Urban Abstract

If you haven't seen this award-winning short by design studio Musuta Ltd., it's definitely four minutes well-spent...

Combining hand-drawn and digital art, as well as sound and visual effects, the film conveys a distinctly unique perspective.  A truly inspired visualization, Urban Abstract offers a multi-dimensional interpretation of the urban landscape.

For more on this project, visit the dedicated website.

Urban Abstract was created by Jopsu Ramu and Timo Ramu (ex. Huhtala) - creative team and founders of Musuta Ltd. Jopsu Ramu is a young female designer and Creative Director of Musuta Ltd. Timo Ramu is her creative partner and manager of Musuta Ltd. This digital art piece was commissioned by TV Nelonen / channel 4 Finland and it was shown as the November break bumpers on one of the biggest commercial TV channels in Finland: TV Nelonen. Urban Abstract has been highly awarded, it has won bronze / in book award in D&Ad awards in London, Bronze in European Design awards in Rotterdam and most recently it won a Gold Lion from design category in Cannes Lions. Urban Abstract -piece was born in Tokyo during 2009. It consists of 40 X five second clips or it can be viewed as a one 200 second journey. The website http://www.urban-abstract.com works as a part of the piece and creates an extra dimension for the clips shown on TV. URBAN ABSTRACT - About the concept: Urban Abstract is a journey across urban space that unfolds in forty, 5 second parts. The journey, in one, two and three dimensions, is a bit like abstract surfing in which the original destination is only reached after a number of seemingly random yet linked detours occur. Points , lines, planes and other abstract elements create a journey through an Urban Abstract. The space between things is as important as intended space, perhaps creating a fourth dimension. Meaningful shapes and purposes occur in this dimension's reality as well. The concept of negative space has meaning here. Nature plays a part as well. To be able to understand and differentiate what is urban one has understand what is nature. The style of the shorts is fluid and, though seemingly random, stream into a cohesive whole. Perhaps watching them in a different order would be more like seeing the same journey from another point of view. The sound world is also very important -- movement in space is sensed even if watching the shorts with eyes closed. Sounds overlap, fade, come and go. Architectural, abstract, someway minimalist and abstract with a touch of humanity. This feeling is reached through mixing techniques such as vectors , hand drawn lines and painting. Urban Abstract was realized in Tokyo by a team of artists, designers and animators from Finland and Japan. Urban Abstract was created by Jopsu Ramu from Musuta Ltd, a concept, art & design -studio based in Tokyo and Helsinki. About the creators: Jopsu Ramu (born 1982). She is a young Finnish designer and an art director who runs her own business Musuta Ltd. Ramu creates art, graphic design, space & design. Timo Ramu (ex. Huhtala) manager and creative partner of Musuta Ltd. Musuta Ltd. Musuta Ltd. is a Finnish creative studio operating in and between Helsinki & Tokyo. Musuta is a multidisciplinary design studio that makes art, space, design, graphics, concepts & branding. Musuta produces Ramu's personal art work as well as creates commercial work for different clients including: Iittala, Hartwall, Pepsi Co., Kawada Group, TV Nelonen etc. - http://musuta.com TV Nelonen Channel Four Finland – Nelonen Nationwide commercial tv-channel Offers second-highest reach and is the third-largest advertising medium in Finland http://www.nelonen.fi If you embed or publish the Urban Abstract -video on blogs etc. please keep in mind to mention and credit the creators. The video should not be altered or edited in any way without permission from the creators. Credits: Creative Director Jopsu Ramu MUSUTA Art Director Jopsu Ramu MUSUTA Design&Storyboard Jopsu Ramu MUSUTA Opening scene artwork Shun Kawakami artless Inc. Calligraphy Gen Miyamura Sound Chikao Maruyama Producer Timo Ramu (ex. Huhtala) MUSUTA Animation&Production: Mitsutomo Maeda & Masaru Ikeda EDP graphic works Project management Tokyo Masaji Kinoshita / shirofuchi Inc. Executive Producer MUSUTA Ltd. Special thanks Taisuke Koyama, Brian Kaszonyi Created by MUSUTA Ltd. - Jopsu Ramu & Timo Ramu (ex. Huhtala)

Urban Abstract was created by Jopsu Ramu and Timo Huhtala - creative team and founders of Musata Ltd.

About the Concept(from the creators):

'Urban Abstract is a journey across urban space that unfolds in forty, 5 second parts.  The journey, in one, two and three dimensions, is a bit like abstract surfing in which the original destination is only reached after a number of seemingly random yet linked detours occur.  Points, lines, planes and other abstract elements create a journey through an Urban Abstract.

The space between things is as important as intended space, perhaps creating a fourth dimension.  Meaningful shapes and purposes occur in this dimension's reality as well.  The concept of negative space has meaning here.

Nature plays a part as well.  To be able to understand and differentiate what is urban one has understand what is nature.

The style of the shorts is fluid and, though seemingly random, stream into a cohesive whole. Perhaps watching them in a different order would be more like seeing the same journey from another point of view. The sound world is also very important -- movement in space is sensed even if watching the shorts with eyes closed. Sounds overlap, fade, come and go.

Architectural, someway minimalist and abstract with a touch of humanity.'

Musuta Ltd. is a Finnish creative studio operating in and between Helsinki & Tokyo.  Musuta is a multidisciplinary design studio that makes art, space, design, graphics, concepts & branding.