Maybe the reason is that this web page is not coming up because it is already over 3 weeks old? I don't know. After this clarification there is no more commentary. Drentel's posting with links further explicitly clarifies that images illustrating this article are actually some sort of concept sketches.

It is interesting that there is so little and so ignorant commentary here despite the very engaging and popular subject. Detail of WikiLeaks map by Metahaven Metahaven, WikiLeaks logo proposal Metahaven, WikiLeaks logo proposal Metahaven, WikiLeaks logo proposal Metahaven, WikiLeaks logo proposal Metahaven, WikiLeaks logo proposal Metahaven, 'Leaked' WikiLeaks posters, 2010 Daniel van der Velden at 'I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I Want To Be There' conference, Amsterdam, December 18, 2010. This critique aside, Metahaven was the only firm at 'I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I Want To Be There' to present fundamentally new work - and work that grapples with a truly contemporary political issue. I keep wishing that Metahaven would take a firmer stand. But I don't see a new identity for Wikileaks that supports them in crisis, or critically suggests that they are in fact doing damage. Yes, I can find a bit of Dutch formalism, a bit of petri-dish scientific formalism, or a bit of IKEA formalism. Metahaven seems to always want to explore and publish many options as a part of their research, much like design students. This said, I was disappointed that there was not a more concrete WikiLeaks proposal. The images below do not do justice to the work of Metahaven, and are only directional in suggesting the range of proposals they have suggested for a new WikiLeaks identity. In the meantime, they are releasing ('leaking') posters in support of WikiLeaks for every country in the world. Metahaven's information map of WikiLeaks is the most important part of their work, and reminds me of the work of Mark Lombardi, conspiracy theories and all. One hopes that Metahaven will fully publish its work for WikiLeaks on their site. Further, we should consider the 'zones of journalism' that simultaneously support and critique the impact of WikiLeaks.

In fact, Metahaven has suggested that its map of WikiLeaks cannot be published or shared - it's too accurate for a WikiLeaks under investigation and potential indictment in numerous countries. Described as 'transparent camouflage,' the world of WikiLeaks mutates under the pressures of secrecy versus transparency: ironically it's network is secret in order to publish freely. They have since proceeded to map the network supporting WikiLeaks, an image economy where network architecture, hosting, funders, and media all play key roles. (His partner and collaborator is Vinca Kruk.) Metahaven reached out to Julian Assange, the infamous founder of WikiLeaks, in June 2010 (way before the controversy started) with an email proposal that they revisit the WikiLeaks graphic identity, and they received a succinct reply: 'Absolutely, J.A.' Consistent with a proactive stance towards design research, this message was enough for Metahaven to assume they had a project and a client. Presenting at the conference, 'I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I Want To Be There,' sponsored by the Graphic Design Museum of Breda, The Netherlands, Metahaven partner Daniel van der Velden suggested new approaches for WikiLeaks' visual identity. Daniel van der Velden at 'I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I Want To Be There' conference, Amsterdam, DecemThe Dutch design research studio, Metahaven, took a bold, newsworthy step last weekend in Amsterdam by proposing new graphic identity options for WikiLeaks.

Family battle snake metahaven