So. This is quite the venture. A group of individuals set out to create an app that achieves a visceral quality in photos… something that Instagram can’t always achieve perfectly (not to say this is a perfect solution either). Rather than recreating a retro effect with software, InstaCRT actually uses the aging titular tech to achieve its goals.

The concept is simple. You take a photo on your iPhone using the InstaCRT app. You upload that photo to a developer. This developer displays your image on a 1 inch CRT in a defined space (office or otherwise). A picture of the photo is then taken with a DSLR, and sent back to your iPhone.

The results are really nice. The scanlines are genuine, the distortion doesn’t follow any equation, and the look and feel are pretty spot on. It results in a standard that many other apps are striving for.

However, it has to be equally as inefficient. The more people begin to use the app, the more time is needed to deliver a result. So what if this app soars? Would it take days, maybe weeks to get an image sent back to you? Is there a better way to streamline this process? There are plenty of possibilities, as well as many conflicts begging to be solved. But nevertheless, the idea is nice, and the effort is present. The results could potentially be fantastic.

You can currently buy InstaCRT in the app store for $1.99.

The mouse and keyboard have been essential parts of the computing experience for years now. Touch technology has further progressed our interaction with computer experiences. Now, Leap wants to bring us beyond both. This product represents an entirely new way to interact with computers. Leap Motion claims to be more accurate than a mouse, more reliable than a keyboard, and more sensitive than a touchscreen.

We now can officially control a computer in three dimensions with natural hand movements.

In fact, the technology behind this product can distinguish your individual fingers and track your movements down to 1/100th of a millimeter – an incredibly precise scale. Do we even need an instruction manual to use our hands?

Pre-order LEAP Motion here: http://live.leapmotion.com/pre-order-the-leap/

Electronic (and EDM) music fans might be familiar with the Nordik Impakt festival, and if they are, then they’re most likely familiar with latest promotional and packaging materials related to the event. Murmure agency had the pleasure of developing the most recent conceptual products for the invitations. They’re obviously based around electronic music and, more interestingly, phosphorescence.

Murmure created posters and invitation cards which extend beyond the typical graphic approach, and reveal an electronic spirit when the lights go out. The innovative design makes for electro-phosphorescent glasses that are light weight and applicable to just about any environment as they’re made out of paper. The aesthetic itself is very futuristic and “technologic” – a familiar vibe for us EDM fans. Murmure has done a pleasant job of accentuating a taste of culture surrounding this genre of music, in a simple, precise manner.

There are plenty of impressive industrial designers and product visionaries out there. René Lee happens to be one who’s portfolio is filled with tech specific wonder. One of the most intriguing pieces, however, is the Bean. It’s actually a simple device: a mouse. It’s attention to ergonomics and universal behavior are what sets it apart.

Bean is essentially a mouse device containing only one touch sensitive bottom that clicks both edges. Its shape is symmetrical, making for easy use no matter what your primary hand is. The hot areas for clicking, scrolling, etc are all familiar and structured off the common layout. At the very least, it looks pretty beautiful…

I’ve come across a recent interface, designed by Dominik Wasienko, that has got me really excited. Not necessarily because I think the design is good, bad, effective, progressive, or otherwise. Rather, I’ve found it fascinating that this design has made me cringe, and also made me jump in joy.

Fenix Music, which seems to be an interactive design interface across various platforms, presents itself as an uber vibrant piece of work. It’s primary elements, such as its navigation, are not hard to understand, but are masked by complexity that is born straight from the visual aesthetic surrounding them. The colors are bright and contrasting. Various elements are jagged in shape, and others perfectly round. The particular detail in areas such as (what seems to be) a calendar are structured in a familiar sense, yet embedded in visual choices that aren’t often associated with a calendar.

Around each corner of this design, I find myself not immediately understanding exactly what is going on. But it doesn’t take long to not only understand it, but completely get it – get what’s going on and how it pertains to the overall whole of the project. This forces me to consistently explore the project, raising the level of intrigue just enough that I keep wanting more without becoming frustrated. I suppose it’s the clash of wanting immediate and complete understanding of purpose, versus the reality that I have to take the time to figure things out before truly realizing its intention, that makes this piece so interesting to me. It’s reminded me that it’s worth taking a moment to really pay attention – pay attention to the power of design.

This series of work by Chris LaBrooy contains beautifully composed typography. Letterforms become architecture, while the architecture shapes the letterforms. With apparent inspiration rooted in found objects and imaginative material, and a keen sense of color, balance, and composition, we’re provided concepts for spaces that speak to us through our language while retaining their necessary function, that being shelter and various types of open and closed space.

It’s been just about a year since I started talking about redesigning Four Fifths Design. After two design concepts finished and then scratched, I stepped back to reassess the state of this blog. I wondered whether the stress of designing for myself was worth the effort. I definitely continue to draw readers. I definitely continue to find inspiring work to provide insight on. I see no reason not to continue with the idea of redesigning. But I, as a professional, realized I needed to make a face for myself first. I don’t have a portfolio online as of right now – at least one that’s up to date. Nor do I have a hub for people to access in order to contact me or follow me.

The New Blog…Err Site!

With that said I decided to kill two birds with one stone. I began, and have since finished designing a personal website. It’s going to include information on myself, my portfolio, and of course, this blog. I’m integrating Four Fifths Design into the site. It only made sense. But this time around, I haven’t procrastinated. In fact, the design of the site has been done for some time now and is in a development queue. It’s set launch date is January 1, 2012 (approximate).

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

So what’s going to change? Well, the concept remains the same: to provide inspiring work to my readers in order to get their imagination going, as well as introduce them to new names and faces in the design community. There will, however, be additions. Expect to see a lot more written articles. I’ve personally began writing a lot more of my own, marrying my thoughts with my work and keeping track of the processes in written form. I’ve also started writing for Inspired Magazine. Now that I’ve become heavily involved in web design (more so than a year ago), I’d like to share with my readers a more intimate look into my working life in order to hopefully help those following in my path.

Until Then…

For now, I’ll leave you first with a sneak peak at some shots from the new site design, particularly the blog portion of the site. I’ll also add some shots of my current works in progress…Want to see more? Head on over to Dribbble to see what I’ve been involved in recently. Or you can simply click on any of the images.

“Somewhere” attempts to visualize the idea of downloadable architecture. In this mindscape, the local becomes global, and global becomes local. The technology may come in the future when anything and everything, even the tremendous structures around us, has the capability to move in and out of information, data, spaces, and places that were never before possible.

So what’s this new beautiful vehicle? It’s called the Ecco. It’s an all-electric vehicle, with no emissions of its own, and can be quickly charged at a standard 240V station. This vehicle is also used for extended living purposes – its built-in photovotaic panels and solar sail roof means it can charge completely from the sun. That’s pretty awesome.