I first saw Eduardo Sarmiento‘s work on IDN {thanks x 2 this week, guys!}. After a full exploration of his website — I have chosen an editorial image which sums up the field of graphic design {for me} pretty well.

Need I say more?

Image: ©Eduardo Sarmiento

A true beauty about illusionism — looking twice and that aha moment.

Seeing a different image or being fooled completely until someone else points out what you missed. A master illusionist — Guido Daniele from Milan.

In 1972 he started working as hyper-realistic illustrator, in co-operation with major editing and advertising companies, using and testing different painting techniques. In 1990 he added a new artistic experience to his previous ones: using the body painting technique he creates and paints model’s bodies for different situations such as advertising pictures and commercials, fashion events and exhibitions. His personal artistic research has recently led him to the combination of the two traditional portrait techniques, which are photography and oil painting, laid on photographic support in the same way as Jan Saudek. His “master” of photographic shooting and manual print in darkroom has always been the famous photographer Francesco Radino. “Handimals“  are his method of body painting has a great international interest.

Recent work created for WWF and AT&T have brought Guido Daniele’s work to higher international attention. Bravo!

Agencies: AT&T spots — BBDO and Saatchi and Saatchi.

Thanks: Ginia Shaknis (my aunt) for turning us on to these amazing images.

Images: ©Guido Daniele

Thanks to IDN for turning me on to LA/Tokyo-based Bjorky. A refreshing source of art/design/illustration which defies written explanation. So take a look — would ya? The blog is even stranger!

Image: ©Bjorky

DesignBoom is offering a unique series of online industrial design courses called design-aerobics. An example is listed below. Check out the entire list. Well worth the exercise to strengthen the brain.

Food Course

From its packaging to the surroundings in which it’s consumed and everything in between. this course gives you a good taste of design in the food sector.

duration
June 8th – August 8th, 2010

format
30 lessons are published online over the duration of the course allowing you to study from wherever you like — whenever you like. participants also have access to the ‘discussion area’ a blog / forum where lessons and other topics can be discussed with an international audience of designers, architects, and numerous other backgrounds.

Image:© DesignBoom

Random searches can lead to wonderful surprises. Like today’s post — about the wonderful surprise of Ilana Bandarovsky‘s  portfolio on the AIGA website.

I especially liked her New York Subway Performers project.

In her words:
This project was designed to promote Helvetica, the official typeface from NY subway.
I interviewed and photographed over 30 performers at different subway stations in NY during the course of a month. The 16 selected performers are represented on accordion folders, front and back, packaged together with a musical card in a metallic box.

A Laser Party — literally — a Laser Party.  Cutting objects, not just a fancy light show. Add designers, materials and innovation and we have arrived at a new concept in practical applications and new technology. A reason to get out and have fun — you bet.

Kegan Fisher and Liz Kinnmark, co-founders of DesignGlut, sponsored this free event with Length x Width x Height at NY Designs Long Island City, Queens, NY.

The party was a huge success and a whole lot of fun with new prototype ideas coming to life within minutes. Proving you can produce amazing things if you push materials and technology. Coming to life — known and unknown materials.

From kHyal™ fluorescent pink acrylic WeathersKwirls to mini-pigs out of ham and dark bread by studio jan habraken.

The evening started — two hours bumper to bumper ride  from CT to Queens. Upon arrival — checking out a lively crowd glued to the gigantic laser unit putting the finishing up the final touches on Tayef Farrar and Lana Zellner’s Mix Match lamp. GroundUpDesigners is their multi-disiplinary collaborative. Next in the que — Joseph Eberle’s creation — interlocking cork/wood bracelet.

Many thanks to Ben Wilkinson-Raemer our laser director, and Kegan Fisher and Liz Kinnmark of DesignGlut for creating a kickass event!

Images: © kHyal™ + Karl Heine 2010

I stumbled upon this on Fast Company Design — A Field Guide to Typestaches by San Francisco-based art director — Tor.

I am not a fan of facial hair, but I love clever, graphical type treatments. And, oddly, while I was checking this out, Karl walked in wearing a shirt with a similar pattern! He is featured on The Weather sKwirl™ blog today — so go see for yourself!

Image: ©Tor Weeks

Today, while zipping through Black Rock on Fairfield Avenue — I spotted what I thought was an art installation or a wacky float for an unknown parade. Actually, it was payback of sorts,  for a previous pranking. Taking it out on a friend’s car who had a disdain for Post-it® Notes and flip flops — hence the decorative truck treatment.

For just $65 — you too can leave the most mobile reminder, driving not recommended.

Thanks to Jessica St. John for adding brightness to the morning.

Images: ©Karl Heine 2010

In my case — a lot. The Weather sKwirl™ is pink. I am am Pink. I also like to store things in trees.

Of course, it isn’t as simple as color matching. The important thing, though, is being true to who you are in your creative output. Society will always try to repress what is different.

While recent marketing campaigns and trends may encourage you, even make you believe that you “think differently” — trends are never to be trusted!

Blaze your own trail.

Images: ©kHyal™ 2010. All rights reserved.

Starnstudio — Doug + Mike Starn on the Roof: Big Bambú going on April 27th – October 31 (weather permitting) at The Iris an B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden.

Invited by The Metropolitan Museum of Art to create a site-specific installation for The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, the twin brothers Mike and Doug Starn (born in New Jersey in 1961) present their new work, Big Bambú: You Can’t, You Don’t, and You Won’t Stop. The monumental bamboo structure, ultimately measuring 100 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 50 feet high, takes the form of a cresting wave that bridges realms of sculpture, architecture, and performance. Visitors witness the continuing creation and evolving incarnations of Big Bambú as it is constructed throughout the spring, summer, and fall by the artists and a team of rock climbers. Set against Central Park and its urban backdrop, Big Bambú suggests the complexity and energy of an ever-changing living organism. It is the thirteenth-consecutive single-artist installation on the Roof Garden.

Small world — kHyal went to school with these guys.

Just for fun — Cheech and Chong’s (1972) album cover — cool type.

Thanks to Lee Moody for this cool exhibit post.