Friday, November 28, 2008

Nightclub Gone Green


Recently a club called Greenhouse opened up. It is located in Soho New York. From the couches to the walls, everything is recycled and energy efficient. Greenhouse has a unique jungle look to it, as well as tasteful nuvo lounge areas. This is something i will definitely be checking out.
Article Link (more pictures can be seen here.)

Showerheads Go Green

A company called Evolve Showerheads has designed an eco-friendly showerhead that saves those gallons of water we waste, waiting for the shower to warm up. The way the shower head works is it reduces the flow of water down to a trickle until the water warms up to a comfortable 95 degrees. Using an evolve showerhead can save a yearly average of 2,700 gallons of water, the fossil-fueled energy it takes to heat it, and up to $75 off your utility bill. Thats a pretty good money saver if you ask me, as well as water.
Article Link

The 8,954,000th Touch Screen Phone

Recently, Blackberry released it's newest phone the blackberry Storm. Now I do amdit this phone is very nice looking. But, with 8 million of the same phones out, when will this new touch screen sensation end? The thing looks exactly like other phones made by LG, Verizon, Samsung, and Apple. The defining feature of Blackberry phones is the actual keypad, not a touch screen. It's design is said to be inconsistent and confusing, so why bother changing your product?
Article Link

Thursday, November 27, 2008

A company called Hara Chair recently designed the ultimate websurfing chair. It helps keep a good posture for all of you who sloutch after hours of surfing. The chair is also very comfortable. Attached at the side of the chair is a labtop stand and a seperate stand next to it for a mouse or your favorite beverage.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Customer Service?


In a recent blog Seth Godin made a great point; "The only reason to answer the phone when a customer calls is to make the customer happy". I could not agree more. Today when you call a company for product support, it takes forever to talk to someone. You either have to press nine million buttons just to talk to somebody. In Seth's example he got a machine. So whats the point of calling if no one is going to solve your problem?
Article Link

Vinturi Wine Aerator


The Venturi Wine Aerator is a cool gadget for the wine enthusiast. This neat device aerates your wine from the very first sip. It is said to mix the perfect amount of air with the wine, making it taste even better. This device makes the decanter a worthless too in that it takes no time at all to aerate the body of the wine.
Article Link

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Notes/Assignment #3

difference between a logo like apple and then two dots on a board: participation: grabs your eyes and you want to understand it
understand the patterns of the way problems are solved in the adult world
plan view-
Illustrator used for vector graphics
raster graphics- grid
file place- picture u saved, appears on the board
hold shift key grab and edge and resize it to fit evenly on art board
pen tool
fill set it to none
filter stylize round corners (friendly shape)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Radiators Remixed


When it comes to UK manufacturer Aestus, the possibilities for radiator design are endless. They have created many new artsy designs available for the contemporary enthusiast. Looking at these beautifully unique designs makes me want to have these in my home.
Article Link
Aestus

Leanin' Lights




Ukrainian designer Igor... has created a unique lamp called the Anemona Lamp, that can be leaned in all different ways. It is able to change it's resting position due to its shape. Heavy glass balls sit within the bottom of the lamp. This acts as a counter weight. The design is most interesting. it looks like a frozen rain drop or a dinosaur tooth. No word has been said whether or not this product has been put into production.
Article Link

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Bamboo, Who Knew?


A new company called Bamboo Sk8, released skateboards that are made of bamboo. It is the first skateboard made of bamboo. If you think about it, this is an innovative design in that bamboo is very strong. Traditional skate boards are made of maple. Bamboo is much stronger than maple, making this skateboard more durable. The skateboard does not have an elaborate design, it's simple and elegant.
Article Link
Bamboo Sk8

Eating Bordom Away

In one of Seth's recent blogs, he brings up the point of eating even though you are not hungry. He claims that marketers taught consumers to eat more than needed, to "amplify our wants". His point is that we don't need anything, we just want everything. I thought this was a very good point. We want to fulfill that so called missing part of us that yearns for something more. Companies persuade the consumer into believing that life without their product would be dull. Our needs are confused with wants which ultimately turn into "needs", an obsession for having the item.
Article Link

Assignment #3

photoshop makes- pixelated, raster based- create the file larger it looks pixelated

Illustrator Files -vector based do not become degraded
what would make vector based unsharp/ sharp? the printer
resolution of 99 percent of a computer screen? 72 dots per inch -dpi
cannot resolve 100 pixels below
-used for making brand marks
-difference between logo( image, symbol) logo type(has characters letters in it)
-taglines- three words
research taglines- fortune 500 companies
actions, things themes
find simple images that relate to these themes
a vision heard
hear within vision
Vision Remixed.

Recycling Power


Recently ReGen Power systems developed an engine that converts heat and steam energy into electricity. These engines are to be used in Now one may ask why is this important? Well, think of using this engine on a smaller scale. There is an abundant waste of heat from many electronic products for example , an oven. A lot of electricity is used to heat that oven; a lot of it is wasted. Now relate that issue to those faced by industrial processes. Huge amounts of heat and steam energy are wasted. We all know the crazed cost of electricity today. It would be a good idea for companies to invest in a product like this, saving energy, money, and the environment. ReGen is a new company and they are still working on their designs. ReGen has a 10 kilowatt prototype engine and a larger 500 kilowatt engine to come. The 10 kilowatt prototype will be used to test out the product. Cost of product installation: $1000- 2000.
Article Link
ReGen

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Bully Gone Digital



In the world we live in today, everything has gone digital. Everyone has either a cell phone or a computer. With the rapid growth in technology, a new type of bullying comes with it :"electronic agression". Bullies now use text messages and IMs to threaten others, causing alot of emotional stress to the victim. Although these victims are not usually bothered in person, "cyberbullies" torment children online. The child is more likely to recieve a detetention or be suspended. I just found this to be rediculous as to how we abuse technology today.
Article Link

Tuesday, November 4, 2008


Recently, H20 Audio has released the fourth generation waterproof headphones, called "Surge". I thought this was a great idea. No longer do swimmers have to work out in silence. I feel that in creating this product, many can become more focused on their swimming form and get into a zone, so to speak.
Article Link
H20 Audio