From time to time, we’ll post about crowdfunding smashes here–not because we’re endorsing the product, but to make you design entrepreneurs aware of what’s selling. If you can keep your finger on the pulse, so to speak, you’ll have a better chance of launching your own successful campaign.

What puzzles me most are objects that don’t seem that special to me, yet are absolutely killing it on Kickstarter. Something about these objects inspire people to reach into their pockets. We’d like to figure this out with you.

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In this installment of “Why did this design succeed so wildly,” we’re looking at the Pico, a coffee-mug-sized “garden in your palm.” It’s got built-in LEDs, a stalk that can raise the lights up for a maximum capacity of 8.5 inches above the lip of the container, and it self-waters the plants or herbs grown inside. At press time they had $1.3 million in pledges on a $10,000 goal, with 3 days left to pledge.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the product, but $1.3 mil and 16,000-plus backers? First off, you’re not going to be growing zucchinis in this thing. And while the developers say it’s good enough to grow salad greens, basil, mint etc., there’s no way the volume is enough to feed you for more than a couple of meals.

My take on why this product succeeded so wildly: It promises a turnkey green thumb. People, particularly city dwellers, want to feel (or think they should want to feel) close to nature. I get that growing your own herbs might be out of reach, from a convenience or space standpoint, of your average apartment resident. So the Pico promises the experience, however inconsequential the actual yield is. The no-hassle, set-it-and-forget-it operation provides a powerful draw.

I should also point out that the designers did something quite smart, from a production standpoint: It doesn’t have a built-in battery, but requires the user to plug it into a Mophie or other battery pack. By offloading the battery, they were (self-admittedly) able to skip the necessary testing and regulatory steps. And by omitting the battery they keep the overall cost of the product down. The $32 pricepoint will be attractive.

Also, as reader Juan Cano pointed out in yesterday’s discussion on the Voyager outdoor chair, the Pico’s developers are similarly banging the materials-touting drum.

What are your takeaways?

The co-founders of design magazine Sight Unseen will discuss the ins and outs of running an online design exhibition in a live talk with Dezeen as part of the VDF x Sight Unseen collaboration. Watch it here live from 4:00pm UK time.

Monica Khemsurov and Jill Singer will talk to Dezeen’s founder and editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs about Offsite Online, a new online version of their annual Offsite design fair in New York.

Along with many other design events and fairs, the 2020 edition of Sight Unseen Offsite was put on hold when the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic caused cities around the world to go into lockdown.

The founders have since brought the event online in a virtual showcase of work from 100 designers, brands and artists. Sight Unseen is presenting around half of the work in the exhibition as part of its collaboration with VDF.

“[We’re] harnessing the visibility of our existing online platform to create a much-needed creative and commercial outlet for the design community, as well as redefining what a fair can be in the digital age,” the founders said about the initiative.

The trio will discuss how you translate design fairs to the digital realm, what the design community can take away from the extraordinary circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the importance of building community in an industry that is more physically separated than ever.

For Virtual Design Festival, Sight Unseen have collaborated with Dezeen to present projects by 51 designers taking part in Offsite Online, as an extension of the virtual exhibition. You can see the full list of what’s on show here.

Founded by Khemsuroy and Singer in 2009, Sight Unseen is a digital magazine covering design and the visual arts.

It also frequently organises design exhibitions such as an exhibit showcasing collaborations between designers from New York and Norway during NYCxDesign in 2018 and its Field Studies exhibition which showcased design objects made in collaboration between furniture designers and creatives from the food, fashion, art, film and music industries.

About Virtual Design Festival

Virtual Design Festival runs from 15 April to 30 June 2020. It brings the architecture and design world together to celebrate the culture and commerce of our industry, and explore how it can adapt and respond to extraordinary circumstances.

To find out what’s coming up at VDF, check out the schedule. For more information or to join the mailing list, email vdf@dezeen.com.

Photo of Khemsuroy and Singer is by Robert Wright.

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Six masters students from the L’École de Design Nantes Atlantique present projects ranging from city design to food innovation in this digital show as part of Virtual Design Festival’s student and schools initiative.

The featured student projects were completed on five different masters degree programmes at the school’s main campus in Nantes, France, or its studio in Shanghai, China.

L’École de Design Nantes Atlantique

University: L’École de Design Nantes Atlantique
Courses: MDes City Design, MDes Care Design, MDes Transcultural Design (China Studio), MDes Design and Innovation Management and MDes Food Design

MDes City Design course statement:

“The MDes City Design course is dedicated to urban and territorial change. How can we support the transition towards a sustainable living environment in the areas of housing, public space, commercial space and transport?

“It brings together public and private stakeholders, companies, associations, regional authorities and academics and aims to create, develop and test new spaces, services and products combining user needs and environmental and economic requirements on a full scale.”

MDes Care Design course statement:

“MDes Care Design conducts research on issues of societal and environmental wellbeing and health. It brings together public and private organisations and businesses, associations and individual players with the goal of creating, developing and carrying out full scale testing of sustainable, innovative and exploratory measures.”

MDes Transultural Design (China Studio) course statement:

“Throughout the MDes Transultural Design students will learn to decipher local behaviours and understand the Chinese market to offer a coherent project, adapted to users, with an anthropological approach to design. This program is a stepping stone to an international designer career.”

MDes Design and Innovation Management course statement:

“The Design and Innovation Management course is an apprenticeship program that allows students to gain a real professional experience as a designer before they graduate.

“As a paid employee, the apprentice has a recognised position in the company, working alongside their apprenticeship manager who is an experienced designer. Initially apprentices assist in managing projects, but as they gain experience and recognition, they may be asked to take responsibility in project management.”

MDes Food Design course statement:

“The Food Design research lab by design is dedicated to the entire eating system. It brings together public and private stakeholders, companies, associations, regional authorities and academics, in the field of food products, as well as presentation devices for all spaces, products and services for food.”

Lichen Air Sensors by Aditya Joshi, MDes City Design

“Lichens are among the most ancient living organisms on earth. They grow everywhere and get their nutrients from the atmosphere. Very sensitive to pollution, they are precious indicators of air quality.

“Aditya Joshi designed Lichen Air Sensors to raise public awareness and understanding of urban biodiversity. The project enables passersby to geolocate lichens and to take part in creating an informative urban signposting system.

“In the school context, the project educates children in eco-responsibility. This application puts citizens at the heart of a humane initiative in tune with nature, through the localisation of lichen.”

Student: Aditya Joshi
Project: Lichen Air Sensors
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/lichen-air-sensors-aditya-josh-design-l-expo-2019-925
Contact address: adityajoshi1494@gmail.com
Course: MDes City Design
Project tutor: Anais Jacquard

Loop by Louise Roussière, MDes Care Design

“In a highly medicalised context, many pregnant women complain about overly intrusive clinical monitoring.

“They feel like they’re not given enough information about the physical and psychological changes associated with giving birth. Pregnancy pains are seldom alleviated, and pelvic floor re-education comes only 3 months after the birth.

“In order to solve this problem, Louise Roussière invented Loop, a comforting scarf/sling which accompanies the future mum from A to Z. It relieves lower back pain during pregnancy, starts the process of abdominal re-education after the delivery and supports the infant after its birth.

“Loop helps the mother carry and welcome her little one with complete peace of mind.”

Student: Louise Roussière
Project: Loop
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/loop-louise-roussiere-design-l-expo-2019-909
Contact address: roussierelouise@gmail.com
Course: MDes Care Design
Project tutor: Simon Boussard

Qí Yóu by Marie Briand, MDes Transcultural Design (China Studio)

“The Chinese education system is famous for being extremely competitive and focused on academic performance.

“Chinese children often don’t have time to cultivate their curiosity. Marie Briand asked herself how she could support the educational transition initiated by the Chinese government while making time for infants and children to explore.

“Qí Yóu is a progressive family board game which helps children discover the world. It follows the adventures of Docteur Hoù, a monkey who travels through time and space, using a tablet. Each challenge is linked to a chosen theme. The combinations of adventures, subjects and challenges are as varied and vast as the world.”

Student: Marie Briand
Project: Qí Yóu
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/qi-you-marie-briand-design-l-expo-2019-933
Contact address: marie.briand2@hotmail.fr
Course: MDes Transcultural Design (China Studio)
Project tutor: Eric Mazodier

Smile in the light by Ophélie Jaret, MDes Design and Innovation Management

“Have you ever felt like whistling, playing or moving while waiting for the metro or bus at night?

“The wait can be long and stressful. On average, public transport users in Nantes wait for 20 minutes at tram stops. Ophélie Jaret thought about this problem. She created Smile in the light: interactive games on platforms which create social interaction at night.

“Arcade games are projected onto the ground using two video projectors and the users play thanks to webcams which detect their silhouettes. By encouraging players at one stop to play with the people opposite, this project stimulates social interaction, team spirit and relaxation. Everyone goes home with a smile on their face.”

Student: Ophélie Jaret
Project: Smile in the light
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/smile-in-the-light-ophelie-jaret-design-l-expo-2019-931
Contact address: ophelie.jaret@gmail.com
Course: MDes Design and Innovation Management
Project tutor: Marion Moussu

Entre-Chai by Valentin Mercier, MDes City Design

“How can we improve our knowledge of wine while promoting the know-how of the wine-making industry?

“In cities, private storage spaces are limited, unlike in rural environments. Valentin Mercier came up with the idea of Entre-Chai as a place dedicated to the conservation and management of bottles for wine enthusiasts and collectors.

“Devoted to the world of wine, the space promotes local wine production through regular workshops and wine-tasting events. Besides the commercial aspect, it is dedicated to specialist advice and to sharing experiences. It promotes the discovery of regional identity and showcases the wealth of local know-how.”

Student: Valentin Mercier
Project: Entre-Chai
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/entre-chai-valentin-mercier-design-l-expo-2019-923
Contact address: valentin.mercier28@orange.fr
Course: MDes City Design
Project tutor: Anais Jacquard

Poiscaille by Yifan Zuo, MDes Food Design

“According to the FAO, the average French person throws away 30 kilograms of waste per year. In order to add value to bio-food waste, Yifan Zuo had the idea of recycling fish skin and scales for regular consumption.

“In China, it is usual to eat the skin of fish, which is considered nourishing and healthy. Poiscaille is a salt made from fish skin and scales, packed full of calcium and marine protein. Excellent for our health, it helps us moderate our intake of ordinary salt and makes everyday dishes really tasty.

“The packaging, made from fish leather, gives food waste a useful second life. Innovative, eco-friendly and healthy, Poiscaille is the salt of the future.”

Student: Yifan Zuo
Project: Poiscaille
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/poiscaille-yifan-zuo-design-l-expo-2019-919
Contact address: jessie_zyf@hotmail.com
Course: MDes Food Design
Project tutor: Aude Chaigneau

Virtual Design Festival’s student and schools initiative offers a simple and affordable platform for student and graduate groups to present their work during the coronavirus pandemic. Click here for more details.

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As anyone who can read a blueprint or CAD drawing knows, cross-sections are indicated by cross-hatching.

In my hand-drafting days we did this with an adjustable triangle and our eyeballs for spacing, but in the early 20th Century, drafting tools existed that let you dial in the precise distance between lines. Here’s an example of one:

(Video source)

That’s called a section liner or spacing parallel, and they came in a wide variety of designs from a number of manufacturers, as you can see over at the UK’s Mathematical Instruments website. According to their archived catalog images, the one in the video appears to be from German drafting tools manufacturer Friedmann Bros., circa 1916, with the following catalog description:

“This instrument is easily operated without practice and with absolute accuracy. By means of an adjusting screw in the centre of the spring lever the distance required between each line is first set, then by simply pressing upon the set screw on the top of the moveable lever, equal spacing is obtained after each line is drawn.”

Whoever owns the one in the video is a lucky person indeed; it appears to be in excellent shape, and these things are rare as heck. If you don’t believe me, try finding one on the secondhand market.

(Then again, maybe there’s tons of these sitting in attics and basements around the world, and people don’t know what to call them, and thus they don’t show up in searches.)

This week industrial designer Michael DiTullo returns to sketching tutorials, tackling one of his most-requested topics by viewers: Line weight.

“When you look at a finished sketch, it can be hard to decipher [the decision-making process behind putting] light and heavy lines in their proper places,” DiTullo writes. “This video shows two rules and two techniques that I use to create varied and interesting line weight in every sketch I do.”