Magic Element

A Designer's blog by Dan Rodrigues at magicelement.com
Why Success Always Starts With Failure “Few of our own failures are fatal,” economist and Financial Times columnist Tim Harford writes in his new book, Adapt: Why Success Always Starts With Failure. This may be true, but we certainly don’t act like it. When our mistakes stare us in the face, we often find it so upsetting that we miss out on the primary benefit of failing (yes, benefit): the chance to get over our egos and come back with a stronger, smarter approach.

Why Success Always Starts With Failure

“Few of our own failures are fatal,” economist and Financial Times columnist Tim Harford writes in his new book, Adapt: Why Success Always Starts With Failure. This may be true, but we certainly don’t act like it. When our mistakes stare us in the face, we often find it so upsetting that we miss out on the primary benefit of failing (yes, benefit): the chance to get over our egos and come back with a stronger, smarter approach.

Not A Toy Pictoplasma presents Not A Toy – the first book on the growing influence of Character design in fashion and art.

Not A Toy

Pictoplasma presents Not A Toy – the first book on the growing influence of Character design in fashion and art.

Jeff Koons Jeff Koons is an American artist known for his reproductions of banal objects such as inflatable animals produced in stainless steel, with mirror finish surfaces. Critics are sharply divided in their views of Koons. Some view his work as pioneering and of major art-historical importance. Others dismiss his work as kitsch: crass and based on cynical self-merchandising. Koons has stated that there are no hidden meanings in his works. Personally, I think he’s a genius!

Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons is an American artist known for his reproductions of banal objects such as inflatable animals produced in stainless steel, with mirror finish surfaces.

Critics are sharply divided in their views of Koons. Some view his work as pioneering and of major art-historical importance. Others dismiss his work as kitsch: crass and based on cynical self-merchandising. Koons has stated that there are no hidden meanings in his works.

Personally, I think he’s a genius!

Design Act’s Proposal for Singapore World Expo Pavilion Singapore-based design firm Design Act was a finalist in the competition for the World Expo 2010 Singapore Pavilion organised by the Singapore Tourism Board for the winning pavilion design by Kay Ngee Tan Architects. Titled “MY DREAM, OUR VISION”, Design Act’s competition entry uses cubes to generate a spectacular sculpture that is visually stunning.

Design Act’s Proposal for Singapore World Expo Pavilion

Singapore-based design firm Design Act was a finalist in the competition for the World Expo 2010 Singapore Pavilion organised by the Singapore Tourism Board for the winning pavilion design by Kay Ngee Tan Architects.

Titled “MY DREAM, OUR VISION”, Design Act’s competition entry uses cubes to generate a spectacular sculpture that is visually stunning.

Comme Des Garcons Homme Plus Skull print jacket and skirt. Ten Men Magazine - Spring Summer ‘11

Comme Des Garcons Homme Plus

Skull print jacket and skirt.

Ten Men Magazine - Spring Summer ‘11

Pocket Buddhas They come in six different styles and colors that symbolize love, happiness, peace, harmony, faith and praise. Dream in plastic!  

Pocket Buddhas

They come in six different styles and colors that symbolize love, happiness, peace, harmony, faith and praise.

Dream in plastic!

 

The Vader Project Star Wars Celebration IV opens today and runs through Memorial Day at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Fans from around the world will call LA home for the next few days as they check out the latest Star Wars products and info.  For art fans though, the clear highlight is The Vader Project presented by Master Replicas and DKE Toys.  Curated by Dov Kelemer, the show features nearly 70 custom 1:1 scale Darth Vader helmets created by an international lineup of stellar underground artists. 

The Vader Project

Star Wars Celebration IV opens today and runs through Memorial Day at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Fans from around the world will call LA home for the next few days as they check out the latest Star Wars products and info.  For art fans though, the clear highlight is The Vader Project presented by Master Replicas and DKE Toys.  Curated by Dov Kelemer, the show features nearly 70 custom 1:1 scale Darth Vader helmets created by an international lineup of stellar underground artists. 

51 Japanese Characters “What is an Otuka, a Jukensei, a Narikin or an Obatarian? What does the name Yakuza come from and what is special about Fugu? What exactly is Shintoism and what is Kabuki? 51 Japanese Characters is an insightful collection of figurines showcasing several typical members and cultural phenomena of Japanese society - an easy and playful approach to Japan, turning the character-loving Japanese society itself into characters…” 51japanesecharacters.com The characters are beautifully illustrated around a central template, using techniques that are dear to my own heart. This is a great website and iPhone app!

51 Japanese Characters

“What is an Otuka, a Jukensei, a Narikin or an Obatarian? What does the name Yakuza come from and what is special about Fugu? What exactly is Shintoism and what is Kabuki?

51 Japanese Characters is an insightful collection of figurines showcasing several typical members and cultural phenomena of Japanese society - an easy and playful approach to Japan, turning the character-loving Japanese society itself into characters…”

51japanesecharacters.com

The characters are beautifully illustrated around a central template, using techniques that are dear to my own heart. This is a great website and iPhone app!