Happy Holiday to everyone. I’ll be out in Hong Kong for the break and will be back with some goodies to post most likely dealing with food, shopping, and culture.
If you have not already, please join the Facebook Fan page here which I post to often but write less and it’s open for fans to post to as well. I’ll post a few goodies I shared on the fan page below recently for the holiday break:
Betsy Vanlangen has some mesmerizing photography compositions on her website, especially mixing food and materials with people. Makes ya think after looking though her portfolio of work. Lots of inspiration!
This weekend (thanks vimeo) I’ve been enjoying the TV series Design for Life (mentioned before) featuring design guru Phillipe Starck.
Unlike many other design reality shows that I’ve seen, Design for Life dives into the reality in design thinking. Most people outside of the design community generally perceive design as purely aesthetics which in some industries is true, but in a majority of the ones I know, aesthetics is perhaps the last 10% in design.
Design is a method, a process, a way of life, a means to adapt. One breaths every aspect in design while eating, walking around, watching people, sleeping, or typing as I am now. There is a intricate pathway in researching, understanding, inventing, presenting, developing, trying, and broadcasting before one even touches how an project finally looks. Designers want to encapsulate an experience from A to Z and not just elements of a product. One must understand how to observe and learn about a project, then have the ability to influence and push forward a direction upon these observations. Then the deep dive into sketching, communicating, collaborating, interacting, and executing several steps within design. A large understanding in manufacturing techniques, engineering, material properties, transportation limitations, cost, client definitions, brand awareness, business, marketing, users, and trends are all aspects which all designers should be knowledgeable of.
Design for Life is an entertaining glimpse into Starcks personality and philosophies while watching his team educate young individuals into their process. It would be nice to see more shows like this. Watch the 6 episodes after the jump via Vimeo…. which does not include commercials =) ( a better user experience) (more…)
Oh my, luggage that flips into a scooter while your waiting in the airport. A little bored, or tired lugging your gadgets around? Stick them in, flip out the wheel, and ride them around! ha! pretty sweet and has a I want One vibe. Not sure if this is just a concept or actually going into production, but I think I’d buy one for 80-90 bucks and have some fun in the airport.
OOoo, I love magnets, an I think I’m loving wooden magnets even more now from Tegu! Clink Clank, but no broken magnets…. just wooden dings here and there! I think this would be a great holiday gift! Really interesting company story, their sustainable, into education, and SOld out currently! yikes, How am I suppose to get my hands on a few sets to play with and show off my blocknetic creations! Check them out at www.tegu.com.
““Every year, global design and merchandising company Felissimo produces a series of charitable plates that traditionally feature the illustrations of present-day icons. This year, as part of Felissimo’s mission to promote better design for the greater good, the company extended the project to designers across the globe by hosting Happiness: The Tribute 21 Plate Challenge on DESIGN 21: Social Design Network. Felissimo is now proud to unveil its selection of winning plates, whose designs communicate a wish, inspiration or message for children and future generations about seeking happiness in harmony with our surroundings. A portion of the proceeds from plate sales will benefit the UNESCO/Tribute 21 DREAM Center Fund, which provides arts programs to children in post-conflict regions.
Giving designers a chance to share their work with the world, DESIGN 21 posted all submissions for the Tribute 21 Plate Challenge to the competition site. After reviewing 732 entries, based on originality, relevance, aesthetics, and ranking in an online public voting poll, representatives at Felissimo headquarters in Japan have chosen seven winners. According to DESIGN 21 Founder Haruko Smith, “Whether symbolic, literal or euphoric, all of the designs represent hope for a better future.”
The “Reminiscent Innocence” plate by U.S. designer Jody Boyce was selected as the “Most Popular” design as well as a DESIGN 21 “Judges’ Pick.” According to Boyce, “My goal was to try to capture those feelings we all felt as children; the innocent, naïve and green ideas we had about the world before we were thrown into it head first.”
The other six top designs chosen as “Judges’ Picks” include: Giorgio Cattano (Netherlands) for “Happy Forest”; Eugene Gu (China) for “TRUELOVE”; Arlene Birt (U.S.) for “Water Cycle: For Life”; Jeong Seok Oh (South Korea) for “Public Bath”; Alexandre Esteves Neves (Brazil) for “Soap Bubbles of Happiness”; and nen (Spain) for “How to be happy without.” Honorable mentions were also given to Ji Yeon Yoo (South Korea) for “The Blooming Happiness” and Bonnie Jordan (U.S.) for “Happy Harmony.”
I’ve seen tons of creative Halloween costumes in the past, but with the popularity of big head Wii characters and DYI costumes, I’d have to give Eric Testroete an awesome star for his big head paper kraft costume this year which as he mentions is very much like Bert Simons projects (posted before). I’m not sure how he ate candy or sipped some goodies that night, but it sure is an eye opener!
I haven’t been to to the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Festival in Thailand with the magical hot air lanterns, but I’d love to one day. Pretty amazing experience I’m sure.
“The Chiang Mai Yi Peng Festival (going on through November 2nd) is a Buddhist lantern festival held in Northern Thailand. Thousands of lit Khom Fai (sky lanterns) are set off into the air, and with them are said to go the troubles of the person who launched each lantern.
