BrainFuel

So this morning I am driving to work and I pass Camelback Rd and what do I see? Just under a dozen VW Beatles (the new kind) and they all have “Geek Squad” painted in orange on the side and the drivers are all wearing white button down shirts and ties. Awesome!!

It’s a great branding idea. According to the Geek Squad web site, they have over 35 squad cars and lots of different models. Very cool!!

Interesting news… it seems the Bin Laden family’s construction company (headed by Osama’s father) is a likely frontrunner to build the Burj Dubai, a tower complex that will be 1/3 taller than the Petronas Towers. This is the real estate development company with the idea – it’s scheduled to be completed in 2008. I think it’s interesting how this little country gets all the coolest development projects, like the largest man-made island in the world we reported some time ago.

There’s a new Blogger.com and the design is pretty cool. They’ve kept the same colors and style that Pyra invented years ago and they made the sign-up process simpler, which will no doubt help to attrack newbie bloggers.

I was quite impressed with the California Concepts web site. They’ve got a great theme / look going with a defined brand. One thing I can’t tell is what they charge for their services.

I get the feeling that if I need their services they’ll work very closely with me to find out what’s best for me, rather than just sell me specific shelving or cupboards.

This is the neatest thing I’ve seen in a while.

1. Call everyone into your office.

2. Go to http://viscog.beckman.uiuc.edu/grafs/demos/15.html

3. Before cliking “play”, instruct everyone to count how many times the
people with the white shirts on pass the basketball, and be quiet while
the movie is playing, so as not to distract anyone. (I promise no scary
loud noises

4. Now, watch it again, but don’t count the passes.

5. If you’re like me, you’ll have to watch it again.

Amazing, huh!

This is pretty cool, too: http://viscog.beckman.uiuc.edu/grafs/demos/12.html

The rest of them: http://viscog.beckman.uiuc.edu/djs_lab/demos.html

Check this out people. It’s a 3D cutaway of a Black and Decker drill! Produced and illustrated by my good friend Gary Smith at Performance Design (Phoenix, AZ). He’s the best illustrator I know who does this sort of thing so if you ever need a cutaway or 3D work, or product industrial design get in touch with him.

A friend of mine designed a new site for Pogue Construction and shared it with me.

I really liked the design and he did a really nice job with the Flash. What strikes me most is the neat photo transition effect where the house goes from day to night view. It really makes it come alive.