Posting for the next 2 weeks will be very sporadic as I will be transoceanic, but I promise to come back with lovely pictures and stories to tell. Please come again.

*Smilefaucet is a collective of artists who seek to provide an alternative, non-commercial outlet for creative expression. A theme is chosen for a biannual DVD magazine where filmmakers, designers, animators, illustrators, painters and photographers are encouraged to submit work related to that theme. The result is a collection of original pieces which we hope achieves our goal: to twist your *smilefaucet!

Tomorrow evening in New York City will be the world premiere of its eighth installment in its series - UNDO! Featuring an open by Impactist, this should be a fun night to view work by some great talent, old and new!

via dielamb

Can’t help but love these illustrations by a talented artist by the name of Kheira Linder.

In preparation for leaving to Spain and France later this week, it seems only appropriate to post design work from those places. Helmo, a France-based design studio, has some really great work. (note: the web site has is only in French) Above is from a project entitled, Betes de Mode, where they overlapped portraits of animal and human. Now pull out your 3-D glasses and the optical illusion is even more stunning. And a little psychedelic.

OFFF is a cutting-edge festival exploring the latest in digital aesthetics and software language. OFFF festival brings together the artists that are breaking ground and shaping new standards in media and design, becoming the essential meeting point for the international scene of digital creation. OFFF is the only event of this kind.

Since 2001, OFFF festival has been held in Barcelona- Spain, becoming the globally recognized and trendsetting event it is today. This year, it will be held in Lisbon, Portgual from May 8, 9, 10th.

The three-day festival showcases top digital artists, web, print and interactive designers, motion graphics studios, and new music adventurous. OFFF festival provides insight into all culture media platforms. OFFF dreams about the digital future, and then writes the code for it.

These artists come to OFFF not only to share their latest works and techniques, but also to artistically explore in this limit-free environment. OFFF is more than a design conference, a multimedia trade fair, and a digital animation festival — OFFF is three days for artists to play, work, enjoy, and experiment. They do so while mingling with the audience; thus creating the unique and indescribable gathering that makes OFFF what it is.

The next great DIY object. Readymech Cameras, the latest offering from stock photography giant Corbis, are downloadable pinhole cameras that you can build and use with only a few common household items. Conceptualized and designed by the mastermind duo know as Fwis, this is only one of their many super awesome projects they’ve done. Fwis is also featured as part of Print magazine’s New Visual Artists in the new April issue that just came out. Read it. Now.

SUCK UK manufactures home goods, accessories as well as furniture products. But they are not your average goods. They are always clever and idea driven. Take for example, the Smoking Mittens. Smokers have the right to warm hands too. Designed by Tobias Wong, I love his little disclaimer, “Remember kids smoking is not big or clever and it WILL kill you, but if you want to die you may as well die with warm hands!” Well put.

New for Spring 2008, SUCK UK is producing this lovely Terriorist Teapot. Every teapot needs a cozy, so why not make a statement with yours.

I don’t know about you, but I get the Mondays. However, I have the perfect remedy. RAP CHARTS! To any good designer, these may cause pain to the eyes with the default fonts and presentation style charts, but that in fact, adds to their ridiculousness. And I can’t deny my fascination with data visualization even if they’re gansta rap lyrics. Enjoy.

The Good Life: New Public Spaces for Recreation explores the reinvention of urban public spaces to meet the demands of recreation and leisure in the modern life. This exhibition, which was up back in September 2006 (sigh) also illustrates how such spaces play an essential role in elevating the quality of daily life. Project Projects, a design studio in New York did the branding of this event from web site to printed material. Very nice work.