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September 27, 2006
Modern Gnome
I apologize about the misinformation about these little mysterious creatures today. Technical difficulties, lets blame that on Electro.
These peculiar ceramic gnomes are called Gno's and they're one of many lifestyle products from Vitamin living. Gno's are meant for the modern urban consumer to decorate their gardens and interiors, to live a life less ordinary. Pretty neat looking aren't they?
These gnomes are just one of many cool and well designed products in their line, I also like the artistic dart board, such a cool idea.
more pictures after the jump.
Posted by diverseawareness at 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
September 26, 2006
Paper Plane Coffee Table
plankton and I used to fold paper airplanes of all persuasions at our old office. At one point, we had over a dozen of them. Some flew really well, others were just for looks. We actually learned quite a bit and found fun in each taking different approaches to their design. plankton preferred streamlined designs while I folded the hell out of each paper to form some flying origami monster.
This scale paper plane model by UK designer Lorraine Brennan had me foaming at the mouth. It's made of 2mm powder coated steel with silicon insets. A perfect plane - a perfect coffee table.
No plans for production yet but perhaps a copy could be made with simple plywood. Can someone help me?
Posted by tranism at 9:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 20, 2006
Message Bean
An ordinary bean turned into a memorable gift called Message Beans. The bean is carefully etched in such a way that when the bean germinates and sprouts into a miniature plant, your etched in message appears, i.e., "love you".
Ready to grow in its own canister, all you need to do is add water. Pretty neat gift I thought.
Posted by tranism at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Glass Knives
I bet our ancient ancient ancient cousins would be jealous of these tools. Carved from glass, these knives designed by Noa Bembibre slice thru tomatoes like a hot wire thru wax.
Posted by tranism at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Livingstones
Livingstones are pieces of furniture that look like smooth rocks and pebbles. They come in a variety of natural and slate colors and even carefully textured to simulate the grain found in pebbles.
Despite their appearance, they're soft and offer another way to bring the organic and outdoors into our homes. The giant cupped shaped pebble looks particularly comfortable. I want one!
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Heat and Roll
The aroma towel rack by dough-heat ltd has heated side vents from which you can hang your towels to dry. You can even control the temperature via the pop-out dial on the left. Once dry, you roll them up and place them in the center. It looks great and functions. I would love to get my hands on one (since I'll be moving soon) and this would look great in my new bathroom.
Posted by tranism at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
September 18, 2006
Tangram Shelving Solution
I've been obsessing over bookshelves lately. I spent part of my weekend in a library just to admire their shelves (and to discuss possible Harry Potter conspiracy theories). This particular shelving system called the Tangram by LAGO design studio injects a nice dose of humor in what is an otherwise standardized design. The systems comes in triads and shadow boxes to leave you free to create whatever you like. I found the above image amusing.
I can't read Italian so if any of you do, HOLLA at me.
Posted by tranism at 2:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
September 17, 2006
Sumo Pillow
This giant pillow from Sumolounge is made from 100% space age rip-proof nylon that can't stain, smell or rip and will please your every need for relaxation. This thing is huge and it looks very comfortable, I'm thinking it can even serve as a guest bed when needed!
It's available right now for only 129$ and even available in hot pink! Who's getting me one?
Posted by diverseawareness at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Enlightened Couch
This sofa sleeper is designed by Giovannoni and Rodrigo Torres for domodinamica.
Inspired by the greek god of sleep, it has two arms with lights in place of the gods wings. The arms are made of flexible polyurethane resins covered with elastic fabrics which makes them flexible to point the lights anywhere in or around the couch.
It's not the most attractive or perhaps captivating piece of furniture one could own, but this piece truly belongs in reader's home.
For some reason it also reminds me of this old swedish book show that aired during the late 70's and early 80's. The show was a true socialist assertion where this awesome barefoot bohemian would read a chapter or two while sitting back in his amazing rainbow couch that looked like two hands.
more pictures after the jump
Posted by diverseawareness at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
September 16, 2006
Silicon Light Switches
Ross McBride is an Industrial Designer that I've admired for sometime now. There's always a sense of art infused with everything he does. My favorite product of his are the silicon light switches. They're completely different from anything you could find at your local Home Depot and bring an air of tech to something so simple as a switch plate.
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Zune Zune Zune
There's PLENTY of news out about Microsoft's Zune player, Zune store, Zune platform. People who know me know I'm an admitted iPod fan. The iPod's design is beautiful and functional and Apple's created a great platform for the iPod to exist on; the iTunes store.
So now Microsoft has its own platform and the Zune seems to be addressing all the problems other MP3 players have, while one-upping the iPod. But I already have some issues with the player.
The design is hideous. I don't know if Microsoft or the Zune's manufacturer Toshiba designed it, but it's a horribly dated design. Toshiba's Gigabeat is heads and shoulder a better design study both aesthetically and functionally. I don't understand the desire to frame the screen in another color. Don't they understand when you have a screen bleeding flush into the edge, it actually looks bigger? The scroll wheel isn't even a scroll wheel. It's a directional pad like those you might find on a game controller. A HUGE design no-no is to imitate design but not functionality. If I see a wheel, I instinctually want to be able to scroll. Perhaps they should have used a 4-way directional pad like the Gigabeat, since that's what it really is. Now I want to go back to the screen. Some would have you believe that Zune's screen is widescreen, but it's not. It's the same 4:3 aspect ratio found on the iPod and the same exact resolution, just turned sideways.
Microsoft's decision to use Wifi instead of Bluetooth is also another boo-boo. There's no way the battery life on that thing can sustain music, movies, and wireless transfers for more than 3.5 hours, unless Microsoft has some magic battery and since they refuse to release official battery life numbers, it leaves me wondering. The official battery life estimates are 12 hours for music playback and 3.5 hours for video. Just as a note, the 30 gig iPod does 15/6 and the 80 gig iPod does 20/4.
But I will say their packaging is nice. Apparently the days of a gazillion screencaps, stickers, text blurbs and logos on Microsoft products have missed the Zune factory because the box is clean and def. stands out. I for one am Happy Microsoft has finally entered for foray. If anything it pushes Apple to better their design and services. The future of MP3 players looks good.
Posted by tranism at 8:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Evolution of the iTunes Icon
Thru each major version of iTunes, Apple changes its icon. The current icon for iTunes 7 def. knods towards the Web 2.0. trend with its double gradient and hard contrast. For some reason, I miss the green icon.
image from macteens
Posted by tranism at 7:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Design Yesterday And Today
It's no surprise that designers often misinterpret future design trends. Part of the problem is design is often a slave to current technology. To accurately design for the future, one has to guess what technologies will be available in the future. These designers are often labeled "conceptual". This paradox is clearly seen in a post I saw at another blog about what designers in 1933 thought cars in the future would look like.
"What do I think about automobiles in the future?"
Well, it will be about one-third the weight of the present car and will, of course, be streamlined. The new cars will all weigh less than 2,000 lbs. and will probably have motors of around 100 horsepower. They will be lightweight cars, because the lighter the car, the easier it rides. . ."
Interesting that designers then understood the dichotomy between weight and ride suspension. They understood coefficient drag and knew that cars would have to be streamlined. They also knew engines would have to be more powerful to adapt to the burgeoning drive culture.
What they didn't guess right was what those cars would look like.
Posted by tranism at 7:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Suzuki Splash Concept
UPDATED:
The Splash is set for production in late 2007 under a new name. The source engine is based off their Busa engine used in their super sport street bikes - a 1200cc 16-valve four-banger. To top it off, this super hatchback will get 78 mpg. Not too shabby Suzuki, not too shabby at all.
My love for Suzuki grows each time they release a new concept. The company def. has the design chomps and the technology to back up their ideas. Unfortunately there's still this anti-Suzuki mentality in by most Americans who still remember the cheap dinky cars of yore. As with any new brand trying to establish itself in a crowded market place, going budget is less risky and besides, not all of us can afford 20k+ cars.
Enter Suzuki Splash - the company's vision of a production ready mini MPV concept car (hatchback). Unveiled at Paris last month, the car wears Suzuki's new concept grill, LED lights that sweep across the hood and rear lights that reach around the entire rear window. As with most of Suzuki's current lineup, the Splash is powered by a powerful yet very fuel efficient four-banger. While the exterior is all high-tech and futuristic, the interior is minimal and slightly retro. Replace the center stack with a more production ready dash, change out the seats, and use real rear-view mirrors instead of cameras and I can see this thing flying off the lots - even putting some pressure on current segment leaders (HELLO HONDA & SCION).
All images from Jalopnik because I'm too young to try and screen capture the website's seizure inducing flash animation.
UPDATE via gizmag
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 5:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
September 13, 2006
Sleep Comfortably In Your Jacket
I actually designed a jacket several years ago that converts the hood into a pillow. Unfortunately, it required people to carry around a small can of CO2 to inflate the hood. This design solution by designer Matthew Gale is far superior and pretty snazzy looking too. The Excubo jacket has a collar that flips up to cushion your head as you nod off and an inner structure around your
torso that keeps your back upright. All it needs now is some kind of integrated cup to catch your drool.
So Matt, when can you send me one? :)
Posted by tranism at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Dottir Chair By Dot Kite Lab
A very beautiful lounge chair designed by Thomas Mylonas for Dot Kite-Lab called Dottir. The upholstered seat rests on a trio of stainless steel legs. The design is stark yet elegant and inviting. The Dot Kite peeps tell me it's currently concept only with plans to go into full scale production very soon.
I would love to have one of these in my living room so listen up Dot Kite people and fly me a chair.
Posted by tranism at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
September 6, 2006
China Design 2026
The world's largest growing country and most rapidly developing sits on the cusp of answering many of the design challenges that have plagued every other industrial country thru its growing pains. China is unique with its own culture and style so design solutions from the west can not simply be grafted upon the country and be expected to work. To answer these questions a bunch of European design students traveled to China to work with Chinese design students to understand those challenges, to take the experience the west has had with those same problems, and learn how to apply them successfully to China.
So the question is, what will China be like in 2026?
One example is the image above, the Fetish Mask. I'm sure you've seen news footage and images of Chinese people walking around with masks on. They wear it to protect themselves from the polluted air and to a lesser extent, disease. We all know those paper dentists masks do little to actually protect you but herein lies the problem; how to do you take something that is socially ingrained and redesign it for the future?
The masks filters the incoming air, and medically sterilizes biological and chemical particles. It also incorporates a non-condensation mechanism so your exhaled breath doesn't build up and cause you to sweat underneath the mask.
A lot more at China Design
via Core77
Posted by tranism at 5:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
A Sidekick On Steroids
Actually, other than the hip-top profile, Pantech's Sky IM-U140 is far superior to T-mobile's nimble Sidekick. It's a digital satellite DMB (digital multimedia broadcasting) handset that caters to hardcore phone users who want every conceivable form of digital entertainment with them.
Although the IM-U140 is missing the Sidekick's QWERTY keyboard, it trumps the former by having a 3 megapixel camera and can capture those wafty digital signals floating in the air so you can watch the latest Big Brother on the go. Of course, a DMB phone is nothing to wrote home about. LG and Samsung have had DMB phones for almost a year now. What the IM-U140 does different is its incredible screen.
The large 2.6" 256k QVGA TFT screen slides up and angles 30º to provide the best viewing experience. All controls sit on either side of the screen and watching tv on this thing is a lot more natural than clamshell style phones with 90º turning screens.
With such a powerful screen, you just know it's also designed to be a gaming device as well, hence the dizzying array of buttons, stereo speakers, and hip-top profile.
It's a little ugly and you can forget about ever seeing one of these in America; we don't have digital multimedia broadcasts here. It's just worth pointing out how far ahead Asia and Europe are in the race towards digital bliss.
via CrunchGear
Posted by tranism at 4:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
September 5, 2006
Atomic Ballroom
Nike Savvas’s installation is part of an exhibition which features the innovative ways in which contemporary artists uses form, color and space. Thousands of suspended polystyrene balls are held in place by a nylon wire that runs across the room in a grid.
Occasionally a set of industrial fans blow across the room and puts the the whole spectrum into a wobbling craziness that eventually settles down into one coherent bobbing in time.
A pretty stimulating piece to stare at I'd imagine, though to me this immediately appeared to be the ballroom at ikea flown into space. Wouldn't it be so fun to play in it!
More pictures after the jump.
via MoCo Loco
Posted by diverseawareness at 1:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)