CrocodileJock

NINE cool type games for designers

2011-10-14T04:09:00.001-07:00

This post is a bit of a cheat this, as I have already posted "EIGHT cool type games for designers" ages ago, http://crocodilejock.posterous.com/eight-cool-type-games-for-designers and all the links still work (i've just checked). And they're worth a play, even if you're not a designer! But there's another great one that's doing the rounds on the interwebs, the adictive "kern game" . So that makes NINE. Know any more? Let me know!

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Road legal bumper cars

2011-09-08T01:51:00.001-07:00

A guy in San Diego has built seven street legal cars from old bumper cars from an abandoned amusement park. They're street legal (in California), and pretty cool.

They run on modified motorcyle engines… and one is reputed to have a top speed of 160mph… which just sounds silly to me. 60mph would be scary in one of these!

Although I do like quirky, and I do like small cars, I think on balance, I'd rather have a Morgan Threewheeler… or, ideally, if it gets into production, a Smite.

From DalesDesigns via my twitter pal Purple Karan

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Defusable alarm clock.

2011-09-08T01:25:00.001-07:00

I don't know why these appeal to me so much. Maybe it's because when I was about six or seven, I used to make 'bombs' out of biscuit tins, old batteries and wires I had collected. Probably watching too much Mission Impossible*, DangerMan or The Persuaders. Or maybe it's because the IRA were always on the news.

Luckily, these never left the house, and were quickly dismantled and defused by my parents. They probably weren't quite as convincing as these alarm clocks.

When they start to go off, you have to 'defuse' them. I think the novelty of that could wear off pretty quickly, I don't know if

One word of warning, I wouldn't want to take one of these on a plane. Or the tube. Even posting them is problematic… Actually, if you have the slightest worry that your house may be raided by the old bill, probably best not to get one of these. Maybe stick to the Stephen Fry "Jeeves" alarm.

Originally on Paranoias.org via DesignYouTrust.

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The new Lambretta, and why I'm not posting so much (here) anymore…

2011-08-04T06:16:00.001-07:00

Mostly because I've been bitten by the Lambretta bug, for the second time in my life. For most people, this is an ailment that they get out of their systems in their teens, but for a significant minority, the reinfection can occur at anytime, although it usually strikes in the late 30s or early 40s.

Anyway, I'm posting a lot of stuff over at my Lambretta blog – including the ongoing saga of the new Lambretta LN, a scooter which as I write this, has a uncertain future. The owners of the Lambretta brand name have decided it is a copyright infringement, and not a proper, licensed Lambretta scooter after all. All the controversy, along with a ton of images, a pdf brochure and video are over at the other blog, so if you're at all interested in the rebirth of a style icon, and the difficult delivery it is having (I'll stop the pregnancy analogies now) pop over and see.

In the meantime, Crocodile Jock blog isn't dead, I'm just being a little more discerning about what I post. So if you like it, thank you, stay tuned.

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Typographic Maps of London

2011-08-04T05:57:00.003-07:00

These stunning maps combine two passions of mine, London and Typography. They are by Ursula Hitz, a Swiss born, London based artist and designer. Check out Ursula's website here for more maps, including New York, Paris and Zurich. Or follow her on her blog. Ursula has also designed a range of hand crafted typefaces, available here.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Typographic Maps of London

2011-08-04T05:57:00.001-07:00

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Great comments thread

2011-08-04T01:53:00.001-07:00

Capn, you have mastered the art of the witty put down, go to the top of the class!

From a Cult of Mac article on iPad performance.

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Apple family tree infographic

2011-07-19T03:43:00.001-07:00

Love this infographic by Mike Vasilev so much, I nicked it from Mashable. It's gloriously simple, but there's a lot in there.Although there's a few things missing… the original LaserWriter printers were Apple products, as were the QuickTake digital cameras… anything else?

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Want one of these

2011-07-08T09:35:00.001-07:00

Pencil sharpening will never be the same again.

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Sardine tin cameras

2011-06-17T06:32:00.001-07:00

If you're pockets aren't quite deep enough for a Leica, and you like the idea of Lomography, these Sardine tin cameras might be up your alley.

Inspired by, rather than made from real sardine (and calamares) tins, you can find out more here. Nice website too.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Bookends

2011-06-16T08:57:00.001-07:00

If you like these, you can buy 'em here.

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iCufflinks

2011-06-16T04:27:00.001-07:00

Grab 'em here.

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29 Ways to stay creative

2011-06-10T04:37:00.001-07:00

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Does you logo really need "Holidizing"?

2011-05-20T06:04:00.001-07:00

If you get your logo designed at Logoworks, they will give receive (well you would if you bought it yesterday) a free "holidized" version of it.
Lovely. May I suggest, if you are prepared to mess around with one of your core brand assets like this, Logoworks probably IS the right place to buy a logo.

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Watch this video. Get inspired.

2011-05-20T05:36:00.001-07:00

Kind of reminds me of the premise behind the TV show "Why don't you?"

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Cool iPhone dock/clock radio

2011-05-11T04:22:00.001-07:00

Love the simplicity of this design! Available here

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If logos were honest…

2011-04-18T02:13:00.001-07:00

Reinterpretation of some famous brands logos… by Victor Hertz

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The Tweed Run

2011-04-08T04:33:00.001-07:00

Loved this wonderfully retro poster for the Tweed Run. (Check the date by the way – this weekend if you're in the smoke)

It was created by Zoë Barker, she has a website, natch.

So what is The Tweed Run? Well it's "A metropolitan bike ride with a bi of style – a friendly 10 mile jaunt around the Capital will take in London’s famous sites –– including St Paul’s, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Savile Row –– with a stop for a spot of tea, and ending with a bit of a knees-up out Shoreditch way." As the name suggests, Harris Tweed is more "de rigeur" than lycra… deestalker hats optional. Only in London. It's the third year they've done it, and they're expecting about 400 chaps and chappesses to turn up. It's all for a good cause too… Bikes4Africa is their designated charity.

This all reminds me of a few years ago, when I was sweating and grunting up a big hill on my state-of-the-art 20 gear mountain bike, on the London to Brighton. First I was passed by a couple of blokes on big old posties bikes, having a chat. Then, to rub salt into my wounds a gent cruised past on a PENNY FARTHING. Gods honest.

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You took my name…

2011-04-05T09:08:00.001-07:00

The Dorothy Collective have taken some well known brands, and turned them into art, by A) removing the brand name, and B) putting them on canvas.

If you're working on creating a brand, this is an object lesson in recognisability… if you remove YOUR brand name from the logotype… would you're customers still recognise you?

Food for thought. More on the project on The Dorothy Collective site, here.

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My scooter blog

2011-04-04T09:54:00.001-07:00

I thought the blog was getting a bit bogged down with scooter related posts, so I started another one: Lambrettista, specifically for that kind of thing. You can find it here.

More general design related stuff will still be posted on this site, so stay tuned.

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Crocodile Jock poetry…

2011-03-31T08:06:00.001-07:00

I'm flattered – Jokey Poet has written a "Joem" (joke poem) about Crocodile Jock here… the joke's not bad, I'm not too sure about the poetry (sorry JP)…then again, who am I to judge?But it's very nice that somebody has taken the time to do it! You can read it here.

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The Skoot

2011-03-18T05:52:00.001-07:00

Funny how these things work… after posting about the Voltitude, I came across this folding bike design from Skoot. Although it's a proper bike rather than an electric or "assisted" one, it's a pretty cool design,

I can't find out a lot more about it other than what is written about it on the blog (or journal as he puts it), Mr Porter, and he is featuring a book on iconic bike designs "Cyclepedia" (itself a nicely designed tome on cycle design) rather than the Skoot itself.

The other source of information was here, which fleshes out the story a bit… it was designed by Vincent Fallon, in 2001. Rather beautifully I think. The rationale was to "Ride where you want to go, and fold the Skoot away, in seconds, into its case. Then carry it into offices, restaurants or hotels, or take it further on trains, buses, trams, or taxis. All without hassle, loss of dignity or greasy hands".

At one stage it looked like you could get hold of one from an Essex (UK) based company, Skoot International, for about £850, but their website is no longer up… and the skoot.com name is up for sale. (GREAT brand name for a scooter or citycar, anyone out their "namestorming").

Perhaps it was just a little ahead of it's time. With the resurgence of cycling and commuting in London for example, maybe now the market has caught up.

Know more about the Skoot? Is it still being made? Have you owned one? Get in touch, or leave a comment.

See the full gallery on Posterous

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Swiss Army Scooter!

2011-03-11T03:12:00.001-08:00

Hot on the heels of my post about the FIDO Electric Scooter, here's another cool concept that references another iconic brand. Taking more design cues from the classic Swiss Army Knife, and Brompton folding bikes than a Vespa or Lambretta, I think the Volitude is a nifty looking little scooter. Designed to be easily folded and rolled… you could easily stow this in the boot of a car, a locker or under the stairs. Although, having struggled with folding a double buggy, I'd like to see that in the real world!

Powered by a 250 Watt inegrated motor, with a Lithium Polymer battery, thehttp://www.voltitude.com/product/ specs sound very impressive. And because you pedal it too (the electric motor is jus there to provide "assistance" ) you won't need a motorcycle license, as it is classified as an electric assisted cycle in European countries. You can even use it in cycle lanes.

If you like the look of the Volitude and you want one, you'll have to be living in Switzerland if you actually want to get your hands on one of the few being produced.

The good news is though, Volitude are taking pre-orders for International shipping now, and they'll let you know the final specs (and, importantly what it's going to cost you), and you can choose whether you want one or not.

Check out their website if you're interested.

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FIDO Electric Scooter

2011-03-09T07:31:00.001-08:00

With shenanigans in the Middle East causing fuel prices to hit record prices at the pump… people are taking alternatives a bit more seriously. Part of the answer may be smaller, more efficient cars… like the Smite… or the Morgan ThreeWheeler, recently launched at the Geneva Motor Show.

But as usual, I'm ahead of the curve. (Actually, I'm SO far behind the curve, I can't even see it). As in their original heyday (surprisingly this was the nineteenFIFTIES not the sixties as many people think)… there has also been a rise in the sale of scooters… good news for Lambretta if they get round to launching their new models.

There are also new, innovative solutions such as this electric scooter being developed by Jeb Gast at FreemontMotors in Seattle. Named FIDO, this little puppy bears more than a passing resemblance to the original "open-framed" Lambretta's… Models A to D… Although the Lambretta clearly had a petrol engine!

Much of the thinking behind Fido is similar to that of the original Lambretta… such ease of use and maintenance by the owner. There are nice touches, such as the removeable, underseat baggage pack that can be worn like a rucksack when not on the scoot, the battery pack located under the footboards, which can slide out for easy recharging (just swap a spare in). The range is projected at 30-35 miles… which makes it an ideal commuter ride, while the projected top speed of 45mph isn't going to break any records, it isn't too shabby. If they get this thing made, and priced right, I reckon they could sell a ton of them.

Find out more on FIDO here.

And if you want something a little more classic looking, Freemont's pals Soundspeed Scooters have an electric Vespa in development. Personally, I'm holding out for the electric, Series II based Lambretta… oh, wait a mo, they're working on THAT too! wow!

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Messerschmitt KR200 Brochure

2011-02-04T09:57:00.001-08:00

I like a microcar. I think, given the price of petrol at the moment, and the need to be more eco concious, it's a bit mad that most people still drive around, alone in a vehicle designed to carry four or more people.

I've posted about the Morgan Threewheeler and the Bond Bug, as well as Smite before, a modern re-imaginging of the Messersmitt KR200.

Well, here is a fantastic brochure I have found for the original Messerschmitt.

I think it's in Spanish, maybe if I get five minutes I'll have a go with Google translate and post a full translation. In the meantime, enjoy the glorious period graphics.

I found it here.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Cars of the future…

2011-01-20T04:12:00.001-08:00

Well, they were in 1948

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Gamestorming… The future of work?

2011-01-18T08:59:00.001-08:00

It could be… I'm not sure. But I do know that I love the video.

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Rio 2016 Logo

2011-01-18T07:08:00.001-08:00

This is a video in Brazilian portuguese… (with subtitles) but it's a must watch. It's about the creation of the logo for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

I know there's a ton of controversy about this identity… Watch the movie, and make up your own mind.

Described as "insipid" in Creative Review… it seems designing an Olympic Identity is somewhat a poison chalice.

My opinion… it is the epitome of what an Olympic identity should be. Elegant, adaptable, recognisable, classic… with multiple layers of meaning and hidden imagery encased in it. A true, classic logo. I think Tatil – the agency who created this have done an outstanding job.

So, what do you think? Let me know in the comments…

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MLK, a day late

2011-01-18T05:24:00.001-08:00

Aside from everything else, MLK was a a pretty cool dude.

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It's a horrible, grey, wet, January day in Staines

2011-01-14T01:38:00.001-08:00

So I thought I'd post this . I hope it makes you smile. It always works for me.

(I did this after seeing the Harvest Moon clip on my old pal Greig's blog).

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The amazing cardboard sculptures of Chris Gilmour

2011-01-06T08:37:00.001-08:00

Well, after a couple of posts about wooden Vespa's… I thought it was time for a cardboard Lambretta!

It's kind of hard to believe, but this beauty is made out of two things only. Cardboard and glue. And that's it. No wooden frame. No hidden supporting metal structure. It's one of the self imposed restrictions artist Chris Gilmour adheres to when creating his art. And it art, of the highest quality in my opinion. There's something about taking cardboard, that humblest of materials, so often overlooked and discarded and creating something beautiful. Something that makes you look afresh at the original objects too. I don't know if I've got Chris's vision… but that's my personal take. And it's not just scooters… Chris has created everything from wheelchairs to typewriters… microscopes to lifesize sculptures of Queen Victoria. Amazing stuff. Find out more on his website.

Click here to download:

OrckidBusinessCard2011.indd (1196 KB)

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Happy 2011

2011-01-05T01:50:00.001-08:00

Normal service will be resumed shortly… In the meantime, I'm taking this opportunity to wish all my readers and subscribers a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2011.

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Merry Christmas Everybody

2010-12-23T09:28:00.001-08:00

I'm off for some family time. May I just take this opportunity to thank my readers and subscribers, and I hope you enjoy the festivities, and have an excellent new year.

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You're a Comic Sans Criminal…

2010-12-23T02:37:00.001-08:00

Ok, so maybe Comic Sans is an easy target, and I've posted about myself in the past… But I love this work by MAtt Dempsey on the subject, informed, informative and not too judgemental. If you know anybody who's guilty of Comic Sans abuse, send them here. And don't forget to check out the "when to use Comic Sans flowchart" I posted earlier.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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No weather for scootering

2010-12-21T09:51:00.001-08:00

A couple of snaps of my Lambretta in the snow… roll on Spring!

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Geneviève Gaukler

2010-12-21T04:34:00.001-08:00

I love Twitter. Without Twitter, I wouldn't have come across Geneviève. Well, to contradict myself, I would have done, as I have already seen and admired her work, but I wouldn't have known who the work was by. Or had the chance to 'tweet' her… So Geneviève. She's French, Lyonnaise by birth, currently based in Paris, but with a really international attitude and appeal. The work I have posted here is are the things that immediately appeal to me, but they barely scratch the surface of the body of her work. I love her loveable little characters… which blend surreally into everyday life. Fantastical, humorous simple and elegant. If, as I do, you love the work of Geneviève, you can find out more on her website follow her on her blog… through her professional representation Big Active or Tiphane Illustrations, (both sites well worth checking out anyway), watch her video work on Plieix, wear her work on a t-shirt, buy a limited edition print at Product of God, or even buy some delightful wall vinyls, mugs and cushions for your home from here.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Talon Motors Invader

2010-12-21T02:05:00.001-08:00

Yeah, ok, it's another three wheeler! I've already posted about the relaunch of the Morgan ThreeWheeler, the retro Messerschmidt stylings of the Smite, and the one this reminds me most of all of, the Bond Bug.

Maybe it's the bright orange, because the configuration is round the other way (Two wheels at the front, like the Morgan – Technically this is called a reverse trike layout), maybe its's the Space 1999 style seats, but this little beauty reminds me of the offspring of the aforementioned Bond Bug, a Lotus Elise, and one of my five-year olds' HotWheels cars. Powered by a 1,300cc Suzuki Hayabusa engine, the Invader is easily good for 150mph. 0-60? Under 4 seconds. And you can get one for 44,000 of your American dollars. Very nice. On balance though, I think I'd have the Morgan. And an Elise. But that's probably a mixture of my innate patriotism and love of all things classic. What I do think is fantastic is that there are people making cars like this thesedays. It's what we SHOULD in 2011. After all, we're all IN the future now! If it floats your boat, find out more at Talon Motors website.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Beautiful Marcos Sportscar from 1968

2010-12-17T03:34:00.001-08:00

This one a stunning sportscar. Even today, it looks futuristic… in that retro futurism way that looks so good, if you get it right… and so bad if you miss by an inch. Imagine the impression it made in 1968, when it pitched up at the Spa 24 hour race, against the (equally lovely) curvaceous Porsches, Ferraris and Ford GT40's of the day. Forty plus years later this Marcos XP has been lovingly restored to it's full 1968 racing spec, and is doing the rounds of the vintage exhibition / classic racing circuits. I found this on the ever excellent Coolist site. If you want to find out more about the Marcos XP, that's where I'd recommend you start.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Pressies for the junior scooterist…

2010-12-15T05:43:00.001-08:00

My five (going on fifteen!) year old twins are probably a little old for these unfortunately… but they're about the coolest present some lucky kids are going to find under the tree this Christmas. Your for £77… here.

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Savage Chickens

2010-12-01T09:29:00.001-08:00

Cartoons, on Post-it notes… Well, they made me smile…
Plenty more where these came from, here.

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Chico & Rita

2010-11-26T08:19:00.001-08:00

What can I say about the new film "Chico and Rita"? Well, not a whole lot actually, as I haven't seen it yet. But what I have seen of it looks, well, just lovely. The animation style looks fantastic, very graphic, very sensual, yet very precise. Set in 1950's Cuba and New York city, the music, which captures a real pivotal moment in the history of jazz, is stunningly good. It's already been called "one of the best fictional movies ever made about jazz". And there's a good story, which helps. It looks like a real labour of love. Check out the website (I LOVE the animation on the homepage when you mouse over the navigation) for much more.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ChicoAndRita

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Vintage Lambretta advertising

2010-11-19T05:22:00.001-08:00

Well, I posted some vintage Vespa advertising and promotional material recently, and in the light of a "new Lambretta" coming in 2011, I thought it would be interesting to see some old advertising imagery from around the world. As before, if you have any other images, drop me an email and I'll upload them too.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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The Lambretta is back! (Sort of)

2010-11-17T03:54:00.001-08:00

Forget the royal wedding, the good news today is there's a new Lambretta is back in production! It's due to go on sale in 2011, and it's being made in Italy.

This new model (designated the LN) is very much a 21st century machine, with a modern twin valve, single cylinder, air cooled engine (in either 125 or 150cc incarnations). My sources don't say, but I expect due to European emission regulations it will be a four stroke rather than the 2-stroke engine the original Lambretta's were famous for. And while the mechanical are all very up to date, there is a definite retro feel about the styling… picking up cues from Lambretta's "golden age" of the 1960's when the produced such iconic machines as the SX200.

So, so I like it? Well, yes, kind of. Although I like some of the lines, parts of it look a bit "clunky". The area around the headlights and horncasting just look bulky and ugly to me. Perhaps they'll grow on me… and I'd have to see one in the flesh before I completely made my mind up. And there are some other cons for me… it looks kind of, well, plasticky. Classic Lambretta's were made to last. Of steel.

On the plus side, less steel means less weight. I haven't seen any specs yet, but I have little doubt it will weigh in at about half the weight of an original LI 150, with better performance, handling and fuel consumption. And there are modern refinements such as electric start, and even indicators.

Would I buy one? Probably not. I'll stick to my fifty year old Series II, while I save my pennies for a Morgan ThreeWheeler. But there's a lot of new, retro styled scooters out there at the moment, and none of them (other than Vespa of course), have the cachet of the iconic Lambretta brand name. I hope they sell a ton of them.

Get the full story (in Italian) over at Motoblog.it. Thanks to Modculture for the heads up.

Oh, and I'd appreciate, and be interested in your comments… what do YOU think of the new Lambretta?

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Morgan to relaunch the 3 wheeler!

2010-11-10T09:56:00.001-08:00

As well as classic scooters, I've always had a bit of a thing about Microcars, particularly 3 wheelers. It's just unfortunate when you mention 3 wheelers these days, people think of the Reliant Robin, rather than the BMW Isetta, The Messerschmitt KR series (the inspiration behind this beauty), or maybe the daddy of them all, The Morgan ThreeWheeler. A car Stirling Moss once owned… memorably calling it his "Babe Magnet". We're a long way from Trotter's Independent Traders here…

Better known these days as the makers of traditional handbuilt British sports cars, the Morgan Motor Company was built on the success of the ThreeWheeler. Designed way back in 1909, more than 30,000 ThreeWheelers were built before they ceased production in 1953. So… over a hundred years after they were first launched, why is the Morgan 3 wheeler set for a comeback? Well, for exactly the reasons stated in my previous blog post here. Ok, I was talking about a different 3 wheeler, the Bond bug, but actually, everything I said rings true. And more so, as Morgan got the 3 wheeler concept RIGHT, way back when. In my humble opinion, and that of many engineers, two wheels at the front, where the engine is, and one at the back is a far more stable design.

And as we're in the 21st century, were talking 21st century technology, bringing the Morgan ThreeWheeler bang up to date. A modern engine… (An 1800cc Harley Davidson "Screaming Eagle" no less), and a modern gearbox (from a Mazda 5), combined with modern running gear gives you 1920's 'joy of driving' with modern reliability. A truly unique vehicle, it's going to weigh in at less than 500 kgs, it's going to be no slouch performance wise. No figures are available for fuel economy yet, but I reckon it'll be good.

So is this just another "concept" car, we'll never see on the road, or get a chance to buy? Apparently not. Morgan are confident of launching the new ThreeWheeler in 2011. You can register your interest on there website (Done that!), or email them for more information here.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Vintage Vespa Advertising

2010-11-10T09:20:00.001-08:00

A collection of advertising and trade material promoting the Vespa motor scooter. If you've got any more images… email me, and I'll post them!
A Lambretta gallery will follow soon.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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What Superheroes would look like if Picasso painted them…

2010-11-04T07:30:00.001-07:00

These made me smile, so I'm posting them. They're by WonderBros Matt and Mike. Or is that Mike and Matt. Anyways, 16 x 20 prints available on their Etsy store.

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WTF?

2010-11-04T03:00:00.001-07:00

Nice simple graphic work form Minga Studios in Argentina. You know that old saying, a picture speaks a thousand words? Well, if anybody asks you what that actually means, show them this. Nice colour palette too.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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The state of the internet

2010-11-03T03:48:00.001-07:00

Mind blowing stuff, nicely animated.

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Gabriel Moreno

2010-11-02T08:25:00.001-07:00

I've noticed the work of Gabriel Moreno quite a lot recently. He's got a wonderfully intricate, highly detailed style… which is incredibly beautiful, and also lends an almost dreamlike quality to his work. his website is here.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Wooden Vespa… part deux

2010-11-02T02:22:00.001-07:00

Remember my first Wooden Vepsa post? No? It's here. Well, I think someone may have seen it and decided taking a design classic and recreating it in wood wasn't a bad idea. This version is probably aimed at the "more money than sense" crowd… or any with 'mod tendencies' who've had their numbers come up on the Lotto… this is one expensive scooter. We're talking between £8,995 to £12,995 depending which model you go for.

So what do you get for all that cash? A work of art, according to the makers DigitalVeneer. Each brand new Vespa is "transformed by craftsmen into an authentic and unique work of art. From the rich Digital Veneer™ Mahogany mirror finish to the hand stitched leather seat, design elements from these legendary speedboats are accurately recreated, evoking the glamour and La Dolce Vita of the original."

Every "tribute" Vespa carries a numbered limited edition silver plaque, and cna be further customized to meet your exact requirements. It certainly does look rather nice… and if I had a superyacht… that's what I'd probably park on the poop deck. More here. Thanks to Modculture for the heads up.

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To the Batmobile!

2010-10-22T06:05:00.001-07:00

When Mark Racop was two years old, he saw his first episode of Batman, the iconic 60's TV series starring Adam West (that reminds me… did I ever tell you my Adam West story? No? I'll have to post it…). And he fell in love with it. The action, the music, the colour, but most of all the car. Today Racop owns a company considered by many to be in the automitive replica industry to be the leader. And he's built himself a Batmobile. What's more, he's built mire than one. So you can buy one. Ok, maybe it's not an impulse purchase at $150,000 (that's £90,000 in proper money), but look at what you get for your cash;

• Opening aluminum five door roll-top dashboard that includes fuel, water, and oil gauges, headlight and bright switches, key and push button ignition, warning light switch, a high end DVD/CD Player/Radio with a 7" LCD screen, and the Remote Computer Switch

• Deluxe six speaker sound system with two amps and a sub-woofer

• Finished dashboard ends and windshield post extensions, just like the original

• Chrome painted sweeps on the door panels

• Chrome painted strip across the dashtop that matches the door sweeps

• Terrific dashboard label placards

• Working gear shift indicator lights with a neutral safety switch

• Working green triangle turn signal indicator lights

• Five light sequence flasher under the arch

• Working "rocket exhaust" flame thrower, custom-made from heavy gauge steel, with a hidden ignition device

• Chromed "triple rocket tubes" behind the rear windshields

• Accurate stainless door sill chevron plates

• Accurate faux air conditioning vents on the rear package tray

• Radir rims with accurate spinners

• Phone pedestal and Batphone

• Detect-a-scope with green Lumadisk and working lights, with accurate custom-built knobs

• Accurate roll-bar arch, that narrows at the front, and widens at the back, covered in leather

• Accurate chromed beacon cage and red beacon light

• Accurate right and left aerial antennae "antlers"

• Automatic gold antenna grid, operated from a knob on the dash top

• Increase Output knob molded from an original vintage knob

• Custom-built, accurate Futura steering wheel, with working turn signal switches in the pods, and a polished aluminum bezel, and working lights

• Working headlights, front and rear turn signals, and brake lights

• Custom-built, accurate Futura leather seats, with chrome painted seat surrounds

• Electric actuators that open the hood or trunk with the flip of a switch

• Accurate reproduction of the "batcave radio link" rear antenna

• Accurate grilles for the headlights and the front and rear openings, bolted to the car

• Durable 1/4 inch thick windshields, mounted on the top of the windshield lip, just like the original

• The most accurate one piece center console, complete with light, fire extinguisher, custom-milled aluminum grille, and blue triangle knobs, with milled and polished aluminum insets around the light, the blue triangle knob, and behind the fire extinguisher

• A "real" show car quality $20,000 paint job is included, with six passes of clear coat that are sanded and buffed to an extraordinary shine

• The underside of the car body is painted black

• Brand new 350 GM crate motor with warranty

• Brand new TH350 GM transmission with warranty

• Brand new alternator, distributor, oil pump, fuel pump, water pump, ignition coil, and an Edelbrock carburetor and intake Manifold

• Brand new fuel cell and new fuel line

• Brand new dual exhaust

• Brand new racing performance radiator

• The frames are powerwashed, sandblasted, and painted with POR 15

• The underside of the floor pan is powerwashed, sandblasted, and painted with POR 15

• 1/4" thick fiberglass body, with non-binding doors, hood and trunk

• Steel plates are fiberglassed to the body during construction for added strength when mounting the chassis

• Reinforced with LOTS of THICK-walled steel square tubing

• Fin bodylines that come to a knife point, just like the original

• Built-in solid fiberglass rockers that connect the body to the floor pan

• Built-in fiberglass dash top and rear package tray

• Heavy gauge steel firewall and engine apron walls

• Heavy gauge steel wheel well tubs to protect the car from rocks

• Deep set headlights, just like the original

• Deep set tail lights, just like the original

• Built from a 1970's Lincoln Town Car that we provide (Title and VIN tag are included)

And where are you going to get a motor that comes with chrome triple rocket tubes and a batcave radio link rear antenna these days? Just imagine how much fun your drive to work in the morning would be.

As you'd expect there's lots more info on the official website here. Me? I'm writing my Christmas list right now.

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Kinetic typography – Stephen Fry on Language

2010-10-14T08:22:00.001-07:00

Matt Rogers has created this magnificent piece of work using the words and audio of Stephen Fry. Enjoy.

More of Matt's work here.

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My new ride

2010-09-09T23:38:00.001-07:00

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My new ride. 1960 Lambretta LI, Series II.

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Mr P… "One Man Shy" Lamp

2010-07-30T07:46:00.001-07:00

Love this cheeky chap. Available lots of places, including MXYPLYZYK.

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The talented Mr. Reed

2010-07-29T05:17:00.001-07:00

Don't know much about Mr Reed, other than what I've seen on his website. And that show's he's a talented chap, so if your in the market for some classy illustration, animation or pre-production work, and this stuff is your bag (it's very much mine), get in touch. Here's the link.

Thanks for the heads up, Neil (I've featured two of his mates now, John Dyer is a pal of his also). Oh, yeah, if there's somebody you think I should feature on t'blog, drop me an email, a direct message on Twitter (D CrocodileJock), or comment under a post. Disclaimers; A) it's up to me whether I post it or not… as this blog is my personal fiefdom and I rule it with a rod of iron, so don't get upset with me if you're recommendations are not to my personal taste, and B), even if I like something, it may take a while to post, due to a killer combination of laziness and busyness.

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Nicely Done.

2010-07-29T04:24:00.001-07:00

Take a simple item, that simply works, and simply make it work better.

Nicely done Yanko Design. More details here.

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Special.

2010-07-27T07:16:00.001-07:00

No words required! From here.

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My first post featuring a Lambretta

2010-07-26T01:42:00.001-07:00

In my bio I've admitted to being a bit of a fan of vintage scooters, and despite having my head turned by the occasional Vespa in my time, (and more recently discovering Capri's) The Lambretta is where my true affiliations lie. Unfortunately, due to the ever increasing costs of these gorgeous beasts, and being a 'practical' family man these days, I currently don't own one. So I'll just have to content myself with scouring eBay for that recently discovered "shed find", reading magazines like Scootering, websites like Modculture, and checking out pictures like this one by John Dyer from Whitley bay. Nice work John. More stuff on his blog.

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Best earphone packaging. Ever.

2010-07-16T08:14:00.001-07:00

Stunningly simple. Completely obvious… once you've seen it of course. No more words needed.

By Scholz & Friends Group. via Fubiz.

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On the scrapheap

2010-07-15T09:43:00.001-07:00

I love this sort of stuff. A set of nicely atmospheric photographs of cars rotting away in scrap heaps, by Aswin at Grid London. Check out his other work, including his "Bare Essentials" poster… a must have for any designer.

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Dale Edwin Murray

2010-07-14T05:50:00.001-07:00

I've been a bit heavy on the automotive stuff on the blog recently, so here's some (very) nice illustrative stuff from East London illustrative designer, Dale Edwin Murray.

He designs t-shirts for threadless, woot and chunk, and has worked for Radio 1, Urban Outfitters and Hammer Horror, amongst others.

I've tried to give you a fell for some of both his commissioned and personal work below.

Lovin; the style, typography, and colour palette here Dale Edwin. But what I like most of all most the underlying feeling of fun behind the illustrations. Top drawer.

Check him out on his website, flickr and his blog.

Crocodile Jock

http://crocodilejock.posterous.com/

twitter: @CrocodileJock

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Most beautiful Vespa ever?

2010-07-14T02:44:00.001-07:00

This did the rounds online a while ago, but for some reason it popped into my head on the commute to work this morning, so I've dug it out.

Portuguese master carpenter Carlos Alberta has done an amazing thing here… he's taken a classic Vespa (sorry guys, I don't know the model, I was always a Lambretta man – I'd guess it was a late 50's vintage though from the headlight on the front mudguard) and remade it in wood. Beautifully. Always a truly classic shape, the bodywork seems to lend itself wonderfully to the material. Structured round a steam bent laminated wooden frame, about the only thing that isn't wood on this fully functioning Vespa is the engine and the electrics. It's even got a wooden seat, although I'm not sure how conformable that would be on long journeys!

Simply stunning

Carlos's website is here. With lots more pictures.

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Road rocket

2010-07-13T05:48:00.001-07:00

Form the 'doubt-we'll-see-this-anytime-soon-but-it-would-be-great-if-we-did" file… The amazing Honda Pegasus is a concept car by designer Andrus Ciprian, using a "gas-turbine jet engine and a lot of spoilers and air management systems". Er… cool. Andrus has lots more designs and renders, check out his gallery on Deviant Art.

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Sometimes what you leave out is as important as what you put in

2010-07-09T05:54:00.001-07:00

Love these simple vector illustrations of famous world figures, past and present. Created by Dubai based Ali Jabbar, they distill the key characteristics of each figure down their essence… no more, no less.

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Fantastic looking concept car from Renault

2010-07-09T05:42:00.001-07:00

Maybe not what you'd expect from Renault. And it's electric. Rather nice. Via Fubiz.

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No arms, no legs, no worries!

2010-07-09T03:49:00.001-07:00

A bit different from the stuff I usually post. But I saw this and had to share. Pure inspiration.

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Black Isle Brewery

2010-07-06T04:24:00.001-07:00

I'm Scottish (although I've lived in England a LONG time). I drink the occasional beer. My grandad was from the Black Isle, a beautiful area of the Scottish Highlands.

When my brother came back from a holiday in Scotland he brought a case of their wonderful beer with them, and I was immediately impressed – not only with the beer… which is fantastic… but also with the professionalism of the packaging, and website - after all they are a bit of a minnow in the brewing world. Just shows you, you don't have to be Anheuser-Busch InBev to do great marketing.

Do yourself (and them) a favour. Order yourself a mixed case today.

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VW Bus photography

2010-06-30T07:01:00.001-07:00

There are few vehicles as iconic as a VW bus… maybe the original mini, a classic Vespa. And of course there's that other VW, the Beetle.

I love these pics from Regolare on flickr. Really evocative.

The last one is not his though… he inspired me to take a tribute picture of our (Orckid's) own pet bus, Ned. (it actually belongs to Julia, one of our designers).

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Dessert Kestrel

2010-06-29T23:01:00.001-07:00

Those nice people at Falcon Motorcycles sent me a video of their Kestrel bike in the dessert. So in case your were wondering, it doesn't just look great when it's standing still!

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Thomas Allen – an exclusive

2010-06-21T09:46:00.001-07:00

What a lovely bloke Thomas Allen is. I was blown away when I came across his 'pulp' work, and I simply had to share it with you. Naturally, I dropped him a line to let him know, and check it was ok. I do this as a courtesy, and a matter of course, and usually, but not always, get a pleasant reply. (BTW, artists, illustrators and bikers seem to be genuinely nice people in my experience).

Tom not only took the time to reply, in a very nice way, but also sent me a gift. A 'lost' image in his pulp series. One that has NEVER been printed, other than as a small inkjet print to some of his former students. I don't think I've used the word 'honoured' on my blog before, but that's how I feel today. So here it is. Not only a first for my humble little blog, but the first time this image has been seen on the web. And the image… well judge for yourself. I think it's fantastic.

Oh, and Mr Allen, you are a gentleman, sir… a genuine gentleman. Thank you.

You really need to check out his website for yourself. You won't regret it.

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Thomas Allen – an exclusive

2010-06-21T09:34:00.001-07:00

Oh, and Mr Allen, you are a gentleman, sir… a genuine gentleman. Thank you.

You really need to check out his website for yourself. You won't regret it.

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Taking football stickers out of the playground…

2010-06-21T09:16:00.001-07:00

And (not into the Art Gallery, this time), onto a scooter. A Vespsa PK 50, and over 1,000 stickers, over twenty years worth of previous World Cup tournaments in fact. Brilliant. More over at CopaFootball.

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Thomas Allen – an exclusive

2010-06-21T09:10:00.001-07:00

Oh, and Mr Allen, you are a gentleman, sir… a genuine gentleman. Thank you.

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Keep calm and…

2010-06-21T02:14:00.001-07:00

There's a ton of stuff out there about the (now) iconic "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster… (The story of which you can find here) and also a huge amount of parodies/work inspired by it (Maybe there's a post there, but then again…). The original message seems particularly apt as the England team flounder in the group stages of the World Cup… and the "Come on England" messages seen of so many cross of St.George flags seem to start to take on a desperate, pleading tone…

This made me smile, as do a lot of the images on the Whimsy&Wonder image blog, which is really nice. I was always taught to avoid using the work 'nice'… but some days, just 'nice' is just what you need.

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Pulp depiction

2010-06-18T09:37:00.001-07:00

Every now and then I come across something outstanding.

Remarkable. In the true sense of both those words, the work of Thomas Allen, Michigan based artist is truly outstanding. I stopped my in my tracks and a let out a mental "Wow!". I may even have said it aloud! These images are outstanding in more ways than one, of course… I've always loved that 40's/50's pulp illustration style, but Thomas has, quite literally, added a new dimension to the work. And remarkable? Well I had to share, and remark on them! Outstanding, remarkable work.

More, much more, on his blog.

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Exploded Andy

2010-06-18T08:08:00.001-07:00

I love the little green robot character that has become the personality of the Android brand. (Remember the Android toys – sorry; mini-figs, I posted about previously? No? you better check back here). Well now you can buy an exploded (in a nice way) Android poster or t-shirt. Created by artist Gary Booth, you can buy them through this website. I think these are way cool… and I'm an iPhone fan!

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BMX inspired chopper

2010-06-18T07:42:00.001-07:00

Love this. Just as BMX bikes were inspired by motorcross motorbikes, this crazy chopper is inspired by BMX bikes. Full story over at Bike EXIF

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Glasses… the ultimate image changer!

2010-06-18T02:11:00.001-07:00

It's funny because it's true… Via Flowing Data

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Stuff no-one told me, but I learned anyway

2010-06-17T05:20:00.001-07:00

Alex Noriega is an illustrator from Barcelona who "likes to draw things with small faces". I love these little 'life lesson' illustrations from his blog "Stuff no-one told me, but I learned anyways". Tiny little narratives that give us a peek into his ( I think he's a fella, although Alex could be a girls name, I 'spose… Well we'll settle for 'he' until he tells me different!) He's also got another blog of his sketches, (his sketchblog) which has all this stuff too, and much more. Nice stuff.

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Custom Hello Kitty toys

2010-06-15T08:28:00.001-07:00

My five year old daughter would love most of these… my five year old son would love a couple too!

Created by Joseph, an illustrator from Auckland, New Zealand, these 'virtual' (illustrated) Hello Kitty toys are pretty cool.

If you're lucky you might be able to see them over at his MySpace page, although when I visited all the graphics had a "Bandwidth exceeded" picture their instead, so maybe not.

I nicked these images from nicef***inggraphics.

I've spotted some Star Wars character in there, as well as Buzz Lightyear, Star Trek and even Ugly Betty.

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The Joker – 50 artist's visions Batman's arch-rival

2010-06-15T02:00:00.001-07:00

When it comes to baddies, you don't get much better (or worse) than the Joker. From the camp prankster played by Cesar Romero in the 60's TV series, and original 1966 movie… to the darker, more twisted character first brought to my attention in Frank Millers "The Dark Knight Returns" graphic novel… the evil genius played so memorably by Jack Nicholson in the first of the 'modern' Batman films in 1989… and more recently taken to the next level by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight.

It's not surprising that the character has inspired some great artwork. De Bango, a 'design addict' from France has curated an impressive collection of 50 artist's visions of "Le Joker". I've included a few of my favourites here, you can check out all 50 on his blog.

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Balloon Animal font

2010-06-08T07:15:00.001-07:00

I had to post this. Ok, maybe it's not the most legible font, but it's undeniably fun. Make your own message here

The wonderful @brainpicker alerted me to this on Twitter.

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Wenlock & Mandeville parodies

2010-05-28T09:41:00.001-07:00

I think I've been quite clear on my opinion of the 2012 Olympic Mascots Wenlock and Mandeville, but I must admit these parodies raised a smile. There's a ton more of this kind of stuff over at b3ta; all user generated. Not the most politically correct, but the Adolph one is my favourite!

Crocodile Jock

http://crocodilejock.posterous.com/

twitter: @CrocodileJock

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It's started… 2012 merchandising

2010-05-24T09:53:00.001-07:00

More than two years before the 2012 Olympics is due to start, they're already flogging merchandising… Official shop here.

Don't mind the duvet cover…

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Next generation iPhone in MANY colours?

2010-05-24T07:31:00.001-07:00

With nothing more to back it up than vague rumours of something exciting at this June's World Wide Developers Conference (including a keynote from Steve Jobs), and rumours of a white panelled version of the iPhone, it was only a matter of time before there was talk of iPhones becoming available in more colours (or colors, if you are a colonial).

I thought I'd hate that, but this render has changed my mind. I still think the Black and White versions are the most 'masculine', but I could see my wife going a bomb on any of the other three colours!

Via Redmond Pie

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Cool, animated Lego's

2010-05-24T04:58:00.001-07:00

I don't know much about Patrick Lindsay, other than he is French, (or lives in Marseilles, France), and he makes these wonderful animated gifs based on Lego bricks. (Note to any American readers, the plural of Lego is Lego, or Lego bricks… it's not Legos! IMHO it is anyway!).

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Paper Music Posters

2010-05-24T01:16:00.001-07:00

Brandon Knowlen has a simple philosophy on life, he does "everything he can to be a good person, and stay fed". Under the guise of Paper Music Posters he also designs and prints some rather cool concert posters.

Living in the wonderfully named Sugarhouse area of Salt Lake City, Utah, US of A… he's the kind of guy who likes to role his sleeves up and get his hands dirty. I've noticed a bit of a trend for people moving away from purely computer generated work, and harnessing tried and trusted traditional technologies. Or at least integrating the two - which is what Brandon does. He uses sketchbooks, sharpies, pencils, scanners, printers – and his work can either be screenprinted, or produced digitally. What he ends up with is simple, clean and striking.

I first came across Brandon's work when I saw the "I love minimalism" print online, But at the heart of what Brandon does is the Band poster. At the moment, Brandon is in the happy place of only producing work for bands he likes, bands such as The Ting Tings and Modest Mouse. And in a cunning plan to hang out with the bands, and get his work signed. he presents the bands and thier undercards with copies of their posters.

The best news though, is for $20 or so (plus a little bit more for international shipping), is that you can own one of his creations. So it's up to you, a generic Kandinsky print from Ikea, or something a little more original…

Visit his website here.

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Wenlock and Mandeville – my thoughts

2010-05-21T04:12:00.001-07:00

Right. I wanted to have a little breathing space before I spouted my opinions on Wenlock and Mandeville. I think first impressions are really useful, and as the band the Impressions memorably said, they are often lasting impressions. But sometimes a little time for reflection is helpful too.

So, first impressions; I'm impressed. They look good. They're very now. They're cool. The names are fantastic (and actually mean something – Wenlock / Mandeville). They've got a great back story. Kid's will love them.

And, after sleeping on it, I don't like them anymore. I LOVE them. OK, they may look a bit like Mike from Monsters Inc, but there's a reason for the one eye thing. Oops, sorry it's not an eye, it's a camera. Kinda appropriate seeing as the UK has the most CCTV in the world. Actually, there's a reason for pretty much everything about Wenlock and Mandeville… every aspect of their appearance has been carefully thought through, and they have even been born with fully formed personalities. As the character charts below explain perfectly, I won't retell their stories, but suffice it to say they are there, and they are compelling. Nice work Iris.

These are characters designed for the digital age, and if they do look a bit like Pixar characters, that's not a bad thing. I'm sure there will be lots of Little Englanders wondering why we haven't got a Lion (like 1966's World Cup Willie I suppose – although he's still fairly cool), a Bulldog or a Beefeater, but these guys have been developed for the world. Actually, if you want patriotism, it is there… you can't get much more patriotic that the characters wrapped in the Union flag. I can see Wenlock and Mandeville getting up to all sorts of sporting related endeavours, and really appealing to kids, and big kids like me. And you can bet your bottom dollar the merchandising is going to be mad. T-shirts and mini-figres will lead the way, but they're already talking about things like video cameras (think Flip) created in the shape of these guys.

But the best thing about them? The names. As English as Wallace and Gromit. Or as Danny Baker (quoting Vivian Stanshall of course) is wont to put it "English as tuppence, changing yet changeless as canal water, nestling in green nowhere, armoured and effete, bold flag-bearer, lotus-fed Miss Havishambling opsimath and eremite…" Inspired.

And they've got their own website, Twitter feed, and Facebook page too. Obviously.

Enough about what I think. What do you think? If you've never left a comment on my blog before, please do now. It's time.

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Taking Stickers out of the Playground, and into the Art Gallery!

2010-05-21T01:56:00.001-07:00

Love these hand painted canvases by Elliot Quince of the stars of this years World Cup. Based on the ubiquitous sticker collections – each canvas measuring approximately 16×12″ is a handpainted enlargement of an original thumbnail sketch. There are 32 ultra limited edition one-offs, featuring players such as Kaká, Samuel Eto'o, Tranquillo Barnetta, Alexis Sánchez, Diego Forlan as well as our very own Wayne Rooney.

And they're for a good cause too… All proceeds from the sale of these wonderful pictures go to Luton and Dunstable Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Why dat? There's a rather touching back story here.

You can see the paintings at the Offside Gallery, Islington, There's a private View on Thursday 10th June 2010 starting at 8pm (Get in touch with Elliott if you want to attend at elliott.quince@ntlworld.com), adn they're on display throughout the duration of the World Cup.

I've only got one problem with the paintings. No Scotland players. But then again we didn't qualify for the tournament, so that's not really Elliott's fault.

Find out all about the project here at Got, got, need!

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What do you get if you cross a Lamborgini and an out there chopper?

2010-05-21T01:19:00.001-07:00

The Lamborbiker of course. Osmos hubless wheels, sci-fi styling… looks incredible…

But, if I had to choose I'd go for a Falcon Kestrel :)

More at Tuvie

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Wenlock and Mandeville on the One Show

2010-05-20T08:06:00.001-07:00

Missed this, luckily I grabbed it off the IRIS website.

<p>iris unveils Olympic and Paralympic mascot on The BBC One Show from irisworldwide on Vimeo.</p>

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Wenlock & Mandeville

2010-05-20T07:53:00.001-07:00

The official 2012 Olympic mascots… launched today. Gotta say I love 'em already. Nice work IRIS.
Full post and lots more images coming soon.

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Yakuza toy

2010-05-18T04:15:00.001-07:00

You know those funky little toys your graphic designer mates collect? (They probably call them mini-figures!) Well, here's a great one, complete with authentic Yakuza style Japanese tattoos. It was created by Yosa Tattoo, a nice blog about traditional and 'new style' Japanese tattoos. Unfortunately, it's a one off, and not for sale.

Think you can do better, or just inspired to create your own designer toy? You can buy 'blanks' from fugitive toys.

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Falcon Kestrel

2010-05-14T01:25:00.001-07:00

Wow.

You may have seen my previous post on Falcon motorcycles, here.

I was pretty impressed with their ethos, and their bike "The Bullet." Well, Here's their latest creation… The Kestrel.

Unveiled at the Quail motorcycle gathering inn Carmel, California on May 8th, where it won the award for best custom motorcycle.

It is, quite simply one of the most amazing machines I have seen.

Over 2,000 hours of design, machining and engineering have gone into creating this magificent beast. Read more about the making of the Kestrel on the Falcon blog.

You've only got one problem now guys… building a bike that tops The Falcon! I'm looking forward to seeing the fruition of projects still in production with names as evocative as "The Black", "The White", "The Merlin", "The Peregrine", "The saker" and perhaps the most exciting of all… "The Vespertine"; "The ultimate. Based around a Brough Superior engine, the Vespertine will respect the hand of George Brough, one of the most gifted motorcycle designers ever. The mighty British v-twin engine provides a unique opportunity to explore new directions, while remaining true to the past." Can't wait.

via Bike EXIF

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Esther Aarts

2010-05-12T09:56:00.001-07:00

I've just come across the fauulous retro style work of Esther Aarts, a dutch (Nijmegen) based illustrator, designer and typographer.

Not everybody hit's the spot for me when it comes to this 50's/60's retro look, it's a hard act to pull off – I've posted before about some of my favourites like Lord Dunsby and Mads Berg.

Esther has also 'nailed it' as they say on 'X-factor' (apparently). Her illustrations and typography have a wonderful old world, home made charm that really appeal. Just the right amount of texture, and a colour palette that is spot on. Of course, that's probably because she makes them on the latest technology, her iPad… (see below). Copacetic.

Simply beautiful animated gifs…

2010-05-12T05:27:00.001-07:00

From "I'm not an artist"… an "animated gif paranoia about nonstop design workers" a work ion progress project that… well, if you want to know more it's on the website, which rewards exploration. I especially like the way you can choose your viewing mode.

Found on ffffound.com

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More minimalism…

2010-05-11T23:55:00.001-07:00

I heart this. More (or should that be less?) here.

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In a perfect world…

2010-05-11T10:03:00.001-07:00

After a few posts on bubblecars, then a few on Alfa Romeo's… I seem to be on a Simplicity kick at the moment (see the Chris Thornley and Hexagoll posts).

There's some great work here from young California-based designer and student Catrina Dulay (her website is here). I think most of these things will resonate with most of us!

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Just a couple of nice print ads

2010-05-10T02:12:00.001-07:00

Nice ads, simple idea, well executed. In case you can't read the type at the bottom, it says; "Early childhood education is crucial for children’s development."

By McCann Erickson; São Paulo.

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Chris Thornley aka Raid71

2010-05-06T09:24:00.001-07:00

You'll probably recognise Chris Thornley's (aka Raid71) work… It's regularly posted on design blogs. I first saw Chris's work as T-shirt designs on the Threadless site. I also love his "Alternative film psoters" (see below). Completley different from the work of Hexagonall, previously posted, but sharing a strong graphic sense of humour, and understanding of his subject.

Chris Thornley is a founding member of SourceCreative based in Blackburn, Lancashire. He trained as a graphic designer, with a degree in Typography, but he says he is a frustrated cartoonist at heart.

Created Raid71 to try and push the boundaries of the corporate 9-5 (although he reckons his work day is more like 8-8… but that's the passion)
Chris has worked Levis, Gola and Lego to name just a few, and has awards from AOI and Adobe for illustration work.

Chris lives in Darwen, Lancashire where he is surrounded by the Pennines. He has "two amazing sons who provide him with a world of inspiration". Well, wherever you get your inspiration from Chris, it's clearly working. Nice work fella!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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