Product Designer Dieter Rams: A Flickr Pool

Unbelievable. A Dieter Rams Flickr group! If you're a regular reader of BarryBlog, you have heard of him when I pointed out similarities between his and Apple's Jonathan Ive's work in my Seperated At Birth post.

Weird thing is the "Less But Better" quote is one I've been using for the last year and a half. Okay, did I get this from him, or did I come up with it on my own? Who knows. Dieter's a household name, not I.

Light of the World: Thank God It's Friday

Thank God it's Friday. An understatement. I'm thankful for Jesus' Passion, Crucifixion, and Death on the cross. After a long and reflective week being sick and homebound, Good Friday feels especially Good. I suppose this also rings true in a larger sense. The same Light of God stands ready to transform people's dim souls as they make the powerful decision to except Christ into their heart, and as they no longer deny Truth.

Read Ron Ethridge's special accounting of the true meaning of Good Friday here, and a wonderful reflection he made previously on the Light of the world.

I pray for Good in your Friday. And everyday.

Microsoft Vista—The Wow Starts Now! (Now?)

When you're made of money, why not pull out all the stops? Especially when it really, really matters. You know, like when you are introducing a key new product for the first time in over four years. This video documents another watershed Microsoft moment.

Science. Nature. Nothing is Superfluous.

Wellcome Image Award 2008 features a selection of images captured during groundbreaking scientific research.

Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does nature because in her inventions nothing is lacking, and nothing is superfluous. — Leonardo da Vinci

I included this quote from Davinci because it's interesting to compare art from a mere man with the work of God.

( via miosite )

A Reflection on Energy.

For several days I've experienced the kind of sick that makes it hard to lift your arms. That after 2 nights straight of coughing makes it burn to drink water. That turns sweating and chills on and off like a light switch. The kind of sick that is bronchitis.

During this time I've been virtually silent. No conversations. No Television. Virtually no speaking at all. And stillness due to pain. (Admittedly some time online when sleeping was tough). All in all a time to heal and restore. This absence from everywhere, everything and everyone has offered me insight into how special energy is. In a tangible way. And it's made me appreciative of where it comes from.

I have completely taken my energy source for granted. I awake full of energy, and have it kicked up a notch after the first sip of morning coffee. It's not something I think about all that much. And it's not something I run short of very often. But this time I am virtually without. What a contrast to my typical self. I give praise for a body that is normally energized. And for times when I can energize others. I've always been grateful for that.

I take this moment to share my thanks for the energy that is God.

In the middle of the night during a typical cough-fest, I watched this heartfelt re-account given by a Neuroanatomist (brain scientist) of her experience having had a stroke, told recently at the TED conference. Taking nothing away from Jill Bolte Taylor (her talk was spectacular on the surface), I couldn't help but think how so many scientists work their entire career trying to define and describe things within our limited source and scope of understanding. We are limited by time and space. God is not. The TED talk is mesmerizing and emotional, but empty when God is absent from the conversation. Just look to God. That's where it originates.

//BarryBlog// : Medicated and Missing

Several days of quiet, as BarryBlog will be medicated and missing. Chills one minute, sweating and 102 fever the next. Chalk one up for Bronchitis, and if the test comes in Tuesday...Influenza. This after being out a few days a few weeks ago with stomach flu.

So dig into the archives for January 2008, February 2008, or March 2008. Or listen to some Zero 7 in a pop up window. Or take a check at my friend Dean's new blog. If you're the praying type, drop one my way. I have coughed so much in the last three days it actually hurts to drink water. Nice.

Depression Press: the Cure for Depression

Blacksmith, Newsboy, Shoe-shiner, Letter-smasher, and fellow Rural Illinois designer and letterpress printer extroirdinare Kent Henderson of Depression Press knocks 'em out of the park in so many ways. While I generally avoid politics on BarryBlog, I cannot help but to share his Pop-politics Flickr set. His Print-Shop set is equally awesome. As is his typecase set. But perhaps the most impressive images are the ones of his workshop. Every designer's dream. A barn out back. Loaded with lead. Ready to roll. Bravo Kent. I hope to own one of his letterpress posters soon. After the adoption.

(I can hear my friends laugh now. There will be no money after the adoption. Yeah I know.)

Almost forgot. Check out his creative direction website here, and his print shop here.

COMPFIGHT: Searching Flickr™ Quickr

Several times in the past I've posted on web tools and Flickr related tag tools that utilize the Flickr API, that allow you to interface with the Flickr community of photos quicker and more intuitively. Enter COMPFIGHT. Another such tool, but this one is especially special.

As Ryan states on his developer page, he and Brian's approach allows a direct click to high resolution images, bypasses four flickr™ interfaces. I am super impressed with COMPFIGHT. It just makes sense, and it has filters such as safe search, seek original, Creative Commons, and a roll over option for pixel dimensions. I have always found Flickr to be a chore. I am a Flickr Pro user, and love it completely, but always hoped they would redesign at some point to address their clunky interface. COMPFIGHT is a step in the right direction. Compfight isn't affiliated with flickr™, but as their page states, "it makes good use of the flickr™ API."

Thanks Ryan and Bryan.

crgslst: the Superheros of Interface Design

crgslst allows you to search for items faster using craiglist's existing rss feeds to pull data from multiple cities. It is a huge timesaver, and it makes me wonder why the boys at Craigslist haven't atleast tried to make their interface more useful over the years. The superheros behind crgslst do not allow you to poll aggregate city searches to avoid burdening craigslist, which is the reason the previously wonderful listpic was shut down, if I have my story straight here.

Jen's Distracted.

Previously I shared how Ben Workman is Desperate. Now I must tell you that Jen's distracted. And like Ben's predicament, it sounds like you can learn something about yourself from her distraction. I know I did. Jen shares...

He delights in mercy and overflows with grace. He likes to give us good things–deserving or not. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When we were yet without strength…Christ died for the ungodly. Death as a gift. The gift that brings life. I love the paradoxes of truth.

( via finding jen's view )

709 Finds. More Liquidation items.

More items which will be on the chopping block as soon as I finish photography and pricing. Especially interesting as I recently read this and this.

Architect Zaha Hadid: Eli Broad Art Museum

Hardly believed my ears when I heard mega famous architect Zaha Hadid was going to design a USA venue, and when I heard it was going to replace the building where I taught design for a semester on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing Michigan, I had to do a double take. But it's true. Hadid will be designing the $40 million Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum.

A “major work of lasting intellect and beauty at far less than the price of a good Picasso. So you got a bargain.” — Architectural critic and competition organizer Joseph Giovannini

Read the story that the entire architectural world is talking about here from Lansing City Pulse.

Architectural Record Coverage here. NYTimes Coverage Here. Media Bistro Coverage here.

Takagi Masakatsu: Sound of Light

I thank Tina at swissmiss for introducing me to this great video from Takagi Masakatsu called Sound of Light. She credits Christina for the same. I recommend checking out swissmiss. Tina was one of the original inspirations for my own blog back in 2006, and her's is still one of my favorites. She got me hooked on recording the things I find of interest, in the interest you too may find it, well, interesting. I think this video is.

New Flickr Set: Mid-Century Modern Objects

This is a set of images I took to continue to improve as a photographer and also as we prepare to open our etsy store and eBay some items to raise money in continued preparation for our adoption. If you want to see any of the images larger, click the "link" button in the pictobrowser interface. Some of the portrait/vertical shots get lost behind the pictobrowser interface.

50 ways to become a better designer

R_E_P_O_S_T: United Kingdom design magazine Computer Arts approached 17 leading designers for their wisdom concerning every stage of the design process, from ideas and planning, through to best practice and software skills, and finally putting the finishing touches on their work. They also asked each to reveal their worst experiences, and how they turned them to their advantage. Read all 50 here.

( via Churchmarketingthatsucks )

KANNER Architects: Mid-Century "Next."

KannerArchitects are amazing in that I see a distinctively mid-century design influence woven throughout their design thinking and approach, yet through their entire body of work I see a glimpse into the future. To me, KANNER's work represents "What's Next" in architecture.

Situated in Santa Monica (by my former Ph.D and longtime fav and new airconditioned Clive and Fellow Michael), they draw on the "climate, innovation and diversity" of their Southern Californian surroundings. They "take into consideration the seasons and how light changes during the passage of the day" as a significant part of their design thinking. As a result, Kanner's work is decidedly modern, timeless and warm. Their work is conscious of and respectful towards site, budget, conservation and an inventive use of materials.

I've found all their work to be full of wit and personality. An appropriate extension of it's surroundings for sure, but serving important roles of adding, inspiring and energizing those who interact with these spaces.

If I could hire anyone to communicate through architecture what I consider interesting and inspirational, I would choose KANNER hands down. Though they design their share of big budget projects, I'm most impressed by what they've done with their more modest ones, like the United Oil and Gas Station (which if the site wasn't all designed all in Flash, I would link to on the KANNER site).

They have a full service graphic design team too. Man, would that be a dream job! Big shout out to Kanner. I'm a fan.

Design Journal Archives (1965-74)

R_E_P_O_S_T: Absolute jackpot, incorporating two of my many favorite things...mid-century modern style and graphic design.

Design Online is a digital library of Canada's Design Journal for the years 1965 to 1974. You can browse the journals, or enter keywords.

Amazing.

Knoll International: Charles Pollack Chairs (2)

The same day I came across all 8 of these Herman Miller Time Life Chairs, I also found two of these Knoll International Executive Arm Chairs designed by Charles Pollock. One might assume I am made of money, but au contraire. Although the Knoll price list (3.3 mb PDF) shows these retailing new between $2,000-2,900.

During the last month or so I have been using one of these in my home office, and you know what? The Knoll Pollack chair is really comfortable. Time permitting, I may attempt the extra research on designer Charles Pollack as I have Warren Snodgrass in the past, to find out what went into the thinking and the design of this wonderful chair. I already discovered Pollack worked with George Nelson's office and went to Pratt. If I find out more, I'll share that here.

Worth note is the very 70's Retro upholstery. It has really grown on me when you consider my penchant for a late 50's, mostly 60's interior, decorative art and furniture look. I am sure the current 70's collectors will enjoy the look.

More Herman Miller Eames Yumminess

Introducing my newest thrift furniture finds – two fixed height Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Group Soft Pad Management Chairs (pictured above), plus it's big brother, the Soft Pad with swivel and adjustable height (not pictured). I picked them up this weekend. The big brother is my new home office chair, the two fixed height chairs will be on eBay soon. I also bought a Herman Miller Eames Aluminum Group Soft Pad Lounge Chair at a garage sale last year for $10. My crib is starting to look a bit like a Herman Miller showroom. Here's to hoping some day I'll find a classic bent ply lounge chair and ottoman at a garage sale!

All three of these new chairs from this weekend have just 4 legs–the most vintage and desirable configuration that thanks to OSHA in 1990, all changed to 5 leg versions. 4 leg versions are no longer made. Aside from my original Eames Time Life chairs, which will also be on eBay soon, these chairs are second to none. And don't forget my work chair.

I often wonder what the dot-com Aeron chair is like. Though not vintage or classic looking enough for me (like the Aluminum group), I understand it too is an awesome chair.

If you like Herman Miller stuff, I recommend a group I belong to. Check out the Flickr Herman Miller group, moderated by shawnwall. His the ranch series is amazing. You might also enjoy the Eames Flickr group. If you're into Mid-Century Modern interiors, you'll enjoy Stewf's group, Mid-Century Modern Interiors. Stewf owns and operates the great midcenturymodern.com. Stewf did a nice write up on me a month back or so.

Those links should burn a few hours away. Enjoy.

Mid-Century Modern Interior and Objects

Spin through the photos above. They were taken for a variety of reasons. For one, I am using my Canon Digital Rebel 300D more and more, and this was more practice. Secondly, much of these shots are for use as I go to sell this stuff. Not all, but some. And last, these photos are just plain fun to look at, and a big portion of BarryBlog readers respond to posts I have about such things. Plus, and perhaps the most important reason to me, and the reason I started BarryBlog in the first place, is because I'm enthusiastic about craftsmanship, charm, and innovations of the past, and so I share these mostly vintage treasures so you can appreciate them as well.