The Corpus Callosum

Yet another awe-inspiring music video by OK Go - “This Too Shall Pass” (RGM version)

Adrian Ma — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:38:25 +0000

Paying homage to the Rube Goldberg Machine and inspired by the Honda Accord commercial “Cogs”, American pop-rock band OK Go partnered with Synn Labs and director James Frost to create this insanely complex video for their hit single “This Too Shall Pass”. OK Go’s ingenuity and creativity never cease to amaze me. This is structured chaos at it’s finest!

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Simple solutions - Hanger tea bags

Adrian Ma — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:19:04 +0000

Here’s a new take on teabag packaging from Korean designer Soon Mo Kang. Visually intriguing display box coupled with a fresh functional feature and color-coded for different flavors and varieties, Kang puts a dab of funkiness into a product otherwise known for it’s sophistication.

Haiti earthquake aftermath - A 360º ground zero view

Adrian Ma — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:12:43 +0000

The blogosphere has been saturated with news and images about the earthquake in Haiti but what’s it really like at ground zero? Immersive Media’s innovative use of 360º video capturing technology enables us to see it with our own eyes. It’s similar to a video stream except that the recording allows you to play/pause at any moment and rotate 360º to view any part of the scene (you can even rotate while the video is playing)! Amazing stuff with multiple applications for online news, real-time events, and viral marketing/advertising.

Imagine getting live updates through various Twitter feeds with supplementary real-time 360º videos. This type of technology will only bring our global village closer together and allow people access to information which was either not available or censored just five years ago. Check out all four videos at this link, courtesy of CNN. Thanks for the link Leon.

Beijing’s Liu Bolin is a human chameleon

Adrian Ma — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:35:25 +0000

Liu Bolin is a Beijing-based artist whose work was made famous at last year’s Solo Show at the Galerie Bertin Toublanc in Paris. His most famous exhibit titled “Camouflage” is based on Bolin’s exploration into human nature, showing how people blend into their environments for safety, much like the chameleon in the reptilian kingdom.

Liu paints Chinese citizens (often himself) from head-to-toe and precisely positions them in front of scenes or objects to create the illusion of camouflage. According to Liu, a single photo can take up to 10 hours to perfect!

The origin of these artworks is rooted in protest against the actions of the Chinese government, who oppresses artists and shut down Liu’s studio in 2005. As a rebuttal, Liu Bolin created these images to portray the false sense of security one attains when following the demands of the government. Despite the controversy and problems with Chinese authorities, Liu’s works are appreciated in the international art scene and it’s no wonder why.

I had to inspect the last image several times before I could pick out Liu Bolin. Amazing stuff!

Simple solutions - Pointing finger bookmark makes sure you never lose your place

Adrian Ma — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:06:35 +0000

This product isn’t going to change your life, but it’s charmingly simple and useful. Regular bookmarks are great but they only mark the page you’re on, never the exact sentence or word where you stopped reading. Enter the Pointing Finger Bookmark from the clever designers at 25togo.

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Kinectic digital illustrations by Kervin Brisseaux

Adrian Ma — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:26:45 +0000

Peep these vivid digital illustrations by Kervin Brisseaux, a New York native who currently attends Syracuse University for a Masters Degree in Architecture. Can you believe that graphic design is merely a hobby of his? Talented indeed.

The illustrations are already impressive when viewed normally, but upon further inspection you realize how much detail and layering is put into each artwork. The intricacies and kinetic style add to the overall futuristic feel found in the majority of Kervin’s illustrations.

My personal favorite is his tribute to the King of Pop’s moonwalk! Check out more of Kervin’s work on his portfolio website.

Breathtaking “Ink” commercial for CCTV Beijing

Adrian Ma — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:48:38 +0000

I don’t watch much TV in Beijing because the quality and production values are average at best. However, I caught this sensational commercial for CCTV Beijing on television the other day, produced by Troublemakers.tv and designed by weareflink. I wasn’t surprised to find out that both companies are foreign (Paris and Hamburg, respectively), but it’s good to know that China is willing to spend money for quality once in a while. Now if only this happened more often…

CCTV Ink from Troublemakers.tv on Vimeo.

Taking meat packaging back to the basics

Adrian Ma — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:46:58 +0000

This meat packaging concept by UK designer Chris Chapman made me smile for two reasons: (1) The brown paper packaging pays homage to butchers and meat shops of old. (2) The labeling is simple and educational, letting the consumers know instantly which part of the animal they are purchasing

However, there were several comments about one particular problem that may prevent this packaging idea from hitting a supermarket near you. There is no way for the consumer to see the meat before they buy it. A complete deal breaker?

ABCs of branding - How many brands can you name?

Adrian Ma — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:18:36 +0000

Jason Dent has designed a wonderful poster titled “The ABCs of branding”. He created a brand alphabet by using a variety of famous logos, illustrating how a basic symbol can represent a global brand experience. No fancy taglines, catchy jingles, or colorful pictures are needed. When a brand evokes memorable emotions and their logo is designed thoughtfully, it leaves an impression that lasts a lifetime.

No ink is used on these 18″ x 24″ posters; instead, each logo is foil stamped and embossed on paper to create a simple poster in two colorways: gold foil on cream and silver foil on black. Can you name all the brands that each logo represents?

Immersed in China’s pollution

Adrian Ma — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:42:36 +0000

The pollution in China has long been criticized by the public and the media, but it wasn’t until I moved to Beijing that I saw it for myself first hand. It’s something you can bear, but never get used to. You see it, smell it, breathe it, and feel the film of dirt on your skin. The pollution takes a toll on your body, your overall health, and it’s literally impossible to escape. If you want to learn more about just how bad the pollution really is, the following two sources after the jump will surely shed more light on the situation.

1) Ironically named “Room with a View“, this anonymous photographer has been taking a daily photo of Beijing’s infamous air quality out of her room window for the past year. Not only do the photos tell an important story, but the site also provides a pollution index, an informative video titled “Longing for Blue Skies“, and other useful statistics to demonstrate the dire situation. See for yourself.

2) Lu Guang, a controversial photographer from China, was awarded the $30,000 W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography for his documentary project “Pollution in China.” The conditions captured in these vivid images are beyond appalling, some so graphic and disturbing that I warn you to take caution before viewing. Sometimes you have to see it for yourself to believe it so I hope these pictures trigger some responsible action. Welcome to China.

Courtesy of China Hush