The Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (PPAC) is designating October 28, 2010 as Philly Photo Day. They are asking anyone and everyone to take a picture in Philadelphia on this day and submit it electronically to PPAC.

Photographs can be taken with any device from a camera phone or a computer to a digital SLR or 8” x 10”. It can be the first photograph someone has ever taken or it can be taken by a seasoned photographer. Everyone is welcome to participate. PPAC hopes to receive hundreds if not thousands of images that will constitute a broad portrait of Philadelphia on that day.

National Design Triennial Exhibition
@ Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

The Triennial program seeks out and presents the most innovative designs at the center of contemporary culture. In this fourth exhibition in the series, the National Design Triennial explores the work of designers addressing human and environmental problems across many fields of the design practice, from architecture and products to fashion, graphics, new media, and landscapes. Cooper-Hewitt curators Ellen Lupton, Cara McCarty, Matilda McQuaid, and Cynthia Smith present the experimental projects and emerging ideas for the period between 2006 and 2009.

On view now through Jan 9, 2011
New York City

AIGA BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) Competition
Students are asked to create a design for a reusable canvas bag that speaks out about an important cause related to the theme of nutrition.

Proper nourishment is a basic human need. This need, so intrinsic to the health and happiness of every person, is central to many social issues. Hunger, obesity, eating disorders, organic food, and local farming are just a few related topics.

I was awarded a Continuing Studies Enrichment Grant recently which allowed me to take a design class at the Basel School of Design in Basel, Switzerland this summer. The class I took was entitled Inquiry By Design and it was taught by Michael Renner, the head of the graphic design department.

Dalton Ghetti creates sharp work on a tiny scale. This artist designs impossibly detailed miniature sculptures on the tip of a pencil.

He uses simple tools like razor blades and needles to create delicate figures – from a tiny, jagged handsaw to a minibust of Elvis in shades. Several years ago, he decided to carve the entire alphabet, and created one letter a month until he was done. The entire work was on display at the New Britain Museum of American Art as part of its “Meticulous Masterpieces” show.

See more examples of his work here.

Check out these hauntingly photorealistic paintings by Dan Witz. At a first glance these appear to be photographs, but close scrutiny reveals the idiosyncratic nature of the paintbrush in his work. The choice of a mosh pit as subject matter is an interesting one – something that we never get to see frozen in time. Next to his other work, mostly revolving around night scenes, portraits, and still lifes, these mosh pit paintings are totally unique and, let’s be honest, kick serious ass. Beautiful light is the through-thread in all of his work.

by: Christine Seabo

Students always appreciate a resource for general design inspiration, art resources and samples of work from classes they are considering. For my Adobe Photoshop for Web Design class next week, I have been researching samples of web button ads and leaderboards to share with the class to emphasize strong design principles in a small space. I created a small button ad to illustrate my point.

Designing for small spaces is a challenge in web ad design. Competition for attention and minimal space in a 125px button ad requires designers to keep it simple. Students in Photoshop for Web Design are learning how to create effective banner and button ads. Below is a leaderboard design for Rescue.

PingMag sadly stopped running in late 2008, but fortunately, readers can still access their site for articles on design written by people living abroad in Japan. A seven part series on Japanese packaging design by Bianca Beuttel reveals to readers how designers in the East are not only making innovative designs, but also deeply considering cultural, environmental and practical concepts. As Japan has become one of the leaders in eco-friendly design, Beuttel focused a good portion of her series to how Japan is translating these ideas into their own packaging. Be sure to read #4: Go Eco! and #7: A How-to-reduce-packaging journal

Design Is History began as a graduate project created to be a learning tool for young designers by designer, Dominic Flash. The project begins with an overview on the beginnings of communication between humans using symbols, and continues to highlight important designers and events in the history of graphic design. Not only does the site evolve with more topics on design, but each article leads its readers to other noteworthy sites and interesting recommended readings. Be sure to check out the design section of the site for quick inspiration on a variety of essential elements in design.

Wine Label Design by Christina Hess

The Art of Giving Reception
(no name) Art Group Artists & Local Wineries

This year artists in the (no name) Art Group are creating artwork for wine labels, featuring UArts Continuing Education Instructor Christina Hess. They are offering the wine bottles (donated by local wineries) with the reproduced printed labels for a $25 donation to the non-profit charity Philabundance, a local charity serving low income residents at risk of hunger and malnutrition. Each $25 donation to the charity received is enough to provide over 75 meals for those in need.