Viva Design Inc.

The Santa Barbara tea fire destroyed over 230 homes, and our house was right in the middle of it. Miraculously our structure was not affected and we got away with smoke damages. We moved out our home, and moved 5 more times in three weeks, finally settling into a hotel for one month. We did not move our belongings back, because we like our home stripped and empty. All those books, that we loved before....I don't even miss them... we are lucky

More photos of our home and the devastated neighborhood are at vivadesign.com/fire

Last Wednesday I spoke at fishbon (fishbon.org) about the highlights of the 2008 BDA conference.

This year's conference was surprisingly inspiring...maybe due to new management there is fresh wind at Promax/BDA. The things that inspired me most was

1. PSYOP - Their work is stunning and they truly deserve the "lifetime achievement" award (check out psyop.tv)
2. The Best of design session and State of the Art - the shown samples were awesome, delivery by Justin Cone was great (check out his site motionographer.com). A lot of great spots can be found on that site (http://motionographer.com/index.php?s=procrastination)

3. interactive storytelling on multiple platforms - it is no longer that simple, content is found everywhere...Is tv dead?

4. I presented the ideas of Nicholas Negroponte about One laptop per child (laptop.org).

5. Sir Ken Robinson has the right ideas about creativity and the lack of it in our schools. One of his speaches can also be downloaded from ted.com

6. I love the shortfilm "procrastination" (http://motionographer.com/2008/04/08/johnny-kelly-procrastination/)

5. Last not least I showed the ted-video of "Jill Bolte's powerful stroke of insight", downloadable at ted.com

I spoke at the AIGA typography panel, which conveniently took place at a winetasting room in Santa Barbara. The panelists were John Roshell from comicraft, Bill Kienzel and I. After testing some local wines, I started the panel by talking about what inspires me. Since I love shopping (I mean window shopping) I have many examples of how typography is used in fashion. I categorize the current use of type as 1. handmade, 2. ornamental, 3. classical, 4. conceptual.

Handdrawn type has been a la mode in the last few years. I showed some cool motion graphics samples (Shilo for cartoon network). There are beautiful spots using calligraphy, like the Heidsiek Piper commercial. Stefan Sagmeister's work inspires me as it is conceptually very clever. He spoke at the ted conference some years ago and the talk can be downloaded from their site (TED.com). Last not least I ended showing recent examples of vivadesign.com

We are officially selected as speakers and session presenters for the Promax/BDA.

BDA session

"Fashion Inspired!"

June 14th 2007, 10.30 am, New York Hilton Hotel, Sutton center

Moderator: Ulrike Kerber, Founder/Creative Director, Viva Design, Inc.

Presenters: Elaine Cantwell, Founder/Creative Director, Spark Creative Inc.; Daniel Vosovic, "Project Runway" Finalist, Teri Agins, author of  "The End of Fashion" and Wall Street Journal senior special writer

A showcase panel of award-winning broadcast and fashion designers/editors present the cross pollination between the fashion industry and television - covering trends, the creative process, how fashion brand awareness is created, television as a launching pad for fashion designers careers, the new roles celebrities play in fashion, and where fashion and broadcast designers draw inspiration. Come and be inspired in this fashion forward session. Appropriate attire not required.

Friday, 20th of April we are invited to show the viva demoreel projected at the wine and design event in town. There will be over 500 people there and lots of wine.

just the right place for us...

On Wednesday, 4th of April, I spoke at fishbon www.fishboneventlab.blogspot.com

I showed

1. websites from Etienne Mineur, who designed for Issey Miyake www.my-os.net/blog

2. A graphic collaborative called: SURFACE TO AIR surface2air.com

SURFACE TO AIR Paris is a creative studio/boutique operating in art, fashion and communication. Our need for freedom and independence, conditions to creativity, made us organize ourselves around high pluri-disciplinary activities and projects in the creative domains which interest us.

3. images from Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting, an exhibit at the museum for arts and design, NY

A provocative and timely exhibition of work by international artists using fiber in unexpected and unorthodox ways, Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting illuminates a field of creative practice that is fresh, surprising, and engaging. Featuring 27 artists from seven countries, this exhibition will exhibit work that ranges from Althea Merback's microknit garments (1:144 scale) to large-scale, site-specific installations. Artists employ a variety of media, from traditional yarns and laces, to found objects and video, and explore contemporary currents in art practice of socially engaged, participatory work.

4. my own NY window images