The National Library of Belarus
August 28, 2007 | Categories: Architecture / Design

I found this picture the other day and I was amazed! The National Library in Belarus is a 22 story, rhombicuboctahedron shaped building located in Minsk. The locals say that the president of Belarus, Mr. Lukashenko, wanted to build an impressive building, so students had to bring money to school for several months and teachers are having parts of their salary taken just to pay for it.
Other people say that it looks like a giant Death Star, haha.

I think it’s rather beautiful. Having something light up like that at such a large scale is pretty awesome. I’d love to see it in person, I’m sure it’s even more amazing.

Click here for more pictures and a video of the giant LED beauty!

Bobby

Mopa Studio
August 28, 2007 | Categories: • T-shirts / Art / Clothing / Design / Illustration / Internet

Mopa Studio is a Brazilian graphic design firm that has an incredible knack for color. They also are incredibly detailed when it comes to their typography, which definitely give all of their projects a very whole feel.
As a side note, refresh their site several times, the logo at the top changes each time you do. I really like the thread wrapped around the cardstock one!

The image above is from a collaboration they did with Sopro. I haven’t seen a huge, graphic print like that on a sweatshirt in a while. And even though it’s pretty bold, I totally think I’d rock once autumn comes in.

Link via CPLUV!

Bobby

Createmake
August 28, 2007 | Categories: Blogs / Design / Internet

Okay, random story.
I was checking my stat counter earlier when I noticed that Ben Jonsson at Random Hero had linked up to me. Whenever people link to me I always check out their sites, cuz’ if they like my blog, I’ll most likely enjoy whatever they’ve got. Unfortunately, his portfolio site is under construction for the moment, but I did notice he had another blog linked along with mine, called createmake.

Createmake was started by Ragna Freyr, who is a graphic designer based in Iceland. It basically does the same thing as this blog, trying to find cool stuff by awesome people from interesting places. Createmake also tries to locate and promote Icelandic creatives as well, which is really cool.
I’m also extremely jealous of his blog entry title fonts. I wish I had a unique font like they do!

So if you like my blog, which you probably do if you’re reading this, then you’ll definitely enjoy createmake!

The Capuccino Coast
August 28, 2007 | Categories: Life / Science

How crazy is this?! The coastal beach north of Sydney, Australia is being turned into a giant, frothy mess! This foamy weirdness goes out 30 feet into the ocean!
Scientists say that the foam is caused by “impurities in the ocean, such as salts, chemicals, dead plants, decomposed fish and excretions from seaweed.” All of that shit is the stirred up by ocean currents, causing it to bubble. Then all of the bubbles start sticking together, eventually turning into foam.
Now I think it’s really cool, maybe even fun looking, but dead fish and seaweed excretions?
No thanks, I’m cool.

Click here for the official story and more pictures.

Bobby

Boing Boing Gets Redesigned
August 28, 2007 | Categories: Blogs / Design

Boing Boing, one of the largest blogs in the world, has received a massive update to it’s site. I’ve been reading Boing Boing for about a year now, and I think I may have liked the previous version more.
Sure it was cluttered and ugly, but I think it matched the feel of what the site was about; a totally random amount of links and images from all over the web.
It’s like when you end up marrying an ugly person. You don’t marry them because of their looks, you marry them because they’re interesting, intelligent, and above all else, they make you laugh a lot.

The redesign was done by Jemma Hostetler, and the new character mascots were done by the masters of pixels, eBoy. I guess my beef with the overall design is that it’s sooooo damn white. It’s boringly minimal. Not only that, but it makes their ads stick a lot more. I never really realized how many annoying ads they had before this.

Also as a part of their redesign they’ve added Boing Boing Gadgets, which contains “personal technology and consumer electronics”. It kind of seems to me like they want another page where you can go and click some links and they can make money. I think it’s completely superfluous to make another entire site just for gadgets.
They’ve also brought comments back, which I don’t really care about all that much, haha.

I guess overall it’s a step in the right direction, I just hope that they do some really great stuff now that they’ve done an entire update.

Bobby

Beirut / The Flying Clup Cup
August 27, 2007 | Categories: Music

I just “found” the new Beirut album, The Flying Club Cup, and I’m utterly speechless and extraordinarily excited all at once!
It’s amazing so far… absoultely amazing. It sounds so much like Lon Gisland, and a lot less like Gulag Orkestar, which I think is an improvement. It’s much more French, and less Gypsy/Balkan.
I’m also really excited that he worked with Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy on this one. Mr. Pallett’s string arrangements are known by a lot of people, because he also arranges the strings of a little Canadian band called Arcade Fire.
As soon as I get a better listen to the album I’ll post a track for everyone to hear, just to get an idea of how SPECTACULAR this sounds. Until then, dream of October 9th, the day the album is released.

Bobby

Josh Cochran
August 27, 2007 | Categories: Design / Illustration

Josh Cochran is an Art Center grad who currently lives in Los Angeles and destroys everyone with his amazing illustrations. The dudes worked for a ton of magazines like The New York Times, ESPN, Metroplis and Nike, and he’s even had amazing printed totes made. His sketchy style and amazing use of colors remind me a lot of Pietari Posti, an equally amazing illustrator, and great company to be with.
While you’re on site, be sure to visit his motion section, with some really funny Discovery Channel commercials!

Link via Meathaus

There are more examples of his work under the cut, so check there too!
Keep reading Josh Cochran…

3D Tokyo Book
August 27, 2007 | Categories: Books / Photography

I was rooting through Paul Smith the other day when I came across this amazing. D Tokyo is exactly what it sounds like, a bunch of tourist-y photos taken using stereoscopic imaging to make them look 3D, and a pair of red and blue glasses so you can see the magic.
Go check it out, the book is only $20 through the website.

Bobby

My Private Sky Plates by Kram/Weisshaar
August 27, 2007 | Categories: Art / Design / Technology

My Private Sky is an incredible project by the guys over at Kram/Weisshaar. For a select few people they are creating a custom set plates with his or her personal night sky map from the time and place of their birth. The plates can contain over 500 stars, nebulae, planets and constellations, all of which are hand-painted in gold and platinum.
The personal night sky map is generated through a computer program which generates a blueprint, which is then given to the artists at Porzellan Manufaktur and they hand paint every detail.

It’s really too bad that these plates are going to be basically impossible to get a hold of. This is such an excellent idea that should be open to anyone who would like a set. What about a black enamel version that has some sort of computer paint the star map over the plates? I want star map plates!!!

Check under the cut for a few more images of these amazing plates.
Keep reading My Private Sky Plates by Kram/Weisshaar…

Geoff Mcfetridge Bike
August 27, 2007 | Categories: Design

So I already know what I want for my birthday.
What you see above you is a bike designed by the good folks over at 16st Design Project, with graphics by none other than Geoff McFetridge. The bike goes for about ¥50,000 or $430, but is totally worth every penny, in my opinion.
I love the bright blue color, and based upon the website, you can customize the hell out of it as well.
To check it out, and try to attempt to read Japanese, click here.

Link via unfolded/now!

Bobby