Improvisation

© 2011 Julian. All rights reserved.

Opportunism

Completely understandable how the recent tragic events in Japan would translate into email from an electronics source containing *only parts and supplies and modules to make Geiger Counters. At the same time as it’s understandable, it’s one of those things … Continue reading

© 2010 Julian. All rights reserved.

Predictably Not Quite Failing

Since the *winter holidays here in Los Angeles, which is a strange thing for an East Coast boy, especially as I hear reports of epic dumps of man-killing snow in New York City, my favorite photography spot has been the … Continue reading

© 2009 Julian. All rights reserved.

A Trio Of Posted Things

A curious solicitation framework, perhaps done by someone schooled in the layout practices of Ogilvy — attention grabbing image, followed by seductive copy (in French here) and the final *call to action* — Handymen and a phone number. Along the morning … Continue reading

© 2009 Julian. All rights reserved.

Practice Observed: Designed For Rest And Activity

Mobile, personal, urban shelter. Where I live there are quite a number of transient mobile home dwellers. I don’t know quite what the history of this is — I’m intrigued and only imagine at this point. It will take a … Continue reading

© 2009 Julian. All rights reserved.

Dog Eared "Distraction"

Running the blog-the-dog-eared-pages algorithm on Bruce Sterling‘s fantastic “Distraction“, I’ve selected these gems. They’re all intriguing speculations about a near future world to be, complete with some insights and implications that trace the now to the then if you think … Continue reading

© 2009 Julian. All rights reserved.

Arranged Things

Found items, Saturday noon, arranged thusly. Further indication of a rather polite evening’s activities. Broken bottle, top half. Not smashed. Or smashed into something. But, placed carefully. Arranged things. Further arrangements. My friend Tod called this one “Larry, Curly and … Continue reading

© 2008 Julian. All rights reserved.

Practice Observed: Secure Improvisations

Improvisation enacted to overcome a secured door that is probably the most often used in the studio, sitting near to the kitchen and coffee machines (and the sadly defunct espresso machine..) A stapler used to keep a door open helps … Continue reading

© 2008 Julian. All rights reserved.

Mobile Defense and Chinatown Cobbler

Curious strategy for preventing bumper dings — a bumper for the bumper, you might say. It’s the Mobile De-fender. (Get it? De Fender?) You will see material like this for preventing a lower category of bump, such as a “light tap” … Continue reading

© 2008 Julian. All rights reserved.

Design for Cardinality

Interface fail. Evidently, the ordering of the apartments inside here is different from the screwed-on doorbells so one of the tenants improvised a new user interface. Hysterical. The implied cardinality here of apartments — top to bottom? alphabetical? — must … Continue reading

© 2008 Julian. All rights reserved.

Drift Deck

Drift Deck. For Conflux 2008, NYC confluxfestival.org/conflux2008/. For Analog Play (batteries not required.) (Some production documentation above; click “Notes”.) The Drift Deck (Analog Edition) is an algorithmic puzzle game used to navigate city streets. A deck of cards is used … Continue reading

© 2008 Julian. All rights reserved.

Thoughtless Acts — Improvised Holsters

Shuttling around San Francisco in a cab, I found this intriguing set of improvised holders for a mobile phone and a bluetooth headset. California just began enforcing a law requiring that drivers use a hands-free device when they take a … Continue reading