Mind, bottle & soul

Article link: Mind, bottle & soul

This article is about temples in Thailand being made from recycled glass bottles.

Talk about going green! I think it looks fabulous, and would definitely visit the place if I were to ever go to Thailand.

Your brand is not your logo

Article Link: Your brand is not your logo

This article is about big brand names changing their logos and testing them out on the public. Seth Grodin writes that it's pointless to test a logo, and to use that effort and time to work on products, or customer experiences.

I totally agree with Seth's point. Why mess with a good thing? I think the Best Buy and Pepsi logos (the ones featured in the article) are fine as they were, and I strongly dislike the new Pepsi logo. And though I do think the new Best Buy logo is cute, the old one serves as a much better logo than the new one does.

Lyle Owerko

I though Lyle Owerko was very inspirational. After listening to his lecture, I felt like I could go out there and do anything!

I really liked what he said about music being an inspiration, because I love listening to music while I'm working. Silence does nothing for me. I also really liked his pictures of the Norway Traffic Tunnels.

Also, what he said about design being a language, the universal language anyone can understand really inspired me to want to get out to the real world and start working already.

There were two projects of his I particularly liked, one being the pictures of the nomadic Nambian tribe and the second being the notebook he keeps and adds in everyday. The pictures of the tribe made me see that working as artists can really contribute to society as a whole. And the notebook inspired me to update my own notebook, which I hadn't updated since I started this semester.

Herman Miller reaches for the Holy Grail of Chairs: One size fits all

Article link: Herman Miller reaches for the Holy Grail of Chairs: One size fits all

This article is about a chair that literally fits all.

I think this is really interesting. I've personally never had a problem with chairs, but some of my friends are really picky about the kind of chair they sit on. Hopefully, they'll like this. The science behind it is really interesting too! I'd like to see how it works.

Emergency Response Studio

Article link: Emergency Response Studio

This article is about a studio made from a FEMA-style trailer.

I think this is a good idea, and definitely really intriguing. I'm actually more interested in seeing this used as temporary housing than an artist's studio. Or maybe just a studio so that artists won't have to rent out studios to use.

Couple makes good with self-designed iPod accessory

Article Link: Couple makes good with self-designed iPod accessory

This article is about a new iPod accessory that utilizes magnets to stick the iPod Nano anywhere on clothing.

While I think the case itself is pretty cute itself, I really like how the iStik is owned by a couple who came up with the idea all on their own and the story of how they became so famous. It's really inspirational!

JAL's new Economy seat wins Good Design Award

Article link: JAL's new Economy seat wins Good Design Award

This article is about a new seat design for airplane seats in economy that Japan Airlines has just designed.

I think this is great, since I fly on an airplane at least four times every year. I hope they're as comfortable as they are interesting to look at. Also, I'm excited about the power outlet, the LCD screen, and the more legroom!

New display technology debuts today

Article link:New display technology debuts today

This article is announcing a new type of display called ColorBright, which is being launched by Liquavista.

I'm so glad that multi-color is finally being added to displays. It makes it easier to look at, and the video was really fun to watch.

SENS concept: a cell phone for the blind

Article link: SENS concept: a cell phone for the blind

This article is about a phone being made to help the blind correctly dial. It was designed by Takumi Yoshida.

Again, I think it's great that there is someone out there coming up with solutions to the small problems. At first, it was surprising to see that the phone had no display, but, of course, the blind wouldn't need a display. I think the shape of the phone is really unique and cute, and I love that the designer worked with students in the Royal National Institute of Blind People in the UK.

A New Line From Apple: The Metal MacBook

Article Link: A New Line From Apple: The Metal MacBook

This article is about the new MacBooks, which are made of aluminum.

I think it's great that the new laptops are lighter than the laptops that are currently out. A chip of my laptop recently came off, so I'm excited to hear about the strength of this new material. It's also interesting to hear that they've switched from the Intel chip to the Nvidia chip. I'd really like to see the difference in action. I'm not sure how much I like color of the laptop and the color of the keys being two different colors. At first I disliked it, but that may just be me fighting change.

Nusrat Durrani

I thought Nusrat Durrani was really interesting, both himself and his work.

His story about coming to New York from India was really inspirational, especially since he pretty much uprooted himself and came here without any help. Then he got that job as an intern at 35, and got hired right after, that was really amazing. It's kind of like the modern day American Dream.

And his insight and details about MTV got me really excited for the future of MTV as well as what I could do in the future! I really liked that they were featuring different types of music from all over the world, and that made me think about possible jobs I could have in other countries, not just other states.

NostalgiPod Nano

Article link: NostalgiPod Nano

This article shows an iPod Nano case in the shape of a cassette tape.

This looks really cool. This is just like the USB Floppy Disk, where materials are reused and designed for modern use. The name of the product is really true, too; it does bring back a sense of nostalgia.

FLOTspotting : Floppy Disk Turned USB Drive, by Thomas O'Connor

Article link: FLOTspotting : Floppy Disk Turned USB Drive, by Thomas O'Connor

This arcticle is about a project called USB Floppy Drive in a portfolio of a man named Thomas O'Connor.

This is a great idea, especially since I know, personally, I have a ton of floppy disks at home. I also love how those random squares in the middle are used as indicator lights, and how you can have the option of standing it up, or having it stay down.

Russian toilet flushes out the competition

Article link: Russian toilet flushes out the competition

This article is about a new toilet design by a Russian architectural firm called "2-B-2 Architecture."

I think the toilet looks fascinating, but I agree with the article, when he said "I'm not sure I like that crevice; eventually it will get gross and require cleaning, which might be harder once I succumb to the temptation to stuff magazines back there." I am also afraid to ask how it works. If it got clogged and backed up, would I know enough to unclog it?

We (heart) "I (heart) Sketch"

Article link: We (heart) "I (heart) Sketch"


ILoveSketch from Seok-Hyung Bae on Vimeo.

This video is about a new product called "I ♥ Sketch".

I am not an illustrator. In fact, I'm probably the worst drawer in all of my art classes. But even I am itching to try this out. It sketches in 3D, and it looks relatively easy to navigate. Plus, you don't have to replicate your image if you want perfect symmetry. This was an amazing video to watch.

One-handed toilet paper dispenser for the elderly

Article Link: One-handed toilet paper dispenser for the elderly



This video is about a different kind of toilet paper dispenser that is specifically designed for the elderly and handicapped.

I really like this, because, again, it's solving a problem for a group of individuals that don't usually get the treatment the majority of society get, and, being a cynic myself, it just warms my heart to see that there are people working on solving those problems.

Electrolux Design Lab 2008 finalists

Article Link: Electrolux Design Lab 2008 finalists via Core77's blog

This article shows the finalists of the Electrolux Design Lab 2008 contest. The product in the picture I have is called the Sook Recipe Generator, by Adam Brodowski. The SRG comes with a moisture sensor, scale, and electronic tongue to determine what food is being prepped, then sends that information to the Sook Touch to generate a delicious recipe.

I love this idea, mostly because I come from a family who loves to cook (current generation being the exception). This would be a great gift for nearly everyone in my family.

Nine steps to Powerpoint magic

Article link: Nine steps to Powerpoint magic

This article is about how to make an interesting and motivational presentation on Powerpoint.

I thought this was relevant, because we recently had to make a Powerpoint presentation. I really like #5, because I have a remote for my MacBook, and I'd like to learn how to use it for presentations.

FLOTspotting : Medical Heirlooms by Tamsin van Essen

Article link: FLOTspotting : Medical Heirlooms by Tamsin van Essen

This article is about a project called "Medical Heirlooms" in a portfolio of a woman named Tamsin van Essen. The article says this is how Tamsin describes her own project:

"Exploring contemporary attitudes to disease and obsessions with perfection, Medical Heirlooms is a collection of ceramic apothecary jars that appear to have been affected by various hereditary diseases -- osteoporosis, psoriasis, acne, cancer, syphilis. As heirlooms, the jars can be passed down through the generations of a family in the same way as the medical conditions: a legacy of ill health."

My favourite, however, is the jar titled "Scars (suture)", aka the picture shown. While I think that all the other pieces are art are fascinating and certainly educational, this one is the most simple, and I think the easiest to recognize as a "Medical Heirloom."

Shopping to Set a Party Table With David Serrano

Article link: Shopping to Set a Party Table With David Serrano

This article is about an interior designer named David Serrano who specializes in decorating parties. To quote the article:

Mr. Serrano loves such ornamentation, but he avoids things that can be distracting, like overly large, smelly floral arrangements or fragrant candles: “Candles in great candleholders are nice, but definitely hold the scent.” He also likes color and a mix of styles and eras, a philosophy that he feels can be applied to other celebrations as well: “I like new things mixed with old things, cheap things from Pier 1 mixed with fancy things from Hermès.” And he likes to serve family style, so he always has an interesting array of plates, platters, utensils and salt-and-pepper shakers: “Nothing has to match; there just has to be enough of everything. No one wants to use their salad fork for their dessert.”

According to the article, Serrano used to be a surrealist painter, and I think that shows in how he decorates. I personally love that interesting looking chandelier-looking object above him.