To celebrate the launch of the iPad, the team at Frog design went to their design archives and dug out a tablet PC concept that frog founder Hartmut Esslingner developed for Apple in 1983. Looking at how concept Bashful works, it does seem to be a precursor to the iPad.
The “Bashful” — named after the story-book dwarf in Snow White — was created alongside the Apple II computer series as an extension of the Snow White design language that frog Founder Hartmut Essligner helped create for the company in 1983. Concepts for this early pre-touch tablet included one with an attached keyboard and one with a floppy disk drive and convenient handle for maximum portability. An attached stylus helped the user interact with the screen.
I don’t know about you guys but I really like this concept. Perhaps it is the product Archetype with an old school floppy drive, or my nostalgia for the simple “Cranbrook-ish style” block forms, or even my general tiredness for high gloss and metal finishes, whatever it is, this design proposition does appeal to me. If you consider the level of technology we have today, this concept should be easy to realize with space to spare. I’m tempted to even hack one out of existing Macbook parts!
It is interesting to also note that simple is timeless, as this design can hold its own today. Also, we have become pretty comfortable with technology these days. If you recall the evolution of computers, we went from black boxes we hated and feared, to transparent and organic forms we connected with, and now back to black boxes again, abet much thinner and glossier.
All in all, a nice track back into the history and heritage of our profession. Thanks for sharing Frog!
Via: Frog’s corporate blog: design mind.
The GoGirl Female Urination Device allows women to go standing up, thus avoiding annoying pitfalls like heavy clothing, dirty bowls, grassy environments or creepy crawlers etc.
Only GoGirl is made with flexible, medical grade silicone. Dispose of it after use. Or clean and reuse as you like. (Urine is sterile, but the product can come into contact with contaminates during use, so take precautions when cleaning.) Our patented splash guard eliminates messing and spilling. Once you practice a time or two, using a GoGirl is going to feel like second nature. You won’t be like a man. You’ll just pee like one.
Women of the world, you can now Stand for your Rights!
Via: Go Girl
Thanks Eunice!
I like to add one more point to this cool list.
21. It will not be the first of its kind in the Market, but it will likely jump ahead of the competition and become a market leader.
Think iPod, iPhone and Macbook. They were not the first of its kind, and often under-spec. But when they launched, they left the competition behind in the dust.
via dipnip
I so love this beautifully elegant and simple “Mast” humidifier. Made of Japanese cypress (hinoki), it was designed by Shin Okada and crafted by Masuya Koubou.
Known for its high-quality timber, rot-resistant qualities and lemony scent, the thinly sliced Hinoki mast absorbs water from the hull and diffuses it, and its intrinsic aroma, into the room. And it goes without saying, but no electricity needed. I am willing to bet money that it will look more elegant than the damp washcloth draped over my ceiling fan.
There is an interesting possibility that sees consumers of going back to basics, using traditional materials and products to solve modern day problems. Imagine the money you would save on power bills with this humidifier? I wonder how we lived before we had fridges?
Via: Snow Mag and Spoon and Tamago.
I have to admit that I am a closet toy freak, unfortunately (or fortunately) I never really got into the toy collecting hobby. Chasing down plastic crack was just too much for my wallet and room space. However, I do still get turned on by the occasional Toy Porn. The SR-71 Blackbird + Optimus Prime mash-up from Transformers 2 got me going, but Bertie here nearly made me mess my pants!
This toy, designed by Ashley Wood in collaboration with Bigshot Toyworks, is just freaking awesome! This robot’s design is a homage to the best elements of G.I. Joe, Tamiya WWII Tanks, Commando comics, and Japanese Anime Robot Tech. Hey, I don’t even mind his quirky, impossibly small legs!
Looking at the level of part detail and the fact it has 46 points of movement made me tip my industrial design hat with respect. And that Commando black version with the basket of trophy heads is just a hoot! Now I wonder if there is a pilot inside…
Via: Behance.
The BigShot Camera is an awesome little product proposition that aims to teach children (and adults) the ins and outs of cameras and photography. It does this by engaging traditional old school learning methods: building things with your hands.
It is truly a hat tip back to the traditional electronics kits you could find in most shops in the late 80’s. I fondly remember creating FM radios, LCD clocks and even a voice transmitter you could used to spy on someone! It was through such kits that I taught myself to solder.
More significantly are that these kits are often of products that have evolved to become commodities. Therefore it is interesting to see that the digital camera, (with even a panoramic mode), has become so simple and miniaturized that a child could put it together.
Via: Fast Company
See you can find interesting stuff on Facebook.
“人が無意識の状態でやってしまってることに興味があって、そこにはめこんだほうが、モノが素直にとけ込んでいくのではないかと考えたりする。自然にやることの行為の断片に、その“人となり“みたいなものがでてくることがある。デザインはそこまで考えた上で、非常に客観的な立場をとっていなければいけないということ”
~ Naoto Fukasawa in 2007
Translated.
“What people do unconsciously decides how naturally a thing should be designed, because at times, a person’s character can be seen in his unconscious deeds. A designer must take all that into account and stay objective when designing something.”
~ Naoto Fukasawa in 2007
This interesting quote, by Naoto Fukasawa, is a reflection of his design philosophy and beliefs. He essentially describes how a design can become a seamless and ubiquitous experience for a user. A designer’s critical insight in this case comes from observing and understanding a consumer’s unconscious behavior, desires, needs and then uses these insights to create a product that a user can relate with.
Via: Mac Funamizu
As our evolving electronic equipment gets thinner and smaller, the biggest thing these days is the power brick and wall plug. This forgotten object lacked much attention until Min-Kyu Choi presented his redesign during his RCA graduate show.
The cleverly simple design folds beautifully into a 10mm thick object no thicker than a Macbook Air. Choi is quoted as saying “The MacBook Air is the world’s thinnest laptop ever. However, here in the UK, we still use the world’s biggest three-pin plug”.
While the flap looks a little flimsy and the 2-pin swivel weak, we can easily overlook these shortcomings when we consider the completeness of Choi’s design solution. Both the multi-plug adapter and USB charging slots are wonderful product extensions that complete his design story. Well done!
Via: Icon
Our next little chat is with Bruce Nussbaum, former editor at Business Week, advocate of Design Thinking, and provocateur of both designers and businesses. I was curious to find out if he felt that design thinking had evolved in the 2 years since he started blogging (or talking) about it. Here’s the chat:
I have to say, Bruce in person is completely different from his serious online persona. I really enjoyed our discussions on social media, embracing change, design ROI, and getting that damn free Wi-Fi to work!
Bruce was invited to the Icsid09 congress to interview the guest of honor: Singapore’s Minister of Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam. It was a fantastic interview, and testament that design thinking can also be applied in a political context and in policy making. I do no justice repeating it here and encourage you to check out Bruce’s transcript of the interview at his Business Week design blog.
For more information on the Icsid Design Congress 2009 check out the official website.
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