ImPRESSive
I like to do things with my hands. Ideas I create with the help of my sketchbook. Invitations I send out self made to real addresses and not to an emailaddress. Painting, cutting, sticking... I am not into "digitalism" at all actually. But with all the great software you are able to produce beautiful design as well... But in the end – the printing part. Again: Silkscreen, Letterpress,... I am very much into the crafted finishing on paper.
That's why I was very skeptical when I heard about this new App called LetterMpress founded by graphic designer John Bonadies and programmer Jeff Adams. A program that simulates a letterpress studio. First I was distracted by the odd sound effects and – for my personal taste – a bit too complex and slow navigation of the tool palette.
Last Friday I had a children's pancake party at my house and I thought, why not try this App again and play around to create the invitation card. After all I have to admit that I kind of fell in love with this program. Its a lovely tool for experimentation and playing around without getting your hands dirty...
Certainly worth it.
Still – the smell and the excitement of a real letterpress studio is definitely missing.
[© Fräulein Pfeiffer]
eine sekunde von mir
A short PREVIEW of my music video for Poenitsch&Jakopic was published today on youtube. I made an experimental music video for their song "eine Sekunde von mir" (one second of mine) from their brand new album HERZTON (heart tune). Filmed with my NIKON D7000, edited with Premiere and After Effects, made with love, ideas, sweat, overnight rendering sessions and lots of seconds of mine!
[© Fräulein Pfeiffer]
over your cities grass will grow
We all know Anselm Kiefer – if you don't know him, get to know him.
A documentary about his work was released in theaters last week: OVER YOUR CITIES GRASS WILL GROW SOPHIE FIENNES – the british director – completed an outstanding job here.
Architecture, Painting, Installation and Landscape melt and transform into an artistic synthesis. The film is spectacular. Everything just fits. The images (REMKO SCHNORR) the editing (ETHEL SHEPHERD) and especially the sounddesign (RANKO PAUKOVIC)... It puts Anselm Kiefer and his work into the light of beauty where it belongs.
Poetic observation – monumental thinking – a work of beauty in any terms.
Some days ago, Anselm Kiefer announced he wants to buy a nuclear power plant that has been taken out of service in Germany. I am full of curiosity about this controversy artwork...
[photo © mindjazz pictures | over your cities grass will grow 2011]
Ina Kent
As an Austrian girl I am a big fan of Austrian designers (of course).
I came across INA KENT and her storytelling bags about a year ago. I loved the multiple functionality of the bags and the colours and the shape and the quality of the leather... everything – I fell for the bags immediately and I had to buy one immediately too. Only a small one for my small pocket though.
Today I came across the design studio who is responsible for the corporate identity of INA KENT. I like the simplicity of the logo and the luxury impression the image concept is giving. It perfectly fits to the extraordinary bags. They are located in Austria too (of course): MICK GAPP I am curious if they are fixing Ina Kent's website too soon...
Now I started saving for a big bag.
[photo: © MickGapp | Lisa Fleck | Helmut Rasinger]
A cool tool.
I have to admit, I am a very disciplined and organized person. My friends, my family and also my clients can proof that. But, once in a while a girl needs some tools to help her organize her daily working life!
I have tested the software SOLO – a tool - especially developed for freelancers – to help with the project management. Dashboard, Projects, Planner, Timesheets, Invoice, Messages, Contacts ... everything there – I believe it is the most beautiful management software I have seen so far.
I think it is definitly worth a 100 Euros per year. Saving time and nerves is always worth some money.
[photo © thrivesolo]
Let's go into the future
Today my personal hero will be in town. And I will meet her.
I am following Miranda Julys work since many, many years and fell in love with her art at first sight. She is the best example for me, that it is possible to work in many different genres and be as successful in one area as in others. She is a performance artist SLASH filmmaker SLASH actress SLASH writer SLASH artist in general. She and her work had become very popular over the last years and I believe it is very difficult to remain grounded with all ballyhoo...
I still like her work and I worship her way of thinking and creating. Miranda July has a very unique style and I hope she is able to keep it that way.
Today she is presenting her new feature film THE FUTURE in Munich. I saw THE FUTURE at the Berlinale Film Festival earlier this year already and I was impressed how she sketches the lostness of our 30-something generation. She draws a perfect line between weird scenery and very genuine situations at the same time.
But see for yourself. For example tonight at the MONOPOL Cinema in Munich at 19:00. Miranda will be there as well.
PS: Her brand new book came out last week IT CHOOSES YOU. I am very curious about that one. You can get a copy here already.
[photo © miranda july | the future 2011]
Responsive Design
Nowadays webdesign is a battlefield.
I like to observe people and you do learn a lot by observing indeed. Sitting in the subway and watching other people furiously tipping with two fingers on their smartphones makes me chuckle. I am getting tiered myself by trying to scale all those websites on my little smartphonescreen.
BUT. There is help.
It is called Responsive Design. A design concept that is suited for every resolution and window width – from smartphones until the huge cinema desktop screen. It uses fluid grids, flexible images and media queries. It is getting more popular every day – finally also the big newspapers are getting a responsive REdesign.
The graphic above shows the development of the surfing behavior. 2014 there will be more mobile internet users than desktop monitor internet users. (source: Morgan Stanley)
Is your website prepared?
Nearly every client wants to have a mobile solution for their website. Well, today there are so many mobile devices and there will be even more in the future. Composing a website with responsive design is a huge challenge. The fluid design has to be brilliant in all the different formats with all the different window widths, user preferences, screen resolutions, browsers,...
The site has to adjust automatically and no matter which device is used, the design should stay as functional and beautiful at every size. Hopefully this makes the web not only more functional but also prettier – at least the webdesigners have to think deeply about what they are intending.
Lets get responsive!
Your site needs a responsive REdesign? Contact me
Together with my master of code Mr. Marcus Nickel I will make your website special!
[graphic: source © morgan stanley research]
Remember the milk
I have an childish addiction to games and playful everyday objects. 3D games. REAL ones. Touchable ones. Beautiful ones. The spanish company LONDJI is a universe of classic games, toys and creation. They create gorgeous designer-games.
My favorite thing is REMEMBER THE MILK – a very playful shopping list that consists of 40 little fridgemagnets with cute drawings of food on it. In the morning during my tea water is heating up, I play around with it – put the pizza beneath the remember-button. The carrots beside...
Only my husband doesn't seem to remember the milk and he complains that he can not take the fridge with himself shopping and he prefers the handwritten list. Well – I will not get rid of my beautiful magnet shopping list though.
[photo © londji]
F INISH TH S B K!
After "Wreck this journal", "This is not a book" and "The manual of accidents and mistakes" KERI SMITH has published her new book "F NISH TH S B K" in September. I really like these art books and I am amazed what people are able to do with a book – mine is still new and neat and I am still fighting my fear. I will keep you posted and show you my results.
[photo © Keri Smith]
Souvenirs of the Unexpected
This year I met Keetra Dean Dixon at OFFF 2011 in Barcelona. She is such a great artist and designer. I just love her freaky ideas and the whole self-made stuff she is creating. She is a real thinker and her projects are filled with love and passion. Keetra adds so much happiness and soul to her ideas – there is no way to ignore her.
I especially like the cordial invitations series and the self-made photo-booth project Souvenirs of the Unexpected.
[photo © KeetraDeanDixon]