What If...

What If is one of my favorite new blog discoveries. It is a collection of random interesting ideas from the brains of Phoebe Coulton & David Goss. Some of the ideas are really good!

Solid Poetry

Solid Poetry is the graduate project of Susanne Happle and Frederik Molenschot of The Netherlands' Design Academy. It is a design for concrete tiles that reveal a hidden pattern when wet. The idea behind the project is that weather, especially rain, already changes the look and feel materials. Why not utilize this natural process to add beauty and style.

I think this project is so brilliant. It takes the negative of a rainy day and turns it into something positive to look forward to. The Solid Poetry also utilizes one of my favorite design ideas, a hidden delighter. Something that you don't see right away or isn't apparent in regular use but reveals itself as a pleasant surprise later on. This reminds me of my very first post on this blog, the Stamp Mugs. (Found through The Style Files)

Redesigned New York Subway Map

Living in New York I can really appreciate this redesigned NY subway map. It is much cleaner and easier to read than the existing map. Anyone who has been to New York knows that the current subway map is a lot harder to understand than it seems. The color coded lines are easy enough to follow but then you add the lettered trains and good luck to you! Unfortunately this redesigned map is only a concept, developed by Eddie Jabbour of Kick Design, and apparently not being adopted by the NY metropolitan transit authority. Check out comparative images of the old map and the redesigned map here. (Found through Swissmiss)

Heatwave

Thanks to some of the Milan Furniture Fair coverage, I was recently reminded of this gorgeous radiator design by Joris Laarman. The radiator was Laarman's graduate project at the Design Academy Eindhoven back in 2003. It's made out of tubing, similar to that found in floor heating, cast with glass fiber reinforced concrete. The large amount of surface area on this radiator makes it highly effective at dispersing heat. That, and it's not your regular eyesore of a radiator. Laarman website describes that he is "searching for ornamental but somehow necessary form" and wants to "demonstrate that functionalists are also sinners of styling, and that soberness is not always more functional than highly decorative form".

Polar Clock

In need of a new screensaver? How about this nice Polar Clock by Pixel Breaker? It shows the date and time in growing color coded circles. Although it's not particularly effective at saving your screen (because it has a fair amount of non-moving or very slow moving graphics), it is fun to watch. Available in 2 versions (I kind of like the first better) for Mac or PC. If you don't want to install this as a screensaver you can also just experience it online here.

Mr Toledano Will See You Now

I really enjoyed the online portfolio of photographer Philip Toledano. His photography is very compelling. Each of his photographs is like a story in itself. I particularly liked his series called People, which he describes as wanting to be "as though you'd accidentally picked up the phone and caught the middle of a conversation". The site itself, designed by Megaphone, complements the photos by being very simple yet pretty.

OVX Studios

OVX Studios was Friday's Adobe Site of the Day. It is a cute little interactive site to test your skills as a movie director. You get to choose your storyline, cast, scene order, and most significantly, the product placement you want to allow in your movie. The site is actually part of an advertising campaign by the Vermont Department of Health to raise awareness among teens about the roll of tobacco in Hollywood movies. I liked this site because it's a well thought out approach to getting a health message across. It's fun, well suited for the target audience, and it involves the user's decision making process about the message instead of just forcing the message on them.

My Moleskin

My Moleskin is up for a Webby Award this year. The site is a collection of artwork by Fabio Iaschi. What I like about the site is that all the drawings are done in a Moleskin notebook and then scanned (presumably) into jpgs for the website, but it doesn't lose the feel of a sketchbook. An interesting website and nice artwork.

Heartbreak Necklace

The heartbreak necklace, designed by Tjep for Chi ha paura...?, is made up a a fragile porcelain heart and an attached titanium hammer with which to break the heart. The heart is not as fragile as it might seem. It is easily cracked but will not break completely thanks to a layer of rubber behind the porcelain. This is meant to signify that "one will usually recover from a broken heart, the small cracks will inevitably add up and form who we are". (Found through MoCo Loco)

Paper Pilot

Paper Pilot cute little website that lets you design and test paper airplanes. Design your plane by using some standard models as starting points and then adjust the parameters to your liking. Test your airplane's performance on the practice field and then make any needed design adjustments. When you plane has been perfected, bring it to the challenge stadium to compete. Paper Pilot is a promotional site for SolidWorks DWGgateway (a converter to import AutoCAD files into Solidworks). I'm not entirely sure on what the connection between the two is, but who cares it's a fun idea.

Dreams of Flying

I enjoyed this set of photos entitled Dreams of Flying taken by photographer Jan von Holleben. They capture the idea of imagination very well. It is also a nice simple Flash portfolio.

A Moment on Earth

A Moment on Earth is a series of short films created to try and put some perspective on what any moment on Earth is like. On August 5, 2004 at 12:00pm GMT 60 filmmakers around the world recorded one minute of video showing what was happening where they were. The results give a small glimpse into how much is going on at any moment and emphasize the difference in people's situations around the globe. The website has an interesting Mosaic of stills from the different films that give a good summary of their subjects.

Babybett Suiko

I like the design of this Babybett Suiko because similar to the Bloom Chair (see earlier post) it is intended to grow with your child. It changes from a bassinet to a crib with the addition of wheels, and then from a crib to a small bed by removing the side panels. (Found through Design Milk)

Wine that Loves

So, I realize that this may not be the most classy approach to wine, but you can't deny that it's a really good idea. Wine That Loves is a wine-for-dummies approach to wine. It is based on the philosophy that certain wines go better with certain foods, but that there are a lot of wine drinkers out there that don't know what these perfect combinations are. Wine That Love has make this really simple but just calling their wines appropriate names like Wine That Loves Grilled Steak or Wine That Loves Pizza. Great see a need - fill the gap product idea. (Found through The Cool Hunter)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Ad

Book 7 in the Harry Potter series isn't coming out until then end of July but it has already been at the top of Amazon's Bestsellers list for months due to pre-order sales backed by a release day delivery guarantee. With record release day sales expected it is no wonder that all the booksellers are trying to get in on the action. Check out this advertisement by Odyssey. (Found through Scary Ideas)

VIZCap

VIZcap is an interesting new bottle cap design that allows vitamins or other supplements to be added to water just before drinking in an effort to maintain potency. The supplement is kept in a moisture tight compartment at the top of the bottle. Once the safety seal is removed the supplement is released by simply hitting the top of the bottle. The website has some interesting video on the development process and how the final bottle works. The creators are looking to sell the idea to big beverage manufactures. They shouldn't have much problem. They have an attractive and easy to use design, complemented with clean graphics and a nice promotional website.

Mail Me Art

Mail Me Art is a collaborative art project created by Darren Di Lieto. The project invites wannabe artists to create a work of art on an envelope of parcel and mail it to the project's address in the UK. The end goal of the project is to show the submissions in London gallery where the pieces will be sold. Part of the money from the sale goes back the artist. The site also offers monthly prizes to keep the mailing momentum up. For more information on how to submit, visit www.mailmeart.com.

15x15

15x15 is a website that plays on Andy Warhol's theory that 'In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes'. The site constantly shows 15 boxes, each playing a 15 second video clip captured using mobile phones. The videos can be of any content, as long as it is not offensive. The variety of the clips is pretty entertaining. Clips can be submitted by anyone by uploading them from your computer or sending them directly from your phone using MMS.

Flor

A few people I know have bought Flor carpets lately. They make a lot of sense, especially if you are a renter or generally indecisive when it comes to interior design. The basic idea of Flor is that you purchase 50cm x 50cm carpet tiles that can be arranged to create whatever type of carpet fits your needs including wall to wall carpeting, area rugs, hall runners or outdoor carpets. The tiles come in many different colors, patterns, and textures which can be arranged any way you like. The advantages of Flor carpets are that they are highly customizable, the tiles can be changed out at any time, and they are really easy to install. Most of the tiles fall in the $10-$16 range and if you order online there are some good planning tools available that let you try out different tile combinations within your specified dimensions. The idea of Flor itself is very simple and interesting but combined with the execution (the online planning tools, the variety of styles and colors, and the trendy inspirational examples) it becomes a really great carpeting option that is growing in popularity for good reason.

Sky Umbrella

It was dark and rainy here in New York today and it reminded me of the Sky Umbrella designed by Tibor Kalman. This umbrella lets you to carry around your own little piece of blue sky. Tibor Kalman was a co-founders of one of my favorite magazines, Benetton's Colors. This umbrella demonstrates Tibor Kalman's inspiring ability to make a statement through the use of images. The Sky Umbrella is available through the MoMA Store.

Star Wars III Advertising

Oh, I really hope that someone did this on purpose! (Found through notcot.org)

Timeline

I'm captivated by this Timeline clock by Anthony Dickens. It has made me think why the circular clock has become so accepted as the conventional interface used to portray time. A circular clock reflects the cyclical nature of the sun or daylight, conveniently divided in half for those of us who can't count to 24. I guess this works for the repetitive nature of most people's lives but it doesn't make a lot of sense when you think about the more general idea of time. This Timeline clock is a much more literal translation of how we perceive time. It shows past, present, and future in a linear manner, emphasizing the constant passing of time. Where can I buy one?

Mammal Supertree

The Mammal Supertree is the most complete family tree of mammals to date. Based on fossil data and genetic analyses, a team of scientist mapped mammal groups back to one original ancestor. The data itself is very interesting but it was the organization of the information that really caught my eye. This isn't your usual family tree top down style chart. The data is arranged in a circle with time expanding from the center of the circle outwards. This seems like a much more natural way of arranging a family tree data because it grows outward in all directions instead of just one. (Found through Visual Complexity)

CrisVector

This weekend I came across the portfolio of Brazilian artist Cristiano Siqueira (a.k.a. CrisVector). All of his pieces are vector based digital artwork. His main creation tool is Illustrator; using reference pictures, hand sketches or Poser images as underlays. What I really like about Cris' work is his bold use of color, and the interesting place where most of his work exists (especially the Women series) somewhere between realism and comic.

Retrievr

Retrievr is a valiant attempt at a new way to search images. Just make a quick sketch of what you are searching for, using the tools provided, and Retrievr will search popular Flickr photos for matching images. The search works by using an algorithm that identifies similar rough shapes and colors. It's not perfect, but pretty amazing. The creators consider this an experiment and seem eager for any feedback. Try it out here.

Map-Making added to Google Maps

Google Maps has just added a feature to allow users to make, save, and share their own maps. Just go to Google Maps and click on the My Maps tab. You can add markers with embedded text, pictures or video, as well as direction lines or shapes. Each saved map gets its own web address so that you can easily reference it. All published maps are added to the Google Maps search database. For a couple examples check out Olympic Host Cities, or The Googleplex.

One Minute Queen Victorias

This is a collection of 391 drawings done at last year's Victoria and Albert Museum Village Fete. Each artist was challenged to draw a portrait of Queen Victoria in one minute without taking their hand off the paper. The results cover an amusing range of images from slightly unflattering (to the poor queen) to downright insulting. It is amazing to see how few visual cues you need to recognize Queen Victoria. Check out the full set here. (Found through 30gms)

Just a short swim

So this should teach you not to ask Google Maps dumb driving directions (such as New York, NY to London, UK). Google's directions for such a trip include the instructions "Swim across the Atlantic Ocean, 3462 miles". This seems to work for many cross Atlantic direction requests. Awesome!

Guardian Angel Bags

I was reminded recently of these Guardian Angel bags designed by Carolien Vlieger of Vlieger and Vandamp . I first saw them last year at the MoMA Safe exhibit. The front of the bags are made of woolfelt with an embossed gun or knife shape. This is an interesting application of how the fear or threat of something is often an effective enough deterrent.

Where does your world end?

My favorite thing about traveling is that it broadens your perspective of the world. Your perception of the world evolves from your immediate surroundings (your town, state, whatever) to include all of the places that you have been. This ad for Century Travel captures these thoughts exactly. (Found through Ads of the World)

Personal Pies

I can't imagine anything to stress you out about aging better than seeing your life in pie charts. This brilliant pie chart bio was created by Craig Robinson of Filp Flop Flyin'. Other topics of his life charts include percentage of life with a beard, percentage of EU nations visited, and percentage of neighbors I've been friends with. Sigh... one more good reason for me to reconsider my aversion to charts and graphs. (Found through Information Aesthetics)

Leo Scratching Post

What - a cat scratching post that is not an ugly cardboard or carpeted eyesore? Where can I buy one? Well apparently at Design Within Reach although I couldn't find it on their site. That is probably a good thing because I don't think I could afford it. Not only would this look good in any home, but the rocking motion makes me think that my cat would actually want to use this.

The Leo scratching post was designed by James Owen. It is constructed of beautifully sculpted zebrawood with a large polished aluminum base. Zebrawood was apparently chosen because its grain is pliable enough for a cat to sharpen its claws on but sturdy enough to keep its shape. The post is also available in Maple or White Cedar, with two different base options (rocking or stable), and in three different heights. The simple two piece assembly allows you to swap out parts or disassemble for recycling.

Yelo

We have all heard that an afternoon power nap can do wonders for your productivity and mental alertness, but napping at work is still not socially acceptable in North America, even if you hide away under your desk. What is the solution? Well if you live in New York City the solution is Yelo. They have room especially designed for power napping with low lighting and a chair that raises your feet above your heart to speed up the relaxation process. You can choose between 20-40 minute naps costing $12-24 and if that isn't enough relaxation for you, try some of their reflexology treatments for feet, hands and ears. This is an intriguing development in the world of wellness. I'm tempted to try it out. (Thanks Heckman)

Bloody Coasters

This is a great example of how simple advertising can be very effective. These coasters were put out by the Mumbai Traffic Police to help prevent drinking and driving (drunken driving as they call it). The coasters have a layer of invisible red ink that is activated by liquid. When you pick up your glass the ring of moisture on the coaster turns red, creating the illusion of blood over the image. (Found through Houtlust)

Lace Fence

The Lace Fence is a product from Dutch design house Demakersvan. It is a chain link fence where a section had been replaced with embroidered wire. Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, this is a great example of bringing beauty to something which is primarily functional. The creators describe the Lace Fence as 'hostility versus kindness' and 'industrial versus craft'.

Great Pockets

Henry Needle and Sons Hand Tailored Great Pockets Clothing is some pretty funny advertising on the part of Nokia. It is an elaborate choose-your-own-adventure style video site about a tailor who is making special clothes with huge pockets to put all your crap in. Of course the other solution is to just buy the Nokia N95 (small and all in one, apparently)... or just wait for the iPhone (oops did that slip out). (Found through Josh Spear)

Nikon Universcale

Universcale is a captivating Flash site done by Nikon to illustrate the extremes to which we can see using microscopes and telescopes. The scale shows silhouettes of objects that are measured using common units, such as meter, kilometer and light year. It captures measurements from the Extremities of Space (a hundred billion light years) down to the Great Primordial (one quadrillionth of a meter). If you click on an object it gives you information about that object and shows it next to something that is comparatively small and something which is comparatively large. This is a really fascinating way of experiencing size and the meaning of measurements.

Google TiSP

This is a pretty entertaining April Fools joke from Google. There was a link to this new service from Google's homepage today. It is the TiSP (Toilet Internet Service Provider), which provides free in-home wireless broadband service through the sewage system. If you sign up for this service you receive an installation kit complete with rubber gloves and a spindle of fiber optic cable. Install instructions include 'Attach the sinker to the loose end of the cable, take one safe step backward and drop this weighted end into your toilet.' and 'Grasp both ends of the spindle firmly while a friend or loved one flushes, thus activating the patented GFlush system, which sends the weighted cable surfing through the plumbing system to one of the thousands of TiSP Access Nodes.' Read the full install instructions here. I like it when large companies are able to keep their sense of humor.