Everyday Object Love: Hand Dryer

My First Hand Dryer

I remember the first hand dryer that made me look twice.

It was a silver number by Dyson at Masu, a sushi restaurant in Portland, Oregon a few years back. Instead of placing your hands below the dryer, you place your hands inside the dryer from above.

Your hands triggered the fans and in seconds your hands were dry. It was so fun to use that I returned to my friends all excited about it. All of a sudden they had to go to the bathroom.

The only weird part about it was that my hands looked like Roger Moore's face in Moonraker.

My Second Hand Dryer

The second hand dryer is pretty common nowadays but the first time I came in contact was at Newhouse. (I admit I got excited when I saw them in airports recently.)

It is also efficient and easy on the eyes.

The fact that it is attractive may sound weird to some of you but aesthetics in a hand dryer is unexpected which makes it  more compelling to talk about.

My favorite part is the copy at the bottom of the nozzle. This is icing on the cake:

Feel the Power

This just goes to prove that a short witty amount of copy can go a long way. It's cute, sassy and memorable.

Olaf Cuadras Tribute to Movies

Apocalypse Now poster by Olaf Cuadras

Wonderful posters by art director and illustrator Olaf Cuadras. Check out his store for many others. $30.00 or $35.00 depending on size.

Pulp Fiction poster by Olaf Cuadras

Re:Sound Bottle Audio Mixes by Jun Fujiwara

Re:Sound Bottle is the creation of Japanese DJ (and designer) Jun Fujiwara.

This is a music medium that can reproduce a recorded voice as music. It makes a database of sound sources that is managed and used as formal and automatic repetitions, and forms a music medium of the day. I felt something missing in the habitual use of music reproduction media, so I thought to create an interactive music medium that changes. By using everyday voices as sources of music, the sounds that are heard all the time every day carry infinite possibilities and help us reaffirm the enjoyment of music. I hope people can experience their own music.

Pretty sweet. I wasn't able to find information that this is in production or available for purchase. I can only hope.

Jun also teamed up with Coca-Cola recently to create the Coca-Cola Remix Bottle.

Kendo Remixed (below) is my favorite from the series.

Gorgeous Gestural Calligraphy from Lián Types

Bird script is a new typeface from Maximiliano Sproviero of Lián Types based in Argentina. It has so much energy and reminds me of the movements in nature. I'm dying to see how this would look large and letterpress printed.

“Sometimes I feel that my soul has something to express—something to shout, or just to whisper. I will grab the nearest tool and the music will begin. Soft gestures turn to wild expression. Ink flows and gently settles comfortably on the dance floor. Often I have asked myself, ‘Is it possible to borrow at least something from the art of calligraphy and translate it to the screen?’ And, can that something be the spontaneity of the traces, especially their life and grace? This is how Bird Script was conceived.”

— Maximiliano Sproviero

See more of Bird Script at MyFonts.

Web Design: I Made This for Us

I Made This for Us was a website birthday present from independent radio reporter Mara Zepeda to photojournalist Amanda Lucier — two close friends separated by distance..

I was thrilled and flattered to be asked to help with the design.

Check out their first post for the week. The pairing of image with audio is quite beautiful and touching.

Thank you Mara and Amanda. I look forward to your continued conversation.