Recommended Viewing | GOOD Transparencies Archive...

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!

COOL! Canada Post Recording Artists Stamps...

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

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

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!

Recommended Viewing | LIFE Photo Archive hosted by Google...

An awesome link to share today... excerpt from the website: search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive , stretching from the 1750s to today. Most were never published and are now available for the first time through the joint work of LIFE and Google.

To awesome for words to describe. You have to check it out for yourself! Goto http://images.google.com/hosted/life - enjoy!

Thanks to Dean McNeil, MGDC for posting the link to the GDC Listserve - cheers!

COOL! A Gift from GOOD Magazine...

I received another cool surprise in the mail the other night... this time from the folks at GOOD Magazine. I've blogged about them before here and here... anyhow, I received a package with a short letter (as follows):

Dear Friend,
Though it's not much, here are a few items for your efforts to support us. Since I have your address on file, please let me know via email if you want your free subscription for yourself, or if you wish to gift it to someone. If it's the latter case, please be sure to include their mailing address. Hope all is well in your part of the world and thanks again!...

:) that, along with a "Certificate of Subscribership" which congratulated me for being a hero(?... not sure how that worked),


along with some GOOD buttons and stickers. Either way, I was rather chuffed to receive it... thanks to the folks at GOOD! I'm planning to gift the subscription to Circle so that we can all enjoy the great features, graphics (and more) in the fine magazine together. Cheers!

Learn more about GOOD Magazine by visiting their website at http://www.goodmagazine.com/ - enjoy!

Recommended | GOOD - The China Issue...

I recently posted a comment on Michael Surtees' blog, DesignNotes in response to his A Black and White Issue? post (which in turn was a response to another blog post). In Michael's post he brings up some interesting points of discussion in regard to this summer's Beijing Olympics, here's an excerpt:

...if you plan to watch a moment of the Olympics, purchase anything from a corporate sponsor of the games or even follow who wins and looses are you implicitly supporting what a number of protesters are trying to bring to the attention of the world? If you are protesting the Olympics in Beijing yet choose to do any of the following that I mention above is it somewhat hypocritical to criticize others? Is it possible to have it both ways or is everyone responsible to some degree?

Being born a Canadian of Chinese descent I have to admit that I am somewhat, 'on-the-fence' with the over-politicization of the games through the western media. Yes, there are many issues facing China as a rapidly growing, industrial nation... but, what country can claim to be free of problems? That being said, the latest issue of GOOD Magazine: The China Issue has some great features on China, I'd recommend everyone to read them, you're bound to come across something you didn't know about the 'Asian-Superpower' (I've blogged about GOOD Magazine before, here).

The Olympics should remain non-political, concentrate on 'fair' competition and respect for the athletes. In my opinion, the Olympics could represent the ideal world model, where one person from a different culture/religion/etc. can stand beside one another with respect, admiration and/or resolve their differences through non-lethal, competitive sport. I guess we'll just have to wait and see... I invite you all to comment (I'd be interested to hear what others have to say). Cheers!

Recommended | Vektorika Magazine...

If you're a fan of illustration, cool graphics and vector artworks you'll want to check out Vektorika magazine. Vektorika is an online PDF magazine put out by the folks at vektorjunkie.com - the magazine is now up to issue #10 and is available for download (FREE), along with back issues on their website at http://www.vektorjunkie.com/mag.html - enjoy!

COOL! WIRED Magazine's Visual History of Manga in the US...

Wired magazine has put together a brilliant little PDF (available for download here), which charts the history of manga in the US! In keeping with manga tradition, the PDF reads from right to left with the translated english captions keeping to tradition as well, by appearing backwards... a bit confusing at first but very cool. See the original Wired magazine article here.

COOL! Handface by Trevor Jackson...

I was recently introduced to the amazing work of multi-talented music producer and designer Trevor Jackson through a profile feature in issue 105 (Xmas 2007), of Computer Arts Projects magazine. One of the featured works that really caught my eye was the photographic work, Handface, for the 20th Anniversary book (BCCK 2007) for the Tokyo Director's Club. You have to see the work to really appreciate it, see Trevor Jackson's Handface here - enjoy!

Recommended | El Negro Magnifico - 'The Place Where Al Dwells...'

I had the pleasure of befriending 'El Negro Magnifico' aka Allan Lorde back in college. Al is an amazingly funny and talented illustrator, as well as an avid photographer and designer. I highly recommend that you check out his blog at http://elnegromagnifico.blogspot.com/ - 'The Place Where Al Dwells...', where he writes about food, wrestling, illustration, design, "adult material", and other pop culture-type bullshit. Word. =) I'd also recommend that you check out his Flickr posts... enjoy!

COOL! The Great Robot Exhibition...

There's a wicked post over on PingMag about the Great Robot Exhibition currently being held at the National Museum of Nature and Science, in Ueno, Tokyo. They've got a great review of the exhibition with pictures! Makes me wish I was in Tokyo... personally I find the PBDR (Personal Ballroom Dance Robot) a little creepy. You have to check it out, see the post here. Enjoy!

Recommended | GOOD Magazine

I recently came across the first anniversary issue of GOOD magazine at the local bookstore... the issue has a striking orange cover with an x-ray photo of an AK47. I couldn't help but pick it up to take a closer look. Upon closer inspection, I found myself captivated by the interesting use of info graphics and symbols throughout the magazine, the clean layouts, as well as the range of topics covered. I'd recommend that you pick up your own copy if you have a chance. Subscriptions are cheap and 100% of your money goes to help the organization of your choice, visit http://www.goodmagazine.com/ - Cheers!