Japan, The Strange Country

In a mere 12 minutes, this video about Japan covers everything from its strange cultural mores to its equally strange economy. Before you get hung up on the ugly caricatures of Japan people and exclaim racism, consider: The creator, Kenichi Tanaka, says, "By the way, please don't call me racist, because I am one of short, small eyes Japanese." Apparently, his motivation in creating the piece--which was his graduate thesis--was to show a Japanese audience how strange they are to foreigners. (This idea of "Foreign people think you're freaks"--with its implied blend of xenophobia and self-criticism--is a uniquely Japanese sentiment.)

Via Fast Company.

Global Day For HAITI

Global PechaKucha Day For Haiti is a charity event, with the aim to raise $1,000,000 for rebuilding Haiti.

It will take place on Saturday 20th of February from 6pm to 9pm at the Round Foundry Media Centre in Leeds. It's a global event with over 200 cities participating & each city is going to broadcast live around the world.

We have really great speakers, including Phil Khorassandjian (Architect, currently in Haiti - live link), Rommi Smith (Parliamentary Writer in Residence) & Simon Wallis (director of Hepworth Gallery, Wakefield). Other presenters include musicians, artists & architects.

Please try and come if live in Leeds or close by. Free entry, lots of beer & orange juice!

It's for a really good cause and 100% of the donations are going directly to Architecture For Humanity for construction work.

Willow

Graphic design studio Willow, based in Belfast, got in touch about their updated work. Check it out!

Veronique Pecheux

Véronique Pêcheux is a photographer based in Paris. Very interesting work.

BBC Winter Olympics Film

To advertise its coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the BBC has commissioned this dramatic animated film from director Marc Craste at Studio AKA.

FMK7

Paris based graphic designer Vincent Viriot got in touch to let me know about his new site FMK7. There is some really brilliant motion work.

Alberto Hernández

Alberto Hernández is a graphic designer and just finished the London College of Communication.

Turning Dunes Into Architecture

Architecture student Magnus Larsson details his bold plan to transform the harsh Sahara desert using bacteria and a surprising construction material: the sand itself.

Adam Rix

Very talented Adam Rix presents his portfolio. His based in Manchester.

Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura

I was at the Wardrobe in Leeds last Friday for the launch party of Gilles Peterson's new album Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura, inspired by his visit to Cuba. He was on the decks and it was pretty lively.

Thanks to our friends at Neon.

Sam Hessamian

Outstanding photography and film by Sam Hessamian.

Havana Cultura

Brilliant site by Havana Cultura. Also follow the Treasure Hunt on Twitter.