Core77 Broadcasts: Hector Serrano from London. London-based Hector Serrano was recently hailed as "Britain's finest young designer" by Space magazine, although he is originally from Spain. Much of the work coming out of Hector's studio demonstrates a playful curiosity about our emotional relationships with the objects we encounter and possess. This is skilfully blended with an imaginative take on sustainability and the future of product design. Here he tells Andy Polaine about the challenges facing designers, tourist souvenirs of the future and giant clouds off plastic floating off the coast of Hawaii.
LISTEN NOW (29 min.) | iTunes | More Broadcasts
Good For Nothing? Why Nonprofits, Designers, and Techies Can't Talk to Each Other, by Ayca Akin. In this provocative article, Ayca Akin explores the the intersection between the three groups, offering 15 insights into character, priorities, and world views that are sure to bridge the gaps. Here's the start:
Anyone who has worked with nonprofits can attest to the fact that a low budget and a lack of tech-savvy staff can hinder a group's ability to communicate its mission and affect change. But as a designer researching the use of technology to help nonprofits, I've come to understand that differences in how designers, technologists, and nonprofits see each other (and themselves) is at the heart of the problem.There are a lot of designers and tech-savvy people out there who want to put their skills to good use and help nonprofits serve larger communities and interests. Indeed, working exclusively with clients who can afford them often pigeonholes designers into serving smaller and smaller segments of the population.
But venturing into the nonprofit world can be a dangerous prospect for those who live in a world where technology and innovation are essential ingredients to solving problems and creating change. As one designer who volunteers his skills recently remarked, "the challenge is that volunteers often have to work with nonprofits that don't understand the value of employing design technologies."
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Greener Gadgets Q & A session with Allan Chochinov @ Businessweek. In a recent Businessweek report, 'Greener Gadgets' Isn't an Oxymoron, our own Allan Chochinov elaborates on the many fine points made at the recently held Greener Gadgets conference. Along with a Greener Gadgets competition roundup slideshow, Innovation & Design editor Helen Walters tossed Allan a few queries on the who, what, and why's of greener gadgeteering.
Manila envelope laptop sleeve. Looks like those Macbook Air ad-makers inspired more than one designer's quest to create the perfect Air laptop sleeve. Michael Leung's Mac bag lightly touches upon the classic manila envelope, retaining a simple, modern bag-like feel. Wonder Threads, on the other hand, took the campy, photorealistic route with the appropriately-named Macbook Air Laptop Sleeve, made of poly-microfiber with a fuzzy neoprene lining.
via mocoloco
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Hey now...there's also Airmail by Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans:
thanks Kyle!
Yo! C77 Board Alert : X-TREME power tools. Mr-914 saw these crazy extreeeeme Hitachi power tools at the hardware store and sparked this power-discussion with a few pictures--they really do say a 1,000 words. How they work and feel are way more important than how they look, but who can help but point out these things look high on Mountain Dew?? Extreme Power Tools...Thoughts? Comments?
TV Easel by Axel Bjurström. The amount of time we tend to spend staring at the television is reason enough to treat it like a prized art piece. Swedish designer Axel Bjurström debuted this clean and simple TV Easel solution for Panasonic at this month's Stockholm Furniture Fair.
(Stay tuned for our soon-to-come Stockholm Furniture Fair gallery.)
via dezeen
frog's cross-healing Aura future health concept. frog's new health-focused issue of frog design mind introduces Aura, a future health concept that puts both traditional healing and cutting-edge technology to work. It monitors a patient's health, provides alternative treatment, and displays visual signals and warnings. Therapeutic elements like light, sound, and aroma are fused with high-tech diagnostics within the device, "focusing the mind while examining the body to promote a holistic model of individual health."
New Gallery up at Core77: North American Handmade Bicycle Show 2008. The North American Handmade Bicycle Show rolled into Portland Oregon last weekend sending the already fanatic bike town into a frenzy! By coincidence C77 reps were on the ground and managed to throw together this small gallery of pics documenting the amazing array of craftsmanship, style and design on display at the show. - Even if you've forgotten how to ride a bike you'll want to peruse this collection of photos for inspiration.
>> View the Gallery Here <<
Videos of Interaction 08 presentations now online. Last week Core77 reported extensively on the Interaction 08 conference in Savannah, Georgia. Nearly two thirds of the presentations of the conference are now online.
Design Democracy: Mass Customization for the rest of us. For those of you turned on by mass-customization, there's a new initiative called Design Democracy '08 - Power to the People. It's not tied to the election, but rather, is an "educational and interactive mass customization manufacturing website." Designers submit designs, and selected pieces will be prototyped and displayed at this year's International Contemporary Furniture Fair in NYC.
The website offers curriculum for "DD08 citizens" to learn about mass customization processes, philosophies, materials, design elements and software/hardware applications. A panel of industry professionals will choose the designs that best exemplify mass customization principles for the showcase. Here's the pitch:
Design Democracy '08 is looking for citizens who believe in industrial evolution, and that object design and fabrication can have a positive impact on society and the environment. Kerry Moore, the co-founder of DD08 says, "This website and ICFF event is primarily about addressing how the world interacts with the goods it creates." Design professionals, students and enthusiasts alike can participate within seven design districts: 3D Designers, 2D Designers, Educators, Students, Trades, Media and Constituents."
Core-fave Scott Klinker, who advised on the project, puts it perfectly: "This grass-roots effort should demonstrate what's possible with the powerful new digital tools that have leveled the old hierarchies of mass production. Mass customization through digital fabrication is a valid and growing format for young designers to build a voice."
Deadline for submissions is March 21st 2008, but the DD08 website will continue beyond the ICFF by continuing to offer mass customization content and to serve as a networking hub for consumers, designers and fabricators.
SMIT @ MoMA's Design and the Elastic Mind. Keep your eyes peeled for GROW at the upcoming MoMA exhibit, Design and the Elastic Mind. The exhibit features examples of "disruptive innovation" and SMIT (Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology) has accomplished just that with GROW, an ivy-like hybrid energy delivery device that provides power via the sun and wind.
Design and the Elastic Mind
February 24 - May 12, 2008
The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art Exhibition Gallery, 6th floor
Museum of Modern Art
New York, NY
Littlebig Chair by Jeff Miller. Jeff Miller's Littlebig Chair made its debut at Cologne, but after some wrinkle-smoothing, tweaking, and refinement, it's now one of Baleria Italia's newest additions. A molded plywood seat nests seamlessly onto the cantilevered base, creating a fluid silhouette that harks back to mid-century, but fully embraces modern.
And finally, 2008 Plagiarius Award winners announced. Every year, the Plagiarius Award committee announces top prizewinners who, instead of holding heads up high, must admit to the title of ripper-offer. For example, we would never had known that Phoebus Medizintechnik GmbH's shameless knock-off of KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. original resectoscope for urology design wasn't the real deal if it were not for the trumpeting of Plagiarius. All 2008 Plagiarius Award winners here.
Thanks to Mark Vanderbeeken for his contributions to this newsletter.
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