CBLACK:
“Hey Vo, check out Dieter Rams, he’s got an exhibition at MOMA SF right now… Really amazing work!”

CVo:
“Sweet, lets go! When is it?”

CBLACK:
“Well the last day is Monday, and that’s in 2 days…”

. . .

1.
Good design is innovative:

The possibilities for innovation are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. But innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology, and can never be an end in itself.

2.
Good design makes a product useful

A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasises the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.

3.
Good design is aesthetic

The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products we use every day affect our person and our well-being. But only well-executed objects can be beautiful.

4.
Good design makes a product understandable

It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory.

5.
Good design is honest

It does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.

6.
Good design is unobtrusive

Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.

7.
Good design is long-lasting

It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today’s throwaway society.

8.
Good design is thorough, down to the last detail

Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the consumer.

9.
Good design is environmentally-friendly

Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimises physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

10.
Good design is as little design as possible

Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials.
Back to purity, back to simplicity.

Really such a refreshing experience. I feel so inspired and energized for things to come! Thanks for throwing out the idea, CBLACK! So glad I got to experience this with you & my boofaces

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Tags: booface · Creative juices · CVo's Blurbs · Good Finds!

Months ago, I was asked to help redesign wii’s global site. I took on the challenge and helped develop the initial look and feel of the site. The goal of this project was to bring their brands sleek, fun and contemporary look and feel to their corporate Nintendo.com infrastructure. It has finally launched so look at where it has developed to now!

www.nintendo.com/wii

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.

Earlier last year, March 2011 – I got to take a trip to Florence, Italy with the Moods of Florence crew. We went with the purpose of discovering how we can bring what Florence has to offer to our home -Portland, OR. With some branding help and given a look and feel for the store — look at how far Brent & Linh has taken it since then! I’m so proud of them!

*Side note: Brent Collier also owns Collier – a boutique mens clothing shop located in downtown Portland, OR. Both stores are now located on SW Broadway in between Alder and Morrison St. Moods of florence is on the upstairs and Collier is right downstairs.

Visit their store at 615 SW Broadway ave. suite 103, Portland, OR 97205

…

A visit to Lorenzo Villoresi’s house where we learned his art in making perfume…

Yarn, yarn, and more yarn at the scarf factory…

Waiting for our friend Danielle to come get us – she was our guide who took us all around the town to find the authentic goods…

A fabric warehouse we visited. I remember it being super frigid in there…

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I don’t normally post things like this but I think this ones worth a post…

Such a great video of a rare opportunity given, and that chance taken to share their gift. It gave me goosebumps and a big ass smile so you guys should watch it too!

Thanks Thanks to my bro Andy ‘The Flyin Bison’ for sharing!

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So many stories and memories made today but I never thought Id get the feeling I felt at tonight’s dinner. It’s a longer read but I promise you it’ll be worth it. I probably won’t even be able to write this story without shedding more tears…

Tonight Pou Chanly pulled us boofaces aside and introduced us to this little girl and her father. In fact, these two were some of the many beggers who came around when we were eating dinner… Ill be honest that we all brushed them off because it is such a common thing around here and we just dont know who is honest and whose not. Pou Chanly’s connection made a world of difference. They met back in 2009 and now 2 years later, they meet again. I’d like to now introduce them to you guys.

This little girl is 10 years old. Her father is blind. He had stepped on a landmine and lost his vision as well as some toes… Since then, she has been the eyes for we father. Everyday they take a 30 minute commute out to this beach town to beg for money. While she walks him around, he sings and she holds a hat asking for any small change anyone can give. On a good day, they’ll make a couple dollars, enough to take it home to feed the family of 4. She has a mother and a 4 year old brother at home. On some days they’d only make enough to cover their transportation. They rent out a place that is $20 a month… I cant imagine that being much of a home but it’s at least a roof over their head.

When Pou Chanly came up to us, asking if we wanted a story to tell on this blog, little did i think my face would turn into a faucet that wouldn’t turn off… Truly The sweetest little girl I’ve ever met… The way she cares for her father is just something I’d never seen before, even from a grown kid. I sat there watching this 10 year old girl slowly eat this meal that Pou Chanly has bought them. She’s constantly making sure her father also gets his portion to eat and places his food in his hands. We ask if she goes to school–of course the answer is no because they cannot afford it. I look at this girl and cannot help but want to give her what SHE wants. She’s living her life for her family and is forced to be so selfless and pretty much the breadwinner for her family… She tells us that she’s always wanted to go to school… That just sealed the deal for me… All she needs is a uniform to get her enrolled into a public school. We asked her father… If she went to school, how would they work to sustain their life at home? He tells us, she can go to school in the daytime and they can continue this after she gets home… Pou Chanly says to him, we are putting full faith into the fact that he will send his little girl to school and use this money for anything necessary to get this going for her and to use for their family. He made us feel rest assured by saying that if we don’t trust then we can go with them to enroll her in school together… He wants her to get an education.

We gave her $100 VOCambodia money and dad(ken) also pitched in and gave another $15. Their faces just light up and they are so so appreciative. We are all here tearing up and the little girl runs off… We are all thinking she’s going to tell the bartender to turn the music down or something, but instead she comes back with a box of tissues and wipes down our faces……. Gosh can you imagine how tough this is to keep a straight face?!

We leave her with a bunch of leftover food from our dinner and a round of hugs and kisses…

As she walks off, she comes back for another round of hugs. And on her way out she goes up to Bong Sophorn and asks her if there is a contact number she can reach us at to give a report on we progress. She also says, tomorrow her and her father will go to buy her uniform and enroll her into a school!!!

Truly a beautiful moment for all who were involved. We all wish only the best for her and her family. Most importantly to a brighter and more hopeful future for this beautiful little mokong…

I wish so badly that I had known enough cambodian to tell her everything I wanted to at the moment… But maybe one day we will be able to communicate through the English she’ll learn in school

This was a really long story that I really hope you guys read. Everyday we take so many things for granted. That clean cup of water. That burger you threw away because it wasn’t good at the first bite. We are so privileged to have everything that we do have living in the states. The next time we complain about having a hard life… Think about those like this little girl…

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“It is such a blessing to actually be living and breathing the “American Dream” rather than just to dream. To have survived something so horrific, so unimaginable, bring about questions of how and why we survived while nearly a quarter of the population perished. Why were we the lucky few to flee our home and country for a better life here in America or for some, in other parts of the world?”

- CACO/GLEF 2011 Humanitarian Tour Team :: Vacation with a Purpose

How have 6 days already passed? It has really been some of the most eventful 5 days of travel, relationships building and eye opening experiences. I’m on this trip with 32 incredibly giving, kind-hearted people who really wanted to have more than just a vacation to Cambodia. This tour allows all of us to be a part of making a difference in peoples lives immensly. It allows us give children hope in a brighter future through education. It allows us to learn of the hardships that parents have to go through to raise a child when they hardly have enough to bring food to the table. Having gone recently to Vietnam for humanitarian purposes, this one really differs from that trip because it’s an actual tour planned out with a set schedule for the 14 days we’re here. Everyday we’re up by around 5am and dont go to bed until around 3am with really no breaks in between. The schedule for each day has been as follows:

DAY 1: PHNOM PENH // 11/6/2011 SUNDAY
HOUSING: SMILEY HOTEL

Meet and welcome by our local guide upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport then transfer to hotel for check-in to Smiley Hotel Phnom Pehn.

Day 2: PHNOM PENH // 11/7/2011 MONDAY
HOUSING: SMILEY HOTEL

Breakfast at hotel then commence your city tour to visit Independence Monument

Drive around the statue of Samdech Preah Moha Sometheathipadei CHUON NAT Chotanheano: the First-ranked Supreme Patriarch of Mohanikaya Buddism and other statue of Preah Phirum Master OU (called Ngoy) who was Cambodian famous educational poem composer as well chant harmoniously with his single instrument and Royal Palace with Silver Pagoda and National Museum. Lunch will be served at local restaurant.

Afternoon, visit Toul Tumpong market and then Toul Sleng Museum (genocide museum) and it related killing field of Choeung Ek. Dinner will be served at local restaurant. Overnight stays at hotel in Phnom Penh.

Day 3: KAPONG THOM // 11/8/2011 TUESDAY
HOUSING: HOMESTAY @ KAMPONG THOM

Morning, breakfast at hotel, then take a private bus to Kampong Thom. Experience the local delicacy like fried spider vender in the town of Skun.

Visit the Taing Krosang School in Kompong Cham where GLEF and donors furnished 5 classrooms with new school desks.

Visit an Angkorian-era temple at Moha Nokor, dating back to the 9th century. It is sandstone carving/Scrupture that stands along the roadside nearby the foothill of Santuk Mountain. Lunch and Dinner will be at local restaurant at Kampong Thom.

Day 4: KAPONG THOM TO SIEM REAP // 11/9/2011 WEDNESDAY
HOUSING: SOKHA ANGKOR RESORT

Morning, breakfast at homestay, then visit Sambor Prei Kuk Temple. It is a former capital, and was previously named Ey San Borak. A religious center dedicated to Shiva, Sambor Prei Kuk temple is made of solid brick and some late rite stone, and is decorated with sculptures. The artistic front of Sar Pich and the door- frames are made of sandstone. Sambor Prei Kuk temple was built during the reign of King Isanavarman I in the 7th century before capital moving to Angkor.

Then continue the journey to Siem Reap–Home of Angkor. On the way stop to visit Angkorian bridge where today traffic stop passing on this more than 1,000 year old bridge which under conservation and preservation in 2006 and continue by driving pass the rice field and local villages to visit Beng Mealea Temple. This temple is largely overrun by vegetation and very lightly touristed, giving it an advanturous, ‘lost in the jungle’ fell, with trees growing from the broken towers and galleries offer some of the best ‘tree in temple’ shot. Picnic lunch will be served on the site.

Check-in at hotel upon arrival in Siem Reap.

Then visit Artisan d’ Angkor (wood and stone carving) where you will find the art of Khmer traditional carving. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 5: SIEM REAP // 11/10/2011 THURSDAY
HOUSING: SOKHA ANGKOR RESORT

Morning program: Breakfast at hotel, commence your wonderful world heritage tour to visit the lost city of the Khmer Empire: South Gate of Angkor Thom, Giant faces of famous Bayon and Baphuon Temples, Terraces of Elephants and Leper King, Phimean Akas and the unforgettable jungle temple of Ta Prohm. Lunch will be served at tourist restaurant.

Afternoon program: visit world heritage icon and ancient seven wonder of the world, Angkor Wat Temple; study both the splendid architecture and bas-relief until late evening visit the nearby monastery in the Angkor Wat compound. Dinner will be served at local restaurant with classical dance show. Overnight stays at Hotel in Siem Reap.

Day 6: SIEM REAP // 11/11/2011 FRIDAY
HOUSING: SOKHA ANGKOR RESORT

Breakfast at hotel then visit Rolous group of temples including Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei temples, then visit Bakong Technical College. Lunch will be served.

After lunch, continue to visit Tonle Sap Lake to Kompong Phlouk (Khmer village on Tonle Sap), then return back to Bakong Temple to visit Sunset. Dinner will be served at Sala Bai School.

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Thank you to Chi Thao for donating these shirts! They turned out perfect! <3

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