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Showing posts with label google. Show all posts
Showing posts with label google. Show all posts

And That's A Wrap, Folks. Here's What Mattered To You In 2013.






Here's how the world 'searched' in 2013, broken down by categories, courtesy of... Google, of course. These are based on search topics with the largest global search volume.

Trends:                    People:


Events:                    Athletes:


Consumer Electronics:  Hashtags:


Movies:                    Performing Artists:


TV Shows:                YouTube Videos:



And here's how the U.S. searched in the categories that really mattered:

Apparel:                   Beer:


Books:                     Blogs:


Cars:                       Dating Sites:


Deaths:                   Dogs:


Internet Animals:     High Fashion Brands:


Memes:                   Movies:


Popular Gifs:            Reality TV Stars:


Restaurants:            Shoes:


Songs:                    Sports:


Tech Gadgets:          Toys:


TV Shows:               Video Games:


What Is...:               Workouts/Exercise:


I hope your 2013 was everything you wanted it to be and that 2014 is even better. Happy New Year!





Visionary Raymond Loewy Honored In Google Doodle And A Look At Some Of His Greatest Designs.




Today’s Google Doodle honors what would have been the 120th birthday of French industrial designer Raymond Loewy (1893-1986). The Doodle, a pencil sketch, was inspired by the Pennsylvania Railroad's S1 steam locomotive he designed as you can clearly see the resemblance to Loewy's original sketch in the above image.



So what did Raymond Loewy actually design? Believe it or not, pretty much everything. From the world's best known brand logos, pencil sharpeners, clocks, kitchen appliances, coke bottles, coke dispensers and furniture to Planes, Trains and Automobiles (to steal a movie title), the Father of Industrial Design ”made products irresistible at a time when nobody really wanted to pay for anything,” TIME magazine once wrote.



His designs straddled the mid-century modern style and the streamlined art deco. Most recognizable amongst his achievements are the Shell and Exxon logos, the Lucky Strike cigarette packaging, GG1 and S1 locomotives, the slenderized Coca-Cola bottle, the John F. Kennedy memorial postage stamp, the interior of Saturn I, Saturn V, and Skylab, the Greyhound bus and logo, U.S. Postal Service emblem, a line of Frigidaire refrigerators, ranges, and freezers, and the Studebaker Avanti, Champion and Starliner.



above: just some of Loewy's logo designs

"Design, vitalized and simplified, will make the comforts of civilized life available to an ever-increasing number of Americans." -- Raymond Loewy

Some of his designs (shown with his beautiful sketches if possible):

Avanti:


Bottle and dispensers for Coca Cola:


Greyhound Bus and Logo Design:


Pencil sharpener, tea set, carpet and furniture by Loewy:


Lucky Strike logo and packaging:


USPS emblem and JFK memorial Stamp:



Here are just some of his career highlights:

1975 Smithsonian Institution opened The Designs of Raymond Loewy, a four-month exhibit dedicated to "the man who changed the face of industrial design."

1972 Poll of stylists representing the Big Three automakers voted his 1953 Studebaker Starliner Coupé an "industry best." Also named one of the most influential Americans by LIFE magazine.

1967 Began working as a habitability consultant to NASA.


1965 Joined the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.

1962 After designing the Shell logo, it becomes such a recognizable icon that Shell drops its name from their advertisements.


1961 Designed the Studebaker Avanti, holding to the motto, "weight is the enemy."

1954 Designed the Greyhound bus.

1953 Designed the Studebaker Starliner Coupé, which the Museum of Modern Art later called a "work of art."

1952 Founded the Compagnie de I'Esthetique Industrielle in Paris, France.

1951 Published second design textbook, Industrial Design, and his autobiography Never Leave Well Enough Alone.

1949 Appeared on the cover of TIME magazine.


1939 Redesigned the Lucky Strike cigarette packaging.

1937 Published first book, The Locomotive: Its Aesthetics.

1936 Designed the GG-1 electric locomotive for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

1934 Designed the Coldspot refrigerator for Sears Roebuck & Company.


1930 Hired as a consultant by the Hupp Motor Company.

1929 Redesigned the Gestetner mimeograph machine. Founder and art director of Raymond Loewy, William Snaith, Inc., in New York City (later established as Raymond Loewy International).

1919 Provided popular fashion illustrations for magazines such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Freelanced as a window designer for department stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy's.



In 1975 the Smithsonian Institution opened The Designs of Raymond Loewy, a four-month exhibit dedicated to "the man who changed the face of industrial design." Loewy later commented, "While working closely with the Smithsonian, I was provided with the opportunity to reassess the past." And what a past it was. Loewy - businessman, educator, illustrator and author - had undoubtedly established himself as one of history's most famous and influential designers.


above: Loewy with his design for Air Force 1

Loewy and Viola moved to France several years later, where they enjoyed leisurely travel and a more relaxed lifestyle. On July 14, 1986, after a period of poor health, Raymond Loewy died in Monte Carlo, Monaco. He was 92 years old.

Loewy's death sparked a worldwide media frenzy over his immeasurable talent and contributions to industrial design. New York Times reporter Susan Heller wrote, "One can hardly open a beer or a soft drink, fix breakfast, board a plane, buy gas, mail a letter or shop for an appliance without encountering a Loewy creation."

Official Raymond Loewy sites:
www.raymondloewy.com
www.RaymondLoewy.org
www.RaymondLoewyFoundation.com

Sweet Co-Branding: Google and Nestlé Give Us The Android Kit Kat.






To mark the release of Android KitKat, the latest operating system from Google, more than 50 million specially branded KitKat bars shaped like the Android mascot, will be available in 19 countries including Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, Dubai, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Kit Kat's own website has been redesigned as a parody of a tech site as part of the promotion:

The press release:
Sep 3, 2013 Google and Nestlé announce Android KitKat



Google has ended months of online speculation about the name of the latest version of its Android mobile operating system by revealing it will be called ‘Android KitKat’, after Nestlé’s popular chocolate and wafer confectionery.



The creators of the world’s most popular mobile platform have teamed up with the world’s biggest food and beverage company to name the next release of the platform ‘Android KitKat’.

Android KitKat 4.4 - The Future of Confectionary video:


SWEET THEMES
Android has been developed by the company’s engineers under sweet-themed names ever since the release of Android Cupcake in 2009 and continuing in alphabetical order until the most recent version, Android Jelly Bean.


above: The Android KitKat statue at Google's Mountain View campus along with others representing previous operating systems, such as Gingerbread, Jelly Bean, Ice Cream Sandwich and cupcake

The news that the letter ‘K’ will be dedicated to Nestlé’s KitKat will surprise most technology commentators, who had widely thought the latest version would be ‘Android Key Lime Pie’.

“We couldn’t imagine a better name for our Android K release than the tasty chocolate that’s been a favourite among the team since the early days of Android,” said Marc Vanlerberghe, Director of Android Marketing.

STRONG DIGITAL PRESENCE
“We’re excited to announce this partnership with Android, the world's most popular mobile platform, which will help us to enable even more KitKat fans to enjoy their break,” said Patrice Bula, Nestlé’s Head of Marketing.


above: A small number of Android robot-shaped KitKat bars will also be offered as prizes in addition to the 50 million created.

“KitKat is one of the world’s top ten fast-moving consumer goods brands in social media in terms of fan numbers and engagement,” he continued. “We continue to build on its strong digital presence with interactive, creative branding campaigns.”



To mark the release of Android KitKat, more than 50 million specially branded KitKat bars will be available in 19 countries including Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, Dubai, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.


above: The Android KitKat robot arrives at Nestlé headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland.

The packs will lead consumers to the website android.com/kitkat where they will have the opportunity to win prizes including a limited number of Google Nexus 7 tablets, and credits to spend in Google Play, Google’s online store for apps, games, music, movies, books and more.

CLOSER TO CONSUMERS
Nestlé’s branding partnership with Google is the company’s latest move in its ambition to leverage digital technology and online content to get closer to its consumers to better understand and cater to their preferences.

Earlier this year, Nestlé acquired its first-ever piece of online content property, the Petfinder website in the United States. The online database, which links prospective adopters with adoptable pets, is visited by more than 100 million pet-lovers annually

all images courtesy of Nestlé and Google

Steven Klein's Futuristic Fashion Editorial For Vogue - 6 Stunning Spreads




A longtime fan of Steven Klein's photography, I'm always impressed by his unusual look of fashion editorials and ads without sacrificing the products he is featuring.

In his latest work for the 2013 September issue of Vogue, The Final Frontier, he incorporates the modern and somewhat steampunk / post-apocalyptic steel house of late architect/artist Robert Bruno as the backdrop for his vision of the future. Klein's work is so beautifully composed, there are images within the images, which is why I've included several enlarged and cropped details for you as well as the original photos.

Clothes and coats with modern lines in predominantly solid colors pop from his magenta-blue saturated images and even Google Glass makes an appearance as the eyewear of choice.

Below are the six beautiful fashion spreads (and close-ups), complete with Vogue's description and prices of the featured fashions.

Sight Lines:

detail:

above: Outfitted in Google Glass, model Raquel Zimmermann embodies a sleek chic stripped of both embellishment and gimmick. Oscar de la Renta teal cashgora coat, $4,490; Oscar de la Renta boutiques. Gucci black leather turtleneck, $2,300; select Gucci boutiques. Michael Kors patent leather gloves and belt.

Heavy Metal

details:


above: Spare planes of fabric are carved into organic shapes—an intersection of hypermodern and earthy, underscored by the setting: an experimental house of 110 tons of rusted steel, built by the late architect Robert Bruno near Lubbock, Texas. Bottega Veneta saffron wool-cashmere coat, $2,750; Bottega Veneta boutiques. Etro belt. On Toni Garrn (above): Dior wool coat; Dior boutiques. On Niklas Garrn (far right): Dior Homme suit throughout.

Forbidding Planet

details:


above: Cloaked against the autumn chill in monochrome coats or suits, the trio wanders Ransom Canyon like future humans returned to an abandoned Earth. On Raquel: Stella McCartney amethyst felted-bouclé coat, $3,855; Stella McCartney, NYC. Michael Kors leather gloves. On Toni: Calvin Klein Collection white coat, $2,795; Calvin Klein Collection, NYC. Reed Krakoff boots. Google Glass throughout.

Tripping The Light Fantastic

details:


above: Built for women who seem to be really, really going places: practical, everyday chic—no fidgety patterns or trims to muck up travel, intergalactic or otherwise. On Raquel: Narciso Rodriguez tangerine shift, $1,895; neimanmarcus.com. Céline necklace. Michael Kors heels. On Toni: Balenciaga wool-mohair sweater with plaster effect ($1,545), crepe pants ($1,235), and boots; clothing at Balenciaga, NYC. On Niklas: de Grisogono watch.

Command and Control

details:


above: Purified lines and simplified structures are a perfect fashion strategy for taking over the office (or the planet). Right: Gucci purple wool-and-silk deep V-neck coat ($3,200) and leather turtleneck ($2,300); select Gucci boutiques. Lara Bohinc ring. Below: Chanel black-and-white jersey dress; select Chanel boutiques.

Bang! Pow!

details:


above: When colors and cuts pack as much impact as this, the Space Age, it would seem, is not as austere as we may have feared. Tom Ford black and orange jersey dresses with comic-book beaded motifs; Tom Ford, Beverly Hills. Casadei ankle boots. Right: Giuseppe Zanotti Design platinum necklace.

Credits:
Photographer: Steven Klein
Publication: Vogue US
Fashion Editor: Tonne Goodman
hair by Garren for Garren New York Salon
makeup by Val Garland
Produced by Tracy Whiting for North Six.
eyewear, Google Glass

The Saul Bass Google Doodle Tribute And All The Actual Title Sequences.




I have long been a fan of late graphic designer Saul Bass and was thrilled to see today's Google Doodle tribute to him on what would be his 93rd birthday. Google took many of his most famous opening title sequences and closing credits for movies directed by Alfred Hitcock, Otto Preminger, Billy Wilder and Stanley Kubrick amongst others and created their own versions of them.


above: Saul Bass on titles

I wanted to share the Goggle Doodle with you (for those who have yet to see it) and then follow it up with videos of all the actual title sequences so you can see the inspiration. Enjoy.

The Google Doodle Celebrating Saul Bass' 93rd Birthday:


Google a la Psycho:


Saul Bass title sequence - Psycho (1960)


Google a la Man With the Golden Arm:


Saul Bass title sequence - The Man With The Golden Arm (1955)


Google a la Spartacus:


Saul Bass title sequence - Spartacus (1960)


Google a la West Side Story:


Saul Bass title sequence - West Side Story (1961)


Google a la Vertigo:


Saul Bass title sequence Vertigo - (1958)


Google a la North by Northwest:


Saul Bass title sequence - North by Northwest (1959)


Google a la Anatomy Of A Murder:


Saul Bass title sequence - Anatomy Of A Murder (1959)


Google a la Oceans Eleven:


Saul Bass title sequence - Ocean's Eleven (1960)


Google a la Around the World in Eighty Days:


Saul Bass closing credits - Around The World in 80 Days (1956)
(The closing credits Saul Bass created for Around the world in eighty days were the longest and most expensive credits ever made, at the time. They cost $65,000.)
This video is not available on You Tube, but can be seen in its entirety here.

Art of the Title has a wonderful collection of many of his title sequences and closing credits.

And be sure to see my previous post on how Saul Bass inspires others here.

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