Please bear with us as WhiteSpace Invaders undergoes some exciting changes. We’re
looking to overhaul the entire look and feel of the site with expanded content sections and
new functionality. Look for those changes coming soon and thanks for being a friend of WhiteSpace Invaders.
With the recent home release of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek I though I would post these gorgeous portraits by illustrator Jesse Lefkowitz. The line work, color, and use of texture are distinctive of Jesse’s work. I’m loving the decidedly retro qualities and the relationship that exists between the individual pieces thanks to the supporting elements found in the background. Lefkowitz, a Virginia native, attended the Rhode Island School of Design and now works out of and resides in Berkeley, California.
You can find more of Jesse’s work on his website or check out his blog for a WarGames inspired editorial illustration about the economy and a satirical illustration of Jessica Simpson’s larger-than-life rump for BUST magazine.
Eric Testroete, a 3d artist in the Vancouver area, and graduate student Sara MacPherson, tie for the best designed costumes in the WhiteSpace Invaders Halloween Costume Contest.
This is a totally legitimate contest that wasn’t created today after viewing such spectacular examples of witticism and hard work.
Testroete was inspired by the ubiquitous Big Head Mode so prevalent in video games since 1995. According to his website, he crafted the head using 3d Max from existing photos and cut and pasted the printed forms together to create this eye-catching costume.
McPherson of kindacarsick.com and robotsandunicorns.com, enjoyed the Halloween festivities in a low resolution masquerade. Painting her shirt and face took “forever” and “slightly forever” respectively. Presently, she can be found basking in all the fame and glory a post on Digg and Reddit can bestow.
An honorable mention goes to these ingenious fellows:
These young mavericks had an idea to incorporate two things people love; an easy-to-use and well maintained web search tool and boobs. May the deity of your choice grant your every wish “G” and “gle.”
And a hearty thank to you “oo.” I would love an opportunity to personally thank you for your invaluable contribution.
The last couple of weeks have seen the printing of three delightfully geeky shirts over at the always pleasant Threadless.com. What’s more, each of the three designs happen to picture our little green invader friends. These fresh prints include Alien Autopsy by Chris Rowson, They’re Real by Jean Salamin, and, the winner of the recently concluded Threadless Loves Geeks competition, I Be Au Sm by Lawrence Villanueva. Check them out, pick them up, put them on!
Brütal Legend isn’t just a video game; it is the ultimate metal concept album wrapped in a tight little package of awesome, courtesy of Tim Schafer and Double Fine Productions.
Schafer, the man behind such visionary games as Grim Fandango and Psychonauts, brings his ability to craft hilariously believable alternate worlds, his eye for detail and his apparent love for the source material into his latest foray, the multi-platform Brütal Legend.
To begin, Jack Black leads his friend and confidant, you the player, into a music store, all the while regaling you with tales of a fantastic, mythical metal album. The album, he claims, appeared out of nowhere and the staff keep it stored in back with “the rare stuff.” He speaks of the album like Indiana Jones speaks of the holy grail, in hushed tones and reverence. After dropping to a penitent knee, Black unveils the album, dubbed Brütal Legend, and lays it out for inspection.
This starts the game. In front of the player, serving as the main menu, is the album itself. Thumbing through the album artwork, paper sleeve or album itself presents the “New Game,” “Continue,” “Options,” etc. that most gamers are familiar with. A wonderfully imaginative menu system that introduces the player to what they’re in for; mostly, a huge break from the ordinary and a whole lot of fun. Further, fans who pre-ordered the game from Best Buy may have snagged themselves an alternative, limited edition, record sleeve sized case for their Brütal Legend disc.
Thanks to Brainstorm 9 for the off screen video capture. Skip to the 45 second mark to get to the good stuff.
Glenn Jones is constantly churning out stunning and humorous work and then making it available for you, the consumer, from his site Glennz Tees. An Auckland, New Zealand native, Glenn got his start on the community driven t-shirt design site Threadless, after they printed a whopping 21 of his designs he decided it was time to go solo. In keeping with his roots, each design is made available for voting before it is printed (this also helps ensure a particular design isn’t going to flop). In addition to tees, you can also snatch up prints, laptop skins, or compile your own desktop calendar. As if that wasn’t enough, you can also help yourself to a number of free iPhone or iPod Touch background wallpapers.
The above images come from a series called Videogame Classics by graphic designer and illustrator Olly Moss. The self initiated series utilizes subtle textures and simple “Ah-ha!” graphics that push the images to be as charming as they are attractive. Inspired by the timeless design of classic Penguin Books, each piece faithfully recreates the Marber Grid that heavily adorned the publisher’s books during the 1960s and ’70s. Head over to Olly’s site to have a look at the entire series and the rest of his portfolio.
A group of 36 freeborders recreate a falling block style video game on a San Francisco, CA street. Personally I would have liked to see more traditional Tetris style pieces and gameplay being used. Stunning, nonetheless.
The Freebord is a product designed by Steen Strand as his master’s thesis at Stanford University. The experience is meant to mimic, on paved roads, the sensation of snowboarding. The board itself, which is shaped more like a Back to the Future hoverboard than either a snow or skateboard, sits low to the ground atop a pair of wide trucks while the rider’s feet slip into a pair of bindings. These elements, as well as, perhaps most importantly, the addition of two pivoting center wheels, allow the rider to carve down the road. Learn more and see more videos on the Freebord Website.
The still image above comes from a fine arts work by Cory Arcangel titled Super Mario Clouds. This piece is the result of a Super Mario Bros. NES cartridge modified to erase everything but the scrolling clouds. Cory is a digital artist based in Brooklyn, NY who works largely in new media. You can read more about Super Mario Clouds and how it was accomplished by heading to Cory’s Site.
I’m really enjoying this series of plunger button inspired badges from the online boutique Supermandolini. Pin them to your person or your stuff to add instant interactivity. The shop, managed by founding designers Emanuel Lakoutsis and Ellie Kakoulidou, offers specialty apparel, accessories, and housewares, including a series of floppy disc coasters. Launched in 2007, Lakoutsis and Kakoulidou tightly control all aspects of the site, starting with the visual identity of their website and continuing down to the photography, packaging, and promotion of their products. Stop by their site to have a look at the rest of the shop.