Hasta La Ideas The Adventures of Star Wars Figurines in Nature Archives

Jul 28

SIGGRAPH 2010: Sony’s 3D display doesn’t require glasses

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pemGuest post by Paul Fraser./em/p

pThe computer graphics gods (i.e., geeks) of the world have descended upon the Los Angeles Convention Center for the a href=”http://www.siggraph.org/s2010/”SIGGRAPH 2010 International Conference and Exhibition/a. Now in its 37th year, SIGGRAPH draws together tech-minded people interested in graphics research, art, animation, gaming, interactivity, science, education and the Internet for a week-long mashup. /p

pYesterday, we walked the aisles of the expo and found a number of products jumping on the 3D bandwagon. Whether you think 3D video / film / television is the future or that it’s a passing fad, no one can argue that the amount of 3D eye candy presented this year is enough to make any 3D-hater drool. You can’t walk 10 feet without finding an exhibit that uses the technology in new and fascinating ways. /p

pWhen it comes to displaying 3D imagery, there are generally two types of technology: displays that must be viewed with 3D glasses (stereoscopic displays), and displays that do not require 3D glasses (autostereoscopic displays). Each technology has its advantages and disadvantages; however, it seems that autostereoscopic technology, though still in its infancy, is the future of 3D technology. If advertisers were to create a 3D video display for a store, for example, they would need the glasses-less technology for passersby to view it. Besides, having to wear glasses to view 3D imagery is becoming too cumbersome. Are you really going to carry around a pair of 3D specs in your pocket?/p

pSony is at the forefront of autostereoscopic 3D technology. During the Emerging Technologies portion of SIGGRAPH 2010, the company showcased the 360-degree autostereoscopic display prototype we’ve been anticipating trying out since we caught wind of it last week: a href=”http://blog.discover.sonystyle.com/raymodeler-3d-prototype-will-be-showcased-at-siggraph”the RayModeler/a. The devicemdash;which looks like it could have been taken from the set of a Star Wars filmmdash;is a compact version of a 3D display enclosed in a cylinder. At first glance, it looks like a high-tech coffee-bean grinder or a blender, but after taking another look, one can view the display from all directions and see a bright, color 3D image. According to Sony, the system is the first display of its kind, featuring special LED light sources that show 360 unique, 24-bit color images in all directions. The user can even control the orientation of the display’s content by using hand motions in proximity to the display (see video above)./pa href=”http://www.core77.com/blog/technology/siggraph_2010_sonys_3d_display_doesnt_require_glasses__17026.asp”(more…)/a
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Jul 28

Fluid Faucets can take design inspiration from…well, just about anywhere

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pWe love seeing industrial design process shots and concept sketches alongside the finished product, and one thing we can never get enough of is original inspiration pics compared directly to the market-ready end product. I guess the reason why is obvious–not a lot of designers want you to see where “the magic” came from. /p

pCanada-based A HREF=”http://www.sustainablesolutions.com/products/fluid_faucets.php” Fluid Faucets/A, on the other hand, puts the inspiration shots right next to their products on their website, and you can’t help but be impressed; just goes to show a talented designer can take things as different as a penguin, a violin and a Doric column and turn them into sink faucets:/p

pimg alt=”0fluidfaucets.jpg” src=”http://s3files.core77.com/blog/images/0fluidfaucets.jpg” width=”468″ height=”1334″ class=”mt-image-none” style=”” //p

pTo see more of Fluid’s stuff, A HREF=”http://www.sustainablesolutions.com/products/fluid_faucets.php” click here/A./pa href=”http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/fluid_faucets_can_take_design_inspiration_fromwell_just_about_anywhere_17032.asp”(more…)/a
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Jul 28

Artek gets a dash (just a dash) of color

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pWhen you think of Artek you think of design classics in natural colors, as the Finnish company leans towards the muted and understated; so it’s a bit of surprise that A HREF=”http://www.artek.fi/news/119″ they’re splashing out on black, white, grey and even red/A for their quick-ship Carry Away collection. /p

pimg alt=”0artekcolors.jpg” src=”http://s3files.core77.com/blog/images/0artekcolors.jpg” width=”468″ height=”557″ class=”mt-image-none” style=”” //p

pThe line-up runs from Alvar Aalto’s classic Stool 60 from 1933 (top) up to Artek Studio’s Magazine/Firewood Rack from 2004 (bottom). br /
/pa href=”http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/artek_gets_a_dash_just_a_dash_of_color_17031.asp”(more…)/a
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Jul 28

Hot In The Hive: Alexander McQueen – Genius of a Generation

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Just earlier this year in February, the fashion world lost one of it’s most eclectic and creative geniuses, Alexander McQueen. McQueen is known for his daring and often avant-garde sense of style. Many of his pieces were beautifully and intricately constructed with an expert eye for pattern and detail, albeit majority were shockingly risque and most definitely reserved for the truly fashionably daring. Undeniably unique, Alexander McQueen designs soon garnered a fan-base of the most fashionable celebrity risk-takers, including Madonna, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, David Bowie and Bjork. Sadly, the light and genius of this one-of-a-kind designer was cut short right before his own show at New York Fashion Week this year, leaving the fashion world in shock and sorrow.
The “Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation” book by Kristin Knox is a vibrant tribute to the late designer. Filled with photographs from his unforgettable runway shows, including pieces from his last collection, as well as quotes, stories and anecdotes from friends and fashion peers. Whether or not Alexander McQueens’ brash couture agrees with your personal aesthetics or not, there is no denying the genius behind the creative force that was Alexander Mqueen. After all, he did receive the British Designer of the Year Award four times. The “Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation” book is a must-have for any fashion buff and makes a great gift for all your fashionable friends, and for $29.00 at Urban Outfitters, this colorful tribute is worth every penny.

Where to buy: Urban Outfitters
Price: $29.00
Who Found It: Idabone was the first to add the ‘Alexander McQueen: Genius of a Generation’ to the Hive.

Jul 28

The Big Ad Gig

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Enter here

Jul 28

Impressing creativity upon your kids: Heather Swain’s “Make These Toys”

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pimg alt=”0makethesetoys.jpg” src=”http://s3files.core77.com/blog/images/0makethesetoys.jpg” width=”468″ height=”500″ class=”mt-image-none” style=”” //p

pI had a friend who was a caretaker for an extremely wealthy family in Westchester, New York. The family had been rich for generations, and everything they owned was “the best” and was brand-new. One of my friends’ tasks was keeping the family’s considerable fleet of cars filled with gas, and one day when he was returning with the family SUV, he carelessly let a tree branch on the estate gouge the paint on one side. When he confessed his crime to the family patriarch, he couldn’t have been more surprised at the response: “Oh,” said Rich Dad, “that’s too bad. I guess we better get a new one.”/p

p”Uh…what?” my friend said. The truck was less than a year old./p

p”We’ll get rid of the truck and get a new one. It’s no good, right?” /p

pIn short, the patriarch had been raised the same way he was raising his kids–to believe that only new, pristine things were good, and when you needed something, you went out and bought it./p

pIn contrast, I remember Karim Rashid recounting that his father was a set designer who had built many of the things in Karim’s childhood home. He had thus had impressed upon him from a young age that if you wanted or needed something, you designed and built it. (The philosophy’s certainly served him well, as the man has something like 3,000 designs in production.)/p

pObviously these are not binary choices in how to raise children, but if I had kids I’d certainly lean towards the latter philosophy rather than the former, and not just out of my eternal indigence./p

pA good place to start might be Brooklyn-based author Heather Swain’s “A HREF=”http://www.amazon.com/Make-These-Toys-Creations-Everyday/dp/0399535918/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8s=booksqid=1280331729sr=8-1″ Make These Toys: 101 Clever Creations Using Everyday Items/A,” recently covered A HREF=”http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/07/27/unassigned/AP-US-FEA-Crafts-Toys.html?_r=1hp” in the INew York Times/I/A:/p

blockquoteKids who spend hours communing with technology — plugged into televisions, computers and iPods — may benefit from some good, old-fashioned arts and crafts fun. Especially if they can then play with what they make.

p…”The process of picking out the project, getting stuff together and making it” is only half of it, she says. “Then they go play with it. It’s not over. That’s what I like.”/p

p…The toys aren’t intended to last forever. After all, they’re made from cardboard tubes and glue./p

p”It’s going to break. It’s going to go away,” Swain says. “But they can make it again. They can change it and innovate.”/blockquote/p

pAmen to that. If my kid scratches the family car, I won’t learn about it because he told me to get a new one; he’ll just show up to the dinner table with paint under his fingernails and a respirator-impression on his face.br /
/pa href=”http://www.core77.com/blog/education/impressing_creativity_upon_your_kids_heather_swains_make_these_toys_17030.asp”(more…)/a
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Jul 28

Superhumanoids: Urgency

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Ethereal tunes from a collective of L.A. music nerds

Dubbed an “indie pop quartet,” L.A.-based band Superhumanoids has more in common with the emotionally-languid style of vets like Morrissey than with peers lumped into the same near-meaningless genre. Like all good design, their tunes balance honesty, innovation and attention to detail that stems from the group’s dedication to music. The four members—Sarah Chernoff, Cameron Parkins, Max St. John and Evan Weinerman—all play different instruments and roles in other bands.

A natural frontman, Parkins typically takes the lead with his sex-phone-operator baritone anchoring his sensually-hysterical high notes and Chernoff’s soothing backup melodies. A steady beat and intriguing riffs—like on “Hey Big Bang,” a power ballad with a catchy staccato drumbeat that feels tailor-made for Chernoff’s haunting vocals—ties the dreamy roller coaster of sound together.

While the four have only been playing together for just over a year, songs like “Contemporary Individual” and “Cranial Contest” showcase a well-honed instinct for blending their individual talents.

Superhumanoids’ recently released Urgency, a red vinyl EP, sells from record label Hit City U.S.A., which Parkins’ cofounded along with fellow Franks bandmate Colin Stutz. (Chernoff is the drummer and third member of The Franks.) Pick up the record ($10) or CD ($5) online from Hit City or visit the band’s website to download the album through Soundcloud.

Jul 28

First fuseproject, now frogdesign: EV charging stations designed by lowercase-f design firms

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div style=”align: right;”img src=”http://s3files.core77.com/blog/images/2010/07/0ecofrogblink001.jpg” width=”468″ height=”875″ alt=”0ecofrogblink001.jpg”//div

pWe like seeing big-name design firms throwing their weight behind green technology. Last month we showed you A HREF=”http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/fuseprojects_electric_vehicle_charging_station_for_ge__16935.asp” fuseproject’s electric vehicle charging station for GE/A, and now frogdesign has designed the A HREF=”http://designmind.frogdesign.com/blog/ev-drivers-get-charged.html” Blink, an EV charging station/A that comes in both commercial and residential flavors. /p

div style=”align: right;”img src=”http://s3files.core77.com/blog/images/2010/07/0ecofrogblink002.jpg” width=”468″ height=”803″ alt=”0ecofrogblink002.jpg”//div

blockquoteThe evolving nature and adoption of EV technologies means that our design has to be fail-proof in order to build trust among early adopters. That’s why we created a design language for Blink that echoes current driving behaviors to make the transition to an electric vehicle as easy as possible. The driver instinctively knows how to use the charger thanks to the recognizable cable wrap design. This was purposefully designed not to have moving parts that could break down over time, or complex mechanisms that might confuse users, ultimately complicating the experience.

p…Every garage is different, but for most consumers, restricted space and keeping things organized are major issues. We specifically designed the connector so it would not stick out from its mount, to avoid the possibility that the user could knock it off or be scratched by inadvertently brushing against it. The taper of the housing was designed so rain will run off, and the driver won’t be tempted to place their coffee cup on top of the unit, a potential hazard for the electronics it contains. /p

pAnother challenge for the design of the residential version of Blink was the fact that the location of charging points varies on different EV’s. We purposefully separated the cable wrap and charger to allow the user to place it more conveniently within the garage. This ensures that if a consumer buys one electric vehicle now, the design of Blink can adapt if they purchase another brand in five or ten years./blockquote/p

pThe Blink is being produced by A HREF=”http://www.ecotality.com/” ECOtality/A, a clean electric transportation and storage technology company, who plans to begin rolling them out this year./p

pHere’s a video of Andy Hooper, frog’s Director of Biz-Dev, breaking down the blink:/p

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Jul 28

Women at War by Charlotte Wilson at Free Range

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Click above for larger image

~~London Metropolitan University~~ Leeds Metropolitan University graduate Charlotte Wilson was awarded Best in Show at London graduate show Free Range this year for her proposal to convert a bunker into a museum.