Aquila.
D'addario.
Ko'olau.
Hilo.
Thursday 29 September 2011
'Good is' - Popular Ukulele Brands
Popular Brands
Kala Ukulele
Kala Ukuleles are a relatively new ukulele brand, but have made a big impact. They are a great choice for people who want a well-made, quality ukulele at a decent price. They are particularly good for people who are getting more serious about playing the uke and want a quality ukulele without breaking the bank.Ohana Ukulele
Ohana ukuleles are some of the cheapest solid wood ukuleles around. A number of their instruments are solid mahogany yet priced at under $200. That’s very rare. Obviously, with the instruments being so cheap, they are not made in the US but China.Lanikai Ukulele
Lanikai are part of the Hohner music company. Initially their ukuleles, being made in China and laminated, were at the cheaper end of the scale (although they are increasingly moving into higher end ukes) but that hasn’t stopped them getting some high level support. Lanikai are a bit hit with the indie crowd.KoAloha Ukulele
KoAloha started making ukuleles in 1995 and have quickly become very highly respected. There are an impressive number of top ukulelists using KoAloha ukuleles including Herb Ohta Jnr, Daniel Ho, Britt Paiva and Victoria Vox. KoAloha ukuleles are all made of solid Koa wood (hence the name: koa+aloha=KoAloha) and built in their factory in Hawaii.Oscar Schmidt Ukulele
Oscar Schmidt are an offshoot of the Washburn guitar company. They started out as the ‘folk instrument’ wing of Washburn and seem to focus on Autoharps more than ukuleles. Oscar Schmidt ukes tend to be at the cheaper end of the price scale but have a good reputation for quality.
'Good is' - Useful Ukulele websites.
There are some interesting images and videos on this site all to do with the event and watching the videos you get a real feel for the peoples passion for the ukulele and how its brought them together. Literally everyone has a ukulele with them
I like the Graphics on this site because they make good use of colour in a playful and visually satisfying way. only 2 or 3 colours are used at once and the tones are really mellow which is in keeping with the tone of the instrument itself.
http://howtoplayukulele.com/
This site contains lots of useful information on the different sizes, body shapes, tuning and woods used to make ukuleles it's good for anyone interested in buying a ukulele as it describes the different types and what they can offer to the customer.
http://www.theukuleleshop.co.uk/buyingaukulele.htm
http://ukulele.org/?Home
Monday 26 September 2011
WIDFP? - Questions?
I have been asking myself questions to get a broad range of print related things to investigate and evaluate in order to broaden my options for this brief and also to develop my ideas when it comes to what can be done when designing to print.
What kinds of printing exist?
digital
screen
lino cut
gravure
intaglio
litho
offset
photogravure
relief
rotogravure
letterpress
What can you print on?
paper
card
cardboard
fabric
clothes - hoodies, t-shirts, hats, gloves, socks
wristbands
wood
plectrums
cd's and dvd's
acetate
glass
metal
the floor
walls
doors
brick
concrete
tables
chairs
skin/the body
bottle caps
stationary - pens, pencils, rubbers, ruler, fineliners, crayons, sharpener, pencil case
plates
mugs
cutlery
stationary - pens, pencils, rubbers, ruler, fineliners, crayons, sharpener, pencil case
plates
mugs
cutlery
What can you print?
photos
type
image
type and image
photos
type
image
type and image
'Good is' - Ukulele brands
Abbott - Banjo ukuleles made famous by George Formby
Ana'ole - Hawaiian makers headed by Gareth Yahiku.
Antoniotsai/ Hanworks - heavily decorated ukuleles with a questionable reputation.
aNueNue - High quality ukuleles from Taiwan
Applause (Ovation) - Distinctive electric ukuleles.
Aria - UK cheapo brand.
Ashbury - Good quality, entry level ukes from a UK company. My first 'real' ukulele.
Ashton - Cheap first ukuleles in the UK.
BeBop - You know, for kids.
Beltona - The ukulele that killed off Tiny Tim.
Brownsville - Cheap end solid-top ukuleles.
BugsGear EleUke - Solid body, electric ukuleles.
Bushman - The video contest guys try their hand at making ukuleles.
Clearwater - UK ukulele company with Eleuke and Vita uke copies.
Cole Clark - Australian ukulele makers.
Collings - Highly respect guitar makers move into ukes.
Earnest Instruments - Top quality ukes as played by Eddie Vedder and John King.
Cordoba - Portuguese guitar makers with a line of ukuleles.
Favilla - The 20s/30s cheap and cheerful ukulele.
Fender - The biggest name in guitars moves into ukuleles.
Flea - Bette Midler's favourite ukulele.
Fluke - Iconic ukulele.
G-String - Top quality ukulele endorsed by James Hill.
Gibson - I think they used to make guitars as well.
Greg Bennett (Samick) - Korean-made budget ukuleles.
Gretsch - vintage ukes from the legendary guitar maker.
Hamano - the original 'good' ukulele from China.
Harmony - Vintage ukuleles as endorsed by the legendary Roy Smeck.
Hawaiian Ukulele Company - The Hawaiian shop's own-brand ukuleles.
Hilo - A few companies out there have gone by this name.
Honu - Turtle covered ukuleles from the Big Island Ukulele Company.
Ibanez - Japanese guitar makes follow in their namesake's footsteps and start making ukuleles.
Johnson - Bog standard starter ukes.
Kala - Hugely popular mid-range ukulele. I love my Kala.
Kamaka - The oldest surviving ukulele maker.
Kanile'a - Top quality, top price, Hawaiian made ukuleles.
Kau'wela - Kailua based ukes in Zebrawood.
Keli'i - High quality Hawaiian ukuleles.
Kiwaya - Japanese company best known for their Martin copies and K-Wave Fender-style ukuleles.
Keech - The reputed inventor of the banjulele.
Ko'olau - Their ukuleles are played by Ledward Kaapana, Lyle Ritz and Abe Lagrimas Jr. Who could argue with a line-up like that?
Koa Pili Koko - Koa-ish ukuleles from Keli'i.
KoAlana - KoAloha's budget range of ukuleles.
KoAloha - Hawaiian made ukulele company headed by the adorable Alvin Okami.
Kumalae - Vintage Hawaiian maker with a ferocious output.
Laka - Vintage ukuleles put out a new range (possibly to end confusion for people searching for 'vintage ukuleles').
Lanikai - Probably the best ukulele for a beginner.
Lazy - Cheapo UK ukuleles.
Le Domino - World's coolest ukulele?
Lehua - Instruments from the original home of the ukulele Portugal.
Leolani - Cheap ukuleles made respectable by their use by Priscilla Ahn and AJ Rafael.
LOCALS - mysterious (to me at least) Hawaiian ukuleles.
LoPrinzi - Top notch Floridian maker with a taste for oddly placed soundholes.
Luna - Individual looking ukuleles from one of the few female run instrument makers.
Lyon and Healy - Vintage ukuleles with unusual designs.
Maccaferri - The most sought after plastic ukulele.
Mahalo - The ukulele every UK player started with.
Makai - Ukulele designs that give me a sense of deja vu.
Makala - Kala's budget ukulele. An excellent choice for beginners.
Martin - The Rolls Royce of ukulele makers.
Mele - Double-headed ukulele madness.
Mid-East - Striking looking ukuleles with an Eastern influence.
Mitchell - Available at a Guitar Center near you.
Morelli/Santini - Questionably marketed. Their big selling point is that they're, "Teacher Endorsed."
National - The ultimate in resonator ukuleles.
Ohana - Mid-range ukuleles. My tenor Ohana has been my favourite uke for a while now.
Ookook - Ukes from Korea.
Ortega - The German maker with the very un-German name.
Oscar Schmidt - Very popular entry-level ukuleles.
Pahu Kani - Top-end ukuleles with holes where you least expect them.
Pono - Ko'olau's less expensive ukuleles.
Regal - The original pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap ukulele.
Riptide - Boulder Creek Guitars play around with the soundholes.
RISA - German ukuleles with a number of innovative electric ukulele designs.
Rogue - Cheap UK brand.
Road Toad - originators of the bass ukulele and many other unusual designs.
Savannah - Australia's ukes on a budget.
Slingerland - Vintage banjoleles.
Stagg - English ukuleles with a name macho enough to stand up to Staff Sgt. Max Fightmaster.
Swagerty - Vintage ukuleles designed to be played on beach.
T's Guitars - Japanese ukulele manufacturer.
Tangi - Hawaiian ukuleles with a taste for the unusual.
Tanglewood - Ukuleles from the British guitar maker.
Universal Worldwide Trading - Ukulele aimed at tourists in Hawaii.
Vineyard - Chinese made ukulele of questionable quality.
Uluru - Australian ukes from Ayers.
Weissenborn - Ukes from the masters of the Hawaiian lap-steel guitar.
Ana'ole - Hawaiian makers headed by Gareth Yahiku.
Antoniotsai/ Hanworks - heavily decorated ukuleles with a questionable reputation.
aNueNue - High quality ukuleles from Taiwan
Applause (Ovation) - Distinctive electric ukuleles.
Aria - UK cheapo brand.
Ashbury - Good quality, entry level ukes from a UK company. My first 'real' ukulele.
Ashton - Cheap first ukuleles in the UK.
BeBop - You know, for kids.
Beltona - The ukulele that killed off Tiny Tim.
Brownsville - Cheap end solid-top ukuleles.
BugsGear EleUke - Solid body, electric ukuleles.
Bushman - The video contest guys try their hand at making ukuleles.
Clearwater - UK ukulele company with Eleuke and Vita uke copies.
Cole Clark - Australian ukulele makers.
Collings - Highly respect guitar makers move into ukes.
Earnest Instruments - Top quality ukes as played by Eddie Vedder and John King.
Cordoba - Portuguese guitar makers with a line of ukuleles.
Favilla - The 20s/30s cheap and cheerful ukulele.
Fender - The biggest name in guitars moves into ukuleles.
Flea - Bette Midler's favourite ukulele.
Fluke - Iconic ukulele.
G-String - Top quality ukulele endorsed by James Hill.
Gibson - I think they used to make guitars as well.
Greg Bennett (Samick) - Korean-made budget ukuleles.
Gretsch - vintage ukes from the legendary guitar maker.
Hamano - the original 'good' ukulele from China.
Harmony - Vintage ukuleles as endorsed by the legendary Roy Smeck.
Hawaiian Ukulele Company - The Hawaiian shop's own-brand ukuleles.
Hilo - A few companies out there have gone by this name.
Honu - Turtle covered ukuleles from the Big Island Ukulele Company.
Ibanez - Japanese guitar makes follow in their namesake's footsteps and start making ukuleles.
Johnson - Bog standard starter ukes.
Kala - Hugely popular mid-range ukulele. I love my Kala.
Kamaka - The oldest surviving ukulele maker.
Kanile'a - Top quality, top price, Hawaiian made ukuleles.
Kau'wela - Kailua based ukes in Zebrawood.
Keli'i - High quality Hawaiian ukuleles.
Kiwaya - Japanese company best known for their Martin copies and K-Wave Fender-style ukuleles.
Keech - The reputed inventor of the banjulele.
Ko'olau - Their ukuleles are played by Ledward Kaapana, Lyle Ritz and Abe Lagrimas Jr. Who could argue with a line-up like that?
Koa Pili Koko - Koa-ish ukuleles from Keli'i.
KoAlana - KoAloha's budget range of ukuleles.
KoAloha - Hawaiian made ukulele company headed by the adorable Alvin Okami.
Kumalae - Vintage Hawaiian maker with a ferocious output.
Laka - Vintage ukuleles put out a new range (possibly to end confusion for people searching for 'vintage ukuleles').
Lanikai - Probably the best ukulele for a beginner.
Lazy - Cheapo UK ukuleles.
Le Domino - World's coolest ukulele?
Lehua - Instruments from the original home of the ukulele Portugal.
Leolani - Cheap ukuleles made respectable by their use by Priscilla Ahn and AJ Rafael.
LOCALS - mysterious (to me at least) Hawaiian ukuleles.
LoPrinzi - Top notch Floridian maker with a taste for oddly placed soundholes.
Luna - Individual looking ukuleles from one of the few female run instrument makers.
Lyon and Healy - Vintage ukuleles with unusual designs.
Maccaferri - The most sought after plastic ukulele.
Mahalo - The ukulele every UK player started with.
Makai - Ukulele designs that give me a sense of deja vu.
Makala - Kala's budget ukulele. An excellent choice for beginners.
Martin - The Rolls Royce of ukulele makers.
Mele - Double-headed ukulele madness.
Mid-East - Striking looking ukuleles with an Eastern influence.
Mitchell - Available at a Guitar Center near you.
Morelli/Santini - Questionably marketed. Their big selling point is that they're, "Teacher Endorsed."
National - The ultimate in resonator ukuleles.
Ohana - Mid-range ukuleles. My tenor Ohana has been my favourite uke for a while now.
Ookook - Ukes from Korea.
Ortega - The German maker with the very un-German name.
Oscar Schmidt - Very popular entry-level ukuleles.
Pahu Kani - Top-end ukuleles with holes where you least expect them.
Pono - Ko'olau's less expensive ukuleles.
Regal - The original pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap ukulele.
Riptide - Boulder Creek Guitars play around with the soundholes.
RISA - German ukuleles with a number of innovative electric ukulele designs.
Rogue - Cheap UK brand.
Road Toad - originators of the bass ukulele and many other unusual designs.
Savannah - Australia's ukes on a budget.
Slingerland - Vintage banjoleles.
Stagg - English ukuleles with a name macho enough to stand up to Staff Sgt. Max Fightmaster.
Swagerty - Vintage ukuleles designed to be played on beach.
T's Guitars - Japanese ukulele manufacturer.
Tangi - Hawaiian ukuleles with a taste for the unusual.
Tanglewood - Ukuleles from the British guitar maker.
Universal Worldwide Trading - Ukulele aimed at tourists in Hawaii.
Vineyard - Chinese made ukulele of questionable quality.
Uluru - Australian ukes from Ayers.
Weissenborn - Ukes from the masters of the Hawaiian lap-steel guitar.
Saturday 24 September 2011
WIDFP? - Information and Wayfinding
I'm not massively into infographics because I find that they look overly complex and sometimes messy, which although engaging it's not as aesthetically pleasing. So I have tried to find some examples that are more easy to understand and demonstrate a more minimalistic approach to representing information.
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