nimbletoad blog

I just wanted to take moment before I dive into the subject of art and functionality to introduce myself. My name is Nicole Schmidt and I’m Nimbletoad’s newest addition to the team. I’m here to offer design support and maintenance to the everyday operations. I’m excited to join the team in forging new media trails. When I’m not updating and developing sites my passion is creating art with my hands instead of a computer. Here is a a look at my offline passion.
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Visual art, in the traditional sense, is simply mechanical reproduction. In the days of the masters it literally was reproduction because copying someone else is how people learned how to create art. Even with today’s modern and contemporary art movements visual art is still an imitation of nature, imitation of fantasy, interpretation of other peoples art or an attempt to be original through circumstance. So if visual art is subjective and functional art like the Taj Mahal is objective how can you have functional visual art?

I think my form of art is the pinnacle of functional static 2D art. I say this because my art is not just an expression of mine it is a product of repurposing. I take paper trash and recycle it to create my art. It’s one step further in getting the most functionality out of something that originally was made to have one function. Would someone know the original function of my materials was to report on the latest printed news or to inform the recipient their APR was being increased to 29%? Probably not but then again that is what I was going for, art made from trash that didn’t look like it was made from trash.

Some art purists may say it matters what the art was created with, a true artisan uses only the finest materials. For them art is not that subjective and they hold fast to a certain set of beliefs, this is what brings them to their opinions of what fine art is. It’s ok they can stay in the stone ages where functionality and art were two separate entities I myself will keep forging ahead carving new paths for those that follow.

My art is on display at Vine To Glass, 210-A N. Coast Hwy., Oceanside, CA 92054 through August 8, 2009. Come for the last hurrah with my art on the walls: Sun & Sea, Vino & Tapas at 6:30 p.m., Vine to Glass & Vigilucci’s Present the following pairings:

• Bailly Lapierre Blanc Brut Reserve, Cremant de Bourgognepaired with Endivia e Salmone Affumicato (Endive and smoked salmon)
  
• Venica Jesera Pinot Grigio paired with Prosciutto e Melone (Parma Prosciutto and Cantaloupe)
  
• Casa Barranca Red Blend paired with Involtini di Melanzane (Eggplant stuffed with wun dried tomatoes, goat cheese and basil)
  
• Ramos Pinto Ruby Port paired with Tartine alla frutta (Mini fruit tarts)

Cost is $35. Please RSVP to (760) 757-1037 or via email at tastings@vinetoglass.com no later than 5pm on August 6th.

What I love most about architecture is its duality between function and art. At first glance one sees a functional staircase, but under closer inspection the architect’s artistic vision comes forth. Notice how this staircase in the chicago museum of contemporary art not only serves to funnel people up the floors of the exhibit, but also serves as a frame for the koi pond below.

Website architecture is no different. Vistors to the site must first enjoy the function. Placing artistic vision first can kill a website. Anyone that has ever had to stumble through a motion filled flash site can testify to this.

At nimbletoad functionality always comes first.

Hot time. Summer in the city…

What a neat way to cool off. More over what a cool piece of art. Art for art sake I can appreciate, but art driven by function is something truly special.

Millenium Park, Chicago.
The installation/fountain alternates between multicutural video images of faces and a lightshow waterfall.

The bottom line is people have to like you and more importantly link to you. Check out Memo (Courtesy of 37 Signals, SVN Blog)
A couple of lines of code, 1 image, No SEO, No Meta Tags, and a Google Page Rank of 4. Here is the entire website:

<html>
<head>
<title>memo</title>
</head>
<body>
<center>
<br><a href="mailto:info@memo-ny.com"><img src="memo_12_07_1.jpg"
alt="memo a graphic design firm located at 156 Fifth Avenue, 10th Floor,
New York City, NY 10010 (212) 915-7135 info@memo-ny.com" height="1820" width="680" 
border="0"><br><img src="memo_12_07_2.jpg" alt="Memo Productions www.memo-ny.com" 
border="0" height="15348" width="680"></a><br>&nbsp;
</center>
</body>
</html>

Never use the phrase ASAP – “After, Sometime, Almost, Possibly”

Instead, give the agency a tangible time-line.

In today’s fast paced, on demand world, the phrase ASAP has lost its meaning. In fact, in the creative world ASAP pretty much insures that your piece will get pushed to the end of the line, or even worse get lost in the process.

Creative shops hear it all the time, “I needed it yesterday, Do It ASAP!” The problem is that everyone needs their work done tomorrow. Most creative companies such as Nimbletoad work on 10-15 projects at a time. The jobs that get done first are the ones that have tangible deadlines. ASAP jobs get put on back burner whenever a job with an impending tangible deadline approaches.

If you really want your piece to made a priority, tell your vendor the day you actually need it. If it is tomorrow at 11:00, so be it. This gives your agency or developer a tangible time to lock onto. Tangible times always take precedent over ASAP.