An Incredibly beautiful animation inspiring us to question the long term impacts of our meals (beyond an impending food baby).
(via thehonestpalate)
Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty.
- Lyndon B Johnson
Over the past two years we’ve worked on projects that we hadn’t yet managed to achieve alone, and produced heaps of ideas that we hadn’t thought of previously. Being constantly surrounded by passionate people, means that their passion drives us and motivates us to do things that makes us healthier and happier.
Despite the various industries that people around you may work within; their thought processes, ideas and views on life are invaluable. Whether it’s over a few casual drinks with colleagues or clients or having dinner with friends and family, the discussions that arise are the best way to get inspired. This article, by Leo Babauta of Design Taxi, sums it up quite nicely.
It follows the same idea of contagious smiling - if someone smiles at you, you’re more likely to smile back. We’re constantly talking to and collaborating with passionate people, and we suggest you do to!
Our office neighbour brought in a pair of special glasses this week, allowing us to gaze on the once in a lifetime event of Venus crossing the Sun with our own eyes. What we saw was a tiny black spec foreground by a large orange ball, yet we couldn’t stop staring.
For most of us, all that stuff that goes on up in space is so far removed from our everyday lives that we separate it out completely from our existence here on Earth. Like buying steak from the supermarket, we take for granted the complex system which actually makes our environment possible.
This bout of midweek philosophy had the following effects: 1) making me want to go out and buy one of those rotating galaxy models you find in primary schools, and 2) watching endless ‘educational’ space videos on the internets.
Enjoy!
There is not much in life that compares to a few drinks over a home cooked meal with good company.
But Eat for Equity manages to go one step further in the warm and fuzzy stakes by providing an opportunity to contribute to local and global grassroots non-profits (whilst also stuffing your face). The idea is pretty damn simple: turn up and give what you can afford, then relax and enjoy an evening of food and good times.
It’s this honest attitude that has seen the initiative break down barriers for everyday people to contribute within their means on a regular basis. So far $34,000 has been donated, we’ll raise our forks to that.
At Cocoon we really love change, we kind of thrive on it. Which is a very happy coincidence because life likes to a throw curve ball or two, or in our case more balls then we feel anyone is entitled to. Yep, we are ball magnets. And as a result we’ve gotten pretty good at reminding ourselves of the bigger picture (the one with less balls).
But sometimes we still get discouraged and bogged down (with all those balls) and need reminding about the comparative distance between us and the light at the end of the tunnel. This video is a pretty amazing reminder that some people are able to dedicate their whole lives to the pursuit of goals they know they will never see achieved in their (or their children’s) lifetime.
What if your food talked back? A bunch of clever designers have made a break through in human-food communication with their project ‘Noisy Jelly’. The invention was created using Max/Msp and uses capacity sensors and a variety of jelly shapes (all with different salt concentrations) to detect the proximity and strength of finger contact. This feedback is then turned into an audio signal, giving the jelly a ‘voice’!!
I wonder what chocolate sounds like.
Tahnee and I let our inner science nerds out to play on a recent field trip… what we discovered was awe-inspiring, humbling, and down right frightening. I might think twice next time I squish a mozzie or absentmindedly flatten an army of ants because if there is anything my 90’s childhood has taught me it’s that at some point I WILL be the same size as one of these monsters. *shudder*
We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics - Bill Vaughn
- Jess
I read an article this morning about a lawyer/photographer deleting her Pinterest account because she had looked into the terms and conditions. In short, we could get the shit sued out of us if someone decides that they don’t want their IP plastered all of the internet for the world to enjoy (did someone say SOPA?)
In the same day, I stumble across Invisible Children’s KONY 2012 campaign. The power of the campaign relying on this powerful, close knit network to expose the evils of the world. Such stark contrast of perspective.
-Belinda
According to Dieter Rams the less is more approach should be the objective of every designer worth their salt.
We need more clearness, not only with products but with our cities, everything is too chaotic.
When broaching what is (for us at least) one of life’s big questions, what is design (or what should design be) Rams’ 10 Principles of Good Design is a darn comfortable starting point.
It’s not about cutting fish out of our diet because overfishing exists. Or not eating beef because cows fart too much. If we start doing that then we’ll become dormant creatures not doing anything because everything is bad for the Earth.
You know that mentality of “well, everything gives you cancer and we’re all dying anyway so who cares…” Well Swampdog cares. It’s fish and chips with a conscience. From the approved sustainable fish on the menu to the closed loop paper and biodegradable bamboo packaging, they make their initiatives clear.
Good for you, good for me, good for the sea.
In our office we bounce between feeling sorry for our long suffering bank balances and feeling genuinely blessed to be paid to do what we love. For the most part we realise just how damn lucky we are, there are so many people swimming against the tide in jobs that just don’t fit them.
We recently developed a brand identity for Mary Denver Consulting, a business that provides gentle guidance to help those less fortunate chart out a path to a happier career destination. Adventures ahead!
I have a rather horse-like pony tail trailing down to my lower back. (In my defence this is not by choice, I’m just time poor.) So it’s only natural for me to be looking at A Visual Compendium of Notable Haircuts in Popular Music for inspiration. Helllllllo Coolio…
- Belinda
