Link About It: This Week’s Picks
Deborah Sussman’s vibrant career, outlaw Instagrammers, the truth about yawning and more in our look at the web this week
1. Pit Bulls and Florals
No dog has as poor of a stereotypical reputation than that of the pit bull. After volunteering with rescue groups and developing a deeper understanding of the breed, photographer Sophie Gamand created a series of images that casts the loyal dogs in a new light. “Flower Power, Pit Bulls of the Revolution” dreamily portrays the dogs adorned with wreathes of flowers. The three subjects were taken from different NYC shelters and photographed in image-defying scenes of beauty and peace. Gamand is selling the prints, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting pit bull rescue groups.
2. Rest in Peace Deborah Sussman
The creative community lost a veteran this week with the passing of Deborah Sussman, who lost her battle with breast cancer. A longtime environmental designer, talented colorist and supergraphics pioneer, Sussman graduated from Black Mountain College and began her career as an art director in the office of Charles and Ray Eames, before going on to design the 1984 Summer Olympics identity. In 2004 she received an AIGA award for her brilliant contextual approach to graphic design.
3. #OutlawsofInstagram
We’ve all seen #RichKidsofInstagram and #CatsofInstagram, but all other square images pale in comparison to the double-tap worthy work of those risking life, limb and the threat of the police for their shots. The so-called Outlaw Instagrammers scale bridges, skyscrapers and pretty much any space in NYC that’s off limits, all for Insta-glory. A community has cropped up in New York where rivals vie for the most high-risk (not to mention beautiful) shots in the city. The results are nothing short of spectacular and the stories behind the images are equally compelling.
4. The Future of Higher Education
With a more selective admissions criteria than Harvard, higher education newcomer Minerva Project would already be positioned to make waves among the academic elite. But this university upstart isn’t just challenging potential students. The school bucks the traditional college structure in favor of modern scholastic achievement, in which rigorous courses are interactive and taught online, so the students can move to a new part of the world each semester for a more well-rounded curriculum.
5. Face-Off Projection Mapping
In a major development for the future of projection mapping, artist Nobumichi Asa and his team have created Omote, a system that tacks computer graphics to an object that is in motion—in real time. Their demonstration video shows a model gracefully moving her head around, while a real-time layer of animated light changes the image across her face.
6. Larger Than Life Beats
The Roland TR-909 (the iconic 808’s lesser-known successor, as heard on Daft Punk’s “Revolution 909” and tracks by Frankie Knuckles, Phil Collins, Moby and more) turns 30 this year and to celebrate, an Edinburgh-based collective by the name of Ray built a nine-foot-long version of the drum machine—and it can actually be played. Hear them jam out on the gigantic replica, which is actually connected to an Aira TR-8 (a newer “clone”) instead of an original Roland TR-909, and expect to see it around local festivals.
7. The Science Behind Yawning
While they can be (at times) embarrassing, and spread like wildfire, a yawn is instinctual and carries practical applications which we are still beginning to learn about. Researchers have found that yawning is not just due to a lack of sleep or oxygen. The reasoning is far more complex, with different causes and functions—one of which is to keep the brain active and cooled. Even yawning contagion may have evolved over time as a way to keep groups of people or animals alert and aware.
8. Bruce Weber + Shinola Pet Accessories
Photographer and filmmaker Bruce Weber has long involved his beautiful dogs in the creation of iconic images. It makes sense then that he’s partnered with Shinola for a line of pet accessories and stationery. In true Shinola form, women from local Detroit shelters have been employed to produce the plush balls in the series, benefitting the community for the sake of a thoughtful item for man’s best friend. There are also leashes, collars, pillow beds and even limited edition pet portraits—with products ranging from $15 to $225.
9. Spotify’s Untapped Data Goldmine
The London-based music streaming service Spotify is sitting on a wealth of user data, thanks to its 40 million active users. Financial reports indicate the need for such services to monetize beyond subscription fees and advertising, and designer Brett Goldstein has a few ideas for them. While internal strategies may be underway, these possible applications take advantage of classic early fan lament (“I knew them before they were big!”) and listening analytics and tastemakers, who could be tracked by record companies to forecast future successful artists.
10. Listen to Kanye’s Audible Sampling History
Love it or leave it, Kanye West’s music is undeniably captivating and influential. The artist’s talent for sampling obscure and well-known artists alike is something of a calling card for his production work. Now the expansive catalogue of his samples along with the resulting track are brought together in a listenable history of each of West’s solo albums. Sometimes pulling just a few notes and other times lifting full bridges, West has largely made a career from seeing opportunities in existing music and remaking it into something wholly unique—and listening to the originals only solidifies this talent.
11. Brand Clues on Tumblr
In a very clever sleuthing move, Tumblr has teamed up with Cambridge, Massachusetts-based firm Ditto Labs to investigate their users’ brand affiliations by trawling through the countless images on the platform for clues. Essentially they will be analyzing some of the 130 million photos posted daily on Tumblr for brand-related data. T.R. Newcomb (head of business development at Tumblr) says, “If Coke wants to understand the nature of the conversation [about them on Tumblr] Ditto can sift through and deliver it to Coke.” While apparently not all about advertising at this point, the ways in which that information is used remains to be seen.
12. Collapsible Hot Tub
A backyard hot tub is one thing, but imagine if you could have one waiting at your campsite after a long day on the trail. This fantasy is now a reality thanks to the Nomad Collapsible Hot Tub. All you need is a water heater coil, a portable water pump and this tub—which fits into a carryall—to provide an outdoor party that takes glamping to a whole new level.
Link About It is our filtered look at the web, shared daily on Twitter and published weekly every Saturday morning.
