ID Project (Headphones&Speakers) Update

I "finished" my ID styling project Friday. I say "finish" because I still have some more finishing touches to do on the 3D model and the presentation layouts. So I'm only gonna put a sneak peak up right now just to be safe...

The main part of the headphones and speakers are clear.
I will most likely re-do this project because I'm not happy with the direction my professor wanted me to take and my result. He wanted me to approach the project from purely styling instead of function which was hard for me to do with this project. I cant tell you how I wanted it to come out right now but if you know me personally and want to ask me I can tell you in private.

MTV Grant Update

Thank you everyone! I made it to the group of 10 finalists for the MTV grant!

I didnt win the grant but another very deserving artist, Joshua Clay, did! Clay actually did album artwork for Gym Class Heroes last album the quilt (below)

I really like his work so I dont feel bad about him getting the grant over me and the other finalists. You can check out more of his work here http://joshuaclayart.com/

Video Share! Foriegn Exchange (Phonte from Little Brother)

The Foreign Exchange feat. Muhsinah - "House Of Cards" from The Foreign Exchange on Vimeo.

Industrial Design Project (headphones&speakers)

I started school a week and a half ago. My main class is my ID studio with the notorious Bong Il-Jin as my professor who emphases styling and trend. His classes are never easy for even the best designer but his broken English and comical persona balance out the pain. I'm excited to grow as a designer.

My first project is short, 4 weeks. I choose to design a set of headphones that convert into table top speakers in an interesting way. I've had this idea sitting around for about a year now and amazingly enough there are only 3 product on the market that convert from headphones to speakers. and 2 of them suck while the 3rd is cool but not as cool as what I am planing on making.

- GoStereo’s Tune In Tune Out headphones (suck)
- iHome ihmp5 headphones (suck)
- Jabra BT8030 Headphones (pictured) - (clean and sophisticated but not what I was thinking)

PLEASE Let me know if you have any suggestions of materials to use for the cushioning or ways to make the headband fold up nicely. Or any other advice you have.

Julie is applying for a grant from MTV

http://juliepitts.society6.com/

Please click the link above, scroll down a little and click "Nominate Studio" in the purpleish box on the right side under "MTV - Track Artwork Collaboration with..."

PLEASE help me out! If you have to sign up to vote, please do and stay on the site if you are an artist because you can win grants from other companies too!

I would be estatic to earn this oppotunty to do the artwork for this project. I relate to this project because I have particiapted in simular service trips and I fallowed Travie's trip through his online blog and was really inspired by it. This whole thing MTV has set up is really my cup of tea. Not only do I think I would be the perfect person to do the artwork but I think it would challenge me to do more innovative and original work. Painting from photos is great but I want to do more out-of-the-box pieces.

Grant Description:

MTV - Track Artwork Collaboration with Travis McCoy

Grant amount: $1,000

"We're offering an exclusive opportunity for one artist to design track artwork for Travis McCoy's global charity single. The track, which is currently being written by McCoy, is inspired by his recent travels with MTV's Staying Alive Foundation."

For more about Travie's travels visit:

http://www.theunbeatentrack.com/

Jocelyn Ellis and the Alpha Theory in the Charlotte Observer

My talented and beautiful friend JE was featured in the Charlotte Observer recently. To read the article click here. To see the pictures from the photo shoot click here.

Below is a close up of the shoes I painted for her. For more pictures of the shoes look on my facebook fan page or click here.

And of course please check out music from Jocelyn Ellis and the Alpha Theory

you will not be disapointed...

Backpack Prototype Completed

Yes my friends. It is done. After 3 months of planning and about 3-4 weeks of sweat shop sewing in my studio, the backpack is done. It doesnt have a name or a presentation board yet. But I can officially say that it is done and fully functional. I am going to take pictures of it in use and detail shots of its features when I get back to the design school in 2 weeks but I have these preliminary shots of it for now...

Isnt she beautiful!

BTW for those new to my blog-a-roo this is work from my college major, Industrial Design. Which will hopefully become my career in December... (don't worry I'll still paint on the side too) ;-)

Last of Summer 09 Airbrush

ok so I kinda slacked off at the end of the summer with my painting because I wanted to finish my backpack! Which I did finish! and I will put it in a seperate post. But here are the last few things I worked on this summer...

This motorcycle helmet came out AMAZING. It looks 10 times better in person too because you can see the silver flakes and candy paint in the flames. This was my first time using createx automotive paint, drawing a flaming skull by hand, and doing all the prep work for the helmet myself. I had a friend do the clear coat for me but besides that it was all me! My customer loved it and I was so impressed with myself! I almost didnt want to give the guy his helmet back...lol

And a do the right thing shirt...

And thats it!

told you I didnt do much...

Muto Video

Design Camp

Hello world! Its me. I'm writing from the cod. this week I'm a counselor at NCSU's and CAM's Design Camp. So far its been pretty aWesome.... I've got to interact with a lot of talented kids, high school upperclassmen. I've also learned a lot about the other disciplines here at the COD. Many of my smaller passions have been rekindeled. I forgot how much I love Graphic Design! and how important and dynamic Landscape Architecture is. I'm also getting to find out about the other students that are in the COD and how talented and unique they all are!

More too come....

Gone Till December....

Today is my last day of summer...My last day at R&R was yesterday. I wanted to work on my car this summer but... time ran out. I wanted to finish some paintings but... time ran out... I really wanted to put some serious time into doing some Michael Jackson memorial artwork but...well you get the point...

♫I'll be gone till December, I'll be gone till December, Yo tell my boss yo I'll be gone till December...♪

Michael Jackson Tribute Shirts

I havent had time to do the shirt I've really wanted to do yet...but here are a few of the designs we have came up with at R&R Customs

Designed by Me!

Designed by (glitter socks) Vinel Brown/Me

(glitter zippers) Designed by Customer/Me

Designed by Tia Nate

Designed by Customer/Vinel Brown

Designed by Vinel Brown/Me

Designs in the making....

To become a poster

to become a shirt
to become a shirt...

And Still More to Come!!

Reflection Eternal Back Again

I like this video. Nice videography(?) and editing.

Talib Kweli + Hi Tek-Reflection Eternal -Back Again-Vid Premiere

XPLANE Video

Amazing video on leadership created by XPLANE. Great design and very inspirational.

AFRICA!!!

Ok I'm kinda hype about peoples trips to Africa right now because a few of my peoples from the design school just got back from Ghana this week. They toured all of Ghana for a month studying art forms and learning about culture, ect... I took the trip two summers ago and it was...life changing, enriching, eye opening, rewarding, heart warming, depressing and inspiring all at the same time. but really the whole experience was indescribable...which SUCKS because I want to explain it to people so bad but its hard. So every time I find out that someone else has gone to a part of Africa I am itching to hear what their was experience was like in hopes that I will find a way to better articulate my experience and share it with others. and of course it makes me reminisce of my amazing time in Ghana.

Soooo, as I get pictures and such from my NCSU friends I will be posting the most interesting ones here. But until then, please fallow Travie and his adventure through Africa with the Staying Alive Foundation.

You can also fallow travie on twitter and through his blog

Random tidbit, the work at the top of my blog was inspired by a famous South African graffiti artist, Faith 47.

Cool Video

Stollen from Raphael Saadiqs blog

New Airbrush

customer request as a costume for a "old ppl on vacation" themed party. lol

Basball Helment

My first motorcyle helment!

Two Kobe Shirts. first one is for sale at R&R customs or by request.

Mos Def's new album "The Ecstatic"

So apparently Mos Def's new album (The Ecstatic) came out 4 days ago.!..!..!.. and of course there was very little press... I have only heard a few tracks so far and I like it. plus it has been getting decent reviews and I mean come on...it's Mos Def! please go and cop it...

http://www.amazon.com/Ecstatic-Mos-Def/dp/B001GSV3F6/ref=pd_bxgy_m_text_b

Get Your Basket Ball On!!

http://www.getyourbasketballon.com

http://www.getyourbasketballon.com

You ever have one of those moments when you realize that theres so much ish out there u havent seen yet....? ...and that u need to go explore IMMEDIATELY?!

...Ya... I just had one of those moments...