Monday, February 23, 2009

TED

Link to article

This article is about the history of the TED conference. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design and it is a conference that brings together some of the most ingenious innovators in the world. This conference started back in 1984 where it was only really open to the wealthy. Tickets are $6000 each!! But now the conference is a little more open. There is now a website that streams all of the talks from the conference, so the whole world is now able to hear from these great innovators and learn from their thinking.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Old news but still breathtakingly brilliant!!




I know that this is fairly old news but I still am gobsmacked everytime i look at this concept. First off the idea that we don't necessarily need a rigid metallic material to surround our cars is such a simple one; After all its the chassis that makes the car run and safe. The use of a fabric as the outer skin not only gives the car numerous benefits such as reduced weight, therefore less energy needed to power the car, and less material costs; But I also think it gives the car more of a human feel, it has more character the material behaves more like human skin.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

A language reborn



I watched this video and realized that this is a new language that has evolved. But then I thought about it a little and realized that in fact it is not new but just a more modern version of Hieroglyphics. Perhaps not as complex as Hieroglyphics but the same basis of symbolism. The one thing that i noticed about it though was that not all of the symbols are obvious to the viewer therefore the language, just like any other, would have to be learned.

One of the best things ever . . .



I have nothing to say about this, I think it just speaks for itself!!! Brilliant

Better Air quality with the "Jetsons"



















Image Courtesy of Core77
I thought that this was such a great article because it sort of ties in with the theme for my assignment; "More and more that was seen to be impossible is now becoming possible.". The image of 2-400 trees almost floating in mid air seems a little far fetched at first but then you realise that anything can be done. It could almost pass for a scene from the "Jetson's". With climate change,pollution becoming much more prominent on peoples radars many many designers and inventors are looking for ways to reverse the harm that we are doing to the environment.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

First person I met . . .







This is Daniela Lepore, she works as a production assistant at 
When I asked her the question "What is the future of design and how will it be different  than it is currently practiced?".
She replied : "I just feel that technology will keep on getting better and better,  therefore making the whole design process more efficient and cost effective." Daniela was in a mad rush so it was short and sweet but at least she talked to me, most people in New York won't give you the time of day!!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Categorizing Design



















Image Courtesy of Core77
Link
What the author is trying to do here is to define boundaries within the field of industrial design. I think that he has done an incredible job seeing as there are so many different terms used to cover all of the different disciplines within the field. I felt this was interesting because i have never heard anyone go out on a limb and try to classify this a field of design i this way.

Learning from Africa

Link
This relates to the article below and why i believe that we must help people in poorer less technologically advanced countries!! A camping stove that extinguishes itself if it gets knocked over, therefore preventing fires!!! genius!!

Corporate Good will














Image courtesy of New York Times

This article was a real heart warmer. To hear that Google was backing a start-up company ,O3b Networks, that provides solar powered satellites to remote towns in Africa was brilliant. To be one of the inhabitants of these villages and have access to the same networking opportunities as that of the western world must be fantastic. Not only will these people gain access to information enabling them educate themselves, they will also be able to share their knowledge and ideas with the western world.