Written by victor June 30th, 2009
in Portfolio.
By Tibor Kalman for Restaurant Florent
When I was a kid, we had the internet. We had TV and cell phones were relatively accessible. In the 90s when my age was in the single digits, we had the beginnings of what would become our every day norm. Consequently, my perception of “design” was affected by digital upbringing. My senior year before going to design school was when I really came to the realization that this thing called “graphic design” was what I wanted to do (it just so happens that my senior year was in 2008). My idea of design was fueled by the internet and all of its (potentially misleading) glory. What I knew to be design was flashy websites and shiny buttons. What I thought was design was dropping a reflection under an already glossy logo first popularized by the sterile behemoth known as Apple. But my entire notion of graphic design and design in general was radically changed in my first year of college. Because it was then that I was introduced to the legendary likes of Tibor Kalman and Paul Rand as well as living legends like Milton Glaser and Paula Scher. Now I’m not saying that super shiny glossy logos are not true graphic design but do they have the same lasting power as Rand’s logo? What is the measure of good design anyway? I don’t really know where I am going with this post. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong decade and where I truly belong is in a world where moving type meant sliding cold metal letters instead of pushing imaginary pixels. But as I try to cater my education and experiences towards graphic design in a traditional sense, it seems many students in my area of study are drawn towards the shiny and new. Am I old fashioned? Can honest graphic design ever go out of fashion? Am I so naive as to ignore popular design trends in favor of “the principles”? Or maybe I am just being overdramatic and I should just shut up and finish school.
Written by dipika June 28th, 2009
in Interesting Finds.
I saw the movie Shrink at Seattle International Film Festival recently. It’s a movie about a psychiatrist going nuts. Beautifully shot. Kevin Spacey is excellent. But… it’s a little predictable. So… one thumb up.
Restless in Seattle
It was a beautiful afternoon and yet the cinema was packed. What does this mean?
Written by dipika June 26th, 2009
in Interesting Finds.
Braids, 1979, Andrew Wyeth. Now showing at SAM.
For this week, here’s what looks interesting to us—
- Andrew Wyeth at SAM Seattle Art Museum just yesterday opened a show of remarkable quality (I’m sure, I haven’t been yet but I am soooo excited about it). One of my favorite artists, Andrew Wyeth, died this winter. Seven of Wyeth’s pieces are on display now at Seattle Art Museum. Exciting! The show, called Andrew Wyeth: Remembrance, runs through October 18. “SAM pays tribute to Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009). Says SAM: “Paintings from private collections, otherwise never on public view, allow visitors to gain an appreciation for Wyeth’s choice of subjects and his brilliant manner of execution.” Can’t wait to see this!
TOMORROW! Artopia. In case you missed the cover of the Seattle Weekly, the paper and Georgetown are co-hosting Artopia on Saturday, June 27 from 2 to 10pm. Billed an “annual celebration of all local innovative art and emerging talent,” it seems it’ll be quite a mix. On the streets, parking lots, alleyways, artist lofts, and warehouses of Georgetown. More info: Artopiaseattle.com- TOMORROW! Capitol Hill Pride Festival 2009 From 11am to 4pm you can find a spot on Broadway between E. John and Harrison Street to park yourself for Pride Parade. Colorful and zany, this is a good time. If you miss it, there’s a Sunday one that’s bigger downtown, starting at 11am also but at 4th and Union. The Sunday parade goes to Denny Way. Here’s a nice blurb about Pride weekend in the Seattle Times.
TOMORROW! Reception for outdoor sculpture show at Carkeek Park. City groups and CoCA are co-sponsors of this temporary sculpture installation by a group of artists to show in Carkeek Park, which turns 80 tomorrow, too! The theme for the show is “Heaven and Earth,” in which artists created pieces based on their ideas of art and nature in a world of change. Carkeek is one of Seattle’s premier urban forests: Sunset Magazine recently named it #3 among America’s top 10 urban parks. A reception is set for Saturday, June 27, from 3 to 5pm at the Environmental Learning Center at Carkeek Park, which is located at 950 NW Carkeek Park Rd. Entry and parking are free. The park’s 80th birthday party starts just before that, at 1pm.
Quiet Society at Form/Space Paul Pauper’s Belltown gallery Form/Space Atelier, which featured DK’s own drawings in May and part of June, is an interesting space showing this month a second consecutive show recommended by The Stranger. We’re very curious about this one. Artist Shannon Barry studied in the atelier of Mark Kang-O’Higgins at the Gage Academy of Art, which we checked out last week at their “Best of Gage” show. And liked. A lot. An old school art school means delinking from all things technology and blips. It means slowing down and sinking into the canvas and the paint and the moment, feeling the art being born. That’s me talking. This is from a press release: “This series is called The Quiet Society because the central characters, despite their different surroundings, all share a common relaxed state.” Show runs thru July 5. More info: FormSpaceAtelier.com 
Rapture of the Deep. Pioneer Square’s Platform Gallery is showing some cool-looking images of mountaineering. Eight of Stephen Hilyard’s digitally manipulated landscapes make up “Rapture of the Deep.” Shown here is Joe, Everest NE Ridge 1982, 2009, inkjet print on panel, 53.6 in x 29.5 in, edition of 5. Here’s what the gallerist says about the show: “The series deals with the glamour of risk as personified by eight famous British mountaineers from the 70s and 80s, a golden age of high altitude mountaineering which made many of them national media figures. Growing up, these men were the artist’s heroes—and they all died in the mountains. Each piece in the series is named for one of them, along with the location of his death.” Thru July 31. More information: Platform Gallery
The one in Vancouver, B.C.Vermeer! at Vancouver Art Gallery!!! The show’s official title is “Vermeer, Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art: Masterpieces from The Rijksmuseum.” This exhibition highlights extraordinary works of art made during the seventeenth century in the Netherlands, a period known as the Golden Age. Paintings by the masters of the Golden Age, as well as an outstanding selection of drawings and decorative arts testify to the artistic sophistication achieved during this period, providing a fascinating glimpse into the daily life of this vibrant, urbane and remarkably wealthy new society.” Celebrated artists such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals and Gerard Ter Borch created portraits that capture in fine detail the lavish clothing, jewellery and ornate interiors of their patrons. With keen observation, artists Karel du Jardin, Adriaen van Ostade and Johannes Vermeer depicted their own well-appointed studios or created self-portraits, reflecting the rising status of the artist in Dutch society. And there’s more.
I love, love, love Vancouver Art Gallery. I was there for the Dali show. Actually, I went specifically to see this show. And am really keen to go back to Vancouver to check out these paintings. When I see shows like this, I am greatly moved. And inspired. And feel lucky to not have to go all the way to Italy to see a well-curated collection of masterpieces all under one roof. Yum!
Free on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 9pm (thanks to a special tip from a museum employee who stamped MEMBER on my wrist when I balked at the CAN $20.50 admission fee). Runs through September 13. More info: Vancouver Art Gallery
Did we miss something?
I know there is plenty out there, so let me know if you think there’s something special going on this weekend or into the summer that you think we ought to include.
Last week DK did our first roundup of local free art events. All part and parcel of our research to find design inspiration. And see what’s going on.
Should I make this a regular “column,” do you think?
Written by dipika June 24th, 2009
in News at DK.
Clear the clutter
Have you been wondering how to answer the question, “What is your business about?” briefly and clearly? Not sure where you want to focus your attention? Is it difficult to get a sense of what you’re best at because you’re so used to working on this kind of thinking at your desk alone?
Then POLISH is for you.
What it is
A 2.5-hour consultation with DK for $300.
That’s POLISH, our one-time consultation session to help you focus your brand story.
It’s a special offer that ends next Tuesday, June 30. Only 6 more days.
What you get
Walk away with a concise, one-line sentence that spells your brand story. This simple step will give you clarity, inspire new thinking for how to tell your story, boost your brand’s selling power, and drive your sales and marketing efforts.
POLISH is a short-form version of what we do for clients who hire us for BRAND. It’s a bite-sized sample of what we do in our comprehensive FOCUS session to gather up just what it is that makes your product cool and different.
What you get is our total attention for this time to discover the most enticing thing a third party sees as potential for your brand. And not just any third party: seasoned and discerning brand specialists.
Why it works
This works because Dipika was a reporter at a daily newspaper and Akira was the in-house marketing department for three small businesses before we set up DK together full-time in Seattle in 2005. We know what questions to ask. And how to separate great ideas from just plain okay ones.
POLISH ends next week. So if you’re on, book your spot with us today. We’re at polish [at] design-kompany.com.
More about POLISH
Beyond POLISH: see our portfolio
Written by dipika June 22nd, 2009
in Interesting Finds.
D: He might be crawling now, but I don’t think he’s ready for the outside world.
A: You mean day care.
D: No. I mean the wild.
Written by dipika June 22nd, 2009
in News at DK.
This Friday we host BLOGonomics: Measuring ROI on your blogging investment.
Free. RSVP to launch [at] lightfootbranding.com.
For more information about our marketing workshop series LAUNCH, see http://www.design-kompany.com/launch.
Written by dipika June 20th, 2009
in Interesting Finds.
Some excellent and truly inspiring work last night at the Gage Academy. Check out some of the drawing and painting ateliers. Bravo!
TONIGHT! Gage Academy of the Art exhibition and sale. I’m really curious about this. The only time I’ve been to the Gage Academy was for a 
TOMORROW! Solstice Parade + Friday Mile at the Fremont Fair. The solstice parade! Yeah! Well, if you’re not going for the naked bicycling, then stop by to check out some music by our friends Friday Mile. 
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