The Faculty Blog @ IIT Institute of Design

The Funklet

I've always been intrigued by how you describe a process outside of its natural context. Like those dance posters that illustrate the steps diagramatically with footprints, numbers, and dashed lines. Jack Stratton has developed a notation for drum beats that is not only fun, but something a non-musician can actually follow. Using what reminds me of an animation track, he depicts a bunch of clasic funk beats. Pretty cool.

Gotta see the video, it's my favorite part.  

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461914303/the-funklet

 

New favorite book

The Visual Miscellaneum is my new favorite book. Designed and written by David McCandless, it demonstrates that almost any topic can be translated into visual form that speeds perception and learning. Not all of it is great, but collectively it's a powerful demonstration that ideas can be taken out of words and given visual language.

I have a copy on my desk for anyone who wants to see it.

ke