"Vizio" Hybrid Candle / Ashtray (not to be confused with the LCD TV Company)

Flussocreativo-Vizio-1.jpg

Italian design company Flussocreativo are pleased to present a new “candela posacenere” design that they call “Vizio.” By shifting the wick to the perimeter of a slight depression in the center of a puck-like paraffin disk, the candle doubles as an ashtray, such that the melted wax forms a pool to hold ashes and contain their odor.

Flussocreativo-Vizio-2.jpg

(more…)


Palo Samko

Sinewy surrealism handcrafted from reclaimed Brooklyn wood

Palos-image1.jpg

Woodworker
Palo Samko
‘s impressive showing at ICFF has created a high level of buzz, and rightly so. Working out of his Brooklyn Navy Yard studio, Samko has been hand-crafting furniture and other housewares for years, lately turning out a whole new array of clocks, lamps and mirrors.

Palos-image2.jpg Palos-image3.jpg

By integrating metal with wood in several of his creations, Samko brings an intriguing element to woodworking and furniture-making in general. His latest and most interesting clock designs, the Salvatore Clock and Dali’s Clock, give a three dimensional nod to famed surrealist Salvador Dali and look just as stunning (and confusing) lying flat on a table as they do hanging on the wall. Also worth noting is the Walnut side table and its elegant, hand-cast bronze legs. The craftsmanship and creativity in these three pieces alone brings something new to the often stale market of furniture design.

Palos-image-10.jpg Palos-image-9.jpg

Sustainable practices and unconventional designs are central to Samko’s production process, using salvaged wood from surrounding neighborhoods as much as possible. When asked about the approach, the designer points out that reclaiming joists and structural beams from old demolished buildings is a great and underused resource. As an active collector of unique antiques, he often incorporates findings into his work to create completely one-of-a-kind (and sometimes interactive) pieces.

Larger tables start at $8,000, going up from there depending on size, material and details, while clocks run $300-850, and mirrors start at $650 depending on diameter. Contact Samko through his site for details.


BMB NY’s Information Blanket for Unicef

The Information Blanket in Swahili

Beattie McGuinness Bungay in New York has created a new product, the Information Blanket, that aims to offer vital health information to new mothers while also being used as a swaddling blanket.

The blanket was designed following the ad agency’s participation in a think tank for Unicef’s global initiative, The Future of Health. It is printed with the information that is needed to give newborns the best odds of survival, including a growth chart, breastfeeding and vaccination frequency, high temperature alert, doctor’s appointment reminder and a list of illness warning signs.

English version

BMB NY is launching the blanket this month in Uganda, where the infant mortality rate is amongst the highest in the world. The agency is working with the Shanti Uganda Society to help deliver the blanket to new mothers. The intention is to then roll out the Information Blanket to parents of newborns in under-developed areas all over the world.

The blanket in action

A website, theinformationblanket.org, has been set up where visitors can buy a blanket to be sent to Uganda. It is also possible to purchase blankets on the site, and with each one bought another will be sent to a Ugandan newborn.

The June issue of CR features a major retrospective on BBH and a profile piece on the agency’s founder, Sir John Hegarty. Plus, we have a beautiful photographic project from Jenny van Sommers, a discussion on how illustrators can maintai a long-term career, all the usual discussion and debate in Crit plus our Graduate Guide packed with advice for this year’s college leavers.

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30%.

Unitasker Wednesday: Yonanas

All Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

The incredibly difficult recipe for making single-ingredient banana “ice cream”:

  1. Put bananas in freezer.
  2. When frozen, take bananas out of freezer.
  3. Peel frozen bananas.
  4. Put frozen bananas in blender and blend until smooth. (Food processors, hand blenders, a fork and knife, and probably a dozen other things you already own can also work.)
  5. Eat.

Oh wait, that isn’t difficult; it’s incredibly easy.

Drats. Now what are you to do with that gigantic $50 Yonanas machine that you thought was the only way you could possibly make single-ingredient banana “ice cream”?

Thanks to all the wonderful people who sent in this unitasker and its infomercial to us this week. This is one of my new favorite unitaskers.

Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today.


Gov’t Bodies Backing Creativity, Part 2: Royal College of Art’s Business Incubator Gets NESTA Funding

0nestarca01.jpg

It’s the kind of funding design schools and students dream of: The Royal College of Art’s Business Incubator has received a shot in the arm from NESTA, the UK’s National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, to the tune of 450,000 pounds.

The Design London Business Incubator is intended to combine graduates from both the RCA and Imperial College of London in the fields of design, engineering and business with the intent of producing useful, saleable products and technologies. Min Kyu Choi’s foldable plug (above), which was all the blog rage in 2009, is one of the projects the Business Incubator currently has in development. Another is the Robofold (below), a manufacturing process that uses industrial robots to fold sheet metal into complex surfaces.

(more…)


What’s holding you back?

We all have hesitations when it comes to change. It’s normal to drag your feet when you don’t know if the change will be an improvement or if it will last or how other people will respond. Fear of change, however, can keep you from achieving the life you desire and you shouldn’t let “what if …” scenarios rule the day.

Try not to let these common fears deter your progress:

What if you end up needing an item you purged? You can buy the item again. You can borrow it from a family member, friend, or neighbor. You can discover an alternative.

What if I miss my stuff even if I don’t need it again? You’ll only miss your stuff if you’re uncluttering for the sake of uncluttering. However, if you unclutter because you wish to pursue the life of your dreams, you won’t have time to miss your stuff because you’ll be doing amazing things (or not doing amazing things if relaxation is one of your goals).

What if my housemates don’t respect the changes I’ve made? Sit down and have a conversation with them outlining your visions for the space and get them on board with your uncluttering and organizing efforts before you start working. Seek out professional help from a family counselor, relationship therapist, or even a professional organizer who can help everyone work together to find common ground.

What if I have to unclutter and organize again? Uncluttering and organizing isn’t a goal, but rather it’s a path to the life you desire. You’ll have regular maintenance tasks as you go forward, but these tasks are usually minimal compared to the first large project. Every day I do something small, like returning items to their proper storage areas. Also, remember that uncluttering and organizing takes practice — the more you do it, the easier it gets. Be prepared to have many bumps in the road as you get started. There isn’t anyone who randomly woke up one day capable of winning an Olympic gold medal. It takes years of practice to create a champion.

Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today.


100m Freestyle

Une nouvelle vidéo autour d’un 100m de nage avec Alain Bernard, dirigée par Lionel Hirlé et Grégory Ohrel (Elegangz). Sur la bande son de l’artiste DatA, l’ensemble présente une captation et des prises de vues impressionnantes en Canon 1D Mark IV. A découvrir en vidéo dans la suite.



alain2

alain3

Previously on Fubiz

Copyright Fubiz™ – Suivez nous sur Twitter et Facebook

Adrien Guenette Might Be Onto Something with His Gesture-Controlled Music Player

While I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I have yet to go for a run this year (in my defense, I’ve been biking a lot) despite the pleasant weather lately, Adrien Guenette’s “Beat” might just get me back into the groove.

Beat-by_Adrien_Guenette-2.jpg

The gesture-controlled music player is the graduating senior’s final project towards his degree from Emily Carr University of Art & Design. That’s right, “Beat” is part iPod Nano with Nike+ and part Wiimote, bundled in a wristwatch and ring. Guenette explains:

Current devices on the market are difficult to use while on the go—finding the right button to press without stopping or struggling to use a touchscreen with sweaty hands. Using an innovative gesture interface, Beat seamlessly integrates into the running experience and puts you back in control.

Beat-by_Adrien_Guenette-1.jpg

I wish the video was more a demo than a teaser, but it does the job:

(more…)


In Toronto

I haven’t been to Toronto in a very long time. Perhaps it has been over ten years… so long ago that I can’t really remember when. Glen, Finley and I are here on a whirlwind trip; we return home (briefly) and then go Edmonton to spend the weekend at the Royal Bison Craft Fair.

It was great to have dinner with my friend Aaron, from my good ol’ art school and x-files days, and his wife Karen. (Both have written for the magazine. Aaron has an extensive interview with Jeff Rogers in the next issue.)

Another highlight was finally getting to visit the workroom in person. We profiled owner Karyn Valino in the  first issue of UPPERCASE and she and her sewing shop have been very supportive of the magazine. What a great space! Oh, the fabrics. I’ve lusted after them via her flickr stream, but to see and feel them in person was a treat. I bought a stack of fat quarters, just because. (Who am I kidding? I never have time to sew!) Karyn interviewed Sian Keegan for Issue #10, out in July.

(by the way, the workroom has backissues of 6 and 7 in case you’re looking for those.)

Dezeen Screen: interview with Nick Regan of Laikingland

Nick Regan of Laikingland

Dezeen Screen: this movie filmed by Dezeen in Milan features Nick Regan, one of the co-founders of kinetic object company Laikingland, presenting their recent work at Ventura Lambrate. Watch the movie »