OFFSHORE ‘Summer Hits’ video

Ahead of the worldwide release of Fine Grains Volume 1 on the 1st November, XLR8R posted an exclusive download and video for Offshore‘s ‘Summer Hits’ track. The video, by Norwegian visual artist Halvor Bodin, can be viewed (and track downloaded) if you click through to the post here. ‘Summer Hits’ is a powerful builder of a track, instrumental hip hop with emotional content. The video compliments the minimalism of the track with an orchestrated trail of bright neon snake-like shapes, moving in time to the insightful percussion from the tune. Stream the comp. teaser below.

Offshore 'Summer Hits' video by Halvor Bodin, Fine Grains Records 2012

EXHIBITION: Google Web Lab

Google Web Lab consists of five Chrome Experiment installations that bring the internet to life and aim to inspire online and offline visitors about the possibilities of the web.  The installations (Universal Orchestra, Teleporter, Sketchbots, Data Tracer, Lab Tag Explorer) are part of a year-long public exhibition at the London Science Museum and can be interacted with by anyone, anywhere. Worldwide visitors both on and offline are able to make music with people across the world; launch information into cyberspace and see where images come from on the web live; watch their portrait being processed, translated, and then drawn in sand by a robot; and travel instantly to far away places all over the world. Google Web Lab was designed by MAP, the new studio of designers BarberOsgerby, alongside their Sister company Universal Design Studio.

THINK magazine: issue 15 'Modernism'

Issue 15 of Think magazine followed the theme of 'Modernism'. For my contribution as design editor I looked at examples of 'Lasting Design' from the design thinker John Thackara and Giraffe Innovation. The latter, a leading Eco-design consultancy based in the UK, claim that through a simple re-evaluation of the production process companies could benefit the natural environment and save millions of pounds. Read the article.

Images from 'City Eco Lab' in St.Etienne. An example of lasting design from John Thackara.

DESIGN: MUSIC EXPORT NORWAY

Music Export Norway (M.E.N.) are actively involved in the promotion and support of Norwegian music outside of Norway, and in particular in the UK and Germany where they now have two respective bases. Having been the recipient of support for an event involving a showcase of Norwegian skweee label Dødpop in Aberdeen, Scotland (their debut show in the UK), I can vouch for the legitimacy and good will of those behind this initiative. M.E.N recently asked me to design a simple black & white invitation using only typography. The final design uses BreuerText (medium, medium italic & bold) and GothamBold (regular) fonts.

THINK magazine: issue 14 'G is for Global'

The latest issue of sustainable design magazine THINK is now online. This issue looks at globalisation and the effect on innovative projects it can potentially have. My contribution for the theme looks at how independent and local projects can make a difference on a global scale. Examples used include Dezeen's 'Designed in Hackney' series of events and happenings, and the Atalanta based designer Megan Huntz collaborations with local photographers, musicians, artists and fellow designers. Read the full article on the THINK magazine website here. 

Images: Megan Huntz collection by Jamie Hopper, 2012 and 'TIde' light and 'LP list printer' Designed in Hackney projects.

Central Station: Fine Grains Records

Glasgow based creative social network 'This Is Central Station' kindly asked me to divulge some words about my new music and design initiative, Fine Grains. A brief re-cap on DO IT! collective and look to the immediate future and long term goals of Fine Grains are covered in the piece. You can have an overview of the Fine Grains project from the website here. To read the 'This Is Central Station' article click here.

Images: Fine Grains inverted logo, printed stickers and Inko playing live at Fine Grains Records web launch at Turkish Delight, Oslo 2012

WLDWLVS T-Shirt Launch

Aberdeen website/zine/culture hub WLDWLVS appear to be moving from strength to strength. Not content with providing one of the most snappy, inspiring and internationally relevant portals for modern culture from the North East of Scotland, they recently decided to increase their enterprise into garments - high quality tees using designs from local talent to be more precise. The T-shirts are limited produced and needless to say have been selling fast. To ensure you get ahold of one before it is too late, jump over to the Wild Wolves Big Cartel shop.

T-shirts (1) Craig Barrowman design, (2)WLDWLVS original, (3) Mike Chang design, all from 2012

FRAME Magazine: Issue 86

I have two articles published in Frame magazine for the May/June issue, which is out now. Inne Design's sprightly interior for Inch Hairstudio, located in the stylish (and pricey) Majorstuen district of Oslo, and Helen & Hard' impressive Vennesla library, north of the seaside municipality of Kristiansand. Some excellent articles and awe inspiring imagery as per usual  from the 'Mook' style publication, you can pick up a copy online from Frame here or from most decent newsagents.

FRAME magazine front cover, May/June 2012, Issue 86