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Decode :: Recode

If you’re in London there’s a new exhibition at the V&A (in collaboration with onedotzero called Decode: Digital Design Sensations. It includes work by Sennep, Karsten Schmidt, Daniel Brown, Golan Levin, Daniel Rozin and Troika.

The exhibition is split into three sections: Code, Interactivity and Network. From the V&A site: “The exhibition explores three themes: Code presents pieces that use computer code to create new works and looks at how code can be programmed to create constantly fluid and ever-changing works. Interactivity looks at works that are directly influenced by the viewer. Visitors will be invited to interact with and contribute to the development of the exhibits. Network focuses on works that comment on and utilise the digital traces left behind by everyday communications and looks at how advanced technologies and the internet have enabled new types of social interaction and mediums of self-expression.”

The V&A has commissioned artist Karsten Schmidt to design the digital identity for the exhibition and they have provided it as open source code. You can download the original source code and recode it yourself. Find out more here.

Sennep have re-developed their and Digital Dandelion 2006 with Danish interaction designers Yoke.

Find out more at onedotzero and here’s the grafik magazine article on the exhibition.

Yosigo


Since I’ve moved to Spain I’ve been following the work of Spanish photographer Jose Javier Serrano – yosigo. There’s something about his work that captivates me. He creates beauty with emptiness. His work is inviting, mesmerizing even…..it lures you in. He’s a master of subtly and minimalism. His beach shots are breathtaking. His work is definitely worth a look. As well as his website he also has a flickr stream. I’m looking forward to reading his blog and finding out what inspires him.

From paper to pixels

Mag+ from Bonnier on Vimeo.

Now that handheld reading devices such as the Kindle and the iPhone/iPod touch are well established in today’s market what does the future hold for reading magazines? With the hype and excitement building around Apple’s announcement of a tablet device in 2010 hopefully we’ll see digital magazines step into the digital arena.

Initially I wasn’t excited by the iPod touch, but now I couldn’t imagine life without it. I would miss the tactile enjoyment you get from reading a magazine and/or book, however, the advantages of having a portable reading device with a selection of reading material is exciting. Imagine the possibilities available to enhance the storytelling experience, further character development, back stories, hyperlinks to related online material, notification of associated events and the possibility to interact in real-time with other readers.

How would it effect our reading behavior and interaction with narrative and text? Above is a conceptual video research project initiated by Bonnier R&D into the experience of reading magazines on handheld digital devices. They describe their concept aims “to capture the essence of magazine reading, which people have been enjoying for decades: an engaging and unique reading experience in which high-quality writing and stunning imagery build up immersive stories.”

Some other examples of prototypes are: Wired magazine and Sports Illustrated.

Life with Maggie

"life with maggie" by Ofer Wolberger
“Life with Maggie” is a current project of New York photographer Ofer Wolberger.

Maggie is a fictional character portrayed by Ofer’s wife Billie Martineau. She travels as a tourist around the modern day world but looks a out of place, as though she is trying to understand how and where she fits in. She records her journey by collecting memorable holiday snaps. In a way the use of photography is forming her identity echoing the way people are creating online identities via social network sites.

Ofer describes, “one of the main ideas behind the project is to see the world through someone else’s eyes and to learn about that person by what is surrounding her. The mask isn’t something Maggie is wearing, it’s what makes her who she is.

Ofer was awarded Humble Arts Foundation’s Grant for Emerging Photographers in 2008. You can follow his blog is – horsesthink.com and he is participating in group show called C O L O U R at Michael Hoppen Gallery, London.