plasticandy

allyouneedischeese.ca

2008-05-01T07:28:00.006-04:00

The whole Canadian Cheese thing.

First of all I LOVE THE CHEESE LOGO, I think it is brilliant and I am completely jealous that I didn't think of it first.

I know some of the commercials are kind of cheesy.
Especially where the whole family brakes out in song because they want cheese on their food.

Anyways, I do love all the print ads and banners I see and some of the commercials.
I honestly believe that they have done a really good job.

allyouneedischeese.ca

is the web page, and it is fantastic.
It's kind of corny, but it makes you laugh at its ridiculousness, and that is a good thing.

The web site features a Broadway light display for each day of the week, and allows you to choose which star (vegetable) you want to accompany the Great Canadian cheese on stage. After you have chosen, you move forward and they sing for a moment and then show you recipes that include both of those foods.

I think all the time that went into to giving each food a specific voice and making the food dance was well worth it.

The web page is fantastic, in its own cheesy way.

The whole campaign is fantastic.

mini

2008-04-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

mini.ca
is a fantastic website.

What mini has done is included little funny videos/'games' where you can interact with the mini.

Given the persona behind a mini, I think they did an amazing job capturing it in their website.

mini incubation
Where they transform your car, into a mini, and send you updates on how it's going. They take you throug a bunch of secret doors and all that, it's really neat, and at some points funny.

Also things like: Convertible-izer-ometer, 3D TURBOVISION, Dominate Winter, and Trackstar

HP Planet Partners

2008-04-20T08:40:00.000-04:00

HP Planet Partners is a printing supplies return and recycling program.

Attached to HP ink cartridges is a little green envelope, where when you replace your cartridges you can place your empty one in it.

FACT: In Canada less then 5% of the millions of ink cartridges that are bought yearly are ever recycled, so you can imagine what landfills have abundances of.

Smart simple idea

Here's how:

1. Place 1 or 2 empty HP ink jet cartridge(s) in this envelope without additional packaging materials or notes.
2. Carefully seal envelope.
3. Mail postage-paid envelope back to HP.

These are written right on the envelope...

Bruce Mau

2008-04-20T08:32:00.000-04:00

Inspiring designers to consider everything when designing, Bruce Mau, is quite possibly one of the most important people in design.

He inspires a change in what people believe design is in all of us.

Helping me and others to think differently, stray from the straight line, and create a line of our own.

design power

2008-04-20T07:29:00.000-04:00

If I were given the option to promote anything, it would most definitely be environmental.

A lot of people think that it is too difficult for them to recycle, cut down on garbage, energy and what ever else there is out there.

But it is really easy.

There are really simple things you can do:

-buy a water saving toilet
-do your laundry with cold water instead of hot
-buy warmer blankets for your bed, and turn down the heat in the winter
-buy environmental friendly cleaning products, like soap.

Stores have made it so simple for us, and yet people find it so difficult to make the changes.
I really want to show people that doing these things, can save you money and they can do some good for the environment.

Another commercial I despise

2008-04-20T06:56:00.001-04:00

One of Honda's new commercials REALLY gets to me, and every time I see I have to turn away, because It bothers me so much.

It's the one where a guy, places the award on the glass shelve in the showcase thing, and the shelve begins to bend in the middle, and it makes a crazy creaking noise, that glass would never make.

Glass doesn't bend without braking! AND the only noise it makes when it begins to bend is CRASHING because if you try to bend glass without it being at the temp of melting, it breaks...

So then I though about it, well maybe it's plastic, but why would a company like Honda be so cheap as to put plastic shelves in their trophy showcase....

Soo I am pretty sure it's ment to be glass, and that it is just a ridiculous commercial.

Current gas situation

2008-04-19T11:06:00.000-04:00

Well if you have a car, and you drive it, you know that a good chunk of your money goes towards gas, especially now with that 1.20 per ltr hanging over our heads and talks of it reaching 1.50 in the approching summer, there is no escaping it.

Not to long ago, gas was .60 per ltr and people complained when it went up to .70.
Oh how I wish gas was .70 again... I would most certainly not complain.

Fortunately my car is fairly good on gas. On a normal school week, driving back and forth I will fill up my tank once, right now at the current price of gas, it is about $65.00 to fill.

compared to...

My step dad, who has a Chevy Avalanche, his truck is about $125.00 to fill right now.... and he would have to fill up twice a week if he drove back and forth to my school for a week

Talk about a heart attack every time you go to fill up

I would honestly dread it.

Anyways, theres a few websites that actually tells you where the cheapest gas is in Toronto/Surrounding areas.

http://www.torontogasprices.com/

my compliments

2008-04-16T10:14:00.004-04:00

The person I would like to commend is my mother, Susan.

She was a single mom for about 12 years, raising my brother and me.

At the time, I had no idea the struggles she went through. But now, when she tells me stories about what it was like back then for her, I understand. She had been in and out of courts, trying to get my father to pay child support, which put her into a lot of debt. She had to keep the tags on nice clothes so she could return them afterwards. She told me how difficult it was to find a babysitter for me and my brother, either because we where two crazy children, or when she did find one, they ended up stealing things from our house.

My mom worked so hard to get us out of where we where to where we are now.

Even now, while in school, and running short on money, she insures I have what I need.

I love her so much, and I am so grateful for everything she has done for me, and given me.

I only hope to one day pay her back for everything.

My Manifesto...

2008-04-16T09:51:00.006-04:00

Don't Forget to Laugh: Some people (I won't say names) forget that you need to laugh at least once a day, because a person can only take so much serious behavior before they snap.

Don't be afraid to be similar: People try so hard these days to be different that it has lost it's meaning, and it's kind of annoying. We all know you look ridiculous, and you can't get a job with 20 facial piercings and purple/green/pink hair. People shouldn't be afraid to like the same style of clothes as someone else, or have a "ordinary" hairstyle.

Save your money: Don't constantly spend your paycheck as soon as you get it, save it. Only buy what you need, not what you want. Trust me, it's relaxing to know you have money in your bank account. (from what I remember)

Ask questions: Ask as many questions as you can, whenever you can. There will come a time in your life when there isn't someone around to answer them. (I still struggle with this, but I have gotten much better.)

Sing: In your car, in the shower, or in your room. Whether your good or bad, everyone should sing. It's a great way to relieve stress, and you can always share a laugh with yourself.

Be nice: Hold the door open for someone. let someone in your lane. Tell someone you like their glasses, hair, shirt, anything. It really makes other people feel good, and it'll make you feel good.

Get your work done ahead of time: Don't leave it to last minute. If you finish something a few days ahead, it really takes a huge weight off your shoulders. (I do all my homework on the weekend)

Stop Complaining: I, personally, find it very annoying when a person complains about the situation they may be in, especially when the cause is their own. Shut up and deal with it, it's your own fault your there. Or rather then sit around and sob, fix it.

Grow up: You aren't the greatest thing that ever walked the earth, and your shit does stink. People who think they can do what ever they want and talk to whom ever they want in any tone they want, are seriously confused about where their place is.

Toronto FC

2008-04-08T12:08:00.005-04:00

A new season has arrived.
Although TFC lost heir first game in Columbus, Ohio, there are still many games to be won in the future.

Last year when the BMO field was first opened, seats where up for grabs, and my mom managed to get two. Last year when they sent the package, it was beautiful.
This year they have outdone themselves again. The package has once again taken me by surprise, and seeing as how I didn't manage to get a single picture of the last one, I took plenty of this one for everyone to see.

This years box set includes the season tickets, special passes for discounts, a red/yellow card(for home supporting ans), and a scarf, which is also the ticket for the first game. All of this is arranges extraordinarily in a beautifully designed box.

I am very impressed with not only the the teams plays, but the design of the team logo, and colour choices. I think they work REALLY well, and is one of my favorite logos.

Earth Hour

2008-03-29T12:00:00.005-04:00

Look what google did in light of earth hour, no pun intended.

My house is definitely participating in Earth hour, I think it is a great opportunity to help a lot of people realize that the planet needs help. My mother, in fact, thought it was such a great idea that she decided we are going to hold this event twice a week. the net energy savings add up to about 12kW/h per month(we turn off computers as well). It may not sound like much, but it will build in time.

The TTC

2008-03-24T15:22:00.003-04:00

Alright, since I actually encounter this problem very often, despite never having been on a street car, train, or any other form of TTC, I have experienced it.

My current problem is with the Street car;
There is law that requires you stop and wait if a street cars doors are open. Although these laws are "strongly enforced",in the past 2 years I have been driving, I've not seen many people actually stop. I do, and when I do, ignorant drivers get annoyed with me, because apparently they are in such a huge rush they can't wait for the people getting off the street car.

TODAY
I stop, as everyone should, when I saw the doors of a street car open. An already very enraged (from what I could tell by the way he was driving) man in a beamer has to stop behind me. My guess was that he didn't want to stop, or he had no clue of the law in place that says you must stop. Anyways, he waits for a moment, but decides to be a complete ass hole and try and go around me by using the parking on the side of Lakeshore Rd as a lane. Me being the driver that i am, i like to let someone know when i think they are driving ignorantly. I noticed that the doors of the street car were closing and said street car was starting to pulling forward, so with my hand pressed firmly on my horn, i began to tailgate the offending driver. Of course he only made it about 30 meters ahead of the street car and turns left, as he is doing so he's obviously yelling at me and giving me the finger. Being the big, tough man he was to give the finger and swear at a teenager, he was wearing full out winter ensemble, including really thick gloves and a toque with a plump, fuzzy ball atop it.

So that whole event really got me angry and got me thinking. TTC really needs to either increase the size of the signs that say it's a law to stop, because honestly they aren't noticeable unless you happen to be looking directly at it. Or, they just need to have law enforcement come down heavier on the people that do it.

But I honestly think the biggest problem is people don't know, I didn't know, until someone in front of me stopped and I had now clue why they were stopping until i looked directly at the street car.

AIGA Student Competition and Future Trends

2008-03-23T16:17:00.000-04:00

I believe that current trends are bringing design to a much simpler, and possibly even more towards a humorous attitude. People over time have developed a lot less patience for advertising that takes longer then two seconds to fully understand. Time is money, and time and money are some of things a lot of people don’t have to spare, so ad’s need to be quick, understandable, but also descriptive in a glance. Humor has also taken a different course over the years it has gone from completely unacceptable to somewhat acceptable, to acceptable. Society has learned to lighten up a bit, and they don’t mind being called stupid to their face without actually recognizing that that’s what is happening in most cases. I think as far as the student’s work went, most of them hit almost dead on with what I said. I honestly believe that because of the luxuries those students these days have grown up with, that when we hit the industries, there could very well be a HUGE change.

What Design work would I refuse?

2008-03-22T20:24:00.002-04:00

Honestly, if it pays I’ll do it. I don’t think that it is my responsibility to keep the public from anything, like cigarettes, it is their responsibility. If they don’t have enough will power, or smarts to do research or to make that decision on their own, then they deserve to be influenced.

Are Designers Obliged to do pro bono work?

2008-03-22T19:45:00.000-04:00

I think at certain point in a designer’s career, it should at least be considered. I don’t think that we should be requested to do it any time soon, especially so early in our career. I understand that it does give the designer who did the pro bono work will receive considerable credit for the work they did, but I don’t think it is really necessary until a fair time later in a designers career. If I was offered pro bono work, my answer to whether or not I would do it or not would definitely depend on what point of my career I am in, what company it was for, and how financially stable I am at the time.

Things I have learned so far

2008-03-21T22:17:00.004-04:00

+Bragging does not make you feel as good as you think it would.
+Despite any precautions you take to avoid it, your going to get hurt some how, but it will almost always teach you something.
+Nothing ever goes the way you want it to, and the way it does go almost always ends up working out better then the way you wanted it to.
+High school was a joke, and still is.
+One of the hardest things to do is to try and convince our parents to admit that they were wrong. (not all but certainly most of the ones I have come across)
+We want 20% more then what we have.
+Kids are expensive.
+Teenagers are ignorant.
+Adults are... (I can't even explain it)
+Never depend on people, just pretend you do to avoid hurting their feelings.
+Lieing can ruin you.

‘Writing is Design’

2008-03-20T18:21:00.003-04:00

(image: telus.com)

I agree to the fullest that writing is a major part of design, Especially now with simpler advertising which seems to be advancing in popularity quickly. Straight forward and eye catchy words on a simple background with 1-3 images, that’s what hits big now. It gets the most attention from the public. I do believe that as designers we should know a bit about somewhat ‘clever’ writing in order to provide not only a well thought out design, but also copy that goes along well with the image, coming from the original designer.

Are Advertising and Graphic Design Moving toward delivering ‘experience’ as the end product?

2008-03-18T22:12:00.000-04:00

I believe that they have already started selling the experience in the process of selling any product. I believe the reason for this is that companies believe that in order to make the customer understand the product fully, they have to show them how it would make them ‘feel’. Companies like Apple sell the feeling of music and how it can make you feel, Using colours and simple shapes that could easily be replaced with things the consumer can relate to. Like being able to put themselves in place of the cutout like dancing people. Beer companies such as Guinness, Labatt Blue, and Canadian also commonly use selling the experience. Using the beautiful women crowding around the men that are drinking the beer, or a group of friends all enjoying the game at the bar while drinking beer, they make the consumer feel like that could be them.

Reflection on AIGA part one

2008-03-12T09:18:00.001-04:00

AIGA Command X was an excellent experience for not only the students that participated in it, but also for our own class. It was an excellent experience for the students that participated in it; because of the opportunity they had for people that are high in the graphic design industry to give their full opinion on what they thought about their work. It was also a good opportunity for our class because it almost reassures us that what we are actually doing in class could easily match what the students had done up there.

The only thin I had a problem with was, the judges and the host. They where either to busy talking about what they had done in the past, or cracking corny jokes, rather then giving full detail feedback. And the host...he was so cheesy, it became annoying.

Other then that, I would love to have participated in something like that with the short time limits, because most of my best work is done when I am under pressure for a time limit. It is also very reassuring to me when I get feedback from people I have either never met, or are somehow correlated in the industry.

This Commercial makes me so mad.

2008-03-10T21:49:00.005-04:00

There is this Whiskas ad out where a man shakes a little bag of Whiskas cat treats, the camera switches to a shot of a wall with several patched and unpatched holes in it. Then suddenly a cat flies threw the wall, putting a giant hole in it and makes a mess as it slides across the hardwood floors.

Who on earth would willingly ask for an animal to plow through their drywall?

No one wants holes in there walls!

Every time I see this I just want to kick the cat out of the house and yell at the man that tempts this cat to perform this "amazing" feat, multiple times, or ever at all, because he's an idiot.

10 things that make me happy

2008-03-04T12:41:00.002-05:00

10. Blue skies, sun, warm air, lots of clear highway, and good music.

9. Finishing an assignment and actually being happy with what I did.

8. Shopping.

7. When my dog acts like a human.

6. Laughing so hard I cry.

5. Talking about the past present and future with some of my closest friends over coffee, it really helps you appreciate how lucky you are.

4. Carl.

3. Watching movies with the fireplace on and a blanket.

2. Helping my mom.

1. The Christmas Holidays.

I just Remebered Jones

2008-02-21T11:35:00.007-05:00

(images are from jonessoda.com)

Jones Soda Co.

A soda company I have been completely in love with since I met it.
Jones Soda Is a fantastic soda company that started in the 80's and distributed around western Canada. Using only pure cane sugar in it's sodas, coupled all natural juices in most of their other products, proved to hit big with Canadians.

Jones has proved that it is worthy to be held.

Jones also sponsors numerous emerging riders, among witch are extreme pro athletes who compete in BMX, snowboarding, and surfers competitions.

Their unique "old school" approach to soda in a bottle is what initially caught my eye.

The imaging they use for each individual bottle are pictures taken by average people around the world, through submission by either mail or internet.

Sporting about 20 unique and inspiring flavors.

Underneath the cap of the Pure Cane sodas you'll find a "fortune".
Underneath the Jones Juice lids, a simple little image.
They use this same approach on the majority of their products.

Jones also sends out RV's which hand out free soda to people on the street while they stop and have a chat with them.

Companies that include the consumer in a large part of their products production attract me the most. Making the consumer feel important is a big junk of why they are so huge. Who wouldn't want their dog on a bottle of Orange & Cream Soda?

In my opinion Jones has gone above and beyond in the beverage industry.

Inspiring, unique, creative, &supportive.

theDesign
Simply fantastic.

Just some tidbits

2008-02-21T10:39:00.004-05:00

(images taken from each of the web pages)

A couple small things I wanted to mention that caught my interest:

Fidel Castro Steps Down
On February 19th Fidel Castro stepped down from his post as president.
Here is a link to The New York Times article.

Red Bull Art of Can
Useing Red Bull cans to create art. Not that any of us can enter it, unless you want to drive down to Texas.There is a few galleries you can look at from past years. Here is the link to RED BULL ART OF CAN web page.
(some of the pieces that they show are pretty cool)

MetroStation
Also found a very nicely designed and helpful web page called MetroStation. I know some of it is in another language, but it's still pretty. They also have a bunch of links, some might be useful. MetroStation web page.

Choxie Chocolate

2008-02-20T13:49:00.006-05:00

(Some pictures came from http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/category/choxie/)

While in the states I found a brand of chocolate called Choxie.
This uniquely specially designed chocolate is only available at Target.

The packaging for this brand is what initially caught my eye. The unique colours and shapes that you normally wouldn't find on a package for any brand of chocolate, are what make this product shine.

Choxie sells three very different variations of chocolate, all uniquely designed.

ARTISAN BELGION SIGNETURE

ARTISAN
Not only are the box's printed on, but the chocolate is as well. A differnt design on each chocolate for each odd flavor. I purchased a box of these with a high expectation for their taste to go along with the fabulous design. I was wrong. Unfortunately for me, my pallet is very picky and in my opinion, chili and chocolate don't mix. There is other very strange flavors, but I had no taste for those either.

The BELGION & SIGNETURE
I haven't tried either of these yet, but I will as soon as I have extra spending money as these chocolates aren't that cheap.

I'd rather just ask someone at Target if I could have the packaging and they could keep the chocolate.

Rocket Dog

2008-02-11T14:56:00.001-05:00

(All images are from rocketdog.com)

I mentioned that I was obsessed with shoes a few posts ago, and this brand is definitely one of my favorites.
Rocket dog was named after a dog named Max, who enjoyed speeding around on the beach.
The company started as a sandal company in 1997, and by 1999 the line included fashion athletics, dress shoes, boots, and flats.
It very quickly become a heavily desired item by the youth culture.

They have also won there share of awards throughout the world.

They have just recently released a mens and children's collection.

The reason why I bring up Rocket Dog is because their logo is one of my favorite shoe brand logos, as well as company names. I just think that the name Rocket Dog has a nice ring to it. and the image of the speeding dog for a logo is very well drawn and easily recognized in smaller scales, which I can imagine would be hard to do if you had to depict a dog at that scale, and at a larger one as well

There website could use a little work, but other then that fantastic brand/image.

Me and Ebay

2008-02-10T21:37:00.001-05:00

(All images where taken from different stores on Ebay.com)

Recently I have discovered the wonderful world of Ebay.
$300.00 for clothes goes so much further on Ebay then it would if I went to the mall and purchased clothes there instead.

It is especially good if you are familiar with your sizes, because it becomes very easy to purchase a once costly pair of jeans for only $15.00, or a chiffon blouse for $10.00

Of course you have to watch out for fakes, scams, fraud and alike.

The most trustworthy sellers are those that have "Power Seller" stamped next to their name as you search them.

Phrases like NWT or NWOT are also good things to look for. NWT stands for New with Tags and NWOT, well it's obvious.

Not only is it great for clothing, but also anything else you could possibly think of.
Recently I purchased a New with Original Box, LCD T.V. wall mount for $30.00 (including shipping) When I looked this item up at Future shop, it was $150.00

Despite having to be careful with certain buyers, it is a fantastic place to save a few dollars and still get the same quality stuff.

Design is...

2008-02-10T20:38:00.000-05:00

Everything.

It is the bed we sleep on, the tooth brush we brush our teeth with, the clothes we wear, the doors we open, the steps we walk down, the car we drive, the road we drive on, and the signs we obey.

We are constantly bombarded with design whether or not we constitute it as design or not.

My responsibilty as a Designer

2008-02-10T20:10:00.000-05:00

I know that the career path I have chosen comes with the power to influence what other people think. I have heard that some people don't like the way that we have that power and don't agree with it and it's almost brain washing tendencies. Yet the very people that say they are against that, have been affected somehow by advertising as well, and are either unaware of it or don't want to admit it.

I honestly do not think it is remotely possible to not be influeced in any way by any form of media.

People who say they aren't and that they are "original" are exactly like everyone else who is "original" and that "original" attitude is a copy of someone else's attitude from a band or something along those lines.

I do feel that it is my resposiblitliy not to alter the truth or sell a lie. Because we have such a big influence on everybody, we have a great power, and it is our resposiblitly not to abuse it.

Well...

2008-02-10T19:37:00.000-05:00

What Print do you consume?

I can not get enough of magazines. Every time I go to chapters that is the first section I go to, and I am compelled to purchase the rack.

I have subscriptions to:
Applied Arts, Ad Busters, Wallpaper, indesign, and Vogue

I love how each of those magazines have such a different look and different layout designs. I like the different types of paper each magazine contains.

All of my magazines are covered in post it notes marking different layouts and/or designs that completely blew me away and inspired me in my own work.

The newspaper Metro is also one of my favorite printed things. Although I don't have access to it, every once and a while my mom will bring it home and ill get to read it. The covers for the metro are for the most part, really beautiful. I actually have a few framed up on my wall.

How Will The Design World Change Print Media?

Honestly I really can't answer this question. Design changes so frequently that it is almost impossible to keep up with it. It is basically moving as fast as technology, because the more technological options that are available the more design options become available. I would much rather read something off of paper rather then off of the computer screen, and I think most of the society feels that way as well. Print is like tradition, people repeat it over and over again, and it never changes. When a regular routine, like retrieving a newspaper off of the front step is broken, it throws people off, and makes them feel uneasy. It has become a type of comfort for them.

Will Print Die?

No matter how big of a part technology plays in our lives, people will always come back to print. Technology isn't as reliable as having a hard copy in your hands. You can't depend on it to be their forever, but print you can. I do not think print will die, I think that it has established it self so strongly in all of our lives that if it where to be removed it would be greatly missed.

Smell this deisgn

2008-02-10T08:04:00.000-05:00

Another type of design that I absolutely love and that I am completely inspired by is perfume bottles.

Recently I have come across some truly great ones. They used a great selection of colours, materials, shape, and type.

I admire the creativity that it must take to bottle a simple liquid and somehow describe it using the bottle itself, or the box it comes in.

I have a few images [above] of some of the ones that I own, and the majority of them where purchased purely because of the packaging, so obviously it works.

{I will be adding pictures, but at the moment I am unable to locate the memory card for my camera. As soon as I find it, ill post some}

Really Clever

2008-02-05T10:27:00.000-05:00

(Images are examples from the blog)

I love billboards, I have always been fascinated by them, and I have seen
some pretty clever ones.

One of my favorites in Toronto was The Cheese one, where they used all sides of the billboard and made it into a giant block of cheese being greated.

Theres also more and more billboards now using solar power and/or wind power to produce the lighting that they require at night. These billboards aren't always the most interesting but I think that by using solar or wind power, that makes a statement on its own.

I found a blog with a lot of amazing billboards on it. A lot. It is actually on blog spot so you can subscribe to it and get notices when ever it updates.

Like this one that was up in Toronto over the holiday season. I never saw it personally but if I had I would have been in awe. The idea behind it is just so different from anything I have seen in Toronto/at all.

This is Broken

2008-02-04T20:18:00.000-05:00

Found an interesting, and at times a funny website while looking for a specific ad that Goodyear had up previously to the one they have up now on Kipling.

Unfortunately I couldn't find it so I am going to have to stick to the one they have up now, although almost equal in my opinion as far as quality goes I preffered the last one just a bit more.

I managed to snap a picture of the current one.
But Ill talk more about that later in a different blog.
This blog is about the website I found.

The website/blog points out problems/mistakes/"brokenness" of different advertising forms.

Some of the ones he finds are actually really funny, in a way of "how could they actually make a mistake like that?"

Take a look, theres a lot, at least read a couple.

This Is Broken

Time Spent

2008-02-02T13:13:00.000-05:00

Internet
Surfing:5
Facebook: 4
Email: 7
Ebay: 23

Reading
Books: 3
Magazines: 6

Music
Radio: 0
Computer: 1
Mp3 player: 0
CD: 17

Video Games
Computer: 2
System: 4

Phone: 34

Cell Phone
Text: 7
Talk: 1

New diamond Shreddies!

2008-01-31T22:53:00.000-05:00

Saw this commercial tonight during part of the commercial break that I did watch during lost.
Although completely ridiculous, It made me laugh out loud.

Enjoy.

apple.macbook.ipod...

2008-01-27T17:14:00.000-05:00

Apple over the years has quickly gone from 0 - hero when it comes to design/concept/product.

Apple pretty much established simple (white space) design as we know it.
They inspire simple designs in all of us, with the advertisements, their packaging and there products.

Simple, consistent white background, and sans serif type.

When people buy a desktop Computer, they usually hide it in the office, ignore it until its needed. With a Mac, you want to show it off, parade it around your friends and even shout
"Ha I got a Mac and You don't, Look at the beautifulness of it"

Well at least that's what I would like to do.

I bring my mac everywhere, especially to places where I may have to sit and wait, like at the mechanics, or doctors office. I get constant glances, and whispers. And everywhere once and a while I get people coming up to me and asking me how I like my mac. I respond with a casual "I love It, I wouldn't be able to function as a human being without it."

Mac has established itself so well with people who use macs. But as far as people who are still faithful PC users, they see macs as useless lumps of white or black plastic. The way I see it is, that PC users are just to scarred to venture away from their PCs and onto a new form of communication and function. They fear us mac users being right about everything we have said about Macs. PC users think they are always right.

Design is (insert anything here).

2008-01-27T16:32:00.001-05:00

Whether we notice it or not EVERYTHING is designed.

Designed to look pretty, to be functional, to define, to stand out, to commemorate, to honor, to warm, and to create a mood.

Currently I find my self addicted to watching movies with beautifully designed sets, costumes, music, and life styles.

One of my favorites as of right now is Marie Antoinette.
The shoes, the dresses, the music, the colours, and the patterns, all send my brain into design mode.

Another thing that is permanently one of my addictions is shoes.
I love the colours, that patterns, the styles. I love having a pair of shoes that stands out from the rest. A pair of shoes almost defines who we are, and our lifestyle. Sneakers may say that the wearer is casual, doesn't feel the need to spend more then $40.00 on shoes, and will only make a purchase if they are comfortable. A pair of steel toe boots, suggests ruggedness, heavy metal, and a tough exterior. A pair of designer pumps shows class, style, that they have money and aren't afraid to spend it, and that looking good makes them fear nothing.
I love shoes, and despite my non existent income, and quickly depleting balance in my bank account, I still find my self jumping to by a new pair of shoes. The images above are of 2 pairs I bought this weekend. I spent weeks looking for some in my size and as soon as I found them, I did not hesitate to pull out my wallet.

Fortunately for my bank account (and my mother) they where on sale.

Maybe one day I'll make my way over to Germany for some (from what I hear) fantastic shoe shopping.

Max Payne

2008-01-27T07:52:00.000-05:00

As some of you may know, some directors from 20th Century Fox, knocked on my door last Wednesday, telling me that my house was one of the houses that hey had in mind to film as Max Paynes house in the movie they would be filming in Toronto (but set in New York). They handed me a sheet with all the information on it, and if i had any questions or wanted to do it, to call the number. They also had a credibility check number thing with some Canadian filming place on it.

Anyways I read the sheet and guess who Max Payne is...
Mark Wahlberg

Immediately I call me mom at work, of course she doesn't believe me, she honestly thought I made up everything....

She called them that night, asked A LOT of questions and told them we where interested.
So they came on Friday morning to see the main floor of the house and the stairs, cause that's what they would be using in the house. They took a million pictures and had said it was between our house and a few of our neighbours, and that they would let us know in a week or so.

They are looking for a VERY specific type of set up outside the house. There has to be a street directly across from the house, so that if you where to drive or walk down that street you'd see my house, or be able to drive right into the driveway.

They also explained the seen:
Max Payne is walking down the opposite street across from his house on a snowy night, and sees all the houses lit up with Christmas lights, and his is dark. He has flash back memories of his child and wife (they where killed), as he walks down the street towards his house.

My mom and I are crossing our fingers, we wanna see Mark.

Magdalena C

2008-01-20T17:45:00.000-05:00

Vocal

- very serious at times, but can quickly change to funny, and jokester

- likes to talk often, and be first and last to speak

Visual

- dresses very much based on the weather, mood, and feeling

- her hair is always very naturally hung down, with maybe a bit of gel or moose

Tactile

- crosses her arms and leans back often

- or will acknowledge you while continuing do something else

Olfactory

- always smells fresh and clean/no odor at all

Tip Top Lofts

2008-01-18T10:55:00.000-05:00

It may just be the designer in me, but I love lofts.

I love the "raw" look in the inside, I love the floor to ceiling windows, and I love the history that some lofts have.

In particular I favour the former Tip Top Tailors Building not to long ago converted to lofts.

But a little bit of history as to why I picked Tip Top Tailors.

My family owns a sailboat, which docks in the harbour just behind Tip Top Tailors. And all I can remember is going up there every weekend from Mississauga and ALWAYS turning at the street with the old factory building Tip Top Tailors is. Also the image of the building just in the background (before the townhouses were put up, which are located just behind
Tip Top Tailors) as we pulled out of the harbor. As well as going for night sails, the red Tip Top Tailers sign was always a visual landmark for me as to where our dock was. Anyways the family has gotten busy and we don't really spend much time on it anymore, I actually haven't been on it in probably 5 years. I do plan to start going again, as I realized it might make for some interesting photographs.

Anyways, I love the area the building is in, the views are spectacular from almost every side, and the building it self is, in my opinion, amazing. Basically my goal is to one day be able to afford to live there. It doesn't have to be the most expensive place there but I know that if I buy a place there I want to eventually work my way up to the more expensive places over time.

Tip Top Tailers

Bark & Fitz

2008-01-16T13:04:00.000-05:00

This is a store aimed at dog owners who love to pamper their dogs.

My mother and I take our dog, Hunter, their on a regular basis, for grooming, and for essentials.

The place is fantastic, and it is such a great "vibe" walking into this store.

Great enviorment for dogs and their owners.

The staff are also fantastic, giving the dogs treats, knowing how to calm them down, and knowing what specific dogs need and or want.

I also love the way this company has established itself. I love the almost regal flair of it. The image the company has created is luxurious and royal.

Their logo, although a simple type face was chosen, I think it works VERY well, as well as the unique name that it displays.

There packaging is also amazing, gift bag, tissue paper, and a ribbon on top, is definitely something you wouldn't expect to get at a pet store.

The products that they sell all sport the latest colour and design trends in fashion/design, but for dogs.

But of course because my dog is such a big dog and because he is a male, I would feel a little silly putting a brown collar on him that sported blue polka dots or stripes on it.

For my dog they have a small selection, that I choose from, of plain colours. I purchased a new one for him today, it's chocolate brown, and it looks fantastic against his white coat.

Monster

2008-01-13T10:23:00.000-05:00

By far, my favorite commercial by Monster, and on t.v, right now.
The commercial depicts a bunch of people gathering whatever "weapons/shields" they could to try and fight off the sun and stop Monday from coming. They of course are unsuccessful and when they realize this you seem them turn around and drag them selves Beck toward their houses to inevitably get ready for work.

The commercial is basically telling people they don't have to hate Mondays, they can have a job that they want to wake up for, and that they can find it through www.Monster.ca

Reason why I love this commercial so much is because of its uniqueness, but also obviousness, in a way that a lot of people feel that way on Monday morning, and I am sure that their is a lot of people who wish they could find a job that they would enjoy waking up for in the morning. It's probably one of the most desired things in life. I love the colouring and I love the "normal/average" looking people in it.

I also love the way you don't know what the people are all getting up for, grabbing random items and running out into the street, but it is revealed later in the commercial.

The music is also spectacular, heroic, trying, I love it.

Monster has a lot of great commercials, here's another.

Enjoy

Target - Expect more Pay Less

2008-01-12T12:37:00.001-05:00

(All images are examples of what Target sells, from their website)

I love Target.

I don't know exactly why, but I do.

I go to the USA very often, and I visit Target every time I go.

They have great deals on stuff and they usually have very interesting items.

And most importantly they have Starbucks inside.

Every time I go there I see great items that would look fantastic on camera, but of course I talk my self out of buying them for the purpose of maintaining enough money throughout the year for gas, presentation board etc.

But I am hoping that this summer I will get either a higher paying job with Royal Bank (I worked there last summer) or a job at Rogers. Which would provide a little more income for me, and allow me to spend a bit more money on my photography. I have been slowly working up to getting better supplies, I was up until recently working on lenses when I finally got the last lens I wanted for now, a fish eye lens. So now I am more focused on getting a flash, and some real lighting because right now, I'm just using my blinds to control the lighting, and I think I need to step up from that.

ANYWAYS

Back to Target, the store is fabulous, I don't know if any of you have ever been there or if you would even agree with me but it is.

I love the style of the products and I LOVE the logo.

Here's the website:

www.target.com

Visit it and look around if you have never been

Orbit Sugarfree Gum

2008-01-08T20:27:00.000-05:00

During my usual travels to the US of A
A colourful package of gum caught my eye

Soon after purchasing it I quickly fell in love with not only the gum itself but also the fantastic package design.

Orbit Gum package design is bright, fun, intriguing and overall quite spectacular.

Each flavour has a distinct two tone colour theme, partnered with of course the very well designd Orbit Just Brushed Clean Feeling on it in the classic navy blue.

And even inside some of the packing you get the Orbit half and half circle as well as "Dirty mouth? Clean it up with Orbit!"

The only problem I have with the gum is that the website doesn't work, or the one they give you on the gum re directs you to Wrigley website.

www.goodcleanfeeling.com

And based on some of the Orbit commercials I have seen I would have liked to see some more of that on the web page. I don't know if its just me or if the web page really doesn't work but it was kind of frustrating.

and we're back

2008-01-07T11:27:00.000-05:00

Back to school, after a lovely festive break.

I hate after Christmas, the atmosphere becomes so un-cheery in comparison to what it was before Christmas.

The snow seems dirtier, the air seems smoggy, and our house seems very lazy due to all the Christmas decor still around the house. and seeing this decor just makes it more depressing, because its a reminder that Christmas is over...

I got lots of great things for Christmas including a fish eye lens which i am looking forward to messing around with a bit soon.