2nd edition of the international conference about the impact of design
Amsterdam, 10-11/05/2012

What design can do to tackle the problems of the city

Good design can make the city safer, put unoccupied buildings to good use, and ensure fewer tourists lose their way. The second edition of What Design Can Do – a two-day international conference – focuses on the best of social design from around the world. All sorts of issues – from solving problems with faeces in Africa to harnessing the potential of architecture in the slums of Brazil – will be spotlighted on 10 and 11 May at the Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam.

http://www.dizajncafe.com/en/news/1/event/195/

http://www.whatdesigncando.nl/   

Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today unveiled the PANTONE® Fashion Color Report Fall 2012, a comprehensive overview of designers’ use of color in their upcoming collections. Released on the first day of New York Fashion Week, the PANTONE Fashion Color Report features the top 10 colors for women’s and men’s fashion for fall 2012, along with designer sketches, quotes and headshots. The report is available for free download at www.pantone.com/fall2012

From love potions and the magical hour of sunset to witches and warlocks, fantasy and illusion are inspiring designers this fall season. With an unexpected mix of darks, brights and neutrals, they cleverly manipulate reality to transport consumers to an enchanting place, free from the stresses of everyday life.

As the season transitions from the heat of summer, Bright Chartreuse, a vital yellow-green, pays homage to a typical spring shade and creates a bridge into the cooling days of fall. Reminiscent of bright green foliage, it provides a perfect accent to every color in the palette.

Like the name implies, Pink Flambé is a delicious, vibrant pink with a bit of heat to it. Pair it with vivacious and enticing Tangerine Tango for an ongoing retro feeling. Or, to bring a calming element to the mix, combine these vibrant warm tones with Ultramarine Green, a deep, cooling blue-green. Ethereal Rhapsody is a grayed-down purple that also encourages comfort and serenity with its quiet, muted tone.

Honey Gold, a mellow, burnished yellow, suggests the soft-muted tones of sunlight to brighten a fall day. Pair it with sensible and strong Olympian Blue, a patriotic blue that will surely make its way into fall and winter athletic apparel.

Rich and robust, French Roast is a tasty, sophisticated hue that is a great alternative to the black and charcoal basics typically worn in the fall. Other staple neutrals include elegant and versatile Titanium, the quintessential cool gray, and Rose Smoke, a veiled rose tone that pairs well with Rhapsody and Titanium.

Similar to this season’s palette for women, there is something for everyone in the top color selections for men. Rhubarb, a deep, pungent hue, brings intensity to the palette, and is best paired with Tangerine Tango and Honey Gold for a collegiate look. To hit the ski slopes in style, combine Ultramarine Green with Bright Chartreuse and Olympian Blue for the ultimate in winter athletic apparel.

Moving from the vibrant tones of fall to more neutral basics, Whitecap Gray is a classic off-white, reminiscent of an overturning wave under a winter sky. Sea Fog, a gray with a muted purple cast, exudes just the right amount of confidence and masculinity. Pair these two neutrals with the strength of Titanium for a subtle and sophisticated direction. Combine all three neutrals in a dress shirt or tie with basic, versatile French Roast for a classic fall look.

The colors featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report are culled from the PANTONE FASHION + HOME Color System, the most widely used and recognized color standards system in the world. Each season, Pantone surveys the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to collect feedback on prominent collection colors, color inspiration and color philosophy. This information is used to create the PANTONE Fashion Color Report, which serves as a reference tool throughout the year for fashion enthusiasts, reporters and retailers.

http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr.aspx?pg=20948&ca=4

The abbreviation MUJI stands for “mujirushi ryohin” and can be translated as “No brand, good-quality products“. This phrase reflects the set of values which has guided the company’s activities since its foundation in 1980 – functionality, minimalism and timelessness. Design aficionados across the world are not only attracted by the natural and simple appearance, but also by the environmentally-friendly manufacturing process of the MUJI lifestyle products for home, bath and office. You can now choose from a small selection of products of the Japanese brand MUJI at the Vitra Design Museum Shop.

www.muji.eu

Here are some interesting parts of his interview for Tones by Pantone…

”Society, in the West at least, has become completely ‘untribal’ in the last few decades. Membership of church denominations, unions and political parties has plummeted. Society has become classless with no identifiable sharing of common values, experiences and grievances. We have become too geographically mobile to belong to a place.
If we are to move from the concept of financial prosperity to the idea of emotional prosperity we are going to have to put a value on things that are increasingly scarce and don’t have price tags – open spaces, security, reductions in pressure, friendship, meaning, communication etc.
That’s easy to talk about! But, in the end, you are always going to have to link ‘happynomics’ to policy. How do you promote down shifting, reductionism and conviviality, at the same time as creating jobs and keeping the economy going? Perhaps there is an answer – an answer, which lies in thinking ‘local’, and ‘neighbourhood’!”

”… colour is always some kind of reflection of what is going on around us. The 1990s were all about ‘green’ – Gaia and mother earth! Now our concerns have switched to fears about water pollution and shortages. Hence the feeling for all those watery and washed out blues that were so dominant this summer.
As we move on a year, blues are no longer associated with fluid and liquid end-uses alone. They also take on more rugged and rigorous characteristics. They are teamed to colours of the land like ochre and sand and are to be seen in firmly ‘constructed’ end-uses. This new strength of character means that blue is rapidly turning into a ‘basic’ building block, usurping the role that black used to play.
Remember, you cannot divorce blue from denim and chambray and with that comes whole stories of pioneering and the traditional American work ethos! Interestingly enough, Levis, whose jeans are a standard for both, has been quick to understand this.”

”…The point is that the concept of colour is touching everything – even those eternal neutrals like sand and beige. The new calling is for basic tones that are shaded and imbued with peaceful and beautiful colour. This sea change in traditional and fundamental parts of the palette will affect all end-uses and sectors of industry. So, get ready for that classic trench coat resurrected in new mid-tone hues with a weight and complexity never fully explored in the past…”

(my favorite part :) )

”Black is typical of the concept of cycle even though it seems to have been an endless cycle starting in the 1980s. Black emerged 30 years ago, evolved from being a ‘fashion victim’ and ‘designer’ uniform colour, grew in influence and power and became a total basic at every level of the market (including table-top T-shirts). Now, at the end of its lifecycle, black seems to be in danger of being pushed out by colour – indeed, fashionistas are saying there’s no room for black anymore in the winter wardrobe.
How wrong they are. Black has not disappeared at all. It is just starting its eternal circle/cycle all over again. And, it looks absolutely new, absolutely avant-garde, re-born not as a one, single black but in many different guises, intensities and militant options thanks to its marriage to light, texture, material and depth. It’s interesting how the Victoria & Albert museum in London has just been celebrating the work of Yohji Yamamoto, whose work and world irrevocably centre around the concept of black. When once asked why, he answered that black was not a colour but ‘all colours’. ”

http://www.pantone.com/resources/tones/v2-04/tones-by-pantone.htm?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eb20120118

The Lucky Strike Designer Award is one of the most prestigious international design awards. It is presented to one recipient each year in recognition of either his or her lifetime achievements, or career of an individual whose work in design has helped improve the social and cultural conditions of everyday life.

The purpose of the award is to promote cultural and social life by supporting the continued positive development of contemporary design in honor of Raymond Loewy and his international contribution to visionary and modern industrial design. Therefore, the recipient of the award receives Euro 50.000 to continue with his or her efforts to improve conditions of everyday life.

http://www.raymondloewyfoundation.com/en/lucky-strike-designer-award.html

As a graphic designer, your portfolio remains your primary branding and self-promotional vehicle. To help you craft a well-rounded collection of work samples that packs a serious punch, The Creative Group recently released a new guide, Creating and Presenting a Powerful Portfolio.
1.Open with your best work. End with a bang by making your second-strongest piece the last one the reviewer sees.
2. In a survey by our company, advertising and marketing executives said the most common portfolio mistake is including work that doesn’t show value. Provide context by labeling each piece with the client’s name, the project’s objective and your role in developing the finished product. Most important, make note of positive outcomes, such as increased sales, greater brand awareness or cost savings.
3. Show the Right Number of Samples.
It’s best to feature seven to 10 samples in a hard-copy portfolio. You can include more samples in an online version, as long as the navigation is intuitive and the pieces are well organized.
4. Tailor Your Materials.
You’ll do a better job of connecting with prospective employers if you customize your content to their needs. Review your target company’s website, paying close attention to the sections that provide background on the organization and its main products and services, case studies, and recent news. Follow the firm’s social media feeds and tap your professional network for additional insights. Once you’ve done your homework, add relevant samples or reorganize your book to emphasize your skills most pertinent to the opportunity.
5. Display Professional Polish.
Regardless of how impressive your projects, a cluttered portfolio full of worn samples will cause hiring managers to question your professionalism. Make sure all samples are free of tears, smudges, folds and extraneous marks. Protect fragile pieces with plastic covers and carry odd-shaped or bulky items separately. In addition, always bring copies of your resume, references and client list to job interviews.
6. Finesse Your Presentation.
Finally, when presenting your portfolio, remember the importance of spotlighting both your design skills and interpersonal abilities. After all, if you can’t sell yourself, an employer won’t believe you can sell concepts to clients.

http://www.howdesign.com/design-career/resume-portfolio/perfecting-your-portfolio/?et_mid=529625&rid=233315235

Design workshop for children , with product designer Petra Krizan (me).

HDD galerija, Boškovićeva 18, Zagreb

According to the National Audit Office, violence and aggression towards frontline hospital staff is estimated to cost the NHS at least £69 million a year in staff absence, loss of productivity and additional security. We know designers have what it takes to develop new systems that help reduce violence and aggression in A&E.

http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/AandE?WT.dcsvid=Nzg1MDUwOTA3MwS2&WT.mc_id=

Join Ted for the DMI Webinar on Wednesday, Nov 9th, this week!

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