While the one-kind-fits-all mattress isn’t a new concept, getting it right is no easy task. Cool Hunting team members have tested several different versions and have, of course, found them to be of varying comfort and quality, but one certainly……
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Want to seem like you’re into cars, without having to actually give a damn about cars?* Ally Financial debuted some conceptual “New Car Smell” scent options at this year’s NAIAS that might be able to help you out.
Their fine line of auto-themed scents first showed up at last year’s Detroit Auto show, where it drew bigger crowds than an auto financing vendor’s booth should be able to. This year the presentation included custom scent demonstrations by a professional comedy-scent mixologist, and the unveiling of two thrilling new arrivals based on industry trends:
The Future: 47% Hard Drive, 27% Laptop, 19% GPS, 7% Sandwich
Smell that? It’s the future. Where you don’t drive cars—they drive you. Sure, its intelligence is artificial, but its fragrance is as natural as it gets. So inhale the intoxicating aroma of modern technology, people. And buckle up.
Luxury Coupe: 67% Plush leather, 28% Shoe Polish, 4% Caviar, 1%
Benjamins Hire a chauffeur and load up on lobster: you’ve arrived. Enjoy the refined air of the 1%. The road is your red carpet, pedestrians your paparazzi. Don’t spare the horses, Jeeves.
Previous options include stinks like the needlessly gendered “Pickup Truck” and “City Compact” which boast notes of “beard” and “lipstick” respectively. But regardless of other auto industry trends, I’m going to take it as a sign that “The Future” is gender neutral.
*I’m not sure why you would, unless you’re trying to steal my job.
Are the designs for a “restrained” Beijing skyscraper a step in the right direction for Zaha Hadid Architects? In this week’s comments update, readers are claiming the firm is better when it tones down the curves.
Heydar not heyday: readers are praising designs for a 207-metre skyscraper by Zaha Hadid Architects in Beijing, which will feature a huge twisting atrium that is expected to be the world’s tallest.
“ZHA is a lot more successful when they’re more restrained, as in this project,” wrote Jon.
“The best Zaha by far,” agreed Guest. “A truly impressive piece of architecture and art.”
“Impressive renderings, excellent design, atypically restrained on ZHA’s part,” said HeywoodFloyd. “I much prefer this to their typical acontextual Heydar Aliyev parametric bombast mode.”
But some readers were concerned about the practicality of a building that boasts a 90-metre-high void:
Read the comments on this story ›
Fight the right: Anish Kapoor and Wolfgang Tillmans are among artists forming a coalition against the “rise of right-wing populism” – but readers are doubting whether their message will resonate with the general public.
“Will the postmodern cultural elite ever get over using all this fluff language that pretends to be so meaningful in order to cover up its lack of meaning?” asked Derek.
“I think these are goals worth supporting but they are rather threatened by global capitalism than right-wing populism, which is to a certain extent a reaction to the former,” wrote Werner.
“Certainly a worthwhile cause, but unfortunately it’s hard to imagine the message will escape from the echo chamber,” wrote Dan.
Kapoor’s exclusive ownership of a paint colour dubbed the “world’s blackest black” came back to haunt him:
Read the comments on this story ›
Wearing thin: this skinny house in Rotterdam designed by an architect couple for themselves was our most-read story of last week, but some commenters are starting to suffer from plywood fatigue.
“Surprisingly prosaic for a couple of cool architects,” wrote Guest. “And that plywood again.”
“I quite like it overall, although this plywood trend HAS to die soon,” concurred Manu.
One reader stressed that ticking all the boxes isn’t always a good thing:
Read the comments on this story ›
Mind the pay gap: a debate on sexism in the architecture profession broke out in our comments section, following Santiago Calatrava‘s claims that female architects should “just wait a second” for pay equality.
“If his remarks are not sexist, I don’t know what is. He must be setting himself up to be architect for Donald Trump’s Presidential Library!” said Dale.
“What a privileged bunch of remarks,” said TFO.
But some readers dismissed the concept of a pay gap, arguing that it is down to women to negotiate a better salary.
“Women shouldn’t wait to get equal pay, they should just not accept lower wages if they don’t want to work for that amount,” said regular commenter H-J.
Berklyn responded, calling commenters out on what she described as “victim-blaming”:
Read the comments on this story ›
The post “Zaha Hadid Architects is a lot more successful when more restrained” appeared first on Dezeen.
Dezeen promotion: Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Etienne has revealed the programme for this year’s event, which will feature exhibitions focused on new ways of working.
Now in its 10th edition, the Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Etienne is set to take place from 9 March to 9 April 2017.
This year, the month-long event will expand beyond the walls of the old Manufacture d’Armes of Saint-Etienne, and will turn the district into a large-scale “territory of experimentation”.
Olivier Peyricot, the director of the Research Center of the Cité du Design, is curating an exhibition that will offer visitors a panorama of shifting work paradigms.
Named Working Promesse, this main showcase will be presented in 10 stages as part of a trail that loops around the Cité du Design site, located in the Manufacture-Plaine-Achille creative district.
It will focus on the effects of digital labour and new environments, like co-working spaces and creative “fablabs”. The aim is to forecast the future organisation of workspaces.
“An experiment on third places will provide pointers towards new ways of working liable to reinvent a whole area of the organisation of work in our society,” said Peyricot.
“We will see how science-fiction authors and designers seize upon the theme and put it into perspective, critically or otherwise.”
As part of the trail, French artist Didier Faustino‘s exhibition will transport the visitor on a journey into the future, to provide an alternate vision of work.
The city of Detroit will be this year’s guest city of honour. As a member of the UNESCO City of Design, like Saint-Etienne, and guest of honour, it will present its experience as a resilient area.
Other stages along the trail include a modelled part of an office building designed for 1,000 employees in a creative industry.
The ESADSE, short for École Supérieure d’Art et Design de Saint-Étienne, will also present 15 project proposals.
Visit the event website for more details.
The post Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Etienne 2017 will explore changing workspaces appeared first on Dezeen.
The American Institute of Architects has expressed “deep concern” that US president Donald Trump‘s travel restrictions are damaging the country’s architecture and construction industries.
The AIA joins the US technology sector and high-profile American architects in calling for “fair and impartial immigration policies”, in the wake of Trump’s plans for curbing immigration from Muslim-majority countries.
“Beyond the essential considerations of fairness and equity, restrictions targeting specific areas of the world can have profoundly negative business impacts,” said AIA president Thomas Vonier, FAIA.
“Professional service exports are a key contributor to AIA member firms and their earnings. In fact, the entire international building development, design and construction sector relies heavily on reciprocal treatment and on the fair and ethical ability to travel, reside and work across national boundaries.”
The statement issued yesterday – President’s Day holiday in the US – refers to Trump’s so-called Muslim ban, although it does not mention the president or his controversial executive order specifically.
Signed in January, the order restricted citizens from seven Middle Eastern and North African entering the US.
Federal judges blocked the move, but the Trump administration is said to be working up a revised version of the order to implement as soon as possible.
The AIA’s statement says that targeted restrictions prevent the US from attracting talent and inhibit business development.
It also lists statistics claiming that immigrant labour accounts for 23 per cent of the country’s construction workforce, and that half of large US architectural firms have offices in the Middle East and North Africa.
“Our profession, like the entire building industry, benefits from the contributions of immigrants and others outside of the United States, and from visa and immigration policies that are uniform, transparent, fair and free from arbitrary implementation,” the statement reads.
The AIA came under fire from a large number of its members after pledging support for Trump after his election win last November, leading the organisation to issue an apology following the backlash.
More than 250 American architecture practices signed an open letter to Trump ahead of his inauguration on 20 January 2017, calling for him to take action on climate issues.
Read the AIA’s statement in full below:
Where we stand: AIA statement on immigration and travel restrictions
As discussion on immigration continues, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) today joins with many American businesses, industries and universities in calling for fair and impartial immigration policies, and in expressing deep concern about policies that restrict immigration from specific countries or regions based on overly broad factors, including religion.
“Beyond the essential considerations of fairness and equity, restrictions targeting specific areas of the world can have profoundly negative business impacts,” said AIA president Thomas Vonier, FAIA.
“Professional service exports are a key contributor to AIA member firms and their earnings. In fact, the entire international building development, design and construction sector relies heavily on reciprocal treatment and on the fair and ethical ability to travel, reside and work across national boundaries.”
In addition to the need for regular legal travel by employees, clients and associates, many American architecture firms – like other industries and businesses – must be able to attract and retain qualified, skilled people from other countries in order to remain competitive. Targeted immigration restrictions, particularly when applied unfairly and without warning, can thwart recruiting efforts. They can also greatly inhibit business activity.
Finally, unilateral travel restrictions can damage the future of many professions, from medicine to architecture. In higher education, international students and faculty are essential to the future of our profession. The AIA also participates in international professional bodies which sponsor programs and activities that rely on the necessary movement of all parties.
The following statistics further support AIA’s concern about the impact any newly imposed immigration or travel restrictions will have on the broader design and construction industry:
The AIA stands for values and principles that promote free movement and association. Our profession, like the entire building industry, benefits from the contributions of immigrants and others outside of the United States, and from visa and immigration policies that are uniform, transparent, fair and free from arbitrary implementation.
The post AIA calls for “fair and impartial immigration policies” appeared first on Dezeen.
For those unfamiliar with the work of African architect Diébédo Francis Kéré, designer of this year’s Serpentine Pavilion, here’s a look at 10 of his most important projects to date.
Kéré grew up in Gando, a small town in Burkina Faso, before moving to Germany to work as an apprentice, and then later to study architecture and engineering at the Technische Universität in Berlin.
He was the first son of the head of his village, so was the only child allowed to attended school. Aptly, his first major project as an architect was a primary school for the village, which he raised the money for himself.
Since then Kéré has built his reputation on his socially driven and sustainable approach to architecture, with several other projects in Africa, as well as installations for major exhibitions in London, Copenhagen, Milan, Chicago and Venice.
Here’s an overview of some of his most important projects so far:
Gando Primary School, Burkina Faso, 2001
Kéré started to raise money to build a primary school in his home village while still studying, and built it with the help of local villagers. It went on to become a landmark for the community and was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004.
Gando Primary School Extension, Burkina Faso, 2008
Two years after completing the Gando Primary School, demand was so high that Kéré had to begin work on a major extension. Also built using local labour and materials, it creates space for an additional 120 students.
Gando School Library, Burkina Faso, under construction
Nearly complete, the Gando School Library is Kéré’s latest addition to the primary school. Like its neighbours, it is built with clay bricks, but its roof is made from clay pots that have been sawn in half. These help to bring in natural light and ventilation.
National Park of Mali, Mali, 2010
For the 50th anniversary of the independence of Mali, Kéré created a series of new buildings at the National Park in Bamako, including a restaurant, a sports centre and entrance buildings. Each is clad in natural stone, and is arranged to maximise shade.
Centre de Santé et de Promotion Sociale, Burkina Faso, 2014
Kéré worked with the late German theatre and film director Christoph Schlingensief on the Opera Village, a project first intended to highlight Burkina Faso’s role in African film and theatre. But after huge problems with flooding, the funds were instead put towards creating new homes and infrastructure. This medical centre is one of the first projects completed at the site.
Léo Surgical Clinic & Health Center, Burkina Faso, 2014
Including surgical facilities, an in-patient ward and a maternity unit, this clinic brings healthcare facilities to a population of over 50,000 people. It is built from compressed earth bricks, and features large overlapping roofs and colourful box windows.
Camper Pop-Up Shop, Germany, 2015
Kéré created this temporary retail space for shoe brand Camper inside a domed building at the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein. Constructed to coincide with the Making Africa exhibition at the nearby Vitra Design Museum, it comprises two ring-shaped structures filled with shelves for displaying both information and shoes.
Find out more about Camper Pop-Up Shop ›
Philadelphia Museum of Art Colorscape, USA, 2016
For his first solo exhibition in the USA, Kéré created a rainbow-coloured installation made of thousands of strands of lightweight cord. The maze-like structure was locally fabricated, and referenced Philadelphia’s legacy as a textiles hub.
Find out more about Colorscape ›
Burkina Faso National Assembly, Burkina Faso
In 2014, after 31 years of dictatorial rule, the people of Burkina Faso overthrew their former president in a violent revolt that resulted in the former National Assembly being destroyed. Kéré’s replacement will be a stepped pyramidal structure that citizens can climb.
Volksbühne Satellite Theater at Tempelhof Airport, Germany
At Berlin’s old airport, which has served as major refugee camp since 2015, Kéré is creating a temporary theatre space. Intended to welcome all traditions, cultures and languages, the mobile structure will have an adaptable facade so that visuals and acoustics can be altered.
The post Key projects by Serpentine Pavilion architect Diébédo Francis Kéré appeared first on Dezeen.
Frank Gehry will teach an architecture and design course for online education platform MasterClass, sharing his creative process and offering critique on student work.
For $90 (approximately £72), Gehry‘s MasterClass will include 15 video lessons tutoring students on his architectural philosophy by using case studies, sketches and models.
A downloadable workbook with recaps and assignments accompanies each class. Students will also be able upload their own videos to get feedback from the rest of the group, with Gehry critiquing select works.
Gehry’s masterclass, which will begin in spring this year, will also give a glimpse into his never-before-seen model archive.
“When you build a building, any building, start with the simple block model to see where that goes,” says Gehry in a promotional video for the course.
“As an artist, I got constraints, gravity is one of them,” he continues. “But within all those constraints I have 15 per cent of freedom to make my art.”
“I’m always trying to express movement, I was fascinated with the fold so basic to our first feelings of love and warmth. These ideas are scary as hell to tell to the client, they can reject you and they will. But create the logic for it as you go, stretch it into another place.”
The Canadian-born, Los Angeles-based architect is famed for the concave and convex planes that often make up his buildings, like the rippled form of his New York skyscraper, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
During the course, Gehry will also discuss the philosophy behind his work, urging his students to do “something for humanity” rather than the economy.
“Most of our cities are built with just faceless glass only for economies and not for humanities,” he says. “Whatever you do, promise me that every project you make or design you’ll take the risk of doing something for humanity.”
The sentiment echoes a previous statement made by the architect during a Spanish press conference in 2014, during which he claimed that most architecture today has “no sense of design”.
“In the world we live in, 98 per cent of what gets built and designed today is pure shit,” he told the group of journalists. “There’s no sense of design nor respect for humanity or anything. They’re bad buildings and that’s it.”
Gehry will join other well-known MasterClass instructors, with past editions including Werner Herzog on filmmaking, Deadmau5 on electronic music production and Serena Williams on tennis.
Last year, the architect came 34 in Dezeen’s Hot List ranking, a guide to the most newsworthy and searched-for figures in the design world, with a handful of contentious new projects.
These included a masterplan for the revitalisation of the Los Angeles River, which was fiercely criticised by a local landscape architect, and a huge development along LA’s famous Sunset Strip.
Photograph courtesy of DBOX for Forest City Ratner.
The post Frank Gehry to teach online architecture course appeared first on Dezeen.
In a way, Oral B and Braun are a match made in heaven. They both push boundaries innovation, creating products that aren’t just functionally superior, they’re the most popular brands in their domain. So when I see the SuperKlar, a toothbrush concept with Oral-B’s bristle technology, and Braun’s prowess in electronic personal care products, I’m breaking the bank!
The SuperKlar comes as a complete kit that takes care of your teeth with signature efficiency and dedication. The electric toothbrush comes with a holder that can get plugged directly into a socket. This allows you to wall-mount the toothbrush + stand without really wall-mounting anything! It even comes with a horizontal screen that tells you the time (because bathrooms desperately need clocks). Another nifty bit in the design is the fact that the cover case for the toothbrush actually doubles down as a tumbler to use while brushing. Now if that isn’t some clever designing right there, kindly fax me an explanation of what is!
Designer: Jeongdae Kim
For the “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” exhibition at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington DC, a major addition has been made to the works, allowing even more people to experience their wonder. The ramps that enter……
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When you’re interviewing new hires for your social media team, the questions can get stale pretty fast. What social management tools do you use? How do you measure the effectiveness of an Instagram campaign? What’s your experience handling Facebook ads?
There’s one question you should always ask to see if your interviewee has what it takes.
“There’s a sudden crisis involving our brand. What’s the first thing you do?”
A social media employee needs many skills, but staying calm under pressure is one that can’t be taught. That’s why this question is so vital.
Keep in mind: there’s no one right answer, but there are plenty of wrong answers: “Panic,” or “Post an inflammatory response on Twitter” or “Delete all the company’s social accounts.” If someone says that, and they’re not joking—feel free to show them the door.
In a real crisis situation, there is a right answer, which is dictated by your social media crisis plan. But at the interview stage, you can’t expect a candidate to know all of the intricacies of your company, team and protocol. A 100% right answer isn’t what you’re looking for in this setting. What you’re looking for is a particular mindset. A crisis response mindset.
A crisis response mindset is a rational approach to an emergency. Someone with this mindset thinks logically, acts strategically, and takes emotion out of the equation. They leave no stone unturned, seeing every possible facet of the situation and creating a solid plan.
A strong candidate might answer the question with: “Gather information” or “Get together with the team.” Those are logical, rational responses, sure. But they don’t necessarily prove a candidate has the right mindset to handle the pressure. You’ll have to dig a little bit deeper and push a little harder. After the candidate tells you what they’d do first, ask what they would do next. And after that. And after that. And on and on. See how many different tasks the candidate can think of.
For example:
The list could go on and on. A candidate with a good crisis response mindset will have no trouble coming up with quite a few steps like these, on the spot.
As you push them for more and more details, assess their demeanor. Are they getting nervous or anxious? Do they run out of ideas? Does the exercise make them panic? This isn’t even a real emergency—how do you think they’ll respond to a real one? They might not be equipped for a high-pressure, public-facing social media role.
On the other hand, are they calm, cool and collected? Do they easily think of ways to handle the fake situation? Do they enjoy the challenge? Do they come up with smart ideas that even you might not have thought of? Have they handled a real crisis before? This person might be a great fit for the role.
If you’re feeling particularly creative, you can go beyond the question itself and develop a full-on case study scenario. This gives your interviewee a bit of context regarding the hypothetical crisis, leading them towards a more confident and thoughtful answer.
Your social media crisis case study might include:
Don’t wait until a real crisis happens to see if your team can handle the pressure. Try this exercise with all of your social media candidates before you hire, and you’ll know you’re in good hands.
The post The Interview Question You Should Always Ask Social Media Hires appeared first on Mediabistro.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
