Thursday, September 3, 2009

BusinessWeek Competition: Design a T-shirt Fit For a CEO

Here in Manhattan, temperatures have finally reached the million degree mark (approx). It leads to some interesting summer fashions, as employees attempt to be comfortable yet decent and tourists attempt not to melt while gawping at the Empire State Building.

In a former life, I wrote and curated three books on T-shirt graphics, which documented the ever-evolving visual world of art printed onto cloth. T-shirts are an excellent barometer of style, taste and current opinions, as people choose to wear their heart on their chest, literally. (The little girl pictured wore this shirt to a demonstration held at UCLA in protest of the recent Iranian elections.) And I got to thinking. How about a competition to design a T-shirt fit for a CEO?

So here’s the deal: Design a T-shirt for a CEO. The CEO can be alive or dead and from anywhere in the world. Don’t actually print a T-shirt, but email a jpeg of your design (either just the graphic or the graphic as it might look on a shirt) to me: helen_walters at businessweek.com. Also include brief details of who it was designed for, and the thinking behind the design. Finally, include some information about yourself — your name, location, age and current occupation. We’ll feature the best in a slideshow on BW.com.

Stupid idea? Possibly. But I’m excited to see your creativity — and, of course, to get a sense of which CEOs spark comment and interest. Thanks in advance for your time and efforts. And, of course, be aware that profanity/defamatory won’t get chosen, so please don’t defile my inbox. Also, I won’t be clearing image rights, so please be prepared to vouch for ownership of the image you supply or include the correct credit.

More details at:
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/next/archives/2009/08/competition_des.html

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Folding Bike Design

Very impressive!

Check out the video..
http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/dominic_hargreaves_folding_bike_design_moves_to_the_top_of_the_coolness_pile_14404.asp

Duo converts laptops and monitors into tablet PCs

As consumers hold their breath for the rumored Apple tablet, KCI Communications has an immediate and possibly better solution for those who can't wait to get touchy-feely with their screens.

Read more and watch video..
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10316350-1.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=Crave

Is Computer Design a Substitute for Hands-on Experience?


Mythbuster Jamie Hyneman admits that computer-aided design—CAD—is one of the most important inventions of our time. But it has its limitations—and no program, no matter how sophisticated, can replace hands-on experience. Here’s why Jamie thinks an engineer’s work is better if he has memories of his own blood smeared on his tools.

Read article at:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4328167.html

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Design's Deadly Duo


Not-So-Fun-Fact:
Only .2% of patents become useful inventions.

In his article 'Design's Deadly Duo', Matthew May reasons that in many failed design attempts, we look for solutions before there is really a pressing need. Hmm...

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Personal Cycle Lane

Newscientist.com reported on this awesome product for night riding. “Cycle lanes are a good way of keeping bikes away from cars and minimising accidents, but they aren’t available on every road. Evan Gant at the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and Alex Tee of Altitude Inc in Somerville, Massachusetts, have designed a portable cycle “Light Lane” that straps to the back of a bike. A laser projects an image of a cycle lane onto the road directly behind the cyclist to remind approaching cars to leave room.”

See video..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOU563OvpUY

Monday, August 10, 2009

Studio 7.5 and Herman Miller’s Setu Chair



Herman Miller’s Setu Chair, designed by Studio 7.5, addresses the mobile workplace and the fact that work is now done in the most unexpected of places. The 7.5 team realized that multipurpose seating should reflect these changing needs, and devised — over several years and many exploratory prototypes — a chair that combines work-chair principles of motion and comfort with sleak lines, simplicity, and an affordable price ($650 list). Here is a look at Claudia Plikat, Roland Zwick, Burkhard Schmitz, and Carola Zwick’s processes leading up to Setu, and their favorite (and least favorite) places to do work.

See more...
http://www.otto-otto.com/2009/08/studio-space-studio-75-and-herman-millers-setu-chair/