Our most recent piece: An on-line flash exhibit for the Poetry Foundation of Chicago, which allows users to explore the history of the city through poetry. Narrated by NPR’s Scott Simon, users can either view the entire tour on-line or download the downtown audio podcasts and walking map for an in-person adventure.
Time-Lapse from our studio window looking to the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.
Thanks to Juan for the video setup
This interview - article gave me the opportunity to express some thoughts about the present and future of Sourcelab so I thought to share an excerpt and rough translation of it. Original online version is here.
…He arrived in New York in the worst time, September 2001. “After the 11th, the city felt like it was in a hibernation process and months went by before I could actually celebrate my arrival”. Nevertheless he got acquainted in the design and technology graduate program at Parsons School of Design, where he excelled and was featured among the 10 best graduates of his class.
The difficult part came after. After some time freelancing for AOL, Deutsche Interactive and Imaginary Forces among others, he realized that he needed more involvement in projects. “I wanted to lead my own projects and be involved with clients in greater creative challenges”, he remembers.
In 2005 he formed Sourcelab (http://sourcelab.us) with Juan Sanabria, a partner he met at Parsons. They both were interested in museums, the arts and education and the non-for-profit world. “In this niche there is the opportunity to be a bridge between the science world and the arts from the design perspective, and not only on paper but also in multiple media and environmental installations”
His objective is to position Sourcelab among the best design studios in New York and collaborate with the most innovative entities in the field of art and technology. “I am interested in long life learning and being able to respond in an exceptional manner to problems of communicating knowledge in ever more effective and engaging ways”
I just finished reading a short but good interview about celebrity and design with Stefan Sagmeister. It was one of those articles that I would ususally skim but somehow I felt I needed to read through. It reminded me to take notice of how design can be born from the small thoughts and notes that I write in my journal.
It’s from this blog http://www.ideasonideas.com/
Last night we run the Gowanus Salon at Sourcelab’s Studio. The projects were diverse and really good. Thanks to all who made it to the Salon we are looking forward to the next one somewhere in mid August.
Gowanus Salon I - June 25th 2008
Presenters:
Amrita Desgupta
Brian Ballantine
Flavio Bagioli
Jonah Warren
Mike Mabes
Marc Urselli
Juan Sanabria
Clara Sala
Singularity Studio
Fang Yu Li
Mateo Zlatar
Pilar Ortiz
Amanda Dora - Girl Friday
We had a party, and we had a bunch of spare 7oz plastic cups.
They proved to be too big to fit snuggly on a standard cyclone fence, but nevertheless it was great to have an approach to work with physical pixels.
More images after clicking the image
Design can take many forms. Note the roof top ornament.
I was driving on 4th avenue here in Brooklyn and I pulled up next to this “mobile art installation” and I couldn’t resist taking a picture.
I’m not sure where this guy is from but on the side it says “Amelia Brooklyn”. If anyone researches this let us know what you find out.
Juan
I’m intrigued by Simile. It allows anyone with a little HTML experience to create their own google map mashup. The mashup samples on the Simile website are fairly sophisticated and they show the potential types of data that can be used.
I’ve yet to create my own mapshup but after reviewing their tutorial it does not seem too difficult. Now I just need to come up with something to represent and I’ll be on my way to mashup mania.
Here is the link: http://simile.mit.edu/exhibit/
Juan
@ Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.
Saturday April 26, 10pm - late
We got a studio (now facing the canal!). We want to share it. Come over and sip some with us, there is good sound system, friends and a digital fireplace to gather around.
98 4th street, Brooklyn NY 11231
Suite 208 (buzzer 24)
for more details see this custom google map
View Larger Map
or remember this:
Use the F train to Carroll St station in Brooklyn. Exit frontmost exit, walk 1 block and make a left on 4th street, walk two blocks and ring buzzer….
As you have probably noticed everywhere around New York, the city we live in has a logo. People have reacted with mixed feelings, many saying its “clunky” and “mean”. Designed by Wolf Ollins (who also suffered a shower of hate when his London 2012 identity was unveiled) and commisioned by NYC & Company, the official tourism organization for the city, the fact is all citywide public agencies have adopted the logo, and it can be seen everywhere from Taxis to public health campaings.
I think the bold, mean, square based shapes of the logo do a good job in reflecting the essence of the city in many ways. Its not anymore about the idealized city people want to think of, but its about reflecting the real quality of life in a bold, square and mean megapolis.
