Reverse valuation ? Or should it be called ?

Oh well... just wrote about skin being used for everyday items when I found this - leather bags resembling the appearance of cheap plastic bags (by 'cast of voices' A&R store). The 'luxury-fication' of trash so to speak or rather the re-interpretation of items we are not conscious of. Came across quite few samples of such design approach lately with table ware being inspired by styrofoam lunch boxes, vases looking like crumbled paper (which is older) and lighting products assembled from DIY piping. Turning anonymous by-products of our consumerism into hero products and this give them a new meaning. (AJ)
http://aplusrstore.com/product.php?id=759

Transmedia Design

Not for those with a weak heart : Oliver Goulet is a French transmedia artist who explores humanity as a species in the progress of disappearance. He imagines the mutation of the human body, the painful journey from egocentric individualism towards an optimal collective identification and networking ('The relic of bionic man, 2001, above). His other works include 'human hunting trophies' and 'skin bags' made of synthetic skin.
Quite disturbing to look at it shows how we are being thrown off balance by such thought of (fake) 'human skin' as a medium being used for everyday items, while we can easily accept to be accessorized with items using (real) skin of fellow beings. Interesting concept nevertheless (AJ)
http://goulet.free.fr/

And more on Insane...

Check out this website which shows the insanity of the destruction. When you see what nature can do in one single swipe, you wonder, what the hell were we humans thinking off? That we control this planet and it's moods? PJ

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/13/world/asia/satellite-photos-japan-before-and-after-tsunami.html

What if ?

all life was wiped off this planet by some giant galactic microwave tsunami (or something equally mindblowing destructive) ? Nothing left that contains DNA, cells, water, skin and bones, but dirt and the giant structures, machines we built, cars , iPhones and clothes remain. Would evolution happen all over again (which seems likely) and would it happen differently ? Or would our machines and our creations evolve into a lifeform of their own ? Could organic cells merge with micro components of devices left behind and 'control' them ? Thus creating some new form of hybrid organisms - half being, half machine. It would certainly not look like some walking electric shaver I imagine, but rather a complex structure that would spread like microfibers similar to the connected root system of mushrooms. Found this pic quite cool btw...expresses my theory of
new hybrid life after the abyss (Pic by Werner Bartsch). AJ

Computational architecture... huh ?

Too complex to understand for my small brain, but it looks amazing. The renderings above are the result of algorithms and computation to create architectural shapes and structures. As the creator, architect Michael Hansmeyer, explains on his website : 'This opens up a new role for algorithms as a design tool. As such, they provide the benefits of depth and breadth. On the one hand, their computational power can address processes with a scale and complexity that precludes a manual approach. On the other hand, algorithms can generate endless permutations of a scheme. A slight tweaking of either the input or the process leads to an instant adaptation of output. When combined with an evaluative function, they can be used to recursively optimize output on both a functional and aesthetic level.' (AJ)
Check out : http://www.michael-hansmeyer.com/
 

Insane !

back in town and need to admit that i am more than happy to be able again to access information and share my views without the 'you are not entitled to access this website' pop up. to follow up on the latest blog entries on fashion 'design' i am delighted to share this interesting abnormalty of human creativity. As if it is not enough that the human race has intervened in the evolution of so many species to create one that is superior to the other (some purely for entertainment) i am suprised to learn that there is yet another level as shown in this picture of the poor dog above. Dog shows are popular in the West to showcase the purity of race (or rarity of specialty 'creations'), but this example of the US (where else..) cuts the cake. What I find so disturbing is the entire disregard and respect of a fellow creature by using it as a canvass for some tasteless creation that is so utterly against the pure nature of that dog .The only thing missing here are the batteries (pic by Ren Netherland). AJ

Fashions' new luxury...go to Moscow!

The idea is to help the consumer get lost in the ambience and experience of the store that it's almost like they are buying that charactor's/ personas lifes tyle. Take Alice in Wonderland as one inspiration...

http://moodswings.ru/