MUHSASHUM

Seasonal Wishes from Circle...

2011-12-19T10:00:00.005-06:00

Circle2011_SeasonalWishes, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

Wishing you hope, peace, love, joy, and the very best for 2012 (the year of the Dragon)!!!

In lieu of the traditional, Circle has opted to distribute holiday e-greetings (past cards drew from Chinese proverbs, ancient rune translations, etc.). This year's message was written by Robert L. Peters.

COOL! My Instagram Snowflakes on CNET/Crave...

2011-12-13T14:47:00.003-06:00

Big fat snowflakes in the city today!, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

On 8 December 2011, Apple released their App Store Rewind 2011 and declared Instagram as the iPhone app of the year. Following that, the Crave blog on CNET put out a call to all Instagram users to submit their favourite Instagram pictures, with the editors top picks to be published to an online gallery.

Well, I'm very pleased to say that my Instagram photo of snowflakes from 4 December 2011 was selected! Check it out amongst the other selected submissions on CNET/Crave blog.

Cheers!

Well Grown... Movember 2011 Ends.

2011-12-02T23:55:00.003-06:00

Well Grown..., originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

...and so ends the moustache growing for 2011. Serious props to my fellow Canuck Mo'bros and Mo'sistas!!! Go Team Canada!!! For those of you who care to witness the horror* of my Movember Mo' feel free to check out my end of Movember photo on my Flickr account, here.

*Don't say I didn't warn you. Cheers!

GDC Manitoba - Pecha Kucha Night Vol.8...

2011-11-03T21:48:00.000-05:00

PechaKucha8_Wpg_101, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

GDC Manitoba proudly presents the fourth and final Pecha Kucha night (Vol.8) for 2011 in Winnipeg on Thursday, 10 November at the Park Theater on South Osborne.

For more information about the event, speakers and more, visit GDC Manitoba online at http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba.htm. To learn more about the PK movement, visit Pecha Kucha online at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.

Additional information can be found via Twitter and on Facebook. You won't want to miss this final event for 2011... hope to see you there! Cheers!

In Support of Movember 2011...

2011-11-01T10:06:00.005-05:00

Movember2011, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

I've decided to participate in this year's Movember movement in support of prostate cancer initiatives... it's gonna be interesting.

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in Canada and around the world. With their “Mo’s”, these men raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer.

On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face. For the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November. Through their actions and words, they raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

You can support my Mo-growing efforts by donating to the cause: http://mobro.co/AdrianShum - thanks for your support!!!

COOL! C4 2011 - Central Canada Comic Con...

2011-10-31T12:54:00.005-05:00

C4 2011 - Central Canada Comic Con, a set on Flickr.

Happy Halloween!!! I posted the photos I took (Sunday) from this past weekend's C4 Central Canada Comic Con to Flickr. Check 'em out!

GDC Manitoba - Pecha Kucha Night Vol.7...

2011-09-01T09:12:00.001-05:00

PechaKucha7_Wpg_101, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

GDC Manitoba proudly presents the third installment for 2011 of Pecha Kucha night (Vol.7) in Winnipeg on Thursday, 15 September at the Park Theater on South Osborne.

For more information about the event, speakers and more, visit GDC MB online at http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba.htm. To learn more about the PK movement, visit Pecha Kucha online at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.

Additional information can be found via Twitter and on Facebook. If you've never been to a PKN event before, you definitely won't want to miss this one (we've got quite an amazing line-up of presenters)... hope to see you there! Cheers!

Recommended Viewing: 2011 Driven Show...

2011-07-24T11:17:00.002-05:00

2011 Driven Show, a set on Flickr.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the 2011 Driven Show - the Aftermarket Car Event of the Year. For all you car enthusiasts out there, you should definitely check out this photo set that I uploaded to Flickr.

Sadly, this was a one day event in Winnipeg, so unfortunately you've missed out on the opportunity to see it in person. Hopefully, you'll get the chance to see it next year! I highly recommend it if you're a fan of cars, import models, tuners, body/engine kits.

More info can be found at www.drivenshow.ca

COOL!!! Canadian Recording Artists Stamps - Series 3...

2011-06-30T13:35:00.008-05:00

Canadian Recording Artists Stamps - Series 3..., originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

While I typically refrain from blogging about the design work that I do at Circle Design Incorporated, this is one of the few times where I break those rules... as I feel it's a privilege and honour to be able to design stamps/philatelic materials. ;)

The latest set of commemorative stamps we designed for Canada Post were launched today in Toronto, ON.

The limited edition stamps and philatelic materials (official first day cancellation [OFDC], self-adhesive booklets, postcards, etc.) will be available as of today, in post offices across the country and online via the Canada Post website - for more information visit www.circle.mb.ca - Cheers!

*P.S. - For my friends who were in the know, this was the main reason for my visit out to Ottawa, ON back in February, as hinted in this photo I posted to Flickr - feel free to check out the rest of the photos I took during that trip, here - enjoy!

*P.P.S. - Have a great Canada Day long-weekend!!!

GDC Manitoba - Pecha Kucha Night Vol.6...

2011-05-26T09:57:00.003-05:00

PechaKucha6_Wpg_101, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

GDC Manitoba proudly presents the second installment for 2011 of Pecha Kucha night (Vol.6) in Winnipeg on Thursday, 9 June at the Park Theater on South Osborne. Join us as we've got an amazing line-up of speakers who will entertain/enlighten us with their crafts.

For more information about the event, speakers and more, visit GDC MB online at http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba.htm. To learn more about the PK movement, visit Pecha Kucha online at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.

Additional information can be found via Twitter and on Facebook. If you've never been to a PKN event before, you definitely won't want to miss this one... hope to see you there! Cheers!

Congratulations Jeremy!!!

2011-05-16T17:00:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Jeremy Grieve of Guardian Dojo, for his excellent performance in his first kickboxing match at Kwest Kickboxing's Rumble at the ROCC2 event. Jeremy (in the blue corner) won by unanimous decision. Great job Jeremy! OSU!

Check out the video embedded above or watch it on YouTube, here - enjoy!

GDC Manitoba - Design for Business Event...

2011-05-06T10:36:00.005-05:00

GDCMB_Design4BizEvent, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

Design For Business: What To Look For When Hiring A Web Designer
Date: May 18, 2011 (12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)
Location: Anhang Room (2nd floor, Millennium Library, 251 Donald Street)
Cost: $20.00 (lunch included)

More information is available via the Manitoba Chapter on www.gdc.net, click here.

Limited spaces available! To register for this event, visit www.gdc.net

2011 GDC National AGM - Banff...

2011-05-03T14:03:00.003-05:00

GDCAGM2011_127, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

I've uploaded the photos that I took during the 2011 GDC National AGM to my Flickr, feel free to check 'em out, here. Cheers!

Dinners Ready...

2011-04-27T09:03:00.001-05:00

DinnersReady, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

Been a while since I last cooked a meal for anyone (aside from myself/family)... hopefully the steak and veggies were acceptable. ;)

Recommended: Gibson Typeface for GDC...

2011-04-05T16:21:00.004-05:00

Gibson_4GDC, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

Gibson is a beautiful, san serif, OpenType typeface. Gibson is designed by Canadian type designer Rod McDonald, and produced by Patrick Griffin and Kevin King of Canada Type, to honour John Gibson (FGDC), Rod's long-time friend and one of the original founders of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC).

All sale proceeds will be donated by Canada Type to the GDC, where they will be allocated to a variety of programs aiming to improve the creative arts and elevate design education in Canada.

Beautiful typeface, at a ridiculously low-cost, with proceeds going to support the GDC. Win/Win/Win IMO. Go and pick up your copy today at MyFonts.

TEDxManitoba Videos Now on YouTube...

2011-03-17T10:16:00.006-05:00

2011TEDxMB_189, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

This 3D printed TEDx logo was part of the schwag bag... pretty neat, but not as cool as the TEDxMB videos posted to YouTube! Check out videos of the presentations here.

I had the privelage of being 1/100 people selected to attend the 2011 TEDxManitoba event held 15 February at the Park Theatre on South Osborne... what an amazing day of great speakers, and ideas worth spreading.

Congratulations to the TEDxManitoba organizers/sponsors/volunteers for a stellar event... thanks for allowing me to be a part of it - looking forward to the next one! Go and check out the videos!

Happy St. Patricks's Day!

GDC Manitoba - Pecha Kucha Night Vol.5 (In Like a Lion Edition)

2011-03-09T12:27:00.004-06:00

GDC Manitoba proudly presents the first installment for 2011 of Pecha Kucha night (Vol.5) in Winnipeg tonight, 9 March at the Park Theater on South Osborne. Join us as a diverse group of speakers hit the stage to entertain/enlighten us with their crafts.

For more information about the event, speakers and more, visit GDC MB online at http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba.htm. To learn more about the PK movement, visit Pecha Kucha online at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.

Additional information can be found via Twitter and on Facebook. You don't want to miss this event... hope to see you there! Cheers!

Lots of cobwebs in here...

2011-02-16T21:58:00.005-06:00

ItsyBitsy_Detail, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

Hmm, well I have to admit I haven't been posting to this blog in any senses of regularity for some time now (so the title seems suitable)...

What can I say? Life has been busy, but that's good! I have become more active on other networks, like twitter/Facebook and even then, jump in and out sporadically. I've likely been most active on Flickr, so if you're interested in what I've been up to, go check out my photo stream!

GDC Manitoba AGM - 1 February 2011...

2011-01-27T12:12:00.006-06:00

Join us next week Tuesday, 1 February as the Manitoba chapter of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada holds their Annual General Meeting (AGM). It's going to be a blast, as the Manitoba Chapter Executives plan to present, PechaKucha-style! I hope to see you there!

GDC Manitoba Chapter 2010 Annual General Meeting...
When: Tuesday, 1 February 2011 at 7:00pm
Where: Anhang Room, Millennium Library (251 Donald Street)
Cost: FREE!!!

*Fantabulous e-news header graphic designed by Jeope Wolfe, CGD - GDC Manitoba Chapter Communications Chair.

Happy Holidays from Circle...

2010-12-22T10:58:00.004-06:00

All the best wishes to you and your loved ones for a happy holiday season, filled with love, laughter, and good times!

For a number of years now, Circle has distributed holiday e-greetings (past cards drew from Chinese proverbs, ancient rune translations, etc.).

May 2011 (the year of the Rabbit) bring you prosperity, peace, love, and happiness. Cheers!

GDC/NMM 2010 Holiday & Anniversary Party...

2010-12-08T10:42:00.004-06:00

Next week Thursday, 16 December we'll see New Media Manitoba and the Manitoba chapter of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada join forces to celebrate two momentous and milestone occasions, with a holiday party that will simultaneously celebrate NMM’s tenth – and GDC Manitoba’s twentieth – anniversary of representing creativity, ingenuity and innovation in Manitoba.

Circle the 16th on your calendars – and join us for a party 20/10 years in the making.
When: Thursday December 16 – 7:00pm
Where: Luxalune Gastropub, 734 Osborne Street
Cost: $10 (members), $15 (non-members)
Tix: newmediamanitoba.com/events

I have no doubt that this event will sell-out. Tickets are limited, so don't delay! Buy your ticket(s) today! There will be door prizes galore and lots of fine folks to mingle with... I hope to see you there for a holiday beverage (or two) - cheers!

*Promotional design by GDC Manitoba's awesome Communications Chair, Jeope Wolfe (CGD).

GDC Manitoba - Pecha Kucha Night Vol.4 (Fattening Up for Winter Edition)

2010-11-10T14:57:00.011-06:00

GDC Manitoba proudly presents the final installment for 2010 of Pecha Kucha night (Vol.4) in Winnipeg next Thursday evening, 18 November at the Park Theater on South Osborne. Join us as a diverse group of speakers hit the stage to entertain/enlighten us with their crafts.

For more information about the event, speakers and more, visit GDC MB online at http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba.htm. To learn more about the PK movement, visit Pecha Kucha online at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.

Additional information can be found via Twitter and on Facebook. You don't want to miss this event... hope to see you there! Cheers!

*The beautiful, silk-screened Pecha Kucha Winnipeg poster series were designed by Anne Emma Christiani

GDC Manitoba - Pecha Kucha Night Vol.3

2010-08-19T21:54:00.007-05:00

GDC Manitoba proudly presents Pecha Kucha night (Vol.3) in Winnipeg next Thursday evening, 26 August at the Park Theater on South Osborne. Join us as a diverse group of speakers hit the stage to entertain/enlighten us with their crafts.

For more information about the event, speakers and more, visit GDC MB online at http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba.htm. To learn more about the PK movement, visit Pecha Kucha online at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.

Additional information can be found via Twitter and on Facebook. Hope to see you there! Cheers!

GDC Manitoba - Pecha Kucha Night Vol.2

2010-05-13T21:46:00.004-05:00

GDC Manitoba proudly presents Pecha Kucha night (Vol.2) in Winnipeg next Thursday evening, 20 May at the Park Theater on South Osborne. Join us as thirteen speakers from a diverse range of industries hit the stage to present their crafts.

For more information about the event, speakers and more, visit GDC MB online at http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba.htm. To learn more about the PK movement, visit Pecha Kucha online at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.

Additional information can be found via Twitter and on Facebook. Hope to see you there! Cheers!

Recommended Viewing | Design Currency...

2010-03-30T22:58:00.005-05:00

How do you define the value of design? An excellent topic of discussion that is sure to be debated for some time to come... Design Currency is the topic for the Icograda Design Week in Vancouver (26-30 April 2010). Watch the promo video (created by the talented folks at Rethink Communications) embedded above, or on Youtube - here.

I will be in attendance at this event, hopefully I will see you there as well! Why should you attend? Well, head over to the Industrial Brand blog and read Matt's post about why he's excited to attend... I couldn't think of a better way to sum it all up. For more information about the event, visit the website at - http://www.designweekvancouver.ca/ - cheers!

GDC Manitoba - Pecha Kucha Night...

2010-02-17T08:36:00.006-06:00

GDC Manitoba proudly presents their inaugural Pecha Kucha night in Winnipeg this evening at the Park Theater on South Osborne. Join us as twelve speakers from a diverse range of industries hit the stage to present their crafts.

For more information about the event, speakers and more, visit GDC MB online at http://www.gdc.net/chapters/manitoba.htm. To learn more about the PK movement, visit Pecha Kucha online at http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.

Hope to see you there! Cheers!

2009/10 GDC Manitoba Chapter Annual General Meeting...

2010-01-20T21:33:00.005-06:00

Photos from the GDC Manitoba Chapter's Annual General Meeting have been posted to my Flickr. Once again, the AGM was held at the Park Theatre on South Osborne, in Winnipeg.

View the photos in the embedded slideshow below (requires Flash), or on Flickr, here. Cheers!

Warm Wishes from Circle...

2009-12-24T08:36:00.008-06:00

Holiday greetings! May your holiday season be filled with much warmth, love and happiness! Cheers!

For a number of years now, Circle has distributed holiday e-greetings (past cards drew from Chinese proverbs, ancient rune translations, etc.).

Holiday Time in Calgary...

2009-12-22T21:36:00.007-06:00

I've returned from a trip out west to visit family in Calgary. It was a great trip to say the least, filled with good times with family, great food, and interesting sights...

Spent a fair amount of time wandering around Chinook Centre Shopping Mall, where there were 'live' statues on exhibit (like the Wizard shown above). Check out more photos from my Calgary trip on my Flickr, here. Enjoy!

Recommended Viewing | Neutra Face Another Lady Gaga Poker Face Spoof...

2009-12-10T16:56:00.004-06:00

I'm sure that you've seen (or at least heard of) some of the many, Lady Gaga - Poker Face spoofs floating around on the internet... a couple of my personal favorites, Christopher Walken's reading of Poker Face, and the UC Berkeley's Noteworthy performing Poker Face. ;)

Well, above is another one... ;P Neutra Face (this one is more geared towards typographers/designers). Check out the video embedded above or on Youtube, here - enjoy!

COOL! www.typographicposters.com

2009-12-08T20:04:00.002-06:00

If you like typography, and/or posters (I like both), I highly recommend you check out www.typographicposters.com... an online collection of largely type-based posters from around the globe... sweet! Go check them out for yourself at www.typographicposters.com - enjoy!

Kudos to Robert L. Peters and Matthew Wells for the link - cheers!

New Media Manitoba 2009 Holiday Showcase...

2009-12-03T22:16:00.009-06:00

New Media Manitoba (NMM) held their 2009 Holiday Showcase at the IMAX Theatre, Portage Place yesterday evening. It was delightful (and inspiring) to see local digital media practitioners on the IMAX big screen.

The sold-out event was well attended by a diverse range of local professionals, and proved to be an excellent place to meet and converse, with individuals who were truly passionate about their respective crafts/industries.

The highlight/feature of the evening was the approximate 45 minute, NMM Business Showcase video(s) produced by BlinkWorks: Film and Video Production, you can check out the videos via BlinkWorks' website, here). Andrew Boardman's (MGDC, GDC Manitoba Chapter Membership Chair), MANOVERBOARD was one of the local companies profiled, check out the profile video embedded above or on on Vimeo, here.

Be sure to check out the other videos as well at BlinkWorks: Film and Video Production. You can see my photos from the NMM 2009 Holiday Showcase (Photoset) on Flickr. Cheers!

Recommended | Berns & Black Salon...

2009-12-01T22:25:00.008-06:00

A few months have passed since the grand opening of Winnipeg's greenest, eco-friendly salon, Berns & Black located at 468 Main Street (in the old Birt Saddlery building - Main and Bannatyne)... it has now become my salon destination of choice. ;)

Check out this video (taken before the grand opening) I came across on Youtube...

A number of factors influenced my decision... but, mainly, it's conveniently located in the Exchange District (within walking distance from Circle), it's dedicated to being eco-friendly(+) – plus, the staff, service, product selection (and decor) is second to none.

On my most recent visit, I took the opportunity to take a few quick pics... my apologies as they really don't do the space justice.

The decor is very cool IMO...

Hanging on one of the walls was this shadow-box display, housing authentic tools from Anthony Berns Barbershop (c.1951). :D

Berns & Black offers salon and spa services (including straight razor shaves for men)... I highly recommend that you check it out! If you're looking for a new stylist, ask for Kitty... you won't be disappointed (tell her I sent 'ya).

You can read more about Berns & Black online via the Winnipeg Free Press and the Winnipeg Sun, here and here.

Berns & Black is open at 9:00 am Monday thru Saturday (closing hours vary), walk-ins are welcome, but pre-booking is recommended. For more information, or to book an appointment call (204) 944 8454.

Cheers!

Recommended Viewing | David Thorne's 27b/6 Website...

2009-11-27T21:44:00.007-06:00

David Thorne is an Australian humorist, satirist, internet personality and author. I was recently introduced to his work via a link my brother sent me... where he came across it, I'm not sure. 27b/6 is his website, which you can read more about on Wikipedia...

Anyhow, the link my brother sent me was to a recent post on 27b/6, which seemed to address the issue of spec work (visit http://www.no-spec.com/).

I couldn't help but laugh after reading this. If you're a designer, or in the creative field, I'm sure that you've been asked (at least once) to do work on spec... most of us just say no, although I'm sure that we've been tempted to say more. ;)

Thanks for the link bro! Visit 27b/6 and read the post yourself... enjoy!

Recommended Viewing | Pictorial Webster's: Inspiration to Completion...

2009-11-24T21:27:00.011-06:00

I'm sure that this video, posted to Vimeo by John Carrera, has made it's way around the 'blogosphere' already, but it's just too cool to not post about. Like the folks over at GOOD magazine, I could watch this video, over and over again, and still be left in awe. Enjoy!

Kim Baek Korean Restaurant...

2009-11-19T20:53:00.005-06:00

I love good food. Who doesn't? ;P Well, if you're a fan of Korean cuisine (and in Winnipeg), I'd recommend that you consider checking out Kim Baek Korean Restaurant at 193 Isabel Street.

I've visited there numerous times, and have enjoyed the cuisine consistently. It's usually quite busy, so I'd recommend arriving early to avoid the dinner 'rush'. On my most recent visit I was able to sample a number of dishes, which included...

Bibimbap...

Kimchi (as far as I'm aware, these side dishes come with all meals)...

Japchae...

Sundubu Jjigae...

LA Beef Kalbi...

Gamjatang...

While I don't claim to be an expert in Korean cuisine, I do know what I like. ;) Go try it out for yourself and see what you think... cheers!

COOL! Comic Covers Covered...

2009-11-17T20:31:00.001-06:00

Sifting through my desktop's 2B_Blogged folder, I came across this link to an article that was posted on Boing Boing a while back. The post introduced me to a blog site called Covered, where cartoonists redraw comic covers in their own style.

The results are quite interesting... definitely worth a visit! Go and check it out at http://coveredblog.blogspot.com/ - enjoy! Perhaps you'll be inspired to attempt your own 'cover of a cover'? ;)

The Museum of Forgotten Art Supplies...

2009-11-12T19:46:00.006-06:00

As you should be aware, I'm a fan of museums. The Museum of Forgotten Art Supplies is an online collection of, well just that, 'forgotten' art supplies.

I hate to admit it, but I can name most of the items on display (even owning a few, here and there). It's an interesting collection... though I don't necessarily agree that all the items belong. I'm sure that many traditional artists still use a slew of these items of a regular basis. Check it out for yourself... perhaps you'll agree? Enjoy!

Recommended Viewing | Sheeeit... An Excremental Exegesis (a Short Guide to Comparative Religions)

2009-11-10T19:32:00.006-06:00

A while back, I was involved in creating this little gem... with tongue planted firmly in cheek (of course). Read more, here. Enjoy! ;)

COOL! Robert L. Peters Receives Icograda President's Award...

2009-11-05T18:14:00.003-06:00

Congratulations are in order as Robert L. Peters was recently honored by Icograda with the Icograda President's Award in Beijing, China at XIN: Icograda World Design Congress 2009.

The GDC National, the Manitoba Chapter, and all of us at Circle were delighted to hear the news - kudos and congratulatory wishes flooded the GDC Listserve, as well as Rob's inbox. ;) IMO, it couldn't have gone to anyone more deserving (and humble).

Read more about the award on Rob's News+, here.
Also via Icograda's e-news and on the GDC.net website.

As a wise man once advised me (while I was attempting to rock climb), "Trend upwards..." ;D

Congrats once again Rob! Cheers!

COOL! C4 - Central Canada Comic Con...

2009-11-03T08:47:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone enjoyed, and had a safe Halloween weekend! On Saturday, I visited C4 - the Central Canada Comic Con, held in Winnipeg at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

It was my first time attending a comic con at the convention centre, and it was definitely the largest one that I've been to in Winnipeg. It was held for the first time at the convention centre last year (if I recall correctly), which I had to miss cause I was in Vegas... ;)

I enjoyed the time I spent wandering around photographing the costumed attendees (until my camera battery died)... ;P

...in addition to checking out all the toys and comics - which was actually a bit depressing when you see something you own selling for much less than what you paid for... ;(

Anyhow, the photos I took have been uploaded into a photoset on my Flickr, here - enjoy!

The Devil Made Me...

2009-10-30T16:15:00.006-05:00

Walking into my office at Circle this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to find this Halloween Treat on my desk (thanks Carol!)... ;)

In case you're from another planet, it's Halloween this weekend, which means you should be extra cautious, and on the lookout for the munchkins in costume darting about the city streets, prowling zombies/vampires, and costumed party-goers on pedestrian sidewalks.

If you haven't filled your weekend schedules yet, you may be interested in checking out the Winnipeg Comic-con, on this weekend at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. I'm planning to attend at least once.

Next week, on November 4th, GDC Manitoba will be hosting their resurrected, 'Tales from the Darkside' event - which is always a 'treat'. More information about the event from GDC Manitoba, here - don't forget to register (members must login to receive the discount)!

Have yourselves a safe and Happy Halloween - cheers!

Recommended Viewing | My ThreeA Toys Collection - Photosets on Flickr...

2009-10-22T09:53:00.015-05:00

I've posted about my infatuation with Ashley Wood/3A toys previously on MUHSASHUM, here. Well, needless to say, my collection is continuing to expand. ;) I've finally taken some time to photograph some of the latest arrivals... above is the Adventure Kartel - Boiler Zombie... this guy is ridiculously photogenic. ;P

From Ashley Wood's Popbot Universe - Tomorrow King (TK) Hideo.

WWR Square - Rothchild Lunar Defense model...

...note the WARNING on the box! ;D

DIY Bambaboss (still have to commit to a design before I start hacking away at this DIY vinyl beauty)...

Black Bertie freight container. Contents - one black 3A T-shirt size medium. Rock on! Additional photos can be found on Flickr, check out my collections, here - enjoy!

For those of you who are interested in learning more about Ashley Wood/ThreeA toys, check out the following sites:
http://www.threeaonline.com/
http://threeaproduction.blogspot.com/
http://3atoys.hyperboards.com/
http://ashleybambaland.blogspot.com/
http://www.bambalandstore.com/ **

**Start your collection today (you won't regret it)! WWRp Bertie MK2 goes on sale today at http://www.bambalandstore.com/ - don't say I didn't tell you.

GDC Manitoba Presents - Bluesky 09...

2009-10-19T18:41:00.011-05:00

This past weekend the GDC Manitoba Chapter held the Bluesky 09 - IN/OUT design conference (visit website). Featuring five presentations from industry leading professionals, a gala dinner and awards show held at the Manitoba Club, it was an enjoyable, action-packed, inspirational weekend for all those in full/partial attendance (IMO).

The photos I took have been uploaded to a photoset on my Flickr and added to the GDC Manitoba Flickr Group Pool, view the pics in the slideshow embedded above or on my Flickr, here - enjoy! Thanks to the all presenters, the volunteers, the Bluesky 09 Committee, the generous sponsors, and the GDC Manitoba Chapter for all their hard work - cheers!

COOL! www.eternalmoonwalk.com

2009-10-06T18:30:00.007-05:00

A cool online tribute to MJ, www.eternalmoonwalk.com - enjoy!

Thanks to Oliver Oike for posting this to the GDC Listserve - cheers!

COOL! Type Quiz: Helvetica or Arial?

2009-10-01T20:47:00.007-05:00

Ironic Sans presents a fun little quiz for the typographically inclined - So you think you can tell Arial from Helvetica? Try it! Through 20 logos originally designed with Helvetica, redone in Arial... blasphemy? Perhaps... but, a fun challenge anyhow.

Feeling up to the challenge? Go and check it out for yourself at http://www.ironicsans.com/helvarialquiz/ - enjoy!

COOL! MCC 2009 Juried Show - Craft: Culture/Counterculture...

2009-09-24T21:11:00.009-05:00

I had the opportunity to see the Manitoba Craft Council's 2009 Juried Show - Craft: Culture/Counterculture... while on display at the Outworks gallery in the Exchange District. The lovely, talented, Evelin Richter (What? Clay Art & Curios) was a participant in the show, with her Peer Pressure sculpture on display.

I've compiled my photos from the exhibit into a photo set, which you can view in the embedded slideshow below, or on my Flickr, here - enjoy!

For more information about Ev's piece, Peer Pressure, as well as her other creative works, visit her website at http://www.whatclayart.com/ - cheers!

COOL! Marian Bantjes - Empathy Penny...

2009-09-15T21:26:00.003-05:00

Marian Bantjes' Empathy Penny. Obtained during my recent trip in Toronto and brought back as souvenirs for my design colleagues at Circle (much to their delight - see Rob's News+ post, here).

Read more about this cool project on Marian's website at http://www.bantjes.com/ - cheers!

A Trip to Toronto...

2009-09-10T23:55:00.006-05:00

I recently returned from a 6-day whirlwind trip to Toronto to celebrate a friend's wedding... I've compiled a number of images from the trip into a Toronto Flickr set, here. Photo above - famous Toronto landmark, the CN Tower.

One of the first things I did was visit the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). I took a number of photos while there... which have been compiled into a ROM Flickr set, here.

As part of the wedding festivities, we spent the weekend in Niagara Falls... playing 'tourist'. Photos from my time spent in Niagara Falls have been compiled into a Niagara Falls Flickr set, here. ;)

Next thing you know, we were back in Toronto... pictured above is Dundas Street West (part of Chinatown) at night. Needless to say, I did a lot of walking during my trip. Which resulted in a number of visits to the local reflexology clinics for foot massages. 60 minutes of painful-bliss at very reasonable rates. ;D

While waiting for my friends' massage sessions to finish, I couldn't help but notice this pair of sandals in the reception area... things that make you go hmm...(?)

...all fun and games aside, it was a beautiful wedding, and a blur of a trip. Oh Toronto... 'till we meet again. Thanks to my friends for being such gracious hosts and congratulations once again - cheers!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Morales...

2009-09-09T18:31:00.004-05:00

Congratulations my friends! All the best wishes as you embark on this next chapter of your lives together... cheers!

Recommended Viewing | The Longest Way 1.0...

2009-08-27T09:30:00.003-05:00

This video found on Youtube - The Longest Way 1.0 follows the ambitious, year-long, on-foot journey of a traveler as he attempts to walk (and grow a beard) from China to Germany. It's an enjoyable video to watch... check it out on Youtube, here - enjoy!

Learn more about this traveler's ambitious journey at http://www.thelongestway.com/ - cheers!

COOL! MOSSTIKA Urban Greenery...

2009-08-25T21:02:00.008-05:00

A very cool 'living portrait' hanging on a green space wall in Brooklyn, NY. Created by Edina Tokodi and József Vályi-Tóth.

Check the details on their website - http://www.mosstika.com/ - enjoy! Via Robert L. Peters' News+ (via Visual Culture) - cheers!

Burned-out?

2009-08-20T20:44:00.008-05:00

A List Apart posted an interesting article a while back - Burnout (May 2009) written by Scott Boms. I can't help but feel as though he's talking about almost everyone I know... myself included. ;P

Scott's article brings up some interesting points for discussion... I wonder if this is a greater issue than it may appear. Stats in recent years have shown dramatic increases in the prescription of anti-depressant drugs, is society in general suffering from 'burnout'? Possibly related to visual/informational over-stimulation? Things that make you go hmm...(?)

I'd be curious to know what others think, after reading the article. Check it out over on A List Apart, here - cheers!

Recommended Viewing | Flickr: The Pretty Sketchy Pool...

2009-08-18T20:33:00.003-05:00

I can't recall who passed this Flickr Group link along to me... perhaps it was Rob? Maybe James... anyhow, for anyone who enjoys sketching/drawing/art, Flickr is an immense online library of coolness.

The Flickr: The Pretty Sketchy Pool is only one example... surf around and you'll find all types of cool things (whatever your tastes may be). Check out the Pretty Sketchy Pool on Flickr, here - enjoy (and thanks to whoever sent me the link)! Cheers!

Recommended Viewing | Ten FREE Online Tools Every Designer Should Know via CreativePro

2009-08-13T20:23:00.007-05:00

CreativePro.com has compiled a list of Ten Free Online Tools Every Designer Should Know. Perhaps there's something waiting there for you (if you're a designer that is...)? Check it out at http://www.creativepro.com/ - cheers!

The Good Life...

2009-08-06T09:26:00.012-05:00

The Good Life... from the talented folks at Free Range Studios - creators of the equally cool video/animations, The Meatrix and The Story of Stuff. Enjoy!

COOL! ThreeA Toys...

2009-07-31T08:38:00.005-05:00

Well, it's no secret that I'm a fan of Ashley Wood. I've blogged about his work and toys on MUHSASHUM previously, here. Anyhow, as I had hinted, I've joined the 3A Legion - a forum/hyperboard for fans of everything ThreeA. This would be the first forum that I've joined in recent memory... where the members are all equally crazy (crazy fans of ThreeA that is). The forum has interesting contests for art and photos, which gives me a legitimate reason to 'play' with my toys (they're not really toys IMO, but serious pieces of functional art and design). ;D

Here is an image of my Ashley Wood book collection... it's constantly expanding. I think the lot of it is here... some may still be hidden amongst the other books on my shelves. ;P If you don't know who Ashley Wood is... shame on you! Go visit his blog now!

Finally, here is the image that I've entered into the 3A Legion's July Photo Contest - 'Dirty Deeds = Dirty Shadows?' I originally entered the group photo at the top of this post, but decided to go with this more humorous pic...

No Photoshop was used in post production, just for the crop. A whole lot of time was spent trying to get DDB's hands just right though... hopefully, you can see the same end result as Nom.

I'm looking forward to posting more photos and artwork to the forum and interacting with the members. Did I mention that Ashley Wood (the man himself!) also posts/interacts with members on this forum? Now, HOW COOL IS THAT? ;D

Cheers!

COOL! Rorschach Inkblots...

2009-07-29T08:48:00.003-05:00

A recent article over on the Globe and Mail, brought to my attention the existence of Rorschach's original inkblot images on Wikipedia. These inkblots of the Rorschach test were printed in Rorschach's Rorschach Test - Psychodiagnostic Plates (Hogrefe, 1927, ISBN: 3-456-82605-2). They've been in the public domain in Hermann Rorschach's native Switzerland, since at least 1992 (70 years after his death), according to Swiss copyright law. They're also in the public domain under United States copyright law (based on when they were first created and published - before 1923).

The images were scanned and posted to Wikipedia along with the most frequent responses for either the whole image or the most prominent detail (according to Samuel Beck). This, as the article in the Globe and Mail details, has prompted some interesting response (like numerous websites/blogs now hosting the images + common responses) and protest... read the article over at the Globe and Mail - here.

What do you think? Was the poster of the images 'in the wrong' or should the protesters just deal with it? ;)

In any case, I think the inkblots are cool, and recommend that you check them out if you've never seen them before, visit the posting on Wikipedia, or check them out on my Flickr (Rorschach Inkblots set) - enjoy!

To Winnipeg Beach...

2009-07-27T10:55:00.010-05:00

This past weekend included a trip out to Winnipeg Beach, and a visit to What? Clay Art & Curios , the studio of talented ceramist and artist, Evelin Richter.

The weather cooperated fully, as it was a beautiful summer weekend (I passed through a number of localized thundershowers on the way out, but nothing that lasted very long).

Highlights from the evening (aside from the good times with great food and friends), included a visit to the Fishfly Gallery, a glimpse of the 'Boardwalk Days' festivities and catching up with Ev on what she's been up to... learn more by visiting http://www.whatclayart.com/ - cheers to Rob and Ev for hosting the evening!

Read my previous blog posts about What? Clay Art & Curios, here - enjoy!

Things That Make You Go Hmmm... (Part 3)

2009-07-27T10:55:00.009-05:00

Another highlight from this past weekend, found on the bottom of baby August's, Buster Brown sandals... 'PLACE HELL HERE'.

...an oversight at QC? An honest, unintentional typo? Another example of 'Chinglish'? Hmmm... IMO, this definitely qualifies as one of those things that make you go hmmm... ;) What do you think?

Thoughts and comments (when relevant) are always appreciated... cheers!

Happy Birthday Mom!

2009-07-24T14:24:00.006-05:00

Yesterday evening, I took my Mom and family to Yujiro Japanese Restaurant (on Grant Avenue) for an early birthday dinner.

People who are familiar with me know that I'm a huge fan of Japanese cuisine (particularly sushi and sashimi)... actually I think its safe to say that I'm just a huge fan of 'good food.' ;) Well, yesterday evening was no disappointment... the food was amazing to say the least.

The fish was as fresh as you can get in the middle of the Prairies...

There were some exceptional daily features on offer, one of them notably was the Foie Gras No Sushi = foie gras, on top of Unagi (BBQ eel), on sushi rice. Delicious...

I've posted photos from the dinner at Yujiro to a Flickr set, here - enjoy!

Happy Birthday Mom! I hope you enjoyed your birthday dinner... I know I did! ;D Cheers!

Images (top to bottom): One of the amuse-bouche we received at Yujiro Japanese Restaurant... delicious crabs (and cute to boot - they were the size of a quarter), Deluxe sashimi, Aji Tataki, Foie Gras no Sushi, Shiratama Zenzai (dessert).

COOL! iPhone - Typographic Reference Manual...

2009-07-23T22:39:00.004-05:00

I'm on the verge of taking the plunge, and getting me an iPhone... do I really need it? No. Do I want one? HELL YEAH! The fact that GDC Members can get a discounted iPhone rate from Rogers adds to the enticement... ;P

Seriously, aside from the obvious 'cool factor', the iPhone applications are what really attract me... like the one above, which was recently posted to the GDC Listserve by Marilyn Matty - a long standing contributor to the GDC Listserve. If you're a designer, I'd think that this application will be highly valuable to you... learn more about the application at their website, http://typographyapp.com/ - enjoy!

Thanks to the Marilyn for sharing the link with the GDC Listserve - cheers!

Busy, Busy...

2009-07-22T23:32:00.003-05:00

I've been rather busy as of late... hopefully, I will have some interesting things (aka 'secret projects') to share with you all soon. ;D

Image: a busy bumblebee inside of a rose... from one of the rose bushes in front of my home.

2009 Guardian Dojo Karate Camp...

2009-07-20T18:40:00.007-05:00

This past weekend I attended the 2009 Guardian Dojo Karate Camp (and belt testing) held in Arnes (north of Gimli), Manitoba.

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Guardian Dojo students partook in 'lake-training', practiced Goshin Jitsu (self-defense) techniques, throws, kata, kihon (even some bo-kihon)...

If you're interested, I've uploaded the photos I took during the camp to my Flickr, here - enjoy!

The bugs were pretty wicked at times. ;P

Congratulations to all the students who tested... IMO, I think you all did very well. Once again, many thanks to Shihan Beltrán, Sempai(s) Rhea and Sean for organizing and facilitating the 2009 Guardian Dojo Karate Camp! Osu!

Recommended Viewing | 2008 Guardian Challenge - Photo Highlights...

2009-07-15T16:46:00.006-05:00

Well, better late than never. ;P It has taken me months to sort through the 1000's of photos that my good friend, local designer and fellow blogger, Doug Fedrau (aka 'The Orange Kid') took at the 2008 Guardian Challenge - Kyokushin Karate Knockdown Tournament.

I'm very happy to say that (I think) I've managed to sort through the lot and have selected the 'highlights' from the semi-contact and full contact action to share with you.

Please feel free to check 'em out on my Flickr account... you can see the semi-contact highlights in the semi-contact Flickr set, here and the full contact highlights in the full contact Flickr set, here - enjoy!

A huge thanks to Doug (and Rae) for taking the photos! On behalf of the Guardian Dojo... many thanks! Cheers!

Recommended Viewing | GOOD Transparencies Archive...

2009-07-13T09:10:00.005-05:00

A recent query on the GDC Listserve for books discussing the topic of information graphics inspired me to post a link to the GOOD Magazine Transparencies Archive set on Flickr

The kind folks over at GOOD Magazine, whom I've blogged about previously on MUHSASHUM, here, never cease to impress with their handling of complex information in graphical formats.

Well, I'm an obvious fan, so this set on Flickr is pure 'eye-candy' to me... ;D check out the GOOD Magazine Transparencies Archive set on Flickr, here - enjoy!

If you're still interested in books about information graphics, I'd recommend you check out the works of Edward Tufte - cheers!

Happy Birthday Nikola Tesla...

2009-07-10T08:53:00.001-05:00

Nikola Tesla (10 July 1856 – 7 January 1943) was an inventor and a mechanical and electrical engineer. Tesla was responsible for revolutionary developments in the field of electricity and magnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries... his patents and theoretical work formed the basis of modern alternating current (AC) electric power systems. Why is it then that so little is known about this 'forgotten wizard'?

I came across this video on YouTube while skimming through the related Google links on Tesla's birthday. I had no idea Tesla was responsible for so much... enjoy!

Recommended Viewing | Carved in Stone...

2009-07-07T09:23:00.004-05:00

The Leeds School of Business flew master lettercutter Douglas Coffin from Sandpoint Maine to carve the Koelbel name into a new building.

Coffin is one of only six lettercutters in the US. View the video to see the carving in progress and hear Coffin describe the art, techniques, and pleasure inherent in this rare (perhaps dying?) art form. Watch the video embedded above or on YouTube, here - enjoy!

On Staycation...

2009-07-05T00:38:00.003-05:00

Well, as you may be aware, the world economies are in the toilet. Recession is the word of the hour as almost nothing seems to be unaffected by it... one of these being the classic 'summer vacation'. One of the recession buzzwords I've been hearing more and more of lately, is 'staycation' - essentially defined as a vacation taken at home or locally (with minimal travel involved).

I think 'staycations' are great! It gives individuals a reason (not that you need any) to explore their own backyards, and local treasures (parks, galleries, etc.) which are far to often overlooked. I for one have used part of a 'staycation' to catch-up on some much needed blogging back-log (though I saved it to the very end). ;D I'd be keen to hear from other fellow 'staycationers' as to what they've got planned.

Rummaging through my '2B_Blogged' folder, I came across this Live Journal link, where user Crimeanelf posted about 'You and Your Laptop' - an article about laptop users and the positions they assume, with images to illustrate ('Oriental' position shown above)... I found it to be rather amusing. ;D Check it out if you've never seen it before, here - enjoy!

Hopefully, I'm all caught up now (or at least have less in the '2B_Blogged' folder) and ready to get back to a more consistent blog posting routine... I'm constantly amazed by the dedication some bloggers have (i.e. Robert L. Peters, Michael Surtees, Swissmiss) in posting on a regular (if not daily) basis... keep it up! Cheers!

COOL! Canada Post Recording Artists Stamps...

2009-07-02T20:47:00.004-05:00

It's not very often that I blog about the work I do at Circle - for reasons of security, confidentiality, etc... but I'm making an exception with this post. ;)

Today, Canada Post released the second set of the Canadian Recording Artists stamps. Circle designed the previous series a few years back, which was a great success. I'm very proud to say that I had the privilege of working on this series. Featured artists include Robert Charlebois, Édith Butler, Bryan Adams and Stompin' Tom Connors...

...the stamp series was featured in the latest edition of Details magazine, Canada Post's quarterly publication for stamp collectors. You can view some pix of the article on my Flickr, here - or even better, read it online, here - enjoy!

Additional information regarding the project can be found on Circle's News+ section of the website, here.

Here are some additional links to stories in the media regarding the release:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/arts-and-letters-and-stamps/article1202400/

http://www.radio-canada.ca/arts-spectacles/musique/2009/06/29/001-timbre-charlebois-butler.asp

http://www.spinner.ca/2009/06/23/bryan-adams-honored-with-his-own-stamp/

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Canada-Post-1012337.html

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/putting-its-stamp-on-canada-49922632.html

Happy Canada Day!

2009-07-01T01:13:00.006-05:00

Happy Canada Day! Proud to be Canadian - 'nuf said. Cheers!

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I came across the following video and felt it was an appropriate video to embed for this post. Check it out above or via Today's Big Thing, here - enjoy!

WICKED! Nokia N96 + Bruce Lee...

2009-06-26T21:52:00.002-05:00

A very cool bit of video editing here... in this commercial for the Nokia N96 - Bruce Lee Limited Edition (I wouldn't mind having this phone). Watch the embedded video above or via YouTube, here - enjoy!

Via swissmiss - cheers!

An Evening at The EX...

2009-06-13T23:52:00.001-05:00

Went to the opening night of the 2009 Red River Exhibition (aka 'The EX')... this solo ticket booth operator perhaps is a sign of the recession (i.e. less 'disposable' income for families to spend)? Hmm...

If I was in the mood for rides, I wouldn't have had to wait very long as line-ups were non-existent.

All the favorites were still around on the midway, with a few new(er) additions here and there (or perhaps just refurbished classics?)...

...the 'crowds' must have all cleared out near the end of the evening (capped off by fireworks) ;D

Highlights were, awesome Carnival typography, vivid lights + motion = interesting photo opps, plus the usual sights you only see at Carnivals. ;) The one item to draw the most attention from the crowds this year would be my corn-on-the-cob purchase... drawing inquisitive looks from attendees and staff (even with some queries as to where I bought it from)!

One can't go to the EX and not get mini-donuts... ;P We ended up buying out the last batch of mini-donuts, much to the dismay of the line-up behind us (oh well, they can always go to the Forks).

My first encounter with the new Pepsi logo on a vending machine... it just so happened to be out of order. Which was quite funny considering it was placed beside a vending machine with the old Pepsi logo, which was still working... things that make you go hmm... - would "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" apply in this situation? ;P

Anyways, please do check out the rest of my photos from the evening, in a Flickr set on my Flickr account, here, or view it as a slideshow - enjoy!

WICKED! Post-It-Note Animation...

2009-06-12T11:51:00.002-05:00

You have to see this crazy animation to believe it... do you think they really stuck all those 'sticky-notes' up by hand or is this fancy CGI? Any thoughts? Watch the embedded video above or via Today's Big Thing - enjoy!

Recommended Viewing | GDC Manitoba's June 2009 e-Newsletter...

2009-06-10T10:20:00.002-05:00

The latest edition of the GDC Manitoba e-Newsletter has been released! Jeope Wolfe, MGDC (Chapter Communications Chair) was responsible for putting it together. Jeope says:

It's summertime (or is it?) and the living is easy. School's out – and with that comes a fresh crop of design students hitting the egg-frying sidewalks. Work is humming along like power lines on a hot, muggy day. And for all of us at the hustle/bustle of GDC Manitoba headquarters, the forecast calls for a 100 per cent chance of Blue Sky… Curious? Grab a cold one from the cooler and read on…

Go and check it out for yourself, here - enjoy!

On a side note, the latest GDC Manitoba promo item has arrived! Also designed by Jeope, these black tote-bags are pretty slick... thanks again for all your hard work Jeope! Cheers!

Visit Jeope's blog Jeopopolis.
Learn more about GDC Manitoba.

Happy 25th Birthday Tetris!

2009-06-05T20:55:00.001-05:00

This Saturday, Tetris the world famous falling brick/puzzle game turns 25! Excerpt from CNET news:

...created by Russian programmer Alexey Pajitnov in June 1984, Alexy had an immense love for puzzles, and felt compelled to create a game that allowed players to arrange distinctive puzzle pieces along the bottom of a field or "matrix." Pajitnov chose the name Tetris by combining the words "tetromino" and "tennis." The game was first made available on the IBM computer.

It quickly enjoyed popularity and was ported to a variety of other platforms. In 1987, it became a major hit in the United States. But it wasn't until Nintendo released its version of Tetris for the Game Boy in 1989 that Tetris reached critical mass. According to The Tetris Co., the Game Boy version of Tetris sold more than 35 million copies.

I have fond memories of playing Tetris on my original Game Boy (back in the day)... video games and technology has come a long way in 25 years. In celebration of this historic occasion, I offer you Human Tetris, watch the video embedded above or on YouTube, here - enjoy!

COOL! Compfight...

2009-06-03T00:10:00.001-05:00

Compfight is a really neat, Flickr image search tool. Intended for finding images on Flickr for comps, inspiration or research, Compfight is not affiliated with Flickr but makes good use of the Flickr API.

There are a number of different settings you can use to filter your search results, try Compfight out for yourself and see what you think, check it out at www.compfight.com - always double check the image license before use (CC or otherwise) and respect the rights of the content creators... enjoy!

Euro-English...

2009-06-01T12:01:00.000-05:00

The following news release (j/k) arrived in my inbox this morning...

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The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as "Euro-English".

In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy.

The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".

During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensi bl riten styl.

Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.

Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.

If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl.

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Thanks to Doug Fedrau (The Orange Kid) for sending this to me - cheers!

Top Ten Type Crimes...

2009-05-28T23:41:00.002-05:00

Ilene Strizver, founder of The Type Studio, is a typographic consultant, designer and writer specializing in all aspects of typographic communication has written an in-depth article for Monotype Imaging in regard to the Top 10 Type Crimes, excerpt from the article:

Are you a type criminal? Don’t be afraid to confess; the type police won’t come knocking at your door in the middle of the night. Even the most seasoned designers can commit an occasional type crime, by accident or inattention. If good typography is important to you, knowing and recognizing the “ten most wanted” type crimes will help make your projects stay on the right side of the law...

I highly recommend you read the in-depth article for yourself, here - perhaps you've been committing type crime(s) without evening knowing it! ;)

Cheers!

Happy Birthday Mr. Peters!

2009-05-26T13:24:00.001-05:00

Happy 55th Birthday Rob! Wishing you all the best, on this day and the rest! May all your birthday wishes come true! Peace, love, and happiness always... cheers!

Image: ASCII portrait of Rob prepared as part of my e-card birthday greetings.

COOL! Font Game...

2009-05-23T01:10:00.001-05:00

A little over a year ago I blogged about The Rather Difficult Font Game... well since then, the game has been updated with some additional fonts for you to challenge, as well its now being hosted on I Love Typography. Give the game a try for yourself and see how well you do, here - I still can't seem to manage to get them all, my best is still 33/34. Perhaps, I'll give it another shot later. ;)

Thanks for the link Beth!

WICKED! Type War...

2009-05-21T23:48:00.002-05:00

Too cool. This typographic animation/ad was created by Optix Digital (Hamburg), for Inlingua Business English schools. Watch the video embedded above, on YouTube or via Motionographer, here - enjoy!

Thanks again to Mr. Simpson for the link - cheers!

COOL! Micrography: Text Art and Typography...

2009-05-19T23:23:00.001-05:00

Image: Obama word portrait by Jeff Clark.

Wikipedia says "Micrography, also called microcalligraphy, is a Jewish art form developed in the 9th century, with parallels in Christianity and Islam, utilizing minute Hebrew letters to form representational, geometric and abstract designs. Colored micrography is especially distinctive because these rare artworks are customarily rendered in black and white.”

View some beautiful examples of this art form, here - enjoy!

Thanks to Mr. Mark Simpson for the link - cheers!

COOL! Graphic Design - The Forgotten Web Standard (Video)...

2009-05-18T01:18:00.001-05:00

Graphic Design: The Forgotten Web Standard on Vimeo.

The following video was played as part of Mike Kus' talk at FOWD London 2009. It's sped up footage of Mike designing his slides for his talk. Mike thought that it would be interesting to show it because he thought it would interesting to see the design process he went through whilst making them. It also features a footage of slides being designed that never made it to the final slide deck... it's quite neat IMO.

You can view Mike's presentation at FOWD London 2009 , here - enjoy! Thanks to Davin Greenwell for posting the link to the GDC Listserve - cheers!

COOL! Book Cover Archive...

2009-05-16T00:53:00.001-05:00

A very cool and handy website to share, www.bookcoverarchive.com - is a website dedicated to the appreciation and categorization of excellence in book cover design (all covers are the copyright of their respective publishers).

Browse covers via designer, book title, genre, etc., - go and check it out for yourself at http://www.bookcoverarchive.com/ - enjoy!

Thanks to Ian MacCausland and Rob Peters for the link! Cheers!

Recommended Viewing | 99DS.net

2009-05-15T01:19:00.001-05:00

From the website:

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99DS.net is a collaborative exhibition featuring artwork digitally illustrated on the Nintendo DS handheld game console by local Wellingtonian artists Greg Broadmore and Christian Pearce. A shared, public exhibition showcasing the first two completed collections is scheduled for the 1st of February 2009. Each collection exhibits a series of full-colour digital sketch artwork - as prints, in books and on screen. Animated reels revealing the illustrative process behind each piece will be on looped playback throughout the exhibition. Housed in custom-made containers in Wellington's Civic Square, 99DS aims to show a fun and frivolous way art can be created on the digital media available to us today, free of symbolism, metaphor and manure...

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All the artwork was created using Colors! (a digital sketching/painting program) on the Nintendo DS! If you're familiar with the DS, these pieces are amazing to say the least... go and check 'em out for yourself!

99 Dodgy Slips by Greg Broadmore...

99 Deadly Sleds by Christian Pearce...

Very cool stuff indeed! If you're curious to see what some other artists have been creating using Colors!, go and check out the gallery over at the Colors! website. Thanks to my good friend, local designer/illustrator, and fellow Guardian Dojo Karate-ka, James Gillespie (KALAMAFRAZ) for the heads-up on this one! Cheers!

COOL! 1934 BMW R7...

2009-05-13T01:00:00.001-05:00

Curious member of BMW's classic division were pleasantly surprised in 2005, when they opened a crate in the archives storage to find this gorgeous bike, 75% assembled.

Now fully-restored to showroom/working condition, this bike is a truly an object of beauty. Read the original story on Cool Hunter, here - cheers!

2009 RRC Creative Arts Open House...

2009-05-08T23:59:00.001-05:00

On 7 May 2009 the Red River College Creative Arts Department held their annual open house show. Student portfolios and sample works were on display at the Princess Street campus as local industry professionals mingled.

Eric Crone, MGDC unveiled the award winning poster design for the inaugural Bruce Gillespie Collection Scholarship - designed by Melissa Archer, GDC Manitoba's *NEW* Activities Chair. Melissa will be taking over my role as the Manitoba Chapter's Activities Chair, I'm very excited to see what she's got planned. ;)

Rich Roat from House Industries was this year's guest speaker. You can view more pictures from the Open House and Rich's presentation on my Flickr, here - enjoy!

Congratulations again to the graduating class of 2009! Cheers!

Recommended Viewing | How to Destroy Civilization with Nanotechnology...

2009-05-06T09:06:00.001-05:00

How to Destroy Civilization with Nanotechnology.

Slowly-but-surely, I'm starting to make a dent in my '2B_Blogged' folder residing on my desktop. ;)

This little gem of an animation was sent to me a while back by my friend, Paul Kletke... I thought it was quite well done. Watch the embedded video above or check it out on http://www.5min.com/ - enjoy!

Thanks Paul for sending me the link! Cheers!

Recommended Viewing | Modern Samurai...

2009-05-06T09:05:00.001-05:00

You have to watch this amazing Japanese video showing Modern Samurai - Isao Machii (I think my jaw was on the floor for the entire duration of the video). Amazing would be an understatement.

Check out the embedded video above or watch it on Youtube, here - enjoy! Thanks to my brother Ashley for sending me the link - cheers!

12welve...

2009-05-05T09:53:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to the University of Manitoba's 2009 Graphic Design Thesis program graduates. This year's graduating class show was dubbed 12welve (in light of the fact that there were only 12 students in the thesis program), and was held at the Martha Street Studio.

The exhibition space was packed with people... in some areas, attendees were literally shoulder-to-shoulder.

This set of posters was one of the first things that caught my eye when I stepped in through the doorway... my first reaction was "WTF? When did the GDC have a presentation on Design and Ethics? How come I've never heard about this..." only to realize shortly thereafter that it was a poster assignment... LOL. Good job! It totally fooled me. ;P

There was quite a few pieces on display that I thought were very well done... I particularly enjoyed this poster (designed by Tess Vincent) about Morse code. You can see a few more pictures from the event on my Flickr, here - enjoy!

Congratulations again to the 2009 graduates! Cheers!

May the 4th Be With You - Happy Star Wars Day...

2009-05-04T15:02:00.001-05:00

(WARNING: Video may not be suitable for minors and is potentially NSFW - view at your own discretion)

Apparently, today is Star Wars Day... or, one of many Star Wars days/events which honours the epic Star Wars franchise. Well, in light of that fact, I offer you the above Youtube video, originally seen on Gizmodo.

May the 4th be with you... ;) Cheers!

Recommended Viewing | Design Edge Magazine May/June 2009...

2009-05-01T18:28:00.001-05:00

I highly recommend that you check out the latest edition of Design Edge magazine. If you've never heard of Design Edge magazine... well, you should sign up for a subscription... it's free to Canadians. This issue is definitely one of the more memorable ones (IMO)... could it be because I recognize some of the folks who are featured within? Perhaps... ;)

Congratulations to the folks who I recognized/have met through their regular contributions to the GDC Listserve and/or their contributions to the GDC in general. In the 'Creative Sidelines' feature article you'll recognize:

Nancy Wu (I've blogged about Nancy before, here)

Davin Greenwell (who I had the pleasure of meeting in person at this year's GDC National AGM held in Winnipeg)

Brian Branch (a regular contributor on the GDC Listserve)

and Craig Medwyduk (also a regular contributor to the GDC Listserve)...

...and in the 'Newsmakers' section we have Vancouver's Design Ambassadors... ;D Mark Busse, Marga Lopez Orozco, Rod Roodenburg and Matt Warburton.

Awesome! Congrats again. Cheers!

Happy World Graphics Day!

2009-04-28T00:54:00.001-05:00

Today is World Graphics Day. From Wikipedia:

World Graphic Design Day is celebrated on April 27, the anniversary of the founding of Icograda, the world body for graphic design, in 1963. It is a day to celebrate the profession of graphic and communication design. The day has been celebrated since 1995. On this occasion, designers reflect and hope that an international network can contribute to a greater understanding between people and can help to build bridges where divides and inequities exist.

As you should be aware, I (along with other Manitoba Chapter delegates and representatives) attended the GDC National AGM (held in Winnipeg) from 23 April to 25 April. Lively debate, discussions and passion was evident around the AGM table, with much fun to be had in the evening, as the photographic evidence shows in the GDC National 2009 AGM Flickr Group Pool... ;)

Above is a group snapshot of the GDC National Council which I took on the front steps on the Fort Garry Hotel. Thank you to all the National Executives, Chapter Delegates and representatives from affiliated associations who made this AGM, one to remember. I hope you enjoyed your visit to Winnipeg.

Much was accomplished at this year's AGM. One of the most important (IMO), and in celebration of World Graphics Day, the GDC adopts 'Sustainability Principals'... read the full story on http://www.gdc.net/ - cheers!

GDC National AGM Winnipeg 2009...

2009-04-24T03:13:00.001-05:00

A warm welcome to all the GDC National Executives, Chapter delegates and representatives from affiliated associations who arrived in Winnipeg for the GDC National Annual General Meeting.

The GDC National AGM will be held in Winnipeg from 23-25 April. The AGM kicked off Thursday evening at the Red River College Princess Street Campus, which saw the delegates give their chapter reports. It's great to see and hear about all the exciting things that are happening across Canada... I'm looking forward to a lively weekend of debate, decisions and discussions. It'll be nice to reconnect some familiar names to faces, and some familiar faces to names... ;)

Look for pictures from the AGM to appear on Flickr, here - enjoy!

Image: Adrian Jean (MGDC), for the first time on record, a representative for the GDC Members-at-large was in attendance at the National AGM.

GDC Manitoba - Portfolio 1-on-1 Night...

2009-04-15T23:50:00.001-05:00

On April 14th, 2009 the GDC Manitoba Chapter held another successful Portfolio 1-on-1 event at the Kings Head Pub (located in Winnipeg's historic Exchange District).

Industry professionals volunteered their time to act as student mentors and portfolio reviewers...

Students from both the Red River College and University of Manitoba design programs participated in the event... more images from the evening can be found on my Flickr, here - thanks again to all the volunteers who made the event a success!

Cheers!

And (Ampersand)...

2009-04-10T23:50:00.001-05:00

Ampersand... an experiment in ceramics - a collaborative, typographic, art piece made by the talented hands of ceramist Evelin Richter (What? Clay Art and Curios) and Circle colleague, Robert L. Peters.

From Wikipedia:
An ampersand (&), also commonly called an 'and sign', is a logogram representing the conjunction "and". The symbol is a ligature of the letters in et, Latin for "and". Read more on Wikipedia...

Close-up detail...

Sweet. 'nuf said. Thanks to Rob and Ev! ;)

Cheers!

Antique Road Trip...

2009-04-03T01:01:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday, I attempted to go see the Marilyn Monroe: Life as a Legend exhibition at the WAG with good friends, James, Doug and Raelene. Unfortunately for us, we were a bit late in arriving, and opted to visit the Forks Market instead.

For those of you who are familiar with Winnipeg and the Forks, you can see in the picture above, the river walk is completely invisible, covered by a thick (and rising) layer of ice. Flood worries are definitely running high as the ice 'jams and dams.'

We ended up exploring the Antique Mall located on the lower level of the Johnston Terminal. It's quite an interesting place to say the least...

I've always enjoyed classic pop bottles... for nostalgic reasons perhaps? I wonder what Snow White pop actually was? I'm guessing cream soda? I wonder if it was actually white like Calpis or Calpico (a Japanese beverage).

James offered $10 to anyone who would drink this (after signing a waiver of liability that is)... ;)

Doug aka The Orange Kid, posing with his Elvis shades amongst the Elvis antiques(?)...

One of the more interesting finds was this creepy, Colonel Sanders statue/bank (enhanced creepiness via Photoshop). It was immediately dubbed the 'Why so serious?' Colonel (ala Dark Knight - Joker).

View the rest of the pics from my antique road trip on my Flickr, here - enjoy! Cheers!

Happy 33!!!

2009-04-01T16:00:00.001-05:00

Circle turns 33 today!

No joke. Today marks 33 years since the birth of Circle Design Incorporated (known as Circle Graphics back then), sharing the illustrious 1976 April Fools’ birthdate with a little company called Apple Computer. ;)

Happy 33rd Birthday Circle!

Learn more by visiting Circle's website at http://www.circle.mb.ca/ - cheers!