Listening To : Sun Kil Moon

Jesus was an only child...
On the Algorithm iTunes in what seems like constant rotation, are the first two albums from ex-Red House Painters folks Sun Kil Moon. These are albums to design to - peaceful and tuneful but morose and melancholy (well... it works for me), and contain all the things that were great about the Red House Painters. The first album "Ghosts Of The Great Highway" is a little more rocked out and poppy than the second "Tiny Cities", which returns to the more traditional acoustic sound reminiscent of the days of RHP. We prefer the first one, which has the sublime "Salvador Sanchez" which for all of those long awaiting a return to the rocked-out form of "Grace Cathedral Park" in anthemic spectacle, you wont be disappointed.

If you ever get to see Sun Kil Moon, they are excellent live (they're playing the Bowery on May 24th for you NYC people who read this), and The Red House Painters were the only band (ok, apart from Sigur Ros), to make me cry at a show. When they played "Mistress" back in 2001 at the Shepherd's Bush Empire it was one of the most incredible live experiences I've ever had.

Anyway, other stuff we're listening to here includes the great debut album from Film School, Sigur Ros's 'Takk' is still going strong, as is Howard Shore's 'Aviator' soundtrack. All come highly recommeded from us here at Algorithm!

Links : Sci-Fi 2006 Promos

It's well worth checking out the latest round of surreal promos and idents from the Sci-Fi Channel.

Links : Nipple Studio (London)

Some wonderfully original motion graphics work from small and beautifully named London studio Nipple. The showreel is certainly worth checking out, as is Nigel and Ivana's work for Virgin.

Links : Press Any Key (London)

Some nice work courtesy of designer John Collins, an ex-colleague from the QVC London days, now running his own studio.

Press Any Key (PAK Studio) can be found here.

Links : Scott Derby (Illustrator)

It's always a great thing when an old colleague embraces the brave new world of blogging. Scott and Algorithm have been talking about his illustration portfolio site for some time now, and he has decided to go with something more immediate, exciting and dynamic in terms of showing his work. This goes against the traditional approach of even the online portfolio, and Scott intends to integrate the activity of blogging into his own working practices, pushing to get out at least one piece of work a week.

Scott's embryonic and ever evolving blog can be found here.

Kanye On Rolling Stone Cover

From Gawker.com
Controversial rapper Kanye West dominates the latest issue of Rolling Stone, which should hit stands tomorrow.

A question for our Algorithm visitors... is this a great imaging idea or an inflammatory marketing idea? Is it simply too much or not enough?

Leave your comments below...

Sigur Ros : Untitled #1

Simply beautiful video from Iceland's Sigur Ros. If you have 7 minutes to spare, this is well worth it. They are playing Madison Square Garden next month, with support as usual from their backup band Amina.

Video found at the increasingly useful Google Video

Lebron James Nike Typography

Some great typographic work for Nike courtesy of Non-Format out of London.

Links : Electroplankton (Nintendo DS)

Review From Amazon
"Electroplankton is a truly unique hands-on visual and audio experience. Already a big hit in Japan, this is a new type of game where the goal is to create audio art. Use the DS touch screen to interact with striking underwater creatures. Poke, rub, and draw on the screen to stimulate the odd aquatic creatures and create your own music. Each level is a completely new sound experience, from haunting melodies to head-nodding beats to funky Mario theme remixes. You'll create new songs and experiences every time you play!"

2006 Annual Weblog Awards

"It's now the sixth year of the world's most established weblog awards, the Bloggies™. Personal Web publishing never stops growing, and that means this year the public will have more contenders than ever to select from when choosing the year's best weblogs. 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 have their champions; now it's time for you to do your part for 2006."

We're voting for Khoi Vinh's wonderful Subtraction for best designed weblog.

Target Uses Google Maps For Advertising

Found at Boing Boing

"Advertisers are slowly discovering the potential of Google Maps, and some, like the Target store above (more at Google Sightseeing), are even enjoying some unexpected windfall. Poynter Online talks about realtors tapping into satellite imaging tools. Google Maps Mania is running a log on map hacks, some of them by businesses. Scavengeroogle is an armchair scavenger hunt based on the service - you too can have people looking for your brand landmark (like, again, the Target stores)."

Links : Red Alert

Ze Frank's short film about the design process for creating the Department of Homeland Security's color coded security alert system.

More information at Ze Frank

In Progress : 3:15 Movie Website

Algorithm is currently developing the online promotional component of upcoming independent feature film 3:15 for BDMP and producer Michele Loschiavo.

More information at Three Fifteen

New Order : True Faith (1987)

Video Found At Google Video

Links : Bookstore Organized By Color

Found At Pushby

Links : Fontsmith Design For ITV

Found At FontSmith

The custom typeface created by Fontsmith for the launch of ITV, was "a very different kettle of fish from the other channels we've done" according to the foundry's creative head, Jason Smith.

This is the first chance to see the whole of the new ITV typeface which will play a unifying role in the identity of the of the newly re-branded ITV network, conceived by Red Bee Media, formerly BBC Broadcast.

The major challenge which the font's designers faced was how to bring together the ITV network of channels while simultaneously giving each a clearly defined identity.

This apparent contradiction was compounded by what Jason Smith explains as technical difficulties: "The font also had to be practical for some of the incredibly long programme titles you get on ITV".

It took typical Fontsmith ingenuity to solve the problem: "We created four different weights". The specialist type studio created four weight variations in the new type face, thereby giving each of the network's very different channels the flexibility to create its own easily identified design.

While Fontsmith founder, Jason Smith, is keen not to overplay the importance of the typeface, he does note that, "it can be hugely influential in terms of subliminal recognition". Custom type design acts as a visual reassurance which is not itself the focus of attention: "The audience should not notice the typeface but should, importantly, notice the brand", he concludes.

ITV is the latest broadcaster to join an elite handful of TV stations in owning their own bespoke Fontsmith typeface. In every case the specially designed type has met cheery approval from executives and viewers alike, making Fontsmith something of a name in the field of TV typography.

Tim Platt, Creative Director at Red Bee says “Jason’s ability to understand the creative parameters of the brief and his genuinely collaborative approach to the design process meant we were able to create a unique and stylish font that will play a major role across the redesign of the whole ITV Network”

Algorithm Wins Q Award (Germany)

Algorithm has won the online award from the German-based Q Award website, for being an 'outstanding website'.

Links : Slow Down Week (Jan 15-21)

From AdBusters

"Slow Down Week is all about exploration and adventure, experimenting with new rhythms for a more enjoyable, fulfilling, interesting and meaningful life. Now, before you get too excited, take a second . . . relax. There's no need to start planning feverishly for your perfect week in the slow lane. Take it as it comes.

When you're ready, maybe stroll on over to the Slow Down Week forums for some chit-chat with others who are trying to ease off on the accelerator. [Actually, we haven't gotten around to putting this online yet. We'll see what happens.]"

From SlowDownNow
It’s Slow Down Week: January 15- 24. How are you going to slow down now?
Slow Lifestyle Manifesto

We believe multitasking is a moral weakness.

We would never needlessly indulge ourselves in hurry or rush*. If a thing is worth doing it is worth doing slowly or not at all.

We value focus and relaxed concentration. We value being here and now.

This is not to say we don’t believe in hard work, we do. We believe it exists. We have witnessed it on occasion, and, in times of recklessness, we have even engaged in it. But we believe there is a better way.

Slowing down is a skill that must be learned. We understand that it’s not for everyone. The Ancient Greeks understood that we work in order to have leisure. If it was good enough for them, it’s good enough for us.

*We apologize for using the words “hurry” and “rush. ” We do not mean to offend the sensibilities of our readers.

Welcome Houston Chronicle Readers!

Algorithm's designs celebrating Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday are published in today's Houston Chronicle.

"The most electrifying personality of the Colonial era – Benjamin Franklin – is turning 300 this year. How best to celebrate this polymath?"

In Progress : 3:15 Posters

Algorithm is continuing its work on the upcoming independent feature '3:15' in collaboration with BDMP and director Michele Loschiavo. There now also exists a set diary with production stills, which can be found on the BDMP site in the 'In Progress' section, and also here.

Links : Kinoteca

The new video for New Order's 'Turn' can be found here, plus some great stories surrounding the making of their other videos featured in the DVD 'New Order : Collection'.

Algorithm Published In Houston Chronicle

As part of an article in The Houston Chronicle this Sunday (January 15th 2006), celebrating Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday, the Algorithm design for Philadelphia's Independence Hall Competition celebrating this event is going to be featured in the Sunday color supplement.

More information can be found in our logotypes section.

Links : Birds & Windows

From NPR.org, Author : John Nielsen

"No one knows what birds see when they look out at the world, says ornithologist Daniel Klem, but he's sure they don't see glass. He estimates that at least 1 billion birds are killed by flying into windows every year in the United States.

"It's a very common phenomenon," said Klem. "Birds are deceived. They just don't see glass as a barrier and this is a problem for them."

Klem, a professor at Mulhenberg college in Allentown, Pa., first learned about the "window hit" problem 30 years ago from a teacher.

Klem responded by marching into a forest and hanging a bunch of windows from the branches of the trees. Then he sat down and watched what he calls an "appalling" number of collisions. Some birds lived. Many did not.

"I've learned very early on that a really short flight from an 8-foot perch can result in death," he said.

Later, Klem watched more than 100 birds hit the windows of a "typical" suburban home in the course of a single year. Then he studied shiny glass office towers, which can kill tens of thousands of birds in a year. It all adds up a yearly death toll of at least 1 billion, he argues, or roughly five percent of all the birds found in the United States each fall. Hardly anybody appreciates the size of the problem, he says."

More information and the full story at : NPR

Links : 'Be A Game Designer' Commercial

Westwood College's promotional video, courtesy of Google Video.

Video Highlights: "We just finished lvl3 and need to tighten up the graphics a little bit."

Now Reading : Blog!

Blog!: How the Newest Media Revolution is Changing Politics, Business, and Culture (Hardcover) by David Kline, Dan Burstein, Arne J. De Keijzer (Editor), Paul Berger (Editor)

From Publishers Weekly
Blogging, at least in principle, is far from new. It could be argued, as the authors do, that Thomas Paine was a proto-blogger whose blogging paraphernalia consisted of pamphlets instead of free software and an internet connection. In this dense and entertaining analysis of the "new paradigm for human communication," journalists Kline and Burstein examine the notion that weblogs, or "blogs," are redefining journalism and media consumption and conclude that, while blogging may not signal the death of big media, it has measurably impacted everything from political campaigns-as evidenced by Howard Dean's presidential bid-to the life of former child star Wil Wheaton, who found his "second act" in a tell-all blog about the humiliations of show business. Soliciting the thoughts of well-known bloggers, such as Andrew Sullivan and Jeff Jarvis, the authors create a venerable blogosphere bible that navigates and interprets the cyber-verbosity informing the way journalists do their jobs, from fact finding to steering coverage. Using specific examples of blogger power, such as the release of an Iranian dissident from prison, and employing Q&A interviews with movers and shakers like Microsoft's Robert Scoble to discuss blogs' current and future marketplace utility, the authors offer a lot to consider about our information-saturated culture and what cream might rise to the top of it.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Just Added : Algorithm On MySpace

Algorithm is now also on myspace.com. We can be found at http://www.myspace.com/algorithmdesign and our blog is at http://blog.myspace.com/algorithmdesign.

Links : No Pattern

Great new work now available from Chuck Anderson at No Pattern.

"NoPattern is the work of artist Chuck Anderson. Chuck began freelancing professionally at the age of 18 - less than a year after he graduated high school. Almost two years later, Chuck, now 20, has worked for clients such as Microsoft, Reebok, Nike, KR3W, Burton, Warner Bros., Crispin Porter + Bogusky, ESPN, and more. In addition to freelancing, Chuck speaks at events and universities, is half of the popular online culture blog The Brilliance, and has opened an online store - NP&CO. Chuck will also be on the panel of judges for the 2006 Art Director's Club 85th Annual Design Awards in NYC."


More information at the No Pattern Online Store

Links : Sony PSP Graffiti Advertising

From Wired Cultural News
Philadelphia wasn't a fan of Sony's graffiti marketing for the PSP, and now NYC isn't either. An article from NYC's local ABC affiliate quotes Councilman Peter Vallone saying, "This is a disturbing trend going on right now. Major corporations are trying to gain some type of street credibility by promoting criminal activity."

The ads, which resemble graffiti except for the prominent placement of something as commercial as the PSP, have been placed throughout the city in half a dozen different locations. There's no question as to the legality of the ads, as Sony paid for the rights, but city officials and residents believe the ads promote vandalism and graffiti. Sony hasn't issued any statement in regards to the Councilman's as of this time. In San Fransico the ads were defaced by angry citizens, and in Philadelphia residents went insofar as to paint over the "art". And we thought that the "games as art" debates were bad enough, huh?

More information at Wired Online

Links : Thresh Quits Quake?

From Firing Squad
In a dramatic turn of events, Dennis "Thresh" Fong, world renowned gaming expert and undefeated Quake champion, announced that he has officially retired from Quake and all future first person games. The announcement ends months of speculation about Thresh and his status as a competitive player. Would he ever compete in tournaments again? Was Death Row practicing secretly? Some months ago, gamers from the hardcore Quake community suggested that Thresh and his clan were playing under assumed names - the most commonly suspected alias was "Bubbly Gump" from "Clan Gump." Today our founder revealed to us that he's no longer playing Quake. But why?

Gotta Catch 'Em All
With his back turned to the first person gaming phenomenon he helped promote, what is Thresh's next challenge? What would the world's most feared gamer quit Quake for? As it turns out, Thresh has quit Quake to pursue a career in Pokemon. We asked Dennis a series of questions about the recent past and future.

More information at Firing Squad

Links : MSG4

From GameSpy.com
Today Konami gave the world its first real view of Metal Gear Solid 4 for the PlayStation 3, in the form of one of MGS creator Hideo Kojima's typically well-cut trailer movies. But unlike the teaser video from E3, this TGS trailer used next-generation assets running on the PlayStation 3, giving the first glimpse of just what the final game should look like. As is always the case with MGS games, the changes are not insignificant.

Breaking tradition with past MGS trailers, Kojima went for a more direct and narrative style this time around. Rather than a series of amusing vignettes, the MGS4 trailer shows ten or so tense minutes in the life of Solid Snake. Only thing is, this is not the Snake you remember. Sorry, didn't mean to scare you - it actually is. But he's older. Many years have passed since the events on Big Shell (i.e., the wacky hijinx of MGS2: Sons of Liberty) and Snake is not the spry young mullet he once was. As the terse text of the trailer put it, "X years since Big Shell... A battlefield you can find anywhere, anytime... An old man exhausted of battle."

Those fearing a bout of Tactical Geriatric Action need not fear, though, as Snake is just as tough and battle-hardened as ever. He's still very buff and ready to snap necks, as shown in an early scene of the trailer. He's just grayer, sporting a new moustache (maybe they're stylish again in the future) and a nifty electronic eye patch called the solid eye system. The SES seems to relay tactical information to Snake in real-time, and it's likely that the game's codec scenes will take place through it.


The trailer starts with a series of first-person scenes of a soldier (or his arms and gun, anyway) navigating a war-torn city. Everything is shades of brown and dust permeates the air as explosions occur all around. In truth, it looks like a very handsome yet ordinary first-person shooter. Suddenly, typical Kojima wordplays start appearing. "FPS: Forget pre-rendered stuff!" "FPS: Finally a policy switch?" Finally, just as you wonder if MGS4 really has gone first-person, the new Solid Snake appears for the first time, approaching a guard from behind and snapping his neck. "This is no FPS! This is MGS!"

More information at GameSpy

Algorithm Featured On Screenspire.com

"Screenspire.com is a no-embellishment, no-comments, no-technology-favored source for recent website-designs collected from various portals and handcrafted by Thomas Marban."

Screenspire is based in Austria. More information at Screenspire

Algorithm Qualifies For New Web Pick

Qualifying under the categories of 'Design' and 'Technology', Algorithm has been awarded inclusion in the New Web Pick Website.

"NWP(newwebpick.com), an international digital designer union and a community of international digital designers, is one globe designing information focusing on digital design. We include and recommend the most excellent digital designers throughout the world. We try to construct a paradise for digital designers, which allow all the friends from all over the world who love digital designing to share their happiness in designing and promote their inspiration and originality. We plan to build a platform for communication of international designing and letting you talk to the best digital designer face to face, which will be a bridge of all international digital designing enthusiasts."

More information at New Web Pick