AUL NEU

Fork Follows Function

2010-03-13T14:07:00.001-08:00

One of the moments I recall most meaningfully from my childhood memories of The Little Mermaid is when Ariel, in her underwater world naïveté, uses a fork to brush her hair. Not knowing its original intended purpose, she assigns it one of her own, and in this I learned a lesson about form and function that has stuck with me ever since.

The common principle is that “form follows function,” and this is true for many products we encounter and use daily. Your toaster not so coincidentally has bread-shaped openings; your water bottle has a cap and fits perfectly into your hand for utmost portability—blah, blah, you know this. A lesson we can learn from Ariel, however, is that while a product may be designed for a certain function, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the only function it has.

Take, for example, something I once did in high school (and has since, from what I’ve seen, been replicated—we can argue provenance another time). Anyone who has ever forced a utensil into a solid block of ice cream should be familiar with the metal’s malleability—especially if you shopped for the set on a budget. Knowing this and noticing that my fork had a metal mass similar to a bracelet I had recently lost, I decided to use a pair of pliers to bend it at a few different spots to curve around my wrist. Voilà! What was once a fork for eating is now a bracelet for wearing (a forklet, if you will? No?).

Over the years, I’ve also bent hangers into doorstops, formed yarn into a wallpaper-like pattern, turned old window treatments into wall lamps. The list goes on. It has become a bit of a habit, which can be especially beneficial for anyone like me—an art school student in NYC with limited living space and a much more limited budget. Finding new functions out of existing objects has saved me a ton from buying the product actually designed for that function. Generally, it’s cheaper.

I encourage you to take a look around your apartment. Ignore the original function of everything, and start to look at what’s physically there (especially the stuff you’re about to throw out). A fork doesn’t have to be an eating utensil. Instead, see it as just mass of metal, one that you can turn into anything. It’ll open up the door to “a whole new world” (I know, wrong Disney movie) of living solutions.

you can follow me here:

2010-03-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

www.aricherconcept.tumblr.com

YES

2009-10-16T21:32:00.001-07:00

pittsburgh
via (obeyclothing)

It's nap time

2009-10-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

I want to sleep.
I want to be a photographer.
I want to do whatever I want.

2009-09-22T08:06:00.001-07:00

The Human Face

2009-09-21T01:23:00.000-07:00

This was a great dvd series put on by the BBC in 2001. Combining comedy sketches with serious interviews, this innovative exploration of the human face is conveyed in simple yet interesting terms. Four episodes (Face to Face, Here's Looking at You, Beauty, Fame) examine the face from every angle -- cultural, historical, biological, physiological and psychological -- in John Cleese's light but insightful manner. I reccomend this entertaining documentary series. It's really insightful.
I don't know if I could ever stop learning.

I know you know..

2009-09-21T01:09:00.000-07:00

"I'm a half-written book
a fish on the hook
the first of two looks

I'm a broken machine
an old trampoline with some rusted out springs

I'm a bottled up note
a song you once wrote filled with old anecdotes

You're a memory from a photograph I found
A broken picture frame lying on the ground
I'm forced to believe in something that can't be
In a world that won't wait for me to come around."

Branding

2009-09-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

Branding: TV Station: LOUDMOUTH TV: Targeted towards: Irreverent, youthful, teens.

I kinda enjoyed this!

Organization

2009-09-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

How many pairs of shoes (which I hardly wear the majority of them), how many books (that I haven't finished), how many dvds (that I've seen a hundred times each), how many clothes (that I don't really like to wear), how many THINGS can I have where I can feel totally and completely organized and on the other hand, feel like I have options when it comes to wardrobe, books for reference and DVDs to reminisce with?

I feel like I have so many things and nowhere to put them all, and half of them hardly get used. Yet I keep them. Because I know that I can't throw them away. I do use them. Sometimes. Is that okay? I might feel a little better if I had actual furniture, organizational pieces of furniture for storage that also add a little aesthetic joy. I might feel better if all of my bathroom products, were in a bathroom, not a closet; and if all of my kitchenware was in the kitchen, not in the corner of my room on top of a mini fridge. And I might feel better if I had my dresser, in all of it's 10 drawer glory, and a functional closet, with doors that work, and a book case.

I'm just hoping I'm not a pack rat, I really do need all these things.. most of them. This is just so overwhelming to clean and organize in a functional manner!

I also read this article on negative ions vs. positive ions and how they can affect your physical and mental states. Read here. I really do just need my own little apartment full of plants and windows.

I really want to sit down and start finishing some art projects I started a while ago and finalize them with a frame or something, so I can keep them for a while. I'm kind of over this quarter, it's so boring and tiresome. Branding is a stupid class, and Sociology has been great, but draining. Really draining for odd reasons. And my Contemporary Art class has also been emotionally draining. I put too much of myself into homework assignments. They are pieces of art, but they're also just h/w assignments. I need to learn how to separate the two. So I've kinda been slacking in CA and Branding.

Next quarter I'll have more "Major-Relevant" classes, five of them to be exact. I hope I don't get overwhelmed. I don't even know where I will be living next quarter, or working for that matter. So we'll see where life takes me.

Success

2009-08-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Why am I so obsessed with "success"?

Because I want to reach a level of accomplishment where I feel like all of the time, and effort, and agony, and strife, and terrible things I've had to go through in my life, the awful things that I have to deal with every day, will be paid off, and I will feel like ALL of that finally put me in a position to pat myself on the back and know that I have become a wise, accomplished, sustaining young woman. That I am now ready to handle the unmanageable. I don't want fear of dissatisfaction or incompetence or life-altering failure.

I want to feel that its okay, and that its going to be okay, and that everything happens for a reason, and that everything I'm doing is music, and that when I wake up in the morning, I know exactly what I want to do and I will feel alive doing it. I want peace of mind. I want strength and wisdom. I want clarity and acceptance. This is success to me.

I will not rush life, even life rushes me.

Movement

2009-08-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

I have officially moved every quarter this year so far.. three times. And look who is moving again. Gotta keep it fresh I guess..

Logos, posters, promotions, schedules, delegation, society, employment, printing... my life has become an attempt to micro-manage every aspect of what is going on with me at the moment! I've been working somewhere between 12-16 hour days, and counting.

Despite my frazzle dazzled appearance and my somewhat disoriented demeanor, I have accomplished a lot the past few months. I am officially pushing through the midway point of my college career, I am paying my bills, moving alone, prioritizing, micro-managing, networking, and mainly... I am maintaining.

I'm still pursuing something in writing by taking Copy Writing and Script Writing next quarter, joining the San Diego Writer's Club, reading, researching.. it's important to keep myself up to date, keep myself well rounded, keep myself busy, keep that spark alive some how.. I'd still like to put on an art show of all the pieces I've been working on alone and all the concepts that float around in my head. Although, I have come to the conclusion that right now is not my time. Everyone has their time to excel and experiment and do something new and take themselves in different directions but at this point, I'm just working on sustaining who I am within my limitations.

I haven't really produced any noteworthy projects this quarter (in the field of advertising and graphic design) but I have been doing some contemporary art that I might post. I'm really looking forward to finding a comfortable spot where I can settle in and feel good about the time I've been given because, man its been hard to feel right when everything has been SO temporary.

It's a struggle as always but long term perspective and delayed gratification are character traits I'm slowly coming to terms with.. I think they're called self-discipline or patience.. something like that.

when illustration meets typography!

2009-07-23T00:34:00.000-07:00

click this image to see more!!

The Font Fight

2009-07-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

Helvetica vs. Arial

this video follows The Font Conference!

Books!

2009-07-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

So I just finished reading Less Than Zero!
and I LOVED it. It's definitely added to my
favorite books list.

Other than the content being amazing, the book cover design, in my opinion, is fantastic. I love it. It speaks exactly to what the book is about. I find that I've purchased books before because I was so intrigued with their design and lay out. Another one of Ellis' books is The Informers, and after they made the movie for it, they released a new book cover which is in the same genre of design as Less Than Zero..

(lol @ how I scanned this in because it's not even on the net yet)

After researching the photographer and designer for the first book I found High Design, NYC issues graphic designers to book covers and this guy Chris Hill does a great job. I can't seem to find a personal website for him but he took the photographs and designed the covers.

Check out: The Book Cover Archive for authors, designers, type faces used, ect. It's so cool!

Also check out: Peter Anderson - a graphic designer mainly working with type. A lot of his stuff on the BBC is great.

twenty-one

2009-07-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

Turning 21 was awesome and so was the fourth of July in Coronado. My birthday week is always so much fun and it's even better being legal!! FINALLY.

I'm going to start this new thing where I write down goals and put a 1, 6 or 12 month deadline on them and see what happens. I'm also trying to get a second job through the school so I can time manage my weeks or months properly so I can utilize time and effort. I get tired really easily being on a weird schedule everyday, missing meals/snacks and not getting enough sleep.

I've noticed that budgeting money is very important, especially when you live on your own and try to survive on a measly paycheck. If I can start cutting coupons.. haha it sounds so sad ..and figuring out how to cook meals myself, I bet I can save a lot of money with food costs. There are things I would like to purchase to enhance my daily life such as a filing cabinet and some pots and pans and other helpful things to make living more comfortable. I also really need a new bed.. like desperately.. and I would love to purchase a bike since it seems like -everyone- in San Diego rides their bike. I had no idea everywhere was so accessible via bicycle. Plus it will help me get that exercise I so desperately need to feel normal haha. Releasing endorphins the healthy way is the only way I can be in a good mood and lately, I have not been enjoying my constant bad moods and bad attitudes.

Oh and I also want to have some excess cash to go to LA or go out to bars and clubs and see a few concerts. Everyone needs a little entertainment to keep the balance.

Here's to wholesome and achieveable success.

Who gets to call it art, anyway?

2009-06-25T23:32:00.001-07:00

A movie I just had the pleasure of watching via my favorite website: Netflix.

Metropolitan Museum of Art curator Henry Geldzahler reflects on the 1960s pop art scene in New York. He was very involved in bringing the well-known artists such as Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, William deKooning, Frank Stella and more into popularity after the second world war. He simply loved American Art.

I need this, and you can use it too

2009-06-25T23:19:00.000-07:00

It's really hard to learn how to eat healthy when you live on your own and you sustain on a "starving artist, working student" paycheck.

This blog is really easy to read and helpful!
I really need to learn how to cook. Ha.
Click HERE !

Designer's Prayer

2009-06-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

Sara Lov

2009-06-17T00:41:00.000-07:00

used to be with the Devics.
But she's still singing beautiful songs.
I've been looking for some new music..
Something that makes me feel good and sounds fresh.

This is it.

Ah journalism.

2009-06-17T00:40:00.001-07:00

So I thought my food review for Cafe 976 in PB was pretty funny and completely HONEST.

976 %

By: LAUREN RICHER

At Café 976, one of the oldest tributes to historical San Diego, look for the young woman with the low-voltage smile, in canvas shoes, denim jeans and some oddly placed face jewelry who’s eyeing a girl across the garden. That's your hostess, waitress, server and bus-girl.

Long before Café 976 employed women of such eclectic stature or baited young afternoon street crowds of Pacific Beach, it had previously stood as a home, then a school and then a quaint antique store before it was re-established in 1993 to the diverse coffeehouse bistro it tries to be today.

When you see the billowing tree hanging low in naturally convenient ways above tables and individuals enthralled in their laptops, it's clear you’ve arrived at what looks like a warm, sunny, inviting Sunday afternoon brunch.

976 is casual and unpretentious, drawing a crowd that spans generations, incomes and ethnicities. It's quiet and not a bit fancy. Instead of shirts and ties, the staff and clientele seem to fade together, with the exception of a few aprons draped at girls’ waists. This place is laid back and trendy.

Inside, you experience that historical homey feel with a creaky wooden floor, paintings of a local artist showcased on the walls, and a pastry case with desserts of all kinds. The bathroom is unisex, very large and casual, with a surfboard and bathing suit hanging in the corner. The large horizontal wall mirror made this bathroom feel like anything could be seen here.

The tri-fold menu divides plates into original groupings – something you’d eat in the morning, something you’d munch on in the afternoon and something you’d devour a little past your bedtime. If you find yourself a bit confused, they use sun, moon and star symbols next to the food items so you can be sure to enjoy the right meal at the right time.

Their food reads very diversely starting at eggs, toast and hash browns leading down to a spiced eggplant and something entitled “The French Connection,” a ciabatta bread sandwich with hard boiled eggs, cilantro mayo, Swiss cheese and a grilled chicken breast, sided with a small salad and some version of a balsamic dressing.

Sandwiches that hold such alluring descriptions might taste better if they didn’t arrive thirty-three minutes later. 976’s drink selection keeps you fully occupied during the anticipation. One of their original smoothies titled “Tropical,” could soothe a growling stomach and a tired hunger with espresso, coconut, orange, fresh banana, cream & ice.

When servers arrive with your order, they auction off plates, reassuring diners wary about putting something unknown into their mouths. I'm here to say, don't be afraid. Nothing is very weird, actually, at all. Café 976 could be much more adventurous, but it’s playing it safe with an attitude that could appeal to anyone’s basic human reactions.

If you’re hankering for a quick walk to the beach after your meal and can’t bear to leave the leftovers for trash, try spotting a girl for a take home box and your bill. This might add a good twelve minutes to your experience at Café 976; so there’s clearly an option to grab a bite of food with your hand for a snack and take off walking towards the pier.

In the end, the visual aesthetics and menu potential of Café 976 could offer 1000% service to make this coffeehouse bistro a regular choice for dining.

I hate brochures

2009-06-17T00:37:00.003-07:00

I prefer posters.
So I only like the outside of my brochure.
I really like the china&japan part.
At least I'm happy with some piece of it.
You'd think the inside would be nice!
I'm thinking about make-shifting my own die-cut
and exacto-ing the fans.

click to see bigger!

Not gunna lie..

2009-06-14T02:00:00.001-07:00

..in the midst of my ridiculously crazy life.. I'm feeling a little accomplished right now.

I feel like it's really only going to get better EVEN if it gets worse.
It's just in the order of a balanced universe. What goes up must come down and vice versa.

It's interesting to me how I don't care about a lot of things that I used to be so focused on. I always knew I could do without but now, I do without.. and it really doesn't phase me too much. I feel like a lot of this is stemming from the fact that I have been so busy every day for the last 3 months. Keeping myself busy is the key to feeling accomplished and feeling accomplished is positive. I feel a lot different within myself this year. That's probably because a lot of big changes have happened. It's just inevitable when I put forth an effort externally and internally. I'm trying not only to change my outward habits and actions but to internally/mentally push myself further and forward. I feel like I'm in a battle with myself every day but some days, it's not so bad.

What has made a huge difference is taking action only if it is benefiting myself. Actions that are taken for immediate pleasure rarely have a direct connection to a positive outcome. I believe you should make a few goals for yourself and only do things that have a direct and positive effect on your goal. This is why goal oriented people are successful because they reach goals and graduate to new levels, thus making more new goals to achieve while reaching higher states of consciousness and maturity which allows them to continually experience success.

Concept Design

2009-06-14T01:52:00.000-07:00

So I have had one of the most interesting classes this quarter. Concept Design. It really opened up my eyes to different solutions of how I should go about handling all of my class projects (since I can get a little overwhelmed with one due for -each- class every week). We did this visualization technique where he put on this trippy song by Jeff Beck entitled "Darkness/Earth In Search Of A Sun" and he told us what to visualize, and to visualize it in 3-D and to walk around it ..it was a rose.. and then at the climax of the song he told us to open our eyes and draw what we imagined coming out of the rose. It was the most intense experience ever. So he then told us to pick an object and develop something completely abstract out of it and so I thought of lips.. and this is what came out.

Random thoughts on a Friday afternoon

2009-06-14T01:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know about chemistry or how our fate is made to be, but I know there's something in a sunny afternoon with a mild breeze, large clouds and a loud song telling me how life is worth living. And there must be something bent or broken in a homeless nomad's mind, but I know there are places we must see and feelings we must be completely overcome by to reach mild consciousness and I pray that I will see this life unfold me.

Maureen Dai

2009-06-14T01:30:00.001-07:00

is only 16 years old.

Whoa!

2009-05-10T23:46:00.001-07:00

Hello Blogspot! Haven't been here in a while.. Maybe I'll post some new things when I'm finished with this ridiculous life I live and this move and probably after I turn 21!!! So soon, I can taste it. Really.

mmm photography

2009-04-07T15:26:00.001-07:00

one of the best advantages of school is getting to use $2000 cameras for free :) so today I went on a little photo exploration of Hillcrest and sorta got lost (but not really) and found some really awesome stuff to take pictures of, including a lonely cart in the middle of a park, haha. these are my faves.

flickr.com/photos/laurenricher

Haha

2009-03-27T01:39:00.001-07:00

This is so great, such an awesome campaign.

The Nulaid campaign was developed at The Jupiter Drawing Room, South Africa, by executive creative directors Graham Warsop and Michael Blore, creative director Thomas Cullinan, art director Shane Forbes, copywriter Aviv Weil and illustrator Shane Forbes.

When I grow up..

2009-03-25T18:27:00.000-07:00

Today I want to be an art curator. I want to be my own though. Haha, in a sense that I would like to have my own warehouse or loft and curate my own shows. Maybe with my own work, but mainly with people who I think are really talented and unique artists. I see it being an ideal job for me. I like to be in charge ;) I like being in lofts, warehouses, museums, art shows, I love art, I love talking to people. I just want to be involved with something purposeful. That would be purposeful to me.

I think I should keep blogging what I want to be "when I grow up" because I swear it changes every three months..

scrabble - exercise your mind

2009-03-22T18:46:00.000-07:00

click to see larger versions

gerard malanga

2009-03-22T02:08:00.000-07:00

what an attractive man!

Gerard Joseph Malanga (born March 20, 1943) is a North American poet, photographer, filmmaker, curator and archivist.

Malanga was a major influence on Andy Warhol, with whom he founded Interview magazine, which still flourishes under different management. Malanga was Warhol's chief assistant from 1963 to 1970, as well as the lead actor in many of his early films. His photographs of poets have been published in The New Yorker, Poetry, and Unmuzzled OX.

if my tv only consisted of

2009-03-22T01:50:00.000-07:00

IFC - independent film channel
OTV - ovation tv
FL - fine living

i would be a happy person.
ovation is a new discovery of mine. it is so awesome. a channel dedicated to all art.
ifc is always playing my favorite movies and films that catch my interest.
the fine living channel was my first favorite. showcasing their series Dwell (also a magazine) and other tips for living a carefree and classy lifestyle. its so good for a rainy day.

i hate tv but i love those channels.
although, i occasionally get sucked into Bravo too..oh well.

i'll only watch FX for Nip/Tuck
and TNT for Trust Me
an amazing show starring eric mccormack from will and grace, about working at an advertising agency.

but i always end up watching the other shows on the internet because i never have time to sit down every specified night and keep up.

i think the history channel, the discovery channel and the travel channel are all amazing. i guess i really only use the tv for educational purposes. i can find what i want elsewhere.

TRAVEL
i really need to finish going to all the art museums here in san diego and in los angeles, especially the getty. i think i will go to the la jolla contemp museum again in hopes that their jasper johns exhibit is still up.

i'd love to go to chicago, new york, seattle, miami, and pennsylvania. so much history. so much art! so much fun.

favorite artists

2009-03-22T01:44:00.000-07:00

robert longo
cindy sherman
andy warhol
jeff koons
robert rauschenburg
arthur fellig (weegee)
jean michel basquiat
michelangelo merisi da caravaggio
henry moore
robert irwin
jasper johns
chuck close

(add more later)

This is business

2009-03-18T18:08:00.001-07:00

direct mail piece

magazine advertisement

direct mail piece

magazine advertisement

It's been a long winter

2009-03-18T17:06:00.001-07:00

snakes of the world face down flower face other than arteries photograph forgiven lover gets so far gone home for up to zebra face live life love face those who are chicago

Is this Copy Writing?

2009-02-21T14:43:00.000-08:00

This was a little poem I wrote for my "Personal Free-Writing" assignment in Copy Writing. So because I am avoiding everything, I decided this would better suit my time rather than doing something proactive.
Get into it.

[Click it to see a larger version]

Terry Richardson

2009-02-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

So I was pretty happy that I recently received
a Terry Richardson compliment on my new photos.
flickr.com/photos/laurenricher

Even though he is very crude and vulgar, mainly known for his nude and provocative photos--he has a style that I can resonate with. He crosses the line, and takes pictures of people in situations that normally would never be seen in "published traditional photography". That's what I appreciate about him. He captures people in their most natural and fleshly attitudes. Plus, Terry has lensed campaigns for clients such as Gucci, Sisley, Miu Miu, Chloe, and his editorial work has appeared in magazines such as French Vogue, British Vogue, i-D, GQ, Harper's Bazaar and Purple, and his impressive list of subjects include: Lindsay Lohan, Macaulay Culkin, Daniel Day Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Vincent Gallo, Tom Ford, Jay Z, Kanye West, Johnny Knoxville, Karl Lagerfeld, Pharell Williams and many others. I reccommend you check him out at:

www.terryrichardson.com

Gregory Crewdson

2009-02-14T21:37:00.000-08:00

speaks for himself.

S U R R E A L

Inspirational Update

2009-02-08T18:15:00.002-08:00

Keeping the silver screen alive:
So I suppose it's time for another inspirational update since I've been pretty immersed into all kinds of art forms and media lately.
For starters..

I was able to watch movies on Netflix.com instead of waiting for them to come into the mail so I watched PSYCH OUT. A screen play by Jack Nicholson. It was low-budget-ly filmed in 1967 on Haight-Ashury in San Francisco, the heart of the hippy movement. I have to say it was pretty entertaining. I think what I liked about it most was the fact that I could appreciate the genuine culture filmed in this movie. Seeing that it was filmed IN '67 and not portrayed to be '67 when it's really 2009 was an awesome experience.

SIDENOTE: I was able to watch Pulp Fiction on the big screen for one of its midnight showings and I couldn't have imagined it any better. I had a smile on my face the whole time! ++ I got in for free!

In between pages:

I've also been reading a lot, shoving my head into a book lately is satisfying. I'm in the midst of reading The Philosophy of Andy Warhol which is super entertaining. It includes dialogues between Andy and others and they're separated into chapters such as "Puberty, Fame, Love, Money, Success, Work, Time" ect.

OK first things first, LOL @ how when I typed the title of this book into Google Images Lindsay Lohan pops up for a few image results. Hahahaha.
Anyways, this is a book I finished reading back in January and it is HILARIOUS. I definitely recommend it, and I even bought it for Christmas presents for a few of my lovely friends. It tells you about every drug known to man, where it came from, how many people use it, how to use it, what it will do to you and what celebrities have taken it/are taking it. It's amazing, I love it.

The Advertising Concept book is probably one of my best spontaneous buys so far. It focuses on the concept before the project which is so important. All ads are illustrated in rough version (pencil) on purpose to accentuate the "think now, design later" mantra. Pete Barry is very straight forward in letting you know what his vision for conceptual advertising is and it's very easy to understand. After showing this to my Copy Writing instructor, a fellow classmate told me it's the book we need for Art Direction class, so I'm pretty stoked that I'm ahead already.

What's good on the net?
Thanks to Matt for enlightening my internet surfing:
Apartment Therapy - Make your living space livable
Bedtime Tunes - Lovely mix of commercial free music
The Criterion Collection - Free movies every month!!
The Dieline - I love package and label design, so do they!

Keeping the beats going:
Reefer - "Let It Go" (Flying Lotus Remix)

Incense And Peppermints - Strawberry Alarm Clock

I was finally able to download WHY?'s album Almost Live From Annas Cabin and was so happy because it contains the song I've been trying to download for MONTHS.
Lady Fingerz - Why?

Basically, this quarter is killing me because I'm trying really hard on every project, even though I feel idea-less and burnt out. There's a lot of pressure as you move up to get your degree, especially when it's project driven versus the normal degree in business or english.
Also in the process of finding a new job and new living arrangements so that's added some discomfort to my daily ease. I also plan on taking some web classes next quarter to get over this HTML/CSS hump I seem to run into every project I work on. Plus it's one more thing to add to my resume!
I also worked on a friend's band myspace: all graphics and video: myspace.com/unruin1
More to come later. Back to homework.

And no one cares what you think

2009-02-08T01:05:00.000-08:00

Look around now, everything IS green — not the gray that taints your memory, paints your day, and at night leaves you lonely. If you could only figure it out now, take the band-aid off; see the hole you almost forgot about. Get some thread and stitch your body up if you can keep it shut. You’ve got better things to do than standing there with baited breath — watching the world pass by in front of you and wondering if you’ll get what’s left. Oh you deserve better than that and you’re gonna have it. Your body’s breaking and you’re left with just your mind; you’re gonna be fine, but it’ll take time.

Hit the ground now, face the fall, and dive. It’s not as scary as the people who get you high, get you through another night, get you to give up the fight, get you to take it right, bend over and take it right to the bottle. Look what you’ve become — you’re a personality instead of a person with one. And no one cares what you think unless it gets them drunk; that’s all they ever talk about. I know you’ve got better things to do than standing there blind, dumb, and deaf; letting strangers take your pride away from you and wondering if you’ll have any left. Oh you deserve better than that and you’re gonna find out sooner or later. Your body’s breaking and you’re left with just your mind; you’re gonna be fine, but it’ll take time.

Neu

2009-01-29T14:26:00.001-08:00

neu from Kuze on Vimeo.

W09 Homework

2009-01-25T17:38:00.000-08:00

This is for Modern Art.
A simple advertisement with an Art Nouveau twist.

[Always click to enlarge if necessary]

This is for Advanced Image Manipulation.
A composite poster with a theme: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

"There he goes, one of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production.
Too weird to live, and too rare to die."
-Hunter S. Thompson

[The first and last lines of the movie]

Go Women!

2009-01-24T11:40:00.000-08:00

JILL GREENBERG
[pushing the limits of digital photography and creative advertising]

http://www.manipulator.com/

Jill Greenberg (born July 1967) is an American photographer. She is known for her portraits, editorial, advertising, and art work.

Lindsay Lohan [an obvious favorite of mine]

She's the eye behind the Dexter posters and promos for Season 3
[a favorite Showtime series of mine]

And the same for my favorite show on cable: Nip/Tuck.
[This was one of the ads for Season 5: FANTASTIC SEASON!]

I loved this, I don't like Terminator.
Nevertheless I can appreciate her craftsmanship.

And if you take a look at her website, you can view her campaign for the International Children's Games event in San Francisco which was absolutely amazing.

[Sidenote: Her retoucher is Amy Dresser -below-]

Amy Dresser

2009-01-24T11:24:00.001-08:00

http://www.amydresser.com/

Amy Dresser graduated from Hofstra University in 1998 with a B.S. in Fine Arts, specializing in figurative and portrait painting. She started her commercial art adventures as an Illustrator and Managing Editor for Nonsense, the campus humor magazine. In 1999 she received a Post-Baccalaureate in Painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

After graduating, she moved back to New York. She freelanced in illustration before being hired by Jill Greenberg as her full-time retoucher in 2000.

Now based in Los Angeles, Amy has worked as a freelance photo retoucher and illustrator for the past five years.

Her skills are seemingly flawless and an inspiration to graphic designers and myself, allowing imaginative adveritsing to materialize. Definitely noteworthy.

Ray Ban

2009-01-20T10:56:00.000-08:00

Any of you who know me, know that I love my two $150 pairs of Ray Ban sunglasses. I can't express enough what a great product they are, plus.. they've basically been trendy since 1937. You can't beat that. So I made this ad a while ago, a picture of my friend Laura. Grayscale or color works for me.

Creative Burst!

2009-01-13T19:04:00.001-08:00

Loving Goldfrapp lately. The gold would be embossed and glossed if printed.

Advertising

2009-01-13T00:55:00.000-08:00

These are absolutely amazing.

(This blog sucks with editing for some reason.)
[To view: Right click, view image]

Advertising Agency: Advantage Advertising, Jakarta, Indonesia
Creative Director / Copywriter: Rajesh Menon
Art Director: Wang Zhi Liang
Released: December 2008

Hey '09

2009-01-10T18:34:00.000-08:00

In my opinion, music is never really appreciated when it's downloaded. When you purchase a CD and put in your car or player at home, you can really encompass the feeling of an album. I really enjoy that. Plus I love CD design and package design. It gives you a full appreciation for the album and artist.

I've also found that I feel more in tune with my creative expressions when I'm not preoccupied with having internet and television. I read more, I write a lot more, and I watch a lot more movies, and frankly that's all I want to do. Although, I did miss downloading music, or researching something if I was curious. I'm hoping to more so detach myself from this and only use it as a tool for expression and research, rather than a time occupier.

Evan Roth

2008-12-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

Evan Roth (born 1978) is an artist whose work focuses on tools of empowerment, open source and popular culture. This is his kinetic type video he made for the new JAY-Z song titled BROOKLYN GO HARD. He's taken this technique of kinetic type to an entire new level!

http://evan-roth.com/

Trippin' With Yoo-Hoo

2008-12-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

Marketing Research AD3315: Due to the results of marketing research surveys, people in the 45-65 age demographic who lived through Woodstock and the 60's-70's familiarized themselves with Yoo-Hoo's taste and brand more so than Soy Chocolate Silk and Chocolate Nesquick. This is a print advertisement to appeal to that target market, to convince them to purchase Yoo-Hoo in hopes of winning a chance to relive their youth.

Unscrew your lid on a bottle of Yoo-Hoo and you could win a trip to The Story of The Sixties and Woodstock Museum located in Bethel, New York.

A list of things

2008-12-07T13:42:00.000-08:00

Things to do before I either:
A) die
B) don't have the time
C) lose interest

In no particular order..

1. Go to a rave
2. Go to art museums in San Diego
3. Write a song
4. Get a photo published in a magazine
5. Get promoted
6. Graduate school, get my BS
7. MOVE
8. Get a new car
9. Visit Las Vegas - Fear & Loathing style
10. Travel to Europe
11. Travel anywhere I want
12. Purchase Dom Perignon
13. Buy my mom a house
14. Experience a last-first kiss
15. Own a drum set

CD Package Design

2008-12-07T13:12:00.000-08:00

I love buying CDs because of their box, envelope or encasing. The folds, dielines and colors intrigue me to buy it. I attempted CD packaging and while it seems easy and fun, I fell short with skill.
This is a success.

Turner Duckworth’s design for 'Death Magnetic' by Metallica has been nominated for a Grammy in the 'Best Recording Package' category. The London consultancy had apparently no knowledge of the entry which was made by Warner Brothers, Metallica's label.

Gonzo Journalism

2008-12-05T00:09:00.000-08:00

It is a style of "reporting" based on William Faulkner's idea that the best fiction is far more true than any kind of journalism--and the best journalists have always known this. Which is not to say that Fiction is "more true" than Journalism--or vice versa--but that both "fiction" and "journalism" are artificial categories; and that both forms, at their best, are only two different means to the same end.

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS was a failed attempt at Gonzo Journalism. Hunter S. Thompson's main intent was to record everything as it happened and then have it published without any editing. Yet bombarded with deadlines from Sports Illustrated and another national publication, it became more of a "kinghell, highlife fuckaround from start to finish" type of side project.

The point of GONZO is to be a piece of straight/crazy journalism. It needs the talents of a master journalist, the eye of an artist/photographer and the heavy balls of an actor. As if the writer participated in the scenes, produced it and filmed himself in action as the protagonist or at least a main character. A lunatic attempt at "New Journalism" yet a genius one to say the least.

"...it was nice to be loose and crazy with a good credit card in a time when it was possible to run totally wild in Las Vegas and the get paid for writing a book about it... and it occurs to me that I probably just made it, just under the wire and the deadline. Nobody will dare admit this kind of behavior in print if Nixon wins again in '72.

The Swine are gearing down for a serious workout this time around. Four more years of Nixon means four more years of John Mitchell--and four more years of Mitchell means another decade or more of bureaucratic fascism that will be so entrenched, by 1976, that nobody will feel up to fighting it. We will feel too old by then, too beaten, and by then even the Myth of the Road will be dead--if only for lack of exercise. There will not be any wild-eyed, dope-sucking anarchists driving around the country in fireapple red convertibles if Nixon wins again in '72.

There will not even be any convertibles, much less any dope. And all the anarchists will be locked up in rehabilitation pens. The international hotel-chain lobby will ram a bill thru congress, setting mandatory death penalties for anyone jumping a hotel bill--and death by castration & whipping if the deed is done in Vegas. The only legal high will be supervised Chinese acupuncture, in government hospitals at $200 a day--with Martha Mitchell as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, operating out of a luxurious penthouse on top of the Walter Reed Army Hospital.

So much, then, for The Road--and for the last possibilities of running amok in Las Vegas & living to tell the tale. But maybe we won't really miss it. Maybe Law & Order is really the best way to go, after all.

Yeah...maybe so, and if that's the way it happens...well, at least I'll know I was there, neck deep in the madness, before the deal went down, and I got so high and wild that I felt like a two-ton Manta Ray jumping all the way across the Bay of Bengal.

It was a good way to go, and I reccomend it highly--at least for those who can stand the trip. And for those who can't, or won't, there is not much else to say. Not now, and certainly not by me, or Raoul Duke either. FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS marks the end of an era... and now, on this fantastic Indian summer morning in the Rockies, I want to leave this noisy black machine and sit naked on my porch for a while, in the sun."

From THE GREAT SHARK HUNT, published by Summit Books. 1979 by Hunter S. Thompson.

December 1st

2008-12-01T00:57:00.000-08:00

This is me not fully understanding much, and trying my best anyways. But there is something quite refreshing about a Monday that lands on the first of the month.

In the words of Howard Schultz

2008-11-20T20:27:00.000-08:00

ONWARD!

Jeff Soto

2008-10-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

Great artist.
www.myspace.com/jeffsoto

ImaybetotallywrongbutI'ma DANCING FOOL!

2008-10-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

Inspirational update:

I recently discovered what torrents are so I was able to download Illustrator and then ventured into the movie section and happened to find Warhol's Cinema 1963-1968: Mirror for the Sixties which includes all of these ridiculous, awkward, "humorous" films he made in those 5 years. Honestly, they're pretty funny..to me at least.

Flesh 1968

I actually ended up liking this one the best, so far (I haven't had a chance to watch all of them yet), but it was about one of Warhol's male superstars, Joe Dallesandro, who is a casual hustler in New York, having sexual encounters with men and women and slightly alluding to his feelings for one of his usuals.. sounds a little -awkward- but it was shot extremely..for lack of a better word.."artistically" (which is probably why I like most of these movies). Every shot kind of looks like it's from a photoshoot plus the scenes don't really have any flow from one to another; the abrupt scene transitions make it seem like it's being shot on a film camera. The collection also includes HEAT, BAD, TRASH (actual heroin use shown), Sunset Boulevard, Bike Boys and Lonesome Cowboys (which won -numerous- awards from New York Underground and made over 50 grand in profits, with only 9 grand going into advertising and each ticket costing 3 bucks). "impressive, very impressive, tasted like chicken and was lemon scented" I'm crazy.

Anyways, I can't stop listening to Sublime lately.. It's the best driving music to blast with the windows down.

and a few more who occupy my "Recently Added" playlist include: Frank Zappa and Queen (still), with Milosh, Owen Pallett, Peaches and The Kinks.

Zappa!

Two weeks ago, I finally got to visit Amoeba Records in Hollywood and it was nothing short of AMAZING. I purchased a colored (pink) vinyl of The Velvet Underground--Loaded, and it's extremely awesome on the record player.

I finally saw The Royal Tenenbaums, shut up, I know. I -loved- it. I loved how Richie played professional tennis because I've been playing tennis about 4 days a week for the past two months! I also happened to receive The Fall by Tarsem Singh from netflix and, um.. cinematography GENIUS.

On my way to work in the early-early hours of the morning, I love to listen to Air but mainly:

To conclude, I saw Burn After Reading and laughed hysterically, I still want to see Choke. I finished S1 and the S2 class and the last one is this Sunday and then the last Sunday of this month I start Coffee Master training, oh so exciting. I took a spiritual gifts test in the last class and it said that my main spiritual strengths were in Prophecy, Knowledge and Administration. Interesting. I also have an idea to turn all of this blog-ness into maybe my own project of making a magazine..! I think that would be cool to start putting all of this into some kind of magazine format since I would like to be in that field anyways, and design the layout and everything. Sounds cool to me. Well, that's it for now..

Kabluey

2008-10-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

When I first saw this, I died laughing. I want to see it.

Finals

2008-09-16T20:01:00.001-07:00

AHH I hate finals and h/w!! Here's an ad for -Encinitas Surfboards- for my "proposal meeting" for Sales AD3330. It's a mock ad that I am presenting being a "media rep for The San Diego Reader". So this would be featured as a b&w or color 1/4 page ad, running for 4 weeks and the 5th week would be the actual event (The U.S. Men's Pro/Open of Surfing Competition).

Anyways, here you go:

Frank Zappa

2008-09-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

wow! he's so whack but it works.

also liking "brown shoes don't make it", "a little green rosetta", "cocaine decisions", and "he used to cut the grass" to name a few..

"You've Never Had It This Hot"

2008-09-15T17:35:00.001-07:00

HAHA I am so frustrated with this campaign so I am concentrating on having a good time with it. My plan is to direct Tabasco's advertising in a female sexual direction. This was my attempt. This is my final comp for the newspaper ad.

Really?

2008-09-14T00:23:00.001-07:00

http://dlisted.com/node/28187 ??????????? !

I miss old Lohan. Lagerfeld obsessed Lohan.

DIVA:

Update from previous posts

2008-09-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

Chuck Palahniuk: I'm liking him again, just started reading Snuff.

Freelance + Photography: Whatever free time I DO have, I try to sleep, see people, play tennis, or get homework done. I have no time or energy to put into side work until I get a laptop. I do plan on taking some film photos at my brothers water polo games though!

Artists: I haven't really seen anyone who's impressed me lately, BUT, Advertising Agencies: DNG\David & Goliath and TBWA\Chiat\Day have impressed me immensely.

Music: I still can't get rid of Queen, I recently found out about Ugly Casanova - "Hotcha Girls" .. a side project of Modest Mouse. Tiga's album "SEXOR" has proven to be awesome, and a friend of mine introduced me to The King's Singers, an acapella cover group. I like their cover of "Seaside Rendezvous" and "Honey Pie".

HILARIOUS: (if you're a graphic designer)

I reactivated Netflix, so I've been watching movies again which is great. Fully enjoyed Mysterious Skin, Myra Breckinridge and The Trip directed by Jack Nicholson.

Aspirations: I am just focusing on graduating school/passing classes and work. I was getting stressed because I was overwhelming myself with aspirations. One day at a time!

And so I basically requested the first 3 Sundays off in October to go to Revival's S3 classes: salvation, sanctification and service. I've been going to Friday night bible study and church on Sunday.
Verses: Galations 6:9, Psalm 94:19, Matthew 26:41, John 15:18-19, Ephesians 6:12

That's about it for now..enjoy!

OH AND!

Did I mention I love modern/innovative interior and architectural design?

Let The Drummer Kick

2008-09-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh how I love kinetic type again. I can watch this over and over.

5 Stars

I actually made something

2008-09-09T20:54:00.000-07:00

(click to see larger version)
it didn't take much time, just motivation and discipline to sit down and do it.

I'm the worst kind of artist, the one with ideas and no motivation to create! but here you go, I hope you like it..

PS: this also came from me not being able to remove the Queen Greatest Hits II from my cd player in the car. I've probably been listening to them for about two months straight, haha.

Lately

2008-08-31T12:10:00.000-07:00

Everything moves really fast and I'm not sure if I should slow down to enjoy it or just bust right through it. I don't think I'm totally wasting the best days of my life by running through them as fast as possible..

I really am loving music so much lately. I would love to have my own drum set or a harpsichord and just wear my headphones and blast the music that gets me going and just play for hours and sing as well. I'm totally missing singing. However, that would slightly be unrealistic since I live with others besides myself and I can't just play at 3 am when I feel like I want to most..

I really want to take voice lessons and get back into drums and maybe start up the piano or harpsichord. How awesome, right? Yeah and I still have "take film photography classes at San Diego Community College" on my list of things to do, so I guess that's where these aspirations will land as well, along with getting back into competitively jumping horses. Gah..

Maybe one day I will be able to do everything I want to.

Silence The Stain!

2008-08-20T18:44:00.002-07:00

LOL!! "beepliaoeifmallalal!!!!"

I want models

2008-08-12T00:50:00.000-07:00

http://flickr.com/photos/aulneu/

Plz? I love film. Challenge me.

One of the best commercials to date

2008-08-06T16:54:00.001-07:00

Nutrigrain - "Feel Good."

BABIES EVERYWHERE YEAHHH!

Bravo

2008-08-05T20:01:00.001-07:00

Photography

2008-07-11T17:49:00.001-07:00

woo woo. this was black and white 400 kodak film.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurenricher

My Attempt

2008-07-09T17:45:00.001-07:00

The Hotel Del Coronado in 17 photos.
Click it to see the bigger version.

Pretty

2008-07-09T05:46:00.001-07:00

this is just pretty beautiful to me. Wait til the end, it will suprise you what it's for.

new sounds

2008-06-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

Summer Time

2008-06-27T12:30:00.001-07:00

..and the livin' ain't bad. I just find that it's hard to keep creative when I'm not in school, or at a daily design job. I keep looking for freelance work, plenty of people keep asking, it's just a matter of getting together and getting it going. I've been working a lot and it pays off. My birthday is also in 4 days, and a few people should be surprising me, I hope that turns out.

I'm gunna try and go to the getty, mopa, la jolla contemp art museum, moca, museum of neon art, and just plenty of other places.

Spring Quarter

2008-06-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Lauren Wins.

Legalize LA

2008-06-17T23:34:00.000-07:00

okay, so now you can stop asking me what my shirt means.

(obviously, mine is lime green)

now go here and read:
http://www.americanapparel.net/contact/legalizela/

btw, I didn't pick it out, the chick at AA gave it to me for free cause they had too many haha.

EDC

2008-06-17T22:59:00.000-07:00

cd template I made for the Electric Daisy Carnival. I'll take a real picture of it actually folded up and out.. I actually did get this printed for real to make a real CD casing. It's made out of yellow card-stock.

!

2008-06-16T23:46:00.001-07:00

this photo is really amazing.

Bryan Wingen

I know I need to post some of my own stuff here asap. I know.
check out my flickr
flickr.com/photos/laurenricher

Bubbley!!

2008-06-16T22:26:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love champagne. My favorites are Moët & Chandon, Laurent Perrier, Veuve Clicquot and Freixenet tastes like apple juice, amazing!

Anyways, my curiosity led me to research a little this and that about the lovely drink and I was suprised to find out that:
There is 25 ounces of liquid in one bottle of champagne
and every 4 ounces (1 glass) is 90 calories.
So now I know there are 540 calories in one bottle of champagne!
That's like half my daily calories!
Add strawberries ..46 calories for 1 cup of whole strawberries,
and voila! 1500 calorie-day diet! mmmm. ; )

Anyways, this all made me think of:
"She keeps Moët and Chandon in her pretty cabinet
Let them eat cake she says
Just like Marie Antoinette
A built in remedy for Khrushchev and Kennedy
And anytime an invitation you can decline
Caviar and cigarettes well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice."
-Killer Queen by QUEEN

The rest of the lyrics are just as lush if not more, I recommend listening to the entire song.

hello today

2008-06-15T00:41:00.000-07:00

I'm passionate & impulsive, so let it be. A scattered mind is a beautiful thing, mainly because that means it's free.

Black & Gold

2008-06-13T17:00:00.001-07:00

This reminds me of you.

I guess this doesn't work anymore so here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHuebHTD-lY

Fear & Loathing!

2008-06-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

so this is called Kinetic Typography and it is my favorite thing ever as of late! I can watch these for hours. The better ones are addictive.

CLICK HERE

Story of my life

2008-06-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

"Remind me - did I ever say anything during the course of our sad, sordid affair, that might lead you to believe I'd be interested in this freak show?"
-Christian from Nip/Tuck

--Read that quote earlier and I can relate, I love it.

"Deliver me from Swedish furniture. Deliver me from clever art... may I never be complete. May I never be content. May I never be perfect."

--A quote from the author of "Fight Club" - Chuck Palahniuk.

So.. I just was reading MEAN magazine in Barnes & Noble today and he was featured in an article. I read the entire thing in the "Find all the answers in the universe" isle and I read, then re-read, that he said he is openly gay..
Mind you, yes I did find this magazine in the Men's Interest section; but that section always has amazing magazines, even if they're being sold to a "gay man market". I discovered 125 (a phenomenal model/photographer $20 mag), surface (featuring indie artists, writers and lots of abstract photoshoots) and V magazine, among many others of those natures.
BUT STILL. I have to admit. I'm a little disappointed over Chuck. Oddly enough, I don't feel like finishing his books now, is that bad? It just leaves no mystery. It's like "oh, ... figures." I don't know.

Goodbye.

WHAT does Marsellus Wallace look like?!

2008-06-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

HOW AMAZING IS THIS?!

Go to youtube, and type in lets say "Pulp Fiction in Typography" or.. "Fight Club in Typography" or.. "American Beauty in Typography" you get my drift.. and you can find all these amazing type motion graphic videos that are scenes from movies. I love type, I love it a lot and if I could put it to music and words like it's done here.. I would. I want to learn how.

Tunez

2008-06-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

More to be added later..

Good Words

2008-06-09T18:53:00.001-07:00

and a quote by Chuck Palahniuk from "Fight Club"

Artists & People

2008-06-08T23:43:00.000-07:00

Give them a look and I'll update this when I find more people who I admire/enjoy or people who inspire me, so check back.

http://www.sethsabal.com/

http://www.chadwicktyler.com/

http://www.staceymark.com/

NEW: http://www.metroflix.com/newsite/index.html - Carter Smith

I can ride a bike with no handle bars

2008-06-08T23:13:00.000-07:00

check this out:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs

I really thought this video and the lyrics are very metaphoric and great.
I think it's about choices we face. The first verse shows us the old life, loyalty to the country, ease of living, ect. The second is more industrial, progress for progress' sake. Then the last verse is talking about what happens when it goes too far with having absolute power, and how it can turn into something nobody wanted or expected. Suddenly the power has gotten out of control.
It's about the idea that we have so much incredible potential as human beings to be destructive or to be creative. It's tragic that the appetite for military innovation is endless, and realistic change is seen as outlandish. It's not treated with the same seriousness.

4 Stars

ABOUT AUL NEU

2008-05-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

So this is my personal design title name. It's a jumble of letters from my real name to make an original brand name and statement. Sounding a little French, it's pronounced "All New". My designs are something that are and will be All New to everyone.
This blog will consist of all my thoughts, opinions, art works of mine and others that are worth sharing, music or videos and quotation tidbits that are my inspiration.