Kanye Goes to Harvard's Design School

Odd as it may seem, Mr. West is one of the loudest promoters of design role in popular culture. He appears to honestly value design and is on a journey to harness its creative power to change if not "save the world".

Blog Post:grist
 

Marc Newson and Jonathan Ive Team Up

Vanity Fair Article: Designing Men

Charlie Rose Interview
Sotheby's Auction Items
Hulu Video

Do You Know Where Product Design is Headed?

Frog Design's Chief Creative Officer, Mark Rolston reflects on the changing landscape of product design.



Product Experiences


Article: Design and the Coming Iceberg

Industrial Designer: Niels Different (b. 1928-2013)

The father of human factors passed away at his home this week.

New Director of the Smithsonian's Copper Hewitt Design Musuem

A new director for the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City. Caroline Baumann was named to the post Thursday.

Sensors for Diapers to Alert Parents its Diaper Changing Time...

Huggies TweetPee sends tweet when baby's diaper is wet. This little product should be a favorite baby shower gift. Time's Article: Huggies Device

Video: The History of Typography

A short video on the history of Typography by Ben Barrett-Forrest.

Graphic Design: Google Celebrates Saul Bass

Google makes use of its Google Doodle to celebrate the career of Saul Bass with an elaborate animation. The Guardian Article: Saul Bass

Fashion: G-STAR

I have long stated that fashion design is problematic for me when considered beside the other design professions like architecture, industrial and graphic design. The challenge I have with fashion is that is overwhelmingly driven by stylist in search of fads and less about problem solving as I believe drives the other design practitioners. But on occasion I have gladly given props to Nike for changing athletic apparel category through design. Now I gladly acknowledge G-Star for its progressive and innovative approach to fashion, specifically its RAW 3D denim jean designs. Article: Best G Star Jeans

Its Been Awhile Since Ive Posted....

I guess there are moments when life is full and blogging takes a back seat, but I will now get back to the task of posting interesting design stuff.

Bringing a Low Cost Light to the Developing World

Little Sun website

The New Industrial Revolution

In a nutshell, the term “Maker” refers to a new category of builders who are using open-source methods and the latest technology to bring manufacturing out of its traditional factory context, and into the realm of the personal desktop computer. “Until recently, the ability to manufacture was reserved for those who owned factories,” Anderson says. “What’s happened over the last five years is that we’ve brought the Web’s democratizing power to manufacturing. Today, you can manufacture with the push of a button.” Read more: http://business.time.com/2012/10/01/how-the-maker-movement-plans-to-transform-the-u-s-economy/#ixzz2GppAe6OQ How the ‘Maker’ Movement Plans to Transform the U.S. Economy Book Review: Maker: The New Industrial Revolution

Google is Going Though a Redesign

The iconic simple search homepage is being updated. The changes are subtile but can have a tremendous impact on the user experience. Fast Company Article

The Creator of the Barcode: Norman Joseph Woodland Dies

the guardian article Wired Article

Oscar Niemeyer, the Brazilian architect who did so much to shape his nation's capital, died last week, aged 104. photos of his work

Auto Design: Why Do Electric Cars have Grills?

I thought this was a great question(see the attached article). The opportunity to replace this once useful requirement for air intake needed for the internal combustion engine.

Something to watch for is how auto manufactures handle this. Come to think of it rear engine car like the Porsche 911, did not have front facing grills in the past but now they do...hmm .Article: Why Do All These Electric Cars Have Grills

Surpreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer Talks Design

Prior to being nominated to the high court, Justice Breyer served as an appeals judge in Boston and played a leading role in the architect selection process for the courthouse (the eventual winner, Pei Cobb Freed).

Inside the 'NYT' Graphics Department

Lessons from the leading graphic design team. The New York Times graphics department discuss how they operate and how to they create powerful work.

Wearable Gadgets a New Frontier

Smart phones are here, so what's coming next? Gadgets that you wear and that provide personalized information. (i.e. Nike's Fuelband shown below)

Fast Company Article

UP by Jawbone

Designers and Book Fair 2012

This looks like an interesting gathering of designers and great books. So if you find yourself in NYC the last weekend of October check it out.

Designers and Book Fair 2012

Panel Discussion with Cooper Hewitt 2012 Design Winners

A great discussion among design professionals, sharing their life and design stories.

The Prophetic Words of Steve Jobs (1983)

Steve Jobs in a presentation about 30 years before the introduction of the personal computer shared is vision for Apple and much of life as we experience it today. The “Lost” Steve Jobs Speech from 1983; Foreshadowing Wireless Networking, the iPad, and the App Store

The Computer History Museum

Computer History Museum, billed as “the world’s largest museum for the preservation and presentation of the computer revolution and its impact.”

Computer History Museum Online Exhibition: Revolution Computing Timeline NYTimes Article: Computer History Museum...

The Making of the Eames LCW Chair

For the most part, these processes are virtually identical to those developed by Charles and Ray Eames over 65 years ago.

But in very quiet but telling ways, is still guided by humans simply because the materials are natural and don’t lend themselves to automation.

Movie Scene: Fight Club

A short commentary on consumerism's psychological influence on how Ed Norton's character, Jack, reflects on  the objects in his apartment as a mirror into his identity. Spoiler alert: He was not successful.

But what do the objects that we acquire say about who we are?

Design Icon: Thonet Chair No. 14

The world's best selling chair when introduced in 1859 by Michael Thonet, a cabinet maker, was innovative in that it was made from machine-made and hand-made parts. Still in production 150 years later No. 14's consist of only six components. This first ready to assembly chair could cheaply and easily be shipped around the world. More than 50 million of these chairs have been sold.

Article: World Most Popular Chair

A Brief Interview with Architect David Adjaye

The international renown architect David Adjaye sits down for a Q and A with Time magazine. His work can be seen in the DC area, two recently opened public libraries and the planned Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (2015).

Marc Newson has a Book of on the Way

The breath of work produced by Marc Newson is truly amazing. The designer of this generation as impacted both the Art and Design worlds with some of his best known works. In the video below he discusses his forthcoming book.

Book: Marc Newson. Works.

Article: 10-minutes-with-marc-newson

What is an Open Ended Design Process?

3D model making is offering opportunity to include more input from clients and end users in the design process.

NYTimes Article: In a Shifting World of Product Design

The Passing of the Father of the Laptop

 Widely viewed as a father of the field of interaction design, a discipline that focuses on improving the human experience with digital products.A founding member of IDEO, a leading product design consultancy based in silicon valley. Bill, as he was affectionate called was recently appoint as director of the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum will be missed. R.I.P.
NYTimes Article: William Moggridge Dies

Interior Design: Designing Set for Televison

Anton Goss, 41, a Los Angeles-based set designer who’s carved out a niche designing sets for single-named daytime talk-show hosts, including Oprah, Tyra, Ellen and now Ricki. 

NYTimes Article: Designing Sets for Oprah, Ellen...

Video: Learning to See as a Way to Think

 Inge Druckrey has been teaching design for more than 40 years. But what she has really been doing is teaching people to see.
Inge Druckrey: Teaching to See from Edward Tufte on Vimeo.

Branding: Twitter

Twitter has dropped its wordmark for a blue bird.

Fast company

Designer Beats: Music that Inspires Creativity

When I think of the music that has inspired me this year Robert Glasper (Black Radio), Rebecca Fergueson (Heaven) and most recently Emeli Sandae (Our Version of Events) come to mind.

Exhibition: 40 under 40 - Craft Futures

The exhibition 40 under 40: Craft Futures investigates evolving notions of craft within traditional media such as ceramics and metalwork, as well as in fields as varied as sculpture, industrial design, installation art, fashion design, sustainable manufacturing, and mathematics. The range of disciplines represented illustrates new avenues for the handmade in contemporary culture.

Smithsonian American Art Museum Site

Design Exhibition: House and Home

The House & Home exhibition at the National Building Museum April 28, 2012 - May 1, 2017. This look at the American domestic life considers what 'home' means.Remarkable transformations in technology, laws, and consumer culture have brought about enormous change in American domestic life.

National Building Museum Site

The Architect and the Lost Art of Drawing

Drawing is fundamental to the architect/designer catching and communicating their visions. The tools have changed since the days of old, but now the computer is causing concern among purist in the field. Architect and the Lost Art of Drawing Drawings with a Purpose

Graphic Design Exhibiton: Now in Production

The exhibition explores some of the most vibrant sectors and genres of graphic design from 2000 to the present. Last day to catch this exhibition is September 3rd, 2012.

The Federal Government Goes Digital

“I want us to ask ourselves every day, how are we using technology to make a real difference in people’s lives.” – President Barack Obama

Presidential Memorandum Digital Government Strategy Document Press Release: Census Releases Its First Mobile App GSA Digital Services Innovation Center Opens

MicroSoft's New Logo

The Seattle based software company has refresh its logo for the first time in 25 years. Its waving flag and Helvetic typeface has replaced by a more static colorful square and a softer typeface, Segoe.

Microsoft's New Look

Design Legend: George Nelson

George Nelson was one of the founding designers of American modernism.

Creating a Design Driven Company

Challenge: Bill Gates Looks to Redesign the Tiolet

Gates Foundation: Inventing a Toilet for the 21st Century

A Better Ketchup Container

If you've stopped by a fast food establishment recently you my have experience a new way to place ketchup on your fries. Heinz "Dip and Squeeze" packet offers users the choice to squeeze or dip their fries.

Article: Dip and Squeeze Patent Lawsuit

Sustainable and Customizable iPad Case

I looked into available iPad cases and concluded that the offering came up short and so I have yet to purchase a case. The Papernomad case may just change that. Their simple solution really strike me as very fitting contrast to the device. A paper case for the device that is in many ways replacing the printed page.

Papernomad.com

Product Design: Digital Master Lock

Wow! Who would have thought one of the iconic mechanical devices would move to a digital interface.

Article: A Padlock with a Digital User Interface

How Unique Must a Design be to Get a Patent?

A new frontier in patent history is being battled in the courts as Apple defends its patents for the designs for the iPhone and iPad. NPR Artilce: Samsung Fight Among Many in Apple's Patent NyTimes Article: Apple-Samsung Trial Highlights

Apples Wins a Billion Dollar Verdit: What Does it Mean?

Infographic that Help End Slavery

The drawing became a key visual weapon in the 18th- and 19th-century fight against slavery, information design that changes minds.

Fast Company Article

Architect Frank Gehry – Part 1

Architect Frank Gehry – Part 1

Architect Frank Gehry – Part 2

Architect Frank Gehry – Part 2

Consumer Product: Omega Juicer

When a product addresses the issues around its use from ease of use, performing it function well, its construction and choice of materials to ease of clean-up it should be applauded. In this case the Omega fruit and vegetable juice fills the bill.

Omega's Website A Guide to Storing Fruits and Vegetables