Second Annual Student Competition is Coming Up

Should You Apply?

When looking for a new job, there can be a sea of possible job opportunities. What happens if you stumble upon a position that you may meet all the stated requirements? You may ask yourself, "should I apply?" The answer is, YES! Here's why. Most people conducting an interview don't know exactly what they are looking for. 

After reviewing the overall job description, stating the amount of years of experience required, and the tools and skills needed to perform the job; you would think that the employer knows who they want to hire. After all they were the one who created the outline for the position in great detail.

The job description may have been written by someone by someone in human resources, not the person who is interviewing you. Even if it was written by you potential boss, what is stopping you from applying? Interviewers have a broad sense of what they are looking for in a potential employee.

Don't limit yourself, apply for that job!

3D In Living Color

"From catwalk to the crayon box, the lure of the 3D image has capture designer's imaginations. But rather than an influx of expensive production techniques an hi-tech, time consuming processes, the creative world has returned to the art of the red-green 3D image." Source Stylus

What is a anaglyph, you ask. An anaglyph is a red-green or red-cyan 3D image that has the ability of the human brain to create a sense of depth within a 2D image. It forces each eye to simultaneously look at a slightly different version of the same object. It's all about tricking the mind into precieveing depth. Here how the process works:

Using anaglyphs is nothing new. The process of creating depth with color was first demonstrated in the mid 19th century by Wilhelm Rollmann. Rollmann exploed the effect of a red-blue anaglyph line drawing viewed through red and blue lined glasses. A few years later Joseph D'Almeida began showing red-green magic lantern slideshows to audiences with red-green glasses.

The process boomed in the 1920s, however the term 3D was not coined until the 1950s. Anaglyph imagery began appearing in popular publications and movies such as The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Dispoable 3D glasses with the colored acetate became a popular giveaway with comics.

Now let's fast forward to present day. Anaglyph images have recently began to resurface in today's society. History always seemes to repeat itself. These images have been have been seen in fashion and publishing, packaging, technology, and even children's toys. The technique gives a retro 3D effect and feel without the high budget and lengthy post-production treatments used in films such as Avatar.

Anaglyphs were first seen in Alexander McQueen's Autumn/Winter 2006-2007 show, Baillie Walsh's 3D approach to fashion in motion was revisited in September 2010 in KM3D-1, an anaglyphic film starring Kate Moss.

Sephora Goes Mobile

New York is known for being the city that never sleeps. So there is no doubt that it's a busy city. There are always meetings to go to, people to see and places to go in Manhattan. Now you can have your must have mascara, skincare product or favorite lip gloss in a New York minute. Sephora wanted to launch a same-day delivery service for online cosmetics sales in New York. 


ACCESS agency designed a series of six different head-turning MINI Cooper wraps for their fleet of six vehicles. Bold was the name of the game. These designs will stand out in the busy New York street scene, among the taxis and delivery vehicles. They were gunning for big impact and quick recognition, immediate attention, a bold and cool vibe, something that would generate on-street buzz, even with only six vehicles.

Re-Thinking Retail: Anti-Malls

"People today want to have more of a relationship with their purchase. Creating an environment for communication and interaction will allow retail to act as an agent for social change with the SoCal community, beyond weekend farmer's markets and evenings out in the surrounding affluent neighborhoods," says Shaheen Sadeghi. Sadeghi spent almost 20 years building a successful career in the sportswear retail industry. He was the president of the world renowned  brand Quicksilver, executive LABve vice president at Gotcha Sportswear, and merchandise manage at Jantzen/VF Corporation. Sadeghi successfully created "community-oriented" retail shopping centers in Southern California; the LAB and the CAMP.

"When I started my career in retail, I saw a lack of community. There were only large air-conditioned boxes sprawling around Orange County," says Sadeghi. "I was 20 years old with a surfing industry background, frustrated with the limited retail spaces I had available." The traditional mall has become of a large box with many stores inside. In today's society, people are interested in having an unique shopping experience. This need for and unique and individual experience has people flocking to anti-malls.

The LAB Anti-Mall

It all began in 1992 when Sadeghi built the LAB (Little American Businesses) Anti-Mall. The LAB is an Orange County, California retail destination with the urban youth in mind. Orange County was on the brink of bankruptcy, Shadeghi transformed his first Bristol Street venue into a lively, arts-focused indoor-outdoor retail and restaurant mecca. "I'm selling culture, not fashion. We're moving away from being a 'mass nation' to a 'niche nation,' declares Shadeghi--who believes we're currently experiencing a paradigm shift where consumerism is based on smaller, niche interest groups rather than everyone chasing the same ideal.

The CAMP

In 2002, Lab Holding opened the CAMP retail complex. The CAMP caters to eco-conscious Orange County families, environmentalists and outdoor-sports enthusiasts. There a great environmental conscious features like a grass roof, on site watering system of the grounds, use of California redwood trees and indigenous landscaping. The award winning venue showcases like-minded, one-store retailers and restaurants, which target healthy living in an unique, green-oriented environment. "Sadeghi labels his ventures as “retail activism” but is keen to emphasis the link to “real things beyond just a philosophy” as part of his long­term vision. He reiterates his belief in the capacity of innovative retail areas to affect both social change and provide positive business results for retailers such as The SEED People’s Market – a shop dedicated to handmade, sustainable and local products plus a full­stock of leading brand Patagonia (of which it is consistently the largest seller of the major brand’s products outside of the Patagonia home stores). It also hosts classes, such as jewellery making in an upstairs workshop setting, and a monthly Handmade Fair. Since initiating these kinds of activities, the store has also seen an overall 45% increase in sales."

It's All In the Packaging

Warning! This post may have you look at the contents of your packaging differently. Care to try grasshopper chips or cricket croquettes? Not your cup of tea? Try some mealworm sushi. If you were raised in the West, you're probably a little more than hesitant to try any kind of insect. Insects are actually healthier and gentler on the environment that commercially raised livestock.

"Ento is a project by Aran Dasan, Jacky Chung, Jonathan Fraser and Julene Aguirre-Bielschowsky, who are working together on the Innovation Design Engineering joint Masters course at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London. This project is the outcome of the team's motivation to tackle the growing issue of food security in an increasing hungry world. Discovering the environmental and nutritional benefits of insects. It's not [solely] about introducing a new food, but about understanding human perceptions and psychology. Then using the design of  innovative experiences and strategic thinking to drive a cultural change." Check out their video here.

To read more about Ento click here.

Graduating This Year?

It's about that time when your career as a student is coming to an end. You may be wondering what is going to happen next. It's time for you to enter into the real real. There are a few things you need to assess before venturing out.

Know what you what. Figure out what you want to do first. Narrow your options, if you don't you will be wasting a lot of your time. Time is the one precious commodity you can never get back.

Talk, talk, talk. Ask around. Everyone has been in the same position as you after graduation. Most people are willing to help or know of someone that can. Don't be shy, get out there and ask!

Always remember the rule of 3.  When talking to anyone in the industry you are looking to enter, remember to ask for 3 other contacts that you could talk to.

Informational interview. Informational interviews are a great way to learn more about a company you are interested in. It allows you to meet and reach out to employees in the company. If they are impressed with you, when I position opens up you may receive a phone call to come in for an interview for the position!