MDMorse.com » Design

The Oatmeal: How to Suck at Facebok

Michael — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:44:20 +0000

To all my Facebook friends out there, here’s a humorous rant about the typical Facebook types. If you’re easily offended, you may not want to read this. It’s a little bit o’ smartass, but I like it.

I’ve started following TheOatmeal’s posts since reading “How to use an Apostrophe“. I think his illustrations are fun and his site is a great example of simple, clean web design.

Current Mood: Relaxed

The Passenger

Michael — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:30:27 +0000

This animated short by Chris Jones is a dark and humerous style that I love. “Beware the Goldfish” is an apt description from io9.

Take the Yellow Lane to Dallas

Michael — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:48:52 +0000

Here’s a fantastic Disneyland video from 1958, “Magic Highway USA” that explains all the wonderful technology we should be seeing today. This includes, color-coded lanes (apparently, yellow leads to Dallas), Ceramic keels that creates bridges as it traverses the crossing, and escalators for cars for crossing difficult or steep mountains.

Unfortunately, it seems that we’ve only slightly improved our roads over those that the Roman’s built. Our usage has increased so quickly that we are in a never-ending loop of repairs and relaying pavement.

I wonder what will happen with the crisscross pattern of highways when we all switch to transporters or flying cars… perhaps we’ll finally have plenty of green space like Boston’s Big Dig central artery re-purposing.

I wonder what the no hover-car parking signs will look like…

Current Mood: Curious & Nerdy

Stare Into the Sun

Michael — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:14:07 +0000

As a lover of funky illustration and good music, I was happy to find this video illustrated by Ian Stevenson with music by James Scott & The Town.
Thanks to Alex over at It’s Nice That

Current Mood: Moody

Ah… Cool, Cool Halloween

Michael — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:28:16 +0000

by Matthew Kirscht

Last year for Halloween we sat on our front porch sipping wine while the neighborhood parents strolled by with their kids. One of the advantages of living in Dallas is the weather in October. However, with temperatures in the 100′s here in Texas for what seems like years, I’ve forgotten how nice the winters are here.

Luckily, I found Matthew Kirscht’s art that’s inspired by vintage holiday imagery. I love this style, and makes me feel like a kid again (in cooler weather).

Thanks, Kirsten Anderson at Right Some Good

Current Mood: Hyper

The Sultan’s Elephant

Michael — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:04:35 +0000

The only thing more mesmerizing than this giant puppet is the music. This little girl was created by by the Royal de Luxe theater company for a show called The Sultan’s Elephant. The show has come and gone, but check out the video and the talent that went into creating the show.

Thanks to the Make: blog.
Little Girl Giant Plays in the Park from XINERGY on Vimeo.

Current Mood: Curious & Curious & Curious & Curious & Curious & Curious & Curious & Curious & Curious

Red Nose Curiosity

Michael — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:43:15 +0000

Thanks to Cory Doctorow over at Boing Boing, I’ve been enjoying some great photography at Red Nose Studio. I just love the odd little worlds they’ve created in these images. Of course, I love anything odd. I often wish I could just escape into these little worlds.

Oh, and check out “The Look Book”; I’ve added it to my reading list.

Current Mood: Depressed & Depressed & Depressed

Teach the Controversy!

Michael — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:45:07 +0000

I’m all about teaching alternative theories to evolution, so I bought a T-shirt to prove it. (Hey, if you buy the T-shirt, it makes it so). Wearscience.com has some great designs promoting “Teach the Controversy”, including the aliens-built-the-pyramids, the-devil-planted-fossils-to-trick-us, and the earth-as-center-of-the-universe. They even have a design of the Great A’Tuin for you Discworld fans out there. You can read more about the Teach The Controversy “Intelligent Design” campaign to discredit the crackpot theory of evolution here.

Personally, I believe that if we teach “Intelligent Design” in schools alongside evolution, then we must include theories that aliens created us. See The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

And for you crazies who believe in science, Wearscience also has a series of designs right out of 50′s B-movies. You can also customize your designs; I added “I Believe in Science” to the back of my shirt with a scientist blowing up the moon on the front. Link

Current Mood: Amused

The History of Spaceflight

Michael — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:56:54 +0000

I’ve started collecting a few books on “futurism” from the 50′s, 60′s, and 70′s. I love the illustrations and ideas about the future from a time when mankind was just going to the moon. It seems there was no limit to where they thought we’d be 100 years from now (then). Matt over at Paleo-Future has posted a clip from the DVD History of Spaceflight featuring Wernher von Braun‘s ideas of the future of spaceflight. Check out the post for more retro-futurist images.

A Better Way to Browse Amazon

Michael — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:47:01 +0000

Our friends over at Lifehacker have shared a great new way to browse Amazon.com just like browsing shelves at a bookstore. Zoomii displays books on “shelves” grouped by Bestsellers, New Arrivals, Science Fiction, etc. You can drag around the bookstore or even create your own shelves by using the search feature. And when you find something you like, you can order right from Zoomii.

It’s a great way for someone like me who can spend hours browsing “brick and mortar” bookstores. I often purchase a book because the cover caught my eye.

Flickr Video: A Good Thing?

Michael — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:25:20 +0000

In case you haven’t heard, flickr has added video capabilites. Of course there are plenty of nay-sayers, and being a fan of great photography, I can understand how adding video could dilute what makes flickr great. Of course, there are lots of talented artists out there on flickr who can make motion an asset for flickr. I know I’m looking forward to seeing more like “The Blue Samurai”, a collaboration of flickrite ArtWerk and Manel Ortega. I’ve been following ArtWerk’s flickr feed for awhile now, and it’s nice to see another aspect of his talent. Not to mention some groovy sounds by Substatic.

Current Mood: Exhausted

Ecards That Are a Bit More…. Heartfelt

Michael — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:01:07 +0000

I remember a series of cards at Jungle Red in OKC that all had small illustrations of bugs on the front, and contained such witty messages as “I want my stuff” and “You’re old, Happy Birthday”. I can’t say I ever actually gave one to any of my friends, but I secretly wanted to.

Well, for those of us who “care enough to hit send”, there’s a site full of cards with just such messages like “Now that you’re 18, you can legally not bother voting” and “I hope you’ll always consider me someone who reluctantly pays for part of your birthday dinner”. Complete with vintage public-domain illustrations on every card, it really says “I’m too to go out and buy a card and mail it to you, but this ecard is just the right price”. (Hey, I’m guilty)

So check out someecards.com… and please send me one for my birthday. At least I’ll know how much you care. Exactly.

Current Mood: Devious

Nathan Ota – Another Fine Artist

Michael — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:56:18 +0000

I’ve started following “Right Some Good”, the art blog of Kirsten Anderson . She writes about artists she likes, and I’ve found I agree on many of them. One recent recommendation is Nathan Ota, who illustrates curious creatures like robots, eyeless birds and monster tree trunks. His art often has a greenish-golden glow that reminds me of tarot cards. Kinda spooky in a fairy-tale kind of way.

Be sure to check out his site to see more of his great work.

Current Mood: Awake

Robot Art

Michael — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:57:34 +0000

Kirsten Anderson over at Right Some Good has posted some great art by fellow artist Brian Despain. His work has the sort of tone I love (a la steampunk/Myst) and features another geek fav – robots! What more could you ask for. I’d hang this on my wall.

Perhaps I should check into that…

Meanwhile, check out Brian Despain’s website .

Current Mood: Weird

Tiny Houses I Want

Michael — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:59:00 +0000

Wired.com has posted a series of photos of small modular houses sure to please the eco-friendly minded. But more than just environmentally conscious, these houses have a certain Zen that I want when I think about building a vacation house. I mean, how much more escapist can you be in a house sitting atop a column on a lake?

It’s hard to explain to the uninitiated what a modular home is when it comes to building it in nature. They either think I’m talking about those trailer houses with wood siding, or some funky-weird modernist glass box on the lawn. But these seem to commune with nature rather than clash. There’s something about the openness that and simplicity that doesn’t get in the way of the view.

Of course, I have to find a beautiful and semi-private place to build a house like these. My mom lives in the perfect part of Arkansas (north-central), but it’s quite an old-fashioned area (not too conducive to two men with no children moving in next door). But we’ll find the perfect place… it’s out there.

Current Mood: Relaxed

Dutch Graphic Design from Around 1900

Michael — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 04:07:57 +0000

BibliOdyssey has posted some great examples of Dutch Advertising from around 1900. My first exposure to Dutch design was at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. I’m attracted to the simplicity and clean lines.

This particular example is especially interesting, since I worked for Holland-America in Alaska during my summer between high school and college.

Be sure to check out the other samples.

Current Mood: Relaxed

The Road Ahead

Michael — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:29:58 +0000

Thanks to Jeff Pepper over at 2719Hyperion for sharing this clip from the 1958 Disneyland “Magic Highway USA”. You can read more background from his earlier posts here and here. Apparently, we aren’t as advanced as predicted. It would be cool to have my car wash and refuel itself.. I really hate stopping at the gas station.

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Tags: Disney, futurism, transportation

Current Mood: Relaxed

Pseudo-Decay Becomes Decay, then Pseudo Again

Michael — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:41:19 +0000

Pruned has posted a series of photos (with commentary) about the curious and fascinating “Broken Column House”, built just before the French Revolution by François Nicolas Henri Racine de Monville, an aristocrat with lots of time and money on his hands. Built to appear as a decaying broken column, the house went through a period of neglect in which it truly began to decay. In the 1980′s it once again was restored to its original pseudo-decay state.

Located northwest of Paris in a wooded area, I’ve added this to one of the must sees when I finally visit France.

I also find the photo beautiful and creepy – perfect for this time of year. Wouldn’t you like to Trick-or-Treat here?

The Dragon Queen and The Wanderer

Michael — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 01:47:30 +0000

Wanderer of Space, Vargo Statten, 1950 Scion / Planet Stories, Summer 1941, Love Romances

I just finished reading Worlds of Tomorrow – The Amazing Universe of Science Fiction Art by Forrest J Ackerman. I picked it up at Half Price Books a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been trying to learn more about design and art from the 1800′s up through the 50′s, 60′s, and 70′s, especially involving predictions of the future.There are several magazines that were published in 30′s, 40′s and 50′s that featured science fiction shorts by sci fi greats like Isaac Asimov, H.G. Wells, and Robert Heinlein. They had titles like Wonder Stories Quarterly, Amazing Stories, and Startling Stories. The cover art was just as fantastic as the stories within. Worlds of Tomorrow features these covers and includes narrative about the history of the culture and writers that envisioned them.

If your a sci fi fan or a fan of sci fi art; or even if you are just looking for a good laugh, check out this book.

I shared these two because half-naked women were a staple of many of these covers. I just thought it was interesting to see half naked men for a change. I’m just not sure how practical a g-string would be for wandering space, or riding dragons. And how about the name “Dragon Queen”?

DCI 2007 Highlights

Michael — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:08:21 +0000

Just a few of my photos taken at this year’s Drum Corps Championships in Pasadena, CA. You can see them all, including scores, here.

I made this with animoto, the best slideshow generator out there. You can upload your own photos or import them from photo sharing sites like flickr. You can also upload your own music you pick from their library. animoto then generates the video complete with effects. The free service is limited to 30 second videos, but you can create full-length videos for $3 each or $30 unlimited for a year.

Tags: animoto, DCI, drumcorps, marching, band

Current Mood: Energetic

Rosetta Project – Download Vintage Children’s Books

Michael — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:55:49 +0000

I find I’m more and more interested in vintage design, having recently purchased a few vintage books containing some beautiful illustrations (more on that later).

Thanks to Lifehacker and Wendy Boswell for sharing a great archive of vintage children’s books at childrensbooksonline.org. It’s a huge collection of downloadable books, some including audio and multimedia. It’s a volunteer-driven site, so if you appreciate what they’re doing and are so inclined, please donate for their efforts.

It’s nice to see that though the physical books will one day return to dust, they will live on in the cybersphere.

Plan59.com: 100% of Recommended Daily Retro

Michael — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:24:45 +0000

I’ve been looking more and more lately for vintage ads and illustrations to satisfy my new-found love of design from the turn of the century (the last one) through the 60′s/70′s. My most recent find is Plan59.com, thanks another of my favs, Paleo-Future. It’s full of vintage images well organized into categories like “cars”, “space” and “old ads”. What’s even better, is that you can order poster-size prints! I can already imagine the possibilities for my future-retro media room when we finally get our house built.

The only thing that’s missing is newsfeed capability (since I’m a google reader addict.)

Tags: retro, vintage, illustrations

Current Mood: Happy

The Paleo-Future is Here (or not)

Michael — Thu, 17 May 2007 22:34:43 +0000

There’s a certain class of design I’ve always been attracted to; I find it fascinating to see how the past saw the future, either the one that has come and gone, or is still yet to be (or not to be). My favorite sci fi reads are those heavy with scientific speculation on the big questions… faster-than-light travel, moving stars, encountering bewilderingly advanced species. But I also enjoy classic sci fi like Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. More than just the plots, I love to see how the greatest scientific imaginations of their time saw the future. It often comes out as a mix of new ideas blended with now outdated ones; like a man traveling home from work in his self-driving car only to be greeted by his wife who meets him at the door with a cocktail, a back rub and dinner on the table.

I also love to explore design from yesteryear looking forward. Interestingly, this often comes back to Disney’s Imagineering. But thanks to great finds like Paleo-Future, I can finally get my fill of this odd attraction. And what an apt name for something I’ve been unable to easily define.

So here’s to the Paleo-Future and the future that never was! And to commemorate the occasion, here’s a great sample, “Transportation Exhibits at the New York World’s Fair (1964)”

Tags: paleo, future, transportation

Current Mood: Nerdy

Funny Bones

Michael — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:21:31 +0000

PK at BibliOdyssey has shared a series of great illustrations by Louis Crucious, a St. Louis printer’s apprentice, pharmacist and finally physician. While studying and working in a pharmacy, he began creating the illustrations and displaying them in the store window. He sold several of the drawings to Antikamnia Chemical Company who used some in calendars.

Be sure to check out the entire series and the article.

Tags: illustration, drawing, Antikamnia, LouisCrucius

Current Mood: Amused

American Ambition

Michael — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:03:37 +0000

Santiago Calatrava has designed an impressive 2,000 ft tower for the Chicago water front called the “Chicago Spire”. It’s 150 floors will house 1200 condos; and would be the world’s tallest residential building (and most likely the world’s 2nd tallest building overall – eclipsed only by the Burj Dubai, rumored to be over 3,000 feet tall when completed in 2008).

It’s nice to see America getting back into the skyscraper game with some ambitious plans. I hope to some day visit Chicago and take the multiple elevators necessary to get to the top.

Now if we can just get them to build Frank Lloyd Wright’s mile-high “The Illinois”. (Yes kids, thats 5,280 feet, 528 floors).

Tags: skyscraper, Calatrava, ChicagoSpire

Current Mood: Impressed

Vintage Illustrations: Space Needle

Michael — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:39:54 +0000

Thanks to some good digging by pk at Bibliodyssey, here are some great old illustrations of the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle. I love the color and aging of the paper, and the time and effort that went into creating these images by hand. When these concepts were presented straight from the mind of the illustrator, there was a certain amount of idealism and imagination that meshed with the technicality of architectural drawing, that always tweaks both sides of my brain.

For example the third image in the series has what seem to be bubbles floating above the grounds; and the water in the fountains has a great cobalt blue hue.

Today’s computer generated concepts for proposed buildings can offer great realistic visions for a design, but there’s something lost in these types of images. It’s just all too convenient today to take an actual photo of a location for a proposed structure and superimpose the building almost exactly as it will look in a location.

PK also talks about using Google Alerts to scrounge up some of these illustrations.. gonna have to check that out!

And the Oscar Goes To…

Michael — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:10:05 +0000

I’m not really into following the Oscars thing, but one overlooked category I always love to check out is the animated and short films. Atomfilms has a “Hall of Fame” featuring Oscar-nominated shorts. If you’re into design and especially animation, check these out. Here’s the most recent nominee, “The Cathedral”, which is computer graphics based and is reminiscent of the “movies” between gameplay in most video games. Although this is by far better quality.

Tags: AtomFilms, Oscars, animation, shortfilms, thecathedral

Current Mood: Impressed

Men are Crotch-Watchers

Michael — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:36:07 +0000

A recent study by the Annenberg Center for Communication at USC has revealed some interesting habits of the human male. Eye tracking technology tracks where the participant’s eyes spend more time on a particular image. It’s interesting to see how adding a little white space and organizing information helps the user navigate a page more effectively.

Another perhaps even more interesting find of the study is that men are apparently crotch-watchers. Participants were presented with a photo of George Brett, and while both men and women focused on the face, men were also apparently interested in George’s little George. And these men aren’t particularly gay.

This is the gayest thing I’ve heard since Ryan Seacrest’s exchange with Simon Cowell. Apparently, men are just like dogs sniffing each other’s crotch; sizing up the competition.

Thanks, Towleroad

Tags: eyetracking, Annenberg

Current Mood: Amused

That’s Good Poulton

Michael — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:44:10 +0000

Here’s another great drawing from Eric Poulton, the re-imagined Death Star from Star Wars. I guess I just like this style so much I had to share. As I’ve said, it’s so reminiscent of the Myst style of Robyn Miller.

And I love this footnote from Eric’s post:

“[1]As it has not yet been discovered a way for machines to directly generate Force energy, it must be supplied by a powerful Force user. The user conjures the energy inside of a specially designed resonance chamber which amplifies the energy before directing it through a series of lenses to produce a powerful coherent beam of unimaginably destructive energy.”

Tags: EricPoulton, steampunk, starwars, deathstar

Current Mood: Energetic

Eric Poulton’s Re-Imagined Star Wars

Michael — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 15:23:28 +0000

Stumbled across a very cool series of drawings by Eric Poulton of Star Wars in the “Steam Punk” style. Now, being neophyte that I am to the Steam Punk style, I had never even heard the term before. But seeing the drawings, I realize I’ve seen it many times, and it apparently is one of my favorites. It reminds me a bit darker twist on the design of the Myst series.

Also check out his additional posts which include a very good Jabba the Hut complete with feathered hat.

Very cool, indeed.

Thanks, Bonnie and Boing Boing.

Tags: StarWars, EricPoulton, steampunk

Current Mood: Hyper

Holiday excuses have never been so good (or funny)

Michael — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 18:17:38 +0000

If your looking for a good reason to escape that invitation to a holiday party, check out this Holiday Excuse Generator at Enlighten.com. It’s alot of fun even if you don’t get invited to parties. Just answer a few questions about your relationship with the host and how honest you want to appear and viola! You get a sample letter fit for Martha Stewart’s hand!

I’ll be trying it out this season. Unless any of my friends are reading this. In which case, I really can’t come to your White Trashmas Themed soiree because I’m going to be on vacation in Budapest.

No really.

Tell me all about it when I return.

The designers out there should also check out the Enlighten site, since it’s well designed as well.

Tags: Holiday, excuse, invitation, party, enlighten.com

Current Mood: Amused

En Tus Brazos

Michael — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:29:51 +0000

“In Your Arms” according to altavista’s translation, is a great animated short worth checking out. Even though the site is in French, it appears that the short has won some awards. Alot of work has gone into the film and I love the tone and style. Check out the “Contacts” link… the creators’ photos have the same early 1900′s look. Great job guys!

Tags: animated, shortfilm

Current Mood: Impressed

Online Desktop?

Michael — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 22:23:54 +0000

In me never ending search for a solution that will keep my contacts up to date on my laptop pc, my home pc and my Mac, I stumbled across a very cool Web 2.0 site. DesktopTwo is a web-based app package that looks and acts like your personal desktop; complete with email, address book, rss reader, instant messenger, file browser and 1GB FREE (for now) storage.

I haven’t yet decided if it’s any kind of solution for what I was searching, but it’s always nice to find an example of great design and origina ideas. I know there have been other similar attempts, but I don’t think any have been this successful or nice looking.

Current Mood: Curious

Desolation Row

Michael — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:19:50 +0000

Originally uploaded by CantikFotos.

Fascinating set of photos of an abandoned housing project in Taiwan. It’s too bad the’ve fallen into such decay. It reminds my of some of the modern designs of today, especially many of the flatpak or modular modern designs available.

These are haunting and beautiful at the same time; and it looks like their on the beach.

Tags: architecture, abandoned

Current Mood: Sad

This Ad is so Gay

Michael — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 03:44:12 +0000

And I don’t mean “gay” like some straight people say to mean “lame”, but “gay” as in “I can’t believe they marketed this to straight women”-gay.

But seriously, it’s amazing to me that some people think America is out of control, that we need to increase censorship of the media; but sexuality has been in advertising practically since the printing press was invented. And this ad is a great example.

And I don’t even think the ads in Out magazine are this racy. So I just wonder in what magazine these were advertised.

UPDATE: Thanks to a little sleuthing from my pal Jenn, this apparently ran in Life magazine. You can see more ambiguous (and not-so-ambiguous) advertising at commercialcloset.org.

Originally uploaded by Mamluke.

Tags: vintage, advertising, gay

Current Mood: Mischievous

UFO Photoshop Contest

Michael — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:26:53 +0000

Worth1000.com has some great Photoshop contests. A recent one was for UFOs, and I think this is one of the best. It as a bit of a Myst feel, which has some fantastic art. Check out the rest of the contest entries; and if you don’t already, check back at Worth1000.com for other great Photoshop contests.

Current Mood: Happy

Housewives Tarot

Michael — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 21:27:47 +0000

Found a fun site, housewivestarot.com, where you can get your very own Tarot reading. And you don’t have to be a housewife!

The graphics are great, and it’s fun to see how they’ve created images for the traditional tarot deck using that great style of the 50′s.

Even if you’re not into devination, you should check this out just for the great art and flash design. And you can even buy the boxed set (great gift for your Johnson County repressed-housewife friends).

Move over Donna Reed, and make me a martini!

For more fantastic design (especially for the web designers out there), check out the creators’ website at headcasedesign.com. Coincidentally, they’re located in Philly, my surragate home town! (I hope they don’t yell at me for posting the pic… )

Current Mood: Impressed

Recent Dallas Trip

Michael — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 21:05:52 +0000

Just thought I’d post one of my fav photos from my last trip to Dallas. This is a temple in Thanksgiving Plaza in Downtown Dallas.

Sometimes the simple lines and color are just as moving as complex shapes. This building is really pretty amazing, and has a stain glass window in the spiral. Thanks to BrianBlevins, one of my flickr buddies, who pointed out the website with a great photo of the window.

Cartoon Ads

Michael — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:46:30 +0000

Here’s a series of cartoon-ads from yesteryear that are fun. Even if you’re not a graphic design enthusiast, the nastalgia is still worth taking a look at.

Thanks, leifpeng for sharing these on flickr!

Current Mood: Amused