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JULY 29, 1999
> Design and Architecture Day
"Design and Architecture Day" will be introduced to the United States on October 1 in Miami, Florida. This event, organized by the Arango Foundation is intended to be a demonstration project for the nation and will include museum exhibitions, a sky-tour of tall buildings with views of the city, the hanging of banners, lectures, a sound-and-light show, a design treasure hunt, book exhibitions and the awarding of prizes. Don Singer, FAIA, will be the juror for the first annual Arango Design Award, and architectural students from several schools will display an elaborate series of miniature cities (composed of architectural models) to illustrate concepts of urban planning and architectural design. "Design and architecture have long been priorities in Miami Beach," says Mayor Neisen Kasdin, who has proclaimed October 1 to be "Design and Architecture Day." Judith Arango, president of the Arango Design Foundation hopes "to see this celebration in several other American cities by October1 of the year 2000. Within a few more years we believe that the custom will spread enough to make a real difference in the public's understanding of the impact of design on everyday life."
Chair: Maricarmen Martinez: upstairsstudio@mindspring.com
Telephone 305 461 1010, Fax 305 461 1011
> Touch-Sensitive 3D Modeling Package
Earlier this month a company called SensAble Tecchnologies announced that it will launch the first touch-sensitive 3D modeling package at Siggraph in LA. According to the announcement the "FreeForm" modeling system will allow sculptors and designers to use their sense of touch while modeling on the computer. This makes the FreeForm system "as intuitive and expressive as physical modeling with clay or foam, yet with all the productivity advantages of a completely digital tool." Creation, adjustment and iterating form will now be done intuitively in 3D. Models can then be exported to other software packages for engineering, production or mold-making. If you are interested, and attending Siggraph, SensAble is giving away a system in a booth-site competition. Contact khilburn@sensable.com Or visit the website at http://www.sensable.com/siggraph
SensAble, Booth #1101, Aug 10-12 at Siggraph
SensAble Technologies, Inc.
215 First Street, Cambridge MA 02142
T. 617-679-4500 x4548 / F. 617-621-0135
> The EPA's Sustainable Development Challenge Grant
Attentive readers may recall a recent design grant from the EPA. Well, here is how to apply for an EPA grant so we will write about your organization next year as a recipient of the US EPA's Sustainable Development Challenge Grant.
Purpose: Provide seed money to leverage investment in locally developed, innovative projects which address serious environmental problems through the application of sustainable development strategies.
Eligible Applicants: Local and state governments, tribes, territories, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.
Award amount: Applicants compete nationally for funding in two categories: 1) $30,000 to $100,000;
2) $100,001 to $250,000.
Matching Share: 20% non-federal government matching share required. In-kind contributions may be used to meet this match.
Dates: FRN published July 1, 1999; Applications due to EPA-R2 on September 29, 1999. Grant selection: April 2000
Objectives:
* Promote cooperation and collaboration among citizens, businesses, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, and others to develop locally appropriate tools and processes for enhancing environmental quality, economic security and quality of life.
* Encourage community investment in environmental protection through an improved understanding of the connections between a healthy ecosystem and strong economy.
* Catalyze community-based efforts that foster long-term investments in innovative sustainability efforts. Identify and design effective models and tools for achieving sustainable solutions to environmental problems that can be widely shared and replicated nationwide.
Contact for Region 2 (NY, NJ, PR & VI): Marcia Seidner,
phone: 212-637-3590 email: seidner.marcia@epa.gov
The SDCG Federal Register Notice is available at: http://www.epa.gov/ecocommunity
Good Luck!
JULY 22
> EPA Awards a Grant to Designers
A Seattle team has succeeded in obtaining funding from the unlikely source of the Environmental Protection Agency. The team's project, "Seattle 3000," will use the $20,000 grant to work with students in a sustainable redesign of three locally manufactured products. Their methods will include not only researching the potential of green materials, but, as is now becoming standard, reviewing the product's life cycle from raw material through decomposition. The grantees are Anne Thorpe, who sits on the King County Commission on Recyclable Materials, and Louise St.Pierre, who is the Co-Chair of the Industrial Design Department at the University of Washington.
> The Great Debate, Reiterated FYI
For anyone who missed a recent important letter published in the Home section of the New York Times, it bears recirculation. In an earlier issue, the section had published "Design Notebook: Success Is in Sight, but Where's the Vision," William Hamilton's review of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, in which he lamented a perceived lack of vision in design. Arlene Hirst, Senior Editor, design news, for Metropolitan Home magazine, replied, in a letter published July 15: "...To try to compare the Eameses with the current American design landscape, which is just beginning to come into its own, is like comparing the World Series to a Little League game. You should be taking manufacturers to task, not designers. A successful product is the result of a collaboration. The Eameses had Herman Miller behind them -supporting them and helping them overcome technical problems. In contrast, most American designers today do it themselves. There is no wide base of manufacturing support as there is in Italy. Without companies like Kartell, Driade, B & B Italia, Cassina and Cappelliini, Philippe Starck, Antonio Citterio and Ettore Sottsass would not shine nearly so brightly."
> The Summer of Cars
If all the conference announcements have not yet moved you to book a tax-deductible trip to Europe this year, these Car events may tip the scale: In Coventry in August a seminar called "Reinventing the Wheel" will trace the past, present and future stylistic developments of the car, and its relationship with design, architecture and society as a whole. Designers and architects from all disciplines are invited to "participate in the creation of a conceptual road map for car design," which is to result in an interactive installation. A book will result too. August 13 - 19, contact a.milton@napier.ac.uk, or visit www.ch-6.co.uk/wheel. If you also want some Gehry/Hadid architecture on your deductible car design vacation, you might prefer to see the Automobility exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum at Weil am Rhein, which is up from June 12 1999 - January 9, 2000, with a 500 page catalogue. Visit (without deduction) www.design-museum.de.
JULY 15
> Material-Selecting Software
Two Scientists at Cambridge University have developed the "Cambridge Materials Selector," a software package that allows one to identify the best materials for any particular purpose. This software encompasses all
engineering materials, and allows the user to select among them based on a series of attributes: minimum price for a given strength, say, or minimum weight for a particular stiffness. With up to fifteen variables, one can adjust conflicting aspects of performance and see the consequences ripple through all the rest. There are also comprehensive resources on material types and manufacturing methods. Though engineering-based, it could be a valuable resource for design. Granta Design, a spin-off of the University's Engineering department, markets the program: 011 44 1223 518895, or, www.granta co.uk
> Electronic Paper Technology in a Sign
E Ink Corporation has produced a banner display based on MIT's Electronic Paper technology. This three-millimeter-thick surface changes its message every ten seconds in response to an electronic signal. The medium is a digital ink display called "Immedia." At four by six feet the sign weighs 8.7 lbs, and takes less light than a light bulb. Call E Ink Corp., 45 Spinelli Pl., Cambridge, MA 02138
> New Beetle Designer Hired Away
Volkswagen AG lost one of the designers of the New Beetle recently when Freeman Thomas accepted a post with Daimler-Chrysler. Thomas was Volkswagen's top designer in the US, and designed the Audi TT as well as co-designing the Beetle. He became Daimler-Chrysler's vice president of advance product design strategy.
> Toy Tie-ins Belly-up
Hasbro's part of the Star Wars boom is likely to come in $200 million under expectations by year end, the business press reports. In the last decade film licensing fees have boomed while the return has slowly dropped. Tarzan has done well at the box office, bringing in $100 million already, but there have been few associated toy sales.
JULY 8
> IDSA Head Leaving
The IDSA's Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Bob Schwartz will be leaving his position in order to accept a new career opportunity at
Motorola Inc. This move will take place in August, after which IDSA's Deputy Executive Director Kristina Goodrich will become the interim Executive Director.
"My tenure during the last decade at IDSA has been tremendously satisfying and rewarding," Schwartz said. "I leave a vigorously expanding organization and its programs in their most robust condition since the Society's founding." Under his leadership the IDSA began its alliance with Business Week magazine and grew in membership by roughly 50%.
> Coolness Redefined: Ray-Ban now owned by Italians
For iconic value, no sunglass brand beats Ray-Ban, the American silhouette around Buddy Holly's eyes. But now this product line has been bought by Luxottica Group S.p.A., the Italian eyeglass manufacturer. Ray Ban, owned by Baush and Lomb, includes the Revo, Arnette and Killer Loop lines. Among other lines, Luxottica also owns the Persol brand, which should keep the Ray Bans in stylish company.
> Toughness Redefined: Hummers Come from the Midwest
If you are a wealthy philistine, backlashing against the tyranny of the politically correct, you may be in the market for a Hummer. This is the only-slightly-domesticated version of the military Humvee all-terrain vehicle, both of which appear to be taller and wider than any road's lane.
General Motors has just taken on the job of making and selling the Hummer, so give Detroit a call when you know you're boss enough.
> Too Close a Shave?
In a suit filed in Federal court in Boston the Gillette Company has accused the American Safety Razor Company of infringing on its patents for the new Mach3 razor. The charge is that the Tri-Flexxx razor, which also has three blades, is an imitation. American Safety Razor is the fourth largest seller of shaving razors in the US, and is suspected of having also copied the packaging designs.
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