Designs By Humans

Have you exhausted everything there is to see and wear at Threadless or Society6? Are you an artist or designer that wants to have your designs critiqued and worn by millions? Want to get off the beaten path and one-up your friends? Check out DesignByHumans. They have an ongoing t-shirt design competition and a thriving community where artists and t-shirt enthusiasts alike can be creative, share ideas and discuss design as well as buy and sell their creations. 

These guys also feature a special edition t-shirt every Friday! Brings a whole new meaning to T.G.I.F.! Sign up, and join the community here.

Get a Halloween discount for a limited time when you checkout! Coupon code: DBHSKULLS

Who do YOU write like?

I write like
Margaret Atwood

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

but also…

I write like
Margaret Mitchell

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

and…

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

…so I guess that I write like a couple of Margarets and a King. That’s okay with me. But I find it interesting to be compared to both a Great Canadian Feminist and the Pulitzer Prize-Winning lady responsible for Gone With The Wind. Haha! Well, at least the former gave me an inspiring nudge when I was a kid. Stephen King doesn’t surprise me either – although I’ve never ventured too deep into his works.

To analyze your own writing style, go to I Write Like.

Colour Your World With Pantone Cases

Case Scenario and Pantone have collided to combine forces and output one of the coolest tech accessories for designers and art lovers alike – iPhone and iPad cases that bear the Pantone palette. Monaco-based Case Scenario’s Pantone Universe collection was launched for Fall and Winter 2010-2011, just in time to get one of these protective cases under the tree to help keep your new gadgets in peak condition. 

Pick up one of these cool Pantone Universe cases at Case Scenario’s website.

Matthew Johnson’s Monster Tees

Getting into the Halloween spirit? Don’t want to wear a costume but still want to look the part? Then check out these freaky awesome designs by Matthew Johnson – newly appointed King of the Creepers. His twisted and macabre designs are invading closets everywhere, and with good reason – they’re to die for!

You can find his designs at Seventh.Ink and also at Rumplo. While you’re there, pick up some extra sweet threads from other cutting-edge designers and artists – new designs are always being added!

The Barcode Obsession of Scott Blake

Barcodes have invaded every instance of our lives – from the food we eat to the clothes on our backs, and eventually we might find them tattooed on our own skin. But what’s in a barcode? What does it signify outside of quantifying and cataloging objects? Artist Scott Blake thinks he has it all figured out. He creates large format portraits of famous people using barcodes from their work, amongst other things and has even had his work featured at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. 

Check out his site full of videos and other barcode goodies here.

Repurposing something that people see as a threat often defuses it’s strength. Which brings me to wonder how others interpret how we use barcodes…I found these interesting tidbits along the way so I thought I’d share!

Remembering Steve Jobs

Yesterday the world lost one of our greatest minds. He will forever be remembered and live on through the technological innovations that he brought forth into our existence. He changed the shape of how we do business, how we interact with each other, and how we are entertained. He was truly a Renaissance man of his time and there is no one that will stand in his place. Now a legend who will live on in infamy. 

Long live Steve Jobs.

1955-2011 

The first computer I ever played with as a young child was the 1984 Apple Macintosh, and I still swear by Apple technology to this day. To celebrate the man and his extraordinary life, I’ve trawled the internet for portraits created lovingly by Apple fans. 

If you want to read more about Steve Jobs, check out these interesting links:

Apple.com Tribute

All About Steve Jobs

How he changed capitalism.

In his own words.

How to live before you die.

Forbes Profile.

Who is Mr. Brainwash?

French-born L.A. filmmaker and street artist Thierry Guetta is making quite a scene on the international art circuit these days, especially after having been exposed to the world in the Banksy documentary “Exit Through The Gift Shop” when the camera was eventually turned on himself. Under the guise of “Mr. Brainwash”, Guetta is quickly becoming a prolific tour de force and his exhibitions have been overwhelmingly successful, to the point where shows have been extended due to the sold-out nature of each event and the hordes that flock to them. Now that the rest of the world has finally caught on, everyone wants a piece of him – even Madonna has asked him to create album cover art (which comes as no surprise, since she jumps on anything that sits on the cusp of the underground, driving it full-force into the mainstream). The Red Hot Chili Peppers also hired him for a guerilla ad campaign for their next album. 

Originally introduced to the world of graffiti by his cousin, French street artist Invader, Guetta uses a variety of mixed media in collaboration with images and icons from pop culture to form a colourful, brilliant, almost psychedelic mash-up in each of his pieces, from the monumental sculptural installations that invade the city streets, to the deceptively simple screen prints that are available in his web shop. 

With enormous success always comes a certain amount of speculation – many people have been wondering if Banksy and Shepard Fairey are behind the whole idea of Mr. Brainwash. So is he just a big hoax? Banksy is never seen – but Guetta has had so much access to him – more than anyone else, it seems. And Guetta doesn’t refute that his status as Mr. Brainwash was created by Banksy in the documentary. Is Banksy just trying to make it look like Guetta’s NOT Banksy on purpose? Mr. Brainwash is definitely more of a comic character, and he is never really portrayed as having any physical artistic talent of his own. His work is largely produced by scanning and photoshopping images – and he readily admits that he hires graphic designers to do most of his physical work for him, but he still remains the main conceptualist behind it all. So the ultimate question is this – is HYPE worth more than ART these days?

Regardless of all the brouhaha surrounding Mr. Brainwash, rather than creating art for the sake of rebellion and antagonism, Guetta’s message is more of a positive, life-affirming slap in the face to society – a vigorous shake to snap us out of our apathetic existence. Whoever he is, indeed Guetta shows us that where ever you live, life can be truly beautiful. 

Check out his amusingly button-happy Mr. Brainwash website here.