SLU prof says chew gum before big test and it could help

   I personally love chewing gum and I find it to be a stress reliever and apparently St. Lawrence psychology professor has done a study to prove this may be a proven fact, college students chew that gum!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 - 5:11 pm

CANTON -- Research by a St. Lawrence University psychology professor suggests that if you’re a student and have an important test coming up, you might do better if you chew some gum.
St. Lawrence University Assistant Professor of Psychology Serge Onyper conducted a study that showed that students who chewed gum for five minutes before taking a test did better on the test than non-gum-chewing students. “Mastication-induced arousal” is credited for the boost, which lasted for about the first 20 minutes or so of testing. Results of the study were published in the journal Appetite.
A “battery of cognitive tasks” was given to the study participants, who chewed gum either prior to or throughout testing. Their performance was then compared with subjects who did not chew gum.
Many studies have shown that any type of physical activity can produce a performance boost. This study points indicates that even mild physical activity might bring on such a boost.
Chewing gum seems to have given the subjects multiple advantages, but only when chewed for five minutes before testing, not for the duration of the test. Benefits persisted for the first 15 to 20 minutes of testing only. Onyper notes that a possible reason the benefits didn’t continue throughout testing may be due to “a sharing of resources by cognitive and masticatory processes.”
In other words, you can’t chew gum and think productively at the same time.
Onyper was the lead researcher on a study presented earlier this year showing that students who took classes starting earlier in the morning tended to get higher grades, even though they may have gotten less sleep.

H&M Spring Summer 2012

Tailored and fluid: these are the silhouettes that count at H&M this spring, with a mix of modern tailoring and romantic femininity that bring infinite possibilities for personal style. The sharp white suit is a key statement, softened with a jersey vest top underneath and worn with 50's style brogues.



For a softer shape, there are kimono-style draped jackets and wrap dresses, with wide-leg trousers anchoring the trend for light volume. Mix and match the pieces in a playful way to create an individual look, finished with accessories like bangles and sunglasses in brilliant white.




"I love the well dressed, grown up mood of the season that is still easy to wear and that can be styled in so many different ways," said Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M's head of design. "New fabrics play an important part this season and add something new to existing shapes."




Silhouette
Tailored and fluid

Colours
White and neutrals worn with fruit coloured accents like yellow, orange or apple green, alongside soft shades such as apricot and blue.

Fabrics
Cotton and jersey, silks, leather, organza, linen



Details
Tailoring details and sartorial touches that emphasise the tomboy-ish look, contrasted with soft drapes, wraps and pleats which maximise the volume while keeping the shape.



Key Garments
White suit, a jersey vest, leather sleeveless jacket, shirtdress, draped kimono jacket, short quilted jacket, drape vests, wrap dress, wide trousers.

Key Accessories
50's style brogues or wooden-sole platforms, multiple bangles, leather necklaces, clutch bags, white sunglasses

Photographer: Kacper Kasprzyk


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adidas Group, C&A, H&M, Li Ning, Nike and Puma Partner to Reach Zero Discharge by 2020

adidas, C&A, H&M, Li Ning, NIKE, and Puma released a joint roadmap towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals (ZDHC) in the supply chain by 2020. It is an ambitious plan, one that sets a new standard of environmental performance for the global apparel and footwear industry. The roadmap includes specific commitments and timelines to realize this shared goal.

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Toward Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals.pdf (257k)

The joint roadmap is a living document, and will continue to be refined as the companies gain additional intelligence and insights through the initial pilots and research, as well as the collaboration with other brands and stakeholders.


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Marni to Design a Spring Collection for H&M

H&M unveiled a spring designer collaboration with the Italian brand Marni. Famed for its original prints and inventive spirit, Marni is one of fashion's most-loved labels, and its Founder and Creative Director Consuelo Castiglioni has created for H&M a spring collection for both women and men which capture the essence of Marni. Available from March 2012, the collection features both clothing and accessories, all at H&M's prices.

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Marni for HM

Marni is a label that sticks to its own path, setting its own trends for print, cut and silhouette that are always playful and elegant. Marni has remained a family owned-business as it has grown to become an international luxury brand with stores around the world.

"I wanted to create a true Marni wardrobe by revisiting all our favorite pieces in signature fabrics and prints," commented Consuelo Castiglioni, Founder and Creative Director. "As always, I love juxtaposing prints and colours, mixing modern tribal with Bauhaus graphic adding sporty utilitarian elements."



Marni's collection for H&M has all the freedom and experimentation for which the label is renowned, with all-over prints in strong colours all intended to be worn together in layers that both match and clash.

"We all love the collection here at H&M and we believe that our customers will do the same," said Margareta van den Bosch, Creative Advisor H&M. "Marni has such a modern touch with everything they do, mixing prints and accessories in a playful but chic way. It's fantastic to see how Consuelo Castiglioni coordinates her designs, matching new combinations of print and colour, with such incredible craftsmanship behind every piece. The collection will arrive in stores at just the perfect time, as a lovely statement for spring."



For women, the colours are vivid and the prints are bold, be they African inspired or simpler colour blocks. The silhouettes are all Marni staples, with full pleated skirts, dresses, cropped trousers and jacquard knit, and fabrics range from silk to crisp cotton poplin. To finish the complete look the collection also includes jewellery, shoes, bags and scarves.

For men, the colours and fabrics are softened for a relaxed take on menswear staples that is truly Marni. The use of print is subtle, often as a lining or as a contrast detail for shirts, the silhouette a modern and relaxed take on masculine classics. The Marni collection is the latest designer collaboration for H&M, which has previously collaborated with brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garçons, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, and most recently Versace.


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Plastic Technologies Award 2012

Plastic Technologies Award calls for product concepts that use specific production and transformation technologies of plastic materials.

Much plastic material production and transformation technology is largely diffused and is used widely in sedimented product category production.

Every technology offers opportunities which are at times only partially explored and that can be potentially maximised for new or unusual product category production.

The aim of the competition is therefore to promote certain production and transformation technologies and to identify possible improvements and innovations, both for the final user and in the business to business field.

The projects proposed by candidates must in any case have an innovative value, from a cultural, functional and production application point of view.

Specifically the technology categories and their relative product category identified in this competition are shown in the table.

Moreover, since there are continuous innovations in the plastic materials field with the introduction of biodegradable materials, there is a sixth point in the competition categories relating to Biopolymers.

The best designs will be displayed during the Plast 2012 exhibition.

Deadline for entries is January 10, 2012.

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24259#ixzz1fDC1Gcgn

Architecting the Future: Fuller & Foster at Design Miami

The newly restored Buckminster Fuller Fly's Eye Dome and reconstructed Dymaxion 4 will be on view at Design Miami. The exhibition brings together, for the first time in decades, two of Fuller's iconic inventions. The success and remarkable interest generated by the two restoration projects gives compelling evidence of the profound contemporary relevance of Fuller's work and ideas



The exhibition, Architecting the Future: Buckminster Fuller and Norman Foster, will feature the only original prototype in existence of Fuller's revolutionary, low cost, off the grid, autonomous dwelling machine: The Fly's Eye Dome along with his famous omni-directional, jump-jet transport system the Dymaxion car, recently reconstructed by renowned British architect, Lord Norman Foster.



The works will be on view in an open air space at 39th street and 1st Court through December 4th. A tour of the installation will take place on December 3, 2011 from 10-11 a.m with John Warren, Buckminster Fuller's principle collaborator on the Fly's Eye domes.



The installation, a Miami Design District Dacra Project with in-kind support from The Buckminster Fuller Institute, sets the stage for further evolution of these ideas and structures and includes an exhibition on both the dome and the car; a series of films about Fuller and Foster; tours; and a talk between renowned architect Norman Foster and contemporary artist Olafur Eliasson on Fuller's influence on their lives and work as part of Design Miami's Design Talks series.

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24258#ixzz1fDBDO0su

3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Pro

3Dconnexion today introduced its newest 3D mouse - the SpaceMouse Pro. The SpaceMouse Pro combines 3Dconnexion's patented six-degrees-of-freedom sensor for intuitive and precise 3D navigation with an advanced ergonomic design and innovative On-screen Display to deliver superior comfort and a simpler, more productive workflow.

"3D mice revolutionize the way people interact with digital 3D content," said Antonio Pascucci, vice president of products, 3Dconnexion. "We are committed to developing products that meet the needs of 3D users. SpaceMouse Pro provides a professional 3D navigation experience, enabling users to better understand their 3D content, while its new advanced ergonomic design ensures a comfortable working experience."

The SpaceMouse Pro 3D mouse is an easy-to-use, professional solution with advanced features, including:



Professional Navigation
The patented six-degrees-of-freedom sensor provides intuitive 3D navigation while five QuickView keys offer one-touch access to 12 view combinations - top, right, front, and 90-degree rotation.



Advanced Ergonomic Design
SpaceMouse Pro ensures a balanced and comfortable workflow with full-size, soft-coated hand rest and fifteen large, tactile and easy-to-locate buttons.




Application Control
Four large, fully customizable Intelligent Function Keys provide fingertip access to frequently used application commands while the new On-screen Display provides visual feedback on function key assignment. In addition, SpaceMouse Pro's Keyboard Modifiers provide convenient access to Control, Shift, Alt, Esc functions.

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24266#ixzz1fDAkpQbX

zSpace: 3D Holographic Visualization

Infinite Z today launched zSpace, a new 3D holographic visualization product. zSpace provides a highly realistic 3D visualization experience that enables designers and engineers to work with product designs in a way not previously possible in a traditional 2D computing environment.

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zSpace    

Using a proprietary stereoscopic display, trackable eyewear, a new type of direct interaction stylus and an innovative software platform, objects in zSpace appear "solid" in open space, with full color and high resolution, and can be directly manipulated as if they were real physical objects. This capability gives users a natural way to navigate, grab, slice, carve, zoom and explore models as never before possible.



Initially focused towards the digital/product design, scientific, medical, GIS/geospatial and government markets, zSpace is a completely new model for experiencing and communicating design ideas and significantly advancing the way people solve problems, learn, teach and communicate in today's world.



"zSpace is the wave of the future for product design and development," said Paul Kellenberger, CEO of Infinite Z. "Our immersive zSpace experience enables users to interact with 3D applications just as naturally and intuitively as they would with real physical objects, which has never been possible before in the virtual computing space. zSpace has the potential to dramatically enhance and improve user workflows, saving companies time and money, and enabling designers and engineers to represent their ideas more effectively and realistically than possible with today's 2D displays."



zSpace replaces indirect access of 2D rendered 3D objects with direct control of stereo 3D rendered objects, providing increased productivity for those proficient in Maya 2011 and Showcase Professional 2012 and accelerated learning and utilization of products for less experienced users. Beta versions of zSpace plug-ins are available today for Autodesk Maya 2011 and Showcase Professional 2012, as well as a proof-of-concept zSpace demo for Autodesk Alias Design software

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24267#ixzz1fD9d4Yvs

Korea Design: Exhibition at 100% Design London

Korea Design is an exhibition showcasing the best in contemporary Korean furniture, lighting, product and textile design through the work of fifteen companies and designers.

There will be a showcase of Next Generation Design Leaders alongside the main display, exhibiting the work of five individuals who have been singled out as visionaries in their field.

In the past, Korean design has too often been associated with electronics and high technology goods, standardised manufacturing techniques and homogenised products.

In stark contrast, however, Korea is increasingly proving to be a nurturing and thriving platform for designers in interior and product design exploring the more intimate relationships we form with everyday products and what they say about us.

Looking through the work of these different companies, one can identify a number of common themes, the most prevalent of which is the driving force that design isn't just about aesthetics, it's about a desire to re-evaluate the role it plays in our lives and to create products that are sustainable, skilful, beautiful and individual.

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/23799#ixzz1eNrGKXRi

D'E-light by Philippe Starck: Task Light & iPad Dock

D'E-light is a revolutionary new table lamp from Flos, equipped with a dock for your iPhone, iPod & iPad while providing a sophisticated design and light source. Designed by Philippe Starck, this highly efficient polished aluminum light features a USB socket above the light diffuser to "plug-in," and includes twenty eight 3000K LEDs achieving an output of 324 Lumens.

Always at the forefront of innovative design, Flos' combination of lighting and informational technology has resulted in an object that is perfectly attuned to the contemporary habits of today's always-connected society. Known for his cutting-edge design aesthetic and the functionality of his creations, Philippe Starck describes his D'E-light lamp as "When the iPad, a source of information, becomes a source of light." Playing on the double meaning of illumination, the D'E-light both lights and enlightens.



D'E-light will be available from December 2011 in limited quantities in the United States.

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24050#ixzz1eNqFHKw7

Christian Louboutin Retrospective at the Design Museum

The first UK retrospective of iconic French shoe designer Christian Louboutin at the Design Museum celebrates a career which has pushed the boundaries of high fashion shoe design.

Louboutin's exquisite shoes, with their instantly recognisable glossy red soles, are a unique fusion of fashion, craftsmanship, engineering and sculpture. This exhibition explores Louboutin's career to date and showcases twenty years of designs and inspiration, revealing the artistry and theatricality of his shoe design from stilettos to lace-up boots, studded sneakers and bejewelled pumps. Louboutin's shoes are the epitome of style, glamour, power, femininity and elegance.

Drawing from Christian Louboutin's personal archive, the exhibition presents his celebrated shoe designs, referencing the origins of the iconic red sole, through to the latest Louboutin collections including a range for men and desirable handbags.

A dramatic exhibition environment will present Louboutin's artistic personality and creative approach. It will examine the many sources of his creativity, shoes inspired by performance, cabaret and the showgirl; fantasy and fairy tale; art and architecture; film; landscape and travel. The exhibition will also focus on the handcrafted shoe, one-off designs which incorporate his highly innovative ideas, forms and materials. There will be a special section dedicated to the shoes designed for 'Fetish' an exhibition at the La Gallerie Du Passage, Paris in 2007, a unique collaboration of photography between Louboutin and acclaimed artist David Lynch.



At the core of the exhibition will be a unique exploration of Louboutin's design process, taking the visitor through every stage of the design journey, revealing how a shoe is constructed, from the initial drawing and first prototype through to production in the factory. Looking beyond design and production the exhibition will also explore the company's innovative store design in which Louboutin is always closely involved.

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24205#ixzz1eNnsa7rE

One Club Creative Hall of Fame to Induct Steve Jobs, Paula Green, Joe Pytka

The One Club for Art and Copy will induct Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, advertising creative Paula Green and director/producer Joe Pytka into the Creative Hall of Fame on January 17, 2012 in New York City. The One Club is also initiating an Educator's Hall of Fame with its first inductee, Robert Lawton from Creative Circus in Atlanta.

Steve Jobs will be honored for a lifetime of contributions to design, branding and communications. As a visionary leader, his passion for design not only created products that changed the way we interact with technology and media, but changed the way we create content in media. Since 1984 the One Show has awarded over 100 pieces of advertising and design created and produced for Apple byApple's design team and by the long and storied partnership with Chiat/Day, which continues today with TBWAMedia Arts Lab.
Also being honored that evening is Paula Green, who is best known for creating the Avis car rental campaign, "We Try Harder" and the lyrics to the "Look for the Union Label" song for the ILGWU. One of the pioneers of women in advertising, Green started her career at Grey as a copywriter before heading over to Seventeen magazine. She then moved on to the LC Gumbinner Agency and later joined DDB during its "Mad Men" heyday in the 1960s. Partnered with art director Helmut Krone, Green worked under the tutelage of copy chief Phyllis Robinson and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the first female group head at DDB. She later went on to start her own agency and created memorable work for clients including Goya Foods ("Goya, Oh Boy-a!"), the American Cancer Society and The New York Times.

Considered one of the greatest commercial directors in history, fellow inductee Joe Pytka's body of work spans over 40 years with more than 5,000 commercials and film projects. Known for his big-budget Super Bowl ads, hiscreations include some of the greatest hits of advertising from the last several decades, such as Madonna's controversial "Make a Wish" video for Pepsi featuring the song "Like a Prayer," "Bo Knows" for Nike, Ed and Frank for Bartles and Jaymes, "I Am Not a Role Model" with Charles Barkley for Nike and the frying egg commercial with the tagline, "This is your brain on drugs." As a filmmaker, Pytka directed Let it Ride starring Richard Dreyfuss and Space Jam with Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny. He also directed videos including "Free as a Bird" by The Beatles, "Just Like Starting Over" by John Lennon and Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Dirty Diana."
Robert Lawton is being inducted as the inaugural member of The One Club Educator's Hall of Fame. Lawton has worked at several design studios and agencies throughout his career, but his passion has always been in education. At East Texas State University (now Texas A&M East at Commerce), some of his soon-to-be famous students included photographer Mark Seliger, illustrator Michael Schwab and chief creative officer John Norman of The Martin Agency. After joining Portfolio Center in Atlanta, he left to co-found The Creative Circus with Norm Grey in 1995. Today, the school is renowned for its advertising and design programs with many of its students becoming successful creatives at agencies around the world.

Jobs, Green and Pytka will be joining a long list of Creative Hall of Fame members from the past and present including David Ogilvy, Bill Bernbach, Phyllis Robinson, Jay Chiat and Lee Clow.

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24220#ixzz1eNkGmFuU

MPC Digs Deep for Nintendo DS Fossil Fighters Champions

MPC pulled off a stunning bit of 3D magic in a promo for Nintendo's Fossil Fighters Champions, a new game for the handheld DS videogame system. Working with Interrogate Director Vesa Manninen, an MPC team led by LA-based VFX supervisors Ryan Knowles & Ross Denner created a one-of-a-kind speech featuring a young boy rallying his platoon of dinosaur-like creatures (Vivosaurs) for battle.

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Fossil Fighters PreBattle Speech    

Fossil Fighters Pre-Battle Speech opens on a live-action shot of the young boy standing in a stark desert environment, dressed in a king's crown and sword, lecturing his unseen troops. The camera pans to the side, revealing the colorful behemoths looming gigantically over him, panting and rapt, ready for battle. At the conclusion of the fiery speech, the camera goes wide, and the boy's army of titanic Vivosaurs tramples toward the screen in a roaring, frightening stampede.

"The Vivosaurs were a brilliant job from MPC," noted Manninen. "The closer frontal shots from below are just amazing. This is the best overall quality in 3D I've ever had in one of my films - and this was not an easy job. Truly amazing."

Tasked with creating an epic shot that retained the hearty feel of a child's fantasy world, MPC sought a balance between real-looking dinosaurs and Vivosaurs that retained the key characteristics and colors from the game. "This film is a warlord fantasy of the inner boy living inside all of us, filled with a getting-ready-for-battle feeling," stated Denner. Manninen added that "the story is from a child's point of view, so we see what the child is imagining and it looks amazing. It's also contemporary and cinematic, sympathetic and genuine. The size differences between the boy and dinosaurs are really important."

MPC worked closely with Manninen from previsualization through finishing on the six-week, 24-vivosaur project, handling all VFX work, character concept design, 3D modeling and texturing, 3D rigging, lighting and animation, compositing, dust and particle FX, head replacement, telecine, rotoscoping, tracking, on-set VFX supervision and finishing. By setting up a system that allowed updates of shaders, lighting, models and animation automatically without compromising the render passes or comp elements, MPC was able to finish the project on deadline.

"The test was delivering MPC's high level of quality on an impossible deadline and being able to accommodate last-minute changes," added Denner. "With the efficient workflow we set up, we were able to meet all client needs and the hard deadline without a problem. This is testament to the hard work and dedication of all the team involved."

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24230#ixzz1eNhO5ub4

Design for Context: Understanding How User Context is Evolving

Fjord, the digital design consultancy, has just completed a white paper called "Design for Context: Understanding How User Context is Evolving." A thorough exploration of the world of digital design undertaken with SmarcoS, the document addresses the notion that effective digital design keeps the user fully in mind: attuning not just to their stated preferences but also to their behavior.

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Design for Context.pdf (1MB)

Although arguments have been made lately that technology has become too invasive, too human-focused (Facebook facial recognition, iPhone location tracking), Fjord and SmarcoS point to emerging technology that is more intuitive than intrusive, combining the programmers' knowledge of what the consumer wants (the human side of design) with advanced programming that learns and changes from user behavior (the technical side of design).

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24228#ixzz1eNgqkgK4

Wolff Olins Unveils New NBCUniversal Green is Universal Logo and Brand Identity

Every year since 2007, Green is Universal (NBCUniversal's environmental initiative) not only works to constantly improve internal "greening," but also raises awareness with consumers. Twice a year - during Green Week (November) and Earth Week (April) - Green is Universal's public message is that small changes can add up to a big environmental impact. During this year's Green Week, Wolff Olins' fresh new Green is Universal graphics package debuted to accompany the poignant concept that you don't have to do a lot to do a lot.

Inspired by woodblock printing and stamping, the new graphics evoke a natural, handmade quality that marks a strong departure from the clean, corporate style of previous iterations of the Green is Universal branding. The iconic peacock feather, so closely associated with NBC, is integrated into the logo and graphic icons, which include a lightbulb, a tree, and a wifi signal that can be used stand-alone or together, and will work easily into any properties within NBCUniversal's vast portfolio. The warmth and accessibility of the graphic is intended to encourage consumers to get involved in green efforts using the resources available to them within their own communities.

Moveover, the Green is Universal branding completes new branding identity for all four initiatives within NBCUniversal's Integrated Media group: Healthy at NBCU, Women at NBCU, Hispanics at NBCU, and Green is Universal. Wolff Olins has been involved with rebranding each Integrated Media brand, providing a consistent look and feel across all four initiatives.

Read more: http://www.dexigner.com/news/24229#ixzz1eNg1XeX6