I cover a lot of different topics on this blog. It's hard to write daily for a decade and not meander every now and then. But generally speaking, I do try and keep this forum focused on things that are related to city building -- real estate, housing, design, transportation, etc. And I do try and share some of the things that I have learned (and the mistakes that I have made) since I started working in real estate development back in 2007.
But we all have limits, and different perspectives are vital for solving problems. So I'd really like to introduce more Q&A features on this blog, similar to this recent one that I did with structural engineer, James Cranford. If this sounds interesting to any of you, please reach out. I'm open to anyone who touches the built environment: architects, artists, planners (private or municipal), lenders, furniture designers, bollard manufactures ... you name it!
Image: Jason Adam Katzenstein
I don’t actually have Netflix, but they have a new original documentary series out called, Abstract: The Art of Design. It’s a look at “eight of the most creative thinkers” working in art and design. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year.
Here are those 8 people:
Es Devlin (stage designer)
Ilse Crawford (interior designer)
Ralph Gilles (Chrysler head of global design)
Bjarke Ingels (architect)
Platon (photographer)
Christoph Niemann (New Yorker cover illustrator)
Paula Scher (graphic designer)
Tinker Hatfield (Nike sneaker designer)
The trailer feels unnecessarily dramatic for a documentary, but I’d still like to watch it. The reviews also seem to suggest that it’s pretty good. Below is the trailer. If you can’t see it below, click here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYaq2sWTWAA?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
If you’ve already seen it, what did you think?
I just backed the following project on Kickstarter:
It is a new watch line from two Montreal designers. The brand is called Forest Time Co. There’s so much creative talent in that city.
I was immediately drawn to the focus on minimalism and on high quality materials. That’s a philosophy I can get behind. I plan to go for the black band with copper case.
I know nothing about watch movements, but it’s a “Japanese Miyota.” I assume that’s pretty basic.
I love finding interesting projects on Kickstarter. There’s something about backing a team and their new creation. We should all aspire to make and create more.
At the time of writing this post, they’re about $1,000 shy of their funding goal of $24,000. I hope they reach it by this Sunday. I’m sure they will.