AnotherDesignBlog.

Who colour-coded Christmas?

via bbc.co.uk
"Santa's crimson and fur-lined coat? Shiny holly leaves and berries? Colourful poisonous, hallucinogenic mushrooms? Or medieval paintings in East Anglian churches? Just how did red, green and white become the conventional colours of Christmas?  Dr Spike Bucklow from Cambridge University's Hamilton Kerr Institute is questioning the common belief that the traditional festive shades are a legacy of the Victorians. For the past three years, he has researched the art history of medieval wooden rood screens in churches across Norfolk and Suffolk.  Here - from the bright rainbow palette of the 21st Century Christmas - he travels back in time to present a theory on who might have colour-coded Christmas." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16189761#

http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/heritage/cokelore_santa.html

Christmas by Colour Project
Another interesting colour project is the 'Christmas by Colour' project's exploration into the colours that shape Christmas - by Mancherster based design agency Raw http://www.weareraw.co.uk/

Frustrated at the plethora of Christmas reds, whites and greens Raw decided to explore the colours people really associate with their Christmas. Thousands of people from around the world embraced the project and relished the opportunity to suggest their own colour and its personal meaning. Raw then handpicked the best to go on their nice list and be featured on the popular Pantone-inspired A1 poster." http://www.christmasbycolour.co.uk

'The Cans' | The Tools of Criminal Mischief

http://worldfamousdesignjunkies.com/djunk/roger-gastman-vintage-spraypaint-ca...

“The Cans” is a three-print series created as companion pieces to Roger Gastman’s limited-edition book, The Tools of Criminal Mischief.  The 24-by-36-inch prints feature vintage spraypaint cans from Gastman’s collection, which was recently featured in MOCA’s Art in the Streets exhibition.  Gastman carefully selected the cans for each print, which includes coveted brands such as Krylon, Rustoleum and Red Devil as well as off-brands with colors such as Silver-Skate Aluminum and Baa Baa Black.  Featuring hard-to-find cans, vivid colors and vintage logos, “The Cans” is the perfect gift for any graffiti writer, art collector or graphic designer.

Buy here http://graffsupply.com/posters/

Batman Comic Artist, Jerry Robinson (1922 - 2011)

Comic book artist Jerry Robinson, who created characters including Batman's sidekick Robin and the Joker, has died aged 89. In 1940, Jerry Robinson drew the first concept sketch of one of the greatest literary villains of all time, The Joker. He describes the creation in this video interview...

Samples of his work...

The first concept sketch of The Joker

Image source: http://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/09/jerry-robinson/?pid=907&viewall=true

NYTimes: The Joker in the Deck: Birth of a Supervillain
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/books/05robinson.html?adxnnl=1&ref=book...

NYTimes: Jerry Robinson, Godfather of a Comic-Book Villain, Dies at 89
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/books/jerry-robinson-godfather-of-a-comic-b...

Ice Cube In The Eames House

“They was doing mash-ups before mash-ups even existed.” Ice Cube

Ice Cube Celebrates The Eames for Pacific Standard Time the birth of the LA art scene. For more info on Ice Cube & The Eames visit http://pacificstandardtime.org.

Ice Cube drives Inglewood blvd. describing the Los Angeles that he knows. He talks of landmarks like The Forum, Five Torches, Cockatoo Inn, Brolly Hut, and Watts Towers. He refers to the 110 as "Gangsta Highway". Cube says coming from South Central LA teaches you how to be resourceful. The video cuts to Cube walking the Eames House perimeter, through the Eames living room, and sitting in the Eames lounge chair. He brings us back to his NWA years when he studied architectural drafting before launching his rap career. One thing he learned that translates is to always have a plan. Cube describes the modern, green and resourceful building design of Charles and Ray Eames. Visionaries of connecting nature and structure. Cube ends by saying "Who are these people who got a problem with LA? Maybe they mad cuz they don't live here." Song during intro is "A Bird in the Hand" off of Death Certificate.

See also NY Times Q&A 'Ice Cube Is in the House!'
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/garden/ice-cube-on-eameses-and-his-hometown...

More Eames on kathykavan.com http://kathykavan.com/?sort=&search=eames

Hyper 1980's Motion Graphics

This collection is so bad it's good, enjoy...

VIDEODROME (1983) Trailer with hyper '80s graphics for the David Cronenberg classic

JVC - Time Rider - Computer Dreaming (1981)
Unbelievably painfully cheesy video effects demo from JVC circa 1981. They suffered for their art - now it's your turn. 

Quest (1985)
Computer animated short from 1985 featured gratuitous amounts of ray tracing, rendered on a network of 108 Apollo Workstations.

Star Rider (1983)
Background visuals from the hybrid laserdisc/CG arcade game "Star Rider." (watch from 46 seconds onwards...)

Bio-Sensor (1984) / Sio-Benbor (1988)
(This is very odd!) Two shorts for the price of one! Bio-Sensor (1984) is a surreal Japanese film notable for its early use of primitive motion capture, using profile and head-on films of a tiger walking (a la Muybridge). Sio-Benbor (1988) is a French parody notable for having a really cute kitty cat.

Brilliance (1985)
...And now for the obligitary sexy female robot