Tuesday Creative

Photoshop can be, at times, cumbersome with each new edition, although this is not to say completely futile. What commences as a brief look into creating conceptual art, culminates into an exceptional discovery. PSDTUTS.com is anything and everything Photoshop related. Lessons range from applying realistic tattoos, retouching facial imperfections, creating conceptual art, building seamless collages, fine tuning techniques of illustration, to making rad text effects. PSDTUTS is not only a prime resource for Photoshop tutorials, but it is also an online community where readers have the opportunity to suggest topics and even write in for paid publishing on the site. Definitely a hot resource right now.

- B. Juergens

 

Found: the most compelling art form for both typographers and laymen alike. People of various significance in the art world have taken famous cinematic scenes and re-created them using motley typefaces along with audio to showcase the enigmatic effect on our psyche.

What I cannot wrap my mind around is how delicious these clips are! Always Watching.org provides a synopsis of the concept and plenty little vids so you may make your own deductions. Of course, I have a few faves and a couple that I thought could have been a bit saucier. Don’t forget each video, once played, gives you the option to check out others of this genre, a notion I recommend indulging in.

Top two faves featured on the site have to be dedicated to Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill. The color scheme is punchy, the typeface is felicitous with each movie’s feel while keenly representing the narrative character. In my mind, what separates the rocks from the gems in this case are the aforementioned qualities. The Oceans Eleven and Full Metal Jacket scenes, for example, were desperately lacking this appeal.

The medium itself is an exceptional expression. Like hearing a book complete with action-motivated type and a killer soundtrack of effects. Kinematic Typography receives two thumbs up, four stars, two critics on a sofa, and the Mystery Science theatre 3000 seal of approval. Check it out!

- B. Juergens

Grunge Design is a chaotic and abstract design style from the 1990’s arguably coined by David Carson, dubbed the ‘godfather of grunge.’ Ok, fast forward to 2008. Smashing Magazine.com posted an article last week which states: “Shiny and glossy design elements are now officially outdated. Just like retro is becoming trendy again, the grungy look appears to rapidly gain on [sic] popularity.”Is 90’s grunge design coming back? And how do designers feel about it?

One of our Art Directors here at Tuesday Creative, Andrew Seles, took particular umbrage with this from the Smashing post: “In our everyday environment we’re unlikely to find ideal geometric forms or pretty shadow effects as they are manifested by glorious web 2.0-designs.” Andrew’s response: “While this once was the case, it is increasingly less so. Not only is media sleek these days, but our environments are becoming more refined. Whether it’s the latest in architecture and environmental graphics, a new chair at Ikea or snacking at a boutique eatery like Pink Berry, the real world places we inhabit and the objects we interact with are more polished and highly designed than ever.”

Jennifer Murse, a designer at Tuesday said: I DON’T love the aesthetic when it’s done well, but I hate it when it’s done poorly.” Murse went on to cite these examples, which in her opinion, display well executed (Subdued.net), (Misprintedtype), (THS), (MindTwitch), Grunge Design, poor use of (Jeremy Zevin), (Satsu) it, and even some who claimed a grunge aesthetic, but were not successful (AJMiles), (WebDesigner) in pulling it off.

This co-opt of 90’s design is best captured with the following quote from Fresh Styles for Web Designers: Lo-Fi Grunge Style… “If there is indeed ‘nothing new under the sun’ (as the author of Ecclesiastes repeatedly asserts), one way to come up with a ‘fresh’ style is to go back in time a few decades, cut what you find, and paste it into the present.” Today’s grunge design, however, is not nearly as exciting as the 90’s not because ‘it’s been done’, but because the new grunge no longer feels like a rebellious aesthetic. David Carson’s edgy abrasive design and typographic art is now being appropriated to resemble a scrap-book party rather than a military coup. On the flipside, negative feedback from the public that the 90’s aesthetic was illegible and confusing may have driven today’s designers to create a more palatable and modern grunge. For better or worse, grunge has officially returned!

Ironically, it may be a misnomer to call grunge retro. After all, did it ever really go away? Take a look at distressed fashions and splattered rock graphics of the last decade. Torn edges and weathered textures might be as much a nod to the 1990’s as they are to the 1890’s. The steady recycling of yesterday’s styles may already have lapped itself several times over. The grunge movement of the 1990’s was itself a throwback to the counter-culture of the 60’s and early 70’s (Woodstock II, anyone)? Have we reached a critical mass where the term “retro” is an oversimplification? Perhaps, much of today’s work may at best be “inspired by” or at worst grossly “derivative of” what came before it.

One thing is certain: trends are always a bit sticky. They are, after all, trendy. So, designers are charged with balancing what is fresh with the specific demands of a project and the needs of a client. A passing fad may work well in a short-lived, targeted campaign. Apply that same style to a logo (whether it’s grungy or chock full of gradients and drop shadows) and you may be quickly outdated. Either way, it’s safe to say organic, hand-tooled designs will always have their place along side the slick and seamless.

- B. Juergens, C. Lin, A. Seles

Numerous blogs dedicated to these quirky building blocks called Bloxes have practically infiltrated my internet surfing. And honestly if we don’t talk about it now, they may vanish from interest into the vast space of superfluous inventions.

People have long had a peculiar affection for cardboard. I can even remember building an ER with friends in my backyard out of giant boxes from a new washer and dryer set. Unlike what you might consider a cardboard box; Bloxes are interlocking pieces of corrugated cardboard resembling cute snowflakes. It may go without saying then that fathers and 7 year-olds are not required. The people at Bloxes, however, say that putting these sound-softening, weight-withstanding geometric oddities together is easy enough for children and advantageous for even the creatively challenged adult.  If that wasn’t enough, Bloxes can also connect with each other on all six sides to build walls, benches, tables and whatever your heart desires. Imagine the possibilities of transforming your work or living space.

Checking out images of the utilitarian designs people have created with Bloxes will leave you questioning why you didn’t think to start a business selling backyard cardboard pile creations, or even to contemplate what if it gets wet?  I personally, was devastated when evacuating my ER patients as its walls mushed and crumbled beneath the pitter-patter of a midwestern drizzle. Now imagine what spilling your coffee might do to your new Blox desk! The company’s mission statement is (re) build and play, so perhaps you may be able to replace any wet or soiled parts of your new cardboard furniture.

One last note, Bloxes’ suggestion of getting a bunch of friends together with beer and pizza, to put hundreds of pieces together within a few hours, has to be way more interesting than a Jenga party.

- B. Juergens

While the two are not inseparable, fashion and technology have always been somewhat related. Let’s take, for instance, the first recorded mention of a “pocket-clock” in 1462, by Italian clock maker Bartholomew Manfredi. At the time, such a device was quite bulky and worn around the neck. It wasn’t until the 16th century that they were small enough to fit into a pocket. This led to a creation of a specific pocket in the waistcoat and vest for the watch. Fast forward four centuries to trendy pockets built in gal’s bags made for mobile devices and handsomely stylized self-contained cases to be worn around guy’s belts! Reminiscent of the short-lived, yet notably popular ring-watch of the 80's, the up-coming GM500 Cell watch is a cousin of wearable technology.
Just this last week in Hannover, Germany at a global CeBIT (“Where Zeros and Ones Turn Into Billions”) convention, a plethora of digital IT and telecommunications solutions were showcased. While some lacked in Red Carpet sensibilities; I personally would “wear,” at least, the following three (for a minute!): The G777 (a multimedia-capable phone equipped with video glasses!), the GM500 Cell watch (name gives it away), and Germany’s own Mobile Research Center’s nameless 3-piece wearable computing suit.

As for the Spy Kid-esque visor-like G777, there will be no make-out sessions while donning this more personal ensemble (I swear this was featured in Pretty in Pink way back in 1986!) This multimedia-capable phone allows you to watch movies, read e-books, listen to MP3s, take pictures, and for your voyeuristic pleasure record video. Just don’t use it while driving.

Aaaahhh, the simplicity of the GM500; a wristwatch doubling as your cell… by the way, it does come with a headset so you won’t look goofy talking to your wrist. What the GM500 may do for fashion depletes the need for an array of pockets. It might keep you from endlessly replacing phones that drop out of laps, cars, and tables.

The nameless and domineering Minority Report 3-piece consists of a vest, a glove, and a headset to feed information to a computer without the use of a keyboard or mouse. Unless this getup will also think for me...not so sure its worth all of the trouble....I’ll still have to show up to work, sit in my chair, pass out chocolates, and take a lunch break. Not to mention; look like a total nerdy creep!

CeBIT world fair

- B. Juergens

Plans for a new zoological park in Vincennes, France show the use of what BLDG BLOG calls a simulated geology. Designed by Paris architects Beckmann N’Thepe, these beautiful renderings illustrate a massive artificial and simulated habitat for animals. Approximately 37 acres of the location will be comprised of six biozones employing partial solar power.

BLDG Blog asks the question: why not make college campuses or suburbs like this? Furthermore, why not bring the outdoor experience inside the workplace?

The possibilities could be really interesting ... dare we say ... endless ...

- C. Lin

Here at Tuesday, we’re an iPod wearing, mash up mixing, CD-swapping army of music enthusiasts who take our tunes as seriously as we take our work. Internet radio is a collective favorite, so it shouldn’t raise an eyebrow that I’m dedicating this post to the web radio space—in particular the (arguably) biggest player in the Internet radio universe.

If you are new to the Last FM/Audioscrobbling set, it’s an Internet radio service that fuses both individualism and community by allowing you to customize your own personal radio channels according to your own personal tastes and then share those tastes with an entire worldwide network.

Tuesday Associate Producer Chy Lin is a fan.

“Last FM is great,” says Lin. “It helps to open up new music and suggests artists that you would never have been able to hear about otherwise.”

Audioscobbler is Last FM’s music recommendation system that works as your own music scout, continually updating your preferences by recording details of the tracks you listen to either on streamed radio, your computer, your iPod and the like: your profile is fashioned by the tracks you listen to most.

But the system is not without flaws.

Says Lin: “My biggest complaint at first, was that I hated all of the suggested music. But it’s a matter of patience, and when you spend enough time using the service, you really start finding some great stuff.”

There’s a reason for that, as it turns out. Before Audioscrobble can recommend an artist or track, it has to rise out of the Last FM slush pile, which means that a relative degree of popularity is required for a song to be recognized. Contrast this with Pandora, Last FM’s nemesis, which compares only the character of a song to your preferences. (There are Pandora Purists and Last FM Loyalists—both of which have lists of reasons why their station du choix is better than the other.)

“I love the exposure to new artists and also the way it works like a Wikipedia of music, full of discographies and track listings. It opens up a lot of opportunity for independent bands as well. Bands can look at their stats online and see which tracks are most listened to. That’s a big help when they’re trying to figure out what songs the audience does or doesn’t like.”

Last FM’s option to purchase the tracks you like is of course a plus, but for the iPod generation perhaps it would be more convenient to have the ability to purchase tracks from iTunes.

“I wish they had a deal with the iTunes store,” says Lin. “At the moment you can only purchase from Amazon… Ugh!”

- Carley Johnson

The Information Superhighway can be surprisingly unhelpful. If you’re like me, you’ve spent many bleary-eyed hours hopelessly sifting through site after site after site to find the answer to what you’d mistakenly believed to be a simple question. (Try Googling something mundane like ‘how to remove grass stains’ and see the dizzying results it turns up.)

Enter VideoJug: the “encyclopedia of life.” Or at the very least, the cure to the common question.

And if you’re already thinking this is just another YouTube rip-off, well, you’ be quite mistaken. Formats including channels and reader reviews are reminiscent of YouTube, yes, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end.

Based in the UK and US, VideoJug has been producing professional educational videos that address subjects from kite surfing to overseas adoption and everything (I mean everything) in between. But we’re not talking educational videos in the cheesy 1980s-high-school-instructional video sense of the word. Rather, for the past two years VideoJug has consistently demonstrated unwavering professionalism in their high definition video productions, which run the gamut from tongue-in-cheek instructional video romps (how to be the perfect boyfriend) to interviews with Doctors and Physicians on serious medical issues (coping with a cancer diagnosis).

Perhaps the most addictive factor is the accessibility: there is literally something here for everyone. Never doctrinarian nor condescending in their approach, VideoJug blends humor with practical wisdom, turning it into a vastly entertaining format.

The fact that they’re all in-house productions also means that VideoJug doesn’t face the copyright infringement quagmire of its less useful (or at least, less insightful) counterpart YouTube. And, as is so often NOT the case with information on the web, VideoJug is always well researched and therefore reliable … and it’s always growing.

- Carley Johnson

It is my considered opinion that fine folks at Arts Technica deserve a Pulitzer Prize. Their recent article “The Ethics of ‘stealing’ a WiFi Connection” blows the baloney out of the idea that accessing WiFi is a black-and-white crime and is one of those rare, shining moments in internet journalism where you just want to stand up and salute.

The thing is, it’s very common for people to mention ‘stealing WiFi’ in the same breath as ‘pirating movies.’ But accessing open WiFi connections and pirating movies have about as much in common as night and day. More than that, most new goodly gadgets, like the iPhone, come ready to connect to open networks … and yet doing so is considered illegal in some places.

But should it be?

“ChiFi” and “Wireless Philadelphia” are both working hard to make their respective cities the most connected ones in the nation. Los Angeles isn’t far behind with a study underway to explore the feasibility of a citywide WiFi program as is San Francisco. The way these cities see it, citywide Internet access is the future: it can foster a sense of community as well as contribute to the general wellbeing of the citizens. (Wireless Philadelphia asks the question would the US be 49th in world literacy if children had Internet access?)

What about the argument that accessing open WiFi is detrimental to the host’s wireless connection? According to Technica, this is also something of a red herring as not everyone who accesses a neighbor’s WiFi connection has the intent to illegally download movies and music … some just need to map quest a restaurant for the night.

And what about those of us who deliberately leave our wireless access points open for the benefit of, say, the starving college student or struggling artist that can’t afford the added expense?

Arts Technica’s bottom line is that if you don’t want someone to drive your car you don’t give them your keys, so why should it be any different with your internet? Secure your access points if you don’t want someone checking their email on your account.  And if you’re a bandwidth hitchhiker, do your homework to make sure that it’s not against the law in your city … for the time being, anyway.

- Carley Johnson

 

Tuesday Creative is an interactive agency that deals with a variety of entertainment websites, creating everything from web site design to flash games. A great deal of their clientele is in the entertainment industry, and the company mainly works with movie studios such as Universal, Walt Disney and their TV affiliates.

Mr. Scott Seward, the president of the company, and Ms Paula Tade, the Senior Director, accepted Web Creators invitation to talk about web production in this exciting environment. Back in 1992, Mr. Seward and several colleagues began to meet together every Tuesday night to work on independent projects, establishing what they called the Tuesday Group—the name coming from their habit of Tuesday night meetings. At that time the company was mainly involved with CD-ROM production, but switched to a web production business in 2002. Today, there are over 30 hard working producers, programmers and designers at the company.

Tuesday Creative has a lot of major entertainment-related customers and produce websites for popular TV programs such as 'Live with Regis and Kelly' which has been broadcasted in the U.S. for 20 years. Other high-profile projects include the DVD site of the cartoon film movie ‘Jungle Book', the microsite of “The Fast and Furious” and work for many other famous films.
 
But producing these entertainment websites aren’t without their hardships. According to Paula Tade, there are often licensing issues involving the images to be used for the site: an actor may not grant the rights to use an image needed for a movie or television website if the actor does not like the image.

“We want to offer a place where a consumer can extend communication using technology,” says Seward.

Tuesday’s journey, which now spans 15 years, continues strong today and on into the future.

Translated from the Japanese magazine Web Creators.

- Yasukazu Kawachi