Recommended Viewing: guardiandojo.ca

New Guardian Dojo - Kyokushin Karate Canada website, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

I'm very pleased to announce the launch of a new responsive design website for Guardian Dojo - Kyokushin Karate Canada. Please visit us at www.guardiandojo.ca - be sure to check it out on your iPad or mobile device!

Launched just in time for the presentation I will be giving at the next PechaKucha Night Winnipeg - Vol.12... the last one for 2012. Should be interesting to say the least!

Hope to see you there! Osu!

Recommended Viewing - Friends of Modern Dog...

Friends of Modern Dog, originally uploaded by Adrian J.K. Shum, CGD.

For all my friends and for those who believe in doing the right thing, please consider donating to Modern Dog's lawsuit fundraiser.

www.friendsofmoderndog.com is the fundraising website for Modern Dog's legal battle against some of the largest corporations in the world for their infringement of Modern Dog's legal copyright.

Visit the Friends of Modern Dog website to learn more and to donate - www.friendsofmoderndog.com

Seasonal Wishes from Circle...

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...

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!

GDC Manitoba - Design for Business Event...

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

Recommended: Gibson Typeface for GDC...

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.

Happy Holidays from Circle...

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!

Warm Wishes from Circle...

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.).

COOL! www.typographicposters.com

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...

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

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!

COOL! Comic Covers Covered...

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...

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)

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...

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! www.eternalmoonwalk.com

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?

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!

A Trip to Toronto...

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!

COOL! MOSSTIKA Urban Greenery...

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?

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!