...Design Life...

Freebies on Research

2010-02-22T20:06:00.003-06:00

http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/
http://www.synovate.com/insights/infact/
http://www.npdinsights.com/

Life is good

2008-01-12T20:30:00.000-06:00

Man, it's been quite some time since I posted anything....kinda miss it actually.
Hopefully I get some more time to do so this year, 07 was hectic....good, but hectic.
Now the little guy is 9+ months old and growing like a weed...has given me a totally different perspective on life and design as well.
Work going better than ever...lots of diverse projects completed and going on at PDT...soft goods, electronics, military just to name a few. Also had a 3/4 products/lines shown off at CES just recently in Vegas with a few more to follow early this year. PDT HQ is also moving very shortly...next week is a matter of fact to our new spot in Lake Zurich, IL...nice space located on a golf course...ah yeah. Will be a nice location for us to continue the trend of growth and development.
Classes going well also...just started back up with a class in Fiancial Accounting last week. Sounds dry, but honestly I think it's going to be quite cool and interesting..excited for it and the Prof. sounds like he is easy to relate to. All in all, will be benefical to get this type of perspective, so that is the postive.
As I continue trying to grow my skill set in design and just overall development, I am continuning my ritual of adding at least 1-new skill set this year. In 08, I will focus on drawing the human form and hands much much more in my work and concepts...always love seeing people that add this element into their concepts...give it a more meaningful look and is way more descriptive.
Anyways, that is my area of focus in my skill set area and I am raring to go...may take a class if I get some time..if not, I plan to practice on my long train rides to/fro from class and home.

Cheers to all.

Update

2007-11-25T20:26:00.000-06:00

Currently listening to: Prodigy: Fat of the Land, Notorious BIG: Born Again
Currently reading: No more textbooks thank you....onto The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century by Thomas Friedman. Digging it so far from a entrepenuerial standpoint.
Currently doing: Chilling out after my first MBA class at DePaul..get my grade posted tomorrow and then I don't start back up till Winter semester in early Jan. Have taken time off from posting to better gauge my time for class....been a tough adjustment, as expected, but I think next semester will go a bit smoother with all the travel downtown and whatnot. Not looking forward to fighting winter to get downtown and home either...we will see, but that is why I only took the 1 class again this semester....will bump up to 2 in Spring and after.

Also, just relaxing after a nice Thanksgiving with the fam....best holiday ever. No traveling this time, which was really nice to soak it all in and enjoy...plus it was our son's first Thanksgiving, so that was cool as well.
Working on a wide variety of programs at work, so that is always enjoyable...new stuff everyday.

Working more and more in Cinema4D as well and loving all of that....photo-realistic rendering and animation work at PDT. Had a tutor session couple weeks ago with this guy in NC who is a C4D guru...was awesome. Just sat at my desk at work and we did the whole screen sharing thing......he opened my eyes up to the depth of the program and showed me lots of goodies. Long way to go to master that program, but I am digging it so far.

Recent

2007-08-21T19:40:00.000-05:00

Well, been swamped with work and life as of late. All positive things, just one thing after another lately...no time in between.
Here are some snipits of my recent endeavors (sp?).

Had the opportunity to visit Maddock Douglas 321 Launch...cool innovation company located in Elmhurst, IL. Sweet little office.....here is a pic I took of their building. Their tagline is "We Create" and they have this nice bling bling posted outside...sweet.
Pic of a rencent meal...some good chili with bacon and cheese....mmmmmm.

And a pic of the little guy...growing super fast and starting to "talk" all the time. Amazing experience being a parent and all.

And to top that off....school at DePaul starts really soon. Sept. 5 is my first class....starting off with only 1 to ease my way into it. Applied Quantitative Analysis...sounds like a winner!

What's new

2007-08-02T19:00:00.000-05:00

Well, this little guy has been taking up a lot of my spare time when I used to post. All for good though...what a wondeful little gift this guy is in my life...amazing.

Getting pumped for MBA time at DePaul as well...start the first of September, so that is quickly approaching. First class is Quantitative analysis of statistics I believe...sounds like a real joy.
Also, wanted to point out a great software company with exceptional customer service. Bought Okino PolyTrans with the Engineering bundle of Cinema 4D at work for rendering/animation purposes. Have had lots of questions and Robert Landsdale and his team at Okino have been awesome...Very quick response and they know their product in and out. Extremely helpful bunch there in Canada. Just wanted to point that out...so if you're in the market for a CAD translation software anytime soon, check them out for sure.

And yet another cool thing...check out this article
on PDT, the design firm I work for, helping out in the community.

DePaul it is

2007-07-13T08:34:00.000-05:00

Just got the word....no go on UofChicago...not a big deal....DePaul is a great backup school, here I come.

ILM behind Transformers

2007-07-05T13:05:00.000-05:00

I had the chance to catch the new Transformers movie the other day....totally amazing animation in there.
Kudos to the ILM team....stunning.

DePaul Kellstadt GSB

2007-06-13T20:36:00.000-05:00

Wow...really good news to share.
Found out yesterday I have been accepted to the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University! I am truly excited about this opportunity....only waiting to hear from another school regarding my application (only applied to 2 schools...after that, I can make my decision. Honestly, either school I would be honored to attend and study at.
Good times...look forward to getting my MBA started and putting that mug to work for me in my career.

Aftermath

2007-06-07T13:48:00.000-05:00

Well, took the GMAT recently and I survived.
Not the score I hoped for...far from it, but I studied my butt off for that thing. Guess it's a waiting game now...applied to DePaul and UChicago.
Looking back on it, I should have not used the Princeton Review book, and instead chose to study with the Kaplan 800 one...think that is the name of it.
Heard from quite a few people, that is the book to get to conquer the GMAT.

Propeller / Core77 Bullit

2007-06-07T13:46:00.000-05:00

Nice one Gigante/Propeller...your firm getting some props.

Crain's Fast 50

2007-06-05T20:23:00.000-05:00

"If business is about growth, these Chicago-area companies know business. They averaged a five-year growth rate of 1,207% and employ 85,300. All together, this first Crain's Fast Fifty reported $18.54 billion in 2006 revenue, up 284% from 2001. Here are their stories, and their secrets to success"

Doomsday tomorrow

2007-05-25T15:15:00.000-05:00

My date with the GMAT has arrived...tomorrow, around this time, I will be conquering this test and paving the way to my entrance into Bschool. Lots of studying, but it has all been worth it. Know as much as I am going to know for the test, so just refreshing on subjects now.
(Fingers crossed)

Cinema 4D Textures

2007-05-23T09:19:00.001-05:00

Cinema 4D

2007-05-10T21:13:00.000-05:00

Check out this beauty of a software I stumbled upon at work looking for a competent Rendering package.
C4D is a very complex, deep program with loads of capabilities...what I particularly like are since I work for a PD firm:
* Engineering Edition comes with integrated Translation software that allows you to open native SolidWorks and Pro/E parts/assemblies....this is HUGE!
* Has ability to save out Renderings in Photohop (PSD) format, for super easy editing later on....again, HUGE.
This software is definetly worth a look if your in Product Development and on the prowl....can't believe I haven't heard of this sooner.
Also has the ability to do complex rendering and save that out into an Animation....ooh...nice.

Oh, and check out this sweet site I was referred to for training...pretty sweet with QuickTime videos you can preview. Think I will go the route of purchasing the DVD for only 100 smackers...seems like a good deal. Lynda

Recent snapshot

2007-05-07T21:40:00.000-05:00

Attended an Open House for P/T students at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business center....Gleacher Center to be exact.
Amazing and impressive school...excited to apply and would be honored to attend...we will see..have to finish my app and essays first.

Finally watching "Sketches of Frank Gehry" right now on DVD....very cool. Love the emotion in his work...enough said...very inspiring.

Looking into continuing to learn another 3D rendering program...think I will take a look at Cinema 4D ...looks pretty sweet in the Engineering Edition, you can get it to seamlessly import both Solidworks and Pro/E files...nice. Fits my workflow perfectly.

Social Networking

2007-04-25T20:56:00.000-05:00

I'm probably waaaaay behind on this whole thing, but I'm having fun with it.
Check out the site...great way to network and visually see how many people you know....err...kinda know.

Life Change

2007-04-16T20:41:00.000-05:00

How's this for changing your life at the drop of a hat?
My wife and I recently welcomed our son into this world...beautiful.

Veyron Video...200mph+

2007-03-30T20:31:00.000-05:00

Sorry...new at embeding video into the blog.
But worth a look if you enjoy cars at all.
Link

Oakley Beach Golf

2007-03-25T21:15:00.000-05:00

Sweet form....interesting idea.
Also check out this French Design blog at luxurydesign.fr

Micro Turbines

2007-03-21T12:31:00.000-05:00

Kinda an eyesore, but I really dig the functionality.

Design Research

2007-03-20T12:59:00.000-05:00

Check out this downloadable PPT presentation on Design Research from Nokia.
Gotta be a few nuggets of info in here that are applicable to other programs.

Leo Burnett

2007-03-20T12:49:00.000-05:00

Chicago's finest....addicting site I tell ya.

My next read

2007-03-20T12:46:00.000-05:00

I'm already intrested, just from the sound of the title.

Spring approaches

2007-03-18T20:00:00.000-05:00

Mickey Stick

2007-03-09T17:22:00.001-06:00

Amusing.

Top 10 Key Fobs...link

2007-02-21T08:24:00.000-06:00

Pretty sweet.

Smart Gear 2007

2007-02-16T08:40:00.001-06:00

Sweet.

Next vacation spot...link

2007-02-08T21:12:00.000-06:00

CoolHunter.net:

Yep...this is it...will make a great effort for my next vacay.
W brand is amazing......like everything about it.

Freakonomics...link

2007-02-08T20:59:00.000-06:00

Just finished reading this book...been out awhile, but it was good none the less.
Guess my takeway is that I find it extremely interesting how they look at data, to really try to reveal the cause of an effect and vice versa. In a weird sort of twisted way I can see where they are coming from...I try to approach all my projects for product development the same way and ask loads of questions. Seems sometimes the data you are given/get has to be "filtered" by asking the right questions to get the answers you're looking for...interesting stuff. And of course no two people look at the data the same way....which results in some interesting outcomes.
Will explore the blog a bit more.

Sweet

2007-02-08T20:56:00.000-06:00

TheCoolHunter.net:

Check out these little beauties by Neil Poulton...never heard of him before but his site has some really cool products.
I can apprecaite the simplcity of the design...nice to see, as it seems so many projects tend to get complicated and busy for no reason.

Still here

2007-02-06T20:30:00.000-06:00

Well...still here...just been crazy busy with loads of work.
Which is a great thing...cool projects with lots of new things to learn....been using SolidWorks and Photoshop like crazy...nice to be able to go between those programs...two totally different mindsets.
Anyways...I have not forgotten my blog here...have lots planned for updating this mug.
* New additional sites
* New pics/images
* Also plan to start an Image library of my own...just to have for my portfolio's sake....cool images of products/people..etc. Got this idea from a fellow IDEr buddy of mine. Very useful. Guess its the same intention of the listing of the sites here...to keep all the info. I run across in an orderly fashion for later use...same thing with the photos.

Check out this photo taken this past weekend...love the details.
...In case you didn't know...its a pic of seaweed taken on a beach in Milford, CT

Caught my eye in FC

2007-01-11T13:06:00.000-06:00

NorthFace boots that utilize wire as shoelaces....twist the knob and wha-la...you tied your shoes.

Eisneman Architects...the people behind the design of the Arizona Cardinals stadium...watched a documentary about this on Discovery I believe...good stuff.

FC blog by the staff...means up to the minute news on innovation.

LUMA Exhibit...link

2007-01-09T08:21:00.000-06:00

Going to check out this exhibit on the weekend.
Hopefully I can take some shots and post.

Grate-it-Fresh

2006-12-21T08:24:00.000-06:00

See more and more of these "kit's" at the store....interesting.

Form & Function

2006-12-21T08:17:00.000-06:00

Saw this over the weekend at Crate & Barrel.....elegance meets function...can't really ask for more.

Cartype.com

2006-12-13T20:59:00.000-06:00

If you like cars, then this is a must see site.
Jam packed with loads of info. and great images...lots of detail shots at high res. that are free to download (unlike Cardeisgnnews.com).
Great resource to have...will add it to the sidebar shortly.

Knots...link

2006-12-13T20:53:00.000-06:00

Stumbled across these images the other day...very interesting the different designs that can be accomplished with just rope...can be used as a springboard to developing shapes/surfaces.
Check out the link above for the US Boating website that shows "how to" videos.

Reading list

2006-12-04T08:36:00.000-06:00

How's this for a diverse reading list:

Next: Michael Crichton
Latest edition of Fast Company
Secrets of Speed Reading
Three pillars of Zen
Buddhism: A concise introduction
The Trusted Advisor

Logitech Harmony Remote...link

2006-12-01T08:16:00.000-06:00

"Imagine… controlling all your devices using only one remote - without a direct line of sight to the components! With the Harmony 890 Remote, you can wirelessly control your home entertainment system while hiding all those unsightly wires and components behind cabinet doors or a wall."..read on

Thanksgiving textures

2006-11-28T19:42:00.000-06:00

All about the textures at Thanksgiving...these are some images from back home in the MI.

Teague.com

2006-11-21T13:09:00.000-06:00

Crisp, clean, luscious....nice.

Monday

2006-11-20T08:45:00.000-06:00

It is useless to try to make peace with ourselves by being pleased with everything we have done. In order to settle down in the quiet of our own being we must learn to be detached from the results of our own activity. We must withdraw ourselves, to some extent, from effects that are beyond our control and be content with the good will and work that are the quiet expression of our inner life. We must be content to live without watching ourselves live, to work without expecting an immediate reward, to love without an instantaneous satifaction, and to exist WITHOUT any special recognition.
It is only when we are detached from ourselves that we can be at peace with ourselves. We cannot find happiness in our work if we are always extending ourselves beyond ourselves and beyond the sphere of our work in order to find ourselves greater then we are. We cannot achieve greatness unless we lose all interest in being great. For our own idea of greatness is illusory.

Thomas Merton

Mmmmm....sketches

2006-11-14T21:47:00.000-06:00

Propeller....they just launched their new site.
Nice clean layout with oversived detail shots...me likey.

Mtrl Workshop

2006-11-07T07:56:00.000-06:00

Material on Materials Workshop
Cleveland, OH.

"This workshop will be a two day exploration into the world of metals with a focus on:

types of metals
surface finishes
physical properties
manufacturing costs
case studies

Attendees will be presented with an index of materials and finishes which will enhance their knowledge of the variety of available metals. In addition, the properties and cost of these materials will be discussed so that attendees will gain greater insight into the rationale behind material selection and evaluate several product design case studies. After the workshop, attendees will have a greater depth of knowledge and will be well-equipped to select metals for product development and industrial applications."

....can't believe a cool building like this is in Cleveland?

Cell Concept...link

2006-11-06T12:53:00.000-06:00

Check out this fresh Cell Concept...more images via the link.
Intersting approach in that its non-traditional...have to at least appreciate that.

Brandchannel.com

2006-11-03T16:01:00.000-06:00

A brand blog from the good folks at Interbrand.

Sanyo Eneloop...link

2006-10-31T20:22:00.000-06:00

Wow....solar powered battery charger....awesome idea.

Chicago's MBA Programs...link

2006-10-30T21:06:00.000-06:00

For those of you also looking into an MBA in the area....Crain's gives their 2 cents.

Attitude

2006-10-30T20:49:00.000-06:00

Think positive....can't say enough about how a positive attitude can snowball into other positive things.
Design is so much more of a mental game than a skill game.....
This is a pic I took down at the park by Lake Michigan the other day....says a lot.

Design Directory Tidbits...link

2006-10-23T08:05:00.000-05:00

Here are some great tidbits from the DD's Monday Morning must read.....cool new handheld vaccum by Dyson.

....LG fridge with a TV...

...and an interesting concept phone and GUI by BenQ.

...too much to post, just check out the link for the rest. Lots of other intriguing reads.

Ubertrends.com

2006-10-20T08:06:00.000-05:00

Check out this site for loads of useful tidbits on consumer trends.

New happs

2006-10-19T08:27:00.000-05:00

Well, some new stuff to report in my life:

First off, my wife and I are expecting a new bundle of joy in approx. 9 months...can hardly wait!

Joined back up with IDSA...good to be back and into the swing of things. Uploaded all my new info. onto their site and I am good to go. Look forward to getting back out there and attending local (chicago) events.

Started my own material/mechanism library....basically just collecting used packages/products into a bin and keeping it on hand for reference. Thinking I will use it for rendering reference (matte, shiny, textured...etc), as well as mechanism design stuff (toys are great inspiration for this)...I must admit, I have a load of those little toys you get in McD's happy meals...some of those devices are actually really cool when you analyze them...and to boot, they do it in a cost effective manor. I would encourage anyone to start one of their own libraries, if one for your co. doesn't exist already...and even still if it does..always good to have inspiration on hand.

Emailed the people at Lunar's Icon-o-Cast recently with a show idea.
Concept of the show would be to discuss what trends they have been seeing in graduating student's portfolios...the good and the bad and tips for improving. For me, when I was a student I would have loved to hear this feedback as much as possible....better to hear it from professionals, than be blind sided in an interview. John, the president wrote back and said they will take that into consideration....so we will wait and see....er, listen. If I think of any more, I will be sure to pass them along.

And in the most recent issue of Fast Company, awesome read for Designers, I found this interesting pair of sunglasses. I can really appreciate the use of materials in this instance. More on the studio that designed them at Tarazi

...have a bunch more to write about, just have to get back to studying.

10 Emerging Technologies...link

2006-10-10T08:09:00.000-05:00

Great article I recieved from a colleague....check it out.

Massive Change...part 2...link

2006-10-10T08:02:00.000-05:00

Alright, so I organized a trip for the designers at the downtown studio to go check this event out together....will be good for us to bond and see this material as a team. Hopefully this goes smooth...there is so much at our fingertips here in chicago for design/art/and in general learning that we need to captialize on.
Great stuff...full report to follow...may be going today, as Tuesday's are free...can't beat that.

Elements of Change...link

2006-10-10T07:52:00.000-05:00

Just finished listening to the most recent edition of IconoCast by Lunar Design....great stuff....here is the link
The discussion was based around interviews with I.Designers at the recent IDSA Natl. conference held in Austin, TX. Conversations/interviews were centered around the topic of the conference, Elements of Change, and how each designer percieves the industry changing and evolving into something different....more and more and I keep hearing about the industry going away from a "product" centered approach to more of a "solution" centered approach where a much more holistic view of design is taken. And I completely agree with this, this is really my reason for starting the process to go back and get my MBA....not that my design degree was useless...it has served its purpose, but for me to really contribute on a level to help clients truly succeed, then I need to be much more versed in the role of design with a business construct.....I look at it this way...I and we, as designers, need to learn to "speak the language" inof business and by properly educating ourselves, then we can be even more valuable to our clients giving them much better informed advice about how to go about not only designing a product, but designing a solution that makes sense for their users and their business model at the same time....easier said than done.
Its a challenge, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Core77: Light Objects Competition...link

2006-10-05T08:23:00.000-05:00

Some interesting concepts in here....need to start entering these events just to stretch the wings a bit, eh?

Disney Mobile...link

2006-10-03T08:11:00.000-05:00

Seems that Disney is putting their own spin on a cell service for the family....Parents get to control who calls, what time and how many minutes the children get....pretty cool.

Study time

2006-10-03T08:09:00.000-05:00

Alright, so I have offically started studying for the GMAT again.
Looking at some MBA programs here in Chicago....such a great selection of top notch schools, how can you go wrong?

Solar Water Heating...link

2006-09-26T08:15:00.000-05:00

Massive Change @ MCA...link

2006-09-22T07:57:00.000-05:00

A must see event....all about the evolution of design.
Maybe I can snag a few designers from here to join me.

TheNate.com...link

2006-09-21T08:09:00.000-05:00

Check out this blog by a fellow Chicagoan...and a Designer none the less.

Moto buying Symbol Tech...link

2006-09-19T08:14:00.000-05:00

Wow, here are 2 design driven companies getting together....I look forward to future products and synergies.

Crain's:

"Motorola Inc., the world's second-largest wireless handset maker, said Tuesday it agreed to purchase Symbol Technologies Inc. for about $3.9 billion.

Symbol, based in Holtsville, N.Y., makes bar code scanners, Palm OS- and Windows-based hand-held computers, wireless networking equipment and retail kiosks. It will become a unit of Motorola and be the cornerstone of Motorola's networks and enterprise business."

AW Energy...link

2006-09-15T08:20:00.000-05:00

Brilliant idea.....True design where function is king....capitalizes off of readily available energy and puts it to great use.

BusinessWeek.com:

"AW Energy Gets Power from the Ocean Floor
The Finnish start-up is installing its WaveRoller modules off the coast of Portugal to generate power from underwater waves.

....AW Energy, is installing in Peniche, Portugal, about 100 miles up the Atlantic coast from Lisbon. They're made of a combination of steel and plastic, and in the coming months they should start producing electric power—hydrokinetic power, to be precise.

The plates will be anchored on the ocean floor near the shore, at a depth of a dozen meters. They are designed to capture the back-and-forth motion of underwater swells. The movement produces kinetic energy, which is collected by a piston pump and converted to electricity by more conventional generator systems onshore."

More info. at AW Energy

Robotic Retailing...link

2006-09-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

SpringWise.com:

A retail store for robots....fresh.
Bring on da'Terminator.

How its made?...link

2006-09-12T08:31:00.000-05:00

Cool program on the Science Channel....see, TV can be educational.

Da Vinci Decoded...link

2006-09-12T08:20:00.000-05:00

Test your knowledge about Da Vinci....interesting.
I have yet to make time to see his event still at the Museum of Science & Industry here in Chicago....need to see that before it moves on.

MagSafe Connector...link

2006-09-11T08:41:00.000-05:00

I love Apple.
What a well concieved use of materials....awesome.
Its all in the details.

Goodies

2006-09-08T08:33:00.000-05:00

Here are some goodies I snagged from reading the latest issue of Fast Company:
Studios Architecture Firm
Sarasota Design Summit
London Design Festival

BaSiC Initiative UT...link

2006-09-08T08:24:00.000-05:00

This is an interesting program at U. of Texas-Austin regarding sustainable design, albeit architecture, still design.

NVTi...link

2006-09-04T17:13:00.000-05:00

Check out this fresh work done by my peeps at PDT....wish I was there to work on this project...cool stuff.

Motto

2006-09-04T17:10:00.000-05:00

My mission as a Designer......Add Value, reduce Cost.

Gehry...link

2006-09-01T08:12:00.000-05:00

This was posted on MoCoLoCo.com recently...love Gehry's work.
Beautiful....that sums it up nicely.

Observations

2006-08-31T08:04:00.000-05:00

Really have come to the conclusion that design, at least for me and how I view it, is so much about designing information that is translated through a product. I don't know if I am explaining that right, but I have just been working on a project that has soooo much information to process its mind numbing....as a result, I am not sketching "cool" concepts, or styling a product or even getting to the point that I have all that information...I see that as only a small step in the process....price of entry to the market if you will...of course it has to look good, work awesome, delight the user...etc. So instead I have been drawing "diagrams" and "architectures" to describe my thoughts with loads of notes attatched....I feel this is also a powerful way to generate ideas, just not the typical style designers are used to....works for me. This I feel is the most appropriate way, as it allows me to truly digest and analyze all the information up front, prior to jumping to a conclusion on what a design could look like...I am more concerned and what the design/concept should do....big difference.

Hybrid Organizations as a Strategy...link

2006-08-30T07:53:00.000-05:00

"....Crucial to the success of a hybrid are "boundary-spanners." These are members of the partner organizations who are able to move freely within both, translating the requirements of each into language and behavior that is acceptable to, and understandable by, the other. Trust between the senior managers who set up a hybrid in the first place, and the boundary spanners who maintain the relationship subsequently, is a critical factor. Trust lowers cost and raises productivity. Cooperation increases under conditions of trust, because with trust such costly barriers as formal contracts and detailed monitoring can be removed. The resulting less-formal specifications can also allow the parties to respond more rapidly to any changes in circumstances....." read on for a great article on Core77/Businessweek.com

Recent news...link

2006-08-29T08:16:00.000-05:00

Pilotfish has been in the news recently for designing some interesting products...think they were featured on Core77.com and a few other sites.
Anyways, check out their site...always interesting to see up and coming firms.

I have been away for awhile...when I don't get the chance to post, I kinda feel bad. Not because a bazillion people are reading my blog or anything, but because this has become somewhat of a hobby. I enjoy posting and finding articles relating to design and sharing them with everyone.
Was up in the PDT Lincolnshire office this past week working....good people up there. What a change of scenery....Lincolnshire is totally the 'burbs and now I am back downtown, staring at the Sears Tower....weird but cool.

High Technology, Enthroned...link

2006-08-23T07:59:00.000-05:00

WallStreetJournal.com

"We Test a Digital Commode
That Warms, Washes, Dries;
Sometimes Old Ways Are Best"

Ecopod...link

2006-08-22T19:23:00.000-05:00

Check out this compact household recycling center designed by BMW DesignWorks...me likey.

Full write up SpringWise.com...follow the link above

Dream Cruise

2006-08-22T19:16:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to catch the Woodward Dream Cruise in MI this past weekend when I was home....I did however get to see this ride in downtown Royal Oak...good stuff.
Check out "Dream Cruise" at Flickr.com for better pics....lots of classic and unique vehicles.
Old cars....man, I tell ya...there is just something about them. Granted, not all of them, but most seem to have so much more "life" than what we have now.

Presentation Zen...link

2006-08-22T08:34:00.000-05:00

Great website here that is inspirational for those tough speeches and lectures.
Lots of goodies to help you polish those skills.

Bench to beside...link

2006-08-16T08:57:00.000-05:00

Latest crop of Medical devices listed on BusinessWeek.

Nintendo Wii...link

2006-08-15T08:22:00.000-05:00

New Nintendo game console coming out....man, my thumb is sore just looking at that Controller.
Left, right, left, right, up, up, down, down.....Arghhhhhhh!

In-depth write up by USA today at:

Farmerpreneurs...link

2006-08-14T08:05:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a moving experience this product represents.
Watched a show about this the other day on public TV....extremely interesting being a designer...talk about solving a problem that can help people improve their quality of life. Would love to be involved in something like this...not sure how, but I will have a think.
Check out the rest of their site...good stuff.

"Rural Kenyans can no longer rely purely on subsistence farming. They need hard cash to buy enough food and to pay for school fees and healthcare. Yet most live on farms less than two acres in size.

Many thousands of entrepreneurial farmers are now irrigating with KickStart’s manual MoneyMaker irrigation pumps and changing their small subsistence farms into vibrant new commercial enterprises. With irrigation they can grow and sell as many as three to four high value vegetable crops every year, and ensure that the crop is ready for market when the price is high.

These “farmerpreneurs” are increasing their incomes by as much as ten-fold and making as much as 400,000 shillings ($5400) profit per year. KickStart’s low cost micro-irrigation pumps are transforming subsistence farms into highly profitable enterprises."

Genometri...link

2006-08-09T12:47:00.000-05:00

Saw this on Dexigner.com....interesting way to approach design.....click of a button, eh?

"Genometri offers design generation services for product and architectural design. Genometri is a technology spin-off from the National University of Singapore.

GenoForm is a professional package that lets you make full use of generative technology. It lets you control the levels of variation and set the limits of exploration, and create your design’s genetic profile."

Antibacterial Mouse...link

2006-08-09T12:37:00.000-05:00

Here is a clever idea....simply capitalizing on materials...nice.

Akihabara:

For all our "Monk" readers, here you are the ultimate mouse which the Elecom antibacterial mouse! Of course you will still be obliged to wash your hands and this mouse won't do it for you, but!!!! Did you know that even if your hands are clean, some dangerous and vicious little animals, are still leaving on your very own skin or even worse on your... MOUSE! Well no need to call your favorite Superhero in order to wipe them out... just throw your old mouse away and buy this one... What a life!

PatentlySilly.com...link

2006-08-09T07:47:00.000-05:00

Never really have been big on patents....seems like you can patent almost anything, although sometimes these ideas should never be put to paper...Ouch.
PatentlySilly.com is a fun website poking fun at the crazy ideas people actually patent...poke around, there is some good stuff here. Like this one below....a Subliminal Recording Device?
So here is a quick note for all Designers, myself included....Not every idea you come up with is a good one...sometimes we just gotta let go!

Synthetic Gecko...link

2006-08-07T08:17:00.000-05:00

Transstudio.com is a very informative site on upcoming materials and applications...check this one out inspired by the greatest designer of them all...Mother Nature.

Daniel Simon...link

2006-08-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

Wow is about all I can say after checking out this guy's site....awesome and completely inspiring!
Used to be when I saw work like this, meaning kick butt awesome stuff, that I would immediately reflect on my skill set and how there was such a big difference from where I am at to where someoene like this is. Now, I am equally stunned by the beauty of this work but instead of reflecting, I get inspiried to raise the level of my skills and look at this as more of a goal rather than an obstacle. Positive thinking is a powerful tool.
Enjoy his work and be sure to check out the rest of his site...great stuff.

From around the way...link

2006-08-04T12:56:00.000-05:00

Follow the link for more pics...took these on lunch.

New one for the good 'ole library...link

2006-08-04T08:07:00.000-05:00

Looks like Scott Robertson has a new book out....I have to get on the ball and get all these wonderful books....awesome reference & inspirational material.

BA London Eye...link

2006-08-04T07:57:00.000-05:00

A friend was telling me about this the other day....thought I would find out what its all about....Wow...really need to visit this structure when I make a trip to London.

Way to work

2006-08-03T13:25:00.000-05:00

Couple pics from yesterday's walk to work.

Lego Robots...link

2006-08-03T08:19:00.000-05:00

TechnologyReview.com:

"TR takes a look inside the company's Mindstorms Robotic Invention System, a simple but versatile robotics platform for hobbyists and educators." ...read on

Australian Design Awards...link

2006-08-03T08:02:00.000-05:00

Such a simple, elegant solution...impressive.
Check out the rest of the winners online.

Volkswagen Tiguan preview...link

2006-08-02T08:43:00.000-05:00

CarBodyDesign.com:

"VW has released a design sketch of the Tiguan, the new compact SUV that will be launched in 2008. The name was chosen by 350,000 readers of AutoBild."
...read on.

Frog design Leaps into Seattle...link

2006-08-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

"“Being in Seattle is important to us,” says Doreen Lorenzo, frog design’s COO. “We’ll be closer to our local clients and also better positioned to tap talent from Seattle’s incredible design, tech, and business communities. We’re known for only hiring the best people and have already met great candidates for various positions.”

The studio will be located in South Lake Union, the new district developed by Vulcan Inc., the multi-focused business and charitable enterprise established by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen. Vulcan hopes to encourage corporate and cultural innovation simultaneously, stimulating life sciences research in the area while blending housing, retail, and studio projects with open space and public transportation. “This dynamic community is the perfect environment for our Seattle team to thrive within, while generating new business in the Pacific Northwest,” says Lorenzo."...read on

Best Global Brands...link

2006-08-01T19:06:00.000-05:00

BW does a great job outlining the Top Global brands around.
IBM surprises me a bit, as this was a company that was solely known for personal computers and the like....no longer. Seems they are billing themselves as much more of a strategic business partner...in a way, they have seemed to make a difficult, almost unheard of, transition from being a "client" to becoming a "consultant". That is a heck of a turn around for a brand, eh?

Check out the rest of the Top 100 Global Brands.

Nanomaterials...link

2006-08-01T12:54:00.000-05:00

Here comes the next wave of materials for us designer's to play with.

GE Blog:

"...unique merger of structure, form and function. These natural and man made structures rely on an exquisite control of materials internal structure, often referred to as the micro- or nanostructure of the material, to achieve their function.

The seashell is made of calcium carbonate, the same material that chalk is made of. However, in the seashell, the calcium carbonate is packed in the form of a "brick and mortar" structure with the calcium carbonate, forming the bricks and a thin polymer layer forming the mortar. Any crack that forms in this complex architecture is diffused along a complex, tortuous path absorbing a lot of energy and making the shell resistant to catastrophic failure. In the absence of such an architecture, calcium carbonate that forms chalk breaks easily. "...read on

Pantech C300...link

2006-08-01T08:08:00.000-05:00

Saw this last night on the tube...supposed to be the "..World's smallest clamshell phone"....not sure that really means anything to me, but oh well.
Do enjoy the asymmetry though with the offset LCD and Camera lens.

Herbi...link

2006-08-01T08:04:00.000-05:00

Something about modular products that I enjoy....its probably the customization that it allows each user to "fit" this product into their own, unique lifestyle.

SpringWise:

"Designed by Michael Kritzer for plusminuszero, the Japanese manufacturer of minimalist household goods, Herbi is characterized by simplicity and clean lines. The appliance's shape and functionality were inspired by old wheat and grain silos that are spread throughout the rural plains of America" ...read on

Paradox

2006-07-30T17:57:00.000-05:00

Interesting photo taken at the infamous CloudGate (aka. The Bean) in Millenium Park.
Extremely cool structure....just something about it makes you want to go up and touch the surface....although that has to suck for the peeps that have to clean that mug all day.