Link About It: This Week’s Picks
Odor-proof underwear, 40 years of Virgin Records and a DIY digital microscope in this week’s look at the web
1. Scents and Flavors from Re-Engineered Yeast
Engineers at Amyris are growing the products used to make exotic scents and flavors—like patchouli, saffron and vanilla—from yeast, and at a very large scale. Makers are saying that the new process could help food and cosmetic companies—and ultimately consumers—by reducing crazy fluctuations in pricing, availability and quality that rise from our current dependence on farming. The switch would also ameliorate the impact of over-harvesting wild plants. Most importantly, this process won’t stop at scents and flavors. It’s already expanding to pharmaceutical and rubber industries.
2. Coca-Cola by DRx
Designer Dr Romanelli has successfully undertaken the task of repurposing one of the most iconic, globally embedded brand identities. In his clothing collaboration with Coca-Cola, Romanelli deconstructed—by way of hand-cutting—and rebuilt Coke workwear dating as far back as the 1940s. Saturated in Americana but incorporating ultra-modern streetwear style, the 200-piece collection includes lab coats, tunics and driving jackets. Each piece (sold at Opening Ceremony and Colette) comes complete with a Polaroid depicting the source material. Romanelli explains that Coke played a major part, from sharing their clothing archives, offering creative ideation and, most importantly, allowing him to experiment freely.
3. Parallelograms
NYC-based photographer Jeff Enlow hopes to create a series of double exposure nude portraits shot
on the all-but-extinct 20×24 Polaroid film. The soulful, mysterious
images capture a unique expression that few other films can preserve.
To bring the project to fruition, Enlow needs support; check out his Kickstarter today as his campaign ends soon.
4. Smartphone Digital Microscope
If you’ve got a smart phone and a power drill, you’ve also got a digital microscope—for just $10 and 20 minutes of your time. Even better, it can take pictures and videos. Watch this video and turn your smartphone camera into a machine that can actually photograph cells. Though it lacks the specifications of lab-grade equipment, it’s more than capable of fulfilling all kinds of rudimentary experiment needs.
5. Surf Morocco, Folch Style
Known for their consistently on-point design work, Barcelona’s Folch Studio launches their first print publication, Eldorado, with a brilliantly executed collection of photos, illustrations and words around surfing. Aimed at capturing the feelings and sensations of present being, the debut issue takes a holistic approach representative of a greater cultural shift in surf media (gone are the early aught days of knee-length boardshorts and trucker caps). Highly focused aesthetics along with simple yet precise typefaces capture the purity of surfing, while integrating the greater context of place. Keep an eye on Folch Studios for future issues because, like most of their products, this one is sure to sell out quickly.
6. Olivia Salvadori’s 120 FPS Music Video
Shot entirely on an iPhone 5S, Olivia Salvadori’s two minute music video manipulates speed to exquisite effect. Her operatic vocals soar as she dances about in one take, gradually joined by a band. The live performance of her track “Moonsun” is eerie, commanding and a great viral use of the new technology. This believer in “vocal experience” certainly delivers.
7. Shreddies
British inventor Paul O’Leary has developed a product he calls “Zorflex“—a carbon
cloth developed to absorb odor. O’Leary uses the fabric in his new
underwear brand Shreddies, created for sufferers of severe
flatulence. While the shorts for men and women are reportedly rather
useful in stopping odor, unfortunately for everyone they do little to muffle sound.
8. Virgin Records: 40 Years of Disruptions
With humble beginnings slinging imported krautrock records from a beanbag-laden hole in the wall in central London, the now-global media empire Virgin Records celebrates four decades in the business with a retrospective of their contribution to both music and visual culture. Though space-traveling billionaire Sir Richard Branson sold the label over 20 years ago, the outfit carried his adventurous, risk-taking spirit. Over the years Virgin’s roster has included everyone from The Rolling Stones to Daft Punk and the exhibition explores the visuals of the label’s artists over the decades, from their early punk days to sold-out arena mainstream success. The exhibition is on display at the Victoria House in London through 29 October.
Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily on Twitter and published weekly every Saturday morning.
