Data + Design Project

Aging Gracefully: A Side By Side Look At Getting Old

Thursday 03.14.2013 , Posted by

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Andy Rooney once said, “It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.” UK based photographer Ana Oliveira has used the theme of aging for a fascinating collection called Identity. She takes old photographs of a person, some from as much as 60 years ago, and then takes a new photo in the same pose with similar clothing, much like Irina Werning. Seeing the photos side by side, the effects of aging become obvious, yet in many of the shots the older version looks more self assured, further reinforcing George Bernard Shaw’s view that “Youth is wasted on the young!” [Read more...]

Exotic Animals In Beautiful Indian Palaces

Wednesday 03.13.2013 , Posted by

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From the time of her life changing journey to Rajasthan, India in 2008 until now, photographer Karen Knorr’s work has shifted from playful themes of power towards the upper caste systems in Northern India. She explores “Rajput and Mughal cultural heritage and its relationship to questions of feminine subjectivity and animality.” The series, called India Song, features gorgeous animals in some of the most elegant rooms of palaces, mausoleums , temples and holy sites throughout Rajasthan. The architecture itself is strikingly detailed and often vibrant, but the with the contrast of live exotic animals, the scenes become breathtaking. [Read more...]

Japanese Ad Features Meticulously Dissected Orange

Tuesday 03.12.2013 , Posted by

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I don’t know about you, but by the time I have peeled an orange, I have a very hard time not quickly eating the juicy insides; the fragrant citrus smell fills the air and the sweet juice is one of the most refreshing tastes imaginable. But one patient Japanese person took the time to dissect an orange down to every last segment, peel, pulp, and drop of juice to arrange this beautifully designed ad for Shizuoka News. From afar the design actually looks like a newspaper, but as you look closer, you can see that the “text” and “pictures” are actually just meticulously arranged pieces of oranges. [Read more...]

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Between: Beautifully Braided Books

Sunday 03.10.2013 , Posted by

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We’ve seen amazing book carvings by Emma Taylor, Kylie Stillman, Frank Halmans, and Guy Laramee but now comes a series of book art that’s only temporary: book braiding. Math Monahan braids the pages of a book, similar to the way a french braid is done, adding a few more pages to each group as it gets folded into the braid. The result is an awesomely clean looking design that unfolds itself over time. One of his circular installations is in the Penny Stamps Graduate Studio and the other in the Hatcher Graduate library of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he is currently working toward a Master of Fine Arts. Ironically the one in the library unbraided more, which Math hypothesizes is so that the books could be closer to the other books surrounding them! [Read more...]

We Love Friday! – Illustrate Your World

Friday 03.08.2013 , Posted by

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“I cannot rest, I must draw, however poor the result, and when I have a bad time come over me it is a stronger desire than ever.” ― Beatrix Potter Although my drawing skills have yet to surpass the average 12 year old’s, I am constantly amazed by the talented artists I see everywhere I go. Drawing is such an incredible way to express things that words can not explain and to share your perspective with others. We searched Instagram for illustrations and found some amazingly talented artists from all over the world. Here are our top picks!
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Real Underwater Humor- Without Photoshop

Thursday 03.07.2013 , Posted by

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What does Seaweed say when it’s stuck at the bottom of the sea? “Kelp! Kelp!” If you’ve ever eaten Laffy Taffy, then you know there are lots of silly sea jokes, but what’s not funny is the damage that humans are causing to our most mysterious ecosystem. Underwater photographer Jason Isley sees this first hand, so he decided to bring some toys along with him to capture it firsthand. He creates comical scenes, like a sea slug getting a speeding ticket, along with some showcasing more serious environmental concerns, like ghost nets, litter, and fish bombing. Although he does occasionally brighten some images with Photoshop, the miniature scenes are actually set up underwater. Isley is the co-founder of ScubaZoo, a Malaysian underwater filming and photography company. [Read more...]

Up In Smoke: Circus Scenes Painted With Smoke

Wednesday 03.06.2013 , Posted by

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Much like a ring master or circus performer attempts to train a wild animal, artist Rob Tarbell applied similar principles to taming smoke into the form of old fashioned circus scenes. To achieve the images, Tarbell mounts paper to the ceiling (in a metal garage with fire extinguishers nearby), then burns credit cards and old 35mm film below it, directing the smoke into the desired shapes. He uses his wife and friends as models for the human portions of the pieces and pictures of horses and elephants for the animals. The ghostly images under the name Smoke Rings will be on display from March 11- April 12, 2013 in a circus themed group exhibition at Roanoke, Virginia’s Marginal Arts Festival. [Read more...]

Dangerously Close to the Edge: Fearless Self-Portraits

Monday 03.04.2013 , Posted by

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Those seriously afraid of heights may want to look away. Photographer Ahn Jun goes to great heights, literally, to get the most perfect shots for her death defying series titled “Self-Portrait.” Although it would be fairly simple to photoshop a project like this, the artist insists that these are the real deal. The Korean photographer has been adding on to this collection since 2008, making her way to some of the tallest buildings in New York City, Hong Kong, and Seoul. To get the best picture, the fearless Jun sets up her camera to drive mode then gets in position and chooses the shot where she looks the most at ease or aggressive- never fearful. [Read more...]

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We Love Friday! – Stunning Blown Glass

Friday 03.01.2013 , Posted by

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Long before people started making glass, it could be found in nature; when lightning struck sand or volcanic eruptions caused rock and sand to fuse together (obsidian). Humans first made glass around 2000BC, but the level of skill increased dramatically with the invention of the blowpipe in 30BC. Blowing glass has been popular since medieval times, and although the creations and techniques have gotten more interesting, the tools remain the same. According to Sea Life Creations, “The craft of glassblowing was passed from father to son, and from master to apprentice. From its beginnings, the formulas and procedures used in glassmaking were closely guarded. At times in history, the penalty for disclosing secret techniques was death!” Thankfully the tradition has been kept alive and there are amazing glass blowers all around the world. Here is a collection of some of the most interesting blown glass creations from Instagram. [Read more...]

Mr. Chickpea & Friends Explore NYC

Thursday 02.28.2013 , Posted by

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As if the antioxidants, fiber, and deliciousness weren’t reason enough to love chickpeas, their personalities will certainly do the trick. In this playful series of photos by NYC based Turkish artist Sadi Tekin, little garbanzo bean heads explore the big apple. Tekin drew unique facial expressions on a bunch of dry garbanzo beans, utilizing the natural nose and chin grooves of the handsome legumes, then had a field day making bodies for them in unique New York (Ron Burgundy would be proud to read this aloud) locations. [Read more...]

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