World Wide Webber

Sound map: the Caledonian Road

Oral historian and sometimes shop fronter, Alan Dein, co-created this great sound and pictures map with the Guardian, looking into the life of the Cally Road. It’s a really fascinating slice of local london, have a look/listen.

Flickr member: Wasleso

Wasleso’s photostream is full of fascinating London street photography from 50/60/70’s. These are priceless.

London 1959

London 1962

London 1975

More in Wasleso’s photostream

Blogs I like: Snapshot London

Alex Pink takes rather good photos of things in London often the neglected bits that we generally overlook, old pubs or well composed street views and there are a smattering of shop fronts, which in my view is always a good thing. This is real London.

See more at:www.snapshotlondon.co.uk

I’m a Photographer not a Terrorist

There are a lot of stories flying around at the moment about photographers being mistreated under abuse of section 44 of the Terrorism Act, this is making a lot of people angry and if you (like myself and anyone with a mobile phone) take photos in public places this could affect you.

I’m a Photographer not a Terrorist is one of the organisations trying to put a stop to this by raising awareness, supporting photographers and coordinating the fight. They even have a bust card to help you know your rights should you be challenged while taking photos.

If you want to get more involved you can join the next gathering on Saturday in Trafalgar Square at noon.

Blogs I like: From The Upper Deck

I love this blog from Przemek Wajerowicz. He takes photos from the top deck of buses capturing obscure moments which creates fascinating narratives. It’s a real slice of London street life, if you haven’t seen it, you should. Its here:www.ftud.net

Dieter Rams @ The Design Museum

I went to see the Dieter Rams show @ Design Museum today and it was good.

Its a great collection of products from his time at Braun and furniture manufacturer Vitsœ, this is the design that we have had in our homes for many years and has a heavy influence on todays product design.

If you go, walk round with Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles of good design in mind:

1. Good design is innovative.
2. Good design makes a product useful.
3. Good design is aesthetic.
4. Good design makes a product understandable.
5. Good design is unobtrusive.
6. Good design is honest.
7. Good design is long-lasting.
8. Good design is thorough down to the last detail.
9. Good design is environmentally friendly.
10. Good design is as little design as possible.

Principles that can directly translate to designing online and digital products.

Then I came out of the show to the pretty clunky looking Dyson Airblade in the loos, I think they missed points 3, 5, 8 and 10

I’ll be working round the corner from the Design Museum from Monday and with my new annual membership I will be back there, a lot.