Autodesk SketchBook Mobile software from Autodesk has surpassed one million downloads on the App Store since its debut on September 17. Autodesk SketchBook Mobile is a professional-grade paint and drawing app that offers a full set of sketching tools designed specifically for the iPhone and iPod touch. Read More…

To give us some perspective on the massive social and economic impact of pollution throughout China, Shanghaiist turned to photographer Lu Guang’s “Pollution in China” project. Lu won this year’s $30,000 W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography from the Asia Society in New York. His project documents families, farmers, industrial districts, rivers, the countryside, cancer patients, children; anyone and everything affected by pollution across China. Read More…

The International Union of Architects is launching a student competition to re-create 20th-century architectural icons with image models. The entries must be based on digital photographs using Autodesk ImageModeler® and Autodesk Stitcher® Unlimited software, which will be provided free for the competition. Read More…

Vik Muniz makes art from pretty much anything, be it shredded paper, wire, clouds or diamonds. Here, he describes the thinking behind his work and takes us on a tour of his incredible images. Read More…

• Since I’ve handed in my thesis, I can finally go back to playing Bass! Come check it out: May 3rd (Sunday), 54 Hengshan Road, from 2 to 6PM #
• [Typography] Univers Revolved (Characters designed be read in both left-to-right and right-to-left) http://www.cpluv.com/www/feeditem/7586 #
• [China, Shanghai] The Shanghai World Expo Theme Song: ?? (lots of dancing that doesn’t quite match the tempo of the music) http://tinyurl.com/d6lcb8 #
• [China] China “Come Out! Come Out!”: This year marks the 20th anniversary of the nationwide, student-led .. http://tinyurl.com/cleynx #
• [Technology] China “Come Out! Come Out!”: This year marks the 20th anniversary of the nationwide, st.. http://tinyurl.com/cleynx #
• http://twitpic.com/4bnrk – Public Health in China: condoms machine #
• http://twitpic.com/4bmpu – Mao suits at Starbucks: Shanghai, May 1st 2009 #
• [#China, #News] Database to track children (DNA database to trace missing children,tackle people trafficking) http://tinyurl.com/cyomue #
• [#News, #China] PMI of manufacturing sector rises for 5th straight month (Index reached 53.5% in April) http://tinyurl.com/d393lm #
• [#China] Spitting now incurs heavy fine in Shanghai (Rules enforced ban spitting and other anti-social behaviors) http://tinyurl.com/crra9z #
• [#China] Shanghai may offer more car plates to spur spending (Environment to take the toll of economic stimulus) http://tinyurl.com/cdkczs #
• [#Media, #Advertising] Online Video: Why Advertisers Have It All Wrong (from “Advertising Age”) http://tinyurl.com/c54uum #
• [#design] DD4D: Data Design for Decisions (Conference for intermediaries between data, knowledge and empowerment) http://tinyurl.com/dm9hwa #
• [#Business, #Design] Is Design Too Important To Be Left Only To Designers? (from BusinessWeek, by Bruce Nussbaum) http://tinyurl.com/cvb7wa #
• [Business, Design, Visualization] Can Computers Analyze Data? (from Visual Business Intelligence, by Bryan Pierce) http://tinyurl.com/db3yxb #
• [Technology] NES gamepad mouse is the most amazing piece of industrial design in the history of huma.. http://tinyurl.com/d7ds46 #

Jos Stam, Senior Research Scientist at Autodesk, wonders whether photography is, in fact, the best way to depict reality. Jos was invited to comment as part of the Photography Changes Everything initiative from the Smithsonian Institute. Read More…

The photo director for National Geographic, David Griffin knows the power of photography to connect us to our world. In a talk filled with glorious images, he talks about how we all use photos to tell our stories. Read More…

Blaise Aguera y Arcas leads a dazzling demo of Photosynth, software that could transform the way we look at digital images. Using still photos culled from the Web, Photosynth builds breathtaking dreamscapes and lets us navigate them. Read More…

Membership for what is being touted as the country’s first private helicopter club will open soon. The club is affiliated to a private heliport opened in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, under the Ruohang Transportation Development Co. “Our membership plan will be formally made known to the public this weekend and its initial terms for receiving application will be mainly targeted at those interested in flying or wanting to buy helicopters,” Lu Yong, the executive director of Ruohang, told China Daily recently. Read More…

Rob Forbes, the founder of Design Within Reach, shows a gallery of snapshots that inform his way of seeing the world. Charming juxtapositions, found art, urban patterns — this slideshow will open your eyes to the world around you. Read More…