« design: May 2007 | Main | design: July 2007 »
June 29, 2007
My Card Says I'm Out Of Money
I have a bad shopping habit, REALLY BAD. I buy heaps (Aussie word of the day) of video games, toys, clothes, and the most costly - electronics. My shopping addiction is enabled by my refusal to use cash since cash is a very tangible and visible way to gauge what you can and can't afford. Thats why I'm an ATM/credit card swipin' fool.
Enter Jacob Palmborg's, "Card" concept. The RFID enabled card links to all of your money accounts and displays them on a screen. The whole thing is biometrically secured so no worries about someone else getting your info. You can even use it to shop like an ATM card but here's the catch. It tells you how much money you have left and forecasts what kind of situation you'll be in if you buy "said item". OMG, it's like having a pocket sized conscience! Since it's just a web enabled screen, the card can also double as ID, any ID.
So lets see, this "card" basically consolidates a lot of what I carry in my wallet. Now if it were a phone too, I'd be set. Speaking of phones, where was this when I contemplated on throwing down $600 for an iPhone. I think my checking account went from a disconcerting smile to an all out sad face.
via Yanko Design
More pics after the jump.
Posted by tranism at 5:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Help, I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up v.2
This is the medic alert device of the future. Dubbed "VITAL", you wear it around your wrist like a watch. It monitors your vitals and syncs up information with medical staff or your physician's office. You can measure your blood pressure and temperature by swiping it across your forehead. That's way better than a stick under your tongue or even worse, a stick up your arse!
The cool thing is all the information transmits wirelessly. Your vital readings could also indicate how your daily life affects your health. Imagine receiving customized reports on how to relax. It could tell you you're not getting enough sleep. Most importantly if can notify someone if you've fallen and can't get up.
It does all this but doesn't tell time. Go figure.
via Yanko Design
Hit the jump for another picture.
Posted by tranism at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
June 27, 2007
PUMA Starck Bodywear
World-renowned designer Philippe Starck has successfully continued and evolved his design collaboration with PUMA and has developed a highly technical yet minimalist aesthetic for the PUMA Starck NAKED collection. The collection is both functional and sexy, consisting of 15 styles of body wear for men and women and available in simple colours of pure off white and reduced charcoal. The skin-tight silhouettes of light seamless lycra fabric reveal transparent insets that show skin in an understated fashion. The sleek lines and architectural influences are unmistakably Starck and the comfort and fit is truly PUMA.
Read more about it at Pumatalk.
Posted by tranism at 2:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
June 25, 2007
That's Alcohol!
I'm in love with David Boardman. He comes up with the craziest things and they all serve a purpose. The "That's Alcohol" installation is a unique ethylometer he and his team plan on proposing to the Italian police. A sensor detects the level of alcohol in a users breath triggering a series of servos and pistons that pull down string puppets . The drunker you are, the harder they fall.
Of course a device like this seems to encourage drunken behavior. After all, the only way to get the puppets to react is to be drunk off your ass. A flash based video in the installation even tells you how to reach a better "drunkenness" level. Even Boardman's project synopsis is a bit - drunk-like in its composure.
"Have another beer. Go ahead, you’ve already had what…5?…8?…13?
Just keep on drinking. You hate these student exhibits. Don’t these kids know that no one is a designer unless they have a line of cutlery and a villa in Tuscany? Hey look, those puppets did something…hmm…don’t know how they did that….oh well…where’s that fresh beer?"
I really want to meet his man.
Thanks Greg
Posted by tranism at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Stuff Bag
Created by designer Sylvain Willenz, Stuff is a tote bag that takes on the shapes of its contents. The rubberized material also takes on a bounce when you walk and it'll never wrinkle.
I don't get it.
via MoCoLoco
Posted by tranism at 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 22, 2007
Love Nuts?
I love me some nuts. However cracking them can be a chore. Holiday Nutcrackers scare the beejesus off me and those metal ones always get misplaced. Solution?
The Nusskubus Nutcracker consists of two beechwood cubes with varying hallows carved into each side. Place the correctly sized nut in the hallow and use the other cube to smash it open. It's like a puzzle!
$35 at the MoMA store.
via Gizmodo
Posted by tranism at 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
June 21, 2007
The Siberian Eco Tower
Rising above the skyline of Khanty Mansiysk in Siberia, this mixed use tower will be a new landmark, providing crucial amenities for the city, sheltered from the harsh local climate. The concept is driven by a progressive environmental strategy that is expected to establish new benchmarks for the region. Set high on a hill in a densely wooded area, the tower rises above two podium buildings each facetted like a cut diamond, reflecting and refracting natural light to illuminate the interior. At the summit, a viewing platform and restaurant offer panoramic views over the city. The development will take advantage of a number of sustainable energy strategies and key to the energy performance of the building are its atria, designed to facilitate solar gain and to encourage daylight to permeate the complex. A sensitive insertion into the landscape, the design ensures that much of the site remains in its natural condition.
Seriously tho, why are all the really avant garde buildings showing up in Siberia? Hit the jump for more pics or check out the hi-res ones here.
Posted by tranism at 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
June 20, 2007
iriver's Life Unit Does EVERYTHING
It's GORGEOUS. I can hardly contain myself. Very few electronics manufacturers understand the need for high design in ordinary gadgets. iriver is one company that gets it. What's more is they have their own design language and to their credit, it looks nothing like Apple's. One thing that really separates them from Apple is format ubiquity. They're not about choosing which formats will be supported. They support and include them all. They're not about deciding what customers want in terms of features. They include them all and let us decide.
This is why the Life Unit is so interesting. First off, it's designed by the famed Nakamichi. You can tell from it's perforated exterior and very Japanese profiling where it's origins are. Secondly, it wants to be at the center of your entertainment hub. It has a DVD player, a TV, PMP capabilities, wireless connectivity, SD slot, a port to charge and sync with iriver players, a touchscreen controller that unfolds into a 78-key QWERTY keyboard, and an LCD screen which can turn into a PMP device. Now that's entertainment on the go!
No word on pricing yet but damn this thing isn't just functional, it's also gorgeous. Hell, they should have made it a phone too and just called it a day.
BIG pictures after the jump.
Posted by tranism at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
June 18, 2007
Fans Like Spinning Seed Pods
When I was a kid, I use to collect seed pods or as I remember them - helicopter leaves. I'd climb up a tree or my dad's van to watch them twirl gracefully down. It was especially magical if I'd managed to collect hundreds of them. That should have been a red flag to my parents right there; an 8 y.o. boy running thru a sea of twirling seeds giggling uncontrollably.
I bring up seed pods because the Sycamore ceiling fan just changed my mind about installing one. I generally detest them. I was never comfortable with the idea of spinning blades above my head but the Sycamore fan combines the science of biomimicry to create something that not only looks great, but functions better. This all goes back to the seed pod. Their innovative, airfoil-like blade design allows them to create the same airflow as a conventional flat-winged fan, but at much lower speeds; this results in lower energy consumption, less noise, and great modern looks to boot. Designed to spin at 70-130 revolutions per minute (rpm), the blade can nearly cut in half the normal operating speed of a conventional ceiling fan, which rotates around 140-200 times per minute -- yep, twice as efficient, and all with just a single blade instead of three, four or five.
They cost about $700 which isn't bad considering the energy savings.
via Treehugger
Posted by tranism at 3:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
A Holistic Approach To Architecture
Although the eVolo Architecture competition garnered some interesting designs, the 3rd place winner was of particular interest to me. Designed by Jose Munoz Villers, the Euroscraper embodies the vertical organization of typical skyscrapers with an holistic view on space and design.
Although the gaping hole in the middle may seem like an inefficient design element, there's a reason for it. It provides wind resistance and reduces the amount of material needed to build the infrastructure. The building's loop design assists in natural ventilation and light distribution. It creates an artificial lung where both light and air circulate and breathe freely.
My initial thought was nothing but praise for the design. Of course this is something that's right up my alley. Unfortunately this design is too forward thinking, especially for the city Villers envisages it to be in, Paris. This is something better suited for East Asia or the Middle East.
More pictures after the jump.
via Gizmodo
Posted by tranism at 5:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
June 15, 2007
A Foot Dustpan
It's a dustpan that fits over your foot. Sweeping debris into the pan should be easier and less work for the back since you don't have to constantly bend over. My only problem with the design is walking. How the hell do you walk with that on your shoe? I'm already so lazy that I have a robot doing it for me.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Old Soccer Balls Reincarnated Into Something Dreadful
If soccer balls were alive, I'd bet the prospect of being reincarnated into a handbag after a lifetime of hard work on the field is scary. Fortunately, we're not soccer balls, nor are they alive (I think). That's why I can look at this is say, "cute!"
via Geekologie
Posted by tranism at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 13, 2007
Because Dogs Need Cool Homes Too
The Dog Cage is made from wire mesh just like any other dog crate except there's design to it. Instead of a simple box, you've got a sphere of sorts. My dog sleeps on a pile of blankets. He refuses to step into his crate since he outgrew puppyhood. I don't know if he'd go for this, as nice as it looks. How about yours?
Posted by tranism at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
June 8, 2007
OMG WTF Is It?
Riddle me this; I'm made of flexible membranes that absorb and cast light. I can spontaneously adapt to any environment. I am where home is. What am I? Hit the jump the find out.
I'm Piilo, a private secret retreat, a cocoon-like structure designed for interior spaces.
Designed by Markus Michalski
via Core77
Posted by tranism at 2:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
June 7, 2007
Maison Bulle
The bubble house is the home of fashion designer Pierre Cardin. Originally it was designed and built for another man but he passed away before its completion. Fascinated, Cardin bought the property and asked the architect to complete the project.
Located near Cannes, locals call it Maison Bulle. Seriously, it looks like the set of Star Wars, or Star Trek, or Starrbooty, basically anything with the word Star in it. I'd love to visit one day.
via Neatorama
Posted by tranism at 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Puma Biomega Urban Mobility Bike
I first saw the carbon black version of the Urban Mobility Bike last year and it was then I decided it would be my new summer ride. Fast forward a year later and you can now find it in Puma stores around the world or order it online.
The Urban Mobility Bike was designed by Puma and Biomega. With eight speeds and chunky tires, this new bike is ready to take you wherever you need to go – from city to countryside. The easy folding design makes it the perfect travel companion, even on the elevator up to your office. The unique frame design also tackles a common cycling hazard – theft – by replacing the conventional down tube with a detachable wire that also functions as an integrated locking system. If someone breaks the lock, they break the bike too. Take that, you dirty rats!
Last year it was announced it would be $800. The final set price has doubled to $1,600. I really want one Puma! The red one is calling my name. Anybody wanna help? :)
Posted by tranism at 5:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
June 6, 2007
If You Can't Keep You Legs Still
Try the Webble. It's a soft foot rest with 4 wheels that rock back and forth as you nervously twitch underneath your desk.
I mean it looks cool but how is this any different from just tapping your feet? Hit the jump for another pic.
via Gizmodo
Posted by tranism at 6:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
The Ghetto Blaster For The iPod Generation
Ghetto blasters never really made a comeback because audio sources have moved to external devices, not to mention how ungodly they looked. So an industrial designer name Dirk Winkel (love his name) envisaged a new ghetto blaster, comfortable to wear and compatible with any iPod-like device called the Nu Blaster.
The head of the blaster provides space for a large bass speaker while the long narrow end serves as a bass reflux tube. The curved shape makes it ergonomic to sport on your shoulder while the strap makes transport easy.
Too bad it's concept only. Hit the jump for another picture.
via Yanko Design
Posted by tranism at 1:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Apple's Industrial Designer Pre-iMac Days
Remember what Macintoshes (when they were still called that) looked like before the whole shift towards the transparent, candy-colored iMac? The man responsible was Robert Brunner.
He worked at Apple for 10 years as their lead industrial designer and it was he who found Apple's current designer, Jonathan Ive fresh out of school. It was he who saw how talented Ive was and tried not once, twice, but three times to get Ive to join Apple. When Brunner left Apple, he told Steve Jobs Jonathan Ive should head up the new department.
Robert Brunner now has his own product design company called Ammunition and I gotta say, I still see some Apple lineage in all his work. It's incredibly clean but leans towards the high-tech appliance side. Thank you Brunner for recommending Jonathan Ive.
Posted by tranism at 1:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 4, 2007
Emergence Design
The graduates of Sweden's Lund University's 2007 Industrial Design Masters program are showcased in an exhibition called Emergence Design. The graduates have created solves for today's problems like modular tent housing, and some have re-imagined machines long past like an airship that can change its center of gravity to land vertically.
Posted by tranism at 9:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
June 1, 2007
Take-G Toys, Father's Day Is Coming Up
Damn, if I had kids, they would always know what I'd want on account of this blog. I mean you regular readers know I'm always begging for stuff. Here's my latest obsession, Take-G Toys.
I have no information about them since I read Japanese about as well as seeing in the dark but I digress, if any of you Japanese readers would be willing to translate then help a brotha out!
Lots of pics after the jump.
via Notcot
Posted by tranism at 5:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
OVO Means Egg
Issey Miyake teams up with the best people to design their chronographs. Their latest outing called the OVO, which is Portuguese for egg, is the brainchild of designer Shunji Yamanaka. The spherical body symbolizes life and the hands look like tiny beaks.
Not sure how much it costs but surely expensive. Nonetheless, you get what you pay for and this watch is absolutely gorgeous.
More pictures after the jump.
Posted by tranism at 4:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)