Unconventional drawing materials sometimes also can be a useful drawing tool, for example the correction rollers. And in this ad embedded above, famous UK graphic designer Michael C. Place demonstrates us that correction rollers can create stunning piece of artwork too. It’s pretty amazing on his skill on controlling the rollers navigating the paths without making any errors. Brilliant!
Credits: IDN Vol. 15 Num. 6
When I was still in college studying Graphic Design, I met a lot of lecturers and guest teachers that taught me the problem solving skills and design theories, which are very useful and guided me to create a better design. Many thanks to them. There is one tip that have the most impact on me and actually been influencing me the way I work until now: Pick the most interesting idea, concentrate on it and start develop from there.
This tip actually given by a creative director of a television broadcast company three years ago, when he came to the school as guest lecturer. But before that, I already met him once when I went for interview to get my internship job in that broadcast company. When I show my humble portfolio, he was able to identify the weakness of my work the moment I showed to him. He is very experienced and able to point the weakness immediately as well as giving out idea on how to do it better. I was speechless during the interview and quite impressed with the capability of this creative director.
Then, few months later he came to my school as guest lecturer as mentioned earlier. He showed us about a poster advertisement project and listed out a few ideas that can be used for final outcome. Well as student, we tend to mix some of the ideas and make it a grand outcome, the more the better as we thought. But he said just concentrate on one the most eye capturing idea and you are good to go. Because by just focusing on one idea, the message can be delivered clearly and can be easily remembered by people.
I think this is a very effective way of thinking and I start to remember what he said and try to use it in every project after on. Indeed it helps. And how about you? What design thoughts that you think is very useful and influenced you?
Recently one big news that happened in Japan entertainment industry is the suspicion on public indecency by one of the member of popular music group SMAP, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi. Actually I was shocked when reading the news because his image has been positive, and I really like him. He already made his apology statement the day after being arrested and he said that he was dead drunk and deeply embarrassed on what he had done.
His action was being criticized by many people including Minister Kunio Hatoyama. On the other hand, people with quick business mind starts to produce tee shirt with “What’s wrong being naked” typography printed to put on sale, because he was reported that he said that to a police officer. Well I think he was quite pitiful and hopefully this thing won’t happen again. He has to know, he is a well known celebrity and things like this will sure being made huge by the medias and the chain reactions will appear.
My support to him. FIGHT!
Credits:
Tsuyoshi_Kusanagi – Wikipedia
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi apologizes for alleged indecency – Youtube
Hadaka ni natte nani ga warui – ClubT
Click the picture link above to have a look to the pictures I took when visiting Japan. Well, I was just hanging around Tokyo and the cities around like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Yokohama, Mount Fuji etc. To be honest, a week in Tokyo is so not enough time to explore, but indeed it was a enjoyable trip.
I am really amazed with the train system in Japan because the network is massive and you can just go anywhere in Tokyo by train and foot. It is so convenient and fast. Really like their trains. Not forget about sakura! It was beautiful and unfortunately the time I came to Japan, many of the trees are still not in full bloom yet but well it’s still great.
It is really a nice trip and I met a few Malaysians too and really nice meeting them. Hopefully we will be gathered again some time in future and I shall explore more places besides Tokyo. š
Yay! My first post after came back from vacation. During the trip to Japan I went to two big art event in Tokyo, one is 101Tokyo at Akiba Square and Art Fair Tokyo at Tokyo International Forum. Both art fairs are astonishing and I’m really impressed about the quality of the art works displayed and the atmosphere and activeness in art community. Well there is one artist that gave me the most visual impact is Kazuki Takamatsu and his style “Distanfeerism”.
Mr. Kazuki was born in 1978 and was graduated in Tohoku University of Art and Design. When I visiting his booth, I was stunned with the uniqueness of his artwork. From far I thought it was a digital painting, but actually it was hand painted! His works are mainly monochrome based too, and normally featuring a young female character, table lamp, buildings and plants etc.
Actually his painting giving me sense of surrealism and ambiguous depth. The term “Distanfeerism” until now I still don’t really catch the meaning. But indeed his work is one of a kind and cool! More of his information and artworks can be found at Gallery Tomura Page and his own personal site.
All pictures are property of Kazuki Takamatsu.
Yes, finally I’m able to go to Japan for vacation and sakura viewing! I had to say thank you for all the supports from you, and my parents and relatives, without you all, I don’t think I will make it. Finally is my dream comes true! š Sorry I have to make this post short because I don’t have the full Internet access. Maybe I will post further report when I come back :D.
See you and thank you again.
Jayhan posting from Tokyo
I’m a fan of Sakura (cherry blossom) flower, I even make it as my blog’s favicon. As some of you guys already know, around March and April where spring season is coming, cherry blossom flowers blossom beautifully in Japan. Besides this, many Japanese artists also appreciate the beauty of their national flower by singing and composing Sakura related songs.
Sakura gives a lot of feeling to us, mainly are positive, happy together and love. Different artists describe this feeling uniquely in their own way. So today I present you the year 2009 edition of Sakura songs, a playlist that consists of this year’s new Sakura songs with some old one :D. Please enjoy. You can also go here for the Sakura songs that I compiled last year.
Picture credit: From the album “Sakura Songs”
In 2007, I posted a blog post about 4 Japan web design galleries that worth visiting to introduce web design showcase sites that is from Japan which showcases nice Japanese web designs. Since then, I found more Japan web galleries and would like to add them up to the list.
In my opinion, Japanese websites are nice, clean and functional. I think it’s good to study how they construct the website, dealing with white spaces and typography treatment. Although we can see that there is certain cliches in them but I think perhaps for Japanese, those format are the most functional to them? Below are the 5 web design galleries that I want to introduce today.
I attended the Japanese Language Proficiency Test last year December and now the result is finally out! And I’m very excited that I had pass both level 3 and 4! š In Level 4, I scored 386 points out of 400 while in Level 3, I get 384 points out of 400. I’m quite surprise at the high scoring mark especially on the Level 3 paper, because I study Level 3 lessons by myself.
I’m also quite surprise that I actually get full score (100/100) for the Listening part for both paper. This is because previously I really don’t have confidence in listening. I think it must be I watched too much Japanese dramas and movies and listening to JapanesePod101 lessons everyday while riding train to work. I can say that listening to Jpod101 greatly improves my listening skill. Arigatou!
All the hard works been paid off. Well, I think it’s time for me to move on and challenge for the Level 2! š
Picture credit: Niku’s Nyappy Plushy
Twitter is one of the most popular name in Internet world, and it started the micro-blogging trend. Well I also started my own Twitter page, and I will Twit stuff when I found something interesting to post. Just follow me! š