electro^plankton

07.03.09
Brian Ling

Categories:
Editorial
Reviews

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How to be the Best Designer in the World?

How to be the Best Designer in the World?

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.

06.16.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Music
Reviews
Technology

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JBL On Stage 400P Speaker Review

JBL On Stage 400P Speaker Review

Really what would we do without music? I’m listening to it everyday. It provides the exact kind of ambient inspiration I need when working. Of course that means having something small yet powerful enough to really make all the money I’ve spent on digital music worth it. Enter the JBL On Stage 400P speaker.

0 Designer: JBL [ Buy it here ]

06.15.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Music
Reviews

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GenevaSound Medium Review

GenevaSound Medium Review

Audiophiles are a picky bunch. They know what they like and if a sound system isn’t up to snuff - they pass on it without any chance for reprieve. We’ve only reviewed one other $600+ stereo and that was the B&W Zeppelin. There’s a new challenger, one with more awards and accolades than I can count. The GenevaSound Medium is an audio feast for anyone who wants to hear music the way it was meant to be heard. The design is ultra modern in an approachable sense. Hit the jump for my review.

0 Designer: Genevalab [ Buy it here ]

05.25.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Product Design
Reviews

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Ambidextrous Wacom Intuos 4 Review

Ambidextrous Wacom Intuos 4 Review

Once upon of time the Intuos line of drawing tablets from Wacom were designed for creative professionals but with the Intuos 4 line, I would go out on a limb and say it’s inclusive of everyone’s needs. Traditional artists who complained of pressure sensitivity (or lack there-of) will be happy to know it’s twice as sensitive so all the nuances from hand to paper (figuratively) are far more accurate and in real time.

0 Company: Wacom [ Buy it Here ]

05.19.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Accessories & Fashion
Bags
Reviews

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Vegan Leather? Matt & Nat Archive Bag Review

Vegan Leather? Matt & Nat Archive Bag Review

In my never ending quest for the perfect laptop bag, I stumbled across a French Canadian company called Matt & Nat who have an entire line of soft goods but it was their Archive bag that caught my eye. It’s all vegan leather which is an oxymoron so just think of it as faux leather - really good faux leather. Hit the jump for me review.

0 Designer: Matt & Nat (Buy It Here)

05.11.09
Long Tran

Categories:
General Gifts
Pets
Reviews

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Toys for Senior Dogs, Old Soul Review

Toys for Senior Dogs, Old Soul Review

If you’ve ever perused the toy aisle of a pet store, the options are overwhelming. “One for every occasion” is an understatement. It occurred to me most toys were geared towards puppies and young adults. The seniors, much like their human counterparts, totally get shafted. I have a 9 y.o. dog which by canine standards is more than mature. My search led me to a series of dog toys called Old Soul by a cool little company called Planet Dog.

0 Company: Planet Dog [ Buy It Here ]

04.20.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Product Design
Reviews
Technology

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What a Sense of Direction! Orbita Mouse Review

What a Sense of Direction! Orbita Mouse Review

We don’t often review mice here on YD unless it’s something really unique and or special. When Cyber Sport approached us about reviewing the Orbita, a hockey puck shaped mouse, we thought “hey why not!” My last experience with a puck mouse left a bad taste in my mouth (ahem: iMac) so I was prepared to be let down, or was I? Hit the jump!

0 Company: Cyber Sport [ Buy it Here ]

04.16.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Book
Reviews

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Bookworms, From Concept To Consumer

Bookworms, From Concept To Consumer

One of the toughest parts about being a designer is balancing the need to satisfy our creativity with that of the market - ultimately what the consumer wants, the consumer gets right? - Even at the detriment of design and in some cases rationale. Our very own Brian Ling recently dished on the realities of working in design but the end goal is to always satisfy the client and make money off your product.

0 Author: Phil Baker [ Buy It Here ]

04.16.09
Long Tran

Categories:
General Gifts
Office
Reviews

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Stay Organized, Bluelounge SpaceStation Review

Stay Organized, Bluelounge SpaceStation Review

You can call it a desktop organizer but it doesn’t hold paperclips, pens, and pencils. It’s all the other stuff we ignore - the cables and wires that make our laptops look like they’re hooked up to Skynet. The Bluelounge SpaceStation is a $79 peripheral that’ll clean up clutter and elevate your laptop while saving a few of those USB ports because it’s hiding a few of its own. Hit the jump for my review.

0 Company: Bluelounge [ Buy it Here ]

04.13.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Living
Product Design
Reviews

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Unruly Cables, Bluelounge CableBox Review

Unruly Cables, Bluelounge CableBox Review

Take a look under your desk, behind the entertainment center and by your computer. Chances are you have a rat’s nest. The deliberate twisty-ties on carefully laid out cables when you first set them up have become a tangled mess. How does that happen?!?!

0 Company: Bluelounge [ Buy it Here ]

04.06.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Furniture
Interiors
Reviews

31 Comments

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Beauty is Minimal, OneLessDesk Review

Beauty is Minimal, OneLessDesk Review

A long while back we were enamored with a seemingly simple bi-level desk from a company called Heckler Design. After a couple emails and a lot of patience (thank you Dean), we finally have our review of the OneLessDesk. At first glance, you’d be hard pressed to understand why something this simple could command a $649 price tag. But as with most minimalist designs, it takes some creative engineering and expensive manufacturing to pull off the perfect balance between aesthetic/function. Hit the jump for my review.

0 Designer: Heckler Design [ Buy it here ]

03.27.09
Long Tran

Categories:
General Gifts
Pets
Product Design
Reviews

10 Comments

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Smarten Up Poochie, Dog Brick Review

Smarten Up Poochie, Dog Brick Review

Pet owners know nothing is too good for their poochie or kitty. They readily spend $100 on their beloved companions without batting an eyelash. Hey if you got the money, who better to spoil than your pets? In my quest to find something not only fun but mentally stimulating for my dog Miko, I came across a line of pet toys from a Swedish company called Nina Ottosson. They were kind enough to send my dog a few items from their new lineup. Hit the jump for my Miko’s review.

0 Designer: Nina Ottosson [ Buy It Here ]

A Piece of Olympic FeverDrowning Man Requires Hip Rescue GearThe Scooter Desk
Reload

Timeless Designs

Explore the best of YD. Our Archives are full of wonderful concepts from all over the world. Go ahead, don't be shy!

03.23.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Desktops
Reviews
Technology

6 Comments

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Touchy Much? HP Touchsmart PC Review

Touchy Much? HP Touchsmart PC Review

Touchscreen interfaces; the delicate balance between technology and cost are slowly falling in unison and HP aims to be in the vanguard. The Touchsmart PCs have always tried to epitomize that future but the 1st gen machines weren’t exactly winners. We took the 2nd gen machines for a test drive and spoke to Randall Martin - HP’s Worldwide Director of Design for Commercial and Consumer Desktop PCs about the present and future of the Touchsmart PC line.

0 Company: HP Designer: Randall Martin

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