Design by Jonathan Haggard. An inspiration for my upcoming talk at Interaction12 on hacking space exploration and science. - Ariel Waldman
“Emily Kane has created a conceptual space advocacy group called Project Moon which explores the relationship between space industry and graphic design. The project renders a new visual aesthetic for contemporary manned space exploration. While nodding to the aesthetic and humanistic contributions to the pursuit of space, she lays out the ambiguity of the terrain ahead. The design, detailed in a palette of black, red, and periwinkle, paints out the major contributions of the past and of areas still to be further explored.
Seeing Emily’s work made me begin obsessively considering/scheming what the aesthetic of space exploration will look like in the near future. 2011 was a pretty monumental year for space: the Shuttle era ended, the International Space Station was officially completed, Earth-like planets were uncovered, commercial space exploration took huge strides and the true stellar standout – 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of human space flight. Future of space exploration is undefined and new aesthetic of space exploration is needed.
During the 1970’s and 80’s, NASA used a red logotype nicknamed the “worm”. Richard Danne and Bruce Blackburn created in their words, “a more useful new logotype” as part of the National Endowment of the Arts. It was an effort to design a more modern logo for a space agency that’s forward thinking. Then the Challenger accident happened and the agency was put on hold. In the early 90′s, administrator Daniel Goldin brought back the traditional NASA blue “meatball” with its red chevron and spattering of star in an attempt to herald back to the golden age of space exploration.
Soon manned space travel will not be limited to decorated patriots in uniform flight suits, commercial space exploration is charting new ground, including the aesthetic design of space. Virgin Galatic’s Spaceport America opened this past year; I can’t wait to see what Sir Richard Branson has up his sleeves.
Alana”
Aesthetics & Astronomy | A unique combination of astronomy and art.
A research project about how people view astronomy images.
“The research questions are designed to test such issues as:
- How much do variations in presentation of color, explanation, and scale affect comprehension of astronomical images?
- What are the differences between various populations (experts, novices, students) in terms of what they learn from the images?
- What misconceptions do the non-experts have about astronomy and the images they are exposed to?”
Pretty amazing infographic by Omid Kashan of time since the Big Bang
THIS AWESOME URN WILL TURN YOU INTO A TREE AFTER YOU DIE
You don’t find many designers working in the funeral business thinking about more creative ways for you to leave this world (and maybe they should be). However, Spanish designer Martin Azua has combined the romantic notion of life after death with an eco solution to the dirty business of the actual, you know, transition.
His Bios Urn is a biodegradable urn made from coconut shell, compacted peat and cellulose and inside it contains the seed of a tree. Once your remains have been placed into the urn, it can be planted and then the seed germinates and begins to grow. You even have the choice to pick the type of plant you would like to become, depending on what kind of planting space you prefer.
(via This Awesome Urn Will Turn You into a Tree After You Die | Design for Good | Big Think)
(via mothernaturenetwork)
The 'Science' of Good Design: A Dangerous Idea
Fight Scientism! (I rant a *lot* about this topic - happy to see someone capture a lot of my thinking in a quick and clear way).
Make a design, fly Zero-G in Russia!
Create an inspiring design about space exploration & win a Zero-G flight in Russia! Deadline April 15 + I’ll be a judge: http://is.gd/LRDt4L
NIGHTNIGHT by DEDDY
