What’s wrong with this image?

So here I was 10pm Sunday night, right out of the shower standing in front of the mirror with shaving foam on my face. Even though I was freshly showered, I was slightly panicking. My razor had a rust spot on one of its 3 blades after not using it for a week and I was having a mental debate of whether to use this blade or not. After giving my cheek a few swipes, the fear of getting tetanus made me see the light and I chucked the blade and proceeded to rummaged through my toiletries box for another razor.

What you see above was what I would find and hack together. I noticed visually that the neck connector (between the blade housing and the stem) looks very similar, so I gave it a go and it works! I also thought that if it works on a bikini line, why not my chin? I am strangely quite excited to try it again tonight, because my chin was really smooth after the shave!

Check out this cool Retro TV inspired iPad dock by frog Creative Director Jonas Damon. What is even more interesting is his rational behind his design.

I’ve heard designers lament the end of industrial design for some time now: single-purpose products like calculators and alarm clocks are being replaced by smart devices, leaving nothing more than a screen in a minimal enclosure. Another woe is that design is increasingly being offered by off shore OEMs and ODMs, leaving design quality to suffer at the hand of the cheap cost.

I’ve got a different way of looking at it: all this advanced technology is actually enabling industrial design. A product’s form used to be dictated by its mechanical function. Products had distinctive shapes largely because the composition of the internal components mandated a certain form. But, as mechanics are being replaced by microchips, these constraints are disappearing. Designers have more opportunity with form now ; ergonomics and expression no longer need compromising.

I have to admit that I have often pondered (via: The Future State of a Product’s Existence?) on the “disappearance” of tangible products, due to technology convergence and a heavy emphasis on digital interfaces. I have lamented that products will eventually become all screens and Industrial Design as a profession will disappear. Or will it?

However what Jonas said threw me, and I have to admit that he is one smart man. I will need to ponder on this a lot more. Meanwhile lets enjoy how this TV has no wires!

via: design mind.

Interesting. However, I think it could be a lot better if it was designed into the packaging itself, rather than as a throw-away (though recycled) add-on. What do you guys think?

Core77.

I have been waiting for a proposition like this. The moment Apple launched the new Shuffle, I had imagined that designers would be jumping all over themselves to create jewellery accessories or wearable housings for this product. I have to say that it took awhile; until Michiel Cornelissen came along. Check out more click-able images of Michiel’s Pod à Porter Neckband Accessory after the jump.

I like the simplicity of the design and how it applies the natural flexibility and texture of Silicone.

Via: Mocoloco

Check out this cool umbrella and stand installation by Outofstock for FiftyThree, a restaurant in Singapore. Outofstock Design is an outfit set up by Gabriel Tan, one of my former students when I was lecturing part time at the National University of Singapore.

Outofstock was recently commissioned by Singapore chef Michael Han to design a set of umbrellas and umbrella stand for his restaurant, FiftyThree. The items are designed with the restaurant’s philosophy in mind – understated and an intimacy with natural materials.

The umbrella’s solid beech wood shaft and carbon fibre ribs reflect the elegant austerity of the restaurant interiors, softened by the warmth of a carefully sculpted handle. The handle’s cross-sectional shape facilitates a comfortable grip, while the gentle indentation is a defining detail which provides security and solace for one’s thumb.

Propped by offcuts of guava tree branches, the umbrellas rest on an umbrella stand of made of a bent corian sheet over a maple wood base. The curved ledge channels remaining rain water from the umbrellas into a small, concealed container within the base.

Via: Outofstock Design