!!! LiGHT GRAFFiTi !!!

Light Graffiti has been around for a while now, but this is just cool on a whole new plane! It makes me want to try some ideas out myself...

Reveal Table

Inspiration is a blessed thing, but rarely arrives at the time of one's choosing. I was sitting in the spray booth at Art Center, alone and quiet save the white drone of the exhaust fans. I sat, respirator strapped to my head, contemplating the next step for the PHILLIPS vase you see in the previous post, literally watching the latest coat of paint dry. I had nothing to draw on, hands covered in paint and only the paint booth surface to serve as a table. And, naturally, that's when I thought of the concept for the Reveal Table.

This coffee table concept is actually two tables intended to be used together, the amount of empty space between the halves left to the user’s discretion. Following the first clean, geometric read, the piece begins to reveal more about itself, encouraging the eye to wander and explore. Lit from within, escaping light is only revealed through frosted “cuts” angling into its volume set against a surface of black mirrored acrylic.

PHILLIPS (Ambigram) Vase

An evolution of an earlier concept, the Sørensen Vase, this project adapted that idea, pushing the form factor to the next level. Experimenting with pure aesthetics, it stands on an elliptical base representing the Golden Ratio, one of the most beautiful and frequently occurring proportions in existence. This form then twists and folds upward through soft, organic curves, evolving into an abstracted version of the PHILLIPS ambigram logo at the lip of the vase. The piece is finally accented by the stark contrast of its sleek, bright white facade and rough, copper-metallic depths.

Hohlümmeln Chair

One of my interests in design as a practice and a profession is furniture. For various reasons, the opportunity to explore this area had, up until a few months ago, never presented itself. This summer I set about to change that. This was my first idea for a furniture piece, a concept for a lounge chair.

Pronounced “ho-lewm-eln,” the name Hohlümmeln is a play on the German words for “hollow” & “lounge.” The use of rich wood over cool polished stainless tube-frame is a conscious effort to let the wood express its full range of intrinsic qualities. Not only does it share its thermal and aesthetic characteristics, but users also experience its natural flexibility. While supported by the rigid frame, the body is also cushioned by the subtle give afforded by the sculpted hollow slats.

I've got an IDEA...

BusinessWeek and IDSA just revealed the 2009 winners of their jointly-held International Design Excellence Awards (aka: IDEA Awards) with the exciting result that one of my designs was selected for an award! I received a Bronze Award for my ecoDeck Sustainable Skimboard in the Student category. As an additional compliment, my project is also featured on the article's cover page as the product to represent the whole body of student winners. The announcement will also be published in the latest hardcopy issue of BusinessWeek magazine. Also of note is a Silver Award given to a design by a fellow Art Center student and personal friend of mine, Juan-David Quiñones. Well-deserved congratulations to him as well. Thank you to everyone who supported and facilitated!

Below are images of the featured web pages, and you can see the whole article at BusinessWeek.com.

Stereo Styrofoam

In keeping with the theme of visualizing everyday phenomenon in new ways, this is another awesome example of acoustic resonance propagating through a medium. In this demonstration, sound energy is manifested in styrofoam chips as patterns on a plate and as standing waves in a tube, respectively. I've seen this put to some great Drum&Bass...amazing!

Fun with Fire and Physics!

I'm on a science kick right now and have either discovered or rediscovered a series of cool ways to visualize sensory phenomenon which otherwise don't have an inherent visual form. Almost as cool as a Ruben Sandwich, a Ruben's Tube is an old school way to visualize sound. Based on Heinrich Ruben's 1904 proof of concept, the idea is simple: pass sounds waves through a tube of flammable medium to see their effect over the length of the combustion. While I try not to make it a habit to get my inspiration from left-over Gen-Xers with bad hair (and probably a sweet '89 Firebird parked out front), this guy's visible pyromania was just too cool to pass up.

Reflections on France (part 4): "Customer Service?"

I was hesitant to include this post in the "Reflections on France" series as I feel its almost so common knowledge...or at least "common stereotype." However, omitting this would leave a noteworthy hole in the cumulative experience of French culture and what it's like living in France, especially as an ex-patriot...especially for an American.

While the literal translation of customer service is "service clientèle," I am nearly certain there exists no actual word to describe either the concept or overall meaning that many other cultures associate with it. And why should it? Language is a living, changing thing that adapts readily to the needs of the people who use it. Where a concept doesn't exist, it logically follows there is no need for vocabulary to describe it. For the French, it is here in this functional void I believe the notion of true customer service can be found.

I have to catch myself when thinking about this for fear of falling victim to the default ethnocentric viewpoint we all subconsciously return to. That said, the only way to really look at the French way of life in this regard is to accept it as a wholly different paradigm. The language is distinctly different; why shouldn't norms, values, and customs be at least equally disparate? In France, more often than not it appears, the customer is not outwardly valued and nowhere is this more overtly demonstrated than in the hospitality industry. Restaurants suffer from this most noticeably.
As a brief example, a typical diner out at an average priced restaurant might go something like this: You arrive and are seated by the host. When twenty minutes have elapsed, a waiter comes by to take your drink order, in which time you may or may not have a menu, and you most certainly do not have any table water. Twenty minutes after the waiter disappears your drinks arrive and you most likely order your meal. The wait between order and service is the only real commonality between French restaurant service and that in most other places, however, somehow finds a way to be exaggerated in France. If more than one course is ordered there is approximately a 50% chance they will be served simultaneously. Upon finishing the meal you can expect to spend another half hour talking over your empty plates until the waiter returns and inquires about dessert. If you order dessert, repeat the experience you've had with the entrée. If, God forbid, you decline and just ask for the check, you may be forced to imagine them growing the trees in the back of the kitchen for the paper on which the bill is printed.

Here I remind myself that the ritual of dining in France is very different to that with which I'm most accustomed. For the French, like many Europeans, meals are thought of as more a journey and experience than they are in the States. Nevertheless, it was one of the few things that, throughout the duration of my four-month-plus stay, I could never get used to. While appreciating the change of pace and the additional subtle pleasures derived there within, I usually found myself distracted from truly enjoying the experience. The reason? As the customer I felt no degree of control over my experience whatsoever. While I was the one paying for the service/experience, the service element was conspicuously non-existent.

Passé sales catch phrases like, "the customer is always right," (whose out-dated sentiments we know are simply not true) aside, there is something to be said for at least pretending as if you value the customer and their business. Perhaps I'm particularly aware of this trend having worked in the hospitality industry most of my young adult life, specifically within fine dining. Nonetheless, despite the many elements of French and otherwise European culture I love and find very appealing, real customer service is a luxury, too often taken for granted, which I truly appreciate about the US.

From Trash to Thrash

Recently I purchased a used Exile carbon-fiber skimboard. I've been skimboarding since high school and have been riding the same WaveZone fiberglass board for the last 4 years. It was really starting to not only show its age, but feel it too. Between dings, nicks, scratches and some insanely worn rails, battle scars of one form or another were beginning to dominate the real estate on the bottom surface. Similarly, I picked up the Exile board for a steal because it had some nose damage. With two boards in need of some TLC and the summer surf beaconing, it was time to get to work.
The photos are pretty explanatory, but basically I epoxied foam of a similar density to that which is in the boards into the damaged areas and shaped to fit. After mixing a batch of laminating resin, I alternated layers of resin and fiberglass cloth, liberally coving the affected areas. Allowing time to cure, I applied a second thick coat of resin to give it extra body, strength, and room to sand. Following the sanding I primed both boards and let them fully dry before painting the base colors. Getting closer to finished, the boards were masked with my designs and sprayed with the graphic colors. Once dry, the masking and stencils were removed revealing the first look at the final graphic. The final step was smoothing another double coat of resin over the entire bottom surface to create a seamlessly smooth rocker and protect the graphic. With just a few hours work, two skimboards that were ready for the landfill were refurbished and will live to ride another wave!

Reflections on France (part 3): Feeling Social

No trip to France would feel complete without sampling some of the many sumptuous offerings Paris has to offer. Here, flavors are numerous, but my favorite taste is actually a taste of the nightlife. In search of just this I discovered with the other designers/exchange students a place cool enough to warrant repeat visits: Le Social Club Paris. Near the Bourse Metro stop at 142 Rue Montmartre, the club is an underground venue featuring a variety of well-known DJs catering to the still-flourishing electro scene in Paris. It has a number of chic (albeit expected) club-style lounge-booths, a large bar, fantastic sound system and most importantly great music. Décor is inspired by the would-be lovechild between Daft Punk and the movie Tron. So, if you're looking for some fun Parisian nightlife, I definitely recommend Le Social Club. Who knows, you might even meet someone...

Check out my own documentation of debauchery above and this cool making-of vid below!

Reflections on France (part 2): Early Morning Apparitions

During the last several weeks of the INSEAD exchange I was working on an extracurricular project with three MBAs (a business model competition sponsored by L'Oréal, in which our team placed 3rd out of an initial pool of nearly 15,000 teams globally!) In the final days before the competition we logged long hours while our normal class schedule required us to meet very early and/or very late. It was on one such early, misty morning I experienced something that genuinely alarmed and affected me.

The walk from my house to campus was about 25 minutes and took me through one of the oldest neighborhoods in Fontainebleau, an area of narrow, cobblestoned pedestrian streets. It was probably 6:30am, none of the stores were open and the streets were completely deserted. I walked alone, looking at the cobblestones a few paces ahead and mentally preparing for the tasks soon to be undertaken. As I continued I somewhat absently noticed there was a couple walking in the other direction about 10 meters ahead, coming toward me through the light fog. Without paying close attention it appeared to be a middle aged man about my height and a female companion, either a girl or shorter woman. They were walking arm-in-arm and were both dressed in muted earth tone clothing. As they neared I raised my eyes to take a more thorough note of them, and perhaps give a small gesture of greeting to the only other people braving a chilly spring morning. At a half glance they appeared unremarkable in every way...except one.

As my eyes came up to meet them they vanished into thin air. Naturally I was startled and stopped dead in my tracks. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? There was no street or alley they could have disappeared down; all the store fronts remained shuttered and locked. Everything remained perfectly quiet. Quickly looking all around I confirmed there was nowhere they could have gone. They had simply disappeared! And that wasn't all. At the very instant I witnessed it a strong chill ran through my body, the hair on the back of my neck stood up, and the temperature seemed to drop 10º. I said something out loud, probably along the lines of, "what the f*#@? that was weird!", turned, and continued on my way.

THE CHECKLIST

Where I've been and where I most want to go...
Already visited (18):
Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Grenada, Hungary, Jamaica, Mexico, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

On the short list (15):
Alaska, Australia, China, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey

The World Is Flat!

In 570 BC, the famous mathematician Pythagoras (best known for the Pythagorean Theorem for finding the values of a right triangle) theorized that the Earth was round. At the time this was pretty radical thinking. However, given evidence such as the curved horizon of the ocean, the fact that a sphere is the most stable geometric form, and the clearly observable shape of the shadow cast by the Earth on the Moon during a lunar eclipse (seeing is believing), the scientific community began to take note. It was not until Columbus' famous expedition in 1492 that the then 2000-year-old theory was proven.

However...

Now Jack van Wijk of the Technical University of Eindhoven uses math again to show us iterations of what the world would look like if it were indeed flat. Enjoy this simple but beautiful animation.

Reflections on France (part 1): Curious Corners

This is the first of what will likely be a short series of posts reflecting on my brief but sweet experience living in France. I reserve the right to arbitrarily move between genuine, considered cultural observation and outright mockery. However, having said that, I have no discernible agenda and will most probably find a balance somewhere in the middle. My aim extends only so far as providing an informative whilst entertaining overview and I will try to exercise my savoir-faire. Now then, on to the point...
It is with real interest and nearly genuine concern that I feel I must report: the French seem to have an inexplicable aversion to inside corners. It took me some time to really identify this puzzling trend as its really not something one consciously looks for. Nevertheless, as I became aware of it, this construction habit became glaringly obvious. Examples of this odd architectural fixation are almost ubiquitous. I asked myself if this was just a perceptual thing, and if filleted corners where just traditionally part of French form language. This theory was quickly abandoned as observation soon proved the phenomenon is limited to inside corners between vertical planes. C'est bizarre! Eventually I began to snap photos of random occurrences for documentation and future reference just such as this. These are but a fraction of the examples I personally came across, and they don't stop with masonry. Many inside corners are cordoned-off by iron grates or single, quarter-circular railings.
Inquiring with numerous people, I found nothing more than conjecture...and perhaps equally as curious, a seemingly complete lack of awareness of the trend (which is odd given France is the only place I've ever seen this). I was offered some creative hypotheses, however, ranging from preventing people from hiding in dark corners, to abatement of places to discretely urinate in public, or even an effort to compensate for the pervasive sharp corners found in provincial French architecture.
*In my best Robert Stack voice* Effectively it remains an unsolved mystery. If you, or anyone you know, has information regarding this trend, please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Put It Where You Want It

As anyone knows, I am a man of few words. *pause for irony* However, as the end of my French excursion draws near I may have a few things to say about Fontainebleau, INSEAD, the French people, and my cumulative experience of living, albeit rather briefly, in the great nation of France. Check back soon for lighthearted literary elucidation. But in the meantime, here's a little something featuring Remi Gaillard, as French as it is fun. (psst!...Wait for 2:58!)

Easter in France

Fresh off the press, a first look at some Easter pictures with the new camera!
Easter was a blast, and it merely confirmed my suspicion: there's not much in the world like mimosas and an early diner followed by picnicking in the Château gardens on a lazy Sunday with friends, wine, and snacks.

Sample Work

This post is a work in progress...

He is Risen!...My New Toy, That is.

Just in time for Easter, I have a happy tale of resurrection. A few posts ago I disclosed the sordid details surrounding the loss of my beloved Canon SD600. Its been about 5 weeks since it was stolen, but in the spirit of the holiday, I have forgiven those that trespassed against me. Yes, I have completely forgiven the filthy, lawless hoard of disease-ridden, vagrant, gypsy prostitutes who stole it from me. But I digress. Today I received a very welcome package, a gift from my parents, a brand new digital camera, reincarnated as a Canon SD880 IS!

This camera is sa-weet! I love Canon products, its one of the few brands I have true loyalty for. I got the dual-tone champagne & chocolate version with matching chocolate leather Canon case. It's got everything a top-of-the-line pocket digital should have, including one of the highest customer reviews out there for any camera in its class this year. I can't wait to use it and post some of my own pictures again. And what better an opportunity, the expats are having a little Easter dinner tomorrow and going to spend a few hours in the Château gardens hopefully too.

A Fantastic Adventure Through the Forests of Fontainebleau

This weekend I had the opportunity to do something distinctly out of the ordinary: bouldering. Fontainebleau is nestled square in the middle of France's 2nd largest forest, La Foret de Fontainebleau. Aside from its historical significance as the royal hunting grounds, the forest is also literally world-renowned for its extensive and well-developed boulder fields. Climbers from all over the globe regard the area as the Mecca of bouldering, and this weekend I found out why.
Driving north along the A6 toward Paris there are a number of turnouts at some of the more accessible boulder fields. Entering the geological formation is surreal. The entire area is virtually covered with giant odd-shaped rocks ranging from the size of a dumpster to a two story house. Covered in moss and lichen, the boulders each have their own unique personality. Some provide formidably challenging and even quite dangerous routes for advanced climbers while others are scaled easily by novices. Most have bizarre natural formations like holes and channels, deep crevices, and are separated by narrow winding pathways between their vertical sides. I had an incredible time clamoring around on them, jumping from one to another, and seeing how far I could get without touching back down to the ground. It was an incredible adventure, and all against a natural backdrop whose beauty was only surpassed by its unusualness. I'm definitely going to go back out for some more climbing fun before my Fontainebleau experience is finished!
Check out this video of someone bouldering to get an idea of what its all about, just know i'm not nearly this hardcore.

Facebook Like You've Never Seen It

We all know and love Facebook, but what's going on behind the scenes? Jack Linden, an engineer at Facebook, uses jME open source software to reveal in a rather dynamic graphic format, just what it "looks" like in real time when you send a friend request or any other action. Useless? Virtually. But Cool? You bet. Take a look!

R.I.P. Canon SD600

In one of my recent posts I described the fun and intensity that defined my spring break adventure in Barcelona. The city is truly amazing with a vibrancy and energy that was at once appealing and intriguing. There was, however, one incident that left a bad taste in my mouth...and unfortunately left me without a camera for the duration of my travels. The element in question, which is now referred to by those present at the time simply as "the hooker incident," was the sole experience to put a tarnish on an otherwise fantastic holiday.

Now, I know what you're thinking. It wasn't like that, I swear! What actually happened is Marcus, Stephanie and I were out enjoying a night out on the town at what became our favorite bar. On our way back to the hostel in the darkest hours of the morning we suddenly came across a hoard of hookers. The hookers, surely sensing our vulnerability (we'd had a few), came at us like a school of sharks to fresh blood. I never would have imagined hookers to be so aggressive! There were hands everywhere as they swarmed us in a feeding frenzy of pickpocketing madness. It was all over so quickly. Unfortunately, although my personal assets were still intact, not all of my personal affects were. That dirty, marauding gang of thieving hookers got my digital camera. And while the camera itself was beginning to show its age, the real loss were the 200 or so irreplaceable photos I'd snapped thus far.

Despite that little stain on the city's reputation in my eyes, Barcelona remains a place of wonder and excitement. Like my grandfather used to say, "live and learn, die and know it all." I can't wait until I get to experience it again...but next time I'll be prepared for the unexpected. (photo by Marcus Koosmann)

A "Page-Turner" for the Design Inclined

Today I came across a fascinating and informative article about the all-too-covert relationship between form, surfacing, and meaning in design. I found "A Periodic Table of Form", expertly written by Gray Holland of San Francisco's Alchemy Labs, on Core 77 as one of this month's permanent links. Structured in a way that seems derived of a slide show presentation but with the verbal element transcripted, Holland walks readers through the evolution of surface sophistication and makes insightful comparison/contrasts between form languages found in nature and those created created for man-made objects.

Please, if design is an interest or if it even merely intrigues you, take a few minutes to read and absorb the content. If it sounds dry, its my own failure in not properly describing it. Remember, the day we stop learning is the day we stop caring.

P is for PORTO

Feb 28-March 3

Portugal. It always seemed so exotic, truly foreign among other countries which were merely not my own. Now that i've been there I know my perception was more accurate that I could have guessed. Tucked into the far corner of Spain, furthest from anywhere, Portugal is beautiful and distinct. Arriving at the Porto Airport, far larger and nicer than a city of a quarter million should have, we hopped the metro and were in downtown minutes later. It was late, we had no map, and the narrow cobblestoned streets seemed labyrinthine. And then, from the doorway of a tiny corner market came a little old woman. In a gesture symbolic of our whole Portuguese experience, she closed her shop and guided us down darkened narrow streets very nearly to the door of our hostel. We were taken aback at her kindness and courtesy, especially after being immersed in the French culture for the past several months. It really set the mood for the next several days.

Porto, Portugal's second largest city, hangs on hills overlooking the Rio Douro in the north of the country, just in from the coast. There we wandered old streets twisting steeply up the banks of the river and ate amazing grilled local delicacies in restaurants recommended by locals. We crossed the river and took tours of a few of the more than 40 port wineries, including Sandeman, tasting their products and truly enjoying life. We had drinks 17 stories above the city in Porto's tallest building, and wandered the pedestrian streets filled with galleries and boutiques. On the last day we took a port-fueled stroll through an lush old park where I was nearly assaulted by a peacock, then later rode the bus along the river out to the beach and watched the sun set over the Atlantic while the choppy surf crashed against an ancient stone pier. Porto was completely different than our previous destination, and a total surprise in general. We had picked it on sort of a whim without knowing a thing about it, but it proved to be a idyllic place to let both the mind and feet wander. It was absolutely beautiful; I hope to have the chance to visit again.

B is for BARCELONA

Feb 25-28

Barcelona was the first leg of my spring break travels this year. I had never been to Spain before and, despite a journey that became long and arduous, it was well worth the effort. Arriving in the city we settled at the hostel, heard our stomaches growling, and headed out for our first night. We walked up Las Ramblas, the huge pedestrian boulevard that divides the city, running inland from the towering tribute to Colombus at the harbor. The other expats I was traveling with, Arthur, Marcus, and Stephanie, had never been there either and we were quickly absorbed into the chaos and fun the city had to offer. Over the course of the next three days we did it all...or damn near. We ate amazing tapas, drank more than our fill of sangria, and stayed out most of the night. We got lost in the Gothic District, had drinks at a hill-top restaurant perched above the harbor with a 270 view of the city and ocean, and wandered into outdoor markets the likes of which i'd never seen. We bought beer from shady dudes on the beach and waded in the Mediterranean.

And then there was the Gaudi work. The Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's masterpiece cathedral, is without a doubt one of the most stunning, striking, mind-boggling structures ever created. I wandered its concrete forest floors, hiked its dizzying spires, and studied the baffling interplay of complexity and simplicity present in every detail.

When it was time to depart for the next leg of the journey it was hard to go. Barcelona really wasn't what i expected...it was better.

Inspiration for One Humble Designer

I surround myself with design in one way or another constantly. Graphics, products, branding, architecture... They're all of interest and quite often a source of inspiration. But every now and again I come across a design that truly refreshes me. These are few, and generally too far between. But when they do appear, the wait is worth it. They change paradigms, alter our previous perception of possibility and have the ability to affect us deeply.

I saw this on DeTnk, a fantastic site that aggregates a lot of design-related content, much of which just happens to be my favorite types of design. This structure - beautifully transferred from concept to manifestation, and beautifully captured here - is an example of one such a design. When I see this, I see the realization of cloudy ideas i've had floating around my brain and endless possibility as a result of this new found clarity.

Spring Break Euro Style

This past Friday was the culmination of the first segment of my exchange program at INSEAD. By the grace and good will of the school, we get to indulge in a week of freedom before resuming for the second period. Accordingly, a few friends and I have made arrangements to head south and take in some of the gratuitous beauty that is Barcelona and Porto. I've never been to either city, or country for that matter, so nothing but adventure awaits!

There should well be, in the not-so-distant future, documentation on the fun and debauchery sure to take place. Fuel for future postings!

A Dream Realized

Rare is the day one gets to actualize a wish they've genuinely held for most of their life. Just such a day for me came February 7th when I hit the slopes for a weekend of snowboarding in the French Alps. Skiing the Alps has been a dream for at least half my life, ever since I picked up snowboarding. I came tragically close in 2004 while i was living in Berlin. Some friends and i planned to make a trek to the Bavarian Alps in southern Germany, but the plans fell through at the last minute. Now, five years later, i'm back in Europe and made a pact with myself that i would not let the opportunity escape me a second time. As fortune had it, some friends from INSEAD invited me to join them at a beautiful chalet in the ultra-quaint resort town of Chamonix near the French-Italian border for a weekend of bliss. The snow was amazing, the scenery unbelievable, the chalet incredibly cozy, and the cumulative experience all that i'd ever hoped it would be.

Dream: realized.

Fat Cars

Ironic humor? Artistic statement? Social commentary?

Who cares? Behold the work of artist Erwin Wurm. How cool is this!?

The Secret, ressurected!

Here's a little something from the archives, c. April '07.

Blur Pavillion

The "Blur Pavillion" as its known, was the centerpiece attraction for the 2002 Swiss National Expo by architects Diller & Scofidio. From a practical perspective, the structure which seems to float above the surface of a lake, uses over 30,000 spray nozzles to atomize lake water around the framework, effiectively creating a man-made cloud. From a conceptual standpoint, however, the cloud acts as the structure's only skin, a constantly changing, ever-moving, almost "living" facade. As the name suggests, the concept blurs the line between interior and exterior, static and dynamic, inannimate and alive.

The sensation of walking around its maze-like spaces is surely surreal. Add to that uncertainty the incorporation of intelligent raincoats that wirelessly communicate visitors' basic personality profiles and glow in a corresponding color code, and you have the makings for a truely unique experience.

Check out the full article here.

Congratulations America

And Congratulations to Barack Obama.

The Other Side of INSEAD

I've been at INSEAD in Fontainbleau for more than two weeks now, and have thus begun to form various opinions about the school, its students, and the overall culture. I arrived wide-eyed and ready to dive in head first, something I think is safe to say about the vast majority of the MBAs here. After all, INSEAD has a reputation for being one of Europe's finest business schools, and as such has a long-standing association in the minds of those familiar with the institution as being a formidable undertaking. Considered for many years to be a popular "finishing school" for many of Europe's elite, there are certain elements of the culture at INSEAD that go hand in hand with this environment. Students typically wear business suits, dialog is focused intently on furthering status and career, and the whole institution feels more like the atmosphere of a corporate headquarters than a school. Club membership is another element with a strong presence. As you might expect, there are clubs tailored to a wide array of interests and career directions. There are sports clubs, hobby clubs, and professional clubs. And then there are the private clubs.

Membership in any club has its perks. Membership in one of the private clubs is by no means an exception. There are three private clubs (I've since learned) within the INSEAD community, at least that I am yet aware of. Tradition is an integral part of any culture and the preservation of that culture is important, bearing its own intrinsic value. Having said that, I will choose my following words very carefully.

As I mentioned, there are three private clubs that find their roots at INSEAD: Renaissance, VIP, and The Valmont Club. They are not secret clubs, per se, (or you wouldn't be reading this) but they are, however, very private. During the first week, I was approached by a very well-connected student I'd met in one of the classes. I'd explained earlier the details of the exchange program and my interests in being here, both professionally and personally. This student inquired as to whether I would be interested in attending a private party later in the week. They explained that this would be a private event, by personal invitation from a club member only, and that it was exclusively for "friends of friends." I was told to meet at a building on campus the evening of the event and the rest of the details would be revealed once there.

When I arrived (the building was deserted and dark) there was a small but growing number of other people looking as clueless as I. Just as I headed for the door, the student who had extended the invitation showed up and asked everyone to follow him. We descended to the basement where we were greeted by a number of the club's existing members, bottles of champagne, and other treats. After some mingling, the organizer began:

"Welcome to The Valmont Club. This is a private club, for friends of friends only. The Valmont Club is a tradition at INSEAD for deserving students. It has its benefits as you'll see, and once you're a member, you remain a member. Tonight, the party is at the club's château; there will be a tour bus departing in 15 minutes to take you there and returning later. Enjoy the champagne, there is a lot more at the château. Oh, and no cameras are allowed."

A half hour ride through the French countryside later we arrived at the Valmont Château. Club members guided us to the party, descending into a courtyard lined with glowing candles. The scene was straight out of a secret society movie. I remember thinking at the time, as cool as it was, I knew nothing about what was going on. However, soon it didn't matter. We climbed a small stone stairway, passed through a giant wooded door, and entered the party.

This is the part where I have to leave you, the reader, hanging to some extent. You have no choice but to trust me, I have no choice either. The details of the party will now and forever remain within the club. I can say I saw things there I cannot disclose, here or anywhere else. In short, the party was amazing, sometimes strange and even surprising, but always exciting. I'm now proud to say I am a member of The Valmont Club and I look forward to what other surprises await. It isn't a secret. But I wouldn't say it above a whisper.

Home Sweet Fontainebleau

Downtown Fontainebleau: on a par with the Sunset Strip.
Château Fontainebleau

After the madness of being on holiday in London and celebrating New Years in Paris, life has taken a distinct turn back toward the slow life. I cannot say it's returned to normal, in fact it's anything but, however, life is back to a more standard pace. That being, one dominated by a single activity: school. The new term started on January 5th. So far I've started 2 of my 4 courses, already enjoying the change in learning style and subject matter. It's the business channel all day every day here, a dramatic turn from the focus on design process, creative problem solving, and sketching. In fact, so far there has been nothing save a single project proposal layout that remotely resembles the coursework at Art Center. There HAS been a great deal of reading case studies though. Hardly a complaint, i'm finding i really enjoy the business side of things, even if it is dry in comparison to design. And i really enjoy reading, something i don't do much of during term.

It hasn't been all work and no play though. Since only half my classes have begun the coursework is still relatively light. Knowing this, if you follow this fact through to its logical end you find it no surprise the other ACCD exchange students and i have taken full advantage of both Fontainebleau's proximity to Paris and the beginning-of-term parties at châteaus in the surrounding countryside. More on that later ; )

From the the Land of Tea & Crumpets to that of Baguette & Brie

Pleasure: Ice drinks at the Absolute Ice Bar
Pain: Dragging our excessive luggage up one of the nearly infinite train station stairways

December 28th was D-Day for me. At 6pm local time I departed LAX for Europe, and a few days of adventure before undertaking what I previously described (see below) as "The Next Big Thing." That being, beginning a 4-month executive-level business course at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

Those courses have subsequently already begun, however, that is subject matter for a future posting. For the time being, I humbly submit to you the following story purely for the sake of entertainment. Expect to find within nothing but the truth, albeit abridged for the purpose of brevity, depicting the events of the week between my departure and the commencement of my studies at INSEAD. I offer no promise of traditionally redeeming qualities other than a thorough appreciation of how to have a good time. Without further ado, let me begin...

Following an uneventful and relatively painless 10-hour flight courtesy of Virgin Atlantic, we landed at London Heathrow. As you may know, VA is a premium carrier and in true form they even gave us gift bags, to which I added my very own VA blanket via five-finger-discount. Sweet, swag! Through customs and on to brave the London Tube system with over 100lbs of luggage each (7 of us). We checked into what is likely the shadiest hostel I’ve ever stayed at but we more or less had our own room so that helped.

The next two days were spent exploring the city, checking out all the must-see attractions (Buckingham Palace, Parliment, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London, The London Eye, Harrod's, Hyde Park, St. James Park, Covent Garden, Picadilly Circus, etc.) interspersed with a healthy dose of pubs, naturally. We also literally stumbled upon the Absolute Ice Bar, a small but quite posh club owned and operated by Absolute Vodka and in which everything is made of ice, straight down to the cups. Walls, furniture, décor, “glassware”, bar, everything. Its -5 Celsius and they gave us special thermal hoodies/overcoats and gloves. Pretty unique experience I must say.

On NYE day we chunneled it to France and by sheer serendipity met our French friend Jean-Hugues right as we exited the EuroStar train. He helped us get a taxi for all our stuff and while the others tested le Metro, I rode with the luggage and made friends with the cabbie who supposedly worked for the US state department doing semi-covert communist data collection in France and eastern Europe during the cold war before the iron curtain came down. Once settled at the nicest Holiday Inn I’ve ever seen (seriously) in northern Paris we headed out for what proved to be on an even par for the craziest NYE I’ve ever had, right up there with the NYE I spend in Berlin. After a quick dinner and several bottles of wine (we were 9 people now) we headed to meet another member of the INSEAD exchange group at his cousin’s (who knew we’d be there, and decided to rent an EXTRAORDINARY flat directly across Rue St. Severin from a cathedral directly south of Ile de la Cite in the Latin Quarter). There they had a smorgasbord of cheeses, meats, baguette and…here’s the kicker…a CASE of VERY nice champagne. We ate, drank, and stared at the gorgeous view and the cathedral’s gargoyles almost eye to eye for the next couple hours.

When it was time we grabbed the remaining 5 bottles and headed down to le Tour Eiffel where we met the rest of Paris, just as jubilant and intoxicated as we. We did the countdown, popped our bottles and cheers-in 2009 on a bridge near the foot of the tower. It was absolute madness all around. We walked back toward the centre of the city, witnesses a group of girls get mugged which was bizarre and reminded us of the other side of Paris, kept walking and got tired near the Louvre. There we found what must surely be Paris most expensive bar…where we of course had to stop for drinks. When our check came we were shocked to see the now 11 of us had run up the equivalent of a $650 bar tab! We’d only had two drinks each. Wait, I’ll do the math for you…that’s more than $27/drink (yeah, that’s how we do). Ah, c’est la Vie! Lots of debauchery, getting lost on the Paris Metro, and other mayhem later we stumbled in around 6am. We nursed ourselves back to health, which happened remarkably quickly (champagne of that quality doesn’t give hangovers apparently), and spend the next day or two wandering the city, seeing sights, and found some of the coolest restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. Lots of café au lait was also consumed.

On the 3rd (I think, its fuzzy at this point) we headed out to Fontainebleau, 45 min southeast of Paris. Our house is three stories plus the closest thing I’ve ever seen to a genuine dungeon. But it makes a perfect wine cellar! My room looks as if it may have once been a nursery, but it was quickly my favorite bedroom when walking around and I’m glad I got it. Its on the second floor, shares only one common wall, and is right across from a huge bathroom with open-format stone shower and Jacuzzi tub. Not too shabby! The last member of our group joined us the next day and we’ve settled in nicely.

Monday started class, have had a couple each day, and am enjoying the very different type of coursework than is the norm for design classes. The other students seem pretty nice so far, but I feel underdressed at all times in the presence of MBAs. The students very much live up to what one would expect given this college’s reputation. Luckily the cafeteria is cheap because the rest of France is NOT. Fontainebleau is a wealthy city by French standards and this fact is overtly reflected in the cost of living. It’s $5 for a cup of coffee. The resurgent Euro recently against the dollar is not helping either. But I’ve been frugal before, I will just have to be again. In any case, its clear to me this is just the start of what will be a phenomenal term abroad, and I leave it to you to check back for regualar updates on the goings on in Fontainebleau.

Cheers for now.