I was a regular at the raves back in the late 90’s and early 00’s so I’ve seen some really excellent light shows. Etienne could have the best show yet - maybe even better then Daft Punk. The moving blocks make a pretty sweet effect. I thought I would never go to a rave again, but I would make an exception if these guys were performing. We’re jumping the fence though - who’s coming with me!

My fantasy football league wanted to do something cool this year. We figured that a wrestling belt is big, gaudy and wearable - therefore the perfect trophy. A regular statue trophy is nice, and of course money is always good. But a championship belt is a CHAMPIONSHIP BELT! There is no better way to throw your “fantasy genius” in the face of your defeated foes then by showing up to a barbecue or a birthday party or a wedding adorned with the spoils of victory. OK, a wedding might be too far, but the guys in my league would probably sport the belt any chance they got.

There are several vendors online that do fully customized belts for all occasions. The design and craftsmanship of some of these belts is truly amazing. I’ve seen some belts that cost upwards of half a million dollars. I guess anything gets expensive when you start sticking diamonds in it. I was looking to buy a simple customized 3 plate belt and most quotes came in around the $1000 dollar range - still a bit pricey for what we were hoping for.

Of all the belt makers that I researched, Top Rope Belts had the coolest stuff. As a graphic designer I never thought about designing a championship belt. But now that I’ve seen how beautiful they really are I want to make one! Maybe the guys at Top Rope Belts would like to extend me a one time discount so I can try my hand at this? I would be certain to review the work on my website and post the belt to all the top design blogs! Maybe put the Top Ropes Belt logo on the 4th and 5th plates? Plus the guys in my league would wear the belt everywhere! How about that for walking advertisement!

8 hours of writing
5 permanent markers
3 baths and 2 showers to clean off

…something to do with writing graffiti in designated areas. Pretty cool.

Check out this book of poems shaped like a giant matchbook. Great concept and perfect execution. There’s even wax on the freakin’ tips of the matches and some sandpaper for the striker pad on the back. See more of Eric Constantino’s work here.

Let me start by saying that I’m not much of a video game player. I don’t even own any of the new video game systems. In fact I played this game on my friend Eric’s Wii. I don’t have a lot of time and so I’m very selective about the video games I play. I generally pick games based on ratings and reviews. On many lists, Resident Evil 4 is rated as a “top ten game of all time“. It’s certainly my all time favorite - and I loved Street Fighter and Golden Eye and God of War and Mario 64.

Ahhhh Resident Evil - Never has a game been so frustrating, so infuriating and yet so damn fun! I discovered something in my being that is deeply satisfied by shooting zombies in the face with large caliber weapons. But it wasn’t just the exploding heads, or the enemies screaming in agony, or the sexy hostage who manages to get herself kidnapped at every turn - this game has a great story line, great puzzles, interesting characters and extensive sub-games just as entertaining as the main game. RE4’s ability to create a pleasurable eustress is ultimately addicting and ultimately time consuming.

For those of you who have played this game, check out my weapons cache pictured above and become green with envy. Bravo to those who have managed to acquire a stash of gats like mine. You know the time it takes to get your weapons screen to look like this. Getting the .50 Handcannon is arguably the most difficult feat in the video game world. I won’t expand on that - just take my word for it - better yet, try it for yourself. But be forewarned - I played RE4 for over 100 hours and enjoyed every minute of it. Now I know my blog has a limited audience, but for those of you who care, I will NEVER take this much time between posts again. Wait… when does Resident Evil 5 come out?

OK, the underwater paradise thing might have been a tad much. But I’m into these things, and I’ll tell you why. When I was younger I though I might want to be a landscape designer (I also wanted to be a pro basketball player or Indiana Jones). These fish tanks have real plants, real wood and real rocks in them. None of those phony plastic palm trees or tiny castles - these are au-naturale. It’s called Aquascaping. Yes, it has a name. It even has an international competition every year to see who can make the most bad ass tank. The plants in these tanks must be trimmed and developed with patience and precision in order to win the big prize. Wondering where all the big fish are at? Putting big fish into these tanks would be like letting a herd of cattle loose in Mr. Miyagi’s backyard. ZING! So, you can see why this appeals to me. It’s all about creating a natural design aesthetic. And hey, this is a design blog. My tiny pictures can not do these works of art any justice. See them here, or just Google ‘Aquascaping’.

I have been visiting 33rpm for a few years now, and I knew that If I ever had a blog I would have to post about Andrio. He’s perfected a style that is really unmistakable. But it’s not the style that’s so impressive. It’s the wonderful concepts created with simple, well placed imagery that have such an impact. These works are a small sample from his extensive portfolio. Go check him out, and if you’re lucky you might be able to pick up a limited edition poster.

I love bikes. These bikes are really more like works of art - almost too pretty to ride. With every component customizable, it really takes a good eye for color and proportion to build these up right. The absence of brakes gives the bikes a slick streamlined look. Personally, I need a brake. Riding fixed gears is too much like work. Who wants to frantically pedal your ass off while trying to coast down a hill? Weak.

Coffee is best served black. Deeelicious.