Philly Tech Week is a month away. People are busy planning lectures, happy hours, showcases… you name it. And right now, Andrew Cameron Zahn is getting his design and art show together, and needs your help.

HACK: A Technology-Based Design and Art Exhibition, is “an open call for technology-based projects, inviting participation from designers and artists working for/ with hacker spaces / maker spaces.” Andrew and his team are seeking “a range of works: From 2D to 3D works, applications, wearables, installation, objects, and performances. Works from groups or individuals not associated with hacker / maker spaces will be considered for submission as well.”

For those of you artsy types interesting in sending something in, Andrew is seeking submissions now through April 6th. For more information on how to submit, visit HACK’s official website.

However, to make all of this even happen, Andrew needs your help. He has a Kickstarter up, with a modest goal of only $500. We’ve already donated, and so should you!

Good luck Andrew! For more details regarding HACK, check out the website.

HACK
April 27 – 28th, 2012, 5-8 pm
www.hackphilly.com / http://kck.st/yEGT3l

Everyone remembers DesignPhiladelphia, right? They’re the group that tries to show Philadelphians why design is so important and how it plays such a large part in our lives? You do? Good. Glad to hear it.

Well, they are working with the Corzo Center at the University of the Arts to present a series of lectures about design and this city we all call home. Each presents a different take on design by a person noted in the field, including topics ranging from pop culture to how cities should look and feel. I mean, just look at this line-up:

February 21st: Thaddeus Squire, President, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia
March 20th: Dan Marcolina, Mad App Alchemist and author of “iPhone Obsessed”
April 3rd: Cynthia E. Smith, National Design Museum Curator

So if design and what it represents matter to you in any way, shape or form, make a point to check at least one of these out. You will learn a lot and maybe have a better understanding of the City of Brotherly Love in the process.

DesignPhiladelphia Lecture Series
www.designphiladelphia.org/?p=3716

Corzo Center at the University of the Arts
corzocenter.uarts.edu

Today we talk to Cory Anotado, a good friend of mine and a graduate of La Salle University’s Digital Art and Multimedia Design program. Sadly, since we did this interview, he’s moved down to Baltimore to be an Interactive Production Developer at GKV Communications. However, we’re being nice and posting it anyway.

Of all the geeks I know, Cory is hands-down the biggest game geek, and I’m not talking video games.

How did you get into loving game shows so much?

I blame my grandmother for keeping the TV on while she watched me when I was a kid. Family Feud was at 10, and then the Price is Right was at 11. Various cable game shows, like Press Your Luck, Debt and some USA originals were in the afternoon. Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune came on at 7. I suppose saturation breeds obsession.

Tell me about your favorite game show and why.

Narrowing my favorite game show down to one is an oft-requested, futile task. If it’s based on current consumption, then it would be the British game show QI: Quite Interesting. It’s a panel show flanked at the help by Stephen Fry. They ask seemingly simple questions like, “Who was the first President of the United States? And give the seemingly complex (and quite interesting) answer of “Peyton Randolph.” Other shows I enjoy are Pointless (a British game show best described as ‘Backwards Family Feud’), Jeopardy!, Press Your Luck and Family Feud.

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Today we talk to Tyler R. Westnedge, Film major turned Web/Interactive guy. He’s currently the Director of At Media, a full-service branding agency in Old City.

Tyler, you seem to be a pretty well-rounded creative guy. What advice do you have for anyone looking to make the move from something like theater or film to web design and development?

I went to Temple University for Film and Media Arts, and one of the most important parts of Film to me was composition. Composition plays a major role in design, layout and usability. The transition is not easy, since the web industry is rapidly changing with new trends and technologies. It takes constant attention and research to stay on top of web design and development.

A majority of my training came from lynda.com (a site with video tutorials on just about any program, software or programming language). I still use it on a monthly basis to expand my skill-set, but now I’m taking on more leadership and entrepreneurial responsibilities (project management, employee management, business development, etc.). My advice would be to do your research, take online classes and training to expand your abilities and put your knowledge to work with real projects.

So what kind of geek are you?

I’m a tech and gadget geek, and have always been. I have a deep appreciation for Apple products and pretty much anything digital. My admiration for Apple products stems from the fact that I appreciate the use of quality design in coordination with technology. Hence the At Media name standing for Art & Technology among other things. (more…)

The last couple of months have been busy for our friends at Titan Books as they continue to produce some amazing works focusing on artists who should be household names for fans of film and art, as well as branching out with new novels featuring classic characters of literature.

This time around they have re-released an updated collection of the personal artwork of Drew Struzan, as well as a collection of works of popular science fiction artist Chris Foss. Finally, they have also released a new Sherlock Holmes novel, The Breath Of God.

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Our friend Conrad of StreetsDept is throwing his first art show on Saturday, October 22nd over at PhilaMOCA. He’ll be featuring the work of some of his favorite artists: Joe Boruchow, Kristin Smith, Nom Now, Jessie Hemmons (Ishknits), Get Up, Amber Lynn (Project Gastric) and a new mural from Yis Goodwin (NoseGo).

Conrad has been photographing the work of these artists for some time now. He tells us if you like the kind of street art he’s been sharing with us on StreetsDept, then you’ll love this show.

Find the event on Facebook, and invite all of your friends to come on out. Yes, all of them.

StreetsDept Presents at PhilaMOCA
7-11pm, Saturday, October 22nd
531 N. 12th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123

DesignPhiladelphia, the annual festival that offers a unique insight to the area’s creative industries, has so many awesome events this year. But one that seemed particularly interesting is their hour with Roughdraft Books designer and founder on October 15th at Anthropologie’s 18th and Walnut location.

Roughdraft Books is a one-woman studio in Philadelphia that creates journals and notebooks that are hand-made, hand-sewn works of art. Attendees will get a chance to make their own custom book under e bond’s tutelage.

DesignPhiladelphia: Custom Book Workshop
October 15th, 10am-11am

Anthropologie
1801 Walnut Street
RSVP anthroevents@anthropologie.com

DesignPhiladelphia is in its 7th year of putting together amazing programs and events that highlight the creative industries in Philadelphia. This year, there’s an event at the amazing Chemical Heritage Foundation exploring the 1960s intersection of chemistry and design that is not to be missed.

Join design historian Regina Lee Blaszczyk on October 17th at 6pm, when she will discuss how the new materials created by Philadelphia’s chemical industry inspired the designers of the 1960s. Blaszczyk is a researcher and writer who focuses on corporations, marketing, innovation, design, fashion, history, visual and material culture studies, anthropology, and the sociology of culture.

Be sure to check out CHF’s newest exhibit, Elemental Matters: Artists Imagine Chemistry, on display one hour before the lecture. Plus, CHF’s permanent exhibit, Making Modernity, will also be open for viewing. Mad Men attire is optional, but this is definitely a place where it would be appreciated.

Mad Men Chic: Molecules on Madison Avenue
October 17, 6pm-7pm

Chemical Heritage Foundation
315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
www.chemheritage.org

You’ve probably already seen this site making the rounds, what with its major local appeal. It was all started internally at Neiman Group. They’ve got something called Neiman Labs.

The entire goal of the group is to explore the new developments that have come about with the adoption of tech and social media, Philly SteakOut is a product of that exploration. I had a chance to chat briefly with Chris Reif (a Tony Luke’s guy but admitted Steak ‘Em Up is his dark horse) and George Ward (cut from the same cheesesteak wrap as I, being a fan of the steaks from John’s Roast Pork) from Neiman to learn a bit more.
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Welcome to this week’s Geek of the Week, where we highlight the fun and creative people of our city. This week we share a few words with Jenn Hall, local artist. By day, she’s a pastry artist at Geekadelphia favorite, Whipped Bakeshop. Though, her work spans multiple mediums.

So, Jenn, we happened upon you on account of your awesome R2D2 helmet (which we’ll touch upon later) but what can you tell me about yourself in general?

I think I’m really just like any other nerd out there; holed up at home waiting patiently for the zombie apocalypse, day dreaming about how bad ass it’s going to look when I kill like 27 zombies in less than a minute. You know, pretty typical stuff.

Presently, I’m a 25 year-old artist who calls Philadelphia home. I majored in printmaking at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and then went on to study art and geology at the University of Pennsylvania. If there’s an educational path that primes one better for a nerd-tacular artistic career, I don’t know of it.

I work at Whipped as a pastry artist, which has been a great avenue for all my creative energy. I love coming to work and being pleasantly surprised with a chance to make such things as a Buzz Lightyear fondant cake topper, for example.

Tell me a little bit more about that sweet R2D2 helmet you’ve got. How did you make it? Did you start off with some sort of simple one and paint it?

Initially, it was the ugly duckling of helmets. It looked pretty jacked up before I did my fairy godmother thing to it. It was an odd, dark maroon color and it had been used as a rental helmet, so it had sustained damage over time. Long story short, I did a lot of spray painting and clear coating. (more…)

Love camping? Live in Philadelphia? Then you might want to check out this Kickstarter, launched by a group of Philadelphia-based camping lovers, notably product designers Ben Ashpole and Jay Olman.

Meet the Pocket Grill, the world’s most compact, full-size camping grill that can, as you can imagine, fit right in your pocket. And just like most cookware you’d take on a camping trip, this little guy is made out of stainless steel.

Their goal is a lofty one, set at $40,000. But with the sort of perks these guys are dishing out, I can definitely see them reaching it. Donate a mere $40, and you’ll get a grill in the mail when they go into production. Kick in an extra $10, and they’ll throw in a cookbook made just for the Pocket Grill.

So! Hit up the Kickstarter, check out their official website, and follow them on Twitter for updates regarding the product. Best of luck, guys!

The Pocket Grill
www.kck.st/qrLcLq
www.pocketgrill.com

Left: Rachel, Top Right: Charm Necklace, Bottom Right: Bubble Necklace

Today’s Geek of the Week features Rachel Goldfarb, local jewelry designer and friend of Geekadelphia. We’re taking a look into her life of modern day silversmithing.

So Rachel, how long have you been making jewelry? How did you get started?

If you asked my mom she would tell you I have been doing jewelry type things my whole life. I guess I didn’t properly start until about four years ago when I learned to silversmith. I started to make jewelry for friends and family and then I applied to a craft show to see if I could get into it. To my surprise I did and then my business started!

Where do you draw your inspiration?

For the most part when I am trying to come up with a new design I begin to play with things in my studio. I just start to tinker. I feel like by having fun with my materials I kind of rediscover them and it leads to interesting designs. (more…)