Design
Antenna?
There is an art to designing an antenna — when it must function as well as be aesthetically appealing. Unfortunately, Apple’s design team neglected the function over form. Apparently, the antenna of the new iPhone 4, which has sold over 1.7 million units, has problems with reception due to the antenna design. Because it wraps around the device in order to be unobtrusive, it requires the correct hand hold to make the connection. So, if you’re left handed, sorry. I love my iPod Touch but I’ve been holding out for so long for Apple to get the many kinks out of their iPhones and this antenna problem is just one…
Giving it Up for the GSA…
…and other federal artistic watchdogs, like the “florist-in-chief.” What does this mean? Well, firstly, there was a fascinating article in Washington Post that describes how the GSA (General Services Administration — a federal watchdog agency) is on a hunt to recover “lost” artwork from the Depression, which was created as part of the WPA (New Deal Works Progress Administration), to help artists have employment and document historical art. At the time, the government paid artists up to $42 a week. This was a large amount back then and a life preserver during our nation’s worst financial crisis. Over 20,000 works of art were created in response. The value of these…
Pop-Ups Plus
I recently saw notice for and exhibition called, Paper Engineering: Fold, Pull, Pop and Turn, about pop-up books at The National Museum of American History. I’ve always enjoyed pop-up books, so I hope I can see this. The exhibit contains book from the Smithsonian Institutions’ Library’s Here’s the NMAH’s quite fascinating video on the subject and how involved a pop-up project may be. I have an even greater appreciation of a pop-up book after watching this. It’s truly a work of art and a paper engineering and folding feat. If you’d like to try a more simple book construction, check out the Altered Book Basics, as a project from a…
