Popular Norwegian photographer Kimm Saatvedt has got a website to which other photographers should aspire.

Why clutter the screen with writing, navigation…anything really, when you’re a photographer and your photos are what you’re trying to promote? Kimm has nailed it.

Two full-screen shots grace every step of the portfolio section of the site and until you scroll over the center of the screen, you see nothing but the glorious photos themselves.

The navigation is minimal, but functional: a thin black line contains all the links you need, for contact info, blog and forward and backward movement. Simple and elegant.

Check out v9 here!

It’s true that I just wrote about Simon Hoegsberg for VewdNews, but I’ve found another project of his that is just beautiful.

For Vewd I took a look at “We’re All Gonna Die - 100 meters of existence,” an image that incorporates 178 people in a 100 meters-long panoramic.

Now I’d like you to take a look at “The Thought Project.”

From Simon’s website: “Over a period of 3 months I stopped 150 strangers on the street and asked them what they were thinking about the second before I stopped them.” He snapped their photo, took down their responses and chose 55 accounts that are featured here.

This is such a personal project–you are given an insight into exactly what someone was thinking, or daydreaming, or worrying about. Not only that, but Simon had such an intimate interaction with them as he spoke to and photographed them!

A voyeuristic project, sure, but also a touching, snapshot of life.

Man, I wish I had thought of this. Jason Sadler is a genius.

Jason runs the website I Wear Your Shirt. Jason is selling himself (well, his ability to wear a t-shirt) for a pretty penny and in return he markets your business. I Wear Your Shirt is the latest, greatest money-maker.

In his words: “Well it’s a pretty simple idea and I’m a pretty simple guy. For 2009, I am selling the upper-half of my wardrobe (shirts). I am selling every day of the year at face value, so January 1 is $1 and December 31 is $365. I will be selling all 365 days without exception!

So what do you get for the day(s) you purchased? Well I’m glad you asked. You mail me your shirt (size: X-Large) and you get:

• Daily Video on YouTube & Ustream.tv
• Daily Photos on the blog & Flickr
• Daily Posts on the blog & Twitter
• Calendar (You/Your Company’s Logo & Website)
• All of these with me wearing your shirt and information about you, your company and/or your product.

If you have something fun to send, feel free to include with your shirt: ie - other items of clothing, your company branded stress ball or even your custom bedazzled iPhone case! Also, I’ve got a very flexible schedule, so if you are interested in having me come to you or your place of business email me, I’ll bring my video camera and document the entire trip.

It is no secret, I am not a rock star, professional athlete, male model or anything internet spectacular. But I do have a passion for marketing, I find myself to be a pretty active guy and like achieving interesting goals.”

Sounds simple and almost juvenile, but he’s sold out through July already! Check it out!

I’m absolutely smitten with the website of graphic designer Ben Barry. So colorful, so simple, so informative!

After you are greeted and assured, “Yes We’re Open,” you can have a look at Ben’s extensive portfolio, his resume and a nice collection of links.

In all seriousness: the way in which you can navigate through his portfolio brings a tear to my eye. A gem, indeed.

Some mind-boggling illustration in the portfolio of Stefan Venbroek. Check out the Riverside illustration below. It’s a layered, collaged, super-detailed work of art.

You can get lost in work like Stefan’s.

I’ve seen plenty of posts about ZERO PER ZERO’s City Railway System projects. I’m glad folks led me to the ZPZ website, but mainly I’m glad that via the ZPZ site I found the illustrations of Jin Sol.

Sol is half of the ZPZ team (the other half is Kim Ji-Hwan) and a stellar artist on her own. Check out the drawings below and make sure you take a peek at her own website.

My favorites are the drawings of cities featuring major roadways and important landmarks, like the California image above.

Check out this packaging design by Patrick McKeever. A little bit of conversation going on over at Dieline.com, but aside from the funky shape of the box and its disadvantage to stocking grocery shelves, the idea to turn control portion size with the box-top is simply genius.

What do you think? Did Patrick miss the boat when he created the unique, angular box? Is he right on the money? Would his design be on every shelf if he had just stuck with the old-standard, rectangular cereal box and implemented his portion-controlled top?

Okay, I’m torn.

I am in love with Tommaso Ceschi’s overall concept: creative packaging that echoes something inherent about a brand and can also be reused (instead of thrown away). Mr. Clean, associated with “strength and physical power concepts, well represented by the famous bald muscle man logo.”

The packaging is colorful, fresh and new. It encourages exercise, praises strength (especially in women, based on the illustrations that accompany the product).

But.

In the same breath that encourages something progressive with activity, exercise and strength…you can’t help but notice the stereotype still embedded with the design. Why are all the illustrations of women? Why is every person using the packaging as a dumbbell a woman?

Men can’t clean, too? Men can’t benefit from the package’s reuse? I think not. How difficult would it have been to include an illustration of a man working his triceps?

Sigh. I love the packaging, I do. But push the envelope. Break a stereotype. We no longer live in the world our parents and grandparents grew up in. Advertising and packaging and everything else should include a more progressive spin. This concept for me is great, but it could have easily been excellent.

An amazing lecture at TED.com from the well-known designer Paula Scher.

Do you identify with her comparison of serious vs. solemn work?

Such a clever idea and eye-catching poster!

A personal study of the a-holes by Alberto Garcia (NOMO) is a treat!

Also worth mentioning: the unhole e’s

via SwissMiss