Open workspaces suck.

I read a REALLY interesting article from Fast Company on why open workspaces are not good for employees [read it here].  They made some great points that really resonate with the place I'm working right now.  The biggest issue with an open work space is you can't focus.  I can't tune everything out and just focus on what I'm doing.  There's someone talking or doing something else around you, or the hum of the AC.  So you turn to headphones, but then you've got music or something going.  There's never just silence.  The other issue, from a creative person standpoint, is there's no relaxing when you're in an open floor plan.  There's times I have to come up with something totally new and original.  I can't stare at a screen and force it to appear.  I need to move around.  Maybe shoot a basket or two on a little tykes hoop.  Bounce a ball off the wall.  Stare at the ceiling.  All of these things you can't do in an open workspace. Long story short?  They don't work.

Meet Charlie.

I had a great Ben Sherman overnight bag, but it just didn't hold up very well.  Where the strap met the bag tore off, the handles frayed, it just looks dingy.  What once started out as a great looking piece didn't age very well.  So I've been on the lookout for a unique bag and I think I found it on Kickstarter.  It's the Charlie by Vinted.  In addition to the overnight bag, they have wallets, iPhone sleeves, backpacks, and brief cases.  If I had $600 to spare I'd order one of each.  For now, it's just the Charlie.

Amazing glasses holder

I have a dream job... It's having an online shop that designs things specifically for people's desks.  Unique items that are well designed and almost like mini pieces of art to have on your desk.  In addition to unique items that share your personality but in a subdued way.  I stumbled upon the Bushakan Glasses Stand and it's exactly what I'm talking about.  I want one.

Amazing bikes

I love this video for a couple of reasons.  First, it's a well put together video.  But beyond that, the bikes they're making are pretty amazing looking.  But for me the real heart of the video is the company's founder talking.  Clearly a really old man who tells his people to "get their heads out of the computer" and create.  People like that are becoming fewer and farther between.

MOULTON BICYCLE COMPANY - MADE IN ENGLAND from WellPlastic Films on Vimeo.

OBEY what made you popular

I like Shepard Fairey's work, but it's getting a little stale.  He had a distinct, revolutionary style when it first hit but he's failed to evolve past that.  He found what paid him the bills and stuck with it.  It's difficult to fault him for that, but you'd think as an artist he'd be interested in growing and evolving his work and not just regurgitating the same thing over and over again.

Shepard Fairey from Justin Clemons on Vimeo.

Hillman Curtis

Before I saw Gary Hustwit's post on twitter about Hillman Curtis dying at the age of 51 I didn't know who Hillman was.  I went to his site and watched the video below.  I thought it was interesting and wanted to share it.

The Voices

This looks like a really interesting documentary.  I wish the production value was a little bit higher but that won't stop me from watching it.  

The Watchmaker

WOW.  Earlier this year I looked into where I could go to watchmaking school.  There aren't any around here.  But this mini documentary makes me all the more interested in researching it.  I love watches and this watchmaker is creating some pretty amazing pieces that are reminiscent of the Panerai (to me).  I only have one Panerai, I could afford a couple of these.  Time to make some purchases.

The Watchmaker from Dustin Cohen on Vimeo.

Here are my two favorites of his watches...

This has me more excited than the 5d Mark III

Philip Bloom has a much better writeup than I could do, just go here.  The short of it.  A 2k camera that shoots 4:4:4 to CF cards for a little more than $3,000.  Could be revolutionary.  I first looked at their Kickstarter at noon and it had $80k in funding.  Went to pre-order one and they were sold out and had raised almost $250k.  Pretty amazing and inspiring.  Here are the specs...
Resolution 2048 x 1152 (Super 16mm mode) + 1920 x 1080 pixels (16mm mode)
Format Adobe Cinema DNG, TIFF, JPEG Image sequences
Colour depth 12 bit – 4:4:4
File size 2 to 3 MB per frame in RAW
Sensor Kodak CCD: 12.85 mm (H) x 9.64 mm (V) – Similar to Super 16mm
Pixel Size 5.5 micron (compared to the 4.3 micron size of many DSLRs)
Framerate up to 32 fps at 2K, 60fps at 720p, 90 fps at 480p
Sound Balanced, 2 channel, 16 bit, 48 kHz via XLR
Viewfinder 320×240, 2.4” diagonal, with Focus Assist
Video out 640 x 480 B&W via ⅛” video jack (HD-SDI avail in separate unit)
Ports ⅛” video, headphone, USB 3.0, Audio XLR (2), 4-PIN XLR
Data Storage Dual CF card slots, SSD (buffer drive)
Power Internal battery, 12V External via 4 pin XLR port
Body Milled steel and hard plastic
Size (body) Approximately 5”H (without pistol grip) by 4”W by 8”D
Size (grip) 5”H by 2”W by 5”D
Lens mount C-mount comes standard; Optional PL, EF, B4
Weight 5lbs
ISO Options 100, 200, 400
Also in the box pistol grip, USB 3.0 cable, internal battery, 4 pin XLR Battery, cable, video cable, transcoder/raw conversion software

Movie Posters

Paste posted their 100 best movie posters of the past 100 years [see the story here].  Pretty interesting.  I don't know that I agree with the all, but I pulled some favorites.  Scope them out below.