November 13th, 2008
November 13th, 2008
Evolution Accelerated
This year has been a big year in technology-driven and related sectors, which in turn has created a big stir in the (largely consumer) marketplace and back again in tech- and design-driven products and services.
Popular consumer electronics got a shot in the arm with Apple’s new iPhone 3G, which launched mid-July and sold one million units inside three days. Apple CEO Steve Jobs pointed out that it took all of 74 days to sell the first one million original iPhones, so things were clearly “off to a good start”. MORE…
November 12th, 2008
The Dutch UNStudio architects recently launched their first chair design, called MYchair. The chairs are upholstered in two colours and were created for the German Walter Knoll company.
The architectural approach to furniture is different from that of the industrial designer: the architect begins with the space and the environment that the chair will become a part of. MORE…
October 15th, 2008
Twenty-three year-old designer Takumi Yoshida has come up with a phone design that serves the needs of the visually impaired. The “SENS” phone (written SÉNS) features a unique keyboard scheme where all of the keys are slightly different to the touch from one another, making the keys easily recognisable, and allowing the user to know where they are on the keyboard at all times. The waves and contours central to the recognition concept also make for compelling visually engaging design. MORE…
October 13th, 2008
In the 2008 automotive line-up, more is definitely more.
This year in the automotive sector is one of transition and re-affirmation, with manufacturers generally choosing to go one of two ways: back to the past, falling back on nostalgia-rich tradition; or forward with new technologies and design formulations. The (fuel-electric) hybrids introduced just a couple of years back are seeing refinements and improvements, and more models in the line-ups offered in a hybrid version.
September 5th, 2008
Bathing Made Simple, Digitally
The design behind the Grohe Ondus is intended to make life simpler, by making it possible – and easy – to make personalised presets for most washing and bathing functions. The automated features are built around a one-touch interface which operates bath and shower performance. Further, the user interface is icon-based simplifying operation and digital programming. MORE…
August 20th, 2008
August 20th, 2008
BMW in 2015 – Istituto Europeo di Design Project
This year the third-year students of the IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) in Turin were challenged to design a BMW of 2015. The 35 students involved were subdivided into 18 teams, all coordinated by Fulvio Fantolino, Coordinator of the Transportation Design – Car Design Course and owner of F&F Design Studio. MORE…
August 18th, 2008
Therapy Products’ E-V Sunny Solar Electric Bicycle
The E-V Sunny Bicycle, developed by Canadian Entrepreneur, Peter Sandler, President of Therapy Products, employs light-absorbing Solar panels built into the wheels to generate continual power from the sun. The bike is the first of its kind in the world, the first all-solar electric bicycle powered entirely from the sun. MORE…
August 13th, 2008
August 11th, 2008
Apple Wireless Keyboard, ID Design Distinction Award 2008
Apple’s wireless keyboard has been awarded Design Distinction 2008, Consumer Products, in ID magazine’s recent Annual Design Review.
Apple’s wireless keyboard is a wafer of anodized aluminum with slivers of white keys, features Bluetooth with a 33-foot range and a battery charge that lasts for nine months of normal usage (it takes AAA batteries). According to one jury member, “it’s a highly evolved keyboard.”
Design: Apple Industrial Design Team (Cupertino, CA)
August 5th, 2008
August 4th, 2008
RetroPlate Concrete Polishing System
Concrete in its “natural” state is a porous product that is susceptible to efflorescence, spalling and dusting; and it doesn’t provide an aesthetic finish, nor is it easily cleaned. Advanced Floor Products has created a technique that revolves around the conversion of concrete from being a plain and porous industrial floor to a strong, lasting and good-looking surface.
August 1st, 2008
August 1st, 2008
Tesla Motors Begins Regular Production of 2008 Tesla Roadster
Regular production of the 2008 Tesla Roadster commenced this past spring, marking an historical milestone for Tesla Motors and a watershed in the development of clean, zero-emissions vehicles.
The revolutionary Tesla Roadster – a high performance car that generates zero-emissions and burns no oil – was first unveiled as a prototype in July, 2006. MORE…
July 31st, 2008
Apple iPhone: ID Best of Category 2008
Not surprisingly, the Apple iPhone was selected Best of Category 2008, Consumer Products, in ID magazine’s recent Annual Design Review. The iPhone combines three products in one — a phone, a widescreen iPod, and a unique Internet device with rich HTML email and a web browser. MORE…
July 31st, 2008
Brix Fragments, by architect Claudio Silvestrin
I Frammenti (The Fragments) by Brix is a porcelain micro-mosaic (or cube-tile) created by architect Claudio Silvestrin. Each mosaic is made of 5mm cubes with the space between equally proportioned. The mosaics are available in eight non-glazed colors, six intense glazed colors and four mixes.
July 24th, 2008
Veloheld by neongrau.id
German designers neongrau.id have created Veloheld, a pared-down bicycle for cycling in the city. With narrow handlebars and one gear, the bicycles come in black or white.
A limited edition of 100 bikes will be produced this year. The company also supplies the Veloheld frames for those who want to build their own bike. MORE…
June 30th, 2008
Dutch Merkx + Girod Architecten: Postal stores for TNT
Amsterdam-based architects Merkx + Girod have designed new postal stores for Dutch logistics company TNT. Employees at the new postal stores work at Corian service desks in the centre of the shop, rather than behind counters as in traditional post offices. The logistics that would normally be hidden away are now visible to customers. MORE…
May 10th, 2008
May 9th, 2008
The design of OctoCube radiator simulates fractal structures. This is very usefull because the surface area is much expanded and therefore its height of 34 cm heats as much as a standard radiator. MORE…
