Designbit Blog » Design Inspiration

Design Inspiration: Renaissance Art, Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel

Anthony — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:00:31 +0000

The Sistine Chapel ceiling in Vatican City is Michelangelo’s most renowned Renaissance art piece, I was lucky enough to honeymoon in Rome and see this piece up close, truly inspiring design on a colossal scale the whole chapel is famously frescoed with scenes from the book of Genesis, the craftsmanship and scale awe inspiring. When ceilings are frescoed like this you cannot distinguish between paint and stone, your eyes play tricks as you focus from one story to the next.

The Last Judgment

The most famous fresco is Michelangelo’s Last Judgment which took four years to completion in 1541. Situated on the altar wall, it depicts the souls of humans rising and falling to their fates, judged by Jesus Christ.

The last judgment was famously censored by prudent priests after Michelangelo’s death; Spearheaded by Biagio Da Cesana who said “it was mostly disgraceful that in so sacred a place there should have been depicted all those nude figures, exposing themselves so shamefully,” and that it was no work for a papal chapel but rather “for the public baths and taverns,” .

Michelangelo went on to get his revenge as he worked in Cesena’s semblance into the scene as Minos, judge of the underworld (far bottom-right corner of the painting) with Donkey Ears, with Cesena’s nudity covered by a coiled snake.

It is said that when Cesena complained to the Pope, the pontiff responded that “his jurisdiction did not extend to hell, so the portrait would have to remain.”

Sistine Chapel Video

Inspiration from Will Smith

Anthony — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:23:13 +0000

Inspiring Words from Will Smith on life and success.

Car Design Inspiration 2

Anthony — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 10:18:34 +0000

Drawing inspiration away from the digital medium and into the field of car design, this time focusing on the Mercedes Gullwing; Rolls Royce Silver Ghost and the AC Shelby Cobra, all iconic and beautifully designed cars that are outstanding to view and designed for enjoyment.

Mercedes Gullwing

The Mercedes Gullwing oozes class and for me sits most luxuriously in silver. I love the details on this design. The most distinctive feature is the famous bird winged doors, but I love the simple swooshes of style that have coated the car, as if theres a wave of water sweeping over it that has some how frozen in place, leaving curvy ripples.

Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

As a child I was fascinated by this car, the raw metal colors and the crafted leather seats, the design oozes majesty and heritage but I was most fascinated by the name, very magical and haunting name and also the fact that this was said to be the “Best car in the world”, quiet as a ghost. The design is mechanically revealing and that is beautiful in itself.

AC Shelby Cobra

The front of the car looks like a Cobras defensive stance, the large mouth like radiator opening with 2 fangs either side of it, ready to bite. The swooping lines of the wheel arches further enforce its aggressive stance and make a stunning front end car design, gladly the feminine rear is second only to JayLo in terms of size and splendor.

Car Design Inspiration

Drawing Eyes in Illustrator

Anthony — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:29:42 +0000

Great demonstration and tutorial on how to draw eyes in Illustrator:

Matrix Style Flip Book

Anthony — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:30:29 +0000

Matrix Style Flip book pointed out by T.Magic, check it out, must have taken hours:

Flanuer Street Art

Anthony — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:07:54 +0000

This is just brilliant, a truly great piece of art, thanks for T.Magic for pointing this one out:

Banksy Village Pet Store

Anthony — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:48:34 +0000

The Banksy pet store sees self dipping chicken nuggets and hot dogs in cages, as well as fish fingers in a goal fish boal. Quite a powerful exhibition:

Julian Beever Chalk Art

Anthony — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:13:16 +0000

Just in case you some how missed the very talented UK artist Julian Beever heres a vid:

Microsoft Paint Innovation

Anthony — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:03:05 +0000

A unique look into the world of Microsoft software development which focuses on their MS Paint application, from developing the application to actually using its unique features and tools including the eraser tool and the new “save” function.

Design Inspiration: Cubism, Picasso

Anthony — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:20:49 +0000

Cubism is an art movement that i find very inspiring as a designer, the movement took place in the 20th century (1908) and the results of this abstraction or fragmentation of the viewers perspective of the art piece created some amazing works of art. Check out this vid about it’s humble beginnings.

This is also a great vid of Picasso’s work including the cubism movement: