Random Acts of Stimulation
02/24/2010 @ 12:16 pmBy: Dave Smith
Stimulant recently asked Engine Digital to submit 5 examples of random things that inspire us on a daily basis. The only caveat was that we couldn’t choose anything related to advertising in any way, shape or form. You wouldn’t think it would be that difficult but since almost everyone here at Engine lives and breathes advertising and nothing else the job ultimately fell on me. I’m a well-rounded guy and frequently have conversations that have absolutely nothing to do with advertising of any kind so I thought it would be a fun little project. But you know the old adage about assumptions right?
In a flurry of activity I created a giant list of web links, videos, posters and artwork but at the end of the day almost all of it was advertising related. For example, this video by Rocky Mountain Bicycles and Race Face was made to promote their 2010 product line. The piece tells a story in a way that is far more akin to an action sports film, which for an action sports junkie like me is near impossible to resist. I tried to qualify the video by saying that it inspired me more to ride my bike than buy a Rocky but at the end of the day there was no getting around the fact that it was an ad.
Deciding that I needed to start over, I threw my original list in the trash and began to compose a new list of inspirational things. To whittle down my list, I ruthlessly crossed off anything that reeked of advertising. I soon realized that I needed another set of criteria to help me decide which 5 random things to choose. The theme I chose was one of originality and my final 5 all reflect my personal interests in art, action sports, electronics and user interactions. All 5 come from very different industries and all of them have inspired my work at some point at Engine Digital.
Enjoy.
-DS
#1 Buchla Electric Music Systems
Buchla 100 System
When Don Buchla designed his first instruments in the 1960s for avante garde musicians David Tudor and Mort Subotnick, he named it “The Electronic Music System.” The forerunner of modern synthesis, the Buchla’s ability to interface its voltage-controlled analog circuitry with digital devices heralded a new era of synth-laden music. I chose the Buchla system as one of my final 5 random things because they look and work like no other synthesizer. After more than 40 years, Buchla systems remain completely original and are a reflection of Buchla’s own theories of user interaction and industrial design.
#2 Google Slope-View
Slopeside on the Gogglesled
When Google first showed us the world from street level, the first thing I thought of was, “I wish there was a trail map application for this technology.” Someone at Google must have been reading my mind because a few short years later, they hit the slopes of Whistler with their 360º cameras in tow. While other mapping services have remained on the highways and byways of large urban centers, Google has found a way to change the way people experience the traditional resort trail map.
#3 Josh Keyes
Entangle II by josh Keyes
I’ve been a fan of Portland-based artist Josh Keyes‘ work for a while. I’ve always enjoyed the way he combines natural elements with the everyday urban environment to create a completely original world.
#4 Jordan Manley Photography
Many Faces of Skiing
Every winter Whistler/Blackcomb has its Deep Winter Photo Contest, and every year Vancouver-based Jordan Manley wins it handily. As a self-confessed action sports junkie I spend large parts of my days voraciously consuming gravity-fed media, and I’ve constantly been amazed by the ways Jordan has innovated in an already over-saturated medium.
#5 Tangible Interaction’s Zygote balls
Tangible Interaction’s Zygote Balls are giant inflatable spheres that ride on waves of outstretched arms, changing colour with every touch of the human hand. The Zygote balls are often deployed at music festivals where thousands of people get to interact with his products on any given night. The design of the devices is elegant, the interaction is simple and it delivers a memorable experience for the end-user, which successfully checks off all the major criteria for great digital design in my books.
What didn’t make the cut? I could list everything from my favorite typefaces to my books that made an impact on me but I have an ever growing pile of work to do so I will leave you with 3 more random things that were in the mix until the very end.
Alt 1: The Snow Report iPhone App by North Face
The Snow Report
Everyone is going to say that this entry is a branded piece and therefore ineligible for this series but I would argue that The Snow Report App by North Face is an ingredient in living an inspired life. The advent of the iPhone has opened up all kinds of opportunities for branding exercises but seldom is one in any way useful. There are 5 things on my iPhone that I use every day and as a dedicated powder hound The Snow Report is one of the first things I check every morning when I wake up. Lightly branded by North Face, the app is completely free of charge and lets users keep tabs on conditions, view trail maps and keep on the look out for avalanche bulletins. In my case, The Snow Report also governs my productivity and helps me decide which board meeting is most important on any given winter day.
Alt 2: The Artwork of John Berkey
John Berkey's view of space
I am a total sci-fi nerd. I love the fact that you can totally suspend the idea of traditional reality and get lost in entirely new worlds. John Berkey is considered to be one of the masters of science-fiction themed artwork. When I was given a book of his work for my 7th birthday it made a lasting impression on my young mind. Berkey’s work has been featured on everything snowboards to sci-fi novels but he is best known for illustrating the original poster art for the Star Wars Trilogy.
Alt 3: Geoff McFetridge’s Burton
Contemporary artists and action sports brands have a long history of working closely together in snowboard industry and sometimes things gel perfectly. I’m a big fan of Geoff McFetridge’s work and this is a damn near perfect ad. I love the tone, the simplicity in the imagery and at the end I want to see more; what else can you ask for?
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