Apple is often cited as the pinnacle of design in the electronics world, but what if the minimalist design sense of Jonathan Ive showed up on the dairy aisle of your local grocery store? That’s the world that Israel-based designer Peddy Mergui is imagining, transforming iconic brands into purveyors of a product they’ve never sold before: food. [Read more…]
Data Visualization 101: Line Charts
In our Data Visualization 101 series, we cover each chart type to help you sharpen your data visualization skills.
Line charts are one of the oldest forms of data visualization, and it’s not hard to see why. Whether you’re tracking the fluctuation of stock prices or the popularity of different wine varieties, they give you an accurate and quickly understandable assessment of the trend, acceleration, deceleration, and volatility of the data in question. [Read more…]
Glamourous Cadillac Ads from the Height of The Great Depression
Things couldn’t get much more dismal for auto makers than the year 1931. Unemployment was nearing its all time high during The Great Depression leaving car buyers with empty pockets and manufacturers struggling to make ends meet. Most companies played it safe on expenditures, but Cadillac doubled down with a multitude of sleek models and better advertising than ever. They went to Europe and hired French illustrator Léon Bénigni to create a large collection of ads that were positively dripping with glamour. [Read more…]
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The Moscow Metro Looks Like An Underground Palace
There are many places to explore in Moscow, but one path not to be missed is the metro stations, which are quite glamorous. The Moscow Metro opened in 1935, consisting of thirteen stations on a single line extending 11 kilometers (6.83 miles) long. Since then, the system has grown into the 4th busiest in the world, with over 300 km (186.4 miles) of line and 188 stops. [Read more…]
Digital Enlightenment? The Act of Levitation Through Brainwave Sensing Technology
Is the act of levitation possible? Whether it is the Tibetan monks high in the Himalayas or magicians in glitzy Las Vegas, some have claimed it is possible. Yet, one acclaimed artist has actually achieved levitation… that is, with a little help from his hacked toy brainwave sensor. Through the use of the sensor, some electronics and powerful actuators, artist John Slepian literally lifts himself from the ground and maybe that much closer to enlightenment. [Read more…]
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Flowing Maps Explore the City’s Impact on the Local Environment
Digital artist and illustrator Istvan has created a series of maps which artfully imagine the affect of cities and their human inhabitants on the local environment. His colorful images aren’t scientific in nature, but rather a personal exploration of what it might look like if the energies of the metropolis flowed out of the city itself. [Read more…]
Hilarious Things Said To and By a 3- Year Old Illustrated By Her Father
From the mouths of babes come some of the most hilarious utterances. And this awesome dad not only writes them all down, but also immortalizes the best ones by turning them into clever illustrations. When Martin Bruckner and his wife became parents to little Harper Grace, they heard themselves saying some silly things that they would never have said pre-parenthood. Once at dinner his wife told Harper, “Please don’t put spaghetti between your toes” and they both couldn’t believe that their lives had actually led them to utter those words in that order. Alas, Bruckner’s tumblr Spaghetti Toes was born. Here he turns Harper Grace’s sayings, as well as his own and his wife’s to Harper, into beautiful illustrations that are sure to make you smile. [Read more…]
Life Hack: How to Use Your Wallet as a Smartphone Tripod
Even with a self-timer added to most modern smartphone camera apps, getting a hands-free shot is not the easiest task. With their current thinner-is-better form factor, getting a phone to balance on anything but one tiny edge is a challenge, and even leaning them against an object isn’t too practical. Thankfully, Youtuber Bang Ong has a simple and smart life hack. Here he demonstrates how to use just your wallet to accurately aim your phone in all kinds of directions. Cool! [Read more…]
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Atsushi Koyama’s Oil Paintings Combine Mechanical Drawings With Human Anatomy
With oil paint on a black canvas, Japanese artist Atsushi Koyama grants us access into a parallel world. The human form interacts with the machine aspects in a beautiful duality. In some pieces it looks as if the colorful machine parts are a blueprint for the human reality. Koyama often creates his work while listening to electronic music and it’s almost as if his paintings are also deconstructing that music. [Read more…]
Somabar: A Robotic Countertop Bartender That Mixes Cocktails As Directed By Your Smartphone
How badly do you want this at your New Year’s party? Somabar is a robotic cocktail mixing appliance that connects to your smartphone via Wi-Fi and precisely mixes drinks on your kitchen counter – and it does it in under 5 seconds. Forget cocktail shakers and careful measuring to produce the perfect drink, this libation delivering servant does it right, every time. [Read more…]
