Skip the movie, watch the titles!

"Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Title Sequence by Blur from Motionographer on Vimeo.

In an alternate life, I would have grown up to be a movie titles designer (or more accurately, both a movie titles designer AND music video director). Imaginary Forces, the brainchild of one of my design heros, Kyle Cooper, blew my mind with the title sequence from "Se7en", back in 1995. Every since, I've always paid more attention to the titles than the feature film. Sometimes, I've skipped the film entirely if the title sequence is lacking. Yes, I admit, I'm a nerd.

When I stumbled upon the titles for "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" Title Sequence by Blur at a friend's house, I literally ran home and put that movie in my Netflix queue. Mesmerized by the beauty of these 2 minutes, I watched it a dozen times before I watched the rest of the film. Check out these articles to get a more in depth look at Blur's process: 

An exclusive look at the making of "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Jezebel
Oily Secrets of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’s Title Sequence by Wired

Tremor Video and Ad Age Super Creative Video Ad Challenge

I normally don't share work related stuff, but I'm especially proud of this little tidbit. When I was at Scanscout, before it got acquired by Tremor, I worked really closely with the Product and Business Development team to create Super Video ad formats like the Super Pre-Roll. This ad format turns plain vanilla pre-rolls into a more interactive and engaging ad unit and makes it a lean-forward experience. The very first one I created was one for Unilever's Vaseline Sheer Infusion.

Other old articles about Super Pre-Roll:

ScanScout Introduces the Super Pre-roll Ad Unit
IAC Outstanding Online Video award for Scanscout Super Pre-Roll

Fast forward to a couple of years later and now this ad format makes up the majority of our ads at Tremor. What's even cooler is that we, at Tremor Video, have teamed up with Ad Age to create a competition for ad agencies to put together the best Super Creative Video Ad:

We know you're silently judging creativity every chance you get. Here's your chance to weigh in on some super star contenders who put their creativity to the Super Pre-Roll test in Ad Age and Tremor Video's ultimate challenge. See how they

transformed their pre-roll into a super experience that moves people to lean forward and interact.

How'd they do? Visit the Contestant Gallery to rate all the contenders for the People's Choice Award!

Check out the creative ads and vote! 

http://superadchallenge.com

Jildy: List-a-mania!

I love Jildy, the iPhone app. It's election day and the app is my gauge of social media sentiments within my own group of friends on who have voted and for whom - all in one nifty snapshot.

I admit it. I'm a Facebook addict. But as much as I like FB, it drives me insane when I see the same poster show up 25 times in a row in my newsfeed. This is why I was so excited to have the opportunity to work with Mark Drummond, the CEO and his amazingly talented engineering team from Jildy, a mobile app company that sorts your Facebook (and Twitter and Linkedin) friends and their posts.


When we first started out with version 1, the UI focused mostly on lists AND on PSI (Personal Social Infographics) which created on-the-fly infographics of your friends' age, gender, relationship status and Zodiac signs.


With the second version, Mark narrowed the focus to be all about lists, which really sharpened the value of Jildy and solves this common problem with feeds in Facebook. Jildy's main power is the technology of auto-magically grouping my friends with photos or by posts or by my preferred topic using algorithms, or manually, and also using lists that were set up in Facebook. Download the Jildy app now and take control of your Facebook/LinkedIn/Twitter

Jildy Mobile App

Jildy Website

NY Times Review of Jildy 1.0
Jildy
See more on my portfolio site

One super burrito, please

Please make my burrito, super. Apparently, my love for burritos has just gone "plush'. This genius, Lauren Venell, created the burrito body pillow. In my opinion, the best thing since sliced bread. I want to meet this girl.


If I truly became what I ate, this would be me frolicking around SF.

Buy your burrito body pillow from Bold Italic

Open Studios in Boston

One of the things I dearly miss in San Francisco is Open Studios that happens twice a year (which started off in Bayview but has expanded to so many neighborhoods). I finally checked out the Fort Point Open Studios here in Boston this past weekend.

Two highlights from touring various artist's spaces and art, were Lara Loutrel and Luther Price.

I love Loutrel's work and am a proud owner of a Russian eye chart-like screenprint. Loutrel's work is really arresting - abstract black and white prints. Her more recent pieces are more sculptural and 3-D which extends her very structural lines in her pieces. I really love this evolution she's embarking on with her work.

Luther Price is an experimental film maker whose studio was this enormous warehouse that featured his installation, The Sound of Singing through Dust. There were hand-made slide projections that was a combination of old personal photographs, found film stills that had various music pieces accompany them. His process is so interestingly different in that he really deconstructs the concept of mainstream film and physically collages these found-objects and reshoots them on Super 8mm. After turning them into slides, he manipulates and destroys the slides with mold, dust and overexposure. To me, they seem rough, sometimes perverse, but somehow delicate and poetic at the same time.

Infinite Pictures and Sound at the ICA

There were two exhibits that I found thrilling on my first visit to the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art). The first was Some Pictures of the Infinite by with Josiah McEhleny. In a large room, there were gigantic galaxy-like chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. The highly stylized planets, stars and galaxies were mesmerizing to walk around in and see various reflections in the shiny mirrored materials.

The Center Is Everywhere by Josiah McEhleny

Another aspect of McEhleny's exhibit was the sculptural and performance piece called the Infinite Repetition of Revolt, performed by Maggie McBrien. While McBrien stands planted in front of a blackboard like structure with silver drawings of boxes, she poses the question of how revolt should be pursued – lead by a small group of trailblazers or built on consensus? She turns around and erases all remnants of the silver boxes and leaves a black reflection of us, the audience's faces.

Infinite Repetition of Revolt Performance  by Maggie McBrien

A few months ago, there was a lot of outcry from the Boston public regarding a mural painted at Dewey Square because people interpreted it as the main figure as a terrorist by the Brazilian artist duo, Os Gemeos. To me, I see a vivid painting of a boy with a shirt wrapped around his head in a playful manner. What do you think?

By Os Gemeos

This mural complimented the full exhibit of paintings, sculptures, and interactive sound organ that was on display at the ICA. The Os Gemeos style has an underground graffiti-tone that is also playful, whimsical, and bright – like they are throwing a Carnival party with their artwork. Os Musicos was a sonic sculpture that had a piano or organ placed in front of a wall of yellow painted speakers. Apparently, each key creates an analog sound that pumps through the speakers. I missed the performance and couldn't convince the Gallery Docents to let me bang on the keys to see what sounds came out.

Os Musicos

Babyvision - the Summer Edition

This is a bit of an overdue post, but I finally got the chance to see the babies during the summer. Highlights: Evie is a cupcake and cuddle monster who recently just turned one. Ivan and I discovered the magic of wiffle ball and helmets - looks like he'll be a promising baseball star. Aden was stoked with the auto-tune microphone and has been practicing his renditions of Coldplay's "Para-para-para paradise and "We Are Young" by Fun.

I miss babyvision with the Tsangs.
x ♥ x ♥

NYE Resolution update:
Crossed off 1 and 5. Am working on 4...stay tuned!

Scrabble-tabulous!

This is the perfect gift for a Scrabble lover and a typophile, like myself.  This gorgeously crafted game comes in your favorite font or an assorted font pack. If I were to get one, I'd have a difficult time choosing between Mrs Eaves, Chalet, Neutraface, though the assorted pack would be a great way to change fonts depending on the day/weather/outfit.

"The purpose of this project was to revive an old, but loved game. The idea was to excite people about typography by giving them the ability to choose what font their scrabble set would come in. " - Andrew Clifford Capener

The waiting list for the A-1 Scrabble designer edition by Andrew Clifford Capener is now open. Sign up here. 
 

Singapore Slingin'

I'm clocking lots of miles this year, so far. My company sent me to Singapore for a week and was excited by the prospect of landing in a new country. My preconceived notions about Singapore were spot on...so clean you could literally eat off the streets, no pollution, and everyone seems to be playing a part in an Asian version of Pleasantville - people are so friendly and hospitable! What was so incredible about this country was that it seemed like a melting pot of many asian cultures.

Here were my highlights from my brief stay:

On my way to eat my face off with some hot pot (steamboat) in Chinatown.

The only graffiti I stumbled upon: Alley next to the Peranakan Museum, Armenian Street

Night view from the rooftop of Marina Bay Sands

I'm really rocking one of my NYE resolutions, if only I could cross the other ones off my list...

Wind Beneath My Map

 

Last year, I had the pleasure to see Fernanda Viégas and Martin Wattenberg (when they were still Flowing Media) speak at a UX/UI lecture and was so inspired by their social visualization mantra and approach. They are a dynamic duo that creates artistic ways to rethink data. Check out their latest project is an interactive wind map that shows wind speeds throughout the country.

'Scapes

What a way to kick off the spring season. I've accomplished one of my new year's resolutions, which is to travel to a new country. Earlier this year, I did go to Mexico for a company off-site hands all. But we worked the whole time while we were in Playa Del Carmen. Then I escaped to Isla Mujeres for 2 days to be off-site from the off-site. So, it doesn't count.

For two weeks, I embarked on an Asian adventure through Krabi and Bangkok, Thailand and Shanghai, China. Some highlights were the gorgeous limestone islands of Hong, off the coast of Krabi, Wat Tum Sua (Tiger Cave) with the 1237 steps up to the top, hanging out in the French Concession like a local and eating my way through Shanghai with the most delicious spicy Sichuan food and the dumplings!!!

I still can't believe how much fun I had. Check out my new album of travel 'Scapes.

One down, four more to go.

Instagram Socialmatic Camera

I am a sucker for cameras, especially for the old school analog types, like
the polaroid. Step back into the future with the new Instagram Socialmatic
Camera that marries analog with digital. ADR Studios took the Instagram
icon and playfully re-imagined it into an actual real instant film camera.


Get the full stats here. My one question: Where can I buy this?

Elevator Music: Spring Fever 2012

I'm still mourning the fact that Fabio and Grooverider will no longer do their Drum & Bass Show on BBC1 Radio. I'm devastated that I won't have their mixes to listen to while getting through the work week.

I wanted to put together a playlist of my favorite tunes, to help ring in the new season of spring. Most of these have a heavy influence of liquid and juicy vocals on top of hard hitting beats. My new favorite female artist is Riya...who has an incredible voice. Go on, get your swerve on.

Finish Line
Yasmin (Shy's Smoking Rabbit Remix)

Rocking You
Los Contreras

Testimony
Total Science & S.P.Y feat Riya

Open Page
Lenzman feat Riya

I'm Thinking of You
Flaco

How Did I Let You Go
Lenzman feat Riya

Spread Love
Lenny Fontana Presents Black Sun (oldie but goodie!)

Hangin' On
Command Strange & Intelligent Manners

Dyslexie - Font

Last week, I went out to dinner with a former boss, Beth, from a job in San Francisco. The most amazing gift she ever gave me was teach me the fundamentals and best practices of interactive advertising. Still to this day, when I'm up against a challenge at work, I put on my invisible Beth hat and ask myself, WWBD (What would Beth Do?).

It was amazing to catch up with her and learn what she was up. She mentioned that she began tutoring young kids and one she suspects may have dyslexia. Similar letter combinations like i and j, or v and w, or p, d, b, q, and a, e, o are based on a common circular shape may be unconsciously flipped in their heads . I recalled seeing a font called Dyslexie that helps readers distinguish similar letters from each other - like accentuating ascenders or descenders by making them taller or shorter, or weighting the bottoms of letters to highlight the differences. Kudos to Christian Boer, who is the mastermind behind this typeface.

Alternate Man Men Title Sequences

I'm over the moon excited that Mad Men is back from a 17 month hiatus.  As anyone who knows me, I'm a big groupie over beautifully done title sequences, which made me jump with giddiness to see this re-imagined opening titles for it. It's like Mr Draper is having his own groundhog day, but more chic and with more swearing.

Big kiss. Oh My. 

Be My (Legal) Valentine

 

Those "Be Trues" and "Will you be mine" conversation hearts are not legally binding. Make your love declarations more official with the Be My (Legal) Valentine contract. Happy Valentines Day! 

x♥x♥

One Week In Japan by Mike Matas

One Week In Japan from Mike Matas on Vimeo.

Mike Matas has made a couple of these videos out of 4000 plus photos.  This one is my fave. Makes me want to take more photos while on trips.

Invasion of Space Invader: Mexico and Italy

While perusing the narrow streets of Isla Mujeres, a hidden paradise, I saw that Space Invader had struck. They left their mark on a green walled La lavandería. I kicked myself for not having a camera on hand to photograph it, while there last weekend.


I dug this photo up from a recent trip to the Vatican in Roma, Italy. Spotted this one of mosaics above the street sign, Viale Vaticano. This one was taken last May.

Dynamic Face Substitutions

Face Substitution from Kyle McDonald on Vimeo.

Wish you had Paris Hilton's or Brad Pitt's face? This is an amazing video of dynamic face substitution  technology that changes their face in real-time. Imagine the possibilities! Skype with your friends as Eva Mendes or President Obama. Take it one step further and allow for face-to-face chat as someone else, so you don't reveal your true identity for dating sites.

Kyle McDonald and Arturo Castro is sharing the code for this on GitHub.

Fotoshop by Adobe - Jesse Rosten

Fotoshop by Adobé from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

Brilliant work by Jesse Rosten with his commercial, Fotoshop by Adobe. The commercial is a parody of all beauty ads - infomercials, before/afters,  Maybelline ads, with a swipe of "Best of" Photoshop Disasters.  It's such a biting dig at what our standards of beauty are as a society and this video cleverly pulls off the facade to reveal that it's "pro-pixel intesifying fauxtanical hydro-jargon microbead extract...featuring nutritive volumizing technology"

I literally laughed out loud at the line, "My skin feels like plastic!" 

Well played, Jesse. Well played.

Bansky: Follow Your Dreams - Cancelled

While walking off the massive dim sum meal in Chinatown, Boston, I came across a Banksy piece on the wall next to a parking lot on Essex st. Does it add anything more to the piece or diminish the value of it when other non-Banksy folks add their graffiti on top?

☮ + ♥: Bansky

Spotted on Grant Ave & Commercial St, San Francisco, CA.

☮ + ♥

xo

Hey Girl...

This post about this blog, Typographer Ryan Gosling, will prove how much of a type-nerd I am. Ryan Gosling + Typography jokes = Straight to Bo's heart <3

This is my absolute favorite blog so far, this year.

Interior Projections at Mass Moca

A projection installation by Jenny Hoolzer, at Mass Moca in 2008, of a poem by Wislawa Szymborska. It was set in a stadium size rooms dotted with bean bags. While you lounged in those bean bags, the projections would dangling across the entire length of the room. It's like watching constellations of lullabies and words while lying in bed.

Signs in South Beach

Street art in South Beach, Miami, FL.

Murmuration

Murmuration from Islands & Rivers on Vimeo.
Nature in motion...continually astounds me, again and again.

Murmuration of starlings Vimeo Video

Buh-bye 2011, Hello 2012!!!

 Wow- what a year, 2011, turned out to be. It'll be hard to top.

Dear Year of 2012,

My new year's resolutions are:

1. Travel to a new country
2. Get fit enough to run a 10k
3. Start and finish a hands-on (aka non-interactive) art project
4. Collaborate with one new amazing client
5. See my family (especially the new niece and nephews) in San Francisco

I'm gonna rock 2012...hotter fitter happier smarter richer BETTER!! Get ready for me, 2012.