Whitworth and I : wandi 2.0 : Graphic Design news from Sonoma, Calif.

Centre du Vin Universe

We like the new treatment Francois de Tessan dreamed up for the restaurant at the Ledson Hotel on Sonoma Plaza. Lighter, brighter, snazzier, jazzier - really catches your eye. It's called Centre du Vin.

And I (Jeri Lynn) like how Tom (Whitworth) pictured it for him so he could pull it all together in just a couple of weeks  - in time for the film festival opening. It even looks like this in real life. Check it out next time you're on the Plaza in Sonoma. You can't miss it.

[Update: Oh my, already we have to qualify our thumbs up for the new look at Centre du Vin. We were shocked and amazed yesterday to see that the new awning has morphed into some honking RED thang from it's previously discreet but snazzy self. Hmmph. Well, who knows? Still like Tom's pic.]

[P.S.: This is a rather belated post script. It turns out the amazingly big weird red awning was short-lived, and all was quickly back to snazzy nouveau normal. And we hear the new menu is nice! Have you been by to check it out yet?]

More Views of Legacy Park Mosaic Animals

Robin Indar, the mosaic artist who made the larger than life animal sculptures installed in Malibu Legacy Park last fall, has posted some more views of the animals that we think are pretty fun.

Tom designed the sculptures in preparation for Robin's work, and it's exciting to see the finished sculptures.

Here's Robin's video. Enjoy.

on Tom Whitworth's blog:
Malibu sketchbook
Legacy Park animals

on wandi 2.0:
Legacy Park animals hit the road

Drawing alternative energy

Frank Binney is an interpretive writer and long time caver. I worked with him in the past to dream up and draw exhibits to be installed in the new National Cave & Karst Research Institute under construction in New Mexico.

The building will feature a Ground Source Heat Pump which exploits the fact that the constant temperature under ground - in a cave say - is an average of the summer/winter extremes above ground. So using some sort of exchange medium you can cool a building in summer and heat it in winter with a lot less energy.

Frank needed a drawing of a simple interpretive panel to explain to visitors how it works, bearing in mind that most people spend 45 seconds tops at each display in a visitors centers or museum. ( Advertisers have known this for years).

So here's my series of sketches that led to the drawing at the bottom, which Frank sent to the client as part of his proposal - to help sell the idea.

- Tom