Impressive and Fun Animation

For a recent project based around Saul Bass, I've been really getting into animated opening sequences for movies and stumbled across this. Its a fan-made animation for the upcoming The Adventures of Tintin. Its so good in fact that Steven Spielberg has actually offered creator James Curran a job on a future film... There you are. The powers of the internet.

The Adventures of Tintin from James Curran on Vimeo.

(via A.V. Club)

Texture from Type

Photographed texture

Texture recreated using only type

Description of the original texture: "The soft texture is made up of many grid-like, rectangular bumps, similar to kernels of corn on the cob. Each bump is made up of dozens of small threads that create a nap to the texture. Running a hand down the nap feels smooth and velvety. Running a hand up the nap creates a little more resistance and a fuzzy surface like the coat of a short-haired dog. Then, each thread is more noticeable as they brush against skin."

In recreating the texture with only type, I used 25 layers in Illustrator. Garamond works well with its serifs occasionally reading as loose bits of thread sticking out of the fabric. The typeface's humanist strokes of subtly varying widths and angled serifs and strokes helps to portray the looseness of fabric. A sans-serif, slab-serif, or even modern typeface may have been too machined, rigid, or structured to give off the feeling of fabric.

Type has the potential to do a surprisingly large amount of what photographic images can do. It can communicate depth, texture, space, color, lighting, etc. With enough type and enough painstakingly long hours upon hours upon days upon weeks... I don't see why type couldn't finally achieve the photorealism of a photograph. The only problem is that the computer might explode before that point.

Scale: Giant Sculptures

It must be very impressive (and possibly intimidating) to stand in front of these sculptures of objects and people in larger-than-life scales. I think their largeness is exaggerated further by the fact that each of the sculptures are modeled after subjects that viewers recognize and are used to seeing at a certain, smaller scale.

(via The First Post)

Conceptual Earthscraper

These are some designs and models of a conceptual earthscraper, an upside-down skyscraper. Its purpose is to offer additional work and living space in the center of Mexico City without hogging up the skyline. Needless to say: it's an insanely cool idea. The areas of space from top to bottom would go Aztec museum (first ten floors), retail,  apartments and then businesses. Now, the glass floor (see also: ceiling) is made to allow light from the outside to filter throughout the structure, but somehow I doubt those businesses at the bottom are getting much sunlight. I think I'll stick to living and working aboveground, thanks. The museum and retail spaces, on the other hand, do look like they'd make for a fantastic tourist attraction. For now, though, its only a concept.

Yes, the glass is designed to be walked on. Not good for those afraid of heights... or of falling the 50+ stories below. I hope its sturdy.

(via Geekologie)

Type: more from Axel Peemoeller

When I was looking at Axel Peemoeller's awesome parking garage way-finding, I noticed some more interesting work with type. Above is some cool type made from what appears to be torn paper. Below are some magazine ads for cars. They're a bit creepy as well, but I'm fascinated with how the letterforms interact with their environments.

(via Axel Peemoeller)

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(Axel Peemoeller Car Ads)

Texture

Navigation: Axel Peemoeller

This way-finding design in a Melbourne parking garage clearly states where you should be going and yet, just thinking about all the thought process that went into its creation is absolutely mind-boggling.

(via Neu Black)