Scientists at the University of Houston have developed a vaccine that protects against fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that contributes to the risk of fatal overdose. The team of researchers tested the vaccine on 60 rats, finding that it successfully prevented the drug from entering their brain. Once immunized, the rats were able to produce anti-fentanyl antibodies to stop the drug’s effects further. The vaccine—which can work alongside other opioids without creating adverse reactions or negating its treatment for pain relief—helps block the high from fentanyl which can not only reduce the risk of overdose but also help people wean off drugs. Learn more about this life-saving development at Smithsonian Magazine.
Image courtesy of Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
What is an excellent amalgamation of auditory and olfactory experience – a scent diffuser in the shape of a speaker? Wish granted almost instantly! Presenting a device that mimics the shape of a horn speaker from the vault but doesn’t disperse melodies instead tinkles the senses with aroma.
Olfactive Stéréophonique – designed to bridge the distance between olfactory and auditory – is the brainchild of Brooklyn-based speaker brand, OJAS and perfumer Byredo, founder and creative director Ben Gorham.
Arriving in the shape of an antique speaker with the idea to fill a room with a fragrance-like sound out of the harp; horn speaker-esque Olfactive Stéréophonique has a look that’ll stand out in the music room, if you have one to flaunt.
As described by the affluent designers from both sides of the collaboration; the fragrance diffuser distributes smells efficiently in uniformity, which is unlike the front or upward aroma blasting diffusers on the market. For inventiveness, the Olfactive Stéréophonique borrows theories from high-efficiency sound wave guides and puts them in application to the flow of scent-infused air. Ingenious isn’t it?
According to Ben Gorham of Byredo, the intention of creating this unique scent diffuser is to “redefine the way” we all perceive aromas and somehow intertwine it with other senses like hearing a sound. The device comes in a package of 10 capsules – creating the aroma of nostalgic incense “used in Hindu and Buddhist temples and the evocative smell of ancient wooden structures.” The visual shape is based on the previous Ojas’ creations, hi-fi speakers in particular.
The new limited edition artisanal speaker-style scent diffuser comes in bold blue color and is priced around the $1,000 price point. The capsules should last around 50 days if used in cyclical modes of 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off.
In real life perspective, delivering smell in a controlled and effective manner can be done in more ways than subjecting it to a form factor for olfactive nuance and pricing it a bit out of reach for most.
By the minute, things like technological advances and artificial intelligence are changing people’s day to days—and, along with that, the working world. While some people are fearful that this could disrupt their industry, there’s a lot of data that points to quite the opposite: creative careers have a strong future ahead.
And you don’t have to already be working a creative career to seek out a new one. Trends of people picking up freelancing and contracting have only picked up in the past several years, and The Great Resignation has forced them to think hard about their next career move. In fact, 46% of workers plan to change jobs in the new year.
Not only that, but data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that creative jobs are expected to grow 10% through 2026—much faster than average in comparison to other fields. While creative jobs grow, they also evolve with the ever-changing technology landscapes.
Check out four evolving creative careers.
1. Social Media Manager
In the ever-growing and evolving world of social media, the role of a Social Media Manager can change by the day. However, in a general sense, they oversee the developing and implementing strategies for a company’s social media—whether it’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, or all the above. Social Media Managers are the creative engines behind a company’s varying social outlets, staying on top of social media trends as well as curating content daily for that brand. They also monitor audience comments and maintain relationships with other companies on social media.
Copywriters are responsible for creating effective and engaging text that is used to promote the products of the company they work for, whether it’s an ad agency or a corporation. Their writing is typically displayed externally on:
ads
websites
catalogs
videos
social media
They craft messaging that grabs their reader’s attention. Most of their writing needs to be clear, as it’s used briefly and compellingly. A Copywriter is also usually part of the company’s marketing team, working closely with other team members in the process of brainstorming and executing ideas.
3. Graphic Designer
In a broad sense, a Graphic Designer is responsible for creating visuals for a company.
This can include designing:
website layout
ads
brochures
magazines
corporate logos
reports
The goal of a Graphic Designer is generally to captivate an audience with aesthetically-pleasing visuals that are in line with the company’s brand. Their job is to visually communicate with both the employees of the company along with clients or potential clients. They can be found across industries and can work on a variety of products depending on the company. Some Graphic Designers may specialize in particular fields such as illustration, digital design, branding, or advertising.
4. Creative Director
A Creative Director determines the creative vision of a brand or project and manifests that vision through digital, print and film installations. The job is to maintain a cohesive look and feel of a project—be it an advertising campaign, fashion line, video game or magazine—by ensuring the visuals, messaging and/or interactive and motion designs are on point. A Creative Director also establishes budgets and timelines and manages client relationships.
Chicago-based Studio Gang has completed a pair of residential buildings called the Q Residences in Amsterdam with balconies that “migrate in and out of the facade” and a public plaza that links them.
Studio Gang worked with local studio Rijnboutt to design the two structures, which are sited in the Buitenveldert neighbourhood in the south of the city and have 248 residences in total. Q Residences is Studio Gang’s first completed European project.
The project comprises a 23-storey structure called Quartz and an eight-storey structure called Qube that are connected by a public plaza designed by Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf.
Studio Gang completed two structures in Amsterdam
“We designed Q Residences to strengthen residents’ connection to each other and to the ample green spaces that define Buitenveldert,” said founder Jeanne Gang.
“At ground level, Qube and Quartz form a new generous public plaza that brings people together around art and landscape.”
“And on Quartz, the balconies migrate in and out of the facade to extend sightlines diagonally in all directions and allow residents to be part of the building and in synch with the city and each other at the same time.”
The structures (Quartz, left, and Qube, right) have recessed balconies
Surrounded by post-war housing blocks, the Q Residences reimagine the local 1950s architecture with undulating facades and bright materials.
The taller of the structures, Quartz, has a wavy facade that the studio said “introduces an organic, sculptural presence to the neighborhood” while Qube was made more rectilinear in order to act as a “bridge” between Quartz and the local architecture.
The taller structure has undulating floorplates and rounded edges
Both structures consist of precast concrete panelling accented by bronze aluminium panelling.
Quartz has angled balconies created by the protruding concrete fins that line the facade. The corners of the building have been rounded.
Bronze accents the glass and concrete on Quartz
“The rounded, glazed edges of the building further expand the frame from which inhabitants can view the city and park beyond, while also increasing natural light within living spaces,” said Studio Gang.
Oudolf’s design of the public plaza is meant to reference the “garden city tradition”.
The structures frame a public plaza
The landscaped public space was designed to create a pedestrian-friendly zone that also connects other aspects of the block. It features retail spaces as well as year-round greenery.
The structures also have rooftop photovoltaic panels that “help Amsterdam advance its ambitious sustainability targets”, the studio said.
The Q Residences were developed by Dutch firm Kroonenberg Groep in collaboration with NEOO.
“Q Residences is a great example of how to introduce density to Buitenveldert while using the principles of the Algemeen Uitbreidingsplan [Amsterdam’s General Expansion Plan],” said Rijnboutt creative director Frederik Vermeesch.
Qube is meant to bridge the design of Quartz with the postwar architecture in the neighbourhood
Studio Gang, which was founded in Chigaco, opened a Paris office in 2017.
This Geta smartphone case, inspired by geta (traditional Japanese sandals) is eye-catching to say the least:
In addition to providing an absurdly secure grip, the fins are angled so that you can stand your phone up (in landscape mode) at two different angles. The two fins nearest the camera are swept back so as not to get into the shot.
If it’s not obvious, the case is easy-on, easy-off (we assume it’s made from silicone, but the retailers doesn’t say). Though they do cite—assuming you leave the case on all the time—that one of its benefits is “Never lose your phone again.”
These are apparently in production by Spanish brand Luma Suite—but sadly, I’m not able to learn of any details; de Marco offers no description, and at press time Luma Suite’s website was down. I’ll leave the link up in case it’s a glitch—I hope these guys haven’t gone out of business!
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Atari, the creative platform Misfit tapped acclaimed artist JK5 (aka Joseph Ari Aloi) to imagine the dial for a limited edition wristwatch inspired by the beloved gaming console. Only 500 pieces of the 42mm quartz watch have been produced. Each also features a custom commemorative caseback.
This simple, handsome Fondina chair features a trick that many chairs with upholstered seats do not: It’s easy to pop the seat off, so that you can remove the upholstery cover and wash it.
“Solid ash chair, painted in wood colors or in ash gray, lichen green and rust open-pore lacquered, with upholstered cushion. The solid wood seat is finely carved and branded with a unique and dedicated graphic.”
“It houses a magnetic upholstered cushion in monochrome combination with the chair structure, removable with a simple hand gesture and washable. Seat and cushion adherence is strong and precise.”
The chair, which is made in Italy by furniture brand Arrmet, is by Italian furniture design studio LucidiPevere.
Nihon Sweden is a company that makes leather cutting dies. Recently they embarked on a six-year manufacturing experiment, working with industrial design consultancy Drill Design to see if they could figure out how to deep-draw leather. And not just any leather: Nihon Sweden wanted to put their customers’ waste products—the small bits of otherwise worthless scrap leather produced by the manufacturing of bags and small leather goods—to good use.
The experiment was a success, and the company is now able to produce laminated, thermoformed leather so deeply embossed that it can take the shape of vessels, without requiring any stitching to help it hold its shape.
“With innovative production methods that draw out the potential of materials,” Drill Design writes, “we aim to create products with new value that are different from traditional leather products.”
They call this line of objects Case Left, and at press time the only units available for commercial sale were a business card holder, a postcard holder and a circular vessel 180 mm (7″) in diameter.
I know it is waste leather, but I’m hoping that in future they can come up with objects that have a greater practical application.
The first smartwatches amazed many people, especially tech-savvy ones that saw science fiction becoming a reality right before their very eyes. That excitement, however, was a bit short-lived when reality did finally set in, calling into question the purpose and usability of the new type of device. It has been years since the first generation launched, but smartwatches still exhibit one particular problem that has been around from the very beginning: battery life. While there are definitely smartwatches that can run for a few days before needing to be placed on a charger, these often accomplish this feat by cutting corners in other aspects. This smartwatch concept design, in contrast, makes no compromises and solves this battery charging problem by flipping the conventional smartwatch design on its head, almost literally.
Smartwatches are caught in an even bigger conundrum than smartphones. They set the expectations of powerful smart devices on your wrist, yet their very size severely limits the battery you can put in them. Manufacturers, designers, and eventually customers often have to decide which aspect to prioritize, and battery life is often the one that gets left out. Smartwatches that advertise days or even weeks of battery life often achieve those numbers by limiting features, using a non-color display, or running software that isn’t compatible with the majority of smartwatch apps available today.
One of the biggest problems with having to charge smartwatches is the fact that you have to take them off before you can actually charge them on some charging pad or dock. This has been the status quo ever since the first smartwatches came out, and it seems that everyone has accepted it as the only design possible. The Vessel concept design challenges that assumption and turns the charging design upside-down. Instead of the smartwatch being placed on a charging pad, Vessel has a charging module that attaches to the smartwatch, even when you’re still wearing it.
Vessel comes with a pebble-shaped battery that magnetically latches onto the face of the smartwatch. It doesn’t charge the smartwatch wirelessly, as you might assume but instead uses pogo pin contacts like those from the early days of smartwatches. You won’t notice these contact points on the smartwatch itself because they’re integrated into the watch’s face, making it look like they’re part of its design.
While you’re charging the smartwatch, you can still keep on using it, though in a limited capacity. The battery module has its own limited display, and it will only show the time and battery status. Notifications are paused in order to speed up the charging time, but activity detection and sensors will continue to work. The module only has a 500mAh capacity, so it will still take an hour to fully charge a watch. Of course, you don’t have to take it off during that period, so you won’t be missing valuable health data in the meantime.
It’s definitely an interesting angle to solving the smartwatch charging problem, though it probably comes with its own drawbacks. The most notable would be that it locks the smartwatch to a very specific design because of the data and charging contact points, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done elegantly. It’s just a matter of thinking outside the box, and Vessel has definitely pulled that off with aplomb.
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.
