-sentences centred on the idea of how — with the aid of its consumers [give your life savings a round of applause] — thinking out of the box brought the company thus far. Having dominated the market for years, they’ve never stopped raising the bar with their competitive advantage: an openness to change.

The ever transforming perspective that encapsulates the streamlined company has directed Cook to unveil the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 plus and the loosely named ‘iWatch’ at a special event on 9 September 2014. In lieu of stagnating by waiting for their competitors to test the waters, Apple dove right in and released a smartwatch — its latest released innovation in four years.

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The iPhones, unlike their predecessors have larger screens with a sleek and slim design aimed at first time buyers. Surprise, surprise, they’re not water resistant nor have that many extra features outside of an app world we’ve seen time and time again. Perhaps Android will give them more time to catch up to the idea that wet phones are as desirable as the stone ages. Be that as it may, one thing the ‘iElectronics’ consumer giant has introduced is a payment system that integrates with its smartphones.

Treading lightly was indeed never the plan when Cook decided to unleash their wearable gadget. In true Apple fashion, the iWatch is a phone with a tracking device and HD hologram display that moonlights as a watch. Okay, perhaps that’s not entirely accurate. However, we can rest assured, a host of features ranging from heart rate monitoring and making calls to animated emojis in place of HD holograms, can be found with a tap of a finger. These are definitely exciting times for Apple lovers living in an age of technological advancement. So now we wait for the products to fly off the shelves with reckless abandon.

Words by Mpumelelo Msomi

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After His Videos Went Viral, We Had To Find Out Who This Guy Was!

one small seed — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 14:05:52 +0000

Matthew Silver‘s videos have become an internet sensation – ‘The Power of Now’ got over 10 000 shares on Facebook! But what’s more, he’s inspired many people with his unique brand of performance on the streets of New York City. He talks about the importance of living in the moment and doing what you love. A breath of fresh air in a world where conformity is the norm, don’t you think? Yes, you might think he’s a bit of a nut job — but wouldn’t you rather be a lil’ bit crazy than boring? Courageous, unconventional but true. Take a listen to what he has to say!

Matthew Silver

Words by Alice Paulse

Social Media: A (Face)book of lies

one small seed — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 12:51:37 +0000

Whether it’s via a computer, tablet or smart phone – we’ve all gone face-to-face with Facebook. Sometimes for hours at end… and often for no particular reason at all. We’ve scrolled past the status of that guy posting pictures of his fancy car and his great life. We’ve all gone through our ex’s profile and felt some bitter regret after seeing all the ‘fun’ her Instagram photos tell us she’s having. Then you post some comment about the wonder of life… after which you keep refreshing for any incoming Likes.

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This is how social media has affected our lives. Everyone does it, and so do we. It’s all heightened reality. Yeah, the guy might have a new car that is fancy – but he doesn’t share how he had to work 12 hours a day in a shitty job to get it, and during that process he lost his girlfriend because he was never home. We are trying to live up to ideals that are not realistic. That exist only because of a status update or an image with no context.

It’s become a social norm to send ‘LOLs’ without physically laughing, or smiley faces without being happy. It’s a façade that we indulge in because it’s human that we want to be liked… to be noticed and accepted. Showcasing ourselves – or our lifestyles – as something they’re not makes us feel like we fit in… But is this a bad thing? Who knows. Spending so much time and energy ‘living’ as someone you could not be confident being in ‘reality’, dreaming bigger dreams, or just feeling a sense of confidence… Well, this might at some point cultivate into reality! If it does, well good for you. Just do not say ‘LOL’ to someone. Ever!

Seeing as you spend most of your time on social media, comment your thoughts on this addictive craze bellow or hit us up on twitter @onesmallseedSA

Words: Matthew Alexander

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#FYI: Tweet-powered cars and other cool shit…

one small seed — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:48:41 +0000

At one small seed we believe in the power of unique ideas and novel concepts. Ranging from technology, design, art and music, we’ve compiled a collection of crazy, fascinating, funny and bizarre findings that we think would be of interest to you. Here are some of our favourite finds this past week. Stay tuned for weekly material…

MindDrive Social Car

Image: lostateminor.com

Fueled by tweets and likes, MindDrive is the world’s first social media powered electric car. The vehicle was created by a group of fifteen Kansas students who converted the vintage 1967 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia into an electric car that is jolted into life with every tweet, like and social media share. MindDrive is a non-profit organisation that aims to encourage experimental learning through recruiting students to take on innovative projects. We’re still a little fuzzy about exactly how social media activities are transformed into watts to drive the car, but the vehicle seems to be working. Nevertheless if you ever find yourself behind the wheel of a MindDrive, it might be helpful to have some electrical tools on hand in case the car comes to a halt.

Audiowood Barky Turntable

Image: audiowood.com

Turntables are often black and boxy, lending them an air of design predictability. Audiowood has challenged this notion with the Barky turntable. The music device is made from glass and a solid ash wooden platform with brass fitted to the spiked feet at the bottom of the machine. With a rustic feel, the vinyl player can easily be adapted to any home. The elegant contraption also features a high-quality Rega parts kit and comes in 115V or 230V versions. Audiowood creates 10 to 15 of these pieces every year, making Barky an exclusive purchase.

Projecto: Projector for Instagram Photos

Image: mocoloco.com

Instagram has cultivated an era of ‘selfies’ and the return of vintage, retro inspired photography. While users can tap into Instagram’s filters to edit their images into aged photographs, many people view their creations through the modern technology of cellphones, Facebook, Twitter, tablet devices, and so on. Projecto brings the retro feel to life. The nifty device is a matchbox-sized projector that projects your Instagram images. Connect your Instagram account to the Projecto website, and the Projecto whizzes will develop your photographs onto a 35mm film. The film will then be passed through a wheel that fits into the tiny projector. Both the projector and the film will be mailed to you, so you an share your images in a retro environment.

MINI Bathroom Airbags

autoguide.com

MINI Mexico has targeted women drivers in an ad campaign that warns the fairer sex of the dangers of applying makeup while driving. The automotive company began their awareness project by placing large airbags inside female restrooms in Mexico. Soap dispensers were rigged to carry the airbags, and when women stood next to them, the dispensers would burst open into an airbag, alarming the women. The airbags were printed with the MINI logo and a caption that read: ‘There’s a place for everything. Makeup or drive’. According to the company’s statistics, over 1 200 women are killed each year as a result of the way in which they multitask driving and beautifying. While the initiative draws attention to an undermined source of road accidents, many women have voiced concern over MINI’s gender-based approach in the making of the ad.

BOXED furniture

Boxed from Tyrone Stoddart on Vimeo.

Image: designtaxi.com

People live their lives on the move, and there is nothing more handy than being able to whip out a work station when the need arises. BOXED is a concept developed by Tyler Stoddard. The designer created a briefcase that can be transformed into multifunctional furniture. From one little box case, four different types of furniture can be created. The wooden briefcase can easily form a desk, a coffee table, two stools, and a lamp, providing the perfect workspace utilities. Each piece can then be disassembled and fit back neatly into the briefcase. BOXED also comes with a small pouch of ash tree seeds so that its new owner can replant and replenish the materials used to make the furniture. The project is designed to provide functional furniture and to educate people about the ash dieback — a disease that has been killing ash trees.

Caramalised Sugar Solarium Greenhouse

William Lamson – Solarium from Storm King Art Center on Vimeo.

Image: thisiscolossal.com

Solarium is a fully operational greenhouse featuring 162 windows made from caramalised sugar. Designer Wiliam Lamson built the colourful construction at the Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, New York. The space functions as both an experimental greenhouse and a meditative environment. Lamson spent weeks formulating a method to construct the windows, finally ensuring that each of the 162 sugar panels are cooked to different temperatures and then sealed between two panes of window glass. Durng the hot summer months one of the panels opens, allowing vistors to enter and exit from various points.

W/Me Wellness Tracker

Image: kickstarter.com

Mood rings were one of the rages of the 90s, entrancing wearers to believe that colour-changing rings could reflect their mood. While the rings had little scientific value or accuracy, Phyode has created a wristband that reads the mood of its owner. The W/Me bracelet is embedded with medical-grade sensors that work together with smartphones to keep people aware of their mental and physical states. Wearable gadgets are becoming increasingly popular as fashion becomes more tech-savvy and tech becomes more fashionable. Phyode aim to create wearable devices that can provide a better quality of life. W/Me is a wellness tracker that can monitor your body’s autonomic nervous system, which acts as a subconscious control system for your body. The device then uses this physical data to categorise your mood as either passive, excitable, pessimistic or anxious.

Images: lostateminor.com, audiowood.com,designtaxi.com, autoguide.com, mocoloco.com, thisiscolossal.com, kickstarter.com

WE LOVE SEXY: THROUGH YOUR LENS

one small seed — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:14:53 +0000

This is a call-out for all photographers and anyone who loves aesthetically pleasing images! We Love Sexy is a social activation through the power of photography that draws on photographs to capture the raw essence of what it means to be sexy.

We Love Sexy will explore the portraits, the movements and the moments of a diverse, inspiring group of individuals. From the professional to the amateur photographer, from the model to the make-up artist, and from the people we call friends and brothers… everyone is a part of We Love Sexy, whether it be directly or indirectly. We Love Sexy showcases ‘sexy’ photography in all its forms: from the curve of a calf to an honest smile, from the glamour of haute couture to infectious free-spirited fun, and from the urban underground to the latest runway show.

image: Daniel Van Flymen

image: Lindie Jacobs

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

There are three ways to share your own interpretation of ‘sexy':

1) Become a member (if you aren’t already!) on onesmallseed.net and upload your image making sure you use the hash tag #welovesexy in the ‘Tags’ box (see image below). If you have a full shoot you would like to submit, simply create an Album called We Love Sexy. (use the hash tag for all the photos in the album too!)

2) Like the We Love Sexy Facebook page and tag the page in any album/image you upload to Facebook that is content-relevant.

3) Email your submission/s to welovesexymag[at]gmail[dot]com

4) You can also upload images on Twitter (tag @WeLoveSexyMag) and via Instagram! Just make sure you always use the hashtag #welovesexy

image: Sivan Miller

image: ‘Day 22′ by Lindie Jacobs

THE COMPETITION & DIGITAL MAGAZINE

There are three one small seed magazine packages (Issue 02 – Issue 25) up for grabs, and since we are focussing on the digital realm it means that these magazines are now collectables! To enter, you simply need to submit your best images via any of the methods mentioned above. The three most Liked images on the We Love Sexy Facebook page will get awarded the awesome package… that’s nearly 10 kg’s of amazing content and design that you can keep forever!

Not only do you stand the chance of winning a one small seed box set (and other prizes TBA), but every month there will be a digital magazine showcasing up to 100 of the best submissions! So, what are you waiting for?

IMPORTANT LINKS

Keep posted with news by following We Love Sexy on:

onesmallseed.net
Facebook
Twitter
PInterest

image: Jono Nienaber

all images taken from onesmallseed.net

Interview | The Art of Doing | Arno Faure

one small seed — Wed, 29 May 2013 07:30:50 +0000

Arno Faure is the imaginative founder of the Art of Doing — a dynamic project that portraits artists, craftsmen and creative visionaries doing what they love. The online platform and its founder are touring the world of creativity in an effort to rejuvenate and energise people to begin their own artistic journeys. Included in the Art of Doing’s impressive portraiture is a video sketch that evokes a graphic narrative of Meka — a Canadian illustrator and visual designer — while another follows the hard knocks of Augustin — a Montreal-based boxer. Faure aims to inspire audiences to follow their passions through directing them to people who have combated the hypnotic temptation of idleness and mastered the art of doing. His latest feature on circus coaches Jorge and Itzel highlights that doing can be a risky, scary and sometimes exhausting journey, but the means are worth the end. Although he observes his subjects behind the camera, Faure himself is brilliantly talented with a knack for graphic design, directing, and production. We chatted to the visionary host about being the ‘good student’, finding the right channels, and the woes of a Facebook ‘like’.

Image: The Art of Doing

The Art of Doing | Portrait of Meka, Illustrator (n1) from Arno Faure/The Art of Doing on Vimeo.

In your editorial on the Art of Doing’s website you criticise the education system for restricting newer generations to intellectual boxes and making them forget who they are. How do you think schools can correct this?

Stop grading students! The mark — the good score — doesn’t mean you’re a good or bad student. We shouldn’t emphasize the importance of it, it’s not the point. If this is the only way we’ve found to make students learn something, well, we should be ashamed. I never understood something because I had to but because I wanted to. And everything I learned just for the test, I quickly forgot. What’s the point in spending hundreds of hours learning if you don’t even know why you have to know the stuff. I was a ‘good’ student, I did all my homework on time, I never missed school, my reports were good, but it didn’t make me who I am today.

I had to get rid of this ‘good student’ label to follow my own path. Being the best student in the classroom doesn’t make you the best guy in life. We should be taught how to be rather than learning tons of stuff

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t learn history, science, etc. Of course, knowledge is essential, but we should be told why it’s good to know more than what we have to know. Propose rather than impose: don’t grade the results but the reasoning, value assays, risks taken, etc. The cookie-cutter approach to learning is no longer the way. Push students to think for themselves from an early age, to find their own path of learning. Teach them what to search for and how to find information. They should be active in learning, not sitting behind their desks. Sitting in a room is already an aberration — who can listen to a teacher for more than an hour without being bored? I was. As Ken Robinson said: ‘Helping students to connect with their personal capacities is the best way to reveal the best they have to offer’. Today we are fortunate to live in an era where each of us can make a contribution, and bring out everyone’s strength to move forward together.

Image: The Art of Doing

We’ve seen portraits of Meka and Augustin, but will we ever see a portrait of Arno?

No, you won’t. It’s not about me but others. Well, that’s not exactly true because these portraits are my vision, not the pure reality. I try to express the feelings I felt when I was with them, what I saw and noticed while I was immersed in their ‘world’. I’m very attached to details: it could be the laces undone, the small gesture you made, the pen you abandoned on the table… I focus on what you left behind more than on what you said. I’m not saying that what we say is not important, but usually we speak much more without words. I think we are by what we do unconsciously.

Somehow, my portrait might be all the portraits I directed

The Art of Doing | Portrait of Augustin, Boxer (n2) from Arno Faure/The Art of Doing on Vimeo.

Meka is a designer and Augustin is a boxer — two very different disciplines. How do you select who features on the Art of Doing?

I used to plan everything, to be prepared, even over-prepared all the time. With this project I rely more on my instincts; I don’t want to establish the listing from the beginning but catch people on the fly. It could be someone I met, or an artist I liked at a show I attended, or a friend who talked about somebody he knew. As soon as I feel the flame of the art of doing, I go for it! Without wondering if it could be good for the project or not, and when you’re making art, you don’t know why you do it before you do it.

You’ve done your own custom designed trailers for Moulin Rouge, The Shining, There Will Be Blood and The Hurt Locker. Pick one of these directors (let’s pretend Kubrick is alive) to portrait for the Art of Doing and tell us why.

Without a doubt I’d pick Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood)! And why? Well it’s always hard for me to explain in words why I like something. Usually it’s just instinct. I just like it that’s all. I feel connected with it, it might move me, make me imagine, think or whatever… it talks to me in a way. It’s like if I ask you why you love your boy or girlfriend. You could pretend to use fancy words to explain the why, but actually it’s pretty simple, you just know it.

Image: The Art of Doing

The Art of Doing aims to inspire people, but through ‘Place Publique’ it also provides a platform for artists to share their work. Do you think the problem of not doing anything lies in people not being inspired or not finding the correct channels of sharing and distribution?

I’d say both. My take is we need to inspire others and be inspired by others. But don’t wait to be inspired or for the right moment before doing something. Do it first and you’ll see. Think big, but start small. Don’t wait to be ready, you’re gonna miss the first shot anyway so better miss it quickly. We’re usually afraid to show what we do because we prefer to live in the imagination of being good rather than doing and realizing we might not be as good as we expected. We should all remember what Albert Einstein said: ‘Anyone who has never made a mistake, has never tried anything new’. So we should embrace mistakes not be afraid of them. And you’re right, nowadays, it’s hard to find the good way and the correct channels of sharing, but I think we don’t need to think about that. It’s not an issue anymore. For instance, twenty years ago, there were only two ways of showing your work as a filmmaker: theatre and TV. Now there are hundreds, too many for sure, but we don’t need to find where we could fit, but to do what we want and then the right place will come to us. The channels are not straight highways anymore but runny rivers. That’s why I don’t understand why we still all want to follow the old path. It’s not because you’re not featured in a theatre or in a famous festival that you’re not a good filmmaker. We need to get rid of this old-school way of doing things and get out of the box.

Don’t wait to be approved to be who you want to be. It’s not where you show your stuff that matters but what you say with it

Image: The Art of Doing

You say that society is too preoccupied with instant gratification and speed. How do you think this has disrupted the creation of art?

The most disturbing thing I ever encountered as a creator is what I call the RTF, or the real time feedback.

Today, we want feedback more than ever. Every time we do something, we wait for likes, shares, quick and fast success and wonder what people think about what we’ve created. We are only focus on how many people will raise their thumbs up. If René Descartes lived in the 21st century, he might have said: ‘I’m liked, therefore I am’

Think about Mozart, for instance. I do think that if he had access to all this feedback we get today, he would’ve never been able to compose his masterpieces. Feedback is great and essential in taking a step back and looking at what we do, but at the wrong point it can kill your idea. I think the (virtual) connection created something we didn’t need as a creator, or at least not the way we use it. If you do something just to please people and get likes, you’ll never do what you really want, because most of the time what you want to do is not going to work right away. You might even get only one or two likes or views or whatever, and if you rely on this you might change the way you do things just because people don’t like it. But what if what you do is not for now? What if people need time to digest it? What if Van Gogh had changed his style just because nobody liked his paintings? What if Godard had cut A bout de Souffle in the academic way just to be considered a ‘good’ filmmaker? Instant gratification should be the last thing we want. Unfortunately, this is the way nowadays, and I keep fighting against it myself to be honest with you. We should have the courage to face failure and to make and show what we really are. What’s better? Succeeding by doing something that anybody could have done or doing something that matters in our life and says something about ourselves?

Image: The Art of Doing

Your website has some Daft Punk and Radiohead mixes. When will we see the Art of Doing cover a musician? Which musician would you love to cover?

Actually, I’m working on four other portraits, and in one of them, I will cover a multi-talented and amazing guy who is a great Live Performance Artist.

If I had to pick one art amongst them all, I would choose music. Music could live by itself. It makes you imagine, dream, feel good or bad, cry, laugh and dance unlike any other art

That’s why music is the only words said in my portraits. I use music at the main part of my editing. I cut while the music is composed by Sylbi Vane. It’s a true collaboration. I let him express his point of view through his sound. We work together, it’s a simultaneous not a consecutive process. It’s back and forth between both of us all the time. I cut his tracks, copy, paste, shorten it, use the end for the beginning… like I’d do with a video shot and sometimes, it makes him go crazy! We’re still experimenting with this way of doing, it’s far from being easy but it’s exciting! And to answer the question, I’d like to cover, without any hesitation, Thom Yorke. Despite his success, he never stops trying, experimenting, pushing the boundaries. And every time I listen to a new album, I need time to enjoy it. It’s like I have to engage with it, and as with any engagement it needs effort to build sustainability. But once it’s there, it lasts forever. I’m also a huge fan of movie soundtracks, and they are often much more better and interesting than the films themselves. I do think that usually videos don’t let the music play. They’re just the ‘bed’ as it’s wrongly called. But without this ‘third wheel’, the most realistic visual effect would look like nothing. Imagine Star Wars or Jaws without the compositions of John Williams. So if we pretend he’s alive, I’d cover Bernard Herrmann, but there are also great living music composers that I’d love to portrait, my favorite: Hans Zimmer.

The Art of Doing | Portrait of Itzel & Jorge, Circus Coaches (n3) from Arno Faure/The Art of Doing on Vimeo.

South Africa has some pretty big talents that have yet to be discovered, but it’s hard to earn a living and work on the things you love. How can artists balance their need for economic support and their creative passions?

That’s the trickiest part, and I’m still struggling with it, but actually that’s what The Art of Doing is about. I don’t want to blame money, because we all need to make a living, but as an artist, as soon as you earn it, you want more… you become like a prisoner. My belief is: do what you’d like and the money will come eventually, even if it’s not a lot. We don’t need that much anyway. To be honest with you, back in France, I used to earn a great living by doing something I didn’t like. Of course, it was comfortable but I wasn’t very happy. Since I arrived in Canada my salary is four times less, I’m not saying it’s easy, no it’s not, but I’m feeling much better because I’ve started doing something I like, and I do know it’s going to be a long journey. One of the goals of The Art of Doing is to show that we all can do what we like.

We use money as an excuse for not doing, but actually I think we’re just afraid and lazy to do, because we need to make effort to get what we really want. It’s not gonna be an easy trip for sure, but at least if we try, we’re gonna live a more meaningful life

Image: The Art of Doing

Your videos of Meka and Augustin capture ordinary people doing amazing things. How important is it to make these guys seem ordinary and relatable to audiences?

Actually, I don’t make them seem ordinary, they are. We all are. Artists are like us and we are all artists of our life. I think TV and the star system create a false image of who an artist should be. You don’t have to have perfect skin, wear the perfect suit, live in a 4 000 sq/ft house to be an artist. For me, an artist is someone who does what he loves to do and lives with it. Meka and Augustin are both artists because they wake up every morning to do what they want to do. They dream big but they know it takes time and effort to achieve their goals. Nothing happens overnight, that’s the reality!

You describe the start of the Art of Doing as a scary experience, but say that you’re no longer waiting for something to happen. Before the Art of Doing what were you waiting for?

I was waiting to have the guts to do it. Actually, I was waiting for the blue fairy to come and help me find the strength, but once you realize that she’s never coming you have to find something else. I was also waiting for the right idea, you know the one that makes you instantly-famous, the idea that nobody thought about, but I realize it doesn’t work that way. The right one comes when you’ve already tried hundreds. It’s so pretentious to believe that you can come with the best idea just like that, and I thought that way.

We shouldn’t be trying to look for the next best thing, but seek what we want to say. You might not be heard but at least you brought something different to the table. And if it’s hard and you doubt yourself, it means you’re on the right path

It doesn’t matter being famous anymore, what matters is being happy, and once you understand that, your life will be better. But again, it takes time, so enjoy the journey!

Image: The Art of Doing

Images: The Art of Doing

Fleesboek: Facebook’s Deleted Photo Album

one small seed — Wed, 29 May 2013 07:29:32 +0000

The Internet and social media have created a photographic world in which people constantly express and narrate themselves through visual imagery. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr are just a few platforms on which people can post and share information, likes, hobbies, and interests in order to connect with like-minded revelers. Many credit the Internet with a utopian quality that accepts all, but microblogs like Fleesboek demonstrate discrepancies and deletions that are steering social media to a more exclusive rather than inclusive direction.

The First Principle of Facebook states that:

People should have the freedom to share whatever information they want, in any medium and any format… as long as they both consent to the connection

Despite this democratic disposition, Facebook still has veto power over all the content its users post, and thus has the resources to delete or remove any content. 250 million photos are uploaded to Facebook everyday by over a billion culturally diverse people. Unfortunately, if your content doesn’t sync with Facebook’s approval, you may be asked to remove your photos. Enter Fleesboek, a simple but visually striking Tumblr account that provides a home for all the images Facebook didn’t like.

The site contains an array of photos ranging from nude shots, landscape photography, and black and white poses. An image captured by Hunter S. Thompson shows a nude woman turned away from the camera, enjoying a view. A more explicit visual, snapped by Stephan Wurth, juxtaposes a fully-clothed girl alongside a naked girl with a bow-tie collar around her neck. The Internet is often considered to be a space of free association, but with the onslaught of commercialisation, these spaces are becoming increasingly restricted. In April last year, Facebook paid 1 billion dollars to acquire the rights of Instagram – a social media tool that narrates the daily lives of ordinary people in snap shots. Visual elements are vital modes of expression in the digital society, yet independent blogs like Fleesboek highlight social media’s tendency to become less socially inclusive. So if your next upload is too much for Facebook or Instagram, you might consider getting your photos out there through alternative less ‘popular’ but maybe more upfront channels.

Image: Fleesboek

image: via roykahmann.tumblr.com

Images: fleesboek.tumblr.com, roykahmann.tumblr.com

#FYI: Canvas Furniture and other cool shit…

one small seed — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:53:52 +0000

Coca-Cola ® Remix Bottle

Image: dailybri.com

Image: mumbrella.asia.com

Advertising extraordinaire OgilvyAction has teamed up with Coca-Cola and Japanese DJ-inventor Jun Fujiwara on a social music project to bring Coca-Cola’s ‘Open Happiness’ message to life. The campaign revolves around capturing everyday sounds from a particular time and place, and mixing them into a creative track that can be shared with people to spread happiness. The recordings are available as ringtones and music videos on Youtube.

The project began in Tokyo and locals have been thrilled at the mixes that have been taped from their ordinary sounds. The Coca-Cola ® Remix Bottle campaign is a clever way to position Coca-Cola as a social brand for everyone.

Obake Elastic Touchscreen

Obake: interactions with a 2.5D elastic display from Dhairya Dand on Vimeo.

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Creatives at MIT’s Media Lab have invented an interactive screen that can be stretched, poked, and pinched. Designed by Dhairya Dand and Rob Hemsley, the display is built from flexible rubber sheets that rest on a set of actuators (a motor variation that can move and control mechanisms and systems). Laid over all of this tech is a camera that projects images onto the display sheet, measures how far the screen is stretched and how deep it is poked.

Dand and Hemsley have named their attention-grabbing design Obake, and have explained the display aims to create a truly 3D experience. The 3D movie-goers see in cinema theatres is an optical illusion, whereas Obake is a tangible display that allows users to have an actual sensory experience through touch and interaction. If the project is available for sale, then maybe the next time you see something annoying on your screen you can poke it, or better yet – pinch it.

Volkswagen iBeetle

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Apple fans have excitedly whispered about an iCar for a while now, and although Beetles are an unlikely choice, Apple has collaborated with the German car-makers to produce a motor vehicle that is fully compatible with the iPhone. The car includes an iPhone docking port that syncs wirelessly with its dashboard unlock various features via the iBeetle app. This means that when the iPhone is connected to the car Facebook and SMS messages can be read aloud, and iTunes can be synced to blast some of your favourite tunes. Spotify users will be pleased to know that the app also allows drivers to switch channels between Spotify and iTunes.

Volkswagen and Apple will release the iBeetle Coupe and the iBeetle Convertible. Both cars are designed with Apple’s modern tones and simplistic motif. The exterior and interior are shaded in greys, silvers, and charcoals, but the leather sport seats of the car add a neat flair with tailored cream seams. The iBeetle will be ready to zoom through streets in 2014.

Canvas Furniture

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Canvas furniture is the perfect option for people who struggle to fit furniture into their cramped quarters. Designed by spatial designer Naoki Ono, co-founder of Tokyo-based YOY design studio, Canvas is a collection of two-dimensional furniture that is made from wood, aluminum and stretched elastic canvas that can be hung flat on a wall. Launched at Milan Design Week 2013, each canvas is printed with an image of the furniture it represents so you can add some décor to any bland walls. When you’re in need of an extra chair just take it down from its perch, prop it against the wall and you’ll have a new chair. The chairs won’t last for long periods of time, but if you’re in need of a temporary solution to a spatial dilemma, these clever pieces can give some help.

Animals Carved from Crayons and Other Miniature Pencil Works by Diem Chau

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Artists use various tools and media to create their works, but Diem Chau has re-created her tools into works of art. The Seattle-based artist carves detailed portraits of animals and people from crayon and graphite pencil leads in spectacularly miniature works. Chau is Vietnamese by origin but her family arrived in America s refugees escaping from Vietnam in 1986. She has since exhibited her work in Miami, LA, New York, Seattle and Chicago. You can see more of her tiny works on her blog.

Bloom Bookshelf

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Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay – co-founders of UK-based design brand Raw Edges – have created a bookshelf inspired by a weaving loom called Bloom. The simple design is crafted from a wooden border that frames a series of red threads. Each thread is clipped with a black stopper that can be moved up and down to position books at different heights. The bookcase was commissioned by the British Council and debuted at Milan Design Week 2013. The unique interior piece draws attraction to both the inventiveness of the structure as well as the books it showcases. With electronics gaining interest and pace, it’s easy for books to be lost in the fray, but this bookshelf helps to put book back into the spotlight.

Hublot x Ferrari Watch

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Hublot has paid homage to Ferrari’s new supercar ‘LaFerrari’ with a watch dedicated to one of the champions of the motor industry. The MP-05 ‘LaFerrari’ was unveiled at Baselworld and the futuristic design is a definite nod to Ferrari with the watch being modeled to replicate a Ferrari engine. The wrist-piece is not just a cool accessory, it is also a historical record setter with its 50-day power reserve. The interface might seem complicated to look at in terms of practically tell the time, but there’s no doubt that the conceptual design will turn heads.

Underground Rail Public Park

Image: telegraph.co.uk

Derelict revival projects are the new rage with designers increasingly attempting to renew forgotten corners of cities and transform them into social spaces. Pop Down park is an attempt to re-create London’s abandoned network of tunnels into a public green space. People can access the park via street level entries and exists to the underground rail. A mushroom garden will also be planted along the tunnel pathways with sunlight being filtered through sculptural glass-fiber mushrooms located at street level. The mushrooms will create an agricultural space for the green concept and will also be used as food in pop-up restaurants and cafes called ‘Funghi’ that will appear at the entrance of the installation.

McDonalds French Fries Holder

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The modern world is a busy rush where almost everything we do is on the go. Finding time to eat in between hurrying to get to places often leads people to munch their food while driving. Eating while driving can be a messy experience and showing up to a meeting or party with grease on your clothing is not the best start to your planned event. Luckily for the Japanese, McDonald’s Japan has created a French fries holder that prevents your chips from falling into your lap. The handy little cup fits snugly into the cup holder of a car or the water bottle grip of a bicycle, so that cyclists and drivers can enjoy their snack with no hassle.

The useful holder is available in Japan and comes free with any meal that is ordered with a large serving of crispy, salty potato goodness. Let’s see if McDonald’s will expand their nifty fast-food gadget beyond Japanese borders.

YAKKAY Bike Helmets

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Bike helmets aren’t the most attractive accessory, but YAKKAY has designed a helmet that is both stylish and safe. The hat is a helmet in disguise, and while it appears to be another headwear piece to spruce up your look, the helmet has been tested according to international safety regulations. The cool designs come in an array of colours with various textures and patterns to meet your style needs. Thanks to YAKKAY being safe no longer has to pose a hazard to your wardrobe.

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