Color Scheming a Go-Go

A few years ago, I did a sweet little series of blog posts that I affectionately referred to as Color Scheming. I took each of the MINI factory colors and paired well-designed products with them by color. It was a ton of fun.

For a while now, I've been thinking it'd be cool to do this for a client dynamically. Well, leave it to Nike to do it first. Nike PhotoiD is a tight little web app designed to analyze the colors of an Instagram of your choice. It then applies the colors to a sneaker and beautifully overlays the custom kicks on your pic. It then allows you to share the image and even purchase the shoes.

In discussing the notion of color scheming at work, @magicspoon turned me onto a cool experiment called Matchbook. In this somewhat sassy study, book cover designs are paired with, well swimsuits… primarily bikinis. It's honestly pretty inspiring and definitely not hard to look at.

All this color scheming has inspired me to start a new pinboard dedicated to the art of color pairing. I'll be loading it up over next few weeks, so enjoy!

Sleeping Giant

I recently realized that come September, I'll have three of The Kyality Kids in elementary school. I typically haul them to school in the morning. But the MINI only has two buckets in the back and Mrs. Kyality won't let them sit in the front until they're like 18 or something. Upon realizing this, I told my wife that either I needed to get a new car or else she'd need to take the kids to school in the morning. Her response was brief and to the point. She simply said, "Run the numbers."

Photo by Stopped.

After reviewing my always-evolving next car consideration set, there was only one car in the bunch that had the kid-hauling capacity and cool factor I desire. So, for the first time seven years, I've broken with tradition and made the jump from MINI to VW. The GTI is the ultimate hot hatch, possessing along with MINIs an amazing combination of sport, economy, luxury, personality and style. It actually wasn't that tough of a decision and happened relatively quickly partly because the only MINI I'd consider that has five seats is well over $5k more than a GTI and is not nearly as fast. 

I know I've dedicated numerous posts to my love of MINIs and I still love them, but honestly I was a Porsche guy way before I was ever a MINI guy. And let's face it, Porsche guys are VW guys. So I scored a black four door and I seriously dig it. The GTI has a giant-sized power to weight ratio and is incredible in the curves. It's a much more refined ride than the Clubman, for better or worse. And it's a great looking ride, though it's way more under radar than a MINI. I've learned that MINIs are attention grabbers, where as GTIs are sleepers. Only people in the know can spot a GTI in a sea of Golfs. 

I took my son to baseball the other day and when we got out of the car he goes, "It's freakin' cold!" I kinda just said, "Hey, don't say freakin'." He quickly retorted, "Can I say you have a freakin' cool car?" I simply responded, "Yes. Yes you can." 

I know I'll drive a MINI again one day. But for know, I'm totally enjoying being a GTI guy. And yes, an official photo shoot will be coming soon.

Jay + Urban Outlaw

I recently posted a cool video called Urban Outlaw about Porsche designer/remixer Magnus Walker. Here Jay Leno reviews Walker's signature 1972 Porsche 911 72STR. Despite Jay's chin, it's a pretty amazing look into a very cool custom car. Enjoy!

Manual Designs

Graphic design meets automotive design meets fine art. Love it.

Ultimate Paintball Duel

This is just good fun.

Bimmer Meets Beamers

This just in... Edwin Denim posts a righteous branded vid chock full of Bimmer and Beamer goodness. Make sure you watch this thing in full screen, it's seriously beautifully.

2002 Turbo: A Flawless Specimen

SouthernJ turned me onto this eBay find that is quite possibly the most exquisite vehicle on the road today... and that's not an exaggeration in the slightest.

It's days like these that make me hate the fact that I ever sold this little guy.

Beach House - Forever Still

Not sure if this is considered a short film or just a really long music video, but this Beach House vid by Pitchfork features gorgeous footage with amazing ambiance perfect for accompanying an evening of blogging/surfing. Enjoy!

Color Scheming Comes to Life

A couple of years ago, I stumbled onto pics of a bike that  was basically a two-wheeled version of my Clubman. That spawned a little series of experimental posts on this blog that I called Color Scheming.

Since then I've constantly been thinking about a matching car/bike combo and the designers at Hyundai of North America brought my dream to life with this customized Veloster Turbo.

I've always had a thing for the Veloster and this C3 Concept has definitely fanned those flames.

And I totally dig how they've integrated the mount into the rear hatch.

I'd love to see both this car and its matching whip make it to production. Unfortunately, like all concept cars, that's highly unlikely.

Anyone Up For a Drive?

Stumbled on this pic via StancedAutos and man, I can't wait for a spring drive in a clean MINI. Here's a link to the full photoshoot via Southrnfresh. Click the pic to see this shot in all its glory.

One Car to Do It All

Another awesome video by Petrolicious that's slightly reminiscent the Porsche Everyday work we did at Struck for Porsche of North America and man, does this make me want one. (And that garage too, sheesh.) Thanks for the heads up M. Waissmann.

The Ranger

If you did already know this about me, I'm a sucker for branded social content creation. And on that note, I'm totally digging the production value, art direction, music on this piece by State Bicycle. Not to mention, that's a sweet whip.

BMW Alpinas

These are a pair of strikingly rare and beautiful beasts.

The ABC of Architects

Totally digging this beautiful motion graphics piece and its subject matter. It's designed by Federico Gonzalez a Barcelona-based motionographer. I especially dig the animation of the Frank Gehry museum in Bilbao.

Stripped Down 911

Here's another great little vid all about the 911 being a blank canvas for extreme personalization. This one belongs to the head of design at Bugatti, who compares his 911 to a custom fixie. Great little vid.

2012: A Year in Review

Top 3 Favorite Albums

3. Jack White - Blunderbuss 

Leave it to Jack White to put the clarinet back into rock 'n' roll. Standout track: Love Interruption


2. Sleigh Bells - Reign of Terror

Hip hop meets speed metal meets bubble gum pop in a rockin' explosion of post-modern awesomeness. Standout track: Born to Lose


1. Beach House - Bloom

Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally create what's easily the coolest, most haunting and most stylish album of the year. Standout track: The Hours


Top 3 Favorite Movies

3. Silver Linings Playbook

Can you make a great date movie about two bipolar wash-ups who love football? This dramedy proves it. Standout performance: J.Lawr striking the perfect balance of crazy, sexy and cool.


2. Prometheus

This movie ruined The Dark Knight Rises for me by filling my head with crazy questions, answers and more questions in typical Lindelof fashion. Standout performance: Michael Fassbender as the menacing android David.


1. Moonrise Kingdom

If anyone can turn a #campvibes Instagram into a full-length feature, it's Wes Anderson. Standout performance: Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward deliver flawed yet fabulous freshman performances.


Top 3 Favorite TV Shows

3. Sherlock 

Can't get enough of the detective of Baker Street? Well, these X-files like versions of the Holmes stories are simply the best. Standout episode: A Scandal in Belgravia


2. New Girl

This is the show that invented a drinking game about American history factoids. Standout episode: Menzies

1. Downton Abbey

If you never thought that a BBC drama about turn of the century servants could be crazy compelling, think again. Standout episode: Christmas at Downton Abbey


Top 3 Favorite Cars

3. BMW i3 Coupe

Electric awesomeness in classic Bimmer orange? I'll take it. Standout feature: BMW's "stream flow" design language.


2. MINI Paceman

This is the sexiest crossover coupe around. Standout feature: That sloping roofline.


1. Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

If Lord Vader had to raise Luke and Leia, he'd drive this 556 HP beast. Standout feature: It's a station wagon!


Top 3 Favorite Designs

3. Moonrise Kingdom Font

In a dramatic turn of events—by graphic designer standards—Wes Anderson abandons Futura for a beautiful and nuanced custom font by designer Jessica Hische. Standout feature: An understated, yet striking closing credits animation.


2. Flipboard for iPhone

Easily my number one killer app and the future of editorial and periodical media consumption—not to mention it serves up Twitter faster than their own app. Standout feature: One-handed social surfing at the flip of a thumb.


1. Autodromo

From product design to social media content creation—this line of auto-inspired watches has inspired me all year long. Standout feature: Amazing product photography.

Top 10 Favorite Almost Holiday Movies

10. Edward Scissorhands

Where does snow come from? A Frankensteined man-boy making ice sculptures with scissors for hands.

9. Die Hard

It just so happens that one of the best action flicks of all time is also one of the best almost holiday movies of all time too.

8. Dumb and Dumber

This is the movie that gave us the line: Yeah, we're in the Rockies.

7. Clue

Random, I know, but we watched this movie every New Year's Eve growing up. Amazing, hysterical cast. Trust me.

6. About a Boy

Nick Hornby on the big screen brings us this line, "Do carol singers have to pay you 10 percent?" "They should, but you can't always catch the little bastards."

5. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Lots of epic movies seem to fit the holiday vibes soundly. And what's more epic than LOTR? Nada.

4. Catch Me If You Can

We saw this for the first time in the theater on Christmas Day 2002, just a few days before the first of the Kyality Kids was born. It's a surprisingly perfect almost holiday flick.

3. When Harry Met Sally

Nowadays, Mrs. Kyality and I watch THIS movie every New Year's Eve. Best dialog ever. Thank you Nora Ephron.

2. The Empire Strikes Back

Uh hello, it has an abominable snow beast… instant holiday classic.

1. The Royal Tenenbaums

Mrs. Kyality and I saw this opening weekend in NYC over the holiday break in 2001… instant memories with every viewing. Plus it has the beautiful and simple song Christmas Time is Here in it.

Liberace Returns

Just over a year ago, I finessed a way for Gavin Strange—filmmaker, designer and all-around Renaissance Man extraordinaire—to come all the way from Bristol, England to SLC to screen BÖIKZMÖIND. The day before he left his beloved fixie Liberance was pinched from his flat.

Despite his this sad loss, an insane transatlantic flight, a creepy stay at the Peery Hotel and near crash in my Clubby inspiring Gav to yell at the top of his lungs—"You're a jet fighter pilot, you're a jet fighter pilot!"—he put on a great show. And now the circle is complete. Congrats on the find Gav—can believe you got 'er back in one piece.

Urban Aesthetic Meets Adventuremobile

Stumbled on this cool little vid last night simply called "Backpacker."It's got some nice driving shots and good tunes. What I love about the featured Subaru Forester is its cool blend of urban aesthetic and serious #adventuremobile #campvibes. Give it a gander!

First Glance: BMW i3 Coupe

I'm totally digging this. I've been skeptical about BMW's whole "i" initiative. I dunno if it's just this pic, the classic Bimmer orange color, or what, but this car looks great. Excited to see how it evolves!

For the Auto Enthusiast In Us All

Wondering what to get your spouse for Christmas? Well, did your spouse own a BMW 2002 at one point or have posters of Porsches on the walls of his childhood bedroom? Does your spouse happend to be an automotive enthusiast who blogs on nearly a weekly basis about European cars under the alias Kyality?

If so, you may want to consider a print from Manual Designs by Christopher Holewski. His stencils are simple yet striking and would make any gearhead go gaga.  

Loving this GTI and E30 ///M3, but the 2002 Turbo in ///M Division colors just nails it for me.  

Can someone please tell Mrs. Kyality about these? Seriously, she'll never read this post... ever. 

Skyfall: The Best of Bond?

Once in a while a franchise reboot comes around that is truly something special. I think we can all look back to moment when we first saw Casino Royale and agree that it was one of those times. It was so fresh, so subtle and so, for lack of a better term, real. And other than the lack of a proper car chase sequence, it's been my fave since. So can Skyfall do what Quantum of Solace didn't and unseat Royale as the best Bond?

Directed by a Sam Mendes, a guy known for high drama rather than high action, Skyfall is easily the most stylized of the Daniel Craig trilogy. It's the most similar to the classic films, but also has something that no other Bonds have. We see a raw 007, who gets stripped of gadgets and gizmos who has to confront his past. This shotgun-wielding, waxed canvas-wearing, DB5-driving Bond drops his stern façade and shows real emotion. This actually juxtaposes well with the climactic and somewhat playful Home Alone meets Downton Abbey sequence.

By the end of Skyfall, you realize that the Daniel Craig as 007 films have actually been a series of prequels and now the classic, campy Bond storyline begins. What I appreciated most about Skyfall, above its beautiful and straight-up cool cinematography and art direction, is how much it made me love the nuanced and gripping Casino Royale, which for me is still the best Bond. 

Magnus Walker: Urban Outlaw

If you don't want to be complete consumed by the notion of owning/driving a vintage Porsche, then DO NOT watch this vid. It's the completely inspiring story of designer and builder Magnus Walker and his collection of classic 911s.

He also talks about his amazing home/shop, his beginnings as a clothes designer and he his triple digits in a Porsch. Thanks for the heads up, Jason L.!

PS: Totally dig the track "Goodnight Bad Morning" by The Kills featured in this little flick.