Ellerbe Becket Gets Bought Out by AECOM Technology Corp.

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Some big architecture business news this week. It’s been announced that the Kansas City-based firm Ellerbe Becket, has been acquired by the massive California company AECOM Technology Corp. Becket, you might recall, has come to more prominence recently for seemingly being Populous‘ only rival in the stadium building game, most recently getting handed the high-profile commission to design the New Jersey Nets Arena at Atlantic Yards after Frank Gehry got booted. The sale will apparently be good for both sides, with Becket, who will be keeping its name, having a much larger financial backing behind it, and AECOM buying a presence in the Midwest. Here’s a bit:

“One of the big-picture issues now is the global marketplace,” [managing principal Steve Duethman] said. “We have to figure out the best way to serve that marketplace and be a player in it. Joining AECOM allows us to do that.”

For instance, Duethman said, in the sports and health care design fields, which are among the Kansas City office’s strengths, the merger will allow Ellerbe Becket to expand into geographic markets that it previously didn’t have the financial resources to enter.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Menswear-Inspired Trousers Are Sexy For Fall ’09

imageWhile I love all the options that women’s fashion brings, sometimes I wish it was just a little bit easier. On those cold and dark mornings I am so jealous of the guys who can just wake up and throw on some nice pressed trousers and crisp shirt and look sharp. Good thing menswear trousers are super chic for fall ’09, and these aren’t your basic work pants either. Keep your cuffed, wide-leg, crease-front pants in rotation, they’re perfect work basics but pants are going way beyond the basic this fall. To take the menswear pants from day to night, try experimenting with some luxe fabrics and fashion-forward shapes, like the cropped tapered trouser, one of fall’s hot silhouettes. They’re loose around the hips but skim the calf and show a little sexy skin at the ankle. No matter which way you go, please ladies, don’t steal them directly from the boys department. It’s all about the fit here, and men’s pants are cut to fit all our of lovely lady lumps. Check out the SLIDESHOW to see some sexy menswear-inspired trousers that will have the boys lining up behind you.

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Get Hope to Cope

Not content with helping get Gordon Brown and other world leaders to the UN Climate Change Conference with its Rise Up Twitterstorm in September, Bristol-based BeThatChange (BTC), the ‘open source’ pressure group, has now set its sights even higher. With its new Get Hope to Cope campaign, it aims to get Twitter’s highest profile user, @BarackObama, no stranger to the power of social media himself, to also attend.

BTC is an organisation made up of a small team of creative freelancers and volunteers, mainly from the design and advertising industry. Its Identity and distinctive illustrations have been created by Mike Cannings, who also worked on the website with fellow designer Paul Mills (Good Morning Please) and developer Derek Ahmedzai (NC10, Monkey Mountain).

 

The BTC website, designed by Mike Cannings and Paul Mills with development by Derek Ahmedzai and copy by project founder Kieran Battles

 

 

Some of Mike Cannings’ illustrations for BTC and its Twitterstorm campaigns

 

Ray Morrow, who volunteers with BTC, says, “When you’ve only a couple of seconds to catch eyes and imaginations, design really matters. That’s why we’ve applied everything we’ve learned in advertising to the campaigning arena – we hope that by creating a visually appealing model that lets people campaign in a click, even the most disengaged will get involved and make change happen.”

The campaign has the support of many eminent Tweeters, including @StephenFry, and also charities and NGOs such as Greenpeace, Oxfam, TckTckTck and PlaneStupid.

The hashtags being used for the campaign are #Hope2Cope and #Cop15 and you can add your weight by registering at bethatchange.com

Ludéal – Allez l’amour

Après le très réussi travail pour Dan Black – Symphonies autour du cinéma, voici l’univers tourmenté de l’artiste Ludéal issu de la chanson française. Une belle réalisation du clip par la société Egocentric, entièrement en plan séquence et avec de nombreuses références aux films.



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Portfolio Egocentric – Une production L & Moi, pour Sony BMG.

Previously on Fubiz

Kunst Film Biennale

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Fiasask

Fiasask

Suddenly I remembered that I have been planning to post about Fiasask from Belgium for a long time but somehow never have … so when I visited Fia’s site again today I saw her latest handmade designs … gorgeous wooden lampshades .. Fia’s blog

connecting table / Stecktisch

A table without screws or any aid. You have only to connect the 7 parts together.The tabletop has only 12mm.

CITYWIDE LESTER CAREY

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–> Reference Library

Core77 Photo Gallery: Prague Design Days 2009

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Prague Design Days 2009, or Designblok, is the 11th edition of Prague’s major annual design event. The festival took place between the 6th and 11th of October and was anchored in the Holesovice area of Prague. “Spring,” this year’s theme, underlined a refreshing sense of revival, new beauty and new life. Join our tour along the main locations at the Designblok Superstudios Classic 7 and A7, the DOX Center for Contemporary Art and the Czech Centre Prague.

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Libby Ryan

Libbyryan

I often find things for children that I like to write about on BloesemKids but the artist or designer also makes nice things for us…the moms and dads, so I have to show it here too… like Libby Anderson, who is a designer originally from Portland, Oregon but currently lives with her fiance and their dog Hudson in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Libby graduated from the School of Architecture at University of Oregon. Don’t you just like this horse pattern on the pillow? For more about Libby and what she likes visit her blog.