99% Invisible (What I Learned This Week)

Last week I mentioned the discovery of a new podcast called 99% Invisible. Well, this week I went on a binge listening to all their 40+ released podcasts so far (they are short, wonderful and easy to get hooked on). These are some of the things I learned from the podcasts: 

• The US Postal Service has only five art directors responsible for the design of all stamps produced. The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee combs through nearly 50,000 suggestions per year offered by the general public for stamp designs. And yes, the submissions must be submitted in writing. You need a stamp to get a stamp done. 
• The Wheaton escalator, in one of DC’s metro stations, takes 3 minutes to ride. It is the world’s longest escalator. 
• The Hydrox cookie was launched 4 years before Oreo. It is made with better ingredients and yet we think of it as the lesser brand. 
• The Olympics have a sound designer on staff. 
• Privately Owned Public Open Spaces, or POPOS, are these little gardens, terraces, plazas, and seating areas that are private property, but are mandated for public use.

The Three Little Pigs As Breaking News

Looking at things from new perspectives is a key part of what it means to be creative. Seeing classic stories we know very well from new points of view is always revealing, not only about the story but about our opinions as well. So far I’ve shared twists on Snow White and The Wizard of Oz. Today we get a fantastic retelling of The Three Little Pigs in an ad for The Guardian that unravels the story as it demonstrates what it means to break news online and print in an age of #opennews.

Made by Hand: The Beekeeper

A project from http://bureauofcommongoods.com, Made by Hand is a new short film series celebrating the people who make things by hand—sustainably, locally, and with a love for their craft. Local farmer Megan Paska has witnessed beekeeping as it morphed from an illegal (and possibly crazy) habit to a sustainable, community-supported skill. Mirroring beekeeping’s own ascendance, she found more than just a living: “This is the first time in my life when I’ve just felt absolutely on the right path.” director-producer KEEF director of photography JOSHUA KRASZEWSKI editor MATT SHAPIRO title design MANDY BROWN colorist ANDY WITKOWSKI music ALESSANDRO CORTINI sound recordist ROBERT ALBRECHT re-recording mixer NICHOLAS MONTGOMERY assistant re-recording mixer JOHN GUMAER additional camera ELIAS RESSEGATTI & ADAM ORELLANA special thanks MEGAN PASKA / BROOKLYN HOMESTEADER ANNIE NOVAK / GROWING CHEFS EAGLE STREET ROOFTOP FARM CREW CUTS www.thisismadebyhand.com www.brooklynhomesteader.com www.growingchefs.org www.rooftopfarms.org http://sonoio.org/ www.crewcuts.com

Made by Hand is a new short film series celebrating the people who make things by hand — sustainably, locally, and with a love for their craft. So far we’ve seen The Distiller and The Knife Maker. Today we meet The Beekeper. 

Local farmer Megan Paska has witnessed beekeeping as it morphed from an illegal (and possibly crazy) habit to a sustainable, community-supported skill. Mirroring beekeeping’s own ascendance, she found more than just a living: “This is the first time in my life when I’ve just felt absolutely on the right path.”

Bansky on Art and Advertising

It is strong opinions like these (and he makes very good points) that should motivate all of us that love both art and advertising to evolve both fields with everything we help create.  

​(via thedenveregotist & Neil Gaiman)

Four, A Beautiful Animated Short About The Seasons

Four is a tribute to nature and in particular to the passing of seasons that gives rhythm to all living beings lifetime and nourishes wishes and hope. Four is set in a forest that represents one of the places that is mostly influenced by the changing of colors and shapes, when moving from a season to another. The happening of a new season is described as an awakening and is symbolically represented by the character Spring’s waking up. Spring is a kind of elf and personifies spring.

via InkyMind on vimeo.com

With temperatures in New York City hitting almost 60 degrees during February, this wonderful short reminds us of what proper season changes look like. The environmental details are outstanding. Produced by InkyMind as a tribute to nature and the rhythm of the seasons.