San Francisco just rolled out its SFPark system in eight pilot neighborhoods. SFPark uses sensors in parking spots to detect when they’re occupied. Using the SFPark website or iPhone app, citizens can see exactly where the free spaces are, as well as their exact price. Then, beginning this summer, the city will actually start changing the price of parking spaces based on demand. Rates will change as often as once a month, dropping to as little as $.25 per hour in places where demand is low and rising to as much as $6.00 per hour on the most congested city blocks.
You Took My Name is yet another interesting logo project we had the pleasure of coming across as of late.
In the artists’ words:
“We’re working on a series of paintings that strip famous logos back to their basic graphic forms. Creating pieces that we think are artworks in their own right.”
It’s unclear as to whether repurposed logos constitute “artworks in their own right”, but regardless, this study of highly recognizable brands is worth a view. For the entire series, check this.
Every year CPNB (Collective Promotion Dutch Literature) organizes Dutch Book Week with the aim of promoting Dutch literature, and every year a specific genre is profiled. This year: Autobiography. The official theme is ‘GeschrevenPortretten’, or in other words, ‘Written Portraits’.
Ad agency Van Wanten Etcetera commissioned Souverein to fashion a number of sculptural book ‘portraits’ which bare the likeness of each of the esteemed autobiographers. Included among them are Anne Frank, Vincent Van Gogh, Louis Van Gall and Kader Abdolah.
Sappi Fine Paper North America is now accepting entries for their Ideas That Matter grant program. They started the program “to recognize and support designers who donate their time and talent to create communications materials for a wide range of charitable activities.” Applications for proposals must be postmarked by July 15. To find out more, you know the drill.
In an effort to assist Japan in their momentous healing and rebuilding efforts, The British Red Cross, in combination with the Egg-Bot and a select group of artists offer the Eastern Egg. Not only do all proceeds go towards the BRC’s Japan Tsunami Appeal, but donors may get the chance to watch their egg being printed (by the Egg-Bot itself) via webcam.
We may have slept on this one, but IBM’s centennial film which outlines their evolution and accomplishments is most definitely worth a view. Pay close attention to their thinking on design 6 minutes in. Enjoy.
We rather like Akin Bilgic’s SF Mirrors Project. The function is antithesis of advertising billboards and posters in which companies constantly remind us that we are hopelessly incomplete without their their goods/services. The uplifting messages on these mirrors are designed to “spread a bit of random happiness” to the good people of San Francisco as they go about their days, and nights.
