Minister of Tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo of CPTM (Consejo de Promocion Turistica de Mexico) has launched a multi-million dollar campaign to promote tourism back to Mexico. It is a massive campaign that involves several famous Mexican actors and actresses as spokespersons for Mexico. Comparable to the “visit California” Campaign we’ve been seeing on tv. This new Mexican tourism campaign is interesting because it brings a country together through visual media. Especially in this tough economy, it is good to know that there is help. Vive hoy literally means live now, but the next part of the slogan can be interpreted as one enjoying one’s country, in this case tu Mexico. The website is www.visitmexico.com, which includes different language preferences, it is user friendly and it promotes tourism through diverse regions of the country.

Irene
www.orange-element.com 

As today marks the official switch from analog to digital broadcasting, I figured a quick post of some of the old TVs we wont be seeing any more seemed fitting. From here on out things are looking flat screened, high contrasted, and “32, no 52, oh may as well go for the 72 inch!” Times are changing so here’s a farewell to remember those big old boxes, dials and rabbit ears.

Enjoy the weekend!
EJ
www.orange-element.com 

We recently discovered a really cool website called Engrave Your Book. Engrave Your Book curates an artist series of engraved leather covers for Moleskine® notebooks, and you can even get custom covers engraved for yourself or your company! There are some really cool designs available for purchase, including the one above by Option-G. Take a look at some of the cool images below:

Andy
www.orange-element.com

Hello out there, happy June!

It has been a while since our  last oed update post but alot of exciting things have been going on at orange element. One highlight is that we would like officially welcome Irene Carcache as our first summer intern. Irene comes to us as a Senior graphic design student with a strong portfolio from The College of Saint Rose in Albany New York. She is originally from El Salvador, living there 13 years, so we are lucky to enjoying not only her knowledge and passion for graphic design, but also her experience of spanish culture, language, and heritage as well. Irene loves salsa dancing, theater, visiting new places like the mayan ruins of her home and she says she is never shy when it comes to meeting new people from different countries and trying new foods (something we are all starting to enjoy in our new neighborhood in Fells Point).

We are glad to have her as an addition to the team and we look forward to her creative contributions! She already has a great blog post about the branding of Mexico’s tourism to post later this afternoon. Welcome Irene! It’s going to be a fun summer having you here!

EJ
www.orange-blog.com 

Who said pop-up books were for children? Check out this video showcasing Marion Bataille’s brilliantly done ABC3D pop-up book. Marion is a graphic artist and illustrator living in France. Debuting in October of 2008, ABC3D is her first book published in the UK. You can find it online and at Target. While the video is great, I recommend getting your hands on the real thing to experience the true element of surprise. My favorite is the O, P to Q, R overlay and the mirror W to V.

ande
www.orange-element.com

1. Design things to be useful :: simple enough… consider finding the need before finding a solution. Our designs need to first and foremost address functionality.

2. Dematerialization :: Design something smart. He used the example of the iphone; we no longer need to carry a watch, gps, pda, mp3 player, camera, phone, etc. It can all be contained in one small product, increasing usability and convenience for the user and decreasing the number of products that will eventually end up in our landfills.

3. Substitution :: Consider your materials. Does that chair need to be built from fresh chopped wood from the northern Boreal forest or is there an opportunity to utilize recycled or sustainable materials? For print designers there are no excuse not to consider recycled, fsc or sfi certified paper options anymore. Recycled stock costs and quality have improved dramatically over the past few years to make them equally competitive beside a conventional stock.

4. Transmaterialization :: Turn products into services, the hybid taxis being a perfect example for this strategy.

5. Localization :: Reduce transportation, support your local providers and keep your money local. See Andrea’s May local challenge below to get started on this strategy today!

6. Informationalization :: Research is essential to design. A building designed to works in downtown Baltimore may not be appropriate on the flood plains of Africa. Consider the variables that effect design and open you thoughts to the input of outside opinion and research.

7. Design for “intended” reuse :: As artist, we often feel as though we can turn any hunk of trash into a worthy piece of artwork but the average consumer may not have the creativity or interest to go this extra step. Why not design products that are intended to be reused when their original intended use is through. Shedroff used the example of Maille Condiment Jars. When finished with the product you are left with a classy drinking glass.

8. Design for durability :: design a product to be serviceable, repairable and upgradeable. Our designs should also be something that people want to have around. I like the example of OXO. If you look at the products on their site they have their own unique distinctive look but the style is attractive, timeless, and puts the demands of function first. You will even find a section on their site for refills and replacement parts – why replace the entire product if it is only a small piece that is no longer functional.

9. Design for disassembly :: Why is it so difficult to figure out if the water bottle or lunch container you just ate from is recyclable or not? And what is the meaning of the filled in symbol verses the outlined symbol. If a product is intended to be recycled why make it such a mystery. Be intentional with your design and don’t make the user question the capabilities of a product.

10. Redesign the system itself :: Our economic models stink (in Shedroff’s words describing the GDP) We need new ways of thinking because decisions we are making on the old ways are unstable and detrimental.

For more on ways to be a sustainable designer he recommends the following books:
* Design is the Problem by Nathan Shedroff and Hunter Lovins
* Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
* Nature Capitalism by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins
* Leading Change Toward Sustainability by Bob Doppelt
* The Next Sustainability Wave Bob Willard and Hunter Lovins

—EJ
www.orange-element.com

]]> http://www.orange-blog.com/2009/05/07/compostmodern-4/feed/ 0 http://www.orange-blog.com/2009/05/05/maryland-film-fest-week/ http://www.orange-blog.com/2009/05/05/maryland-film-fest-week/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 13:29:41 +0000 Andrea Campbell http://www.orange-blog.com/?p=1060

The filmmakers are coming! In just a few days, May 7-10 to be exact, Orange Element will be attending the 11th Annual Maryland Film Festival. In celebration, we will be giving away 2 limited-edition silkscreen posters designed by OE and printed by VGKids. The first national or international reader to respond will be mailed a poster. The first local reader to respond will be awarded a poster plus 2 screening vouchers (worth $10 admission or $8 towards lovely merchandise). Email ideas@orange-blog.com to enter. Don’t forget to checkout the Maryland Film Festival blog and website for more details and to sign up to be a Friend of the Festival (see over 100 movies a year for free!) Hope to see you there.

ande
www.orange-element.com

Combining two completely unrelated objects, in this case a plant and a chair, can provide a stunning, unexpected new design. Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec teamed up with Vitra to create the “Vegetal”. Watch this video and enjoy!

ande
www.orange-element.com

I really can’t say enough about Emily Pilloton. We watched a 30-minute speech given by the 27-year-old last week at AIGA’s Compostmodern gathering. I was blown away. She is clear, driven and above all else, carries a humble disposition about her position in the world. She believes the more the merrier when it comes to finding solutions to make the world a better place. In just one short year she has started Project H, created learning landscapes (shown above–scalable learning system with endless opportunities) and found a solution to redesign the Hippo Roller (plastic canister used in rural settings like African villages for transporting water) allowing 250% more to be shipped in the same container, saving on energy costs, company expenses and distributing to more people at a faster rate. I encourage you to check out her site (nice logo by the way) www.projecthdesign.com. Look out for a book this fall that she is currently working on with Metropolis Books.

ande
www.orange-element.com

I’ve always felt it was important to “support the little guy”, but this is more than that. It is about eating healthy, reducing our carbon footprint and most importantly doing our small part to help boost the local economy.

I mentioned it to Aaron one day and he too wanted to join in the cause. And thanks to his twitter, now several other local designers are on board for the challenge. We have set our own rules. Feel free to follow our lead, or create your own parameters. If you are interested here is the deal:

1) BUY FOOD FROM LOCAL RESOURCES: We’ll source our food from the local farmer’s markets first and foremost, checkout http://www.slowfoodbaltimore.org/ for a list of resources and CSA programs. Example: This means I can’t run to Safeway at 9 p.m. if I realize I’m out of milk. I’ll have to wait until the next day and make it over to Belvedere Square instead because the sell regional produced dairy products. Good thing: I’m in luck in the coffee department–we already buy from Zeke’s or Bluebird. Not so local thing: And not to be wasteful–if it’s already in my cabinet–I’m going to eat it or use the ingredients needed like flour, sugar etc.

2) SUPPORT LOCAL RESTAURANTS: We’ll skip the chain restaurants, not that they can’t be owned by a local franchisee, but because they participate in high volume means of transportation to get the food from point A to our plates. We’ll be helping stimulate local restaurants and supporting those that highlight locally produced foods. Example: This means I can’t get lazy and do a drive-thru. Good thing: I’ll get to try new places. Not so local thing: Travel. I’m headed to a birthday celebration for my Dad and it’s his choice of restaurant. So I am out of luck in this department, but I can check out the menu and try to find the best alternative or ask the server if they know where the “beef came from”.

3) SUPPORT LOCAL RETAILERS: We’re not going to the extremes and sourcing everything from local producers–more power to you if you can. But in any instance that I “need” something or “run-out” of something else, I will source my local stores first. Example: Need light bulbs? I’m seeking out my local hardware store first over The Home Depot. Good thing: I’ll probably get lazy at thinking about where to go and do without–determining what I really need over what I think I need. Not so local thing: Gasoline purchases. But Carroll Fuel has several stations in town so if I’m near one, I’ll go there first.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and thinking about your own purchasing habits. We’ll be posting updates throughout the month of tips and any stories that come up along the way. Feel free to email us if you too will be participating. We’d love to hear the feedback and experiences.

ande
www.orange-element.com