Valuable Insight: TYPO Berlin 2008.img

Berlin, Germany May 29th-June 1st
Please click away to see ALL the flickr photos taken
Also enjoy a video clip from TYPO Berlin Videoblog
its a wonderful clip of the weekend

This weekend truly made my time here in Europe. After each night i felt overwhelmingly thankful for having the opportunity to be at the conference and to really enjoy something for myself. Architecture, sun, breeze, nature and education oh yes, and well…coffee: my idea of happiness for the moment. My goal was to really be in the moment as much as i could. Now the stress is on for the last week of school projects. Before that here is a lazy summary of my time in Berlin…

Stefan Sagmeister
This is a rather sad story..
but it gets happier.

This was the moment i had been looking forward to. I was sitting in the 4th row anxious for Stefan to come on stage. Once he started i put my earphones on to listen to the translation from German to English. I hear nothing. I thought maybe i didn’t know how to work the little gadget. After ten minutes i started getting butterflies in my stomach because i knew that i could not get up from the 5th row while he was speaking. Twenty minutes in i was red faced and almost teared up when i heard the english translator speaking from my head set. Success! i thought. it cut out again. “_” after playing around with it for a bit i found a way to hold it awkwardly. I bent my wrist and held on to it for dear life until the end. I really hope i get the dvd.

Yes, the story got happier. At first i didn’t flock with the pack. I thought about it first. why do i want a signature? what does it mean? i’m too nervous anyways. so being spontaneous i ran over to buy a copy of his book. they where all sold out. So he signed my bag instead. I said “Thank you very much!” and walked away.

I really enjoyed Haemin Kim’s talk.
“seeing and feeling by our touch and movement”

Christian Schwartz

On Permanence. What its like drawing something disposable.
He was on my flight back to Paris :)

Marian Bantjes

For me personally i was touched by her talk. Her work dazzled me and it made me think about “keeping in motion”. Her opinion on the ‘celebrity’ spoke to my earlier feelings about my flocking to get Stefan Siegmeister autograph. For most of the lectures up to hers i was writing in my little green note book. From her opening to the end I was fully absorbed in the lecture. I think i only wrote a few key notes

-Celebrity image
-Surprised and influenced by things
-Mental activity of figuring things out
-DROP: Emotional vertical movement
-”Keep in motion”

Edward »Ed« Benguiat

Remarkable. What can i say. really?
Just that Ed made an impression on my night. Again-no notes. I left feeling inspired, informed and sore from all the giggles.

*I put my rating stickies to use.

Erik Spiekermann
what can i say, really :) *3rd row

I nearly missed my flight! but i didn’t and all was well.
Never thought i’d say “home sweet home” about Paris :) but indeed after 4 days i was happy to return to a new comfort zone where i could really appreciate being able to understand the language.

Again, Please click away to see ALL the flickr photos taken from TYPO Berlin 2008.img :)

BIRTHDAY LIST :)

1. Things I have learned in my life so far
*watch how the book works on the video

La Poule aux Oeufs d’Or

Print on Gold paper

Selected to be a part of an exhibition at La Maison des Contes et des Histoires (Paris, France April 16th-June). Along with ten other students in my AG4 Illustration class at ESAG Penninghen.

Alas, Sunshine on my face

Observation

And so the adventure to get a “Carte de Sejour” began this afternoon. After walking in circles for an hour trying to find the International Student’s office in the 15th I arrived at the entrance. As soon as i got in I felt a rush of confusion. Not because of the language but because of the signs. All i wanted to know was where to go to apply for a “Carte de Sejour” now called “Titre de Sejour”. Instead i was greeted by two levels of signs, six on the first floor and eleven on the bottom floor. Mind you, each sign was different (handwritten, typed letter, print off of information on website with scratched out times 16h00 changed to 12h00, photograph examples of portrait rules then a series of red, green and white plaque signs)

After everything i found out that first time applicants are only taken in the morning (not what it says on their website). In the end it took me 3 minutes to figure out how to exit the place because there where several caution signs that contradicted each other (stickers/plaques/hand written papers/digital green arrow). I think a simplified signage & way finding is system is in need.
Or maybe its just me.

Nothing puts me in a better mood than some sunshine! I walked from Place d’Italy home today. I stopped in at the park. There were lots of people on benches and the grass. I’ll be going back there soon with my book to enjoy the garden, trees, people and pets :) My favorite part of being in Paris is still their parks. Its something about the nature and community that come together soo nicely.

I’ve been meaning to snap a photo of these. Paris’ outdoor recycle containers. I use them often, super convenient.

Words of the day

Bosser
Verb (Slang) to work
Chouette
Adjective (Infml) brilliant, great, smashing; (of person) nice; (in requests) sois ~! be a dear!, be a sport!
Coucou
Exclamation (a) hello!, cooee!, woo! (Slang); ~ me voici! peek-a-boo!