While you're not looking » Design

Bowlingual

Wendy Cooper — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:49:12 +0000

The international infant and children toy manufacturer, Takara Tomy, have released their improved version of Bowlingual. Believe it or not, it’s a device that translate the bow-wows of your dog into human language, so far only in Japanese. One part is strapped around like a dog collar to detect the vibrations of the dog’s larynx and the other, a hand held device, displays and vocalises the translated barks. My sceptical opinions remains only because there’s no chance of knowing the accuracy of this translator. Is that why it doesn’t translate Japanese back into the bow-wows? It would be an undemanding task for it already has the lexicon database. We could carefully annunciate our message into the hand held device, select the correct variants on the screen if there are any and it plays back the barking to the dog. Woof, Bob’s your uncle. And how would this product rate in Korea? Would we want to speak to our meal? And once Meowlingual, Oinklingual, Baalingual and Moolingual is out there, would we all become vegetarians?

The Bowlingual TVC

THE FLOATING WORLD: UKIYO-E

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:30:29 +0000

John Warwicker of Tomato, a god of 90s graphic design, is launching his book at The Narrows this Thursday 26 November, 6-8pm. Floating World: Ukiyo-e (ISBN: 3–86521–030–9) is already a winner of the TDC judge’s special prize at the 2010 Tokyo Type Directors Club. Surprisingly, the typography is not as refine as the photography in my eyes. Check it out and judge it for yourself.

anti-theft lunch bags

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:16:00 +0000

A lunch bag that is not what it seems.

Polly van der Glas

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:59:05 +0000

Speaking of Christmas and shopping for Jesus, I am in an ongoing annual annoyance (sorry, quest) of wracking my brain for unusual gifts for loved ones. Melbourne’s very own jolly jewellery Polly van der Glas comes to mind, an oldie but a goodie. Her pièce de résistance are the ones incorporating human artefact, opening up and replacing the glass cabinet with the human body. It conjures the same intrigue as taxidermy for me, bring life into inanimate objects, a modern alchemist.

Lubalin Now

Wendy Cooper — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:05:40 +0000

Lubalin Now is a beautifully curated exhibition to honour the illustrative typographic works of Lubalin.

On view at The Cooper Union from tonight’s opening reception (18:00–20:00, 5th November) until 9th December. A must see if you’re in New York!

Annie Duke

Wendy Cooper — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:54:43 +0000

An entertaining and insightful interview with Annie Duke into the world of poker and the psyche of poker players.

Source: Big Think.

Combo

Wendy Cooper — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:22:01 +0000

Combo by Blu and David Ellis

If you like this, also check out Blu’s site, Blu Blu.

Yo La Breakout

Wendy Cooper — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:43:17 +0000

I lost an hour of my life because of this!

Truth or Fail

Wendy Cooper — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:24:01 +0000

Truth or Fail is the most awesome and addictive weekly entertainment to come out of YouTube. And you thought Fail Blog was epic. Find out how it’s so clever. Go on, I dare you.

Chinese retaliate by hacking

Wendy Cooper — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:27:49 +0000

It’s a busy time in Melbourne when MIFF hits the calendar. From here onwards the rest of the year is jammed pack with the arts. Someone whose also busy is the Chinese Government when they demanded the banning of the documentary made about exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer, The 10 Conditions of Love, from this year’s MIFF programme. This year’s Asian selection has suffered tremendously by the several last minute withdrawals. It is only understandable when you are part of the regime and there is no way of retaliating. But in the western world, we are not part of that hold and to remove a film for no just reason is simply not on. When the Chinese government did not get the response they desired they childishly sabotage the website early yesterday. What sort of statement are they making with all this trouble? This tantrum fit would only bring prominence to the film they so wish to dampen and forget.

Source: The Age