Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Design Services Seminar

"The NSW Department of State & Regional Development and Austrade have the great pleasure to invite professional designers, planners and architects to a morning of informative presentations on business opportunities in international markets and engaging stories by those who are selling Australian design overseas.

Hear from representatives of Futurebrand and BlueSky. Meet experts on the 'hottest' design markets in the world, and find out what Government assistance there is for exporters."

Event : Design Services Seminar
Date : 4/04/2006
Time : 9.00 am To: 1.00 pm
Venue : Powerhouse Museum, Coles Theatre, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney

Who should attend : Professional designers, planners and architects
Costs : This event is free
Registration : Please download the registration form and agenda for more information from the Austrade website.

Enquiries: Please contact NSW Department of State & Regional Development
Paul William-Smith: tel (02) 9338 6955 or Ellen Lintjens: tel (02) 9338 6781

Deadline : 30/03/2006
For Austrade services please contact : Austrade Direct
Tel: 13 28 78
Email: info@austrade.gov.au

W: http://www.austrade.gov.au/australia/layout/0,,0_S2-1_-2_-3_PWB110772402-4_-5_-6_-7_,00.html

Monday, March 27, 2006

Going organic

Article in the SMH titled: 'Plenty to chew over' about the case for going organic. "If you're prepared to - or are preparing to - fork out the extra cash and go organic in your eating, it may be what you're not paying for that will do you the most good. Pesticides, for example..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/nutrition/plenty-to-chew-over/2006/03/22/1142703438648.html

Shot in the dark wins Big Apple premiere

"AN Australian feature film made for $20,000 has been selected to screen at Robert De Niro's Tribeca film festival in New York.

Burke & Wills, a film made in Sydney's inner west by Matthew Zeremes, 24, and Oliver Torr, 27, will have its world premiere in New York on April 27..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/shot-in-the-dark-wows-em/2006/03/25/1143084061186.html

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Residential tours of Architect designed houses

The Australian Architecture Association are running a number of tours in the coming months including the Residential Tours, Peter Tonkin's tour of Sydney, Philip Thalis tour of Sydney, the Glen Murcutt tour of Riversdale, Lawrence Nield’s tour of Sydney and more…

Residential Tours:

“Go inside some of the most interesting contemporary residential architecture in Sydney led by the architects including Phil Moore, Utz Sanby, Vivianne Marston, Mark Cashman, Tone Wheeler, Michael Mandl, Fergus Scott, Louise Nettleton, Andre Porebski, Chenchow Little, Innovarchi, William Smart. The last tour will focus solely on Durbach Block projects.”

When: Saturdays 29 April, 29 July, 14 October (architecture week), 25 November. Bus departs at 9.30am. Duration approx. 8 hours.
Where: Meet at Customs House, Loftus Street, Circular Quay
Cost: $150 includes lunch and bus travel. $120 for AAA members.

W: http://www.architecture.org.au/documents/aaa-tours-06-web.pdf

Metro Screen: Filmmaker's Studio (NSW)

"Metro Screen will launch the Filmmaker’s Studio this April, Thursday 20th.

The Filmmaker’s Studio provides Sydney’s filmmaking industry and community the chance to hear high profile screen industry professionals interviewed in our intimate studio environment. These well known industry professionals will be given the opportunity to screen their past works, discuss their craft, their personal journey through their career and answer questions from the audience. These events provide an excellent opportunity for an audience to gain insider knowledge and tips, and be inspired by those working successfully in the Australian screen industry.

The Filmmaker’s Studio is presented and MC’d by Andrew Urban. Andrew has 35 years experience as a journalist, he is a seasoned interviewer, feature writer and news reporter, having contributed regularly to The Australian, The Bulletin, Cinema Papers, and Qantas inflight magazine. Andrew is a published author and owner of Urban Cine File.

The Filmmaker’s Studio will run monthly until November. The venue for these events is Metro Screen’s Studio 1, Sydney Film Centre Paddington Town Hall, Cnr Oatley Rd & Oxford St Paddington.

Our maximum capacity is 60 with an 18+ door policy. These studio events cater for emerging filmmakers and digital artists, those established in the industry who are keen to hear how to further develop their craft as well as film buffs and general moviegoers. Admission price is $15 for Metro Screen members and $20 for non-members and pre sale tickets are encouraged."

WHEN Commencing 20 April
WHERE Metro Screen’s Studio 1, Sydney Film Centre Paddington Town Hall, Paddington

For more information contact training@metroscreen.org.au

Source: Inside Film email: http://www.if.com.au/events/2006/03/24.html#item12558
W: http://www.metroscreen.org.au/

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Animated short films using Lego

Article in the SMH titled: 'Boys and their toys' about people making animated short films using lego.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/boys-and-their-toys/2006/03/22/1142703443957.html

East Darling Harbour design unveiled

"NSW Premier Morris Iemma has announced the winning entry in a competition to design a new recreational, commercial and residential precinct on a 22-hectare site at Sydney's East Darling Harbour.

Mr Iemma today said an 11-hectare waterfront park was the focal point of the winning design by Sydney design team Phillip Thallis, Paul Berkemeier and Jane Irwin.

The redesign of the current container terminal also would include a waterfront promenade completing the link between Woolloomooloo and the Anzac Bridge..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/03/23/1142703490330.html

KM Forum: Geoff Parcell, author of Learning to Fly - 30 March

Special March 30 Event - Geoff Parcell, author of Learning to Fly

"WHAT: Geoff plan's to share experience of applying an approach to knowledge sharing based on recognising peoples strengths and building on those by knowledge based benchmarking. He'll use as examples Operations Excellence in BP, and response to AIDS in the development sector, to demonstrate the wide applicability and will be discussing the techniques in Learning to Fly.

WHO: Geoff has written a practical book on Knowledge Management with Chris Collison. It's called "Learning to Fly" and documents their experiences of applying a knowledge management approach within BP, an award winning KM company for the last seven years. They have recently published the second edition which includes new stories from other organisations, refreshes the knowledge on networks and communities of practice, and includes a new chapter on the self assessment process - knowledge based benchmarking if you like.

Geoff has had an exciting and varied career in BP which started by spending time on oil rigs in the North Sea, moving on to look for oil fields in Australia, Brazil, China and Vietnam and migrating to a change management role when he realised that things happen (or don't happen!) through the interaction between people. That led naturally to a role in BP's knowledge management team, helping create an
environment where good practices and lessons learned were shared across the globe. As a Senior Advisor for Knowledge Management he guided BP's knowledge management activities especially in the area of networking, peer assists and capturing knowledge to be reused by others elsewhere. He explored Organisational Capability, that is making the company more than the sum of the individual competencies,
encouraging dialogue across organisational and functional boundaries,
and developing processes to improve and sustain the capability of BP."

WHEN: 4.30 for 5pm Thursday 30th March
WHERE: Standards Australia, 286 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
HOW MUCH: Free! If you plan to attend, please RSVP by e-mail to: nswkmforum@gmail.com

Info was posted to the km forum email list by James Digges, SAI Global.

W: http://www.nsw-km-forum.org.au
(NSW KM Forum website, but didn't see this event listed on there).

Slidenight and HHT presents: Jørn Utzon - 4 talks

Slidenight Jorn Utzon

"Celebrating the work and influence of Jørn Utzon, Slidenight and the Historic Houses Trust bring you a series of talks to coincide with Jorn Utzon’s birthday in April 2006, developing on threads cultural, political and architectural.
Every Wednesday in April there will be a talk and discussion followed by light refreshments in the courtyard of The Mint or the Museum of Sydney foyer."

All talks 6-8pm | General $20 Concession/HHT Members $15 | Includes refreshments | Bookings essential telephone 8239 2211

Wednesday 5th April
Utzon 1: unrealised dreams; the Bayview Houses
Richard Leplastrier
Introduction: James Weirick

Wednesday 12th April
Utzon 2: vs. the Liberal Government
Bill Wheatland with Sylvia Lawson
Introduction: Elias Duek Cohen

Wednesday 19th April
Utzon 3: after Sydney: Denmark, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Majorca
Alex Popov
Introduction: Laurence Nield

Wednesday 26th April
Utzon 4: the legacy
Peter Stutchbury, Chris Bosse, Peter Poulet

W: http://www.sydneyarchitecture.org/slidepages/opening.html

Harry's works of art

Article in the SMH: "Will Seidler's apartment buildings become sought-after collectables?.

Harry Seidler's apartment buildings forever altered the way we looked at high-rise living and his legacy lives on in the more than 20 apartment blocks he designed in Sydney alone..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/property/harrys-works-of-art/2006/03/17/1142098642631.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

Business by Design

"The following is commentary by Jeanne M. Liedtka, the executive director of the Batten Institute at the University of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.

Design has been called the "secret weapon" of business in the twenty-first century. That might be a stretch. But what would it actually mean if business managers took design seriously? How do designers think? After studying various kinds of designers for a decade, I'd like to share my thoughts."

The article lists and explains each of the following points.

1. Invention is the mother of all business strategies
2. Persuasion is primary
3. Simplicity is significant
4. Inspiration is needed
5. Function matters
6. Experimentation is part of the process
7. Strategic conversations should be inclusive
8. Question assumptions
9. Focus on the possibilities
10. Last things first

"Successful design is based on imagined possibilities made real."

W: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060317/dcf041.html?.v=34

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

6th Annual Weblog Awards: the 2006 Bloggies

Check out the nominees and winners of the 2006 Bloggies. Categories include:

best web application for weblogs, best australian or new zealand weblog, best asian weblog, best podcast of a weblog, best photography of a weblog, best craft weblog, best food weblog, best entertainment weblog, best web development weblog, best computers or technology weblog, best topical weblog, most humourous weblog, best community weblog, best-designed weblog, best-kept-secret weblog, best new weblog
weblog of the year...

Loobylu won the best australian and new zealand weblog. I like Claire Robertson's blog, and it's beautifully illustrated.
W: http://www.loobylu.com/

Going through a few of the other blogs listed. Notice that Karen Cheng's blog was nominated for best australian and new zealand blog as well as the best-designed weblog categories. The blog has an illustrative feel about it. Both women blog about their lives with their young children among other things. Both blogs are nice to read.
W: http://www.karencheng.com.au/

Started to follow a few of the crafty links as well.

W: http://2006.bloggies.com/

Body of work

Article in the SMH on how "Reconnecting body and soul can help overcome many ailments".

"Somatic (derived from the Greek soma, or body) psychotherapy is a holistic discipline aiming to identify and alleviate symptoms resulting from this disconnection. Combining physical and talking therapies, it's based, in part, upon the concept of "armouring" pioneered by psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich. He used the term to describe patterns of muscular tension some people adopt to protect themselves against overwhelming feelings such as fear or grief.

Over time, these patterns become chronic, with the person now unable to relax, so used to physical tension that he or she no longer connects it with the suppressed feelings..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/alternative-health/body-of-work/2006/03/08/1141701572611.html

How to accept credit cards online

Article on the Ninemsn site on how to accept credit cards online.

W: http://smallbusiness.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=83000

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

COFA Continuing Education Short Courses

University of New South Wale's College of Fine Arts 2006 short courses Autumn program will start shortly. Courses include: Bookbinding, Designing for the Web, Black & White photography, Drawing - Still Life and more...

W: http://www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/college/shortcourses/

Secret to a long life - get even more often

Article in the SMH says: "Researchers at a German university - a land where surliness is an Olympic discipline -say enforced jolliness on the job is much more likely to make people fall ill.

They cite flight attendants, sales personnel, call centre operators, waiters and others in contact with the public for extended periods of time as being at risk of seriously harming their health.

Psychologists at Frankfurt University said the fake friendliness led to depression, stress and a lowering of the immune system itself, which in turn can trigger more serious ailments..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/seniorshealth/secret-to-a-long-life--get-even-more-often/2006/03/21/1142703333722.html

The right decision

"Think decision-making is about gut feel? Think again. It’s all in the mind..

The way the human brain works can sabotage our decisions.

Fifty years of research has revealed we use unconscious routines known as heuristics to cope with the complexity inherent in most decisions. These serve us well in most situations.

In judging distance, for example, our minds frequently rely on a heuristic that equates clarity with proximity. Yet, like most heuristics, it is not foolproof. On hazy days, our eyes will trick our minds into thinking things are more distant than they actually are.

Researchers have identified a series of such flaws in the way we think when making decisions..."

The AFR article goes on to explain:
- The anchoring trap
- The status quo trap
- The sunk cost trap
- The evidence trap
- The framing trap and
- The forecasting traps

W: http://www.afrboss.com.au/magarticle.asp?doc_id=25548&rgid=2

Hear it from the BOSS: The Leadership Question - 11 April

What makes a leader? How is Australians' view of leadership changing?

Expert panels led by Adam Spencer (Sydney) and Geraldine Doogue (Melbourne).

Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm
Price: $ 49.50(including GST + Booking fee)

Event details for Sydney | Tuesday April 11

Speakers include:

John Mulcahy, CEO Suncorp
Alison Watkins, Executive chairman Mrs Crocket’s Kitchen
Janine Allis, CEO Boost Juice
Ross Fowler, Managing director Cisco Systems Australia and New Zealand
David Deverall, Managing director and CEO Perpetual Limited

To book for City Recital Hall, Angel Place, phone the City Recital Hall box office on (02) 8256 2222 or go to the link below.

Event also taking place in Melbourne on May 3rd. Speakers and details at the link below.

W: http://www.afrboss.com.au/events/EventDetail.asp?eventid=464

Monday, March 20, 2006

d factory: All about Eames - 30 March

d factory is a free monthly event put on by the Powerhouse Museum

6pm – 6.30pm
Drinks and music in the Café

6.30 – 7.15pm – All about Eames
To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Eames’s feted lounge and ottoman, this month’s dfactory panel looks at the work of Charles and Ray Eames. Regular dfactory host Nell Schofield will be joined by architect James Grose, Market Manager for Herman Miller Alan Boyd and Powerhouse Museum curator Anne Watson to reflect on the legacy of two of the 20th century’s greatest designers.

7.15 – 8.30pm
Drinks and music

When: Thursday 30 March 2006
Time: 6.00pm – 8.30pm
Where: Powerhouse Museum, Courtyard Café – enter via Macarthur Street

W: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/dfactory/

Queenstown NZ's jewel in the crown

"Queenstown was once known as the destination for three things: bungee, beer and backpackers.

Of course, the achingly beautiful New Zealand South Island town has also long been on the international ski circuit.

But in recent years Queenstown has stepped into a new realm, cultivating high-end, sophisticated travellers -- and with that has come a rush of hoteliers, upmarket restaurants and tourism businesses..."

W: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18462845%255E25658,00.html

Bigger is not more beautiful

Article in the Weekend Australian: "As we rush to super-sized homes, designers are looking for smarter alternatives, writes Guy Allenby..."

W: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18462732%255E25658,00.html

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

The Picture Books of Koji Suzuki & Ryoji Arai

The Picture Books of Koji Suzuki & Ryoji Arai

"An interesting phenomenon in current day Japan is the amount of adults indulging in picture book reading. Previously considered a children’s pastimes, it seems that adults are longing to rediscover the ‘child’ in themselves. Two picture book writer-illustrators contributing to this renewed interest are Koji Suzuki and Ryoji Arai. Their inimitable styles stem from their own perceptions of life and seem to generate a certain ‘healing’ effect on their readers. After widespread interest in their native Japan, their work is now being internationally recognised.

The Picture Books of Koji Suzuki and Ryoji Arai will showcase approximately 60 original drawings from their many published books, as well as large-scale paintings by Suzuki."

When: till Friday 17th March
Where: Japan Foundation Gallery, Shop 23, Level 1 Chifley Plaza, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney

W: http://www.jpf.org.au/02_events/yoe/picturebook/picturebook.htm

Ryoji Arai's website: http://www.ryoji-arai.info/
Koji Suzuki's website: http://www.zuking.com/

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Cyclic Defrost CD Compilation - EMERGENT - For 25s and under

"Folks

A quick reminder about the compilation CD we are compiling in conjunction with the Noise Festival.

5000 copies of this CD are being pressed for distribution with the June/July edition of Cyclic Defrost.

We welcome submissions from any Australian-based artist who is 25yrs or under in any of the genres associated with avant-rock, electronics, noise, abstract hip hop, modern classical or even freak folk.

Basically we are after anything that would fit under the broad banner of what Cyclic Defrost covers.

Submissions close April 1
More info at www.cyclicdefrost.com/emergent.

Seb

Editor-in-chief
Cyclic Defrost Magazine
P.O.Box A2073
Sydney South
NSW 1235
Australia

w - www.cyclicdefrost.com
e - seb@cyclicdefrost.com"

Source: Cyclic Defrost email

Bilateral Petersham - Lucas Ihlein

Lucas Ihlein has received a 2006 Arts Grant for his project Bilateral Petersham.

"He will display items he accumulates from living in his local neighbourhood of Petersham, the contents of which will then be displayed at the Chrissie Cotter Gallery from 24 May to 4 June..."

Where: Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Pidcock St, Camperdown, Sydney.

W: http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/livinginarea/culture/chrissiecottergalleryevents.htm

Google acquires Upstartle

SMH article titled: 'Google edges closer to taking on Microsoft'.

"Search leader Google has acquired Upstartle, a small startup that runs a collaborative word processor inside Web browsers, according to a posting on Google's official press site on Friday.

Upstartle runs Writely.com, which helps people access and edit documents from any computer on the internet..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking/google-edges-closer-to-taking-on-microsoft/2006/03/11/1141701737494.html

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Pattern Recognition - till 19 March

"Pattern has entranced artists for millennia. Pattern Recognition presents a new way of recognising the concious, and less overt, possibilities of pattern in object making. In Pattern Recognition , nine Australasian articulate pattern in a diverse range of forms; tactile, stimulating and surprising."

At the Object Gallery, St Margarets 417 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, Sydney

W: http://www.object.com.au/pages/current.html

Frost*bite: graphic ideas by Vince Frost - till tomorrow

"Frost*bite is a frank and open account of Frost's work over more than a decade: the good, the bad and the ones that got away. This inspirational exhibition provides a true reflection of the ideas-based philosophy now synonymous with Frost's name."

At the Sydney Opera House Exhibition Hall till 12 March 2006.

W: http://www.object.com.au/pages/current.html

DIY Design It Yourself

Design It Yourself

D.I.Y. Design It Yourself is a design handbook edited by Ellen Lupton.

I came across this book whilst browsing at the Kinokinuya bookshop. I liked the images and various types of media featured in the book. There's a few pages devoted to each of the following: blogs, books, business cards, cds, flyers, invitations, logos, newsletters, notecards, posters, stationery, t-shirts, web sites, wall graphics, zines, and there's a few interviews with designers as well.

I liked how it wasn't corporate design, but more from the design students just coming up with things, experimenting, trying out new ideas. The resulting product/media looks more 'home-grown', earthy, organic and fresh, rather than corporatized, and I appreciated that.

"This book is for people from all walks of life who want to publish words, images, and ideas on paper, on t-shirts, on the Web, or anywhere else. Current technologies—from digital fonts and the Internet to full-service copy centers—make it possible for nearly anyone to produce their own graphics. Technology alone, however, is not enough. If you learn how to think like a designer, you will be able to clarify your ideas and pull together the materials, services, and software you need to make your concepts real. This book demystifies the technical side of small-scale publishing in various media while opening up your mind to the creative side of design."

"This book was produced by students and faculty in the Master of Fine Arts program at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). We hope to broaden design awareness by spreading knowledge of what we do."

W: http://www.papress.com/designityourself/index.html

Ellen Lupton also maintains a blog called Design Writing Research at:
http://www.designwritingresearch.org/

10 ways to get the best deal on your next PC

Article in the SMH with 10 handy hints on how to get a good deal on your PC.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/10-ways-to-get-the-best-deal-on-your-next-pc/2006/03/08/1141701572013.html

Online buying frenzy as big business swoops on sites

Article in the SMH on how companies like Yahoo and Fairfax are buying websites which offer services and has a large number of people using them. Examples include Flickr, Stayz etc.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/online-buying-frenzy-big-business-swoops/2006/03/10/1141701687721.html