Sourcelab Design Log

We have been following Mashable for a while.. (mostly in the...

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:44:23 -0400

We have been following Mashable for a while.. (mostly in the form of Facebook Status Updates) and I must say: They know everything is going on the so-called “Social Media” online world, basically covering news about Web 2.0, social networks, services, new web technologies, etc.

The Mennahatta Project (mapping NY in 1609) Have you ever...

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:18:23 -0400

The Mennahatta Project (mapping NY in 1609)

Have you ever wondered what New York was like before it was a city? Find out here, by navigating through the map below to discover Manhattan Island and its native wildlife in 1609.

http://themannahattaproject.org/explore/mannahatta-map/

In the past few weeks, I’ve been stuck staring at this new...

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:52:04 -0400

In the past few weeks, I’ve been stuck staring at this new MTA warning sticker, and I couldn’t help finding out why. There is something really funky going on on the text visual “rhytm”. Being 2009 one just assumes the message was composed on a computer and sent as a digital file to the final output “original” (Stencil, Silkscreen, or whatever printing method they used) but if you analize the individual letters, it is clear that the letter “o” has been rotated 90 degrees. The text below (A) shows the message composed in Helvetica Bold, and (B) the same message but with the “o” manually rotated.

What is going on at MTA graphic department? Could it really be that in 2009 someone had to compose the message manually, letter by letter on an analog original? This can’t be the case! Maybe an MTA graphic designer is waiting for this blog post to laugh out loud….

Time-Lapse video, 1 pic per minute. Looking out to the Gowanus...

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:41:09 -0400

Time-Lapse video, 1 pic per minute. Looking out to the Gowanus Canal Area from Sourcelab’s Studio, Brooklyn NY

Schulze & Webb’s hybrid map. Awesome article on...

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:45:49 -0400

Schulze & Webb’s hybrid map. Awesome article on “modern” mapping (thanks Josie!)

Chicago Poetry Tour

Mon, 18 May 2009 23:58:00 -0400

Chicago Poetry Tour: Our most recent piece: An on-line flash exhibit for the Poetry Foundation of...

Time-Lapse from our studio window looking to the Gowanus Canal...

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:51:59 -0400

Time-Lapse from our studio window looking to the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.

Thanks to Juan for the video setup

Designers know it, but usually clients don’t… Thanks...

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:59:27 -0500

Designers know it, but usually clients don’t… Thanks to Brian Ballantine for sharing this great article about usability and how text messages are sometimes as harmful as bad interface designs.

We are responsible for the shattered forms in freedom on the...

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:43:00 -0400

We are responsible for the shattered forms in freedom on the current header of Madrid-based fancine, blog about architecture SKFANDRA.

An article about Mateo in chilean press

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:48:00 -0400

This interview - article gave me the opportunity to express some thoughts about the present and...

I just finished reading a short but good interview about...

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:39:00 -0400

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....

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:09:25 -0400

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...

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:01:00 -0400

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...

Wed, 21 May 2008 16:02:00 -0400

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...

Fri, 16 May 2008 15:45:00 -0400

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

Building Sourcelab’s Studio: Tracing projected vectors...

Sat, 03 May 2008 12:20:00 -0400

Building Sourcelab’s Studio: Tracing projected vectors with tape on the wall. More on the process here on Flickr.

Sourcelab Open Studio Night @ Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn....

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:01:00 -0400

Sourcelab Open Studio Night

@ 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….

openstudio set at Flickr

As you have probably noticed everywhere around New York, the...

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:24:05 -0400

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.

World Stats

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:01:00 -0400

We thought the Gallup website was worth sharing. For something so full of stats and numbers we...

Google maps continues to improve and there are many mashups out...

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:19:13 -0400

Google maps continues to improve and there are many mashups out that provide great functionality on a number of topics. However, I was struck by something as I looked for a hotel Denver. I wanted stay in Denver and not rent a car. Is that even possible in a city designed around the car? I mean this is not New York but there must still be a public transport system and good areas to walk around.

What I want is a general travel and hotel booking system that gives contextual ratings for hotels based on how easy it is to get around without a car. For this interface section, a listing could have 5 icons of a “crossing sign” person - for a place that is within a 3 minute walk of a major transit link - or 1 icon for a hotel that is totally inacessable without a car.