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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 (7)
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.
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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
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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 telev