mini-hiatus

(last time i was home, I had a bonding session with the kitten)

It's finals time. The last finals for me. So since I barely have enough time to sleep, I won't have time to find things to share. So thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back once I fire this puppy up again but until about May 5th, I shall be signing off. 

(I might sporadically post random star wars stuff because...well I think I have a problem)

oh! sometime in the next few weeks my website should be up! so check out http://www.karolmiekina.com/ and eventually you'll be able to see what I've been up to! Or you know...twitter me for fun. (I'll mostly be freaking out about school and life. )

Friday Movie Morning : Great Star Wars Mashups!

Maybe I should just start a star wars blog?

Ok ok, this video is called snatch wars (teehee) 

Mash up between Star Wars and Snatch. REALLY well done and kind of hilarious: 

For a more instant gratification, here's a short mash up that's not as good but still kind of hilarious! 

Hahahahah...I REALLY LOVE THE INTERNET:


and finally...i kind of like this too. A lot of great dubbing. Not every time but a lot of it:

Frank Chimero & his united states of america

I really enjoy these. Frank Chimero takes the silhouette's of states and finds an image that fits within them. A lot of these are really lovely. Frank is an illustrator and designer based out of Missouri and has a client list that includes Starbucks, Fast Company Magazine and American Airlines. Pretty nice. 

no blog but some words

paraphrased from "My Dinner with Andre"

"The 1960's represent the last burst of the human being before it was extinguished and that this is the beginning of the rest of the future. From now on there will be all these robots walking around thinking nothing, feeling nothing. There will be almost no one around to remind them that there was a species called the human being with genuine feelings and real thoughts."

Umm...wtf?

Umm...what is going on here? Is that what I think it is? Is this some sort of butt cream? Somebody clue me in! (click on pic for bigger version)

I love this man

and the wonderful things he wrote. 

you are forever remembered and revered. 
:(

America and political correctness are becoming synonymous

Friday Movie Morning Time! (sort of)

As far as advertising is concerned, that statement is very very true. Americans are afraid of nudity, taboo, innuendo and even anything that can be taken the wrong way. Oh yeah, and anything that can be considered inappropriate for children (by the way, by the time the average U.S. child starts elementary school he or she will have seen 8,000 murders and 100,00 acts of violence on TV.)

We have an economic shit storm happening outside yet somehow everyone and their mother knows and has time to get offended by a certain "special olympics" comment (I must admit, I got offended too- I bowl 100 and it's celebrations all around so you better celebrate that 129 mister!)

Aaaanyway. These are some commercials from around the world that wouldn't be shown in the good ol' US.  (sorry for the grainy quality....youtube is not my friend when it comes to crispness): 

The Axe Effect:

HILARIOUS commercial for washrooms:


Polish commercial (at the end is says "Time to find your own place?)  :


Spanish Bic Commercial:


This one is REALLY grainy but pretty damn good:

Pygmy Excitement!

This motion graphic is meh (mostly due to the legibility problems..or maybe not. I dunno, I'm just not feeling it. To me, it feels like it could've been awesome but then something happened...) BUT I'm sooooo excited for this to come out! 

Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club and Choke)

Comes out May 5th! 

Tropfest Winner 2008

This is a little old but I thought it was a very nice short film. And great use of the typography we see in our day to day lives to convey a message.

Tropfest is the world's largest short film festival. It was founded at Sydney's Tropicana cafe in 1993 by Australian-born filmmaker, John Polson (swimfan, Hide and Seek, Tenderness) and now has a single-night attendance of around 150,000 in Australia each February, as well as thousands more in New York and other cities at other times of the year. It is known for being the world's most exciting platform for up and coming film makers to gain international exposure.

Quizno's too racy?

Anyone else notice that the original Toasty Torpedo commercial by Quizno's has been modified? Was the original to racy and suggestive? What gives? 

This is the original: 

The current has the same video just a little redubbing done to the Hal-esque toaster. The new commercial has something to do with not rubbing the machine with a shammy (??) and instead of saying it "sexy" it is now "with more passion". 

Quzino's has always had pretty good commercials, I'm just curious as to what happened here? Was the guy looking at his crotch and saying "I'm not doing that again, that burned" too racy? Was it the "put it in me " line? Are we too stogy for this to be acceptable? 

Things I love about Poland

That just about every polish person knows at least the first 30 seconds to this song: 

Example: Here is a stadium full of people singing it at a soccer game.


Why? Czterej Pancerni i Pies is basically the greatest and most popular series to ever come out of Poland. It's about 4 tank men (yeah I don't know the correct terminology) and their dog (it's name is Szarik. Due to this fact, half the German Shepards in poland are named after this dog...he was our Lassie)and their lives in the army during WW2. The characters were really wonderful and you basically go through the entire war with them. Filmed in 1966, it's still regularly played on tv. I think the last time I saw any of this was when I was 13 or younger and would definitely love a marathon. 

Saved By The Buoyancy Of Citrus

This HAS to be Mitch Hedberg inspired. HAS TO BE. If you don't know who Mitch Hedberg is, youtube him. He was a great comedian who was excellent at one liners. Even when the joke wasn't funny, it was funny. 

This is the quote I'm suggesting was the inspiration to this picture by Frank Gannon (if you don't laugh, seriously, youtube Mitch. The way he does his jokes is priceless): 

"(Talking about his drink) Look at all the limes in this god damn thing! This fuckin' thing is tropical! Look at the limes, how they float. That's good news. Next time I'm on a boat and it capsizes, I will reach for a lime. Like I'll be water-skiing without a life preserver, people will say "What the fuck?" and I'll pull out a lime, and a lemon too. I'm saved by the buoyancy of citrus."

World Wide Fund for Nature and it's surprisingly good advertising

The World Wide Fund for Nature, formally the World Wildlife Fund (but still WWF) is the world's largest independent conservation organization. And unlike many organizations of this type, they've opted not to go with the heartbreaking images of suffering animals that make many people turn away instead of act. ( I love animals but when that Sarah McLachlan song comes on and images of suffering, shaking dogs are juxtaposed in I often find myself needing to go do something in a different room for the next 30 seconds) The intention is good but the execution is not. 

WWF chose a great and simple image for their logo, the panda. Even if you know nothing about the animal world, it's safe to say that the panda is one the most well known species to be endangered of extinction. Especially due to the fact that they have major issues mating and reproducing in captivity so when it actually does happen, celebrations and media frenzies follow. The fact that it's a cute image also helps in this genre. 

Anyway, here are some of the ads put out by WWF in the past that I think are extremely well done. They get a very strong point across while not making the viewer uncomfortable--just aware. (click on them to view the bigger version)

This last one is my favorite. The compilation of three meanings made by one image is truly beautiful and well executed. 

Scrabble Posters

These are great! Honestly, I can't think of a better way to visualize Scrabble through images instead of words.




Oh P.S--did you notice the scrabble redesign? I'm sure The Dieline readers remember it but here it is again. Could..that be a smile we see?

Wild Polar Bears and Sled Dogs=

friends? 

Great Aids awareness ad

Haha, get it?

Can I...?

XD genius!

Friday Movie Morning with Voltaire

Aurelio Voltaire Hernández, aka Voltaire (whose song video I featured Monday) is not just a musician. He's also a director, stop-motion specialist, author and professor at SVA! 

Here are a few examples of his stop-motion work: 

I love this style. Transrexia (the second video) reminds me a bit of Clash of the Titans, which really is not surprising considering Sinbad was Voltaire's initial inspiration to start doing what he does. At the tender age of eight. I wish I had the patience to do stop motion because the results can really be beautiful. I am, however, so happy that the art hasn't been put to the grave yet (this year's Coraline was beautiful beyond words and I highly recommend it...which is saying a lot because I was expecting to hate it going in). 

Voltaire has also done a lot of spots for channels like SciFi, Cartoon Network and TLC:

Hmm.. sensing a theme here...

And finally here is Voltaire's song and video for Happy Birthday (my olde friend):  

I must say that his voice reminds me of a certain skeleton king's. Can you guess to whom I'm referring?

I like boys

Is it weird that this little doodle made me smile? 

Craig Robinson and Flip Flop Flyin'

I have been following Flip Flop Flyin' since high school. The man behind the website is Craig Robinson. He does a lot of cute and sometimes disarmingly heartbreaking illustrations and mini stories/animations.

Stuff like the Minimoma (the old one...click on the entrance to enter!), his charts, Boy Meets Pixel, and Flipcam are my simple joys in life. I'd recommend giving this site a real chance...looking through all this stuff, it never gets old. And I love how low tech everything is. 

Craig is also a super nice guy. I emailed him once a few years ago to ask him about this vh1 campaign and if it was his or did some body rip his style. He emailed me back saying that yes it was his and gave me kudos for recognizing his stuff. It's kind of amazing how he's made a career out of pixels and I just adore all of it. 

Seriously what are you still doing here?! GO check his site out!

I love everything star wars

I think that's safe to say at this point. I'm also super excited for the star-wars-marathon-crazy-wino-fest I'm going to have with my dad next time I'm home.
But the point of all this is that I want this:

That is all. Happy last day of march!

Viva Calaca

Beautiful. Simply beautiful. Video done by Ritxi Ostáriz, song sung by Voltaire. Ostáriz website is currently down but here is another video done by him. And another (actually I think I like this one the best).

I love this style of animation. Everything is flat but put within a very detailed depth. It fits very well with the song (check out Voltaire's myspace site. I really dig his music. It's very much along the lines of Gogol Bordello and DeVotchKa but with a thicker American flavor). Overall he seems to just do very beautiful worked and I'm bummed his site is down. 

My personal hero: Kevin Richardson

oh man... this is amazing. I really had no idea hyenas could be friendly towards humans let alone side by side with lions. This guy is crazy. Although the lions and lionesses are HUGE, the hyena's have a greater jaw force. My dad had talked about this guy, who considers himself a general "animal whisperer" and...well i believe it. This guy is definitely living the good life. 







I'm actually watching animal planet right now (the logo still burns my eyeballs) and a feature on him is on. I really still can't believe someone has the ability to stand up to a male hyena that is whooping and not run for safety. This guy is really amazing. and has quite the amazing job.

Friday Movie Morning!

Can you talk forward? 

Haha this video is kind of cute. It's called George Lucas in Love. I'm sure most of you have seen this already but I just found it. Enjoy XD 

Little Red Riding Hood

Going through my daily blogs today, I found this video on Geekologie:




Love everything about this video! It's brilliantly simple while also jam packed with a lot of complex details. 

Also, check out Geekologie. Seriously, this blog is really great. Especially if you love Star Wars, dinosaurs, intense themed cakes, video games and random robot technology. I know I do. Half my day's entertainment comes from this blog. 

Great Park Signage!

It's very simple and to the point, as signage should be. Definitely a thumbs up. 

Where the Wild Things Are Trailer

In case you haven't seen it yet. 


I am SO excited. I don't even remember the last time I read this.
The screen play was co-written by David Eggers.
So I'm fully prepared for a beautiful and funny movie.
Come see it with me :)

Life is too expensive

well it's official. starting may 31, the subway fare will officially increase to 2.50 in ny. Commuter rail fares will increase the next day. This really sucks. Especially since I will be (hopefully) commuting from new jersey to new york next year, those extra 50 cents are going to add up and quick. It's already expensive getting around anywhere right now. And I can see the Chrysler building from the street. I don't want to imagine the expense from 70 miles away. With the recession in full swing and unemployment going up, it seems the price of the essentials are only going up. And the options on what to do seem to be growing thinner and thinner. 

If you want more details on this, other than my melancholy lamentation, check out the new york times article. 

movies new and old

I want to see this:



I want to own this:



They aired Helvetica at Pratt two years ago and it was a great night. The auditorium was packed and director Gary Hustwit was there. Afterwards, everyone left the auditorium buzzing about typography, design and Massimo's amazing eccentricity. Regardless, it's been about two years (at least I think) since I saw this movie and I have changed so much that it would be nice to watch this again....and be less oblivious.

Also, since this isn't Friday Movie Morning, here's some pretty pictures I got off of dropular.


I don't know how much of this is real or how much is photoshopped but I enjoy them. Whether it's because I like Dylan and Hendrix or regardless of them, enjoy.

don't let your website resize my browser window

yeahy! I'm glad I'm not the only one who curses under my breath when I go to a website and my browser explodes to full screen or some awkward smaller rectangle. Just don't do it. We are each capable of readjusting our own browsers. (I am aware that Sagmeister's site does this. But since he is a rock star and absolutely brilliant, he can do what the hell he wants and I will still visit his site.)

(click the picture to make it bigger, I realize some of it is a bit illegible at this size)

World Cup 2010 Poster

Guess I've got soccer on the brain. Here is the poster for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It's beautiful and simple with a very true color palette . 

And also, that black squiggle coming from the lower left area...I'm going to say that isn't really there. Because it makes no sense! 

443 days until it begins!!! 

Brent Neustifter has quite the last name

I love illustration. Love love love it. Brent Neustifer's drawings are creepy and cute at the same time. I'm really glad I found these wonderfully weird creations. They feel very old school futuristic. Like the creatures from the world Blackwolf led in Wizards. ESPECIALLY the first two. Anyway, enjoy.

 I even enjoy the marker texture. I know it wasn't on purpose and is usually frowned upon but, personally, I like it here. It doesn't feel accidental nor is it too distracting. It's strongest in the background color fill (I've colored an entire 8.5 X 11 sheet of paper using a prisma marker...props to anyone that can fill that up without leaving "marker texture") but I feel it fits. This last guy seems the most different from the rest but I really like him so I added him anyways. I mean... look at that pout!!!

Cat Hair Hand bags

Apparently this was aired on the Animal Planet some months ago. I don't know how I feel about this. A fashion designer, she is not, but I'm not totally adverse to the idea. Maybe it would be cool to have a cat hair sweater? Maybe I secretly want to start being a creepy cat lady already (by secretly I mean not at all).

Although....people have Alpaca farms and their fur (fur?) is used to make sweaters and whatnot. I think I may have finally found my excuse to have a heard of cats! If in ten years, you hear of cat hair sweaters coming into fashion...well you'll know who started it all. (Technically this lady but we can forget that). 

INTERNATIONAL NO SMILING DAY!!

When is it?! haha

Eurocup 2012, soccer and apologies. But not in that order.

So, even though it's spring break, life has been rather busy! Trying to catch up on work, be a good intern and get some face time with the parents (but not in that order). Sorry for the lack of updates. Until May 18, 2009 (AHHHHHHHHH!!!! graduation!!) the updates will probably get more sporadic and less frequent but I'll definitely try my best. 

So World Cup is next year and whatever BUT Euro Cup 2012 is going to be in Poland!!!!!!!!!and ukraine but POLAND!! Anybody that saw me on the day this was announced (a little over a year ago) definitely could tell I was bubbling over with excitement. It would be a dream come true to be there when this is happening (not even at the games, THAT'S wishing for too much haha, but definitely on the streets, watching the game from the pubs and feeling the shared excitement with everyone else.)

And I'm getting way off track. The point of this entry was just these three soccer posters. 

These two are rival posters about a match between Argentina and Brazil. The first one was made before the match by Argentina. I think it's wickedly funny and really clever (and would NEVER fly in America). 

This flyer was designed right after the match was over and Argentina lost 3-1. Ooh talk about burn! Not as good as the previous one but a great response nevertheless. 

This last one is very simple but very good. The swastika is probably one of the most recognizable symbols in the world and generally just stands for hate. Hate for someone that is not like you.  So again, simple poster, simple concept but powerful message. Especially with how much hate there can sometimes be surrounding soccer. 

We put anything on paper

Does anyone else find this incredibly depressing? I mean I know that the one thing we're not responsible for is killing off the dinosaurs but I definitely took this image as a social commentary on the human race. 

I'm probably looking way too deeply into it. But it just made me sad. And I have a blog so therefore I share. 

Design is honest.

Although... design is a vessel for advertising. Hmm... I guess it's the fact that design can just be beautiful while advertising is always just that...an advertisement for a product. What do you think?

I really enjoy this

Not the design so much but definitely the titles. Very clever. And cute. 

Quiddities. Teehee. You know...P. Diddy's various name changes sometimes can be quite comical...on purpose. On his Twitter, P. Diddy sometimes refers to himself (jokingly) as P. Twitty....and I kind of love that. 

and I might use it as inspiration. 

:)

maybe. Then again maybe not. For right now, I just like it. 

Oh yes, and I twitter. Or tweet? I have yet to utilize my twitter for more interesting means but check me out! 

I made this little guy

He's part of a poster (for autism if you can believe it) and I kind of love him. He's just super cute. and an elephant...maybe that's why I like him so much. 

I do feel like like my work has taken on a certain "flavor" in the past year. I hate saying "cute" but god damn... I've been finding myself doing a lot of cute stuff. And a lot of pattern. I don't know, maybe it's just a phase, maybe not only time will tell right? 

For now enjoy my elephant. Bc he's adorable. 

And if you can't tell he's an elephant....trust me he is.