Creativebits Blog
Opera mocks the Google Chrome ad
First, watch the original Google Chrome ad if you haven't seen it yet.
And, here is Opera making fun of Google.
Oh, and the funny part is — Opera is doing it on Google's very own YouTube.
McCann ACD/Flash Enthusiast Sends Message to Steve Jobs
McCann creative Mat Bisher is conducting an "experiment" as he calls it that's a reaction to Apple's lack of Flash support and a message to Steve Jobs all in one. Here's Bisher's explanation:
Self-employment advice for designers
Read 15 pieces of advice if you're thinking of “going it alone" from David Airey author of Logo Design Love.
Drainspotting: Japanese Manhole Covers
Adapted from Drainspotting: Japanese Manhole Covers (Mark Batty Publisher)
By Remo Camerota
When traveling, we typically look up and around, admiring architecture and skylines, people watching and deciphering menus. Seldom do we look down at our feet. But in Japan, scanning the streets for a colorful and delightful array of manhole covers has become a pastime, for both Japanese people and foreigners looking to experience a distinctly Japanese visual phenomenon: “drainspotting.”
In Japan, modern sewer systems began to appear during the late 19th century, though evidence of sewage systems in the country dates back to over 2,000 years ago. Foreign engineers introduced the Japanese to modern, underground sewer systems with above ground access points called manhoru (manholes). At that time, manhole covers utilized the geometric designs similar to those used in other countries. In the 1980s, as communities outside of Japan’s major cities were slated to receive new sewer systems these public works projects were met with resistance, until one dedicated bureaucrat solved the problem by devising a way to make these mostly invisible systems aesthetically appreciated aboveground: customized manhole covers.
This manhole cover depicts a scene from the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, one of Japan’s oldest folk tales.
Read further on Graphics.com
Bright Flags: A New Symbol for Europe
The flag shown above was created in 1955 for the Council of Europe, a precursor to the current European Union. The blue is said to represent the west and the number of stars represents completeness, while their position in a circle represents unity. Satisfying, in a classic kind of way. However, a lot has changed in over 50 years. So much so that Foundation Design Den Haag, which has as its mandate exploring the relationship between design and government in Europe within an international context, from cultural, economic and social viewpoints, decided earlier this year to launch a competition inviting designers worldwide to submit ideas for a new symbol for Europe.
The organizers received a rather astonishing response: 1,400 designs, from 63 countries. An international jury recently chose the twelve winning designs, flags of which will be flying from May 31 until June 6 at Hofvijver, The Hague. There are definitely some ingenious designs amongst the winners, although my favorites are in the runner-up category.
CS5 optionally omits "Copy" on duplicated layers
Photoshop Principal Product Manager John Nack on his blog writes Adobe added an option to the Layers panel flyout menu, making it possible to have Photoshop stop adding the word "copy" to layer names when duplicating layers. The preference is off by default to avoid breaking actions that rely on "copy."