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[via Medgadget]
Designed to look like a cell from the outside and to contain structures that resemble intracellular organelles and molecules, the future building of biomedical research institute in Chengdu, China, was designed by Shuguang Zhang, a bioengineer and scientist at MIT, and an architecture major undergrad Sloan Kulper. In the first picture, one can see the building from the outside. In the second, endosomes and mitochondria-like pools inside.
Full article here.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)Do you have a better design solution to one of life's frustrating problems? The Industrial Designers Society of America and industrial designer James Dyson's product design firm Dyson are soliciting entries, due December 18, for the third annual Eye for Why design competition. Honoring innovative industrial design, the awards program is open to students participating in National Association of Schools of Art and Design-accredited degree programs or individual student members of IDSA.
Competition website and more details.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)
Romanian New Media Artist Alex Dragulescu uses ASCII values and various patterns, keywords and rhythms found in the text of spam mail to generate 3-D gestures of Spam Architecture and Spam Plants.
via make blog via metafilter
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
nice definitions via arbroath
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
It's a guilty pleasure to get home and watch the 6:30 evening news on ABC (how messed up is that?!), and Friday always features their Person of the Week. Last week was more human interest than design, but very inspiring. Richard Ellenson's son has cerebral palsy, and so the "successful advertising man" developed an ingenious device to help him communicate better.
From the frog's mouth:
A totally new language structure was developed to provide quick access to topics and relevant vocabulary. Users can switch from nearly 2,500 intuitively organized and customizable phrases to word selection or spelling keyboards for more specific communication. The interface is so intuitive that a sentence that would take minutes of hunting-and-pecking to program on other devices can now be spoken at the push of a button.
The man is here; the machine is here; and after fruitless searches on YouTube and GoogleVideo, the segment, sadly is nowhere.
I guess it was either gonna be this, or a tech support hotline. B&H Colour Change is working with egg provider British Lion Quality Eggs to offer eggs in three levels of "doneness": soft, medium and hard. A heat-activated logo appears when the egg has met your ideal expectations.
via sploid
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Jorg & Olif is located in Vancouver and is the only company to offer Dutch city bikes to North American cities. Not only are these bikes sweet on their own, but Jorg & Olif add Japanese hub gears and drum brakes, necessary for optimal riding our cities. Their philosophy encourages sustainable mobility and savoring the ride, not finding the speediest way to get from here to there.
via springwise
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
I just got a case study thing through to wire that I thought you guys might find interesting. Apparently, this show is big news in the US, but has yet to make it over to UK TV, but the story is interesting either way.
Brian Phipps reacts to news from BusinessWeek that Microsoft (the ones that make the software) is creating design guidelines for PC hardware companies.
1. #@%$#&*$#%Sure, an integrated design/experience between hardware and software is the wet-dream of every interaction designer (and lapsed interaction designer) but as Brian points out, the industry has evolved to a point where that's problematic to implement.
2. These guidelines imply that Microsoft owns the customer, and that PC makers are simply . . . delivery agents!
3. #@%$#&*$%#
4. We make the box, and they provide the software, but somehow we’re the ingredient brand!!
5. If we follow these guidelines, we will create look-alike PC products
6. Look-alike products will erode what little differentiation we have left
Posted by: Steve Portigal | Comments (0)
University of Houston professor David Tsai's Cuda Table.
"If designers create things in a vacuum and haven't thought through producing them, then they're being naive," says Forbes, who founded Design Within Reach seven years ago. "Twenty to 50 percent of the final cost could be packing and shipping alone."
Forbes always asks new designers the same questions: Who's producing it? How many can they produce per month, per week, per hour? What's it going to cost? What will it cost if we buy 100, or 1,000?
Rob Forbes, founder of Design Within Reach talks about the intricacies of designing for manufacture and thus sales, things to think about when you're making your prototype as the designer of the award winning Cuda table shown above found out.
Read full article here.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)
Genometri offers us this interesting study of product families; each design is different from the other, yet exhibit common traits, born from a shared gene. They've developed a "genetic" CAD model and by selecting the best results, designers can create families of products and explore a large number of possibilities than what is humanly possible.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (3)
Josh Owen has added some new items to his already fab collection, 3 of which are now available through Italy's Casamania. The XX Collapsible coatrack (shown above) slots together to form a cute lil' tree strong enough for a forest of coats.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
If Stefano Pirovano and Mint went bad. And the best part is that this knife holder comes with the 5 knives. (Or is that the worst part?) Good for a Friday, anyway. [ThinkGeek]
Shaping trees as they grow is an art form enjoyed by folks all over the world. Patience and an eye for design are key elements for succesful "arborsmithing."
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
Soundbombs have an integrated sound module, triggered by a motion detector that blurts out a comment when someone passes by. Sit behind the bushes and entertain yourself and others for hours.
Suggestions:
-Place in front of a crappy restaraunt and record: "This place blows- go make some Easy-Mac."
-Place in women's dressing room at Bergdorf's and record: "Do I look fat in these jeans?"
-and of course, fart noises.
via oh gizmo
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Oliver Beckert of Elseware has graced us with this bad-ass kitchen tool for precision-cut produce. Cast removal technology makes this blade safe to use as it won't cut your fingers (or a delicious swordfish steak, oh well) but will cut harder materials. Too bad it's only a working prototype at the moment.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
If you tend to make calls (and have slippery hands) while surfing in the toilet or taking a dump in the ocean, this phone's got yer name on it. Unfortunately, only Japan gets to experience this aquatic wonder until further notice. Sony Ericsson's SO902iWP+ (geezus!) even has a 1.3 megapixel camera for underwater snapshots (especially handy for kewl Myspace pix).
via popgadget
Silly that it's not called the ClampLamp, but this thing has a weird sort of allure. Indulge the (superfluous) handle, and dig it's jerrycan-aesthetic-yet-ready-for-Wallpaper swagger. For more info, email Eujin Pei at eujin.global-at-gmail.com.
No Photoshop on this screenshot, we promise. Last night at 7:01pm Coroflot hit 34,000 portfolios, capping a whirlwind of activity at the site since the new version launched 10 days ago. If you don't already have a profile on Coroflot, do go and set one up here. If you've got one but want the ability to add more work, it's all in the new version: Unlimited uploads, sets, tags, personal URL, and one of our favorite tools, CoroSpy. Look for commenting and other goodies coming this weekend!
Rag pickers in an Argentinian slum, together with three industrial designers and an architect have come together in a project to design and produce furniture and other objects out of waste materials.
The undertaking has given them the chance to have a decent job and pick up a skill, while keeping them off the streets.
"A really nice group has emerged," said Cristina Lescano, coordinator of the group of garbage pickers and one of the driving forces behind the initiative. "Now we are human beings. We come to work, we each have our tasks and responsibilities. It's a real job," she told IPS.
The idea of turning rubbish into crafts or industrial products is nothing new. Another group of garbage scavengers, for example, in conjunction with academics and professionals, set up a company that publishes hand-made books using recycled cardboard.
Now there's a clever idea incorporating sustainable development, design and entreprenuership. When does it start in India?
So you don't really need to read between the lines on this one (though Phallus Vodka must've gotten a few votes in the marketing meeting), but they're doing some pretty cool stuff over at spritofthebrand. Artists can design product artwork for limited editions that will be "integrated into the Bong Spirit brand" and distributed throughout the country. Get the bottle, box, and t-shirt templates at the site, then submit your own design. Or, of course, you could also put it in your pipe and smoke it.
If you like your designs crafty, and if you like your crafty designs architectury, then the Chicago Furniture Designers 'Form Follows Form: Architecturally Inspired Furniture' is for you. One week to go on the deadline. Link here; previous sustainable show here.
Posted by: Allan Chochinov | Comments (0)
If you're like me, barely-there megapixel cameras, neon-color screens, and so-so MP3 players are the bane of your cell-phone existence.The stunningly simple, yet-to-be released Motofone will be geared towards first time wireless users, prepaid buyers, and developing countries (Hey-I want one too). The slim and trim 0.35" profile, sun and dust resistance, and an "extended" battery life are some attributes that the user can actually benefit from.
via engadget
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (3)
When the truth slaps you in the face, step of the cliff after the person in front of you has already done so.
via neatorama
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)Ok before you start sending me hate comments- No, I'm not insulting all you industry professionals and I don't even say "wankers" cuz I'm not British. That aside:
This competition calls for contestants to create a 30-second video portrait using a mobile phone. The objective is to best represent oneself to appeal to an employer/client.
The winner receives GBP$5,000 and in addition, various design vacancies will be offered at competitive salaries. All entries will be compiled onto DVDs and presented to industry friends and potential employers.
The prize event will be held at DESIGNERSBLOCK in September 2006 in London.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
Sneakerographer Al Cabino has an insane petition going to bring back those bitchin' Nike hi-tops seen in Back to the Future II. Director Robert Ryang has even compiled a lil' video for it.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
Luzboa is an Art Bienniale that focuses on artistic events, namely public art and public intervention in the city space where lighting plays a key role. This event is taking place in the city of Lisbon, Portugal from September 21-30, 2006.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Collaborating with Brooklyn based street artist Dalek, the Lomographic Society have released a limited edition custom supersampler and book. Last night's launch party at Yoyamart in the meatpacking district featured a truly inspirational act Leslie and the Ly's (also check youtube) and a stream of die-hard analog camera fans. Checkout the comprehensive photo coverage over at Michael Kuhle's flickr page and get the lowdown on the camera here.
Posted by: squee.gee | Comments (0)
image from RELINE2 by Perry/Steiner
I'm co-curating an evening of music and film at the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit this Saturday, featuring:
* Detroit debut screening of RELINE2, a collection of short films by leading-edge video artists.
* Film featuring robotic instruments created by Cranbrook Designer-in-Residence and performance artist Elliott Earls.
* Live music performance by 800 Beloved.
* Live music performance by Spectral Mornings.
* DJ set by DethLab, with video by C-TRL labs.
Machines That Feel is a one evening multimedia exploration of the relationships between humanity and technology, curated by Bethany Shorb and Michael Doyle. Machines That Feel proposes that nothing is more purely human than what we create with our own hands and imagination - that technology need not be seen as cold and synthetic, but is in fact our most sophisticated means of expression.
the evening of Saturday, July 29th, 2006
midnight - 4am
The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit [CAID]
5141 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit MI 48208
$5 evening membership fee / free beer!
Program schedule and artist bios here + article in the Metro Times.
Posted by: Michael Doyle | Comments (0)
Tennessee and UK-based sustainable resource company Tricycle, Inc. has release REVERB, an anthology of donated writings and criticisms of ten industry professionals. REVERB was curated and designed by Tricycle who will donate 50% of proceeds to Architecture for Humanity. The book is available with text and images, text only, and a flip book version. Buy your copy now!
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Heather Martin and Simona Maschi head up Copenhagen's new design institute that promotes unique thinking in design and technology. A research lab will coexist with the academic campus, acting as a complimentary tool in the development of innovative products, services and technology for the future.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
Melbourne, Australia-based furniture designer Tim Collins has recently won first prize at the Vivid competition at Furnitex. The BOH (found in the Back Of Hotels) lamps are made from recycled containers and sell for $95 at the National Design Centre.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (3)
Dunny Show Copenhagen aims to break the borders between product design, arts, and graphics by inviting a select group of Danish artists to customize 25 blank Dunny Toys from NYC's Kidrobot. This celebration of design for mass urban culture will take place from August 2-8, 2006.
Chronographic was dedicated in Detroit this morning, to celebrate the city's 305th birthday. Chronographic is a public time keeping machine (read: clock) designed and fabricated by o2 Creative Solutions. Located in the front window of the historic Himelhoch Building, the hands of Detroit's newest pedestrian-scale landmark are tubes of light which track across two large photo-murals on custom designed robotic carts.
Nerds only: The lateral tracking mechanism was created with custom circuit boards and Vex robot components, and (quite ingeniously) uses an optic sensor hooked up to a simple wall clock to regulate accuracy.
We featured Jaren Goh's Black Diamond phone concept in our March 2006 Studio Bullitts, and he has happily announced that the design will be realized by Swiss manufacturer VIPN, releasing only 5 numbered units with a luxury price tag of USD$300,000.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (9)
Using Bessel functions, 50 water wave generators encircling a cylindrical tank 1.6 meters in diameter and 30 cm deep makes up the crazy device that moves up and down in controlled motions producing a number of cylindrical waves that act as pixels. The device, developed by Researchers at Akishima Laboratories (Mitsui Zosen)in conjunction with professor Shigeru Naito of Osaka University, can draw each letter of the roman alphabet as well as a few basic kanji letters. Although each letter or drawing only lasts for a moment, it can be recreated every 3 seconds.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Snapmania's Tourist Remover is a free online service that takes your pics (you must provide a few identical shots) of the tourist-ridden subject, usually some kind of landmark, then pieces together a flawless composite.
via rawfeed
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Design Academy Eindhoven's Masters Graduate 2006 projects are now posted on their site. Their graduate show took place on Friday at the Droog Gallery. Jose Rojas' "Brick Revival" (shown above) celebrates the longevity of the brick, defining this material that responds to time, nature, and human interaction. Rojas participated in the IM (Masters in Interior, Industrial, and Identity Design) program.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
Diggerland is a construction site-themed adventure park located in the UK. The park features actual tractors and diggers that can be driven by attendees. The horrifying contraption above is called the Spindizzy.
via neatorama
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
No, we're not trying to point out this hot bikini babe. Someone's sporting a clever Cursor Kite designed by Tim Elverston.
via make
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Kevin McElroy sends in this link to Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz's snow domes--beautiful creations with just a pinch of Boym in 'em.
The Arab world has taken a major design initiative with designers like Karim Rashid, Ricky Burdett, Zara Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Bernard Khoury and others, to create the International Design Initiative. The IDI's flagship event is the International Design Forum (IDF), which will be held in Dubai from February 3rd to 5th, 2007. The IDF 2007 will focus on industrial and urban design as well as on the relationship between design, business and creativity.
Created by Moutamarat, the IDI is the first high-profile creativity and design platform of its kind to emerge from the Arab world. It brings together experts from around the world to exchange knowledge and raise awareness on issues vital to the design industries, and to build a better understanding of the complex role of creativity and design in the business and socio-political spheres.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)This article is a very interesting read - it not only chronicles the history of industrial design in Australia, but also touches upon the influence of Italian design sensibilities in the development of the design language.
Industrial Design in Australia - The Italian Connection
Ian Gonsher
Providence, RI, USA
Featured Project : Box Table
With an impressive portfolio for a recent furniture design grad at RISD, Gonsher tops off his collection with the Box Table. Sweet and simple, straightforward and playful, this table does not house any goods; it is the goods. Box sheds a curious light on the use of cardboard and is definitely easy to carry on the way home from the store.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Dick Tracy lives! Techblog ranks this #5 in their Top 10 Strangest Cellphone list which includes the Shockstick shown below, a cellphone with stun gun features.
But don't forget to check out their Top 5 coolest cellphones list too.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)Pure Contemporary has a whole bunch of interviews with different designers available online.
Here's a snippet from Niels Diffrient's interview:
Is it a major drive for you to have products that are accessible to average people?
Absolutely. Value and cost are paramount features of my design. I'm not designing as a prima donna. I consider myself a very commercial product designer. If something doesn't sell, I'm just as disappointed as if it were ugly. It's part of the package. I work with corporations that support my work, and I want them to earn a good income from what I've designed. That's where the challenge lies. It's not the act of the artist who doesn't care beyond the need to satisfy the artistic urge.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)
The Risk/Benefit Assessment of Drugs-Analysis and Response (RAD-AR) Council of Japan has begun utilizing jazzy new pictograms for use on pharmaceutical packaging, taking the guesswork out of pill-popping and ointment-smearing. The suppository illustration is especially eye-catching.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
Seen on the mean streets of SF. Clever, attention-grabbing, a little bit silly, and most importantly, creative approach to "make do with what you have" : traits of successful marketing.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
IKEA's LYCKSELE chairbed and sofabed models are now being recalled due to major chances that user's fingers will be severely lacerated or even amputated if caught in the folding mechanism. One poor soul has already parted with a fingertip.
via consumerist
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Attention clients: Seth Godin breaks down the 13 things that your design team wishes you would know. Perfectly web-readable, and perfectly true. Unbeige's favorite is No.3: It's going to offend someone. If it doesn't offend them, then it will make them nervous. The Vietnam Vets memorial offended a lot of people. The design of Google made plenty of people nervous. Great work from a design team means new work, refreshing and remarkable and bit scary. We equally love the last 3:
11. Don't get stressed about your logo.
12. Get very stressed about user interface and product design. And your packaging.
13. Say thank you.
Posted by: Allan Chochinov | Comments (0)
Originally published in the July 2006 issue of Edge
..."There were a number of background 'living breathing city' features that got dropped. The player could break traffic light boxes and a repairman would wander around fixing them. Of course the player could kill the repairmen and stop all repairs. There was a TV crew that went to major accidents. This got dropped, though the TV van itself stayed in. San Andreas was supposed to have a tram system like San Francisco's cable cars, working similar to the train system, however we couldn't get it working nicely with regular traffic so it was removed, though the cable art stayed in."
Linda Florence's scratch-off wallpaper is coated with the silvery stuff found on lotto tickets, silhouetting the colorful patterns hidden underneath.
via coolhunting
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
We are officially immersed in the age of USB-powered everything. This little gem, named (what else?) iSharpener, plugs right into any USB port to provide an endless supply of stab-worthy #2's. This is ideal for days when you're not "feelin' email," and mid-reply, decide to go the old-skool, snail-mail route.
via coolest gadgets
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
RSS readers are quick 'n' dirty, but sometimes get you into trouble. TreeHugger looked very food-obsessed this morning--catfish, shrimp, cow poo (well, that last one on the tail end)--until you went to the site and discovered the jumbo shrimp oxymoron.
Florida-based Matteran Energy has developed a new technology using blazing-hot solar energy to produce cool, refreshing air. Pricey photovoltaic cells? I think not! Matteran's solution uses thrifty thermal-collection technology, heating a synthetic fluid with a very low boiling point (around 58 degrees F) to create steam that drives a specially designed turbine. This technology is not so new, however Matteran's developments will have significantly increased the system's efficiency for small-scale use, providing relief from the heat and from Con Edison.
via popsci
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Patience is rewarded: The winners of I.D. Mag's Annual Review have been posted on their site. (Looks just like the magazine, too!)
The experiment works by making use of your [computer's] spare processing power. All you have to do is use your computer exactly as you normally would, and the programme will run calculations in the background. When it's done, it will send results back to scientists in Oxford, who will combine everyone's results. The more people who take part, the more complete their predictions about the future climate will be.
Sounds cool right? Until you get one of those buzzkill disclaimers...
The BBC makes no warranties or representations, either express or implied in relation to, and accepts no liability in respect of the software. You load and use the software at your own risk and the BBC will not be liable to you for any direct or indirect damages including for lost profits or for any other consequential loss arising from your use of or inability to use the software or from errors or deficiencies in it.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
Martin Eberhard, with the help of big-name Silicon Valley investors, gets his dream on the road, from 0-60 mph in 3 seconds. More stats:
-Powered by 6,831 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries
-Fuel efficiency: 1 to 2 cents per mile
-Top speed: faster than 130 mph
-Cost: 80K-100K range...us common folk will just have to make do with hybrids for now!
get the back story at wired
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (6)
Chocolate, cigarettes, celery--we all have our vices. This bizarre contraption allows you to seal in tempations for up to 24 hours (and don't even think about tampering unless you're sick and into electric shocks).
A bit of branding advice : When you name your product, make sure it's spelled the same way twice on the box.
via arbroath
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Callum Peden, a young designer hailing from the UK, presents his hand-held device concept designed for none other than internerd giant Google. Google Vision combines GPS and OLED technology along with advanced image recognition and a popular element among ID students, ye olde retractable screen.
via coolhunter
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (5)
Wakka wakka!
via treehugger
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)Contest to design Janet Jackson's album cover, is this taking customer co-creation too far?
The contest began on July 18 at http://designme.janetjackson.com. Visitors to that website can choose from 33 images of Janet from which they can create their own album cover. From the submissions, 16 will be chosen as semifinalists. From those 16 entries Jackson herself will select four winners whose covers will be used for the first one million copies of 20 Years Old.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)
All classic NES lovers are currently rubbing their hands together with anticipation. Take a handful of pixel pegs, a grid, and an old-skool obsession to create 2 lovely pairs: Mario + Mushroom or Luigi + Fireflower. These Japanese import, limited edition kits are available at ThinkGeek while supplies last.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Shake what yo momma gave ya w/ this battery-less LED flashlight that uses magnetic energy and coils to give you 2 hours of light for a thrifty 1.5 minute-long shake session.
Not so sure exactly what model this is, but there's a slew of 'em if you google it. This one seems to have an exceptionally long light-life.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
James Clar and Associates' newest lighting endeavor, Square Eclipse 2006, uses a square piece of plexi and 24 microcontrolled tri-color LED's to create brilliant kaleidoscope-like patterns on the wall. Watch the movie.
via mocoloco
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
At first glance, Debra Swann's Yeti-skin rug suggests a fairy-tale come true. Swann's convincing fabled creatures sport fur made of dried plants and selotape exoskeletons.
My work is informed by the physicality of being human and yet the most visible trait comes from a collision between the worlds of reality and fantasy. Taking materials from the everyday and transforming them into fantastical objects or attire, I attempt to investigate my own imagination and explore the boundaries between the everyday and the subconscious or metaphysical worlds of fantasy.
via wmmna
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Neatorama has posted an intriguing list of world records including larget monster truck, most people on a surfboard, longest ear-hair, largest bagel, and longest midget-toss. Shown above: tallest bicycle and tallest lego structure.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
"If you don't stretch, you won't find the edges." This advice by Sara Little Turnbull, recipient of this year's Icograda Achievement Award, represented the bold spirit of the 2006 Design Week conference held last week in Seattle. The conference theme "Defining Design on a Changing Planet" focused on the fundamental role design can play in improving global socio-environmental issues.
This new awareness, present in this and other recent events and publications, represents a watershed moment in design history. Although design has often been regarded as a frivolous or elitist activity, it is now considered a critical tool in solving world problems as well as improving economic outlooks. Faced with this new reality, the Design Week conference organizers asked, "Why are we here?"
Design Week consisted of lectures by accomplished speakers from around the world, panel discussions, student seminars, studio tours, exhibits, and opportunities for socializing. A day-long "Over the Fence" seminar focused on design's role in achieving the United Nations' Millenium Development Goals, with sessions dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty & hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, combating HIV/AIDS & other diseases, and ensuring environmental sustainability. An accompanying student exhibition showcased posters created during the week which focused on these issues.
Conference speakers included Don Ryun Chang (Korea); Pat Hansen (USA); Jacques Lange, Icograda President (South Africa); Darrel Rhea (USA); Mervyn Kurlansky (Denmark); Sanja Rocco (Croatia); Saki Mafundikwa (Zimbabwe); Omar Vulpinari (Italy); Linda Fu (Australia); Christopher Liechty, AIGA XCD President (USA); Sara Little Turnbull (USA); Henry Steiner (Hong Kong); Esen Karol (Turkey); Ravi Naidoo (South Africa); Adelia Borges (Brazil); and Stanley Hainsworth (USA).
Posted by: Blaine Brownell | Comments (0)
In an attempt to brand themselves as youthful and hip, Wal-Mart launches their own Myspace/Friendster-like social network site aimed at their teen and pre-teen customers. "The Hub" involves a mile-long list of requirements conjured up by Wal-Mart. Teens aged 13-17 need their participation supervised by their parents who are notified of everything posted with the option to delete any and everything.
Users can't even email each other, which basically defies the laws of "social networking." Wal-Mart also reviews submitted content before it is posted to prevent "profane, disruptive, unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, vulgar, obscene, hateful, or racially or ethnically-motivated, or otherwise objectionable" matter from tainting "The Hub." Those characteristics (among many others, some being positive), however, can be found on Myspace.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
This is all you need to know.
(The post is here. But re(printed) below:
Power Law 1: Don't think "new product" - think social value.
Power Law 2: Think social value before "tech".
Power Law 3: Enable human agency. Design people into situations, not out of them.
Power Law 4: Use, not own. Possession is old paradigm.
Power Law 5: Think P2P, not point-to-mass.
Power Law 6: Don't think faster, think closer.
Power Law 7: Don't start from zero. Re-mix what's already out there.
Power Law 8: Connect the big and the small.
Power Law 9: Think whole systems (and new business models, too).
Power Law 10: Think open systems, not closed ones.
Posted by: Allan Chochinov | Comments (1)
In the The Wired 40 I was intrigued to see
23. FLEXTRONICS
2005 Rank: 22
Singapore-based Flex-tronics pioneered outsourced electronics manufacturing for blue-chip customers like Motorola and Nortel. Now the sprawling company wants to own another link in the value chain: product design.
Pardon? Flextronics already bought and then sold frogdesign.
Seems like Wired is playing kinda loose (if not completely off the mark) with their glib faux-analysis.
Posted by: Steve Portigal | Comments (1)
Not so sure whether these look more Kareem-ish or Rec-Spex-ish (you've seen them on basketball players). The self-casing folding frames are pretty nifty and convenient, however these Optigamis could definitely use an accent such as Croakies (hehe remember croakies?) to complete "the look."
via coolest gadgets
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
More than 35 million eggs have been vandalized with lame CBS quips such as "CSI: Crack the Case on CBS" and "The Amazing Race: Scramble to win on CBS." Lost my mothercluckin' appetite.
via washington post via trendhunter
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Stefan Diez presents his Shuttle series of save-ware containers consisting of various sizes of Pyrex vessels and interchangeable tops with different functions. His collection not only serves a multitude of purposes, but also looks interesting and will surely be displayed out in the open as opposed to hidden in the cupboard.
via coolhunting
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
EV Rental Cars is the first all-hybrid car rental service in the US. Their mission is "to provide the most technologically advanced environmental vehicles to the general public as soon as they are available, to educate the public and raise the awareness of the benefits of driving clean-fuel cars, and create a market for clean car technology."
Partnering with Fox Rent A Car, the growing company now services Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Their selection includes Honda Civics, Toyota Prius and Toyota Highlanders, all available with comparable rates to non-hybrid rental dealers.
via springwise
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Laura Victore sent us an update on her senior project at SVA, the Small Fortune coin purse. With a student project-turned-real life item available at MoMA, Victore is yet another example of how student success can and does exist.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
After an amazing response, we've tracked down the contact info for this project. Please address all inquiries to:
Pedro Alegria @ pedro.alegria-at-gmail.com
or
Patrick DeCarvalho @ patrickdecarvalho-at-yahoo.fr
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
For those in NYC, the loss of the beloved/dreaded Industrial Plastics on Canal Street was, perhaps, the final nail in the coffin for what used to be a mecca of surplus plastic, metal, rubber and all matter industrial for design students the tri-state area over. The street is now populated with knock-off emporia and car stereo shops (with, no-doubt, knock-off closets in the back), so it's on to the web we go.
industrialplasticsnyc.com is their new home for acrylic rod, styrene sheets and the like, but don't get too excited; they're not rocking the e-commerce yet. (Witness the following: "If you are looking to make a purchase, we require you use our credit card authorization form. Just download the PDF file and fill in the form with as much detail as possible. Then fax it to the number on the top of the form. Your credit card info will be kept in a secure place and is not shared with any other parties."
Sad.
Posted by: Allan Chochinov | Comments (2)
Treehugger and I.D. magazine collaborate on a new competition:
"We're asking for creative approaches to the umbrella problem. Of the 33 million sold annually in the U.S. alone, hundreds of thousands break down, facing abandonment and landfills. We're asking for creative solutions: either an innovative umbrella with a Cradle to Cradle(R) sensibility, or a women's couture garment fashioned from old umbrellas. Step up fashion and industrial designers (or those with design aspirations)! Entry info is available here. Finalists and winners will be featured on TreeHugger and in I.D.! The winning couture garment will walk the runway at Paris' Ethical Fashion Show."
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Cabal Covin is a Scottish clothing label that mixes modern street culture/fashion with traditional Scottish elements to signify their brand. They choose to produce their goods strictly in limited runs as opposed to mass quantities. This keeps inventory exciting and appeals to the buyer as truly unique, as opposed to pieces sold in mass-market streetwear stores.
Yesterday, a group in Okegawa, Japan successfully flew the world's first battery-operated airplane, powered by 160 AA Matsushita "Oxyride" batteries.
via rawfeed
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Nerd alert : Beloved retro video game, Space Invaders, is re-enacted by an army of adoring fans in an auditorium.
via cpluv
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
We flipped the switch on the new Coroflot, and Monday morning has brought a flood of activity. Make sure to check out CoroSpy, a live feed of the pages currently being viewed and uploaded at the site, and the TagMap, for viewing work on Coroflot by tags.
(For a list of all the new features, read our What's New page.) We want to hear your reactions to the site, so send your feedback, bugs, and suggestions right here. And remember to tag your images!
On 25 March 2007 the European Union will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome – the origin of the European integration process. For this occasion, the European Union invites you: students of art and related disciplines and young design professionals to take part in the competition and design a logo.
Read and download all necessary information on the competition from this website and register online! Send us your logo by 30 September 2006 (postmark) and be the creator of the official EU birthday logo which will be used for all European Union events related to this round anniversary.
Competition website and details.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)
Models stalked the runway in designer clothes made from fermented corn sugar Thursday in a fashion show held at an international biotech conference in Toronto in an attempt to "make green sexy."
The one-of-a-kind outfits created by big name designers Oscar de la Renta, Stephen Burrows, Elisa Jimenez and others included a strapless beige ball gown, a cream baby-doll dress with ribbon and sheer overlay, and a pink and yellow taffeta skirt with a silver recycled polyester bustier.
Posted by: Steve Portigal | Comments (0)Ryohin Keikaku Co., the parent of Muji, a retailer that specializes in sleek household goods and clothing, says it is considering launching its first U.S. store in Manhattan as early as 2007.
Extracted from this article.
Please let this be true
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)A new PBS television show, "Everyday Edisons," will feature amateur inventors -- and on Saturday, Indianapolis is one stop on a five-city casting call.
"First off, one of the things we're looking for are products that are easy to understand, easy to communicate, functional and very useful," said Louis Foreman, an executive producer of the show.
Only 12 to 14 people will be chosen for shows to air nationwide in 2007. An estimated 5,000 people are expected to audition. Other casting call cities are Boston, Houston, Phoenix and Seattle.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)
One of a kind, once in a lifetime design and build - a Royal carriage for the Queen of England. Details here.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)
coro*note: HOT new version of Coroflot coming Monday!
Michael Joynt
Manchester, UK
Featured Project : Cardboard Crutch
Crutches almost never make it back to the hospital and usually end up in a dumpster or dusty closet corner. Joynt's pushfit system, comprised of a convoluted cardboard core wrapped in polypropylene, plastic, and rubber, cost a small fraction of the manufacturing price of existing crutches. This design is a finalist in the Carbonate Innovation Competion '06 and is currently in development to be placed into market.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
coro*note : don't forget to check out the SWEET new version of Coroflot on Monday, July 17th! Watch your account evolve, and if you don't have one yet, sign up!
Bo Zolland
Umea, Sweden
Featured Project : Custom Camaro concept
This dude obviously has some badass rendering skills and works in product and graphic design as a creative director at Viztech in Sweden. The 3-D rendering of this Camaro was commissioned by a custom shop in order to illustrate potential results to clients.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
The next generation of Adidas BW Army sneakers take green fashion to a place where hipsters may actually wear it. Each unique pair is made from various surplus materials and will run you about $115.
via treehugger
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
The first thing that comes to mind is "decapitated cyclops Teletubby." Anyway, Muu Socia 3.0 is a "communication support" robot developed by ATR and Systec Akazawa. Designed to break the ice between doctors and patients in medical environments, Muu Socia features voice recognition, voice synthesis, speech processing and face recognition capabilities. Watch this video of Muu freaking out when something obstructs its view.
It's probable that this little dude will cause medical conditions, such as heart attacks and mental disturbances, as opposed to actually acting as an aid.
via sci fi tech
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
Brooklyn-based ID firm Pensa LLC has recently designed OXO's new silicone turners, reaping the benefits of both steel and nylon. Silicone, unlike nylon which melts at 145 degrees, is heat resistant up to 600 degrees, so the spatula won't melt while leaning on the pan, or (god forbid) whilst making a delicate hollandaise. The steel core with silicone coating gives the ergonomic tools flexible, non-scratching, and heat resistance properties.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (8)
Last year I posted a note about a project by Dan Lockton. Today I came across Rebel Without Applause, a book he's written covering the history of British auto manufacturer Reliant. In addition, he's working on an illustrated history of British petrol brands, and has a very long page on his site with hundreds of gas station brand logos.
Posted by: StuCon | Comments (1)
The pic really says it all. On one hand (no pun intended), it does eliminate holding a cumbersome bottle. On the other hand (a second one can be worn for extra hydration), you'll look like a complete dorkis. Conveniently, the Hydro-sport Wrist Water Bottle can be customized for promotional purposes!
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
As if that indecisive guy on the subway isn't annoying enough while choosing a ringtone out loud, he can now broadcast his top 40 to the entire train car with intervals of "wikkit-wikkits." The LG 3G U400 features a "scratch wheel" for MP3's in addition to video calling, Bluetooth connectivity, stereo speakers, 2 MP camera and a micro SD slot for upgradable memory.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
Robot3, a Korean robotics company, offers a selection of robots designed for straight up fun. Ride a raptor, horse, or the $5,250 Hummer of all rideable robots, R7.
via raw feed
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Funnypolynomial's Flickr set has graced us with a Periodic Table of Keys, illustrating a "natural classification."
via make
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Lite Cylinder Co.'s clear propane tanks let you know exactly how much fuel you've got left, giving you a better idea of exactly how much bear and turtle meat you can sizzle up before you run out of gas.
via neatorama
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
I know, I know - enough USB stuff already, but this is a little different:
Sao Tome e Principe is a West African country with a population of about 150.000, located on the Guinea Gulf along the Equator. SEED 2006, a Design and Social Economy project financially supported by the Portuguese Cooperation and developed by designer Pedro Alegria, introduced USB flash card design to local craftsmen, all of whom had never seen or heard of such things before. The end result merges traditional "forgotten" craft with hot technology on the rise, sustaining the working families' needs and offering unique craft-designs to the masses.
The project is currently seeking large orders to maintain and increase production.
Please address all inquiries to:
Pedro Alegria @ pedro.alegria-at-gmail.com
or
Patrick DeCarvalho @ patrickdecarvalho-at-yahoo.fr
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (44)
Priced between $20 and $30, Sweet Meats will satisfy all your carnivorous plush cravings, even for vegetarians (wakka wakka). The one qualm I have about this is that I'm pretty sure you can get something almost identical at your local pet store for at least half the price. Just sayin'...
via coolhunting
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Joshua Gouled of Santa Cruz, CA has invented a way for us to amplify our fave jamz on the down-low. Get rid of those oh-so-obvious speaker boxes and replace them with a snazzy vase, sphere, or basically any container.
How it works:
A coil is wound around the vessel, which is filled with ferrofluid (an oil containing nano-sized magnetic metal particles)and suspends a large bar magnet inside the center of the fluid. Music signals from an amplifier are fed through the coil, creating a magnetic field in the fluid, which interacts with the bar magnet. The bar vibrates, causing the fluid to vibrate, which then causes the walls of the vessel to vibrate, allowing your hot jamz to blast out loud.
On top of all that nerdy awesomeness, lights may be used with clear containers, where they would pulsate along with the beat of the music.
via new scientist
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
I have a feeling this may have been around for a little while. Nevertheless, it stirs up those "why hasn't this come out sooner" or "why isn't this more widely distributed" thoughts. The Crayon Holder prevents broken and mostly-used pieces from landing in the trash by making use of the nearly ungraspable sections. Surprisingly, an 11-year old named Cassidy was the inventor behind the scenes, winning "Youth Inventor of the Year" title by the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
Event planning for daredevils...Yakking quickly comes to mind for some reason when reading about this daring venture in extreme cuisine. The 8-hour, 50-meter high extravaganza starts at a jaw-dropping EUR$8,000 with loads of add-on options to break your bank.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
Apparently UFO hoaxes are now available in x, y, and z.
via neatorama
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Inventor and entrepreneur James Dyson plans to set up a new style of school aimed at encouraging young people to consider engineering careers.
Cool Dyson! I say gopher it but make sure your plan doesn't lose suction.
read more
Danke for the tip Luke
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Attn: Industrial + Object Designers
Win AUD$5,000 in cash, AUD$5,000 in Qantas flights + skill up with Marc Newson.
Enter the QANTAS Spirit of Youth Awards (SOYA). Be aged 25 and under. Send your work to NOISE. All styles welcome including clothes, jewelry, shoes, hats, fabrics, casual, conceptual, and couture.
Deadline: July 31st, 2006
This AIGA tour will be led by Robert Linsky, a graphic and information designer with over 30 years of experience. For 13 days, from October 7th-20th, 2006, the design-conscious cities of Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou will be explored. Space is limited to 25 people on a first-come, first-served basis. Only 3 positions are left so hurry!
For more info contact Robert Linsky at linskyrobert@hotmail.com and check the site info.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Mocoloco has published a great interview with Hulger CEO Nicolas Roope. Pretty inspiring for anyone considering developing their own product on the side given his day job as director at the leading interactive agency POKE.
Posted by: squee.gee | Comments (0)
Engadget has recently posted the 3rd and final installment of their "How-To: Build your own CNC machine" directional series. Main components such as dot-matrix printer parts, cutting boards and an affordable diy controller give you the opportunity (given your nerd-factor and level of enthusiasm) to make your very own 3-axis CNC milling machine.
The Fireflies is a 14"x12" video installation containing one light emitting diode per square inch. Flear's objective was to create an organic and ambient piece operated by a surprisingly complex formula underneath.
John's work explores the emergence of complex collective patterns from simple individual behavior. His work is heavily influenced by Thomas Schelling, the 2005 Nobel prize laureate in Economics. Small changes in individual behavior often cause big changes in resulting interactions. John uses computers to simulate living environments. He programs the individual behaviors of the artificial organisms and lets them create their own ecologies and patterns. The results are fascinating and sometimes unexpected.
Flear's work is available for $770 from Bit Editions.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
Jonathan Vo, a USPS worker by day, works at night to create colorful hand-made pillows made of high-grade, leather-like vinyl sold under his company name, Nina's Pillow Designs. Jonathan stresses his designs as a cost effective and animal-kind alternative to leather pillows. As best as I can describe their style, the pillows scream art deco/80's/ Miami madness and the only other place where you'd find something close would probably be a thrift/vintage store. They almost make you want some Lisa Frank gear and a Skip-it.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
The Engadget store in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, sports our inter-pal Engadget's name and logo (wtf!) with no affiliation (or permission) whatsoever. For shame.
via engadget
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Bjorn Frank's fake affair kit is used by one significant other to provoke jealousy in the other in order to strengthen their bond in the long run.
via reluct
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Yiannis Ghikas' story may inspire those who feel it's "too late" to switch to a creative career. The 37 year-old businessman-turned design enthusiast-turned design student's Concepts on a Waiting List are a collection of his ideas that are yet to be realized. Shown above, his Peel Bottles are modeled after various consecutive stages of peeling.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Domus Academy is launching their DA Grand Prix, an international talent competition offering 7 full Scholarships for Design, Interiors, Interactive, and Car Design and Mobility one year Master programs. (You gotta be from Austria, Germany, Benelux, Scandinavia, Spain and Slovenia to apply.) Send your profile, CV, "letter of motivation," portfolio, etc. to grandprix-at-domusacademy.it. Deadline is 9/15/06 (15/9/06); results on 9/29/06 (ditto). More info at domusacademy.com.
Seen at Cartoonbank.com
Posted by: Steve Portigal | Comments (1)
University of Colorado's Professor Webster Cash has been funded by Nasa to continue the development of this flower-shaped "occulter," used with a powerful telescope trailing thousands of miles behind, which will make it easier to spot extra-solar planets, that is, planets that orbit stars other than our very own Sun.
read more
Looks like someone (Andre K. Bartley, a well known Apple interface designer also named in several other iPod-related patent filings made in both United States and Europe) over at Apple's been sketching what looks like a toss-out of the click wheel to accomodate a phone or gaming interface.
via apple insider
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
If the NYC crevace looked like this maybe we wouldn't be so damn grumpy all the time.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Internerds and office workers must nourish whilst typing, therefore conceptual designer Duck Young Kong has developed the Keyboard Tray to facilitate a comfortable eating/working enviroment, increasing productivity and reducing messy mishaps like mayo on the spacebar or coffee-soaked post-its.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
In today's edition of the Monday Morning Must Read you'll find a passing reference to an online archive of Design Magazine from 1965-1974. The archive contains the full contents of all the magazines, including scanned images of each page, with full text and illustrations. The object above came from an article titled In Quest of the Perfect Desk, from issue 215 (1966). Each issue is a time capsule of contemporary design thinking, with new products, events and even classified ads. Well worth an hour or two of inspirational browsing.
German designers Oliver Keller and Tillman Schlootz presented their exteremely extreme personal tank concept for the 2006 Michelin Design Challenge, showcasing vehicles made especially for California's diverse and often rugged topography. Hyanide's tread contains 77 (holla!) identical plastic-covered segments of Kevlar rubber held together by Kevlar rope. Each segment flexes independently, allowing fluid multi-directional movement suitable for any conditions including deep mud, sand and snow.
via pop sci
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Why?
via sci fi tech
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Martin Zampach of 34 Design innovates on the art of toast retrieval, avoiding notoriously popular tactics such as the "burnt fingertips" grab and the ol' "knife-in-the- slot" shock therapy trick. A gentle tilt of TOAST|ONE's center cradle painlessly delivers your crunchy treats directly onto a plate.
The legacy of silly, one-track-mind product design lives on. This product triggers simultaneous giggles and a finger-picking trim.
via arbroath
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Forget watching todays final on your plasma TV or your friends pimped out video projector home entertainment system, Österreicher Michael Aschauer has been broadcasting a live streaming ASCII feed of the World Cup with personal commentary captions. It's awesome. The stream starts 10min before game.
----------------------------------------------------------
On Windows:
----------------------------------------------------------
run 'cmd' (Press 'Windows-Key'-'R', type 'cmd' and ENTER)
or find the the command shell in your 'start' menu
on the command shell type:
your-host:~$ telnet ascii-wm.net 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
On MacOSX:
----------------------------------------------------------
Find and run Terminal (in Applications/Utilities)
Now type into your terminal:
your-host:~$ telnet ascii-wm.net 2006
//
more info at: http://www.ascii-wm.net
Posted by: squee.gee | Comments (0)
WorldChanging is on vacation this week, and is running some of its best entries. And this one really is: The Rise of Bright Green Computers is an excellent overview of computers and sustainability, with info and links galore. Here's a paragraph from the intro:
The modern world's greatest tool is among our most disposable and resource-heavy. Performance-wise, computer design has progressed staggeringly well and astonishingly fast. But looking at it from a green perspective, the work has barely begun. When our laptop dies and we toss it, it either rots in a landfill, or children in the developing world end up wrestling its components apart by hand, melting toxic bits to recover traces of heavy metals. Did someone forget to design for them? And of the $250 billion per year spent on powering computers worldwide, only about 15% of that power was spent computing--the rest was wasted idling. Did we really get what we paid for?
Posted by: Allan Chochinov | Comments (1)Discarded matresses make nice cassettes and synths.
Posted by: Michael Doyle | Comments (0)
Industrial designers have always liked to work blue, but BoingBoing links to a piece on Ninth Wave Designs' quest to replace the beloved Blackwing 602s. Read the entry to see what they've come up with.
It's not really post-modern...but it's something. Paintings of contemporary, manufactured objects push the still life to a strange place, but perhaps not so strange when people look back at them in another 30 years. There're Gautam Rao's Mac paintings (where's the spinning pizza of death?); Darren Hager's sneakers (or Dave White's, if you like more action to them); bicyclepaintings.com can sate your appetite for things that go, or Mike Sugarbaker has a "Painter painting" of a phone. (How's that!) Art history or design history? Homage or fetishism?
On the local beat, Adobe is looking to visit people in New York City "who create visuals for Flash. We will spend about 90 minutes talking to you about your work at your desk, showing you some of our plans for the future, and getting your feedback on those plans." See the whole pitch here. On the west coast, Design Public is holding an Online Sample Sale through July, but the catch is that it's SF pickup only. Visit the site here, and use password "sweetfreedom" (no quotes).
Posted by: Allan Chochinov | Comments (0)
Sadly only a concept for now, Inventables has devised a plan to prevent the epidemic of burnt toast traumas occurring daily in homes all over the world.
via releaslog
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
Here stands an awesome display of Tano's intriguing thought process, leaving conclusions up to all and any viewers. A shout out to vacuum-formed packaging? Point of purchase display? Or the ever so obvi consumerist agenda? Who knows...
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)
The humanity. No better than a mediocre homework assignment in Photoshop 101.
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (1)The New York Times takes a quick look at how companies manage pricing of equivalent goods and services, and how people perceive value.
Although some people care a great deal about cutting-edge hardware and software, others would happily settle for simpler machines if that meant lower prices. Offering discounts to buyers of traditional white machines enables Apple to expand its market. And this reduces its cost per unit sold, freeing resources to develop even more sophisticated machines.Posted by: Steve Portigal | Comments (0)
Inhabitat points their bar-b-que tongs at Designer Sascha's Poissonmobile roll-up slatted chaise lounge. The "lateral stability" concern is already well-voiced in the comments, so save yur typing here. But a very nice magic trick from flat to form, provided the thing stays put.
Steven MacGregor introduces the ABCs of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), its resonance for designers, and the impact of small- and medium-sized business. Here's a sample:
The rapidly growing field of CSR was initially a tactic used by major corporations aiming to pacify consumers' ethical concerns, with origins in the anti-corporate and anti-globalization protests of the late 1990s. Today, CSR is epitomized as the voluntary ethical behavior of a company towards society--including shareholders and stakeholders--"holding" human and employee rights, environmental protection, community involvement, and supplier relations as core values.
Posted by: core jr | Comments (0)
Dirk Knemeyer brings his 4-part series home with a look at the central ingredient in both design and poker: courage. Here's a taste:
The beauty of poker is that there are so many styles and approaches. But the beauty of design is that the marriage of form and function can be strengthened through the deliberate application of strategy and will. Certainly the lessons I've shared reflect my personal style of card play, but I believe that they can have deep resonance in the enterprise of design...
The Dott (Designs of the times) site is thickening up, and they've posted a nice overview of their June 6th event here (check out the "scribing"), as well as an email-to-be-invited pitch for their next event, July 11th, on Reducing Energy. There's lots more at the site, so have a look around. (Now, as for the "What's the most significant media innovation of the 21st Century: Digital Radio, iPod, or HDTV" front-page poll? Where is the choice for "mixed"?)
With over 50 free events, the Melbourne Design Festival starts tomorrow. Registration is required for the Speaker Series, Slide Nights, Workshops and of course - Designer Speed Dating.
Melbourne Design Festival
Get Set to Glow
6-16 July, 2006
Solestrom's SmartSwim UV Meter Bikini has a built in waterproof UV meter that monitors the amount of skin-damaging rays you're exposed to. Solestrom also made their best effort to keep the $190 suit looking contemporary and chic enough to show off this lady's giant rack.
via the raw feed
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
Wieden + Kennedy 12, an experimental advertising school in Portland, Oregon used 150,000 Sparco Brand clear thumbtacks in the construction of a mural honoring the role of failure in the creative process. The tacks covered an entire wall, screaming "Fail Harder" within the negative space. Conquently, during the week of construction, the entire West Coast's thumbtack supply was subjugated until further notice.
The mural will be open to the public for one night only: Thursday evening, 6-9 p.m., July 6, Wieden + Kennedy, 224 NW 13th Avenue, Portland, Oregon
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (0)
I, myself, must admit to using my cellie as an alarm clock. I must also admit it's not 100% reliable perhaps unless you choose the most irritating ringtone available. Bahbak Hashemi-Nezhad has discoved that placing your cellie in wine glass will resonate and amplify the polyphonic wake-up call you've always dreamed of.
via reluct
Posted by: Jeannie Choe | Comments (2)
Celebrating its 21st anniversary, New Designers Part 2 will open tomorrow, July 6th, for a few days at the Business Design Center, 52 Upper Street in London.
Categories are Product Design, Furniture Design, Illustration and Animation, Graphic Design & Interactive Media, Photography, Spatial Design (Architecture, Interior Design, Theatre Design & Model Making). (Part 1--Contemporary Applied Arts, Ceramics & Glass, Textiles, Fashion & Accessories, Jewellery & Precious Metalwork just closed.)
A list of participating schools is here; keep an eye out for previously-clogged Kingston University's Michal Taite. MediMates look good, as well as Elliot Hartwell's Wired Table..
Posted by: Allan Chochinov | Comments (0)Valleywag takes a sharp-tongue-in-cheek (ouch) look at the Google Product Development Process
Two googletards meet for Battlestar Galactica marathon on UPN but end up calculating their worth as the weekend stock price hovers around $415; after two epicurean Mike's Hard Lemonades, a message is sent to an internal developer list with an idea for (a) Google Base or (b) an old Yahoo/Microsoft product with a new AJAX interface.
Now we know how it happens.
[via Waxy] Posted by: Steve Portigal | Comments (0)
GE Plastics' Automotive Lighting division launched its new LiteDesign web-based resource for their Signature Surfaces program. LiteDesign is launched to support automotive lighting designers in material selection regarding the evaluation of thermal, visual, cost, and kinematic factors.
Why all these efforts? Jim Wilson, global market director for GE Plastics' Automotive Lighting division, said: "The key to differentiated styling is to design in the material first rather than struggle to force-fit a material to the design. We recognized that if lighting designers had the tools to approximate material costs and performance early in the design process, they could save a tremendous amount of time, effort, and cost to create more innovative solutions."
This online toolbox should be addressing the needs of lighting designers and be an easy-to-use website - feel free to drop a comment with your opinion.
Posted by: Aart van Bezooyen | Comments (0)
The Japan Times has an interesting round up of designed objects currently spotted in stores in Tokyo.
Out of the office and into the kitchen to add some playfulness to the countertop comes Hiroshi Kajimoto-designed kitchen shears from Kai ( kai-group.com ), winner this year of an iF Product Design Award. More than just a handy tool, what sets these shears apart from the rest is their bird-like shape, hence the name. [Razor Beak]
Nokia has initiated a civil litigation in Beijing, China against two companies for manufacturing and selling mobile phones that copy the proprietary and legally protected industrial designs of the Nokia 7260 mobile phone model.
[...]
This action is part of Nokia's continuous efforts to protect its brand value and proprietary designs against infringers. Nokia vigorously protects its intellectual property and is ready to take action when its rights are violated.
Read full story here.
Posted by: Niti Bhan | Comments (0)