Record Picture photography is the highly detailed, matter of fact genre that was traditionally commissioned by government and industry for technical documentation.

This application draws on the most fundamental property of photography: its ability to depict with great precision. The aim is to produce a photograph that is “faithful to the subject”, where the emphasis is placed on description rather than interpretation.

~ MICHAEL COLLINS

Angela Natividad of AdRants presents a first-person example of how social media should be used. Her encounter with Rishad Tobaccowala at ad:tech resulted in an interview that illustrates how companies can benefit from using social media as it is intended and not force social media to be an advertising channel.

Gothic Quarter – Barcelona, Spain

Recently I had the privilege to visit Madrid and Barcelona, Spain. Searching for a bit of inspiration for my artistic spirit, I think I found it.

Everything is visual eye candy, from the ornate architecture blends of Roman, Spanish, French and Arabic, to the window display signage and city graffiti that creates a nice juxtaposition between the elements.

Traveling is good for the soul. If you have a chance to experience it yourself, it will be well worth the journey.

Above is one of the many photos I snapped of a closed store front. The idea is for a store owner to create their own door graffiti in hopes that street graffiti artist will pass their store by and move on to the next wall or door that is untouched. The end result is endless streets of urban artwork with bright color pops amongst many of the neutral stone colored building facades.

Most designers with a passion for what they do will tell you that design is present in everything they do – the clothes they wear, the way they decorate their house, the art they make for their walls, the publications they subscribe to.  Design as a way of life is also very present in much of traditional Japanese culture, which is perhaps why it’s always struck a chord with me. Their sushi, zen gardens, tea ceremonies, and kimono patterns are all designed precisely and symbolically.

A creation from Flickr user 'Bentomom'

Bento boxes, a traditional format of Japanese meal preparation, are apparently making a big hit right now in the US as a way to add appeal and variety to food as well as limit portions. This certainly appeals to me as a designer, as a novel and creative way to think about lunch (not sure I want to spend 30 minutes every day making lunch, however). The New York Times has recently posted a slideshow on people and their Bento habits, which you can view here.

Being tasked to create content for a website can offer a unique set of challenges. One must be able to effectively convey the right message, have time to do the proper research, and have a sharp vocabulary to keep reader’s interest.

But what if you need to find words that rhyme? Maybe you want to create a headline that has a rhythm to it. Or maybe you think you are the next NAS or Public Enemy and are setting up to battle verses at the hip hop club on Saturday night.

Whatever the reason, rhymezone.com has you covered. Simply plug in the word that you need a rhyming word for and it will populate a field full of suggestions.

When most people think of web strategy or building a web presence, they think of developing a sophisticated looking web site that shows off all that their company can do, and showcases their brand identity. For global ad agency Modernista!, whose focus lies decidedly in thinking outside the box, the solution for their web strategy didn’t involve a flashy web site at all. Instead, they harnessed all of the existing tools of the internet and used them to create an information cloud, simultaneously showing their web savvy and their intent on thinking differently.

Instead of having a portfolio page, they link to their Flickr stream for still images and their YouTube library for video content. Instead of an About Us page, they link to their Wikipedia entry, Facebook profile, and Twitter feed. All of their content is managed through existing tools and social media on the internet. As I navigate through their non-site, I can’t help but think that someone either had a really clever idea, or the design/development team found an easy way out of a lot of work.

What do you think? See it for yourself: Modernista!