Ever wonder why so many products look the same? On the surface, it may appear designers have found the ideal form factor so there’s no need to change anything, but there’s more than meets the eye. The reasons are deeply rooted and the key to breaking the mold is to first understand why. Hit the jump!
Contributing Editor: Brian Ling
We’re a bunch of lucky ducks. On October 14th, we attended the Herman Miller Live Unframed event where the famous company along with designer Yves Behar celebrated their latest creation, the SAYL chair. Uniquely capturing the majestic and functional qualities of modern suspension bridges, the SAYL represents some very innovative design and construction techniques.
Designers: Yves Behar, Herman Miller
In this first of a three-part series called “Entertain Yourself”, I’m going to put together a quick and dirty home entertainment center out of three products I’ve reviewed earlier this year. Mind you, this won’t please the hardcore video or audiophile. I wanted products that seamlessly balance industrial design with home entertainment and as designers, we all know that’s how the general consumer perceives products. I call it utilitarian sex and first up is the stunning BRAVIA NX800 HDTV from Sony.
Designer: Sony [ Buy it here ]
It is with a hard heart that I write this post today. It has come to our attention that a design, The Pocket Light by Hyun Jin Yoon & Eun Hak Lee (Ryan Harc), was stolen, produced and sold unlicensed under another brand. The team at Yanko Design does not condone such activities and urge all readers to boycott any pocket light they may encounter. If you recollect, this light-design had gone viral on the net and had garnered much attention from the online community in 2008.
Editorial: Brian Ling
One skill many designers should often work on is presentation. Designers of all levels can always benefit from a little more jazz in their presentations.
Don’t know about you guys, but imagining my audience naked never worked for me! The thing to note about presentations is that it is not just about standing up in front of an audience or spending nights rehearsing, presentations are really all about communication. It is about getting your point across in a clear and concise manner.
I have been thinking about the relationship between creativity vs. design vs. where it comes from. I have also thought and wondered why some people, not just designers, are more creative than others? Here are some thoughts on creativity that may help you understand what it is and how to get it going for you.
Editorial: Brian Ling
I spent the first sixteen years of my career working for Polaroid Corporation starting out as a design engineer. It was one of the most progressive and technology-aware companies of the time. It was a wonderful place to develop a strong foundation, working with smart people, strong support and plenty of money to do things right. I had access to designers, quality and manufacturing experts, patent attorneys, model shops and market research, not to mention a great brand name and the excellent benefits that provided lots of stability.
Editorial: Phil Baker
Have you ever wondered how you could be the best designer in the world? How to be that money making Design Virtuoso? I know I have. What about you?
I sort of knew what it took, but I never really knew what it took, until today. According to Chris Guillebeau, the man behind The Art of Nonconformity, if you want to a virtuoso, or just be really good with anything (music, sport, design etc.), you will need to invest approximately 14,600 hours of practice or training to get there.
In working with numerous inventors and designers over the years, I’m surprised to see how many make the same errors. So from that perspective I’ve created a list of those mistakes and how to avoid them.
Author: Phil Baker [ From Concept To Consumer
There is something really nasty about the Design Industry; something many know of but never really spoke of. In our ever-competitive society, we always seem to celebrate the winners, and outcast the losers. We often talk about the one that made it to the top and leave no space for second place.
It is all around us, talk of Doom, gloom, job cuts, job losses and recession etc. This is not what a young designer, fresh out of school, wants to hear. It is also not what an employed designer wants to hear. However it is not the end of the road, and as long as the Earth keeps turning, there will be a tomorrow. Personally, I like to believe a recession is a time of great opportunity for everyone. Particularly for forward looking designers who have the right skills and are well placed to take advantage of a recovering economy.
This is the story of one product evolution from idea, through design, prototype and finally production. You might notice how the idea came, how the initial design was flawed but then solved in prototype. The path from idea to reality is full of branches, some in market position, some in design detail and others in production. I hope you enjoy this story of the little trailer that almost did.
Contributer: Zippy Flounder
Entrepreneurs/inventors go through many stages of enterprise and end to end can mean from product conception through to some resolution. The normal resolutions are sale of the technology, startup of an operating company with its sale to another firm, operating the company to build a brand or abandonment of the project due to market or financial forces. In general, end-to-end means concept through market insertion.
Contributor: Zippy Flounder
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