Innovative ideas and good designs make powerful ads The following is the eighth in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed. An armed soldier aims his gun at someone. The end of the muzzle, however, is headed right back toward him, pointing at the back of his head. Wrapped around poles and pillars in the streets of New York, the an...

‘Design should be realistic and make others believe in the world you created,’ says Steve Jung The futuristic yet realistic portraits of the fictional world in the superhero films “The Avengers” and “Transformers” captured the eyes of millions of international viewers. Behind the spectacular scenes was Steve Jung, a Korean-American concept designer. The Stark Tower and major scenes of the films...

“Giving is what fuels us. Giving is our future. It’s the core of our business and it’s time we celebrate it,” said Blake Mycoskie, founder and chief shoe giver of Toms Shoes. Italian homeware and kitchenware maker Alessi’ motto is to create affordable artworks that touch people’s hearts, rather than simple household equipment. The best-known product is the Anna G Corkscrew, designed by Allesand...

VENICE, Italy (AFP) ― Venetian canals transformed through a camera obscura, intimate snapshots of a prisoner’s life and a hall of whispers are among the installations on show at a new exhibition at Venice’s Palazzo Grassi. Around 30 works by 27 international artists, borrowed from French billionaire Francois Pinault’s private collection, explore how the medium of video has been used to capture a...

Schreyer says designers need to stay ahead of customers’ expectations When Kia Motors released its ambitious K-series, represented by the premium sedan K9 earlier this year, auto enthusiasts were more than thrilled. The vehicles were nothing like the ones Kia had shown before. The cars’ faade resembles that of a tiger and the interior is sleek like a panther. “A true era of the Kia sedan has op...

Collaborations between acclaimed artists and top-notch brands bring synergy effects The following is the sixth in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed. The classy, monogrammed leather of Louis Vuitton bags is simply turned into a backdrop for much wilder patterns: artist Yayoi Kusama’s vivid red polka dots, for example. The Fre...

The “Chinese cultural invasion” has become a global phenomenon. Record-breaking sums are being splashed on Chinese art pieces at international auctions and exhibitions of works by Chinese “enfants terribles” are held at galleries around the world. In Korea some of the trendiest Chinese artists have become the new darlings of collectors, replacing Andy Warhol or Lee U-fan. At the center of the f...

Bangle to share design vision at second Herald Design Forum Sept. 19-21 The following is the first in a series of email interviews with leading designers participating at the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed. As companies try to create competitive advantage with innovative design, new design concepts are fast emerging, according to Chris Bangle, head of the eponymous design brand Chris ...

F ounder of Big Ant International explains the ideas behind his design for new company logo A photograph of a soldier pointing a machine gun on a street poster on a lamppost might be nothing new. However, if you could walk around the post you would see that the end of the gun points right back at the soldier. And a sharp moment of epiphany strikes. The groundbreaking anti-war campaign “What go...

Top designers at the Sept. 19-21 forum to inspire audience in design, life A design forum organized by Herald Corp. is once again set to start a discussion on the role and impact of design next month, hosting leading designers, architects and artists. Launched last year, the Herald Design Forum has positioned itself as a major design forum in Korea, inviting acclaimed figures in the field and a...

Top car designers Peter Schreyer and Chris Bangle bring big changes The following is the fifth in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed. The monotone roads of Seoul have been getting some touches of color in the past few years. Yes, black, gray and silver still make up the majority of car colors, but vivid shades and stripes of c...

NEW YORK (AP) ― New York lost the 2012 Olympics, but the city’s bid for the summer games spurred another, visionary venture: building up the largest undeveloped parcel in Manhattan. While London got the games, New York was left with the best opportunity for development remaining in town. On Manhattan’s West Side, the old Hudson rail storage yards are surrounded by potholed roads, warehouses, lo...

Sustainable, green buildings create low-carbon neighborhoods The following is the fourth in a series of articles on design prepared in anticipation of the Herald Design Forum on Sept. 19-21. ― Ed. Sustainable development and green businesses have become keywords in various industries, and architecture and city planning are no exception to this trend. “Sustainability started to be mentioned abo...