I try not to post too many models here where there isn’t a clear connection with design, yet I couldn’t keep away from this new collectible statue from Sideshow Collectibles.

It features a Predator on what appears to be an Alien spawned from a horse. Its a slightly new take on the relationship between these two warring cultures and reminds me a little of old warfare such as the Roman times, before ballistics existed.

I’m a fan of both these characters and the fact that this statue stands at 14 inches sounds like it would incorporate lots of stunning detail. But at a price. $250 or in the UK, it will be available for £160.99 from Forbidden Planet. And it won’t be available until early 2009.

Via io9.com

ForbiddenPlanet.com

Technorati Tags: Alien, models, Predator, Predator on Horse, Sideshow Collectibles

The AirPiano is an innovative musical interface which allows the playing and controlling of software instruments simply by moving your hands in the air.

Above the AirPiano is a virtual matrix of keys and faders, each assigned with MIDI messages ready to be triggered. The length of a triggered note is equivalent to the time a hand is placed on the corresponding virtual key, which is also confirmed by LED feedback.

The AirPiano looks quite nice, simple and elegant but how does it feel to play without the tactile quality I’m assuming pianists are used to?

More on AirPiano.de
Via LostAtEMinor

Technorati Tags: Air Piano, design, ideas

Teresa Duck’s series of artworks titled ‘The Emperor of Ice Cream’ really stuck out for me.

I love the nostalgia of ice cream vans and their place in my childhood, as well as the lo-fi, but colourful designs that they can harbour on their bodywork. Great stuff!

Teresa Duck is an artist living and working in Newcastle, where she studied B.A hons fine art at Northumbria University.

She feels that the objects that have become so familiar to us are the ones which have created the most impact upon in our lives. How we relate to these objects and what we associate with them shapes who we are even if we do not always recognise them as doing so.

Via OpusUnderground.com

Technorati Tags: art, ice cream vans, oil painting, Teresa Duck, The Emperor of Ice Cream

Here’s a guy called Deke McClelland rapping out 101 Photoshop Tips in just over five minutes. Eminem he ain’t, but the novelty factor is there.

If you like his style, who knows - you might commit all 101 tips to memory. You know how it is with song lyrics - easy to remember when put with a tune you like.

More on CreativeTechs, who also list out all 101 PhotoShop Tips

Technorati Tags: 101 Photoshop Tips, Deke McClelland, design, PhotoShop tips

The humble toilet receives the makeover treatment as plumbing and drain-cleaning service provider Roto-Rooter create the “Pimped Out John” for their sweepstakes.

A bit excessive but a joy to see, otherwise life would be too boring right? The set-up includes the following:

Philips 20-inch LCD TV and Star Wars DVD
Xbox 360 gaming system
Philips DVD player
Gateway EMachine laptop computer with fully articulated robot arm
iPod with stereo docking station equipped with toilet paper dispenser
Roto-Rooter “emergency” button
Tivo recorder
Avanti refrigerator with beer tap, stocked with drinks and snacks
Magazine rack and subscriptions to Sports Illustrated, ESPN and GQ
Bike pedal exerciser
Cup warmer / cooler

Beats leaving a Gameboy or magazine in there to pass the time.

Via Kotaku.com

Technorati Tags: ideas, interiors, Pimped Out John, pimped out toilet, Roto-Rooter

ACleverCookie compiled a list of their view of the best and worst logo remakes of the century. Makes amusing browsing seeing the before and after.

If you work in design, you’ll know that although you’re employed for your knowledge and experience, the client doesn’t always listen to your advice and sometimes stick to their own (subjective) judgements.

God knows how much some of these redesigns cost. Here are three of my favourites below. Can you guess whether they’ve been given the thumbs up or not?

See more Best and Worst Logo Remakes of the Century

Technorati Tags: design, logos

Josh Hadar makes some impressive bikes by hand. They look a bit like lowrider bikes but just seem to edge beyond that gratuitous paint job, chrome and colour to become objects that just seem a little more raw.

Josh only uses hand tools to create his ’sculptures’, appearing to use intuition as he leverages and hammers his creations into shape thus producing one offs of each design.

I particularly like the heart he’s wrought into the rib cage of this featured piece, which is one from his Johnson Pride Series.

See more on Hadar Metal Design

Via NotCot

Technorati Tags: design, Josh Hadar, metal design

Here’s a bit of a gem - a blog devoted to film title sequences. Each entry is listed in an easy to view left column, with each entry having a series of screenshots and video!

This is quite a reference. Below some of my favourites: 300, Lemony Snicket, The Kingdom and Fight Club

Art of the Title - A blog for film title sequences

Via Style.com

Technorati Tags: film, title sequences

For the strict rules web designers among you, here is a Golden Ratio Calculator to get your proportions right.

Type in a figure for the width and it will tell you what the split is between two columns in order to get that perfect golden ratio.

Golden Ratio Calculator

Technorati Tags: calculator, Golden Ratio Calculator

Lee Vidal’s PhotoShop experiments produced the following ideas, which place retro graphics in real life scenarios.

It’s a nice, simple idea - one that is obvious in some ways, but I haven’t seen it before.

On the one hand, the designer in me would revel in the ease at which the pixellated graphics could be cut out cleanly to be superimposed on a photographic background. On the other, there could be a challenge in combining the blocky, retro bitmap style with the realistic photographic image.

Lee, under the moniker RETROnoob does a good job though.

Retronoob on Deviantart

Via

Technorati Tags: ideas, illustration, retro, retro games