Hello, I'm Tara Mann. I like design, technology, and space exploration.
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Khoi Vinh: The Creative Opportunity
“A unique confluence of technology, economics and societal trends has changed the game for designers who yearn to be entrepreneurs. Now more than ever design is the difference-maker in solving problems, and now more than ever it’s possible to create the kinds of businesses only designers can dream up. In this talk, designer, entrepreneur, author and former New York Times design director Khoi Vinh explores the trends that led him to cofound Mixel, the creative network for people who don’t think of themselves as artists.”Going to see Khoi Vinh speak tonight, happiness abounds. -
WindowsPhoneLand: Day 1
So, I got a Windows Phone yesterday. It’s hard to believe if you know me, right? But I must mention that I ALSO have an iPhone 4S, so this is not a replacement, just an addition. Anyways, due to a semi-random series of events, and an intense curiosity about life with a different mobile OS, I dove in headfirst. I’ve had an iPhone for the past four years, and the lack of serious innovation within iOS irks me, at least on a very surface level.
Basically, I’m bored.
From a design standpoint, I’m very impressed with the Windows 7.5 (Mango) interface. As oppose to Apple’s heavy use of gradients and drop shadows, Mango takes an entirely different stance on its UI. The homescreen contains tiles, living on an adjustable grid. These tiles, as well their icons, are flat, with just one accent color and knocked out text. Typography is used as not only an informative element, but is central to the success of the design. Complimenting the minimal iconography are various animated actions that are subtle enough to not be annoying, yet interesting enough to make me think, “hey, that’s smooth.” In terms of functionality, it does everything I do on my iPhone. So while that partially competent virtual assistant, Siri, may not live inside, it doesn’t matter because I never use her.
While there are apps in the “Marketplace,” there certainly aren’t as many as in the Apple App Store. The essentials are all there of course, Twitter, Facebook, CNN, but why no mobile banking? (Correct me if I’m wrong, as I’m still a newbie, and definitely correct me if there’s a native Chase app) I do find, that as an iPhone user, I do not use more than about five apps on a regular basis. I have dozens of them, but there are almost too many (content/choice overload). I can’t even bother to start sifting through them, so usually I don’t.
I’m still figuring this thing out, and there are definitely settings I have yet to explore. More on that tomorrow….
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Mies van der Rohe.
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Typographic exercise. Clearly I like the silhouettes of suited men.
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Karel Martens.
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By Herbert Bayer, 1924.
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Identical to their original (larger) counterpart, each Vitra Miniature is reduced in size, on a 1:6 basis, using the exact same materials, construction, and finishes.
Find them here.
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Graphik typeface, designed by Christian Schwartz, 2009.
Buy it here.
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Stendig Calendar, by Massimo Vignelli.
Buy your 2012 version here.
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