In Civil War, Framestore brings Washington, D.C., to life with groundbreaking VFX that seamlessly integrates with in-camera action. The team crafted an extensive 13-square-mile digital version of the capital, recreating 75 iconic monuments and procedurally modeling every detail, from building heights and window sizes to street lamps and traffic signals. Nearly 18,000 trees were meticulously placed, matching their real-world locations.Attention to detail also extended to the insides of buildings, which added emergency exit signs, cluttered desks, air-conditioning units, and mixed lighting to offices to bring in that extra layer of reality. This helped in vividly portraying a busy, inhabited city suddenly frozen over, which enhanced the films dramatic tension.This masterful blend of invisible VFX and practical filmmaking is a testament to Framestores unparalleled expertise in crafting immersive worlds, making Washington, D.C., a character as compelling as the heroes battling to save it.The post Civil War Washington: VFX Breakdown by Framestore appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Prepare for a thrilling story of isolation, mystery, and survival with The Gorge, premiering February 14 on Apple TV+. Starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, the film follows two elite operatives stationed in guard towers on opposite sides of a classified gorge. Charged with protecting the world from an enigmatic and sinister force hidden within, they form a bond from afar while remaining vigilant against an unseen adversary. With the true nature of the threat revealed, the two are now forced to work together in an epic battle to save the human race and to preserve the secret within the gorge.Directed by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange), The Gorge is written by Zach Dean and produced by Skydance Medias David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Don Granger, along with Derricksons Crooked Highway team and other industry powerhouses. This Apple Original Film promises to deliver suspense and cinematic brilliance.The post The Gorge: A Thrilling Apple TV+ Original appeared first on Vfxexpress.

Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. This holiday season, social media influencers are hopping aboard a vintage New York City subway train to travel back in time, taking to TikTok and Instagram to share their outfits and experiences.If you are looking for something unique to do in New York over the holidays, this may be it: You too can ride the New York Transit Museums Holiday Nostalgia Train, which operates annual holiday-themed train cars decorated for Christmas in the style of the 1930s.The trains, which depart from the 2ndAvenue Houston Street station on the uptown F line and the 96thStreet 2ndAvenue station on the Q line, run every Sunday in December. And the cost to ride is just a MetroCard swipe.One user on TikTok posted scenes of festive New Yorkers, some in old wartime vintage suits and women dressed up in circa 1930s outfits, walking through the train cars alongside people in regular clothes. Another TikToker walked her followers through a makeup and clothing tutorial on how to dress for the big event. A third posted a short video of people dancing, a band, people taking photos, and the trains conductor.If youd like to take your own trip, heres the schedule and the route for the holiday rides:New York holiday train scheduleCatch the vintage train between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 15, 22,and 29.The Holiday Nostalgia Train departsfrom the 2ndAvenue Houston Street station on the uptown F line in lower Manhattan at:10 a.m.12 p.m.2 p.m.4 p.m.The Holiday Nostalgia Train departs from the 96thStreet 2ndAvenue station on the Q line at:11 a.m.1 p.m.3 p.m.5 p.m.New York holiday train routePassengers can board the Holiday Nostalgia Train along its route at any of the stations below:Uptown stops:2ndAvenue Houston Street (F)Broadway Lafayette Street (D/F, 6)West 4thStreet Washington Square (A/C/E, D/F)34thStreet Herald Square (D/F, N/Q/R)42ndStreet Bryant Park (A/C/E, D/F, N/Q/R, S, 7)47th 50thStreets Rockefeller Center (D/F)57thStreet 6thAvenue (F)Lexington Avenue 63rdStreet (F, Q)72ndStreet 2ndAvenue (Q)86thStreet 2ndAvenue (Q)96thStreet 2ndAvenue (Q)Downtown stops:96thStreet 2ndAvenue (Q)86thStreet 2ndAvenue (Q)72ndStreet 2ndAvenue (Q)Lexington Avenue 63rdStreet (F, Q)57thStreet 6thAvenue (F)47th 50thStreets Rockefeller Center (D/F)42ndStreet Bryant Park (A/C/E, D/F, N/Q/R, S, 7)34thStreet Herald Square (D/F, N/Q/R)West 4thStreet Washington Square (A/C/E, D/F)Broadway Lafayette Street (D/F, 6)2ndAvenue Houston Street (F)The New York subway is having a momentNot to be outdone, celebrities have been taking to social media to document their own outfits underground on the normal New York subway. Last week, pop singerOlivia Rodrigotook Instagram to post her own incredibly chic retro outfit while riding the subway to celebrate her collaboration with Sony Electronics (her outfit, a navy dress with white polka dots, a leopard-print purse, and black Mary Jane shoes, perfectly blended the current mob-wife aesthetic with retro schoolgirl trends, according toCosmopolitan). It soon went viral. And isnt that what every social media influencer wants for Christmas?

As we look back on 2024, its surprising how frequently McDonalds has played a role in major news events.From high prices to a food recall, the campaign trail to the stunning capture of the suspect in the healthcare CEO shootingall roads seem to lead to the Golden Arches.Perhaps there is nothing more American than McDonalds, and like many consumers, who seem to be dusting themselves off after a difficult year, the Golden Arches heads into 2025 in decent shape . . . despite it all.Here is a recap of some of the biggest McDonalds stories this year.Inflation plagues consumers and McDonalds prices soarMcDonalds faced backlash this year over its $18 Big Macs, leaving many price-conscious customers questioningwhether it was still worth the cost. Faced with inflation and the high cost of living, customers just werent having it.In order to counteract the bad publicity it was receiving, McDonalds rolled out a $5 meal dealwhich seemed to win over at least some customers and gave the stock a boost as Americans came back for the more affordable burgers.While fast-food prices have been on the rise across the board over the past decade, McDonalds menu prices had the highest increases, doubling since 2014 for its most popular menu items. McDonalds, however, has refuted that statistic,calling it significantly inflated andsaying earlier this yearthat the price of a Big Mac had risen 21% since 2019 (from $4.39 to $5.29).It also unveiled a new fan favorite, the Chicken Big Mac. Looking ahead, McDonalds could continue to play a role in the national debate over our health and food supply, for better or worseespecially if Robert Kennedy Jr. is appointed head of Health and Human Services since he continues to scorn Trumps weakness for fast food, literally calling Big Macs poison.McDonalds Quarter Pounders linked to an E. coli crisisIn a year with more than 300 food recalls, none seemed as well publicized, or as lamented, as the McDonalds Quarter Pounder recall in October. The fast-food chains stock price plummeted after it became the center of a full-on E. coli outbreak, linked to onions on its Quarter Pounders. In the end, a significant number of people were affected across 14 states: 104 people became sick, 34 were hospitalized, and one person died. Trump serves fries at McDonalds on the campaign trailMcDonalds also played a role in the 2024 presidential campaign, when then-Republican nominee Donald Trump tried his hand atoperating the fry machineat one of the fast-food giants Pennsylvania locations and held a press conference at the drive-thru window. The visit was largely seen as a way to counter, without evidence, stories of Democratic nominee Kamala Harriss having worked at McDonalds one summer while in college.Around the same time, the McDonalds chronically broken ice cream machines became a rallying cry for Trump, who posted on X,WHEN IM PRESIDENT THE MCDONALDS ICE CREAM MACHINES WILL WORK GREAT AGAIN! (Their reliable unreliability was a source of jokes and memes, and even inspired McBroken, anonline tracker). In the end, however, it was the Biden administration that ended up fixing the machines.Trump called attention to Mickey Ds throughout his campaign, often having his staff pick up Big Macs and Filet-o-Fish sandwiches to serve on his plane.Luigi Mangione is arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonaldsWhen law enforcement officials firstarrested Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, many people were surprised that Mangione, who had alluded police for five days, was found at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania.He was just sitting there eating, said Joseph Kenny, the New York Police Departments chief of detectives.It was also surprising who found him. Police, who received hundreds of tips and processed forensic evidence including DNA, fingerprints, and ID addresses in the course of its manhunt, eventually found Mangione after a tip from a local McDonalds employeewhich seems like a fitting end to both the manhunt and McDonalds 2024 year in news.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Mexican architect Frida Escobedo have released designs of a limestone-clad expansion to the Tang Wing, the first wing designed by a woman in the museum's 154-year history.The design comprises the renovation and expansion of the pre-existing modern and contemporary wing of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), which is notched into the southwest corner of the 21-building complex.Frida Escobedo has released designs of the expanded Tang Wing at the MetFunded largely by Oscar L Tang and HM Agnes Hsu-Tang, the expansion will increase the wing's gallery space by 50 per cent and is the first to be designed by a woman in the museum's history."Our goal has been to create a building that fully meets the needs and aspirations of The Met, weaving together vital connections between the Modern and Contemporary Art galleries and other areas of the Museum and at the same time expressing the special significance of the Tang Wing's place in the city," said EscobedoThe project encompasses renovating and expanding an existing wing located in the museum's southwest corner"The wing is in New York, yet of the world; it reflects the global nature of this great collection and also draws inspiration from The Met's unique surroundings," Escobedo continued.Renderings show a building comprised of five, tiered floors wrapped in a limestone "architectural screen". Large, rectangular windows punctuate the exterior intermittently, placed strategically to reduce solar gain to protect artwork inside.Read: "I didn't know I was going to be an architect" says Frida EscobedoOutdoor terraces and garden are located on top of the fourth and fifth-floor setbacks and will be coupled with improvements to ground-floor landscaping of the surrounding Central Park.Inside, the studio will increase accessibility between spaces, which is currently hampered by its layout of elevators, stairs, restrooms and mechanical spaces.Varying ceiling heights will accommodate small and large-scale worksSeven different architectural studios have worked on the complex since the late 19th century, and Escobedo will respond to the historic context through material and massing.Its facade, or limestone "celosa", will pay homage to a "universal architectural language" while responding to sunlight and integrating with the surrounding architectural design by Richard Morris Hunt and McKim, Mead and White, according to The Met.The design's setbacks take cues from the Roche Dinkeloo 1971 master plan for The Met, which called for "solids and voids", according to the museum.Large, rectangular windows will afford views of Central Park"Comprising a three-story base with a recessed fourth floor and a further setback fifth floor, the scaled facade takes its cues from the Roche Dinkeloo visionary 1971 master plan, which calls for a rhythm of solids and voids, as exemplified through the use of glass and limestone in the seven buildings Kevin Roche designed," said The Met.The interior will feature ceiling heights ranging from 11 to 22 feet (3.3 to 6.7 metres) to accommodate large-scale pieces, as well an additional elevator, more entry points and "better" circulation routes to improve wayfinding for visitors.The building is set to open in 2030The release follows the announcement of Escobedo's selection for the project in 2022 after it had to drop a design by David Chipperfield Architects due to growing costs and lack of funding.The building is set to open in 2030.Recently, The Met showcased a Sleeping Beauties exhibition spanning four centuries of fashion and added an interactive children's space designed by KOKO ArchitectureThe images are by Filippo BologneseThe post Designs released of Frida Escobedo's limestone-clad wing for The Met appeared first on Dezeen.

Local art collective Xpan has created a multi-purpose creative studio called Xpan.Ep.1 in Mexico City using raw steel, aluminium, and transparent polycarbonate panels for its interior.Located in the Roma Norte neighbourhood of Mexico City, Xpan Espacio Pblico Uno (Xpan.Ep.1) is a studio and event space founded by the Xpan collective and led by Hadid that showcases rotating installations of clothing, objects, books, design, and other creative projects by designers and artists within the local community.Moiss Sacal Hadid and the Xpan collective have created a multi-purpose creative space in Mexico CityXpan created a sense of "monotony and monochromaticity" within the narrow footprint of Xpan.Ep.1 by using a pared-down material palette of transparent polycarbonate panels, aluminium, and steel.The polycarbonate panels were used to line the walls and ceilings of the space, while skeletal central couches, shelving and fixtures are made of metal.It is lined with polycarbonate panels"The design of Xpan.Ep.1 manifests as a translucent polycarbonate tunnel, defined by its monotony and monochromaticity, producing the illusion of an infinite void," Xpan founder Moiss Sacal Hadid told Dezeen."The spatial configuration was determined by the imperative of creating a modular and versatile structure, capable of hosting an extensive spectrum of artistic works emerging from the interconnected network of creators within Xpan."A row of speakers runs down the centre of the ceilingThe space is further defined by a row of speakers affixed to the ceiling that runs down its centre and concludes in a cascade of wires connected to a metallic deck below.Two larger speakers sit on either side, while small shelves hold flowers or objects above it.Read: Aprdelesp forefronts "overlooked" electrical accessories in Mexico City exhibitionAs the space is designed to be multipurpose, adjustments can made to accommodate different installations. For instance, straight, metal hooks can be inserted into the walls to display clothing, while shelving can be removed.The space's central couches, one of which is shown draped in a gauzy fabric, can also be removed to open up the space for a music performance or event.A shelving system can be adjusted depending on the installation or eventLighting also runs the length of the walls and ceiling, tucked between the polycarbonate cladding and structural walls.Xpan.Ep.1was born out of a need for a more permanent space to host events within Hadid's local community.Lighting sits in between the structure and cladding"Xpan.Ep.1 is our first permanent multipurpose project space open everyday to our community and the general public," said Hadid."We've been collaborating with around 170 artist in around 40 activations in the last 3 years and an open space like this was a necessary next step both for us and our increasing creative community."Elsewhere in Mexico City, local studio Aprdelesp displayed a collection of colourful wall outlets as part of an exploration of the often overlooked design element and Mexican designers considered "the house of the future" as part of the city's design week.The photography is by Jose Dario FernandezThe post Xpan produces "illusion of infinite void" in Mexico City studio appeared first on Dezeen.

NASA's got a sense of humor. This holiday season, the company is offering up their version of the Yule Log. But rather than burning firewood, the NASA Rocket Engine Fireplace will keep you (visually) toasty with the Artemis I's propulsion source:"Technically, this fireplace packs the heat of FOUR RS-25 rocket engines and a pair of solid rocket boosters just enough to get you to the Moon. (And get through the holidays with your in-laws.)"The oddly soothing video is here.

I keep waiting for the clothes valet to make a comeback; it might be the piece of furniture I've covered the most. The object would be a useful place to toss clothes that are not dirty enough to launder, but not clean enough to go back in the drawer.As Simone Giertz has observed, most folks simply use a chair for this task. She resolved to design something more elegant, and her clever solution features a swiveling portion that can be deployed for clothes duty as needed.Here she walks you through her design processas you'd expect, it took a while to arrive at the final designand shows you how she built it:"I just love the idea of not designing for the perfect day, but for the normal day," says Giertz.Her Instagram video of the chair has gone viral, with over 400,000 likes at press time. Multiple followers have commented that this is furniture design for real life, and unsurprisingly, lots of people want to order the chair. (At press time Giertz hadn't announced any production plans.)

Dubbed the Ramblenook Camper, this cozy little home was built from the shell of an old cargo trailer. It is partially a tiny home, and partially a camper, and is equipped with a seating and sleeping area as well as some cooking facilities in a compact space of 8 feet. The home is built from a single-axle cargo trailer that was built in 2003. Holes had to be repaired in its metal exterior, and a new coat of paint was applied to restore the trailer. A small storage box was installed outside as well.Designer: Quest CampersAlthough the structure is called a tiny home, it does seem more like a camper and isnt suitable for full-time living. Unless youre a thoroughbred minimalist who doesnt mind downsizing entirely. It features an interior height of 5.4 feet and includes one door and a hatch at the back. A ceiling fan has been installed for ventilation. The interior occupies around 40 square feet, and most of this space is consumed by a bench seating area, as well as some shelving, cabinetry, and drawers. An oak wood table can be stored away when not needed, or used as a double bed.The kitchen is quite basic, and it includes a mini-sink and a propane-powered stove. It also contains a small camping toilet, which is concealed away. The towable features a solar panel system and batteries to supply power. It also includes a small space heater, multiple power outlets, a greywater tank, and freshwater tanks for water. A small awning has been attached to the roof at the rear hatch, which offers more exterior space, making meal prep ease. The tiny home is currently up for salefor US$11,000.The post This Super Tiny Home Was Once An Old Cargo Trailer first appeared on Yanko Design.

In the late 90s and 2000s Nokia was the best-selling phone brand with over 40 percent market share. That dominance however faded away as Samsung, Apple, and other aggressive Chinese OEMs took away the market share. The Finnish brand has made steady strides after being acquired by HMD Global, focusing on value, durability, and software experience.To remember the glory years of Nokia, Helsinki-based Aalto University (a renowned research school) has launched the Nokia Design Archive to maintain a repository of 20,000 items from the brand during the period of the mid-90s to 2017. This includes secret Nokia concepts and materials maintained in a digital format. Users will also be able to get access to the ideation, sketches, and designer interviews starting January 15 next year.Designer: Nokia/Aalto UniversityAccording to Kaisu Savola, Aalto University post-doctoral researcher, Technology doesnt just shape us; we shape technology. When we started the project, the focus was on objects. As we began going through the material, we soon realized that it was about people. The highlight of the archive will be the Nokia 3310 brick phone, the Nokia 8810 banana phone used by Keanu Reaves in The 1999 The Matrix movie, and the Nokia 7280 lipstick phone that was a bold choice for millennials.The motive of this research initially was on objects but transitioning through the material made the team realize it was more about people. During the first phase, the online portal will have a fraction of the stories, images, prototypes licensed by Microsoft Mobile, and later on more Nokia stories will be added. The digital files will amount to 959GB of valuable repository thatll take loyal fans back in time.We at Yanko Design just cant wait to go through the preserved material of the Nokia N83, more commonly known as the multimedia computer of the Symbian Series 60. Similarly, the Nokia 3210 released in 1999 ushered in an era of phone customization and had an interesting piece of history associated with it. Another unforgettable piece of Nokias legacy is the factory ringtone. the 1902 Gran Vals by Francisco Trrega that was heard approximately 1.8 bn times a day around the globe. Also, the sneak peek at the wildest concept ideas like virtual reality glasses from the Finnish brands glory years is going to be a nostalgic ride down memory lane!The post Nokia Design Archive ushers nostalgic memories of the exciting cellphone era first appeared on Yanko Design.