Google Knol

So the much awaited Wikipedia killer 'Knol' from Google has finally arrived, but to little hype.

Write Great Google Knols is a pretty good blog for people interested to know more about Google Knol, that is full of articles, advice and news. Of particular interest is the fact that Google are now both content and an advertising distributor, and so to watch will be how their own content is favored within Google search results. It may be an interesting platform for driving traffic, but from what I have gleaned about the site is that it is more like the blogger platform, but for individual articles rather than peope that want to write multiple articles on a subject as they would normally do with a blog.

What Do People Think About Your Brand?

This is pretty fun/interesting. A site where you can both browse tag clouds of perception of consumer opinion of brands. Site visitors to Brand Tag are the generators of the opinion, so I do not know how indicative of general opinion the info would be, but interesting none the less.

Go to the homepage, where you will be confronted with a random brand logo, to which you are asked to submit the first word that comes into your head. Select the rather confusing link 'whatever it is they say a brand is' link to browse the brands that have been tagged.

Rumplo - Social T-Shirt Shopping

Shopping for great t-shirts just got a whole lot easier. Rumplo is a social shopping community that's focus is on specialist and artist created t-shirts. The community uploads it's favorite designs from around the world, all with links to stores where the tees can be bought online. It is only a few weeks old, but already is host to hundreds of interesting designs.

Here are some of my favorites, by Your Eyes Lie, a UK collective of designers. Other designs that I liked can be seen on my Rumplo profile.

Other good t-shirt sites are Emptees and historical favorite Threadless

Ping Mag - Read with caution

I was just sent a link to this online magazine/blog 'PingMag' by Eoghan (thanks!!). This site looks so packed full of amazing articles. Check it out. I am curious about the 'Thrill Designer', Brendon Walker who proposes a theme park based on plane crashes, as well as an interview with the authors of the core memory project, a visual survey of vintage computers. This site is going to become one of my regulars I can imagine!




An image from the Core Memory Project.

TV Gets Socially Networked

Social networking has merged with TV program file sharing to in the form of TOITI.com. The new social network merges Web 2.0 technology with the world of TV and film downloads (both legal and illegal), making it super easy to find that elusive episode of your favorite show. TIOTI doesn’t actually serve the actual files for download, but it does aggregate links to the files.

It take the mess out of searching as the site sorts all programs by category, with associated series and episode linked. It also adds all the benefits of social networks—users get the chance to review programs, read comments from other members, get recommendations, and join groups based on viewing preferences.

Keep an eye out for this site—it will no doubt come under the eye of TV companies. The question is, will the industry try to fight it, or will they embrace it?

Start downloading here!

Illustration Mundo

This is a really good site for browsing illustrators portfolios. My only complaint is that you can only see one small image of peoples work, without having to link out to their own sites.

Check out Illustration Mundo

No Name Magazine - First Print Edition

The first printed version of No Name Magazine is set to be released on 21st February. Each three months NNM presents the work of contemporary artists, art directors, graphic designers, illustrators, photogrpahers, performers, stylists and fashion designers. Each issue is centred around a single concept that is expressed by the various contributors. Started in 2003 as an online gallery, it now counts more than 800 collaborations.

A back catalogue of previous editions can be viewed here.

Rollout - Wallpaper Design

Stuck for how to decorate the walls of your new appartment or office? Look no further that Rollout that have some beautiful wall coverings and can also take your own super creative ideas and make them into a wallcovering reality.

This Canadian creative studio designs and prints custom single, or low run wallpapers. They feature the works of a variety of graphic artists and illustrators. The agency was born out of the need for graphic expression in the interior design industry.

According to Rollout - "Gone are the days of slick minimalism. Texture, expression, emotion, and color have filled the gaping hole left by modernism. We represent a culture of creativity and warmth that denies conformity."

Relying on community-based recruitment, ROLLOUT constantly hunts for exciting ideas from any inspiration. Illustration, photography, graphic design, and industrial design provide media; the walls provide the medium.

Check their designs here...

Cover Pop Music Visualiser

A beautiful flash animation that generates music and visuals based on variants of simple mathematical algorithms.

View here.

Vallery - Now Open

Barcelona is home to a new must see destination for people interested in art and creativity. The new Vallery gallery/shop, located in the centre of Barcelona, is host to exhibitions and has a store featuring clothes, accessories, toys and books from outstanding talents from around the world. If you can't make it to Barcelona, then you can still indulge in a little shopping from their online store.

Vallery is an initiative of the Spanish creative design agency Vasava. It just so happens that the Vasava boys also have their home in the back of the gallery!.

The inaugeral exhibition of Vallery is Make a Fuss, by Non-Format.

Visit site...

Plan59 - Retro American Illustration Museum

This site is an insanely rich and extensive archive of illustrations and photographs of American cars, trucks, advertising, fruit crate art and interior design. Plan59 must be one of the most extensive collections of retro commercial art online and is a useful research tool for anyone interested in design through the 50's and 60's. The images are available to buy online, or you can order prints of a vast selection of images.

Visit the site.

Vitamin Product Design

With a product range which spans from ceramics, furniture, and now sports accessories, Vitamin puts it's own fresh spin on any product. Whether it's free-standing lamps that double as carpet sweepers, vases with integrated ashtrays or table lights which keep your cup of tea warm, Vitamin produces extra-ordinary products that hopefully make their owners' lives a little less ordinary.

Vist their site for more...

Current TV - Television made by the viewer

Current is a new cable and satellite TV channel that is about 'what is going on'. Real world stories that for the most part are created by the viewers themselves. Current call it VC2 - view created content.

Content creators upload their videos to the Current website, where viewers vote for and choose who should be shown on air. The programmes are made up of PODs, just a few minutes long.

Current is host to some interesting partner programmes with Flavorpill, Sony and Toyota where users can also create adverts for the channel.

Google appear to be making their own TV show for the channel, that airs every 30 mins. Each episode decribes interesting facts about what people are searching for around a vast variety of subjects.

Where Current stands out is in providing a TV experience, but engaging with the viewers in as true a sense is possible. Creating an interactive experience that should provide better quality viewing than browsing YouTube, but being just as compelling.

Check out Current TV.

Flavorpill - Budweiser Select Artistic Collaboration

Flavorpill, the email magazine has for the US based edition of it's 'cultural simulae' mailer launched a project with Budweiser Select. The banners for a couple of months are turned over to the creative talents of a series of international artists and illustrators, with a new individual designing the banners each week. The result is 'advertising' that is easy on the eye and inspiring for the reader. The artworks are available as downloadable desktops. Featured artists include Adhemas, Rachel Domm, Oksana Badrak and Italian based English illustrator Andy Ward, (featured above).

The final part of the project sees the public vote for their favorite artwork.

Check out the project at Select Flavor.

Jonathan Harris

Profile to come...

Maison Martin Margiela - New Site Launch

Maison Martin Margiela, the Paris based fashion house has recently launched a completely redesigned web site.

More to come...

www.maisonmartinmargiela.com

Halloween Site For Loft

Japanese brand Loft have launched a Halloween themed site to promote what looks like a fashion collection - I can't quite fathom it out, but it is a stunning site. Beautiful intro with comic style graphics and video of the models wearing the clothes. This very successfully presents the products in an extremely emotive way. The site has been created by Japanese agency CMD9.

Vice Magazines Guide To Travel

Spike Jonze, Johnny Knoxville and David Cross gallivanting all over the world and looking for trouble. Gun markets of Pakistan, radioactive Chernobyl, the Congo, and lots of other resort-like paradises to present gonzo journalism at its absolute best. The DVD will hit stores Oct. 3

Second Life

Electric Artists collaborating with Electric Sheep have developed a special virtual world preview of the Aloft Hotel chain's latest hotels within Second Life.

More at IF at PSFK.com

Some Illustrators

Some illustrators to check out...

http://www.dutchuncle.co.uk/
bigactive.com
illustrationmundo.com
artshole.co.uk
the heart agency
blackconvoy.com