Experimental lettering project

This experimental lettering project "TRAVELLING LETTERS", created for the Vilnius Academy of Arts, creates a reference to script as a cultural baggage that is inseparable from its journey through time and countries, as well as people encountered on the way, generously sharing their creative ideas. The form of the script as cultural baggage may undergo numerous changes depending on the route of the journey, it may be supplemented with new objects, but the object and the content axis will remain almost undisturbed in their original position - at all times calling to exhibit and discuss whatever is dear and peculiar in the area of calligraphy and typography.

More: www.icograda.org/feature/galleria/galleria399.htm

Designing Water's Future

Tasked with developing design solutions to address the global water crisis, design students worldwide rose to the challenge in force, dreaming up wildly different solutions ranging from print design to web applications, physical devices to data presentation tools, and print campaigns to environmental design.
More than 450 students at 115 universities from 27 countries participated in the INDEX: AIGA Aspen Design Challenge, "Designing Water's Future", drawing from their diverse and disparate backgrounds to help solve a truly global crisis."I was amazed by the proposals that came in. There was a wide range of thinking from communications to environmental design and product design. Most of all, I was inspired by the broad, systemic thinking and team collaboration the designers did to find good answers," said Brian Collins, creative chairman of Collins:, a New York-based design firm.

More: www.icograda.org/news/year/2009_news/articles1445.htm

Greenpeace Design Awards 2009

Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that uses non-violent direct action to expose global environmental problems and to force solutions which are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace has utilised various forms of visual communication throughout its history.
In recognition of the strong role visual communication has played in Greenpeace actions we have established the Greenpeace Design Awards. The aim is to motivate the global creative community to develop visually striking artwork that encourages the public to support Greenpeace and take action on critical environmental issues.
The Greenpeace Design Awards are hosted by Greenpeace Australia Pacific and UniLife Inc., in association with the University of South Australia

More: www.greenpeacedesignawards.org.au/enter.aspx

Venue Feature: National Center for the Performing Arts

The National Center for the Performing Arts (国家大剧院, literally meaning National Grand Center), located in the heart of Beijing, will be host to the first day of the International Conference, including keynote presentations, exhibitions and performances.

The Center is an immense titanium and glass dome that reflects the surrounding lights and colours, surrounded by a man-made lake, pedestrian walkways, gardens and trees. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, it has become an iconic symbol recognised around the world.Often described as the Egg, this futuristic design was initially controversial as it sharply contrasts the ancient Chinese architecture of the surrounding landmarks, such as Tiananmen Square, the Great Hall of the People and Forbidden City. Contrary to traditions, Andreu decided to create a modern design highlighting the capital city's growing international importance.The construction of the Center began in 2001 and, with its first performance on 22 December 2007, the venue has since showcased some to some the world's greatest performing artists.Seating 5 452 people within its three halls, the 2 398-seat Opera House is the largest venue and boasts the most advanced staging equipment available.

The Concert Hall, with 2 019 seats, was designed with superior acoustics, ideal for symphony orchestras and national music performances. The 1 035-seat Theatre is also equipped with hi-tech, theatrical staging and audio visual equipment, suitable for traditional Chinese operas and modern dramas.The interior design of main hall is as stunning as the building's architecture. Ten different types and colours of marble from around China were used for the flooring. A floor-to-ceiling glass curtain bathes the interior in sunlight or reveals the city's lights at night. The interior walls are warmed by a massive lattice work of rich Brazilian rose wood.The National Centre for the Performing Arts also hosts a variety of Auxiliary Facilities and spaces that are dedicated to public use. Known as the "The Fifth Space", they include the underwater corridor, an exhibition gallery and a resource centre along with souvenir shops and cafes.

More: www.chncpa.org/n16/index.html

Wave Festival in Rio

Informações/informations: www.wavefestival.com.br

Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Opening on 18 March 2009, "A Look From Behind: Design in Bosnia and Herzegovina" celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the Association of Applied Artists and Designers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ULUPUBIH).

This endorsed event showcases Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) designers and design trends of the last decade at the Cankarjev Dom, the Culture and Congress Centre in Ljublijana, Slovenia.The particularities of the social environment, the changing social context and process of transition, sundry design experiences, findings and demands (artists educated in BiH and those receiving education at celebrated design schools overseas) yield various dissimilar creations that do not espouse a unique design philosophy. Thereby, the exhibition presents a pluralism of views and design practices, conditioned not only by generational changes, but also by type of education and diverse value systems.

More: www.cd-cc.si/default.cfm?Jezik=En&Kat=0205&Predstava=993