Henri Rousseau: A Self-Taught Genius
Henri Julien Félix Rousseau (1844–1910) began painting at the age of 40, just to entertain himself during his free time outside of his job as a Paris tax officer. Little did he know that he would become a significant figure in art history as the founder of Naïve style!
His legendary jungle scenes, such as The Dream (1910) and The Sleeping Gypsy (1897), were not depictions of the real world but of an inner Eden. His artworks gained recognition among avant-garde poets and artists, including Guillaume Apollinaire and Paul Guillaume, and culminated in an iconic banquet held in his honor by Pablo Picasso in 1908.
Henri Rousseau painted not to impress, but to express. In doing so, he helped usher in the age of modernism, proving that the eye of the dreamer can see what the trained gaze sometimes cannot!
#DAFESLearning
Henri Julien Félix Rousseau (1844–1910) began painting at the age of 40, just to entertain himself during his free time outside of his job as a Paris tax officer. Little did he know that he would become a significant figure in art history as the founder of Naïve style!
His legendary jungle scenes, such as The Dream (1910) and The Sleeping Gypsy (1897), were not depictions of the real world but of an inner Eden. His artworks gained recognition among avant-garde poets and artists, including Guillaume Apollinaire and Paul Guillaume, and culminated in an iconic banquet held in his honor by Pablo Picasso in 1908.
Henri Rousseau painted not to impress, but to express. In doing so, he helped usher in the age of modernism, proving that the eye of the dreamer can see what the trained gaze sometimes cannot!
#DAFESLearning
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OPEN CALL: Infographics
Infographics are visual representations of information that help people better understand and evaluate complex data or concepts. Using infographics in education, business, advertising, or science makes communication more visual and practical.
Specialists from various fields of visual communications are welcome to submit their works for this nomination to share their achievements in this area.
Requirements:
- Open to all genders, ages, nationalities, or professional levels.
- Both concepts and projects that have been implemented or published between November 1, 2023, and October 12, 2025, are accepted.
- The subject matter of the project is not limited.
- Submission deadline: October 12
Don’t wait until the last minute, apply today via the link!
DAFES AWARDS is an international competition that celebrates creative achievements and supports professional growth in design, art, fashion, education, and startups.
#DAFESAWARDS
Infographics are visual representations of information that help people better understand and evaluate complex data or concepts. Using infographics in education, business, advertising, or science makes communication more visual and practical.
Specialists from various fields of visual communications are welcome to submit their works for this nomination to share their achievements in this area.
Requirements:
- Open to all genders, ages, nationalities, or professional levels.
- Both concepts and projects that have been implemented or published between November 1, 2023, and October 12, 2025, are accepted.
- The subject matter of the project is not limited.
- Submission deadline: October 12
Don’t wait until the last minute, apply today via the link!
DAFES AWARDS is an international competition that celebrates creative achievements and supports professional growth in design, art, fashion, education, and startups.
#DAFESAWARDS
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THE WORST DESIGN OF AUGUST
In our monthly section, we spotlight the strangest, most illogical, or just hilariously useless design ideas — not to mock, but to sharpen our sense of taste and purpose.
Subway for cats
Chinese YouTuber Xing’s World built a fully functional underground metro system for cats. Four months, 3D-printed doors, a working escalator — impressive engineering, but… do cats really need this?
Sidewalk block sandals
Thai brand PDM designed sandals shaped like zigzag paving blocks. The idea? Walk around and literally fill in the sidewalk gaps with your feet. Practical? No. Attention-grabbing? Definitely.
GamiFries for Nintendo Switch 2
Fan-artist 7R135 created a 3D-printed fry holder that magnetically clips to your console. Because what’s better than gaming? Gaming with fries — hands-free.
What’s your pick for the worst design of the month? Share in comments!
#DAFESNewsDigest #DesignGoneWrong
In our monthly section, we spotlight the strangest, most illogical, or just hilariously useless design ideas — not to mock, but to sharpen our sense of taste and purpose.
Subway for cats
Chinese YouTuber Xing’s World built a fully functional underground metro system for cats. Four months, 3D-printed doors, a working escalator — impressive engineering, but… do cats really need this?
Sidewalk block sandals
Thai brand PDM designed sandals shaped like zigzag paving blocks. The idea? Walk around and literally fill in the sidewalk gaps with your feet. Practical? No. Attention-grabbing? Definitely.
GamiFries for Nintendo Switch 2
Fan-artist 7R135 created a 3D-printed fry holder that magnetically clips to your console. Because what’s better than gaming? Gaming with fries — hands-free.
What’s your pick for the worst design of the month? Share in comments!
#DAFESNewsDigest #DesignGoneWrong
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WEEKEND READING: "The Color Black: Antinomies of a Color in Architecture and Art",
MACK Books (2024)
This book offers a profound and visually rich exploration of the colour black in art and architecture. It features two essays: one by architect and critic Mohsen Mostafavi, the other by art historian Max Raphael.
Mostafavi reveals how black operates as both a visual language and a conceptual force — at once emotional, political, and spatial.
Max Raphael approaches black empirically. His observations of Old Masters propose a radical theory of form that continues to resonate with contemporary architects and artists alike.
This is not just a book about colour. It’s a book about how ideas travel — across disciplines, geographies, and generations.
#WeekendRecommendation
MACK Books (2024)
This book offers a profound and visually rich exploration of the colour black in art and architecture. It features two essays: one by architect and critic Mohsen Mostafavi, the other by art historian Max Raphael.
Mostafavi reveals how black operates as both a visual language and a conceptual force — at once emotional, political, and spatial.
Max Raphael approaches black empirically. His observations of Old Masters propose a radical theory of form that continues to resonate with contemporary architects and artists alike.
This is not just a book about colour. It’s a book about how ideas travel — across disciplines, geographies, and generations.
#WeekendRecommendation
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“Packaging Design” Winner of the “DAFES Choice. June 2025” award (3rd place)
"MELLOW. Yogurt" transforms an everyday product into a design object. Dessert is packed into a transparent spherical capsule, divided into two sections: the base yogurt and a flavorful topping. The form emphasizes curiosity and sharing, while the clear surface showcases natural textures — from dried mango pieces to strawberry pearls and chocolate shavings. This packaging invites users not only to mix flavors but also to share with others and discover new taste combinations.
Because true happiness lies in sharing!
Are you working in product design?
Now you can showcase your creativity at DAFES AWARDS 2025 in the “Packaging Design” nomination. Applications are free, with no age, nationality, or professional level limits. The deadline is October 12.
Don't wait until the last minute, submit your work now!
Explore more open calls for designers via the link.
#DAFESTalents #DAFESChoice
"MELLOW. Yogurt" transforms an everyday product into a design object. Dessert is packed into a transparent spherical capsule, divided into two sections: the base yogurt and a flavorful topping. The form emphasizes curiosity and sharing, while the clear surface showcases natural textures — from dried mango pieces to strawberry pearls and chocolate shavings. This packaging invites users not only to mix flavors but also to share with others and discover new taste combinations.
Because true happiness lies in sharing!
Are you working in product design?
Now you can showcase your creativity at DAFES AWARDS 2025 in the “Packaging Design” nomination. Applications are free, with no age, nationality, or professional level limits. The deadline is October 12.
Don't wait until the last minute, submit your work now!
Explore more open calls for designers via the link.
#DAFESTalents #DAFESChoice
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Winner of DAFES Choice. June 2025 (3rd place)
KaoYao by Luiza Grigoryan is a web art exploration of the cultural and linguistic peculiarities of kaomoji — the Japanese emoticon system that goes beyond standard symbols. By integrating body language into text combinations, kaomoji convey not only basic emotions but also subtle nuances: intonation, facial expressions, and gestures.
Using the webcam on the site, users receive a kaomoji that matches their mood. Computer vision reads facial expressions in real-time, identifying the spectrum of emotional states, while the website’s algorithm generates complex composite kaomoji.
Relying on unique denoscriptions of emotions in different languages, the Mistral language model suggests names and denoscriptions for the kaomoji.
Are you working with motion design?
Submit your projects to DAFES AWARDS 2025 in the Motion Design nomination. No age, nationality, or professional limits. Participation is free. The deadline is October 12.
#DAFESChoice #DAFESAwards
KaoYao by Luiza Grigoryan is a web art exploration of the cultural and linguistic peculiarities of kaomoji — the Japanese emoticon system that goes beyond standard symbols. By integrating body language into text combinations, kaomoji convey not only basic emotions but also subtle nuances: intonation, facial expressions, and gestures.
Using the webcam on the site, users receive a kaomoji that matches their mood. Computer vision reads facial expressions in real-time, identifying the spectrum of emotional states, while the website’s algorithm generates complex composite kaomoji.
Relying on unique denoscriptions of emotions in different languages, the Mistral language model suggests names and denoscriptions for the kaomoji.
Are you working with motion design?
Submit your projects to DAFES AWARDS 2025 in the Motion Design nomination. No age, nationality, or professional limits. Participation is free. The deadline is October 12.
#DAFESChoice #DAFESAwards
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Masters of the Medium: Gerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter (b. 1932) is among the most influential living painters of the 20th century. His path to art began in childhood and, despite an academic education, he became best known for his abstract works. At the heart of his practice lies a dialogue between realism and abstraction.
Richter worked alongside—but never fully embraced—the rapid succession of postwar art movements, from Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art to Minimalism and Conceptualism. He absorbed their ideas while remaining skeptical of any absolute artistic or philosophical credo.
Shaped by the trauma of WWII and the repressive regime of the GDR, his art reflects the fragility of memory and history. By blurring and distorting images, he transformed photographs and media snapshots into paintings that speak of loss, society, and remembrance.
#MastersOfTheMedium
Gerhard Richter (b. 1932) is among the most influential living painters of the 20th century. His path to art began in childhood and, despite an academic education, he became best known for his abstract works. At the heart of his practice lies a dialogue between realism and abstraction.
Richter worked alongside—but never fully embraced—the rapid succession of postwar art movements, from Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art to Minimalism and Conceptualism. He absorbed their ideas while remaining skeptical of any absolute artistic or philosophical credo.
Shaped by the trauma of WWII and the repressive regime of the GDR, his art reflects the fragility of memory and history. By blurring and distorting images, he transformed photographs and media snapshots into paintings that speak of loss, society, and remembrance.
#MastersOfTheMedium
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Winner of DAFES Choice June 2025
"LifeOS" by Timofey Petrenko is a text-based sandbox PC game that lets players explore the world through short commands in a terminal. The player drifts through events, collecting items, places, facts, or acquaintances — and combines them to unlock new events. The design embraces retro aesthetics: pixel graphics that echo the look and feel of early 1990s operating systems.
Call for Game Designers:
If you work in game design, you can apply for DAFES AWARDS 2025. Two nominations are open: Game Development and Game Visuals. Winners will gain recognition from the design community and valuable media visibility. There are no limits by age, nationality, or professional level. Entry is free.
Deadline: October 12 — but don’t wait until the last moment, apply now!
#DAFESAwards #DAFESChoice
"LifeOS" by Timofey Petrenko is a text-based sandbox PC game that lets players explore the world through short commands in a terminal. The player drifts through events, collecting items, places, facts, or acquaintances — and combines them to unlock new events. The design embraces retro aesthetics: pixel graphics that echo the look and feel of early 1990s operating systems.
Call for Game Designers:
If you work in game design, you can apply for DAFES AWARDS 2025. Two nominations are open: Game Development and Game Visuals. Winners will gain recognition from the design community and valuable media visibility. There are no limits by age, nationality, or professional level. Entry is free.
Deadline: October 12 — but don’t wait until the last moment, apply now!
#DAFESAwards #DAFESChoice
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DAFES | Design, Art, Fashion, Education & Startups
Video
Awful news came from Milan – today died Giorgio Armani, not only the legendary designer who shaped the modern fashion, but a big philanthropist and patron of arts 🙏
In June we published the report from Armani Silos museum in Milan. You can still admire there a retrospective exhibition of his works for Armani Privè.
In June we published the report from Armani Silos museum in Milan. You can still admire there a retrospective exhibition of his works for Armani Privè.
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