Too Many Cars and Nowhere to Put Them
Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters
If you haven’t slept the last 6 months away, you would know that the recent downturn in the economy is affecting us all. People are waiting to make large purchases and investments – a large economic pause is in effect. One of the biggest hit areas is the auto industry. A combination of thousands of layoffs world-wide from all of the large manufacturers and consumers keeping their cash in the bank, the question is where are the unsold automobiles going? Well they aren’t going anywhere. Stocks of unsold cars all over the world where lots, bays and docks are reaching near capacity. Soon these manufacturers will be looking for new inventory solutions or ways to get these cars into people’s garages. Maybe its time to offer a different transportation solutions if people are no longer buying automobiles and are driving less.
Thanks Guardian for the news source.
To read more about this article and see more images click here.
Franz Ferdinand's Tonight: Franz Ferdinand Reviewed
The Glasgowian greats have done it again with their new album rightfully entitled Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, their 3rd album which follows their 2004 debut self-entitled, Franz Ferdinand, and their 2005 album, You Could Have It So Much Better.
Tonight:Franz Ferdinand, which releases on January 26, 2009, is considered to be ones of those albums to watch out for this year and I must say that Valentine’s came early – thank you cupid! For any Franz fans out there, including myself, this is an album hard not to love.
Tonight… can be described as a well infused departure combining rock, pop and 80’s electronica but still never forgetting their trademark Franz Ferdinand post-punk elements of sexiness, up tempo-ness, charm and perfectly timed pauses and slow-downs. Their last two albums has left the world with a solid Franz Ferdinand impression – an image of stylish, funky rockers who really know how to lay down a fist pounding rock beat while keeping the dance floor alive. They’ve taken some slack for, You Could Have It So Much Better, for sounding like a first album continuation, but after listening to Tonight…, this one proves that they can be creative producers, capable of expanding beyond their comfort zone – not afraid of trying out something different (probably realizing that they will take some criticism for it) and making it work!
The most noticeable inclusion to Tonight… is their creative exploration of the synthesizer and electronica-sounding elements. The 12 track ensemble follows suite to previous albums in terms of tempo, creating the right flow to carry listeners through a great “night-out” listening experience. Alex Kapranos, lead vocals and guitar, has stated that this album is more of a dance album than a rock album, drawing Jamaican and African influences.
Most notable songs that stand out is Ulysses, a great introduction to the album with a taste of their new techno-synth which I’m sure will go down in history as a song worth singing under the category: Songs That Includes The Words “.. let’s get high”. Bite Hard, found halfway through the album begins as a Kaprano ballad and quickly turning into a fun-hopin’ bumpin’ beat reminiscent of classic indie-Franz. (It’s also a song I heard them open with when they played in Vancouver… magnificent!). Lucid Dreams, probably the most pleasantly surprising track, a near eight minute song that breaks into an over three minute electronic homage that simply blew me away – showing a wide talent range. (This would make a great live finale song – watching them escape from their conventional guitars to an electric jam!). After listening to Lucid Dreams I developed a whole new level of respect for this band as musicians, leaving me in hopes that their next album will include this electronica rhythm as their over-arching theme. Reminding me of their well known, Eleanor, the album ends of withKatherine Kiss Me, a soft “lul-alling” tune , featuring Kapranos and an acoustic, which to me, is reminiscent of their Scottish roots, most noticeable by its tongue-loosening lyrics.
The rest of the album sounds perfectly smooth creating good pace from one track to another, proving that they can work within their familiar roots and dabble and experiment with new sounds, the blues, Jamaican and African influences, and 80’s techno. Enlightened by the cover art’s likeness to a crime scene photograph, the album’s sound lives up to the title, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, easily convincing you and the fans that its time to go out and party tonight with Franz Ferdinand – creating a night of exploratory debauchery.
Franz Ferdinand, formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 2002 is comprised of Alex Kapranos (lead vocals and guitar), Bob Hardy (bass guitar), Nick McCarthy (rhythm guitar, keyboards and backing vocals), and Paul Thomson (drums, percussion and backing vocals).
Track Listing
“Ulysses” – 3:13
“Turn It On” – 2:23
“No You Girls” – 3:44
“Send Him Away” – 3:01
“Twilight Omens” – 2:32
“Bite Hard” – 3:31
“What She Came For” – 3:28
“Live Alone” – 3:36
“Can’t Stop Feeling” – 3:05
“Lucid Dreams” – 7:57
“Dream Again” – 3:20
“Katherine Kiss Me” – 2:56
This is Definium’s own Kevin Mak’s first review.
Gung Hay Fat Chow 2009
Definium Design would like to wish everyone a message of fortune, happiness and good health this new year seaon.
Happy Chinese New Year
“Gung Hay Fat Choy”
Book Cover Archive
A new online source just launched recently that is a source and archive for book covers. It’s in Beta mode right now but it seems like its sole intent and purpose is to archive, organize and categorize for alll “appreciators” to gaze, look and appreciate. There are some great designs here by Chip Kidd, Pentagram Studios, Frank Miller and Wolfgang Weingart.
This has all the promises of a great resource so stand by all for future updates.
Remembering Shigeo Fukuda (1932 – 2009)
I ran into Shigeo Fukuda’s work as a student in design school. At first glance I just thought “oh just another old-school designer”. But after looking closer at his work and spending a few more moments in a book I found in the library I developed a deep appreciation for him. As a sculptor, artist and designer his work challenges the norm visual norm. Coined a master of deception and compared to the likes of Escher and Dali, Fukuda is extrmely well known in Japan and his impossible objects, ambiguous sculptures, distorted projections and anamorphic art can be seen all over the world.
“Shigeo Fukuda passed away on January 11th, 2009 at the age of 76. He was a master of creating optical illusions, simplistic logos, and designing bold and engaging posters. In 1987 Fukuda was the first Japanese designer to be inducted in the Art Directors Club (ADC) Hall of Fame.”
Source
Dinning in the Dark! – A new restaruant rage!
Supposedly this is already a big hit in Europe, Australia, LA , NY and now coming to Canada – a “dinning in the dark” concept puts food eaters in the complete dark for a sensual food and eating experience.
Patrons are blindfolded as soon as they step in, lead to the table in the dark order and eat in the dark. The only time you get to see is when you go to the washroom, which you are lead to while your blindfolded, and of course when you leave the establishment. I wonder how would you pay in the dark?
Is this an actual dinning fad thats here to stay or a momentary gimmick to get people to try out a new restaurant experience.
Thank Kat for the piece of info!
For more information click here.
Color of 2009 – Mimosa
Yellow has always been a great color. Mimosa with it’s lean of red and tint towards black is sturdy and confident. Color of 2009 or not, we’ll most definitely try variations of it.
-Definium-
From www.pantone.com
Pantone Selects Color of the Year for 2009: PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa
Mimosa Embodies Hopefulness and Reassurance in a Climate of Change
CARLSTADT, N.J., Dec. 3, 2008 – Pantone, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 14-0848 Mimosa, a warm, engaging yellow, as the color of the year for 2009. In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow.
“The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation.”
Goodbye Arial, Hello Calibri
(For everyone that wasn’t aware)
In Microsoft Office 2007, Calibri replaced Times New Roman as the default typeface in Word and replaced Arial as the default in PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.
Calibri was designed by Lucas de Groot for Microsoft to take advantage of Microsoft’s ClearType rendering technology. Calibri won the TDC2 2005 award under the Type System category.
We say, “Change is nice”.
The Presidential Inauguration in 3D
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/inauguration/themoment/
Change is here!
With President elect Obama in the Whitehouse the rest of the world is in hopes that positive change will come for the economy, the environment, world politics, and social and judicial issues.
While Obama will be busy making changes, Microsoft has been busy changing the way we search for photos online. CNN and Microsoft brings the inauguration to your screen with this amazing software called, Photosynth. Photosynth creates 3D-photo based environments with 2D images.
Try it to see what its all about.
“I love how you can zoom in on the secret service agents along the dome.”
http://photosynth.net/about.aspx
Break A Leg
More like blow your leg off. Perhaps a little too visual? We thought this is a great showcase of communication design. A great idea by Publicis Mogo to support the CALM campaign (New Zealand Campaign Against Landmines).
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