Automotive: 2009

DANIEL STUFF: Favorite Cars

I just composed a list of my top 16 favorite race cars. Have a look and leave a comment! Click here ->
http://cosmicmotors.blogspot.com/

Cheers, Daniel

TOKYO: LECTURE TOUR THROUGH JAPAN

Final stop was the recently opened HAL College in the heart of hilariously crazy Shinjuku, Tokyo. The school is that impressive cocoon - style high rise in the center of this panorama:

More then 400 students attended this Cosmic Motors event, thank you for the warm welcome, all the questions and the patience with the signing. I hope I could give you inspiration and motivation in return.

Again, thank you to the team of HAL for the invite, the translator, the technicians, the photographers and my producer.

Arigato gozaimasu, Daniel

OSAKA - NAGOYA: LECTURE TOUR THROUGH JAPAN

I am currently touring Japan - Tokyo Shinjuku, Osaka, Nagoya - giving lectures for design students in car, graphic and computer design at all three installations of the HAL College of Technology & Design. HAL is tied in a cooperative relationship with leading high-tech companies such as Nintendo or Microsoft.

"Arigato gozaimasu" to all the directors and staff of HAL for this one week invitation, the incredibly elaborated itinerary and the very pleasant stay. Also, I bow to my producer Michiko Durinski for the entire Japanese communication and realization.

Above: HAL College in Nagoya, Japan - what an incredible piece of architecture. Took the night shot from my hotel across the street, nice view. The newest of the three HAL colleges in Japan was opened last year in Tokyo. Its a fifty-story high-rise in Shinjuku, only a few steps from the location of "Lost in Translation". My design school had just 4 floors. And I have never seen such a friendly staff in my entire career.

Best, Daniel

Click here for HAL design school Japan

BERLIN: PHOTO SHOOT OF NEW CREW MEMBERS

Cosmic Motors is honored to present two new crew members: "Adean", our new dont-mess-with-me pit crew supervisor, and "Alupa Ace", promising speed-uberfrau with a TX 1000 race license.
The shoot in Germany's fun metropolis Berlin was a delight, and I thank my wonderful two model friends. Philip, assistant on set, thanx for doing the dirty work of carrying helmets and holding flash lights.

Check the pilot section of Cosmic-Motors.com here: CLICK.

More soon, back in L.A. now. Best,
Daniel!

LOS ANGELES - TRON LEGACY

Just have wrapped on Tron Legacy - after working for almost one entire year as the vehicle designer on this wonderful project. Thank you Disney for making it happen. And thanx to everybody on the team and crew, it was an incredible experience. More insights in 2011 !

So ... hope to see you camping the 17th of December 2010. God speed Digital Domain!

Ballz, Daniel

SAN DIEGO: MEET ME AT A BOOK SIGNING

I will sign books at the crazy Comic-Con fair in San Diego. Meet me at the DesignStudioPress booth, currently scheduled for Thursday July 23rd, 4pm.

Best, Daniel!

More info about the show here: Comic-Con Website

COSMIC MOTORS WALLPAPERS. FINALLY.

Hi! After so many people kicking frequently my cosmic ass, I cranked some night shifts and created a few Cosmic Motors full size wallpapers. More to come!

Click the link below to download full resolutions and enjoy. Frankly, looks best on your 30" at 2560 px.

Cosmic Motors Wallpapers here!

Gotta run, Daniel

MY FIRST TEST CANON 5D MkII

Yesterday, I rolled out my new Canon 5D MkII and stepped on a seductive battlefield... a friends fashion show in Los Angeles. That camera rocks. I still have to figure out some fancy features, but I caught fire and will return taking Cosmic Motors related beauty shots this summer. May the casting begin.

I shot this show opening in poor and warm stage lighting with 50mm at 1.4 aperture, 4000 ISO. No flash.

Best, Daniel

ALIAS AVAILABLE FOR MAC!

Alias, my preferred 3D software package, is now also available for native Mac. I will test it next week, I heard good things about it and prices went down. Thank you for putting the Galaxion car on the packaging. Btw, the final surfaces on that car were masterfully handled by Erik Viking Skoglund.

More about the new Alias 2010 here!

Best, Daniel

LOS ANGELES: INTERVIEW WITH SYD MEAD & DANIEL SIMON

The march issue No 189 of Japanese/English magazine CAR STYLING features a 14 pages article "Conversation between Syd Mead and Daniel Simon". The interview was initiated by Car Styling board Mr.Fujimoto, Mr. Matsunaga, Mr. Kaneko as well as Roger Servick and Michiko Durinski.

In "The essense of Concept Design" we chat about or design philosophy, job experiences and share thoughts about future and past. Mr. Mead and I know each other since a few years now and became friends, but never spoke together in public before.

Thank you for the wonderful afternoon at the L.A. Autoshow and the nice drinks you organized. Car Styling magazine is available worldwide in special bookstores or online - see below.

Best, Daniel

http://www.sydmead.com/

http://www.carstylingmag.com/

PUMA GLOBAL AD CAMPAIGN DESIGNED BY DANIEL SIMON

This is a recent design adventure into the world of sportswear - a global ad for PUMA. The project was directed by the danish agency Robert/Boisen. Posters should hit Puma stores around the globe this week.

I designed the legs following certain design briefings by the client. The given ad theme can be described as the following: Unveiling some uber-tech soccer boots that a fictive Puma research lab is developing secretly. But until these magic shoes are available in the far future, you better stick with the latest foot wear you find in Puma stores today.

For 3D modeling I relied on Autodesk AliasStudio 2009 software and rendered the final wire in Bunkspeed hyperShot Pro 1.5

Best, Daniel

design: Daniel Simon COSMIC MOTORS www.danielsimon.com
client: PUMA AG www.pumafootball.com
agency: ROBERT/BOISEN & Like-minded www.rblm.dk
modeling: AliasStudio2009 www.autodesk.com
rendering: hyperShot Pro www.bunkspeed.com

LOS ANGELES: DANIEL JOINS FILM UNION

I am happy to be accepted as a member of the American art directors guild, the IATSE Local 800. This allows me to legally work as a designer on U.S. feature films.
Best, Daniel

http://www.artdirectors.org/