Saturday, November 9, 2013

Timeless Design

WEEK 2 - DAY7



1. SOUNDTRACK OF THE DAY



Source:Youtube video
David Bowie’s Space Oddity

A revised version of David Bowie's Space Oddity, recorded by Commander Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station.

2. PLACES TO KNOW

The Moon - Let's go? We choose the moon! This a wonderful site for those who, like me, have a passion for space and all things moon alike!

3. PEOPLE TO DISCOVER

Georges Méliès

All about Méliès

Read about a A trip to the moon and watch the  Youtube video of  A Trip to the moonIt's he first science fiction film. Méliès uses innovative animation and special effects.

In 2011 the restored colored print was restored and presented at Cannes Film Festival.

Massimo Vignelli

The official site

The art of timeless design

4. QUESTION OF THE DAY


A comb? A spoon? = Timeless design

5. INSPIRATION

A great video with a touching message that everyone should watch.

To infinity and beyond - from Toy Story.

A summary about the space race.

Laika. The good and bad about Laika. Laika proved that it was possible for a living being to enter space. But Laika's death also sparked animal rights debates across the planet. People wanted Laika to return to Earth. But Laika did not make it. It wasn't planned for Laika to return. 

Laika, the space dog - Animation

Sputnik- The launch of Sputnik Youtube video


Apollo 131995 American historical docudrama film directed by Ron Howard. 

Source:Youtube video

"Houston, we have a problem."



"Good design is to fix problems.

Great design is to invent new problems to be fixed."


6. HANDS ON

A Roman stylus and its wax tablet - a feather pen (aka “quill”) - a typewriter - The Siri - the Death masks - the Rosetta Stone, - bamboo slips - the Gutenberg Bible - Kindle - a sarcophagus - the coffins from Ghana - Sputnik!

"What is the link between all these different things? Contemporary design is an overlap of old and new, of past, present and future things. Contemporary means filling our life now."


“Timeless” design.


Today's homework - I must  observe my room and look at the objects I have  have around me. Old things, new things. Very old things, very new things. Different things from different ages. Then I have to set up relations between them. I have to share a story about these things and shortcircuits between them. Like in Blade Runner movie, the future is a mix between old and new.



These are objects I have in my office. They are all in good conditions and can be used. It's books, sharpeners and rulers. 

The first book in the photo is one of many I bought while I was trying to improve my drawing skills. It's from 1996. The second one is from 1957 and it was used in Portuguese schools. It was approved by the Ministery of Culture. This book belonged to an old lady. I never met her. In the 90's she gave her belongings away when her son died and she moved from her big house to a small one. The persons who took her belongings were about to put this book in the bin when I realized how precious it was. I kept it and the same story goes for the wooden rulers. I love it. I could never dump it. I read the Manual. Sometimes I still look into it! It has an old layout and illustrations that I find very interesting. It has just one or two black and white photos. The cover is made of fabric. The knowledge in it is still valid.You can compare the two books. Check the different layout.

I am also showing you common sharpeners of metal and plastic I can find in every store. But the fish one is less common. When I saw it I was fascinated by the colors. It's imported and I bought it in 2000 at Oporto. I have maybe 20 different sharpeners. I can't say I am a collector. But I like to buy a sharpener now and then if it has a new shape. Sometimes I also buy it abroad as a souvenir instead of a keychain or something like that because I know it's useful object. Take a look at that vintage 1940's Unicum Pencil Sharpener. UNICUM - Patented - INCA and MADE IN SWITZERLAND. It's made of solid metal. It has the maker's marks.It works with a blade.It was a gift from my grandfather to my mother in 1947. I am fond of objects that traveled from hand to hand. They have a story.

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