Eventscape, Inc. is seeking a
Conceptual Designer
Core77
Intriguing Core77 Design Awards Enter Today!
HYDROPACKDesigning for Disaster: Hydration for a World in Need
IN THE HANDS OF GODInsights on Conducting Design Research from frog.
Tokyo Designers Week / DesignTide Tokyo 2012The two biggest shows in Japan feature as strong a showing as ever
Beijing Design Week 2012Documenting a new generation of young designers in China
Eero Saarinen: A Reputation for InnovationA+D Architecture and Design Museum
Los Angeles, CA · Thru January 3, 2013
Beam Project: Call for ProposalsDeadline: January 11, 2013
Collaborative projects for campgoers
Stripes: Design Between the Lines, Edited by Linda O'KeeffeReviewed by Perrin Drumm
Hidden Forms by Franco Clivio, Hans Hansen and Pierre MendellReviewed by Tobias Berblinger
Design Process Kills Creativity / Design Process Creates CreativityDaniel Stillman on Process
"If I Knew Then What I Know Now..."Advice for Students
Industrial Design and CrimeHelp a recent grad get through his quarter-life crisis
If you are a leader, make sure you give propsNever underestimate the importance of recognizing a job well done
Core77 Design Awards Open for Registration on January 17, 2012
SHIFTBoston 2012 Glow Competition Deadline: February 3, 2012
Monday, March 18, 2013
Last year, we caught wind of a company called Roof for Two that had a cool project under wraps, no pun intended: A portable, fold-flat, quickly-deployable rain shield for a motorcycle. We contacted them, but they couldn't send us video or images of it at the time, as they were in the midst of applying for both a design patent and a utility patent.
Well, the wait is over: The patents have been granted, and a demo video of what they're calling the RainRunner is ready.
Would those of you with motorcycle experience use of these? While the concept looks cool to a non-biker like me, the company has been struggling; they're currently lights-out, due to problems acquiring seed funding. Your opinions could provide some useful insight.
Speaking of copper and zinc, those two metals can be combined to create brass. And the copper is kind enough to pass on its antimicrobial properties to the resultant alloy, effectively rendering it a passive disinfectant. That's why some hospitals have begun using copper-based alloys in their lightswitch covers and IV poles, things people touch all the time, in a bid to reduce the spread of viruses.
Brooklyn-based Karl Zahn is the latest designer to create a pen for Acme Studios, and he's chosen to go with an all-brass construction for their new Hatch pen. Healthcare professionals all have to use pens, and they might as well use one that actually kills germs.
As for us civilians, well, let's say you're at the Post Office sending a package, and you brought your own Bic because you don't like touching the germy one chained to the counter. That's always when some grizzled, coughing drifter next to you asks "Hey can I borrow your pen for a sec?" Option #1 is to be a jerk and say no; option #2 is to say "Sure—keep it" and walk away; and now you've got option #3, snag a Hatch. While it's true that brass can take one to two hours to kill bacteria, I'd lend the drifter my pen, then pull my pocket open and instruct him to place it back inside afterwards without touching me.
Seriously though, Zahn has made an interesting design choice that I dig: You can find other brass pens on the market, but as the Wall Street Journal reports, those pens are heavily coated with lacquer to stay shiny. Zahn spec'd out a thinner coat with a purposefully shorter lifespan. The Hatch's finish will therefore wear over time, sacrificing its shininess to let the exposed brass do its work. I like things designed to wear, and function over appearance gets my vote every time.
[Editor's Note: We saw Zahn's work as recently as the Housewares Show at the beginning of the month—he recently designed a utensil set for Teroforma—and he was one of a couple designers who exhibited at both our OPEN exhibition and 12×12 at New York Design Week last year.]
wants a Conceptual Designer
in Toronto, Canada
This is your opportunity to push boundaries and explore new materials and technologies as a Conceptual Designer.
Eventscape, Inc. is looking for someone with outstanding conceptual design talents who wants to work with a very talented team and to collaborate with top designers worldwide. The ideal candidate is fuelled by creativity, passionate about design and brings with them a strong knowledge of materials and custom fabrication methods.
All you need to possess are the requirements and background details found on the following page.
Apply Now
Making their Stateside debut at the International Home + Housewares Show, London-based Universal Expert had one of our favorite exhibition booths. The simple, open plan felt more like stumbling into a friend's kitchen rather than off the tradeshow floor. Sebastian Conran sat patiently at the end of the long farm table staged with stacking tableware, utensils and snacks, unbeknownst to most passerbys.
Conran, who heads up the eponymous Sebastian Conran Associates design studio, launched Universal Expert this year and has plans to roll out in Australia, South Africa, Europe and America. A play on "Universal Export," the fictional import-export company of James Bond, the simple and functional objects also reference the design ethos of the brand name.
We call this ethos 'Universal Expert': Where 'Universal' reflects flexible use, affordability and aesthetic appeal and 'Expert' stands for quality and performance.
The collection currently has 150 products across categories: kitchenware, cookware, tableware, appliances, organizers and home furniture. The focus at the Home + Housewares Show was clearly on the kitchen.
The nesting, ceramic measuring cups are beautiful enough to be left out on the counter instead of being stashed deep inside a drawer.
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