Tuesday, December 8, 2015

My Trip to Lugano

While digging through some old photos, I came across an album from a trip I took to Lugano, Switzerland years ago. Below you’ll find a Slideshare that I made from those photos.

Lugano is located in the region of Ticino, towards the southern tip of Switzerland, near Italy. In fact, it’s the largest city with an Italian speaking majority outside of Italy.

Lugano is a town of parks, villas and historic buildings. Some of my favourite sites include the Church of St. Rocco, the Cathedral of St. Lorenzo and the Palazzo Civico.

Lake Lugano broaches the town and the Lugano Prealps surround it. Whether you want to go for a hike or just walk around town, there’s something for everyone in Lugano.

I hope to visit it again sometime soon!

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Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Drawings and Sketches

Drawings and Sketches from Julia Sotnykova on Vimeo.

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Places To Visit In London

An avid traveler myself, I’ve had the pleasure of Big Ben in Londontraveling to London on several different occasions. Visiting London is exciting no matter what time of the year you decide to visit. As one of the largest cities in the world with a population of 8 million people, it’s a world leader in culture, fashion, and finance. With all of the world famous landmarks and the London Underground known as the Tube, there’s no reason not to visit these tourist attractions in London.

Big Ben

Celebrating it’s 150th birthday recently, Big Ben is one of the top tourist attractions in London. The name Big Ben actually refers to the name of the clock tower itself. The story goes the 13 ton bell inside the tower was ordered by man named Ben. The tower has been a staple in pop culture and has appeared in many films.

Westminster Abbey

The large, gothic church is located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. One of the most religious buildings in all of the United Kingdom and burial ground for English and British monarchs. Built from 1245 to 1272 when Henry III decided to rebuild an old abbey in the Gothic style. Later renovations were made by Henry VII between 1503 and 1512, and the two West Front Towers date from the 1740’s

London Eye

Located on the banks of the River Thames, the London Eye is the iconic 443 feet high observation wheel featuring 32 glass-walled capsules. The breathtaking views of London from the London Eye attracts 3.5 million visitors annually, making it most popular tourist attraction in the United Kingdom.

Buckingham Palace

The main residence of Queen Elizabeth II, that is owned by the British state, is one of London’s most well known attractions. The Forecourt of the Palace is used for major ceremonies and since 1993, the Palace’s state rooms have been open to the public during August and September.

British Museum

The British Museum in London is a museum of human history and culture. Established in 1753, its collections feature over seven million objects. The collections are amongst the largest and the most comprehensive in the world and come from all over the world. Exhibits document the story of human culture from past to present, and the museum is home to the largest collection of mummies outside of Egypt.

Tower Bridge

Another iconic landmark, the Tower Bridge of London began construction in 1886 and took eight years to build. The bridge sits over the River Thames, and is made up of two towers that that are tied together and have two walkways on the upper level that are designed to withstand wind forces on the bridge.

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Thursday, September 3, 2015

Fall Travel Destinations

Boston leaves changing

The fall signals the ending of summer and most people preparing for another long winter. The fall is also is great time to do some traveling to many cities that embrace the fall atmosphere. With comfortable temperatures, crowds, and prices dropping, it’s a no brainer traveling to any of these following cities in the fall would make the most adventurous traveler satisfied.

San Francisco

Off peak tourism season means you have the city to yourself to explore. Walking down famous Lombard Street and walking across the Golden Gate Bridge is never easier and more enjoyable. Plus if you happen to be traveling with your kids, taking a cable car all over the city to see the sights is an essential thing on anyones “to do” list.

Vancouver

The price of hotels dropping alone makes Vancouver appealing in the fall. Attractions like the International Film Festival and Writers Fest attract locals and many tourists as well. Vancouver being based around a forest  the fall has some very scenic sights to see and places to explore.

New York City

The big apple during apple picking season has some must see attractions, like the beautiful Central Park with the leaves changing. Plus fashion week in September, and the CMJ music festival in October gives you plenty to do. But let’s be honest here, when isn’t the best time to visit New York?

Boston

New England is known for its beautiful fall foliage, and Boston in the fall is no exception. Take a stroll through Freedom Trail and check out Boston Common with a nice chill in the air. Plus if the Red Sox are in the World Series hunt taking a brisk trip to Fenway Park is always a must do.

Melbourne

Fall in North America means spring time in Australia. Melbourne, with spring temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s gives you a perfect excuse to go visit. A visit to the Royal Botanic Garden to see the flowers in full bloom can be a nice relaxing experience to take in. If flowers aren’t your thing seeing a the penguin parade at Phillip Island Nature Park is a sight to see.

Paris

With thinning crowds from the summer, and cooler temperatures, Paris lives up to all of its key traits making it all so much more alluring. Plus with less crowds finding yourself not waiting in long lines to got to the to top of the Eiffel Tower, or getting a table quickly in a cafe is never easier.

 

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Some Of The Best Design Schools

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Summer Travel Tips

airport-pic

The month of August is the most traveled and vacationed month of the year. We want to make our trip perfect, there are certain things that can get out of control and the only way to avoid them is with proper planning. To ensure the best possible travel experience, follow these packing hints and safety strategies for air travel and beyond.

Use a toiletry bag for electrical items. Most people carry chargers for iPads and smartphones, and sometimes additional batteries. Rather than fishing around in a suitcase, pack all of these in a waterproof, zippered bag so they’ll all be together in one handy spot.

Packing plastic grocery bags. Let’s say you find yourself on a sandy beach, or you get caught in a downpour. Plastic grocery bags can be a lifesaver for wet, dirty clothes, or as a cover for cameras and phones.

Email a copy of your itinerary and important documents to yourself. In case of an emergency when a bag gets lost or stolen, heading to the nearest cafe for wifi to recover everything can be a real lifesaver. Another tip is to have around the neck, or under the belt pouch to carry important documents.

When traveling overseas, use ATM and credit cards. Banks generally have the best possible exchange rates. Instead of searching for local currency, make purchases with your ATM or credit card. Make sure to check the transaction fees before landing, as international fees can add up. Don’t forget to notify your bank and credit card company about where you are going and when you’ll be there, so all transactions will be approved.

Separate your money. Budget out how much cash you will bring out each day. Going back to keeping important documents around your neck or in a bag close to your waist.

Research, Research, Research. Before hopping on a plane make sure you do your homework on the destination first. Refer to reading materials such as National Geographic magazine, and relevant books. Don’t forget about personal blogs on the internet to familiarize yourself with weather conditions, public transportation, and for international travel, the laws and social etiquettes of a country.

Following these helpful travel tips during the busiest time of the year, or anytime you travel, can ensure an organized, slightly less stressed trip.

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Tuesday, July 28, 2015

The Unsung Heroes of Graphic Design

SubwaySignThe Graphic Design world has many of unsung heroes and visionaries, some have gone mostly under the radar. Their work is regarded as outstanding, iconic, and sometimes just the influence alone is all that’s been felt without the name attached to it. Some designers have shaped the world of design and and pushed the standards of everyone around them.

Will Burtin is a name some might recognize.The German born, American based Designers simple approach and style to complex ideas is what many consider to be the father of modern day “data visualization.” Focusing on the relationship between spatial forms and functions, he says how molecules of a certain shape could be expressed through visual art.

Cipe Pineles, art director and illustrator, is a pioneer of the graphic design industry working on several women’s magazines. Including Seventeen and Charm. The Austrian born designer was the first female designer to become a member of the Art Directors Club in New York, and received the prestigious AIGA Medal in 1996.

Giovanni Pintori, Italian born designer and painter, worked in-house for the Italian typewriter manufacturer Olivetti. He was crucial in defining the Olivetti brand by creating all of the material that helped transform the already well designed, but very practical office equipment into a work of art in its own right.

Bob Noorda, the Dutch born graphic designer, who primarily worked in Milan, is known for creating the iconic signage of the New York subway system. He’s known for helping introduce a Modernist look to advertising posters and corporate logos.

Lora Lamm, a Swiss designer who left for Milan following World War II, has been a designer under the radar for some time. Almost written out of design history, she’s known for creating breathtaking illustrations, exciting layouts, and eye catching typography. Recently in Zurich, at the Museum fur Gestaltung, an exhibition on her works has opened.

Margaret Calvert, British designer and typographer, played an important part in the project which revolutionized the signage for Britain’s road system nearly 60 years ago. The iconic signage is as known, and comparable to the red pillar box or black cab in the British Landscape.

Barney Bubbles, English graphic artist is responsible for designing several album covers including Ian Dury, and Elvis Costello. Designers in the post-punk era took of influence on his work, which is now considered iconic.

The influence of graphic design on a day-to-day basis is unmeasurable. You see it everywhere, but the artists and visionaries of these works go unnoticed to the general public who sees it daily.

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